章 16: Shadows of Eldara
The morning sun had barely peeked over the rooftops of Eldara, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets. Despite the early hour, the city was already buzzing with activity—merchants setting up their stalls, city guards patrolling the perimeter, and magical creatures darting between alleyways. Eldara was a city that never slept, its heart always pulsing with life and mystery.
Eryx woke with a start, still uneasy from the encounter with the cloaked figures the previous night. Finn, unsurprisingly, was snoring loudly on his bed, limbs splayed in every direction like he'd fought a battle with his blankets—and lost. Kaelen, ever the early riser, was already sharpening her sword by the window, the metallic sound a steady rhythm in the room.
"You're up early," Eryx mumbled, rubbing his eyes and sitting up.
Kaelen didn't look up from her blade. "Couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind."
Eryx knew exactly what she meant. Eldara was beautiful, but it held an undercurrent of danger that none of them could quite shake. "We'll get some answers today," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Kaelen sheathed her sword and finally turned to face him. "I hope so. I don't like being in the dark, especially when it feels like we're being watched."
"Maybe it's just Finn's snoring," Eryx joked, standing up and stretching.
"Highly unlikely," Kaelen replied dryly. "But we should wake him. The sooner we get moving, the better."
Eryx gave Finn a not-so-gentle nudge with his boot. "Wake up, Finn. Time to get up."
Finn groaned dramatically and pulled his blanket over his head. "Five more minutes…"
"No," Kaelen said, walking over and yanking the blanket off him. "Now."
Finn blinked blearily up at her, squinting in the morning light. "Ugh, you two are too intense in the morning."
"Or maybe you're just too lazy," Kaelen shot back, tossing the blanket aside.
Eryx smiled as he watched them. Finn and Kaelen's banter was a familiar routine at this point, and it never failed to amuse him, no matter how tense things got.
"Alright, alright," Finn muttered, rolling out of bed. "What's the plan for today? More mysterious cloaked people giving us vague threats?"
"Hopefully not," Eryx replied. "We need to figure out what's really going on in this city."
Finn perked up at the mention of adventure. "You mean, like a secret mission? Hidden treasure? Some grand quest?"
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "More like trying not to get killed. But sure, think of it as a 'grand quest' if it helps."
With Finn finally awake and somewhat coherent, the trio gathered their things and made their way out into the city. The streets were already teeming with people—merchants hawking their wares, travelers from distant lands, and locals going about their business. But something felt off.
As they walked, Eryx couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. He glanced over his shoulder more than once, catching glimpses of figures disappearing into the crowds. Kaelen noticed it too, her hand never far from the hilt of her sword.
"Do you see them?" Eryx muttered to her, keeping his voice low.
Kaelen nodded slightly. "They're good at blending in, but they're there. We're definitely being watched."
Finn, ever the optimist, shrugged. "Maybe they're just fans. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow us around? We're pretty interesting people."
Kaelen shot him a glare. "Finn, this isn't a joke."
Eryx held up a hand to stop them. "Let's split up. If they're following us, we'll lose them in the crowd."
Finn's eyes widened. "Split up? Have you never seen a play? That's when people get picked off one by one!"
Kaelen rolled her eyes. "It's just for a few minutes, Finn. We'll meet back at the fountain in the main square."
Before Finn could protest further, Eryx slipped away into the crowd, leaving Kaelen and Finn to do the same. He moved quickly, weaving between vendors and stalls, ducking down narrow alleyways, and doubling back several times to throw off any pursuers. But no matter how many twists and turns he took, that nagging feeling of being watched never went away.
After what felt like an eternity, Eryx finally reached the main square. The large fountain in the center was a popular meeting spot, with people sitting around its edges, chatting and laughing. He scanned the crowd, hoping to spot Kaelen or Finn.
Kaelen appeared first, moving through the crowd with her usual grace and efficiency. She joined Eryx by the fountain, her expression as sharp as ever. "Any sign of them?"
Eryx shook his head. "Nothing. But they were definitely following us."
Finn arrived a few minutes later, looking slightly out of breath. "Well, that was fun," he panted. "Did we lose them?"
"I think so," Eryx replied. "But we should keep moving. I don't want to take any chances."
Kaelen nodded. "Agreed. Let's find a quieter part of the city and regroup."
They made their way to a less crowded area of Eldara, ducking into a small alleyway that led to a hidden courtyard. The buildings here were older, their stone walls covered in vines, and the air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers. It was a peaceful place, far removed from the bustling streets of the city.
As they caught their breath, Finn leaned against a wall and grinned. "See? We're still alive. No need to worry."
Kaelen glared at him. "Finn, we've been followed for days. This isn't some casual stroll through the city."
"I'm just saying," Finn said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "We're pretty good at not dying. We should give ourselves some credit."
Eryx couldn't help but laugh. "He's got a point. We've survived worse."
Kaelen sighed, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Fine. But we need to stay alert."
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the courtyard, startling them. "You three are causing quite a stir."
They all spun around, weapons ready, only to see a figure emerge from the shadows. It was one of the cloaked figures from the tavern, their silver-lined cloak shimmering in the dappled sunlight. But this time, their hood was down, revealing a woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes.
"You again," Eryx said, his hand still on the hilt of his sword. "What do you want?"
The woman smiled faintly. "You're not as subtle as you think, Eryx Thorne. Eldara has eyes everywhere."
"How do you know my name?" Eryx demanded, taking a step forward.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "We know much more than just your name. Eldara is not just a city—it's a living entity, and you are now part of its story."
Kaelen stepped forward, her sword gleaming in the light. "We don't want any part of your story."
The woman's smile widened. "It's too late for that. You're already in the middle of it. The relic you seek is not just a treasure—it's a key. And once you've unlocked what's hidden, there's no turning back."
Eryx exchanged a glance with Kaelen. "We don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, but you will," the woman said cryptically, before turning to leave. "Find the Temple of Shadows. That's where your answers lie."
With that, she disappeared into the shadows once more, leaving the trio standing in stunned silence.
"Temple of Shadows?" Finn said, his eyes wide with excitement. "That sounds epic!"
Kaelen groaned. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
Eryx stared after the woman, a determined look in his eyes. "Looks like we have our next destination."
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