The morning sun bathed Crowden's cobblestone streets in gold, glinting off the carved runes that told the story of Aldric Crowden, the first mage. Liora stepped out of the inn, stretching her stiff muscles from the long journey. Kaelith followed silently, his shadow flickering across the pavement like a living thing.
At the registration office, the young man from the inn, Renn, was already there. His face lit up the moment he saw her.
"Oh—hello! Welcome!" he stammered, nearly dropping the scroll he held. "Your name, please?"
"Liora," she said, offering a polite smile.
His eyes widened. "L-Liora… I-I… you're new in town!"
Before he could finish, Kaelith moved. Not beside her, not behind—directly in front of her, his shadow spreading over the boy like a living wall.
"She doesn't need your help," Kaelith said flatly.
Renn froze. "A-a… guardian?"
"No," Kaelith replied. "I'm her shadow. Stand down."
Renn's blush deepened, but he tried one last desperate move.
"Miss Liora, I—maybe we could—have lunch—together? I mean, if you wanted—"
Kaelith's foot swept across the floor, tripping Renn slightly and forcing him to grab the counter for balance.
"Enough," Kaelith muttered. "I warned you."
"I—I… okay!" Renn stammered, backing away.
Liora sighed, gently touching Kaelith's arm. "You don't have to intimidate everyone."
"I'm keeping the line of idiots clear," Kaelith replied.
Renn muttered something under his breath but knew he was beaten. Liora finished her registration, thanked him politely, and left the hall. Kaelith's shadow followed like a living wall, blocking Renn from any further awkward attempts.
Once outside Crowden, the road became treacherous. The plains were open, the forests thick, and the ruins of old battles scattered across their path. Horses or carriages weren't safe—beasts could sense Liora from miles away, and any fast movement would draw attention.
"We'll walk," Liora said firmly, adjusting her cloak.
Kaelith didn't argue. "Walking is slow. Too slow. But safer… for you."
She nodded. Her hands rested on the hilt of her dagger, her eyes scanning the forest edges.
Hours passed. By midday, the first signs of beasts appeared: shadows darting through the trees, shapes that moved too fast to be seen clearly.
"They smell me," Liora said.
"Yes," Kaelith said. "You're a beacon."
And with that, the monsters began their assault.
The creatures came in waves—horned wolves, corrupted spirits, shadow serpents. Individually weak, but overwhelming in numbers.
Kaelith moved like a storm. A swirl of shadows, a wave of darkness, and dozens of monsters were wiped out before they even reached her.
Liora watched, horrified yet fascinated. "How… how are you that fast?"
Kaelith didn't answer. He never did. His focus was on the battlefield, his eyes scanning for even the smallest threat.
By the end of the first day, they had fought hundreds, and the forest floor was scarred with the marks of claws, shadow, and energy.
---
Mia's journey
Far to the east, Mia rode a black carriage silently, her long coat trailing behind her.
"They're moving faster than I thought," she muttered. "But they can't outrun me forever."
Her eyes glowed faintly as she pulled out a small tracking crystal. The energy signature matched Liora's perfectly.
"Augustus House will have what we need soon," she whispered, smirking. "No one—no one—escapes their fate."
She leaned back, plotting. Liora's journey was just beginning, and Mia would ensure it ended exactly how she intended.
BACK TO MC
The second day brought even greater waves of monsters. Thousands attacked in groups, their cries echoing through the valley. Kaelith moved continuously, cutting, striking, and dissolving them in shadow.
"Thousands…" Liora muttered, gripping her dagger tighter. "How are we still not there?"
"The capital is far," Kaelith said simply. "And the closer we get, the more they'll come."
Exhaustion began to weigh on Liora. Her legs ached, her hands shook, but she refused to slow. She had learned one thing from Kaelith: fear couldn't control her.
And yet… she felt powerless.
During a brief reprieve in a ruined watchtower, Liora finally spoke.
"Kaelith… I need to learn magic."
He turned, brow raised. "Now? With thousands of monsters hunting us?"
"Yes. I can't keep relying on you." Her eyes were steady. "If I'm going to survive… if we're going to reach the capital… I have to grow."
Kaelith studied her carefully. There was determination in her gaze that he rarely saw in humans—especially those so young.
"Fine," he said at last. "But no advanced spells yet. Your body can't handle it."
"I understand."
He raised a hand, creating a small shadow globe. "Magic starts with awareness. Feel the energy around you. Shape it. Do not force it."
Liora closed her eyes, following his instructions. A warm pulse spread through her hands. Faint sparks shimmered as she moved her fingers.
"Good," Kaelith said. "Now release it."
She did—and instead of forming a controlled light, a tiny burst of sparks shot into the air, hitting the walls of the watchtower. The ruins shook slightly.
Kaelith groaned. "Beginner mistakes. Again."
Liora smiled faintly, exhausted but determined. "Again."
As they resumed walking, the forest thickened. Kaelith sensed the approach of something bigger—far stronger than before.
"Stay close," he warned.
Liora nodded. Her hands glowed faintly with her nascent magic. She was ready to defend herself—enough to survive, anyway.
A massive shadow burst through the trees—a corrupted wyvern, twice the size of a normal beast, wings tattered, eyes glowing red.
Kaelith's shadow swirled like a storm. "Move behind me!"
The wyvern roared, claws slashing. Kaelith met it with darkness, but even he struggled against such a concentrated force. Liora flinched, then raised her hands, sending a small wave of energy toward the beast's leg. It roared in pain and staggered—enough for Kaelith to strike decisively.
The wyvern fell with a crash, shaking the ground.
Liora exhaled, trembling. "I… I did it."
"You contributed," Kaelith said, voice low. "Good. Keep practicing
As night fell, the pair set camp on a rocky hill. The lights of the capital could barely be seen in the distance, shimmering faintly like a promise.
Kaelith stood, gaze fixed on the horizon. "We're not safe yet. The closer we get, the stronger the opposition."
Liora, exhausted but resolute, wrapped her cloak tighter. "I'll be ready."
In the shadows behind them, a faint glimmer of magical energy shifted. Someone—or something—was already watching, waiting.
Mia's voice echoed softly in the wind, though she wasn't there:
"Soon… very soon…"
And the road to the capital stretched endlessly ahead, lined with danger, monsters, and the secrets Liora was only beginning to understand.