The drizzle had turned into a fine mist by the time Kaelen reached the outskirts of Velithor’s lower district. The narrow streets, which had once been bustling with life despite the late hour, were now nearly deserted. The occasional flicker of a lantern in a window or the distant murmur of voices was the only indication that the city wasn’t entirely asleep.


    Kaelen’s mind was still racing, piecing together the fragments of information he had gathered. The Core’s convoy, the mysterious cargo, and the imminent clash with the Aether were all part of a puzzle whose pieces were slowly falling into place. But there was still so much he didn’t know, and the gaps in his knowledge gnawed at him like an open wound.


    He had always prided himself on being several steps ahead of his enemies, but tonight, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the ground was shifting beneath his feet.


    As he moved through the streets, he found himself heading towards the old district, a part of the city that had long since fallen into disrepair. The buildings here were relics of a bygone era, their once-grand facades now crumbling and overgrown with ivy. It was a place where the past clung stubbornly to the present, refusing to be forgotten.


    And it was here, among the ruins of a once-glorious city, that Kaelen had grown up.


    He hadn’t planned on coming here, but his feet had carried him to the familiar streets almost of their own accord. He slowed as he approached a particular building—a small, unassuming house, its windows boarded up and its door hanging on a single hinge. To anyone else, it was just another abandoned structure, but to Kaelen, it was something much more. It was where he had spent part of his childhood, in a time when the world seemed simpler.


    With each step, he felt the shadows around him lengthening, stretching like unseen hands reaching out to him. It was a strange sensation, an inexplicable pull that he had felt many times before. The darkness surrounding the house seemed denser, deeper, as if it recognized him and beckoned him to join it. A part of him wanted to respond, to step into the shadows and let them consume him.


    He stood in front of the house for a long moment, memories flooding back with a force that took him by surprise. This was where it had all begun—the choices, the mistakes, the path that had led him to where he was now. He could still see the shadows of the past lurking in the corners, could still hear the echoes of voices long silenced.


    He turned away from the house, but as he did, he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. A figure, cloaked and hooded, stood at the far end of the street, half-hidden in the shadows. Kaelen’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of the dagger concealed beneath his coat, but the figure made no move towards him.


    Instead, the figure raised a hand in a gesture of peace, then slowly lowered their hood. Even in the dim light, Kaelen recognized the dark hair and piercing blue eyes.


    “Aria,” he said, allowing his hand to fall away from the dagger. “What are you doing here?”


    She stepped closer, her movements fluid and graceful, like a predator stalking its prey. “I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of reproach. “This part of the city isn’t exactly on your usual route.”


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    Kaelen shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just taking a walk down memory lane.”


    Aria’s gaze softened slightly, but her expression remained guarded. “We don’t have time for this, Kaelen. The Core and the Aether are on the brink of war, and you’re out here wandering the streets like nothing’s changed.”


    He met her gaze, his own expression hardening. “Everything has changed, Aria. And that’s exactly why I’m here.”


    For a moment, she seemed taken aback, but she quickly recovered, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What aren’t you telling me?”


    Kaelen hesitated, considering his options. He had always kept his cards close to his chest, even with Aria. But something in her eyes made him pause. She wasn’t just concerned—she was worried, genuinely worried about what he might be planning.


    “Selvin told me about a convoy,” he said finally, his voice low. “Something big is being moved from the Core’s central hub in two days. The Aether’s aware of it, and they’re making their own plans. Whatever it is, it’s important—important enough that both sides are willing to risk open conflict.”


    Aria’s expression grew more serious, her brows knitting together in thought. “And you think this convoy is the key to stopping the war?”


    Kaelen shook his head. “I don’t know. But it’s the best lead we have right now. If we can find out what’s inside that convoy—”


    “—we might be able to use it to our advantage,” Aria finished for him, nodding slowly. “But that’s a big ‘if.’ The Core doesn’t take chances with something this valuable. It’s going to be heavily guarded.”


    “Which is why we need to move quickly,” Kaelen replied. “We have two days to figure out how to intercept that convoy and discover what they’re transporting.”


    Aria studied him for a long moment, as if weighing her next words carefully. “You’re planning on doing this alone, aren’t you?”


    Kaelen didn’t answer immediately. He had always preferred to work alone. It was easier that way, less chance of betrayal, fewer people to worry about. But deep down, he knew that this time was different. The stakes were too high, the risks too great. And whether he liked it or not, he couldn’t do this alone.


    “I need your help,” he admitted finally, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.


    Aria’s eyes softened, and Kaelen thought he caught a hint of something—something like relief, perhaps. But it was gone in a blink, replaced by her usual composed calm.


    “Oh, I know you do,” she said, her tone light but steady. “And I’m here to help, Kaelen. But you’ve got to remember—this isn’t just about you anymore. Whatever comes next, we’re in this together.”


    Kaelen nodded, though the weight of her words settled heavily on his shoulders. “Together,” he echoed, though he couldn’t quite keep the uncertainty from his voice.


    Aria stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “We’ll figure this out. We always do.”


    He wanted to believe her, but the doubt that had been gnawing at him for weeks refused to be silenced. He wasn’t sure if they could figure this out, if they could find a way to stop the impending disaster. But for now, he had to push those doubts aside. There was too much at stake.


    “Come on. We need to get moving. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”


    Aria nodded, releasing his arm and falling into step beside him as they made their way through the winding streets. The rain had stopped entirely now, leaving the air crisp and cold, the scent of wet stone lingering in the air.


    As they walked, Kaelen couldn’t help but glance over at Aria, noting the way her dark hair clung to her face, the determined set of her jaw. She was a force to be reckoned with, and he knew that, despite their differences, she was one of the few people he could truly rely on.


    But even as they moved forward, side by side, a part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than either of them could have anticipated. And as much as he wanted to believe in their partnership, a quiet, insistent voice in the back of his mind reminded him that, in the end, he was still very much alone, especially with Aria’s loyalty rooted so firmly in Aether.