After some long days of riding, Kal and Arphaxad reached the plains of the free cities of Tenai, the last stop before reaching their final destination. Kal was wearing a hood covering most of his face not to draw attention in those lands. Arphaxad wanted to set up camp so the horses could drink water and rest, but Kal wanted to stop at an inn, in case Sorrow appeared and surprised them again.
In a detour from their long journey to the Triple Frontier in the Grand Duchy of Saladon, to find Hadon, Kal and Arphaxad found themselves in the ancient and enigmatic streets of Bercuranon, the former capital of the kingdom of Tenai. The city, rich in history and mysteries, was a labyrinth of narrow streets, noisy markets and monuments worn down by time, telling stories of a past era.
Their objective in Bercuranon was simple: to rest and prepare for the next stage of their journey. However, the choice of inn, "The Silver Donkey", was not by chance. The sign at the entrance, depicting a donkey adorned with silver stripes, promised not only accommodation but also a refuge from unwanted attention. For Kal, whose unusual appearance made him a stranger anywhere, the need for discretion was constant.
Upon entering the establishment, the buzz of conversation, the warmth emanating from the fireplace and the smell of homemade food welcomed them, a relief after the road. Kal, wrapped in his long hood, moved with a caution that had become second nature, avoiding the curious glances that could turn to him.
While settling into a discreet corner, Kal's mind was elsewhere, focused on the imminent meeting in Lake Village. The lord who had promised to reveal secrets about him was a shrouded figure, holding the brooch Hadon had given him thinking in his heart. "Who am I, really?" This question echoed in his mind, along with the voices of Domeh, Daat and Arath himself, a search for identity and purpose that had brought him on this journey.
Arphaxad, for his part, watched his friend with a mixture of concern and admiration. The bond between them was strong, forged in the brutal war they had shared. As a friend, Arphaxad was determined to support Kal, no matter what they discovered together.
As night progressed, the "Silver Donkey" inn became a microcosm of the city around it, full of life, stories and secrets. For Kal and Arphaxad, it was just another stop in their search for answers, but Bercuranon and its ancient mysteries might hold more for them than just a night of rest. Kal's path was full of uncertainties, but also possibilities, as he drew ever closer to the heart of his own stories.
In the dead of night, with Arphaxad delivered to a deep, restorative sleep, Kal found himself in an inner battle, his spirit agitated by anxiety and fear of a possible return of Sorrow, the assassin who had become a constant shadow on his journey. Restlessness and worry swirled in his mind, forming a storm that prevented him from finding the necessary rest. Seeking clarity and strength, he opted to turn to meditation, a refuge where he hoped to not only find peace but also dialogue with the enigmatic entities inhabiting his inner world: Domeh and Daat.
By accessing his inner world, Kal once again found himself in that transcendental scene he had visited before, a solitary mountain under the vast sky of infinity. The landscape before him was a spectacle of colors and lights, where gold and red danced on a dark blue background, punctuated by the bright glow of the stars. It was a place of power, of introspection, a sanctuary for Kal seeking to know himself more deeply.
Calling for Daat and Domeh, Kal awaited a meeting, guidance, but silence was the only answer. No figure materialized before him, no whisper of wisdom disturbed the quiet of that vast celestial expanse. In the absence of his guides, Kal opted to surrender to meditation, sitting cross-legged and turning towards the infinity stretching out before him.
In that moment of introspection, Daat's words echoed in his mind: "You will only be able to find your true powers by knowing who you truly are." It was a truth Kal intellectually understood, but whose fullness he still sought to experience. He knew the key to unlocking the full potential of his powers resided not in the external battles he faced, but in the inner journey, in confronting and accepting his own identity.
Thus, under the twinkling sky of his inner world, Kal plunged into a journey of self-knowledge, allowing the tranquility of the environment to envelop him, seeking within himself the answers the outside world could not provide. It was a process of discovery, of confronting his fears and uncertainties, in the hope of emerging not just as a stronger warrior, but as a being fully aware of his essence and destiny.
This meditation, although solitary, was a vital step in Kal's journey. It represented the understanding that, before facing external challenges and adversaries threatening his mission, he first needed to confront and understand the internal challenges, recognizing the truth of his own soul. It was a difficult path, full of uncertainties but also infinite possibilities for those brave enough to tread it.
In the stillness of the night, as Kal surrendered to deep meditation, seeking the depths of his being in the silence of the "Silver Donkey" inn, the unexpected happened. The tranquility of the environment was broken by the subtle intrusion of a masked figure, moving with the lightness and clear intent of one accustomed to taking what does not belong to them. The moonlight, filtered through the windows, was the only witness to the unfolding scene, drawing ghostly shadows across the room.
The thief, confident in her ability to remain unnoticed, did not expect to meet resistance, much less be confronted by a presence as enigmatic as Kal, whose golden eyes shone in the gloom, fixed and piercing. The girl's fright was palpable, a mixture of surprise and fear at the unexpected, causing her to stumble in a way that would have resulted in a fall had Kal not intervened swiftly.
In catching her, Kal not only prevented her falling but also knocked off the mask concealing her true identity, revealing a young bald girl around 12 years old. The sight of the girl with eyes as intense a golden as his own was a shock to Kal, a living mirror reflecting not just his features but perhaps also an echo of his own mysterious essence.
The surprise of seeing someone so young yet so similar to himself made Kal hesitate for a moment, reconsidering his approach. The girl's presence, instead of a threat, now presented itself as an enigma, a new mystery to unravel in his journey full of unanswered questions.
"Who are you?" Kal's question was laced with curiosity and understandable caution. The answer, or lack thereof, might uncover new layers in his quest for understanding about his own identity and the complex, secret-filled world in which he was immersed.
This unexpected interaction in the heart of night, far from a simple encounter with a thief, promised to be a turning point in Kal's journey. The girl before him, as enigmatic a figure as he, potentially held the keys to new discoveries, challenging Kal to expand his perception and perhaps in some way bring him closer to the truth about himself and the intricate universe to which they both belonged.
The sudden escape of the girl through the window, as agile and silent as a shadow in the night, left Kal contemplating the emptiness she had left behind. The brief interaction, though almost wordless, echoed in his mind, full of unanswered questions and deep mysteries. Her gaze, so similar to his, carried secrets that Kal felt were crucial to unraveling not only the girl's enigma but also aspects of his own existence.
The girl's reluctance to speak, to connect, did not diminish Kal's curiosity; on the contrary, it accentuated it. Why would she try to steal from them specifically? And why did her golden eyes, a reflection of his own, seem to hide a story parallel to his own? Kal knew that eyes are often called windows to the soul, and those shared golden eyes suggested a deeper bond, perhaps even an intertwined destiny.
The attempted theft, though foiled, was not what disturbed Kal the most; it was the feeling that this encounter had not been mere coincidence, but a sign, a guide perhaps, to understand the deeper layers of his journey. The girl's silence, her hesitation and flight, were not barriers but clues. The way she avoided his gaze spoke of fear, yes, but also of recognition, as if in Kal she saw something that frightened or compelled her to flee.
After the girl's departure, Kal remained there alone with his thoughts, the moonlight bathing the room in an ethereal glow. He knew he could not simply dismiss what had happened as an isolated incident. The connection between them, suggested by those shared golden eyes, was a mystery he felt was essential to solve.
Determined to find answers, Kal decided that at dawn he would begin searching for the girl. There was something about her, something inexplicably linked to him and his own quest for identity and purpose. This fortuitous encounter at the inn could hold the key to unraveling more about the powers within Kal and, perhaps, about the very fabric of the world they both belonged to.
Thus, as night progressed in silence, Kal planned his next steps, aware that every encounter, every challenge, brought him closer to the truth. The search for the bald golden-eyed girl was not just a mission for answers; it was a step towards understanding his own destiny, a path he was determined to follow no matter where it led.
The morning brought the promise of a new day. As Kal and Arphaxad headed to the common room of the inn for a breakfast to give them strength to continue their journey, still pondering the events of the previous night, their request for bread and milk reflected the simplicity of their needs, a moment of peace and normality before taking to the road again. However, the tranquility of the moment was abruptly interrupted when the waitress, upon approaching with their order, saw Kal and, for some reason, lost control, dropping the tray with food. The incident drew the attention of the innkeeper, who reacted with a disproportionate anger, punishing the girl with a kick that sent her flying away from them. The violence of the act shocked Kal and Arphaxad.
Moved by a sense of justice and compassion that had always guided him, Kal did not hesitate. Covering his face with the hood to minimize attention to his unusual appearance, he stood up, interceding on behalf of the girl. His offer to pay for the damages was more than just a gesture of responsibility; it was an act of solidarity for someone who was clearly in a vulnerable position.
In extending his hand to help the girl on the floor, Kal not only offered a kind gesture but also recognized the unexpected connection between them. "So your name is Draka," he said, marking the moment with the revelation of a name and, with it, the possibility of unraveling the mysteries the previous night had brought. The girl, Draka, the same who had tried to steal from Kal under the cover of darkness, was now before him in the light of day, exposed and vulnerable.
Draka's immediate reaction was to flee, an attempt to hide in the kitchen and perhaps in the familiarity of her daily chores, away from curious looks and unanswered questions. But for Kal, this encounter was not something he could simply leave behind. There was something about Draka, something reflected in the sharing of their unusual golden eyes, that compelled him to seek understanding, to unravel the role she might play in his own journey.
Decided, Kal expressed to Arphaxad his desire to prolong their stay in Bercuranon. "I have some things to resolve here," he said, his tone suggesting the reasons went beyond the inn incident. For Kal, Bercuranon had become something more meaningful than a mere stop on his journey, a place where paths crossed and destinies might intertwine.
Arphaxad, ever loyal and understanding, nodded in agreement, confident in Kal's intuition and ready to support him, no matter where his decisions led them. For both of them, the journey was made not just of destinations to be reached but also of people encountered along the way, each with their own stories, challenges and mysteries.
The following night, Kal kept a silent vigil, driven by curiosity and intuition that Draka held the key to understanding not just the mysteries surrounding his own journey, but also the shadows enveloping the inn. Upon witnessing the young girl sneak furtively into another guest's room, a spark of disappointment and concern ignited in his chest, but his determination to understand overcame his initial hesitation.
Following Draka outside, Kal kept to the shadows, his ability to move unseen allowing him to observe the unfolding scene. The girl's anxiety was palpable, her murmured words about needing more money revealing a hopelessness Kal felt was deep and complex.
In confronting Draka, the revelation that she knew something about her father's fate added a new layer of complexity to the enigma. Her words, laden with fear and mistrust, suggested Draka's story was intertwined with darker, deeper histories than Kal could have initially imagined. "You won't take me, I know what you did to my father..." This accusation, though directed at him, seemed to reflect conflicts and pains beyond Kal's immediate comprehension.
Kal's confusion at Draka's words was a reflection of his situation - a stranger in an unknown land, enmeshed in mysteries transcending his own quest for identity. "I don't understand, what's happening?" His genuine, concerned question was a plea for clarity, for truths seeming to evade every attempt at understanding.
Kal's decision to let Draka go, despite frustration and a desire to help, recognized that brute force or coercion would not unravel the secrets she guarded. A deeper understanding was needed, an approach acknowledging her pains and fears.
The dawn ended with more questions than answers, with Kal reflecting on his encounters with Draka and what they revealed about Bercuranon's fabric. These brief, misunderstanding-filled interactions were fragments of a larger story, pieces of a puzzle Kal was determined to assemble. In his search for answers, he knew the key lay not just in chasing Draka but in understanding the web of events and destinies that had brought them both to this intersecting point in their lives.
The following morning brought a new mission for Arphaxad, who, at Kal's request, delved into Bercuranon's streets with an unusual objective: to find someone whose eyes resembled his own. The task required not just discretion but also a keen eye for nuances most might overlook. Meanwhile, Kal remained near the inn, his attention focused on encountering Draka, the mysterious girl who was somehow connected to the web of mysteries he strove to unravel.
Arphaxad's return at day's end brought disturbing revelations about Bercuranon. The ancient, time-worn streets and monuments of the city hid deeper secrets than mere vestiges of a distant past. The discovery of soldiers with yellowish gazes, though not as intense as Kal's golden ones, introduced a new layer of complexity to the puzzle they sought to piece together. These soldiers, apparently linked to the Grand Duchy of Saladon, used the ruins of the old white palace as an outpost, a fact Arphaxad managed to glean through his citizen inquiries.
These details not only suggested a strategic military presence of the Grand Duchy of Saladon in Bercuranon but also pointed to a potential connection between Kal's genetic peculiarities and the forces operating within the city. The mention of similar eyes, even vaguely, between Kal and the soldiers could indicate a shared lineage or experiments conducted by Saladon authorities, perhaps seeking to employ or exploit unique abilities linked to these physical characteristics.
The complexity of the situation demanded a careful approach. Kal and Arphaxad found themselves in a game of powers and secrets transcending their initial expectations for the journey to Bercuranon. The presence of the Duchy's soldiers and their patrols around the ruins of the white palace indicated there was more at stake than mere political or territorial issues; something deeper, possibly related to Kal's very essence and the mysterious Draka.
Faced with these revelations, Kal understood the key to unraveling the mysteries of his own origin and Bercuranon's secrets might be interlinked with the presence of these soldiers and the role of the Grand Duchy of Saladon in the region. With these additional puzzle pieces, he knew seeking the truth would require not just courage but also navigating the shadows of intrigue and conspiracy seeming to envelop the city.
Determined to explore these new leads, Kal planned his next move, aware that every discovery brought him closer to the truth but also led him into ever more dangerous and uncertain terrain.