Inside the Rusty Lantern, Kael and Elowen sat across from each other at a wooden table, the noise of the inn buzzing around them. Kael's thoughts, however, remained fixed on the events of moments ago in the street. He could still see the vendor lying on the ground, the jeering Fatewalkers, the injustice of it all. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. His frustration hadn't subsided—if anything, it was worse. He felt trapped by his own lack of power, his ignorance of the "politics" that Elowen referred to. Why didn't she do anything about it? How could she have just turned away?
Elowen watched him quietly, her sharp eyes picking up on the tension in his posture, the way his jaw remained tightly set. She let the silence linger between them for a moment longer before speaking, her tone softer than usual.
"You'll come to understand, in time… how people and reality work in Feysreach, in the Tower. Things aren't always as straightforward as they seem."
Kael's brow furrowed as he glared down at the table, the frustration in his chest mingling with a sense of helplessness.
"It just feels… wrong," he muttered.
"Like everything here has two sides."
"That's because it does," Elowen replied, folding her arms across her chest.
"This city, the Tower, the people—you'll find that the world is full of contradictions. What looks like a clear choice is rarely ever just that."
Kael's fist clenched, his fingers digging into the wood of the table.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Just look the other way?"
Elowen shook her head slowly.
"It's not about looking the other way. It's about knowing when to pick your battles and understanding what's at stake. The truth is, even if you could have done something back there, you'd have gained nothing and put yourself at risk. There's a time and place to make a stand… but that wasn't it."
Her words didn't soothe Kael's anger, but they did begin to chip away at his confusion, making him realize that maybe his frustration came not only from the injustice but also from his own powerlessness to do anything about it.
Sensing the heaviness of the conversation, Elowen's gaze softened, and she leaned forward, changing the subject.
"So… I see you've found yourself some new armor," she said with a small smile.
"For someone who was new to this world a few days ago, you seem to be getting the hang of exploring pretty quickly."
Kael blinked, taken off guard by the shift in tone. He hesitated for a moment, still feeling the remnants of his frustration, but gradually, he found himself easing into the conversation.
"Yeah," he said, glancing down at the dark leather and chainmail covering his arms.
"It's called the Greywolf Mantle. Got it at a shop called Ragged Robes & More."
"The Greywolf Mantle?" Elowen repeated, her interest piqued.
"That's doesn't look like a bad find for someone just starting out. Any luck with its sockets?"
Kael nodded, the discussion of his new armor somehow lifting the mood.
"Yeah, three sockets at that. The first one boosts my resilience if I channel essence through the armor, and the second… well, it's supposed to help with stealth, though I haven't had a chance to test it yet."
"And the third?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's the weird part," Kael said, leaning back in his chair.
"The third socket is just labeled 'The Frenzied Wolf,' but there's no description. It doesn't say what it does, or how I'm supposed to unlock it."
Elowen's expression became more thoughtful, and she nodded slowly.
"Those kinds of sockets are rare," she explained.
"And honestly, it's a bit of a shame. You see, certain sockets require 'conditions' to be met before their abilities manifest. It could be anything—combat experiences, specific challenges, even something as simple as time passing. The Tower doesn't always make it clear."
"So, you're saying I just have to figure it out myself?" Kael asked, frowning at the thought.
"Pretty much," she replied with a slight chuckle.
"But who knows? Maybe you'll be lucky enough to unlock it sooner rather than later. Some Fatewalkers spend their whole lives trying to activate dormant sockets. The Tower's not exactly known for making things easy."
Her words left Kael pondering the nature of his new armor. He glanced down at the Greywolf Mantle, its dark fabric seeming to absorb the light around it, the etched wolf symbol on his shoulder standing out as a stark contrast. The Frenzied Wolf… there was something about it that stirred a strange feeling inside him, like an echo of something familiar, yet unknown.
Elowen noticed the contemplative look in his eyes and decided to steer the conversation toward more pressing matters.
"Armor's all well and good, but we need to talk about something more important," she said, her tone growing serious once more.
"What are you planning to do next, Kael?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, and the mood at the table shifted again. Kael felt a knot of anxiety in his chest, and his mouth went dry as he considered the answer. He had been so focused on surviving day by day that he hadn't thought much about the future. But now, sitting across from Elowen in this bustling city, the reality of his situation loomed over him like a shadow.
"I… I don't really know," he admitted.
"I haven't had a chance to think that far ahead."
Elowen watched him intently, her gaze never wavering.
"Well, you'd better start thinking about it," she said, her tone soft but firm.
"You can't just wander around aimlessly. You need a goal, something to work toward."
Kael hesitated, then spoke the first thought that came to his mind.
"Would you… take me in?" he asked tentatively.
"Teach me, I mean. I could learn from you."
Elowen's reaction was immediate and unyielding.
"Rejected," she said flatly, not even giving him a moment to hope.
Kael felt a stab of disappointment, but before he could say anything, Elowen continued, her voice a bit more gentle this time.
"It's not that I don't want to help, Kael. But I'm deep within the chain of command of House of Ironshard. I have many responsibilities, and missions assigned to me that I can't just pull you in to…" Her expression darkened slightly as she added, almost as an afterthought,
"And besides… there are other complications."
The tone of her voice when she said the last part made Kael pause. There was a weight in her words that suggested something dangerous, something she wasn't telling him. It was as if her responsibilities within the House went beyond simple tasks and duties. He could see it in her eyes—something was troubling her.
But before he could ask, Elowen shook her head and changed the subject.
"Look, you're a good person, Kael. You've got heart. And the last thing I'd want is for you to get dragged into the kind of dark politics and subterfuge that I'm involved in. It's not a world you're ready for… not yet."
Kael listened in silence, feeling a sense of resignation settle over him. She was right. He wasn't ready for whatever complications lay hidden within the House of Ironshard. He was just a beginner, a fledgling Fatewalker with no connections, no experience, and no place to call his own.
Elowen's gaze softened again, and she gave him a reassuring nod.
"The best place for someone like you," she said,
"is the Academy. It's where Fatewalkers begin their true journey. You'd get the training you need, learn the skills that'll help you survive, and most importantly, you'd have the chance to find your own path. If you're serious about growing stronger, that's where you should go."
Kael looked at her, then down at the table, the realization of what she was suggesting sinking in.
"The Argent Academy…" he whispered, more to himself than to her. He had heard the name before, but it had always seemed like something distant, unreachable. Now, it felt like a real possibility—a next step.
"Think about it," Elowen said, her voice gentle but firm.
"You're at a crossroads, Kael. If you want to make something of yourself in this world, the Academy is the place to start."