Kael and Elowen walked in near silence, their footsteps echoing softly on the cobblestone streets as they made their way through Feysreach toward one of the city's less frequented outskirts. It wasn't the same gate Kael had entered when he first arrived in the city, but a different one on the opposite side, where fewer people roamed. The early morning light painted the sky in soft hues of orange and gold, casting long shadows from the towering trees that surrounded the city.
Kael found himself staring at the world around him with a sense of growing melancholy. This would be his last look at Feysreach for a long time; possibly forever. As he took in the beauty and mystery of the city, he felt a strange mix of emotions—excitement for the journey ahead, but also a nagging apprehension. For Elowen, this moment probably meant little. She was already a well-established Fatewalker, one with control over an authority, and her path had long been set. She must have seen countless people come and go, faces drifting in and out of her life like shadows.
But for Kael, this separation felt like leaving behind his last true pocket of safety. Feysreach had been a sanctuary, a brief respite from the harsh realities of the Tower. Now, as they walked, he couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. His time in the Tower had been brief, and yet it already felt like a lifetime. He had clawed his way out of life-or-death situations, struggling to survive in a world that seemed indifferent to his existence. Feysreach had been different—it had offered him shelter, a glimpse of what life could be like beyond constant fear.
But now, he would leave it behind.
Elowen glanced at Kael but said nothing. Perhaps she sensed his reluctance, or maybe she, too, was grappling with the unspoken weight of their parting. They had walked much of the way in silence, and neither seemed eager to break it.
Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the main landing stage hall. Kael's eyes widened at the sight. The building was immense, its high arches stretching far above them as they stepped inside. It was alive with activity—people bustling back and forth, carrying crates of supplies, tools, and merchandise. Merchants and transport crews shouted orders, their voices blending into the steady hum of preparations for departure.
They were headed for the 3rd landing stage, where Torvynn and the Raven's Gate Caravan Company would be waiting. Kael tried to take it all in—the controlled chaos of it all, the sheer scale of the operation. The tower was vast, and so too were its dangers. Transporting goods and people between regions wasn't just a matter of convenience; it was a necessity. But it was also incredibly dangerous.
Within the domains controlled by Noble Houses, there were more secure methods of travel. Noble houses possessed airships powered by essence and runes, allowing them to soar through the skies and bypass the perils that lurked on the ground between domains and regions. Then there were the teleportation circles, point-to-point gateways between important cities and domains. These, however, were reserved for the elite—the wealthy and powerful. For the average person, even a Fatewalker like Kael, such luxuries were out of reach.
And Kael was certainly not a man of wealth or privilege. His status as a fledgling Fatewalker with no connections and no coin meant that he would be traveling the hard way—on the ground. Ground travel between regions was no simple task. It required convoys like the one they were about to embark on, reinforced against the threats of the Tower. But even these convoys were not without their dangers. As Elowen had explained to him, the journey ahead would be anything but easy.
They continued through the hall, navigating through the bustling crowds. The air smelled of dust, sweat, and a faint hint of something metallic. Kael caught sight of one of the convoys—the steel-plated vehicles lined up in a row, each reinforced with thick armor along the sides. The wheels were enormous, six on each of them, giving the whole convoy a sturdy, almost unbreakable look. Yet despite their size and protection, Kael knew they weren't invincible, nothing really was in the Tower after all. What sort of monsters would they be facing out there that required such heavy defenses?
As they drew closer to the convoy, Kael spotted a familiar figure standing at the front, perched on a crate with a notepad that seemed far too large for him. Torvynn, the gruff dwarf who led the Raven's Gate Caravan Company, was barking orders at the team of workers hauling supplies into the vehicles. The scene was chaotic, with lesser beings—non-Fatewalkers who supported these expeditions—scurrying around like ants, each trying to fulfill their duties under the stern guidance of Torvynn.
Despite the chaos, the dwarf seemed to have everything under control. He moved with the authority of someone who had done this a thousand times, and his voice cut through the noise with precision. Kael couldn't help but admire the efficiency of it all. It was clear that Torvynn ran a tight ship, and he wasn't afraid to shout at anyone who fell behind.
As they approached, Torvynn finally noticed them. His eyes narrowed as he took in Elowen and Kael, but a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he stepped down from his crate and strode over to meet them.
"Well, look who decided to show up," Torvynn grumbled, though there was a hint of warmth beneath his rough tone. He glanced up at Elowen and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"Elowen."
She nodded in return, her expression softening slightly as she greeted him.
"Torvynn. Looks like you're as busy as ever."
"Busy doesn't even begin to cover it," Torvynn replied, shaking his head in exasperation.
"These fools barely know their heads from their feet. But we'll get it done. We always do."
Kael remained quiet, unsure of how to jump into the conversation. He still wasn't entirely comfortable around Torvynn. The dwarf's gruff demeanor and no-nonsense attitude were a little intimidating, though Kael was beginning to understand that Torvynn wasn't nearly as harsh as he appeared. Elowen had reassured him the night before that despite his rough exterior, Torvynn was a decent man at heart.
Torvynn turned his attention to Kael, sizing him up with a critical eye.
"So, ready for the trip, are ya?"
Kael nodded, feeling a little self-conscious under the dwarf's intense gaze but still excited for the upcoming trip.
"Yup, I'm ready."
Torvynn raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with Kael's response.
He folded his arms over his chest and leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes studying Kael's face.
"Lemme' tell you something, boy."
Kael blinked, suddenly nervous under the dwarf's scrutiny.
"What's that?"
Torvynn's voice dropped, taking on a more serious tone.
"The fruits of success carry the seeds of decay."
Kael frowned, confused by the cryptic statement. He glanced at Elowen for some sort of explanation, but she remained silent, her gaze focused on Torvynn.
The dwarf straightened up and gave Kael a hard look.
"You're excited, I can tell. But don't let that excitement fool ya. This journey ain't going to be a pleasant stroll through the fields. You'll see things out there that'll turn your stomach, things you ain't prepared for. Keep that in mind."
Kael swallowed hard, his earlier excitement dampened by the dwarf's words. The reality of the journey was beginning to settle in. He wasn't just setting out on an adventure—he was stepping into a world of danger, a world where survival was never guaranteed.
Torvynn gave him one last nod, then turned back to the convoy, shouting more orders to the workers. Elowen placed a hand on Kael's shoulder, offering him a small, reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," she said softly, a hint of sarcasm lacing her voice.
"You'll be fine. Especially with that bundle of joy leading the way. Nothing says security quite like an angry dwarf barking orders, right?"
Kael wasn't so sure. But with Elowen's hand on his shoulder and the bustling world of the caravan around him, he knew there was no turning back now.