The 3rd landing stage was bustling with movement and noise. Kael stood beside Elowen and Torvynn, his eyes scanning the flurry of activity around him. The journey ahead loomed large in his mind, filling him with both excitement and apprehension. The unknown path stretched before him, and he realized just how unprepared he felt.
Torvynn, noticing Kael's apprehension, clapped him on the shoulder, his gruff voice breaking through the chaotic thoughts swirling in Kael's head.
"Look, lad, nothin' too extreme's gonna happen while I'm around. You'll be alright." He flashed a toothy grin, though his face looked more like a weathered stone than something capable of expressing comfort.
Kael nodded, trying to take solace in the dwarf's words, though it did little to calm the gnawing feeling in his gut. The Tower was a dangerous place, and Torvynn's words, while reassuring, couldn't erase the dread of the unknown that lay ahead.
Torvynn then turned, scanning the organized chaos until his eyes landed on a figure in the distance.
"Oi! Mallory!" he shouted, his voice booming above the clamor.
A woman with ginger hair, freckles, and oversized circular glasses hurried toward them, clutching a bundle of documents so precariously stacked that Kael was surprised they didn't spill onto the ground. She looked a mix of anxious and exasperated, clearly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that still needed to be done. Her face twisted into a look of forced calmness as she approached, though her hurried steps betrayed the stress she was under.
"Yes, boss?" she responded breathlessly, her tone a mix of exhaustion and impatience.
"Take this one here"—Torvynn motioned toward Kael—
"to the 5th Ironhauler. That's where he'll be ridin' for the journey."
Mallory sighed, clearly already juggling far too many tasks.
"Right, boss." She nodded, then shot Kael a tired but polite smile, as if apologizing for the inconvenience her boss was adding to her already overloaded day.
Kael, who was trying to process everything happening around him, glanced at Torvynn with a hint of confusion.
"Wait… you're not coming with me?"
Torvynn shook his head.
"I'll be at the front of the convoy. Gotta keep things in order, don't ya think?. Don't worry, lad, we'll see each other often enough. But that 5th Ironhauler? That's yours for the trip. Get used to it."
With that, Torvynn turned away and began barking orders at a group of workers struggling to load supplies into the Ironhaulers. His voice cut through the cacophony of merchants, laborers, and Fatewalkers like a drill sergeant commanding a battalion. For a dwarf, his presence commanded the chaos with impressive force.
Mallory sighed again, as if dealing with Torvynn's relentless energy was part of her daily burden.
"Come on," she muttered, glancing at Kael.
"I'll show you to your Ironhauler. Not that I don't have a hundred other things to do…"
Before Kael could follow, Elowen's voice called out to him from behind.
"Kael."
He turned to face her, his heart suddenly heavy. She stood there, looking as calm and composed as ever, her black raven hair swaying slightly in the morning breeze, her familiar axe strapped securely across her back. Elowen had become his guide, his protector in this vast, dangerous world. Now, he was about to step forward on his own, and that reality hit him harder than he expected.
For a long moment, they stood in silence, the noise of the landing stage seeming to fade away. Kael struggled to find the right words, realizing that this might be the last time he'd see Elowen for a long while.
"Guess this is it," Kael said, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Elowen nodded.
"Yeah, it looks like it." She hesitated before continuing.
"The Tower is a big place, Kael, and it's hard to know where our paths will take us. Fatewalkers are always moving, always seeking. The road ahead is long and complicated."
She stepped closer, her eyes soft but serious.
"We don't know when we'll see each other again. That's just how it is. The Tower has a funny way of separating people, but if it so wishes, we'll meet again. When you're stronger… when you've found your place in all this."
Kael swallowed hard, feeling a lump rise in his throat. He had come to rely on Elowen more than he had realized. Now, as she spoke about the uncertainty of their next meeting, the weight of the journey ahead seemed to grow even heavier.
"Thank you, Elowen," he said, his voice quieter than he intended.
"For everything. You saved me back in the Grey Area, helped me when I didn't even know what I was doing, and guided me through this insane place. I… I don't think I could have made it this far without you."
Elowen's lips curled into a soft smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"You'll be fine, Kael. You've got a lot of heart, and you're learning fast. Just… keep your wits about you."
Her hand landed on his shoulder, giving him a hard pat that nearly knocked the wind out of him. Kael stumbled slightly, his meager strength no match for the casual force of an Acolyte like Elowen.
She grinned, amused by his reaction. "Lightweight," she teased.
Kael couldn't help but chuckle. For a moment, it felt like everything was normal, like they could laugh and joke just like they had before. But then the reality of their parting set back in, and the weight returned.
Elowen's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Kael… one last thing." Her tone was laced with gravity, and Kael immediately straightened, sensing the importance of her words.
"Trust only yourself in the Tower. No one else. People here… they have their own agendas, and you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone who won't stab you in the back if it means getting ahead. So watch your back."
Her words struck Kael like a hammer. He had seen glimpses of the Tower's harsh reality, but hearing it from Elowen in such a blunt, personal way made it feel all the more real.
"I… I understand," Kael replied, nodding.
"I'll be careful."
Elowen gave him one last smile, this time softer and warmer. She patted his back gently, a far cry from the earlier hit that nearly knocked him over.
"Good luck, Kael," she said quietly.
"I hope our paths cross again."
And with that, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowded landing stage. Kael watched her go, feeling an unfamiliar emptiness in her absence. For the first time since waking up in the Tower, he felt truly alone again.
Mallory cleared her throat, bringing Kael back to reality.
"We should get moving," she said, her tone impatient.
"There's a lot to do."
Kael nodded, tightening the straps of his Greywolf Mantle. "Yeah… let's go."
They walked together toward the Ironhauler, and though the noise of the landing stage filled the air, Kael's thoughts were elsewhere. He replayed Elowen's words over and over in his mind. The Tower was vast, its dangers countless, and its people unpredictable. He had learned a lot in his short time with Elowen, but now he would have to forge his own path.
But as they got closer to the Ironhauler, Kael couldn't shake the lingering feeling of uncertainty. Yes, he had a direction now, a goal. The Argent Academy almost was within his sights. But the journey there would be perilous, and he had no idea what lay ahead.
For the first time in days, he felt the cold grip of fear tighten around his heart.
And for the first time, he truly realized… he was alone again, despite being surrounded by so many people.