In the city of darkness.
River kept her gaze on the horizon, where the shadows blurred with the farthest edge of the city boundaries. Her breath was steady, her posture unwavering. The air in the city of darkness was heavy tonight, more oppressive than usual.
The dim torches lining the city's narrow streets struggled to beat back the encroaching gloom. Every flicker seemed like a signal of impending doom. A single misstep, one moment of lost light, and they would be swallowed whole.
"Are you certain of what you saw?" The messenger's voice cut through the heavy silence, laced with doubt.
River shifted her eyes to him briefly, her expression cold and indifferent. She didn't bother to reply. Instead, she looked back into the darkness, past the boundaries of the city, where the Nexus Realm lay waiting.
Her silence was deliberate. She wasn't going to waste her breath on someone who wouldn't understand. Words here had weight, and speaking too freely could easily betray intentions. The messenger, sensing the coldness in her demeanor, cleared his throat nervously.
"I request an audience with Lord Kylie," River finally spoke, her voice firm. "I will explain what we saw in the darkness to him directly."
The messenger's hesitation was palpable. He knew River's reputation, and while he was tasked with delivering messages for the city's leader, he didn't dare challenge her. Yet, protocol demanded he try. "My Lady, I could pass on the message to Lord Kylie myself. It might—"
"No." River cut him off, her voice like iron. "This is not something you can relay. I will speak to him personally."
The finality in her tone silenced the messenger, leaving him no choice. He reluctantly turned and went to inform Kylie. River watched him leave, her expression unchanged. But inwardly, her thoughts churned.
'How do I escape?' she mused. It was a question that had haunted her for weeks, ever since the first shadow walker appeared on the outskirts of the city.
It had been only a matter of time before the Nexus Realm encroached further, and now, with the creatures of the dark growing bolder, the city of darkness was no longer safe.
But escaping wouldn't be easy. The city's defenses were formidable, and the dark forces beyond the walls were relentless. The Nexus Realm was like a labyrinth that sapped at one's strength, mind, and soul.
The longer they remained, the weaker they became until, inevitably, their souls would go supernova, lost to the shadows forever. And Kylie, for all his strength and resources, was content to sit within his city walls, pretending the darkness couldn't reach them.
No, River needed to stir something deep within the people. She needed to fuel their determination, spark their will to survive.
Only then would they have enough manpower to make a real escape. But that would require cunning, manipulation. Every word, every action from this moment on had to be precise, calculated.
"Lady River," the messenger's voice broke through her thoughts. He had returned, looking somewhat uneasy. "Lord Kylie is ready to meet you."
River offered a brief nod and followed him through the winding streets, toward the city's heart where Kylie's stronghold stood.
The twisting stairs leading to the meeting hall were dimly lit, their shadows dancing on the walls as if alive.
She felt a chill crawl up her spine. It was nighttime, and the lightning in the city had stopped flashing sporadically. This meant one thing: the darkness outside was thickening.
When they reached the doors, the guards checked River thoroughly for signs of corruption. It was a routine procedure, especially for anyone venturing near the boundaries, but the scrutiny still felt invasive.
Her team had been checked as well, though they were not allowed inside. River didn't mind. This meeting had to be handled delicately, and the fewer eyes on her, the better.
Inside the hall, Kylie sat waiting. He was a striking man, clad in golden armor that seemed to radiate a faint glow, a stark contrast to the shadows that clung to the city around them. His presence was commanding, but not overwhelming.
He didn't need to raise his voice to show his authority; it was understood the moment anyone stepped into his presence.
"River of the Broken Swords Clan," Kylie greeted her, his voice even, but with a hint of something sharper beneath the surface. "What urgent matter brings you here?"
River didn't answer immediately. She took in the scene, the subtle power plays in the room. Kylie sat deliberately in the center of the hall, flanked by his advisors, yet none of them spoke. They were like shadows themselves, mere extensions of his will.
He hadn't offered her a seat either, which was another tactic. Keep the guest uncomfortable, off-balance. But River had expected this.
Without asking for permission, she took a seat, crossing her legs as if she were the one in control here. She met Kylie's gaze with unwavering calm. The tension between them thickened like a coiling serpent, unspoken but unmistakable.
"We encountered a shadow walker in the darkness," River said finally, her voice steady.
Kylie raised an eyebrow, though his face remained composed. "And does that require my personal attention? You could have reported that to the investigative unit."
"It's not about the shadow walker itself." River's tone sharpened slightly. "It's about what it signifies. The creatures are getting bolder, more organized. The city's defenses will not hold indefinitely, and you know it."
Kylie leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled thoughtfully. "And what exactly do you propose, River? More men on the walls? Another exploration team to map out the edges of the Nexus Realm? Or do you think you've found the answer to our survival?"
River smiled faintly. It was a cold, calculating smile. "I propose we stop pretending that this city is our salvation.
The Nexus Realm is closing in, and it's only a matter of time before we're overrun. I'm not here to suggest more defenses or half-hearted exploration missions. I'm here to talk about escaping."
The word *escaping* hung in the air like a heavy weight. The tension in the room thickened, and the advisors exchanged uneasy glances. Kylie's eyes narrowed, though his posture remained relaxed.
"You think you can escape from the Nexus Realm?" Kylie's voice was soft, but there was a mocking edge to it. "You're not the first to suggest such a thing. I've spent fifteen years trying to find a gateway back to the waking world. Do you think you can succeed where so many others have failed?"
"I don't think," River replied, her voice cold and unyielding. "I know I can."
A flicker of something—perhaps amusement, perhaps irritation—crossed Kylie's face. He leaned forward slightly, his golden armor catching the dim light.
"I admire your confidence, River. Truly, I do. But you're playing with fire. Angering the creatures that slumber in the darkness by attempting to leave could be perilous. These Nexus Creatures—" his voice lowered— "they've tasted the flesh of the corrupted god. Do you really believe you stand a chance against forces like that?"
"I'm not here to ask for your permission, Kylie." River's eyes darkened. "I'm here to tell you that I will leave this city. I will find a team, and we will venture into the darkness. All I need from you are the resources in the city's treasury. If you refuse, I will find another way to get them."
Kylie's smile vanished, replaced by a grimace. The air between them crackled with tension, the unspoken threat hanging in the space. "No. I won't allow you to endanger my city, River. I've spent too long building this sanctuary.
If you try to take from the treasury, I will have you stopped. As for the shadow walker, I will send hunters and another exploration team to deal with it. But I will not entertain any foolish notion of escaping."
River didn't flinch. She had expected this response, but she wasn't finished. The game wasn't over yet.
"You may be the leader of this city, Kylie," River said slowly, her voice dripping with controlled defiance. "But even you cannot control the will of the people. You've built your sanctuary on fear, convincing them that the darkness will consume them if they step beyond the walls.
But fear can only hold for so long. Eventually, survival will drive them to act. And when it does, I will be leading them into the Nexus Realm, whether you like it or not."
Kylie's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "River, do not underestimate me. Your adopted father's authority may hold weight in the waking world, but here, it means nothing. I rule this city. And if you try to defy me, I will crush you."
There it was, the direct threat. But River remained unfazed. She had expected this too.
"I decide the fate of my city," Kylie continued, his voice rising. "I own the lives of everyone who takes refuge here. In this place, I alone am the exalted one."
River met his gaze evenly. "We'll see about that."
With that, she stood, her movements slow and deliberate, her eyes never leaving Kylie's. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on, but River remained calm, even as she turned her back on him and walked out.
The game was just beginning.