The underground city was never quiet for long. Even in the dead of night, the hum of magic reverberated through the streets, whispering through the stone walls like a living thing. Caelan moved through the alleys, his steps swift and silent. He was heading back to The Broken Sigil, but the weight of his mission pressed harder on him with every step. Aldric would be sending his forces soon, and the knowledge Caelan now carried in his satchel would only make him a larger target.
The streets were emptier than usual, the few figures he passed keeping their heads low and their cloaks pulled tight. Word had already spread. The whispers of his return echoed off the walls, carried on the magical currents of the city. Valkar Draith wouldn't stay trapped in Caelan's spell for long, and when he escaped, Aldric would know everything.
As he neared the inn, a shadow slipped out from a nearby alleyway, falling into step beside him. Caelan didn't flinch; he recognized the presence before she spoke.
"You're making this more dangerous than it needs to be," Liora Greyflame said, her voice low.
"I never expected it to be easy," Caelan replied, his tone cool. "And neither did you."
Liora's silver tattoos glinted faintly in the dim light, their glow reflecting the ethereal magic that coursed through her veins. She glanced at Caelan, her eyes sharp and filled with something that hovered between concern and frustration.
"Valkar is going to get free, Caelan," she said. "And when he does, Aldric will send more than just an enforcer. You've put a target on your back."
"I had a target on my back the moment I left Winstor," Caelan said calmly, his gaze forward. "Aldric already knows I'm a threat. I'm just forcing his hand."
Liora stopped suddenly, grabbing his arm and pulling him into a side alley, away from prying eyes. Her grip was firm, her eyes blazing with intensity. "And what happens when you force Aldric's hand? You think you're ready for what he's going to unleash?"
Caelan met her gaze evenly. "I've been ready for years."
Liora's expression softened for just a moment, her hand dropping from his arm. "You're not the same as you were when you left the academy, Caelan. But neither is Aldric. He's been preparing, too."
"I know," Caelan replied, his voice steady. "That's why I need your help."
Liora's eyes narrowed. "My help?"
Caelan took a step closer, lowering his voice. "The book I took from the archives—it has the knowledge I need. But it's not complete. There are pieces missing, and I don't have time to search through ancient texts. You've been working in the shadows for years, gathering information. I need you to help me find the missing pieces."
Liora crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "And what makes you think I'll risk my neck for you?"
"Because you know what's at stake," Caelan said, his voice quiet but firm. "Aldric's vision of magic—it's a world where power is controlled, divided into light and dark, good and evil. But you and I both know magic is more than that. It's neutral. It's a force, not a moral compass. If Aldric wins, he'll lock the world into his version of control, and the rest of us will be left in the dark."
Liora was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching Caelan's face. Finally, she sighed, shaking her head. "You always knew how to give a good speech."
"I'm not asking for speeches," Caelan said, his tone softening. "I'm asking for help."
Liora stared at him, her gaze unwavering. "Fine. I'll help you. But this doesn't make us allies, Varyn. I've got my own agenda, and if it ever comes down to choosing between you and my survival, don't expect me to pick you."
"I wouldn't ask you to," Caelan replied.
Liora gave him one last long look, then nodded. "Meet me tomorrow night, same place we met last time. I'll bring the information you need."
Before Caelan could respond, Liora turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving him alone in the alleyway. The air around him felt heavier, the weight of the impending conflict pressing down on him from all sides.
He continued on to The Broken Sigil, his mind racing. Liora was right—this was more dangerous than anything he had faced before. But Caelan had never been one to shy away from danger. He had lived his life in the shadows, navigating the delicate balance between control and chaos. Now, with the knowledge of Aether in his hands, he had the power to tip that balance—and he intended to use it.
Back at The Broken Sigil, the inn was quiet, save for the low murmur of voices from the few patrons who still lingered at the bar. Caelan moved through the main room unnoticed, his cloak pulled tight around him as he made his way to the small room he had rented for the night.
Once inside, he bolted the door and pulled the book from his satchel, placing it on the small table by the window. The worn leather cover felt heavy in his hands, the weight of centuries of forgotten knowledge pressing against his fingers. He opened it slowly, the pages crackling softly as he turned to the sections Thornwyn had mentioned.
The text was written in an ancient language, one that only a handful of scholars still understood. Caelan had spent years studying these languages, preparing himself for this moment. His eyes moved over the intricate script, deciphering the meaning behind the words.
Aether.
The magic that had existed before the separation of light and dark, before the academy had decided to classify magic into categories of good and evil. It was a raw force, untamed and unbound by the rules of the modern world. And it was this force that Caelan needed if he was going to bring down Aldric.
But as he read further, a knot of unease began to form in his chest. The text spoke of the dangers of Aether, of the risks involved in trying to harness such a volatile power. It had destroyed those who had come before him—mages far more powerful than Caelan, who had believed they could control it.
Caelan's fingers paused over the next passage, his breath catching in his throat. The text described a ritual, a way to unlock the true potential of Aether. But it was incomplete. Pages were missing, torn from the book long ago, leaving only fragments of the instructions.
He closed the book, his mind racing. Thornwyn had been right—this was only part of the puzzle. The rest of the knowledge was out there, hidden in the archives of forgotten scholars and lost to the shadows of time. He would need more than just this book to fully understand Aether. And he would need to move quickly. Aldric wouldn't wait for him to figure it out.
As he sat in the dim light of his room, Caelan's thoughts turned to Roderic Valka and the underground resistance. Roderic had been cautious when they last spoke, warning Caelan of the dangers of confronting Aldric head-on. But Caelan didn't have the luxury of caution anymore. The time for subtlety was over. If he was going to stop Aldric, he would need to gather his allies and strike first.
But first, he needed more information. Liora's network of spies and contacts was vast, and if anyone could find the missing pieces of the puzzle, it was her. She had access to parts of the city that even Caelan couldn't reach, and her knowledge of the magical underground was unmatched.
He stood, pulling his cloak around him once more. There was no time to waste. He had a war to prepare for, and the first move would be his.
The next night, Caelan stood in the shadows of the meeting place, waiting for Liora to arrive. The alley was dark, the faint glow of the enchanted crystals barely cutting through the gloom. The city felt quieter than usual, as though it was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break.
Liora appeared silently from the other end of the alley, her movements smooth and calculated. She approached Caelan with the same air of confidence she always carried, but there was a tension in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
"I have what you asked for," she said, her voice low. "But it's worse than we thought."
Caelan frowned. "What do you mean?"
Liora handed him a small bundle of papers, her expression grim. "Aldric's been planning this for a long time. He's not just consolidating power—he's building something. A weapon. Something that could change the balance of magic forever."
Caelan's heart skipped a beat as he unfolded the papers, scanning the words quickly. The more he read, the more the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Aldric wasn't just seeking to control magic—he was preparing to reshape it, to bend it to his will in a way that no one had ever attempted before.
If Aldric succeeded, the world as they knew it would change forever. Magic would no longer be a force to be wielded—it would become something far more dangerous, something that only Aldric could control.
"We need to move fast," Caelan said, his voice tight with urgency. "Before Aldric completes whatever he's building."
Liora nodded. "I've already put out feelers. We'll have more information soon, but we can't wait for everything to fall into place. We need to act now."
Caelan's jaw clenched. "Then we gather the others. Roderic, Thornwyn, anyone willing to fight. This ends now."