The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the village of Elmreach. Ayla leaned on her broom, her gaze lingering on the distant mountains. The rough wood bit into her palms, but the ache reminded her that she was still here, grounded in her small, unremarkable life.
The quiet of the evening settled around her like a shroud. There was a certain peace to these moments after a long day in the fields, but lately, it left Ayla feeling hollow. As the youngest of four siblings, each more talented or brave than the last, Ayla felt like little more than a shadow, always fading behind her family's stronger, braver forms. It was as though fate had placed her here, in this tiny village, just to watch the world pass by.
As she swept the last bit of straw from the inn's steps, a deep voice cut through the silence. "You missed a spot."
Ayla startled, turning to see the speaker—a young man in a worn cloak, dusted with the grime of the road. His gaze was sharp, yet his eyes held a glint of mischief. His face was half-hidden by his hood, but she could tell he was older than her, maybe by a year or two.
"Do I know you?" she asked, squinting at him in the dying light.
"No," he replied, pulling back his hood to reveal dark hair, a sharp jawline, and a faint scar that curved just above his left eyebrow. "But that could change, if you're feeling friendly."
Ayla huffed, brushing past him as she turned to the inn door. "I'm not here to make friends."
He chuckled, a low, quiet sound that was somehow more irritating than any jeer. "Fair enough. Not much of a socialite, are you?"
"No," she replied, refusing to meet his gaze. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Who are you, anyway?"
"Kai," he replied simply. "And I'm just passing through." He paused, then gave her a sidelong glance. "Though, it seems like you're the one standing still."
Her cheeks warmed with annoyance. "I'm not… standing still," she muttered. "I'm busy."
Kai shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. "Everyone's busy here. It's not exactly a place of dreams, is it?"
Ayla didn't have an answer for that. She'd always known that Elmreach was… quiet. Predictable. Even her siblings seemed to feel it, though they'd never say it out loud. Still, it stung to hear a stranger dismiss her entire world as something small and insignificant.
Kai must have sensed her irritation, because he changed the subject, nodding toward the village square. "There's a storm coming," he said. "And not just the kind that leaves water behind."
Ayla blinked, taken aback. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see soon enough," he replied, a strange glint in his eyes. "Mark my words, this village won't stay quiet for long."
With that, he turned and disappeared down the path, leaving Ayla staring after him, her heart beating a little faster than before. The sun had fully set, and darkness crept over the village, settling in the corners and shadows.
That night, as Ayla lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was on the edge of something. She didn't know if it was fear or excitement, but a strange restlessness bloomed in her chest, whispering of things to come.