After several minutes, the situation in the alley was already under control. The bandits had fled in a hurry, some with serious bruises, and the boy who had just been at the root of the confrontation was now leaning against the wall, breathing heavily, and avoiding the gaze of Kellan and Anabell.
Kellan walked over to him and looked at the boy intently, waiting for him to speak. Finally, the young man looked up, and in his eyes, there was something between anger and resignation and regret.
- Like them...- he began quietly, clenching his fists. - They are in charge here. If you are an orphan and want to survive, then... You must do what they say.
Anabell frowned, looking sympathetically at the boy. She knew about the problems of big cities, where the guards are not able to control everything, but forcing children to commit crimes is cruel.
- They make offers that you cannot refuse, right? The man asked in a calm voice.
- Y.... yes...- the boy snorted bitterly, staring at the ground. - Those who stood up disappeared or ended up for show.
Kellan sighed, trying to find the right words.
- Your name is Finn; did I hear right? - He asked, wanting to establish a thread of understanding with him.
- Exactly, - the boy replied quietly. - And what? - Do you think that if we talk, something will change? If you plan to preach morals to me, do not bother yourself.
Kellan exchanged glances with Anabell, then put his hand on the boy's shoulder and looked deeply into his eyes. His eyes penetrated the thief, and he would have sworn that for a moment he saw a strange glow in them. Though he could only think so. Finn tore his eyes away, staring at the ground again, then just nodded, seeing something in Kellan's eyes that he did not understand.
- They have several hiding places, but the biggest one is the one at the fish market. An old orphanage, once run by priestesses, has been taken over by them and is their cover. Even the guards are aware of this, but if they enter there, the children and priestesses become human shields.
- Thank you for this information, this situation interrupted our viewing of the show, we will go back there for the finale? It is always worth watching it to the end, - he said, trying to relax the atmosphere a bit.
Anabell smiled, leaning in slightly to look Finn in the eye. - What do you say? - I saw kids running around and laughing like crazy. It is worth seeing what else they have prepared.
Finn shrugged, trying to hide the shadow of his smile. He muttered, as if he were saying it only to himself.
Kellan and Anabell exchanged glances. It was a small step, but the first one on the way to something more - a little hope in his life.
- Let us go, then, - Kellan said, moving forward.
Anabell nodded and gently patted Finn on the shoulder, pointing him out the way beside her. The boy sighed, but followed them, letting them lead him.
When they returned to the crowd, the noise seemed even more intense than before. People approached the stage, forming a tight group around the performing artists. Kellan, Anabell, and Finn squeezed between the spectators until they finally stood where they could see the stage clearly. For Finn, this was a new and strangely foreign moment - usually, being in such a crowd, he had to be alert and focused on the pockets of the audience, not on the show. Now, however, for the first time, he could afford to stop for a moment and watch the performance. His eyes lit up with slight delight as he followed the actors' fluid movements and heard their loud, loud voices wafting over the crowd.
Anabell, seeing his reaction, smiled gently. Taking advantage of a moment of calm, she moved closer to Kellan and asked quietly:
- And what are you going to do with the information about the orphanage? -
Kellan looked at her calmly, then replied just as quietly:
- I will report it to the appropriate services.
Anabell nodded, though there was a hint of doubt in her gaze. Finn himself said that the guards knew about this cover- up very well, and yet he was going to report it. It was an outright lie, the question was why.
The performance ended with a storm of applause, and the actors bowed several times, receiving a well- deserved ovation from the audience. The crowd began to slowly disperse, and the streets of the city were slowly drowning in gray, the day was ending, and dusk was falling over the city. The lanterns were slowly lit to begin to flicker, casting a warm, subdued light on the stone cobblestones.
Kellan, Anabell, and Finn walked a short distance from the plaza, letting the crowd disperse at their own pace. When they were in a quieter alley, Anabell looked at the boy and asked:
- Finn, do you have a place to spend the night? -
The boy glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, shrugging his shoulders.
- Well, if someone chased those bandits, - he said with a hint of amusement in his voice, furtively looking at Kelan, - then there is nowhere to go back to. They will not let me go.
Anabell exchanged a quick glance with Kellan, understanding the gravity of the situation. She ran a strand of hair behind her ear, then smiled slightly at Finn.
- In that case...- If you wish, you can spend the night at the inn where we stayed. There will certainly be a free room.
Finn looked at her in surprise, and then his expression softened. He looked grateful, though he did not know how to express it.
- Seriously? He asked with a slight disbelief. - However, I do not have money to afford peace...
- Really, - Anabell replied with a smile. - After today, you deserve a good night's sleep in a safe place, all at my expense. -
So, they walked together towards the inn, through the narrow, shadowy streets of the city. There was a pleasant silence between them; Finn did not try to pretend to be tough as before, now he walked past them calmly, looking around with a little more trust.
The inn to which they were heading was a little off the beaten track. Entering the room, they immediately felt a pleasant warmth, and the air was filled with the smell of stewed vegetables and spices. Of course, there were a dozen or so questions from Anabell's escort. She assured that it was an ordinary walk, without any disturbing situations. The murmur of conversations mingled with the sounds of mugs and cutlery, and a fire was shooting in the fireplace, illuminating the interior with soft light. Kellan exchanged a brief glance with his host, pointing at Finn. After a while, the owner led them to a modest but clean room on the first floor. When they opened the door, Finn could not help but take a quick look into the room: the bed was small but comfortable, and next to it was a small cabinet and a sink with a jug of water.
Anabell smiled at the boy at his reaction.
- Don't worry, Finn. Today is your place, - she said gently. - I hope you get a good night's sleep. - I also asked for dinner, so if you look around, go down to the main room. The boy nodded, still hesitant. He looked like he did not believe what was happening. He turned to Kellan and Anabell, as if searching for words, and then spoke softly:
- Thanks. I cannot remember the last time—- he paused, staring at the bed.
Kellan nodded, looking at him with a slight smile.
- Rest, Finn. You deserve it, - he said, closing the door behind him.
- Do you think Finn can manage it on his own when we leave? - She asked quietly.
- He's clever and agile, but... It does not hurt to make sure he finds the right company, - he replied calmly. - This night at the inn will be the beginning of something better for him. -
Anabell smiled slightly, relieved. Though she was still full of concern for the young thief, she now hoped that something would change for the better.
- I think it would be worth calling on Seraphina, my friend, I think she should go home now.
Kellan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Anabell's friend's name.
- Seraphina, - he repeated slowly, as if considering every sound of the name. - You said earlier that she was a sorceress and an herbalist.
Anabell nodded with a gentle smile.
- And it is, - she assured. - Seraphina is more than just an herbalist. For as long as I can remember, he has been crazy about legends, prophecies, and all old stories. Of course, she is an extremely talented sorceress, and her knowledge and enthusiasm are second to none. I think she would be able to help. Especially when it comes to your suspicions about this legend.
Kellan fixed his eyes on Anabell, pausing for a moment. At the memory of this legend, he was lost in thought, as if he were going back in his memory to times and events that hardly anyone remembered anymore. Anabell saw a hint of mystery in his gaze, as if the story of the Shadow Lord were more than a forgotten tale to him. Suddenly, she felt that meeting Seraphina could be crucial, not only to their mission, but to understanding Kellan himself.
Without further delay, Anabell and Kellan left the bustle of the inn, leaving behind the warmth of the fire and the smell of stewed food. The night was cool and the air crisp; the full moon cast a silvery light on the cobblestone streets, leading them toward Seraphina's home.
The road was not long, but it led them through a few winding streets on the outskirts of the city, where the bustle of street vendors gave way to silence, broken only by the sounds of night birds and the murmur of the wind in the treetops. Finally, they reached a small hut on the outskirts of the city center. From behind the windows, you could understand something clearly at last, which was slightly blocked by dried herbs that hung in the window frame.
Anabell stopped in front of the door, looking at Kelan.
- It is here. Seraphina is already home, - she whispered with a slight.
The door opened slowly before they could knock, and the figure of Seraphina appeared in the light of the lit streetlamps. A young, charming sorceress. She had long, dark hair that fell freely over her shoulders, and her eyes shone with warmth and kindness. She was dressed simply, in a bright dress with delicate decorations at the sleeves, and around her neck hung a small amulet in the shape of a star. Her smile lit up her face as soon as she saw Anabell.
- Anabell! - She cried with joy and immediately threw herself at her friend, embracing her cordially. She hugged her tightly, as if they had not seen each other in years, even though it had only been a few weeks.
- I missed you! She said enthusiastically, stepping back for a moment to look at her.
Kellan watched their meeting with a slight smile, and after a moment he noticed something intriguing in Seraphin.
- Me too, Seraphina. She replied, laughing slightly.
Then the sorceress's gaze shifted to Kellan, standing next to her, whose presence immediately attracted her attention. She looked at him curiously for a moment, as if she saw something familiar in his face and attitude, although she could not yet define it.
- And who is that? We have not seen each other for a few weeks, and you are already bringing the boy? She asked playfully, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile.
Kellan's slightly surprised expression swept through the young sorceress, and after a moment his eyes moved to Anabell, but before he could answer, she was the first to do so.
- It is Kellan. He is not my boyfriend. It helps me with.... certain things, - she explained, without going into details.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes, trying to read more of the mysterious aura around him, but quickly returned to her carefree tone.
- Ah, I understand. So, Kellan, if you are Anabell's friend, you are mine too, - she said cheerfully, pointing them inside. - Come, tell me what brings you to this hour. -
Kellan, entering her house, smelled the familiar, pleasant smell of herbs and magic.
Kellan exchanged a brief, meaningful glance with Anabell, then bowed slightly to Seraphina, concealing a subtle smile.
- Thank you for your hospitality, - he replied calmly, a hint of respect in his voice. Though Seraphina did not seem to recognize him, Kellan could not help but feel that something about him was bothering her—the subtle vibrations of magic he carried within.
Seraphina looked at him again, fleetingly, but there was something more lurking in her eyes—a subconscious premonition. She gestured for them inside her house, where the air was soaked with herbs and the smell of freshly brewed tea.
- Ah, please, feel at home, - she said, pouring them tea from a steaming pot. - Anabell, there are always adventures with you, what about this time? -
Anabell smiled, looking around the cozy interior, full of magical objects and books.
- To tell you the truth, we are looking for answers. I have already mentioned to you several times about attacks on border villages, haven't I? She said mysteriously, avoiding details.
- Yes, you mentioned something about forbidden rituals and magic. I also remember your request for books that could be related to it. I have prepared a few for you to pass on to your court wizards.
- Yes... Thank you for remembering. But back to the topic. While in the village of Eden, one of these attacks took place. A strange purple aura appeared, and from it crawled numerous Shadows with deformed shapes. Kellan claims that it may be related to The Legend of the Nameless Hero and Lord of Shadows, but I say that it is just a fairy tale.
Seraphina frowned at Anabell's words, and her gaze suddenly took on a more serious expression.
- The legend of the Nameless Hero and the Lord of Shadows, you say? - She repeated quietly, as if to herself, and then glanced at Kelan, who sat motionless, his arms crossed on his chest, watching her closely. - Well, this legend is not a legend. Only a modified story from the old days.
Anabell opened her mouth as if to add something, but seeing that Seraphina was serious, she closed it and waited for the sorceress to finish.
- You said those Shadows came from a purple aura, - Seraphina continued, looking thoughtfully at the steaming tea, as if trying to see the answers in it. - This is an extremely worrying sign. The purple aura is often associated with forbidden magic. The one once ruled by the Lord of Shadows.
Seraphina turned to Kellan suddenly, as if sensing his experience in the matter.
- Kellan, have you encountered anything like this before? -
Kellan lifted his head and looked at Seraphina with a hint of a smile that quickly faded.
- Call it intuition... and experience, - he replied quietly, with a hint of mystery.
Seraphina looked at Kellan intently, with an almost impenetrable gaze, as if something in his answer was bothering her. At first there was nothing to betray her distrust, her smile remained gentle, but careful observation revealed that she sensed something deeper in it - some mystery that she could not yet name.
- Intuition and experience, you say. - She repeated softly, as if weighing each word, and then looked away, reaching for an old leather- bound book that she had placed in front of them. - That is enough to prepare for what is coming.
She stared at the closed book for a moment, silent, as if weighing in her mind what she should reveal to them. But when she spoke again, her tone was as calm as before.
- If these Shadows really have to do with the Lord of Shadows, then their appearance means that his influence is beginning to seep into our world again, - she began slowly. - A few decades ago, all traces of his activity disappeared, and now, after so many years, the purple aura is returning. What was once only called a legend may begin to return in its most horrific form.
Anabell looked at Seraphina with growing concern.
- But..., that story ended with the defeat of the Lord of Shadows, didn't it? She asked hesitantly, looking at Kellan, as if she were looking for confirmation from him.
Kellan, stoically calm, nodded, but his gaze remained inscrutable. He knew that Seraphina might already be guessing more than he wanted to reveal.
Seraphina looked away, as if deliberately avoiding Kellan's gaze, and spoke emphatically.
- Yes, history says he was defeated..., but the Lord is not a corporeal being. You cannot kill him like me or you. Even after its annihilation, the particle remains, - she said with a hint of concern. - The Shadow Lord had a power so powerful that his return is closer than anyone would have thought.
At these words, Kellan raised his eyebrow slightly, and a hint of seriousness appeared in his gaze. Seraphina quickly returned to her carefree tone, but there was a hint of suspicion in her eyes, which she hid under the guise of a relaxed conversation.
- Well, - she sighed with a smile, trying to relieve the tension. - At least we have legends that can tell us something, right? - Even if they are a little distorted, each of them has a grain of truth in it.
Anabell stared at Seraphina thoughtfully, processing each word. For a moment, he was fighting his own thoughts, trying to connect hidden threads.
- If the Lord of Shadows has been defeated, but his power still exists somewhere in this world...- it is possible that someone or something is trying to use this power, - she said cautiously, glancing at Kellan, as if she expected his reaction to this theory.
Kellan, who had been cool so far, nodded slightly, as if he agreed with her observations.
- It is quite likely, - he said quietly. - Forbidden power, especially one like this, never dies completely. It leaves traces, distorts anyone who tries to use it, and can survive for centuries.
Seraphina, hearing their conversation, narrowed her eyes and became serious, putting the book aside.
- There are those who believe that the power of the Overlord was nothing more than the key to understanding other dimensions, - she began, looking at them both anxiously. - It is a portal to other planes, but with each of its uses, the gaps in fact become wider.
Anabell thought about the words, and then sighed, almost resigned.
- If this power still exists and someone has discovered it, it is possible that they want to use it to spread chaos and destruction. Or even the resurrection of the Lord of Shadows himself, - she said, her tone betraying anxiety.
Kellan thought for a moment, considering different scenarios. He knew that whatever was happening now, it threatened the entire kingdom, and further lands. However, he could not reveal too much so as not to reveal his own secrets.
Anabell looked at the book in Seraphina's hands, listening as the sorceress searched for something between the yellowed pages. Seeing their determination, she became sure that this journey was just beginning.
- If this power has truly been awakened, we must find it before it falls into the wrong hands.
Seraphina looked up from the book and focused on both. - I suggest that we go north to the ruins of the former Kingdom of Elnor. - This abandoned place still exudes a remnant of dark energy, and its underworld is full of mysteries that no one has ever explored. If anyone was there trying to restore the power of the Shadow Lord, we should find traces of their presence.
- The kingdom of Elnor? - Anabell asked, - Aren't these the territories of the Empire now? -
- Yes, but it was there, according to legends, that the Lord was defeated, the result of this fight was the complete destruction of this kingdom. Although after winning the fight, it fell apart and was absorbed by new creations. This time it was Kellan who answered the girl's question.
Anabell nodded, though the words of the sorceress flew through her head, - We? So, you are going to come with us?
Of course! You start playing with powerful forces, I could not sleep if I knew that something could threaten my friend. Seraphine winked at Anabell, - Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on the two of you.
Anabell blushed slightly, it has been the time she has done this to words about Kellan and her.
- In that case, we will leave tomorrow, but on the way, we must stop in the capital. - I must report to my father about what we have established. Our people in the empire have given some latest information.
- So, it is decided! Seraphine added at the end.
After setting plans for the next day, the topic of conversation freely turned towards memories and looser stories. Seraphina, feeling safe in their company, began to share stories from her past.
Kellan, sitting quietly and listening curiously, learned that Seraphina was in fact much older than she might seem at first glance. As a sorceress, she naturally retained her youthful appearance, but her eyes hid the experience she had gained over decades.
- I remember when I was still living in the capital, in the royal courts, - Seraphina said, a slight nostalgia in her voice. - Those were various times... Anyway, one day a small, charming girl came to the palace. She was brave, but also full of curiosity. Whenever she found me in the library, she always asked a lot of questions.
Anabell laughed softly, remembering those days.
- I was curious, - she admitted, glancing at Seraphina with a warm smile. - And you were the only one who patiently answered all my questions.
- Oh, patience was required you are the Count's daughter, - Seraphina said, smiling broadly. - You could ask me for hours about even the stupidest things, and I humbly gave answers. When I said that this spell was too complicated, you would come back the next day, insisting that this time you would surely understand. It was then that our friendship was born.
Kellan listened to their memories with a slightly raised eyebrow, surprised that the relationship between Seraphina and Anabell went so far. He felt that he now understood their bond better - they were not only travel companions, but also shared experiences rooted in the past that made their friendship deep and authentic.
- So, you have known each other for quite a long time. Kellan finally said, more to himself than to them.
- Exactly, - Anabell admitted. - Seraphina is more than just a friend. For years, she was like a big sister, and even when we sometimes parted, I knew I could always count on her.
Seraphina, hearing this, glanced at Anabell with a warm smile. - And I could never refuse to help this girl, even if it meant getting involved in all sorts of adventures, like the one we are about to go on.
Soon, the conversation turned into a friendly exchange of small anecdotes, and the atmosphere relaxed even more. When evening came, they knew that they would be embarking on a dangerous journey tomorrow, but thanks to the presence of their companions, each of them felt that they were not alone in this mission.
Kellan and Anabell left the sorceress's house, heading towards the inn where they had stayed for the duration of their stay in the city. They walked in silence through narrow streets, lit only by the moonlight. The silence of the evening added a certain mystery to this road, when suddenly Kellan stopped, glancing towards the top of one of the buildings. He frowned slightly, his heightened senses clearly sensing someone's presence, barely perceptible, but undoubtedly alien.
On the roof of the building, in the shadows, loomed the outline of a figure. Kellan felt the tension in his muscles grow, ready for any danger. But before he could get close or analyze the situation, the figure disappeared, dissolving into the darkness as quietly and deftly as if it had never been there. It was only a moment, but long enough to arouse his vigilance.
He looked back toward the roof, then returned to Anabell, not betraying his suspicions. Without a word, they continued their way.
- Go and rest, Anabell, - he said, trying to maintain a casual tone. - I will do something else in town, I will join Midnight. -
He made sure that the woman reached the inside of the inn, and then walked along the stone alleys himself, heading towards the fish market, which would certainly be empty at this hour.