The morning sun cast a warm glow as Anir and Ebdo stepped into a nearby restaurant, joining the slow yet steady rhythm of the city coming to life. They ate their breakfast in silence, the rich aroma of spiced bread and roasted meat filling the air. Anir glanced around, soaking in the lively atmosphere as people exchanged greetings and began their daily routines.
After breakfast, they left and began walking through the streets, exploring the city with a steady, unhurried pace. Anir's eyes were wide with curiosity as they navigated narrow alleyways, wide market squares, and intricate stone bridges. The city seemed to hold secrets in every corner, from the faded murals painted on the old buildings to the strange, rune-marked lanterns that hung from posts along the street. He felt an odd thrill—the thrill of discovering something unknown, of being part of a world so different from anything he had known before.
Hours slipped by as they wandered. The midday light cast a stark contrast on the towering red spire that rose above the city skyline, its crystalline surface gleaming with a blood-red hue that seemed almost alive. Drawn to the sight, they made their way closer, stopping in awe as they reached the Spire of Crimson. Up close, the structure seemed even more imposing, with translucent walls that gave the impression of depth, as though something pulsed within its core.
As they stood there, a low creak broke the silence, and a door at the base of the spire slowly opened. A man emerged, his presence striking and mysterious. His silver hair and sharp, lined features caught the light, while his piercing blue eyes held a depth and weight that made Anir tense. Power radiated from him, an aura Anir had never felt before. He couldn't shake the strange familiarity in that aura, but he couldn't place why.
Their eyes met, and the man's expression flickered, recognition in his gaze as he began to walk toward them. Anir's chest tightened. Something about this encounter felt dangerous.
As the man passed, he slowed, a faint smile playing on his lips. His gaze lingered on Anir before he spoke. "Are you perhaps familiar with the name Malakar?"
Anir's face darkened instantly, the question striking deep. His heart raced as memories surged—a name buried in shadows, a figure of unimaginable power. "No, never heard of it."
The man chuckled, as if enjoying a private joke, and continued on his way, though not without one last parting glance. "You'll find me in the Spire, should you ever wish to know more."
They returned to the inn in silence, but the air between them was charged with unspoken questions. Anir's thoughts were turbulent, his mind churning with fragments of that name, Malakar. It gnawed at him, an itch he couldn't ignore. As night fell, his thoughts grew darker. That man knew something—something crucial.
Unable to rest, Anir waited until Ebdo's breathing slowed, signaling that he was asleep. Then, slipping quietly from the shadows, Anir made his way back to the spire.
As he emerged from the shadows, he found the man already waiting, his eyes gleaming with a knowing expression.
"I knew you'd come," he said, his voice low and unyielding. "You look just like him when he was your age."
A shiver ran through Anir, and his voice was steady but tense. "Who are you, and how do you know my father? And that name—what does it mean?"
The man's expression turned dark, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "I'll tell you one thing," he replied, his voice taking on a cruel edge. "One truth. Either about your father, or about that other name. Now, choose wisely."
Anir clenched his fists, his mind racing as he wrestled with his answer. The truth about Malakar burned more fiercely. "Tell me about Malakar. Who or what is he?"
The man's laughter echoed through the chamber, and his gaze sharpened. "If you wish to know, then perhaps you should ask him yourself."
Anir froze, confusion flashing across his face. "What do you mean? How? Where is he?"
The man's smile deepened, his words soft yet chilling. "You'll find him in Lyci—or as you would call it, 'hell'…in the Kingdom of Tamri."
"Kingdom of Tamri? Where i—"
But before he could finish, the man vanished into the shadows, leaving him alone in the quiet, crimson-lit darkness.
Anir's mind was in chaos as he returned to the inn, questions swirling. He lay awake long into the night, the promise of answers pulling him deeper into the mysteries of this world.