Over the next few weeks, Kael became a regular at *The Alchemical Flask*. He always sat at the same booth, always ordered something different, and always left just as mysteriously as he arrived. But he and Silas talked. They shared stories of magical mishaps, Kael's dry humor often catching Silas off guard.
One night, Kael revealed he was a shadowbinder, a rare and often feared magical talent. Shadowbinders could manipulate darkness, turning it into tangible constructs or traveling through its depths. They were also hunted by magical enforcement agencies, considered too dangerous to live freely.
"And what about you, Silas?" Kael asked one evening, leaning forward with an intensity that made Silas's heart race. "What magic do you wield?"
Silas hesitated. "Nothing impressive. Just some enchantments here and there."
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "There's more to you than that, Silas. I can feel it."
The air between them crackled, and Silas knew Kael was right. His forbidden experiments had unlocked abilities he barely understood. But he wasn't ready to share that with Kael—not yet.