They were greeted at the gates by a local merchant named Malrin, a wiry man with an air of suspicion. He had a vested interest in the city's inner workings and offered to guide them to the council of elders who supposedly held knowledge of the shard's location.
"We can't just trust him," Garik warned as they followed Malrin through the maze of narrow streets. "This city thrives on secrets. No one does anything out of the goodness of their heart."
"I know," Caelum replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "But we need allies, and we're running out of time."
They arrived at a grand hall—a place of both opulence and subtle danger. Inside, a council of elders awaited them, each wearing masks and robes that obscured their true identities. The air inside was thick with the scent of incense, and the flickering candles created dancing shadows across the stone walls.
Malrin bowed low to the council. "These are the travelers I spoke of. They seek the shard of Sunfall."
One of the elders stepped forward, his mask a jagged thing, half-black, half-white. His voice was cold and calculating. "You seek the shard, yes. But what makes you think we will give it to you?"
"We need it to stop the Shadow King," Caelum said, his voice firm.
"Ah," the elder chuckled. "The Shadow King. He has long been a whisper in the dark. But what is it you offer in return?"
Lyra's hand went to her sword, but Caelum placed a calming hand on her arm. "We offer what we can. Gold, weapons, aid against any enemy you may have."
The elder leaned in, his mask glinting ominously. "It's not gold we want, boy. We want something far more precious. Information. Secrets. Your quest, your cause—if it's true, it's worth far more than gold."
The tension in the room thickened as the council awaited Caelum's response. The next decision would determine their fate.