As Caelum, Lyra, and Garik left the council hall with the second shard in hand, the atmosphere of Sunfall seemed to change. The streets, once bustling with activity, now felt oppressive, as if the very air was thick with secrets and lies. Caelum could feel the weight of the shard at his side, its power pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"We've got what we came for," Garik said, though there was a hint of unease in his voice. "Now let's get out of here before the city decides we've outlived our usefulness."
Lyra's eyes flicked to the shadows around them, ever-watchful. "I don't trust this place. The council's deal felt... off. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
But Caelum remained silent, absorbed in his thoughts. The elder's words echoed in his mind: "There is always a price." They had traded information, yes, but what else had they given up? What secrets were they now bound to keep?
As they made their way toward the city's gates, a low hum of magic suddenly filled the air. Caelum's hand went instinctively to the shard, but before he could react, a flash of light blinded him.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing alone in a darkened alley, the sounds of the bustling city replaced by an eerie silence. The others were gone.
"Caelum..." a voice whispered from the shadows, cold and familiar.
It was the Shadow King.