The Night Owl Café was beginning to quiet down, the hum of voices dimming as patrons filtered out into the cool evening air. The plates were being removed, and the siblings were gathering their belongings to leave. Nachtan remained at the back of the group and glanced over to Talia, who was standing near Varric at the counter. She caught his attention and gave a small, almost mischievous smile, tilting her head towards the door.
When the group went outside, Talia went to Nachtan, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Hey, meet me later tonight? There's something I want to show you."
Nachtan had a momentary hesitation, gazing at his father, Silas, who was speaking with Varric. "I don't know if I can…"
"Come on," Talia urged, a teasing lilt in her voice. "It's nothing bad. Just... trust me, okay?"
Nachtan's curiosity outweighed his apprehension, so he nodded after some thought. "Fine. Let me ask first."
Talia grinned. "Good boy." She rushed back to Varric, while Nachtan made his way to Silas, shifting slightly as he moved closer.
"Dad," Nachtan began, keeping his voice casual, "Talia wants to hang out a bit later. Is that okay?"
Silas raised an eyebrow, giving him a measured look. "It's late, Nachtan. Where exactly does she want to take you?"
"Just… around. Nothing crazy," Nachtan said, avoiding Silas's gaze.
After a moment of consideration, Silas nodded. "Fine. But don't stay out too late, and be careful. You hear me?"
Nachtan nodded quickly. "Got it."
Talia, meanwhile, had worked her charm on Varric, who waved her off with a laugh. "Go on, but don't drag the kid into trouble, alright?"
"No promises," Talia replied with a wink, already pulling Nachtan toward the street as the group began heading home.
The walk back to their house was filled with chatter, but tension hung in the air between Amelia and Nola.
"I don't like this," Nola muttered, keeping her voice low as she leaned toward Amelia.
"What?" Amelia asked, her tone sharper than she intended.
"Nachtan. He's been acting… off. Don't you think?"
Amelia scoffed. "He's fine. Just let him have his space."
"Space isn't the problem," Nola retorted, her gaze following Nachtan and Talia's retreating figures. "He's hiding something."
Amelia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Nola, not everything he does is a cause for concern."
"Not everything," Nola shot back. "But this is."
The argument fizzled as they reached the house, the group dispersing into their rooms. Nachtan waited until his siblings before going out into the night.
The streets of Nexuria were alive with faint neon glows and the hum of distant voices. Talia led Nachtan through winding alleyways, the path growing darker and more foreboding with every turn.
"Relax, Nachtan," Talia teased, noticing his tense posture. "You look like you're about to bolt."
"I'm fine," he muttered, though his eyes darted around nervously.
Talia laughed softly. "You'll see. It's not that bad."
Eventually they reached an unassuming doorway, half-hidden in the shadows. Talia knocked in a specific rhythm, and the door creaked open to reveal a dimly lit underground gathering. The room was filled with people, their faces partially obscured by masks or hoods. The air buzzed with tension and whispered plans.
Nachtan stuck close to Talia as she weaved through the crowd, occasionally nodding to familiar faces. They stopped in front of a tall, stern-looking man with piercing eyes.
"This him?" the man asked, his gaze settling on Nachtan.
"Yup," Talia replied breezily. "Nachtan, meet Sorin. He's the one running this little operation."
Sorin's expression didn't soften as he gestured for them to follow him. He led them to a corner of the room, where a crude map was spread out on a table. Strange devices and tools surrounded it, glowing faintly with anomaly energy.
"We're planning to disrupt one of Abranta's major events," Sorin explained, his tone clipped. "It's time the Spectercores and their council saw what we're capable of. Their grip on this world is tightening, and we won't stand for it."
Nachtan's stomach churned as he listened. "You're planning an attack?"
"Call it a statement," Sorin said, his eyes narrowing.
Nachtan shook his head, stepping back. "No. This... this isn't right."
Talia put a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm. "It's not as bad as it sounds, Nachtan. They've had it coming for a long time."
"I can't," he said, his voice trembling. "I need to go home."
Sorin's gaze turned cold, but Talia raised a hand to stop him. "He'll think about it," she said smoothly, nudging Nachtan toward the exit.
The walk back was silent, tension hanging heavy between them. Nachtan's thoughts swirled, a mix of fear and confusion. As they passed through an alley, something caught his eye—a small black object lying in the dirt. He hesitated before picking it up, realizing it was a book. Its surface was smooth and cold, with no visible markings. It seemed to pulse faintly in his hands.
"What's that?" Talia asked, leaning over to look.
"Nothing," Nachtan said quickly, slipping it into his pocket.
When they reached his house, Talia gave him a casual wave. "Think about it, Nachtan. You're one of us, whether you want to admit it or not."
He said nothing, slipping inside quietly.
He found his siblings waiting for him in the living room. Nola's arms were crossed, her expression skeptical. "Where were you?"
Nachtan shrugged, trying to appear casual. "It was kind of a date," he said, forcing a grin.
Amelia raised an eyebrow but seemed amused. "A date, huh? That's new."
Nola, however, wasn't buying it. Her sharp eyes studied him, but she didn't press further. "Just don't make a habit of sneaking around," she said finally.
"Yeah, yeah," Nachtan muttered, brushing past them.
He pretended to relax with his siblings for the rest of the evening, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The book he had in his pocket was heavy. Its presence was a quiet, unsettling reminder of the night's events.
The house became quiet and his siblings had already gone to bed. Nachtan was awake, but his mind was racing. He wanted to check it out, but he decided to wait until tomorrow, as he was too tired to deal with it now.