Kael awoke to the faint light of dawn streaming through the narrow window of his room. The first rays painted the stone walls in muted tones of orange and gold, though the room's cold, damp air kept any sense of warmth at bay. He sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair as he tried to shake the lingering haze of sleep.
The night had been restless. Images of Elara's piercing gaze and Merrick's solemn words danced through his mind, weaving into fragments of dreams he couldn't quite remember. He sighed, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and planting his feet on the cold floor.
Just another day in paradise.
Kael dressed quickly, throwing on his cloak and grabbing his pack, though he left it by the door as he decided to step out. His boots echoed softly against the stone floor as he made his way down the hall, the emptiness of the guild pressing in on him with every step.
When he reached the courtyard, the morning light revealed the full extent of Eclipsevane's decay. The dry fountain at the center seemed even more lifeless in the daylight, its basin filled with broken stone and scattered debris. Weeds poked through the cracks in the cobblestones, their dark green leaves a stark contrast to the gray around them.
A few figures moved about the courtyard, their faces obscured by hoods or helmets. Their movements were mechanical, their postures rigid, as though they were merely going through the motions of life. The air carried a faint chill, the kind that seemed to settle in the bones and linger.
Kael stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area as he tried to take it all in. So this is it. The mighty Eclipsevane. He scoffed quietly, shaking his head. Looks like it's holding together with sheer stubbornness.
As he moved closer to the fountain, a few of the guild members glanced his way. Their expressions were blank, their gazes distant, as though they were looking through him rather than at him. Kael forced himself to keep walking, his steps steady despite the weight of their stares.
The sound of faint conversation reached his ears, drifting from one of the open archways that led into the guild's main hall. He paused, his curiosity piqued, though he didn't move toward it. Instead, he let his gaze wander, taking in the details of the courtyard and the shadows that clung to its edges.
You've made it this far, Kael. Might as well see what the day brings.
He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he leaned against the edge of the fountain. The cold stone pressed against his back, grounding him as he tried to make sense of the gnawing unease that had settled in his chest.
Kael's gaze wandered across the courtyard as he leaned against the fountain, his thoughts a tangled mess of questions and half-formed plans. The sound of footsteps approached from behind, steady and deliberate. He turned slightly to see Merrick walking toward him, his expression unreadable but not unfriendly.
"Morning," Merrick said, stopping a few paces away. His voice carried the weight of someone who had seen too many of these mornings and found little reason to expect them to be different.
Kael nodded. "Morning."
Merrick folded his arms, his eyes sweeping over the courtyard before settling on Kael. "How's the room? Decent enough?"
Kael shrugged, his smirk faint but present. "I've had worse. At least the roof doesn't leak. Yet."
Merrick chuckled softly, though the sound didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's about as good as it gets around here these days."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the quiet between them filled by the faint rustle of wind and the distant hum of conversation from the guild hall. Then Kael straightened, his curiosity winning out over his hesitation.
"Merrick," he began, his tone measured, "who is she looking for?"
Merrick blinked, his posture stiffening slightly. "Who?"
"Jane," Kael clarified, his gaze steady. "You said she's searching for someone. Who is it?"
Merrick hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kael's face. "Why do you want to know?"
Kael held his ground, his voice calm but firm. "Because if I'm supposed to help her—or at least understand her—I need to know what's driving her. It might explain why she's…" He gestured vaguely toward the guild around them. "…like this."
Merrick sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he looked away. "It's not something she talks about. Not to anyone. But I've been around long enough to put the pieces together."
Kael waited, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire.
"She's looking for someone she lost," Merrick said finally, his voice quieter now. "A boy. Someone she cared about. Maybe more than she should have."
Kael felt his chest tighten, though he kept his expression neutral. "What happened to him?"
Merrick shook his head, his gaze distant. "No one knows for sure. He disappeared—vanished like smoke after a mission went sideways. Some say he ran, others think he was taken. But Jane… she never stopped looking. She holds onto this hope that he's still out there somewhere."
Kael swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Does she talk about him at all?"
"Not really," Merrick admitted. "But you can see it in the way she carries herself. Like she's holding onto a ghost. It's what keeps her going, I think. That, and the guilt."
"Guilt?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Merrick nodded. "She blames herself for whatever happened to him. Whether she's right or not, I don't know. But it's clear she's not letting go anytime soon."
Kael looked away, his jaw tightening as the weight of Merrick's words settled over him. She's been looking for me. All this time. And I've been… gone.
Merrick clapped a hand on Kael's shoulder, breaking through his thoughts. "You've got your work cut out for you if you're planning on helping her," he said with a faint smile. "But if anyone can reach her, it's someone willing to ask the hard questions."
Kael nodded slowly, though his thoughts were far from settled. "Thanks," he said quietly, his voice laced with a mix of gratitude and guilt.
Merrick gave him a final nod before stepping away, leaving Kael alone once more in the shadow of the fountain. The questions swirling in his mind felt heavier now, their answers closer but no less daunting.
Kael pushed himself off the edge of the fountain, his resolve tightening with each step as he moved toward the guild's inner halls. The courtyard gave way to narrow corridors and open chambers, their once-grand designs marred by decay. He ignored the uneasy glances of the few guild members he passed, focusing instead on his task.
If she's still here, someone has to know where.
The first person he approached was a wiry man polishing an axe near one of the armory's dimly lit walls. His armor looked barely maintained, and his eyes had the hollow look of someone who hadn't slept properly in weeks.
"Excuse me," Kael said, keeping his tone polite but firm. "Do you know where I can find Jane?"
The man blinked at him, clearly startled. "Jane? Uh… she's usually out by the east wing training yard. Or was it the storage hall? Haven't seen her today."
Kael nodded, muttering a quick "thanks" before continuing on.
The next guild member, a woman sharpening daggers at a cracked stone table, frowned at his question. "Jane? She's probably off on a mission. She comes and goes, you know. Not much for hanging around."
Kael suppressed a sigh, moving on.
In the dining hall, he approached a small group gathered around a table laden with stale bread and half-empty mugs. They all paused mid-conversation as Kael posed his question. Their answers came in a jumble, each one contradicting the other.
"She was in the archives this morning," said one, a gangly elf with sharp features.
"No, she was out by the west courtyard," countered a burly dwarf with a braided beard.
"Pretty sure she went to the infirmary. Heard someone say she's been helping out there lately," added a younger member with wide, earnest eyes.
Kael nodded curtly, muttering another vague thanks before walking away. Great. Real helpful.
The more he asked, the clearer it became that no one really knew where Jane was—or if they did, they weren't willing to share. The guild felt like a maze, its disjointed corridors and crumbling staircases only adding to his frustration. Every lead he followed seemed to end in another dead end.
By the time Kael reached the upper levels of the guild, his patience was wearing thin. He stopped near a dusty window overlooking the courtyard, the faint hum of activity below a distant murmur. Leaning against the stone frame, he let out a slow breath, his hands tightening into fists.
What is this, some kind of game? Does she even want to be found?
For a moment, he considered giving up—at least for the day. But the thought of sitting idle gnawed at him, the unanswered questions pressing against his mind like a weight he couldn't ignore.
She's here. She has to be. And I'll find her, no matter how long it takes.
Kael wandered further into the guild, letting his frustration ebb as he let the architecture guide his steps. The air grew cooler in the quieter halls, the faint sounds of voices and movement fading behind him. He turned a corner and entered a smaller courtyard, this one far less decayed than the main one.
In the center stood a young boy, no older than ten or eleven. His silver hair glinted in the sunlight, and his stance was firm despite his small frame. He gripped a wooden training sword tightly in both hands, swinging it in practiced, deliberate motions. The boy's brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Kael paused, leaning against a nearby pillar as he watched. There was something oddly mesmerizing about the boy's determination. His movements were unpolished but full of intent, each swing followed by a slight adjustment to his stance.
What's a kid doing training out here alone? Kael thought, his curiosity piqued. He waited for the boy to pause before stepping forward, keeping his tone light. "Not bad. Where'd you learn that?"
The boy froze mid-swing, his wide gray eyes snapping to Kael. He straightened quickly, his expression shifting from surprise to wary confidence. "I taught myself," he said, his voice steady but quiet. "Someone has to."
Kael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You taught yourself? That's impressive. What are you training for?"
The boy hesitated, lowering his wooden sword slightly. "To be strong. So I can protect people."
Kael felt a flicker of something he couldn't quite place—a mix of admiration and unease. "Big goal for someone your age."
The boy shrugged, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Someone has to," he repeated softly. Then, as if shaking off the weight of his words, he straightened again and raised his sword. "It's not that hard. You just have to practice."
Kael chuckled, taking another step closer. "Mind showing me how it's done?"
The boy's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and excitement. He nodded, stepping back to make room. "Okay, but it's not easy. You have to keep your balance and swing like this." He demonstrated with a swift motion, his stance firm as he struck an imaginary target.
Kael nodded, watching closely before picking up a spare wooden sword leaning against the courtyard wall. It felt light in his hands, the weight unfamiliar but manageable. "Alright," he said, mimicking the boy's stance. "Let's see if I've got this."
The boy grinned, his earlier wariness replaced by enthusiasm. "Okay! Just make sure you—" He stopped mid-sentence, watching Kael's first swing with wide eyes. "Whoa. That's… actually pretty good."
Kael smirked, adjusting his grip. "Beginner's luck. Show me again?"
As Kael swung the wooden sword in a clumsy attempt to match the boy's earlier demonstration, the child tilted his head, a curious glint in his gray eyes. "You've done this before, haven't you?"
Kael paused mid-swing, glancing at the boy. Think fast, Kael. "Uh, yeah," he said, forcing a casual tone. "I practiced a little back in my village. Nothing serious, though."
The boy's expression brightened with interest. "What village?"
"Alsta," Kael replied smoothly, gripping the sword tighter. "It's pretty small. Not much to do there except work and… swing sticks, I guess."
The boy nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Kael's face. Then, with a sudden grin, he pointed to Kael's hair. "That explains it."
"Explains what?" Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your looks," the boy said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Silver hair and gray eyes aren't exactly normal. But Alsta's full of people like that, right?"
Kael chuckled, his smirk returning. "Yeah, I guess so. Makes me blend in back there, but here…" He gestured vaguely toward the courtyard. "Not so much."
The boy grinned, clearly pleased with his deduction. "It's cool, though. Makes you look different. Kinda mysterious."
Kael shook his head, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The boy laughed, swinging his sword in a wide arc. "You should! Most people here just look boring."
Kael couldn't help but laugh along, the boy's energy a refreshing break from the heavy atmosphere of the guild.