The night sky in AshFall was filled with a heavy fog and Ash that never ceased to fall, it was cold and I clung to Elara for warmth. Her strong hands holding me up , guiding me towards a thread bare cot in the corner. Her untamed curls framed her sharp features as she assessed me with piercing emerald eyes .
I sat down on the wooden chair, the hideous was a stark contra compared to the cave where I lived with my father. I looked poor but he had every fine things one could ask for. Except I couldn't ask because he would never give.
Hidden in the upper levels of an abandoned warehouse, it was little more than a collection of salvaged furniture and stolen trinkets. Dim lanterns cast flickering shadows on the cracked walls, making the space feel as transient as its owner.
" this is my safe place " She said as she sat on the edge of the cot " not even my parents are aware of this place" .
I looked at her In awe, I've never thought of having a safe place, I just lived in fear for my life , working and begging for sustenance. I felt so ashamed .
" you're safe here" Elara said "No one knows about this place and even if they did , they wouldn't dare come for you. I've got .....connections".
I became curious "connections ?"
Elara grinned woth a mischievous glint " let's just say I know how to make myself useful to the right people….you'll see"
"Who?" I asked very interested
" The shadow traders " She whispered . I gasped and she rewarded me with a smirk
" They're my way out of AshFall"
" But your parents are Merchants , they can move out any time they want to"
Her countenance fell " Things…..aren't the way they used to be"
I stood up and took her hand in mine " I understand"
She smiled at me " I have something to show you"
She went to the corner of the room and brought out a box, she lifted the lid and brought out a scroll
"What's that?" I asked curiously
She unfurled the map with a dramatic flourish, the old parchment crackling as it stretched across the wooden table. The lantern's dim light cast flickering shadows on its surface, illuminating intricate lines and symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with magic.
"This," Elara said, her voice tinged with awe, "is Faerwyn."
I leaned in, my breath catching as my eyes roamed the map. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The continents weren't just drawn; they shimmered as if alive, the forests shifting in shades of green and the rivers glinting like liquid silver. Tiny motes of light moved across the parchment, marking cities, mountains, and hidden places that whispered of stories untold.
"There," Elara pointed, her finger resting on a glowing mark in the center of a vast forest. "That's Sylvara, the heart of Faerwyn. The High Elves rule from there, surrounded by the Eternal Glade." My Grandfather. I didn't tell her.
Her finger traced a jagged line to the south, where the colors darkened to deep crimson and black. "And that's the Abyssal Expanse. It's where the Shadowkin thrive, and where no one ventures unless they have a death wish." She whispered with an ominous tone
My gaze followed her movements, drawn to the details. Along the coastlines, tiny ships bobbed as if the sea itself were alive. Mountain ranges rose like sharp teeth, their snowy peaks glittering faintly.
"This place," she continued, tapping a faintly glowing crescent near the edge of the map, there was a Volcano with glowing red larva"is where we are now—the Outskirts of AshFall. It's a dangerous spot, but it's also easy to disappear here, if you know how to play your cards."
My eyes were wide, my mind spinning. "It's beautiful," I murmured. "But… it feels alive."
She chuckled. "That's because it is. This map isn't just a guide—it's enchanted. It changes with the land, showing not just where places are, but how they are. If a forest burns, you'll see the fire. If a city falls, the light marking it will vanish."
My fingers brushed the edge of the parchment, a shiver running through me as I felt a faint hum beneath my touch. "And where do we go from here?"
Elara's expression turned serious, her green eyes meeting Leora's. "That depends on you. There's a safe haven in Sylvara, but the journey is dangerous and expensive ."
I hesitated, my gaze fixed on the glowing mark of Sylvara wondering if I even belonged there. The heart of Faerwyn felt impossibly far, yet something about it called to me. "What would you do?"
She grinned, folding the map with practiced ease. "Me? I'd head for Sylvara. But then, I've always been terrible at staying put."
I smiled faintly, my fear momentarily overshadowed by the spark of hope the map had ignited. For the first time in years, the world didn't feel so small.
Faerwyn stretched before her, vast and alive, promising both peril and possibility.
" we could go together" She suggested reaching for my hands " Both of us, run away from here together"
I wanted it so bad but I was doubtful
" How?"
" I know someone who can get us there" She smiled
"A shadow trader?"
She nodded " At a fee of course" She leaned back against a table " But it won't be easy or cheap."