A New Beginning
The settlement was alive with the morning bustle as Elias made his way to Tobias's quarters. The older man was seated in a small study on the first floor of a communal building, papers spread across his desk. A kettle whistled faintly from a stove in the corner, filling the air with the scent of brewed herbs. Tobias looked up, his sharp eyes immediately focusing on Elias as he stepped into the room.
"Tobias," Elias greeted, inclining his head.
"Elias," Tobias replied, gesturing for him to sit. "What brings you here so early?"
Elias sat on the wooden chair across from him, his tall frame making it seem almost too small. "I need a place of my own," he began. "A building—something close to where the group is staying."
Tobias's brows furrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled beneath his chin. "The building opposite theirs is empty. Sturdy enough, but it hasn't been used in years. Why do you want it?"
Elias hesitated for a moment. "Lara and I need space to work. There are… things we're trying to piece together about the City, its origins, and the threats it poses. To do that, I need distance from distractions."
Tobias tilted his head slightly, his piercing gaze never leaving Elias. "You appeared out of nowhere, Elias. You and Maddy. That alone has the settlement whispering. And now you want a building of your own. Forgive me, but you must understand why I might find that… curious."
Elias met Tobias's gaze, his expression calm but firm. "I understand your suspicion, Tobias, but I'm not here to harm anyone. I've been fighting the City longer than most. I've seen its darkness, its traps, its monsters. If I'm asking for this, it's because I know what's coming."
Tobias leaned forward slightly, his voice low. "And what exactly is coming, Elias? Because the way you speak, it sounds like you know far more about the City than the rest of us combined."
Elias's gray eyes darkened slightly, but he kept his tone steady. "I know enough to recognize that we're running out of time. The City will go to sleep before the year is over. When it does, it will be our best chance to strike—but only if we're ready."
Tobias stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "You can take the building. But understand this, Elias—I'll be watching."
Elias stood, his expression neutral. "You wouldn't be the first."
Elias and Lara moved into the building Tobias had granted them. The structure was smaller than the group's lodging but still sturdy, with tall windows that let in plenty of light and a small courtyard out back. It felt isolated yet connected, the perfect place for the work they needed to do.
Elias spent the morning securing the building—checking for weak spots, repairing hinges, and fortifying doors. Lara, meanwhile, worked on organizing their limited supplies, setting up a space for their research.
By the time the sun began to set, they stood together in the main room, surveying their progress.
"It's not much," Lara said, wiping her hands on a cloth, "but it feels… ours."
Elias glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It'll do."
Lara met his gaze, her voice soft. "Thank you for trusting me, Elias. I know how hard this is for you."
Elias's smile faded, his expression growing serious. "If I didn't trust you, Lara, I wouldn't be here. You've already seen what I am, and yet… you stayed. That means more than I can say."
Lara reached out, touching his arm. "We're in this together now. Whatever we uncover, whatever we face, we'll do it as a team."
Lara brought out the journal, its glow faint in the dim light of the room. She flipped through the pages until she found the notes they had gathered about the City's origins.
"The man at the market," Lara began, her voice steady but thoughtful. "He said the key to the City is in its beginning. That photograph—he said it's the first step."
Elias leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "He's right. The City wasn't always like this. It was created—designed. And if we can find out how it began, we might be able to find its weakness."
Lara frowned slightly, her fingers tracing the edges of the journal. "Do you think it's true? That the City will go to sleep soon?"
Elias nodded. "Yes. The cycles are consistent, even if the City itself isn't. When it sleeps, its defenses weaken. It's the only time we have a chance to fight back."
Lara's gaze sharpened. "Then we need to be ready."
"We will be," Elias said, his voice firm. "But the City isn't the only threat we're facing."
Maddy came to the new building, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. Elias opened the door, his expression softening when he saw her.
"Maddy," he said, stepping aside to let her in. "What brings you here?"
She hesitated, glancing around the room before speaking. "I wanted to talk to you. About Caleb. About myself."
Elias gestured for her to sit, his voice gentle. "What's on your mind?"
Maddy sat down, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I've been leaning on Caleb a lot since I came back, and I feel… guilty. He's already lost so much, and I don't want to be another weight on his shoulders."
Elias studied her for a moment before replying. "You're not a weight, Maddy. You're his sister. He wants to take care of you."
"I know," Maddy said, her voice trembling. "But I need to do something for myself. I need to feel useful. I was thinking… maybe I could help you and Lara. With whatever you're doing here."
Elias nodded slowly. "If that's what you want, you're welcome to join us. But you should talk to Caleb first. Make sure he understands why."
Maddy smiled faintly. "I will. Thank you, Elias."
Elias called Lara and Maddy into the main room. He sat at the table, his expression grim as he gestured for them to join him.
"The man you saw at the market, Lara," Elias began, his voice steady. "I know who he is."
Lara tensed. "Who?"
"Dex," Elias said simply.
Maddy's eyes widened, fear flickering across her face. "He's here?"
Elias nodded, his jaw tightening. "He's been watching us. Watching the settlement. He's not just dangerous—he's something else entirely. Even the City's shadows are afraid of him."
Lara leaned forward, her heart pounding. "What does he want?"
"I don't know yet," Elias admitted. "But he's not here by accident. Whatever his plan is, it's tied to the City, and to us. We need to be ready."
Maddy's voice trembled as she spoke. "If Dex is here… then the City's slumber might not be enough to save us."
Elias looked at both of them, his expression hard. "That's why we don't wait for the City to come to us. We need to find its secrets before Dex makes his move. It's the only way we survive this."