The city of Avralis was alive with the hum of activity, its sprawling streets illuminated by the soft glow of ether-lamps suspended high above. Erynn moved through the crowd with practiced ease, her hood pulled low over her face to shield her from prying eyes. The air here carried a sharp, metallic tang—an ever-present reminder of the city's dependence on alchemical fumes and powered constructs that churned endlessly in its workshops.
Her steps were quick and deliberate, the soles of her boots barely making a sound against the cobblestone streets. The satchel at her side was weighed down by the spoils of her latest venture, its contents carefully wrapped in protective cloth. She felt a pang of unease as her fingers brushed the bag, the faint warmth of the stolen crystal seeping through the fabric.
It was dangerous—far more dangerous than anything she had stolen before—but the job had been too lucrative to refuse. Besides, she had a reputation to uphold. The Shadow of Avralis didn't turn down contracts, no matter how risky.
She slipped into a narrow alleyway, the noise of the bustling market fading behind her. This part of the city was less welcoming, its buildings leaning precariously close together as though the weight of time and neglect threatened to collapse them. Here, the lamps flickered weakly, their light struggling against the encroaching shadows.
Erynn stopped at a heavy iron door, its surface pockmarked with rust and old scratches. She rapped her knuckles against it three times, her rhythm precise. A narrow slit in the door slid open, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes framed by wiry gray hair.
"Password," the man behind the door growled, his voice rough.
Erynn leaned closer, lowering her voice. "The stars whisper in silence."
The slit closed with a loud clank, and a moment later, the door creaked open just wide enough for her to slip inside.
The room beyond was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from a series of mismatched lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with a haphazard array of trinkets, vials, and scrolls. At the far end of the room, a stout man with a bald head and a bushy beard sat behind a desk, his thick fingers fiddling with a coin.
"Took you long enough," he grunted as Erynn approached. "Thought you might've gotten yourself caught this time."
Erynn smirked, tossing her satchel onto the desk. "You should know better than that, Gav. Nobody catches me."
The man—Gav—chuckled, opening the satchel and pulling out the crystal. It was the size of a fist, its surface smooth and dark, with veins of blue light coursing through it like trapped lightning. His eyes gleamed with greed as he held it up to the light.
"This it?" he asked, though it was clear he already knew the answer.
Erynn nodded. "It's from the vault beneath the Arcanum. Just like you asked."
"Perfect," Gav murmured, setting the crystal down carefully. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a small pouch, tossing it to her. The familiar jingle of coins greeted her ears, but when she opened it, her smile faltered.
"This is half of what we agreed on," she said, her tone sharp.
Gav shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "It's all you're getting. That crystal's a damn sight more dangerous than you let on. I'm taking a risk just handling it."
Erynn's eyes narrowed. "A deal's a deal, Gav. You don't get to change the terms just because you're nervous."
Before he could respond, the room seemed to darken, the flickering lanterns dimming almost to the point of extinguishing. A cold wind swept through the space, carrying with it a faint, whispering sound that sent shivers down Erynn's spine.
Gav's hand went to the dagger at his belt, his eyes darting around the room. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, his voice tinged with fear.
Erynn didn't answer. Her attention was fixed on the crystal, which was now glowing brighter, its veins of light pulsating in a steady rhythm. She took a step back, her instincts screaming that something was very, very wrong.
The whispers grew louder, their tones overlapping in a cacophony of voices. Words she couldn't understand echoed in her mind, fragments of a language that felt ancient and unknowable.
Then, without warning, the crystal cracked.
The sound was deafening, a sharp, splintering noise that seemed to reverberate through the very air. A blinding light erupted from the fissure, filling the room and forcing Erynn to shield her eyes. She felt the ground tremble beneath her feet, and a surge of energy washed over her, tingling against her skin like static electricity.
When the light finally dimmed, Erynn lowered her arm and looked around. The room was in shambles, the shelves overturned and their contents scattered across the floor. Gav was slumped in his chair, his face pale and his eyes wide with shock.
But it was the figure standing in the center of the room that held her attention.
It was humanoid in shape, but its body seemed to shift and ripple, as though it were made of liquid light. Its eyes were empty voids, deep and endless, and its presence radiated a power that made Erynn's knees weak.
"What… what is that?" Gav whispered, his voice trembling.
The figure turned its head toward Erynn, its gaze piercing through her like a blade. When it spoke, its voice was layered, as though a hundred voices were speaking in unison.
"You have touched what was not yours to take," it said, its tone cold and distant. "The Veil grows thin, and the balance must be restored."
Erynn's heart pounded in her chest. She had faced countless dangers in her life, but this… this was something entirely different. She forced herself to speak, though her voice was barely above a whisper.
"What do you want?"
The figure tilted its head, its form flickering like a dying flame. "The threads of fate are unraveling," it said. "You are bound to what comes next. Prepare yourself, child of the Veil."
Before she could respond, the figure dissolved into a burst of light, leaving the room in darkness. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Gav's ragged breathing.
Erynn stared at the spot where the figure had stood, her mind racing. Whatever she had unleashed, it was far beyond anything she had ever encountered.
And she wasn't sure if she could stop it.
End of Chapter 4