The crowded streets of Solmara throbbed with life, a chaotic mix of merchants hawking their wares, beggars pleading for money, and nobles gliding through the crowd like ghosts of wealth. The city's splendor was deceptive; secrets simmered in the shadows beneath the golden towers and bustling marketplaces.
Alaris moved through the crowd with calculated precision, his hood pulled low over his face. He had always preferred the quiet solitude of libraries and archives, but here he was - lost in the chaotic heartbeat of the capital. He remained inscrutable, his poker face hiding the whirlpool of thoughts within.
Elyra walked beside him, her posture majestic even in disguise. Her golden hair was hidden beneath a simple cloak, but her presence still carried an aura of authority that could not be hidden. "You're tense," she noted quietly.
"I prefer parchment over humans," Alaris murmured, studying each face that passed him. "They hide too much behind their smiles."
She grinned. "And yet here we are—hiding in plain sight."
Their destination was the Silver Veil, an exclusive tavern known for hosting Solmara's most influential figures. Rumor had it that a man named Vaelen, a disgraced scholar with ties to the Silent King, frequented the establishment. If anyone knew about the Heartstone shards hidden throughout the kingdom, it was him.
As they approached the tavern's grand entrance, the scent of spiced wine and roasted meat greeted them. Alaris felt an inexplicable tension in his chest. Something about this place felt... odd.
Inside, the Silver Veil was an opulent den of intrigue. Chandeliers hung low, casting golden patches of light on the polished floors. Conversation flowed in hushed tones, whispering of illicit dealings and veiled threats. Alaris and Elyra sat in the far corner and let their eyes wander around the room.
"There," Elyra whispered, nodding toward a lone figure hunched over a goblet of wine. Vaelen.
Alaris watched him carefully—the man was gaunt, his once-learned robes now tattered and stained. He looked like a man haunted by knowledge too dangerous to bear.
Elyra approached first, sliding into the seat across from Vaelen with a confidence only kings could exude. "Vaelen, we need to talk."
The man's eyes shot up, filled with a mixture of recognition and fear. "I don't talk to strangers."
Alaris sat down next to Elyra, his voice low and firm. "We know you once served in the Grand Archives. We know you were cast out because you were looking for answers about the Heart Stone. We are not here to harm you. We need information."
Vaelen's fingers trembled on his cup. "If you know so much... then you know I'm already a dead man."
Elyra leaned forward, her voice a whisper. "Help us, and maybe we can change your fate. The Silent King's influence is not as great as he thinks."
Vaelen scoffed. "The Silent King's influence is greater than the horizon, Princess. You are safer in the shadows."
Alaris remained silent, watching the scholar with his relentless gaze. He knew fear when he saw it, but there was something else underneath—something deeper. "You found something, didn't you? Something the King wants to hide."
Vaelen hesitated, his eyes darting around the room before he whispered, "The Shattered One… he is not who you think he is."
Alaris's breath caught. "What do you mean?""The prophecy… it is false. The shards were never meant to be separated. When they shattered, something else was released—something we do not understand. The Silent King does not want to control the Heartstone… he is trying to contain it."
Elyra's brow furrowed. "Contain it? But the prophecy…"
"Prophecies are actually lies wrapped up, Princess," Vaelen said bitterly. "They are meant to mislead those who follow them."
Alaris clenched his fists under the table. "What do you know about the locations of the shards?"
Vaelen hesitated, then slid a crumpled parchment across the table. "A name. Nothing more. The Black Altar. Find it in the ruins of Eldrin's Hollow. But be careful... some things are hidden for a reason."
Before Alaris could press further, the tavern doors swung open and a group of heavily armored men entered, their eyes surveying the crowd with practiced attention.
Elyra cursed under her breath. "The king's spies. We must go."
Alaris quickly pocketed the parchment. "Vaelen, come with us."
The scholar shook his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I have already made my decision. Go before it is too late."
Alaris hesitated, but Elyra tugged on his sleeve. "We must move, and now."
They slipped through the back door just as the soldiers spotted them, and shouts erupted in the crowded tavern. Alaris and Elyra disappeared into the labyrinthine streets, their minds racing under the weight of Vaelen's revelation.
"The shards were never meant to be separated..." Alaris murmured quietly.
Elyra's expression was grim. "If the Silent King does not seek power... what then? is he trying to stop?"
Alaris had no answer, but one thing was certain - what they thought they knew about the Heart Stone was only a fraction of the truth. And as they disappeared into the winding streets of Solmara, a shadow watched them from above with cold, calculating eyes.
The storm was far from over.