"For those who walk into Aetheris, do not expect paradise. For beneath every light, a shadow waits—ready to devour you." — From the travel journals of Seren Aldwyn
The southern air felt different. Warm, damp, and thick with the scent of soil and spices carried from the valley below. After weeks of traveling from the ruins in the north, Lyra finally saw a land no longer wrapped in fog and snow.
Before them stretched a vast valley. Rivers of light ran like glowing veins through the earth, winding toward the plains where Aetheris stood—the greatest and most dangerous city in all the human realm.
If it's truly dangerous… why did Seren lead me here? What am I supposed to find in this place? Of course, she knew she wouldn't find the answer now.
From afar, the city looked beautiful. Bronze towers pierced the horizon, streams of magic shimmered through the air, and grand bridges arched between colossal domes. Yet as they drew closer, that beauty began to rot. The sound of shouting merchants, the clang of metal, and the stench of blood mixed with perfume turned the splendor into something sickly.
"Welcome to Aetheris," Kael said flatly, his steps steady down the cobblestone path. "A city where people can sell anything—including their own souls."
Lyra stared, both awed and uneasy. She'd heard Seren speak of this place, but never imagined it was real—let alone this chaotic. "This isn't what I pictured," she murmured.
"Nothing in Erevalis ever is," Kael replied. His tone was cold, but Lyra caught a faint trace of exhaustion beneath it. Perhaps even regret.
They passed through the main gate, where two guards stood beneath the sigil of the Resonant Eye, etched in bronze. Kael handed over a small glowing coin engraved with the mark of Aetherion. Lyra eyed it curiously. After a brief nod from the guards, they were allowed to enter.
"Is that… money?"
Kael nodded. "Half magic, half metal. They call it a Crest. One Crest buys a day's worth of food."
"And how many do you have?"
"Enough for two people, for a week—unless you eat like a dragon."
Lyra frowned. "I don't eat that much!"
Kael allowed himself a small smirk—something rare on his face. "You might not notice, but your stomach roars loud enough to wake one."
"What—?! I do not!"
"Come on," he said before she could argue further. "We'll find an inn before nightfall."
They followed the main road lined with merchants and street mages. Floating orbs of Resonance lit the market, painting everything in hues of gold and violet.
An old sorcerer offered charms of protection. A barefoot child sold vials of water said to cure curses. Aetheris was a living paradox—a place where magic and deceit thrived side by side.
"This place feels like a dream," Lyra whispered. "A nightmare painted in color."
Kael gave a faint nod. "And colored nightmares," he said, "are the hardest ones to escape."
꧁𓆩༺✧༻𓆪꧂
They arrived at a large timber inn on the edge of the eastern district—The Silver Mare. The paint was peeling, but laughter and the clatter of mugs drifted warmly from inside. The air smelled of bread, ale, and stew.
"Here?" Lyra asked doubtfully.
"It's the safest place you'll find for cheap," Kael replied, giving her shoulder a light pat. "Don't judge it by the walls."
They stepped inside. A middle-aged woman greeted them with a merchant's practiced smile and sharp eyes.
"Two rooms?" she asked.
Kael shook his head. "One. We just need a place to sleep."
Lyra nearly choked. "One room?!"
"Two beds," Kael said evenly. "I'm not insane, kid."
"I told you to stop calling me that," Lyra grumbled.
The innkeeper chuckled, handing over a small bronze-leaf key. "Second floor. Three Crests a night—breakfast included."
Kael placed several glowing coins on the counter. "A week in advance."
Lyra blinked in surprise. "I'll pay you back."
"Yes," Kael said simply. "When you can. So start figuring out how to earn some coin."
His tone was calm, though there was a flicker of warmth beneath the roughness. Lyra ducked her head, hiding the faint blush on her cheeks.
The room was simple: two wooden beds, a small table, and a window overlooking the rooftops. Amber light from a Resonance lamp shimmered across the walls, giving the illusion of warmth against the heavy air.
Lyra sat on the bed, unlacing her boots, while Kael took to his chair, sharpening a blade dulled at its edge.
"Kael," she said softly.
"Hm?"
"Why are you… so kind to me?"
He paused. "Who said I was kind?"
"You helped me, paid for this room, made sure I ate."
He snorted. "You wouldn't last a day in Aetheris on your own. And I'd rather not have my name tied to a dead child in the streets."
"But you still helped."
"Because I hate watching someone make the same stupid choices I once did."
Silence settled again. The scraping of steel on stone filled the air.
Lyra looked down at her wrist. The mark there pulsed faintly—since entering the city, her Resonance had grown restless, beating in rhythm with the life around her, as if Aetheris itself was breathing beside her.
"Kael," she murmured, "why does this place feel… strange?"
He looked up through the lamplight. "Because Aetheris was built on something that was never meant to be unearthed."
"And what is that?"
"If you stay long enough," he said quietly, "you'll find out."
That night, Lyra didn't sleep. She stood by the window, staring at the city that glittered like a sea of stars. But beneath the glow, she saw them—thin wisps of black mist drifting through the streets, and now and then, silhouettes moving without form or face. They didn't attack, but lingered, waiting.
"Erebus," she whispered.
Yes, Lyra?
"Are they… part of the Veil?"
No. They're echoes—remnants of those touched by the city's Resonance. Aetheris absorbs everything, light and dark alike.
Lyra took a slow breath. "This place feels like a trap."
Erebus chuckled softly. You've only just arrived. Wait until the city starts speaking to you.
Lyra turned back toward the bed where Kael slept, one hand still gripping his sword, as if even in rest he refused to let his guard down. So calm on the outside—but she could sense something heavy behind his eyes, something wild and chained.
She looked out the window again. The southern sky shimmered faintly, and she knew—this was where her new journey began. Not as Seren Aldwyn's apprentice, but as someone who would have to carve her own path through a world that no longer recognized her.
In the distance, amid the chaos of the city, a Resonance bell tolled three times—a signal of change, a call from Aetheris itself.
"What are you staring at?" Kael's voice broke the silence. "Go to sleep, unless you plan on earning coin by staring out windows."
Lyra huffed, muttering under her breath, but obeyed. She crawled into bed and let her eyes close. Tomorrow, her real journey would begin.
꧁𓆩༺✧༻𓆪꧂