The sun had barely risen over the city, casting long shadows through the narrow streets. Aria followed Kael through back alleys and abandoned warehouses, trying to keep pace. Her legs were still sore from yesterday's training, but her mind was racing faster than ever.
"Where are we going?" she asked, tugging at her jacket.
"To a place you'll feel more… connected," Kael replied, voice calm but firm. "It's time you understand the world you've been born into — the clans, the factions, the hunters. And why every move you make is watched."
Aria shivered. Every word reminded her of the attack yesterday. She was powerful, yes… but she was still just a girl. And people wanted her dead.
They arrived at a hidden rooftop garden atop an abandoned skyscraper. Cracked tiles were overgrown with wild plants, and faint traces of magic shimmered in the air.
"This was your mother's favorite place," Kael said softly, gesturing to the small crystal fountain at the center. Water shimmered silver in the morning light. "She came here to think, to plan, to protect you before you were born."
Aria knelt by the fountain, brushing her fingers over the water. A ripple expanded, then shimmered like liquid glass. She felt… something. A pulse. A whisper. Her mother.
Kael stood silently behind her, watching her reaction.
"Your bloodline isn't just special — it's dangerous," Kael explained. "Shapeshifter clans are fractured. Some fear your power. Some want to control it. And some… will kill anyone who stands in their way. That includes you."
Aria's stomach churned. "So… everyone is my enemy?"
Kael shook his head. "No. Some can be allies. But trust is rare. Loyalty even rarer. You have to learn who to fight alongside — and who to fight against."
He handed her a small set of medallions, each etched with a clan symbol. "Learn these. Memorize them. They will appear in places you least expect."
Aria studied them, feeling the weight of history and expectation pressing on her shoulders.
Before she could ask more, a sudden gust of wind swept across the rooftop. A figure landed silently on the opposite edge — tall, lithe, eyes glowing a pale amber.
"Kael," the newcomer said smoothly, voice like silk over steel. "I presume this is the heir?"
Aria froze. Kael's stance tightened, protective. "Yes. This is Aria Vale," he said.
The stranger's gaze swept over Aria, evaluating her like prey and prize combined. "Interesting," he murmured. "You have potential… but raw. Untamed. Dangerous."
Aria's pulse quickened. Something about the stranger made her shadows flare involuntarily. She stepped back.
"I—I'm not what you think," she stammered, though the words sounded hollow even to her.
The stranger smiled faintly. "We'll see. But remember, heiress… the world won't wait for you to grow."
Before Aria could react, the stranger vanished into the morning mist, leaving a chill behind.
Kael's jaw tightened. "That's Lucien. A rival heir. One of the strongest alive. He'll test you — maybe today, maybe years from now. But mark my words: he'll appear when you least expect it."
Aria's hand went instinctively to the pendant around her neck. It pulsed, warm against her chest, almost as if it sensed the danger she hadn't yet seen.
She whispered, "Mom… help me."
The crystal shimmered faintly, casting shadows that danced along the rooftop. The shadows responded to her, curling protectively around her form. For the first time, she felt… a connection. Not just to her powers, but to the mother she had never truly known.
Kael watched her quietly. "Your mother's legacy isn't just power, Aria. It's guidance. You'll need it — more than you realize."
Aria took a deep breath, standing tall. "Then I'll learn. I'll survive. And I'll be ready."
Kael's eyes softened slightly. "Good. Because they're already moving. And every step you take… will matter."
From the shadows below, a pair of golden eyes blinked once, then vanished. Aria's heartbeat quickened.
The hunt was far from over.