I love that you're diving into this adventure! Let's continue the tale of *The Shattered Veil*.
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**Chapter Two: The Hidden Mark**
Lirien barely had time to react. The hooded figure lunged toward her, the blade gleaming in the candlelight. She scrambled backward, knocking over a stack of books in her haste. Her heart pounded wildly, but years of studying ancient texts had taught her that fear must be met with clarity.
A surge of instinct guided her hand, and she grabbed the nearest tome—a heavy leather-bound volume filled with spells from forgotten ages. Without thinking, she hurled it at the figure. The assailant dodged, but the momentary distraction was enough for Lirien to sprint toward the archive's exit.
She burst through the doors into the empty courtyard beyond, her breath ragged. Aethermere's towering spires loomed above, their stained-glass windows shimmering in the moonlight. But the city was silent—too silent.
Then, she saw it.
A sigil, glowing faintly upon her wrist.
The shape was intricate—a crescent moon intertwined with arcane symbols. It pulsed with an energy she had never felt before, sending warmth through her veins.
*"You are marked,"* whispered a voice in her mind. *"And they will come for you."*
Terror gripped her, but alongside it came an undeniable sense of purpose. Whoever sought to keep this prophecy buried had already begun their hunt. And if she was the last heir spoken of in the prophecy, then everything—the fate of Eldoria, the unraveling of the veil—depended on her.
She had no choice now. She had to uncover the truth before they silenced her forever.
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