Kaelen shut his eyes for a moment, leaning against the bedpost. His body felt heavy — the fight in the unknown realm still lingered in his bones — but when he opened them again, sunlight was already filtering through his window.
Morning.
He sighed and dragged himself to the bath. Warm water eased some of the stiffness, but his thoughts stayed restless. By the time he dressed and made his way to the dining table, the house was alive with the clink of utensils and the faint aroma of spiced bread.
Lyra eyed him curiously over her cup of tea. Something about him seemed... off. She couldn't say what, but her instincts nagged at her.
Breakfast passed quietly. Afterwards, the siblings headed for the shopping street to buy books, uniforms, and other supplies for the Academy.
Kaelen's gaze drifted as they walked, the noise of the bustling street fading in his mind. He thought back to the cryptit fight. How easily it had fallen.
"That thing... it might've been one of the weaker ones."
A light tap on his head pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Oi," Lyra said, giving him a sideways glance. "You've been zoning out since breakfast. What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Just... thinking about a dream I had last night," Kaelen replied casually.
She studied his face for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but didn't press further. "Well, try not to space out while walking, alright? You'll bump into someone."
The morning passed in a pleasant rhythm. Kaelen went with Lyra to a magic equipment store, selecting a staff carved from blackwood with faint silver engravings. Lyra gave it a nod of approval, testing its balance before they paid for it.
Meanwhile, Allaric had gone to pick out a sword for Kaelen — claiming he didn't want Lyra to wander the streets alone — though Kaelen suspected his brother simply wanted to choose the blade himself.
They regrouped at the central plaza when something sharp brushed Kaelen's senses.
A presence — strong, deliberate, and watching him.
It vanished as quickly as it came, leaving only the faintest trace in the air. Kaelen scanned the crowd, his mind sharpening.
"I'll catch up," he told Lyra and Allaric. "You two go ahead."
Before they could question him, he darted off, vaulting onto a low rooftop and leaping toward the nearest watchtower. His eyes swept the streets below, scanning every alley and shadow. Nothing.
With no trail to follow, he dropped back down to the cobblestone, deciding to walk home instead of teleport — no need to draw more attention.
As he turned a corner, he collided with someone.
A small gasp escaped the girl he'd bumped into as she stumbled backward. She was about his height, maybe eight years old, with neatly braided blonde hair tied with a deep blue ribbon. Her dress was a refined shade of blue trimmed with lace, and her green eyes were wide with surprise. She carried a small staff — now on the ground — along with a satchel that had spilled a few items.
"Sorry," Kaelen said quickly, crouching to pick up the scattered belongings. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
The girl blinked at him, then gave a small nod. "It's alright."
He handed her the staff, making sure it was steady in her hands before stepping back. "Careful walking around here. It's easy to get swept up in the crowd."
She gave a polite "thank you" before continuing on her way.
Kaelen watched her go for a second, then turned toward home. That strange presence from earlier still itched in the back of his mind, but for now... it could wait.