Lianna's gaze stayed locked on Kael's outstretched hand.
The shadows that curled around him should have terrified her, but what unsettled her most was the steadiness in his eyes. He wasn't pleading, wasn't demanding. He was simply… waiting, as though he already knew what her choice would be.
Her heart pounded against her ribs. If I take his hand… it means everything changes.
And yet, hadn't it already changed? The glowing mark, the creatures, the surge of power that had burst from her own palm—her old life had slipped away the moment fate had branded her.
Her fingers trembled. Slowly, almost against her will, she placed her hand in his.
Kael's grip was firm, steady, grounding. The moment their skin touched, the mark on her wrist flared, threads of light weaving between them.
Lianna gasped, trying to pull back, but Kael's hold only tightened slightly—not to restrain her, but to anchor her. "Breathe," he instructed quietly. "Don't fight it."
She inhaled sharply, chest rising and falling as warmth spread from the mark, curling up her arm, threading through her veins. It wasn't painful—it was overwhelming, like her body had become a vessel for something far greater than herself.
"What… what is this?" she whispered.
"The bond," Kael said. "Answering."
The alley around them seemed to shift, shadows bending unnaturally, pulling toward Kael like water seeking the tide. With a sweep of his cloak, the darkness enveloped them both, and the city vanished.
Lianna staggered, gripping his arm for balance. "What—where—?"
The shadows receded, and they stood in a vast, dimly lit hall. High ceilings arched above them, carved with symbols that glowed faintly blue. Torches burned with silver flames, casting strange patterns across the stone floor.
Lianna's eyes widened. "This… isn't possible."
Kael released her hand, stepping forward. "This is my world. A sanctuary, hidden between yours and the realm of shadows."
She spun slowly, taking in the endless hall, the heavy silence, the faint hum of power in the air. It felt ancient, alive, as though the very walls were watching her.
Her voice cracked. "Why am I here?"
Kael turned, his expression unreadable. "Because you can't survive out there anymore. The shadows know what you are now. They'll hunt you without rest."
"I don't even know what I am!" Lianna snapped, her fear sharpening into anger.
"You will." His tone was calm, but his eyes held something fierce—something almost desperate. "This place will help you understand. Train you. And when the time comes, it will test you."
Her stomach twisted. "And if I fail?"
Kael's silence was answer enough.
Lianna wrapped her arms around herself, shivering despite the warmth of the silver flames. Every instinct screamed to run, to find a way back to her ordinary life. But there was no door, no window, no trace of the city she had left behind. Only stone, fire, and shadows.
She lifted her eyes to Kael. "You knew this would happen," she accused. "From the start."
His jaw tightened. "Yes."
Her throat tightened with a rush of emotions she couldn't name. "Then why me?"
For the first time, Kael's composure wavered. His gaze softened, storm-gray eyes shadowed with something almost human. "Because fate doesn't choose blindly. And because… I asked for you."
The words hit her like a blow.
"You… what?"
But Kael only turned away, his cloak sweeping behind him. "Rest for now. Tomorrow, the training begins."
Lianna's knees weakened, her mind spinning. She wanted to demand answers, to scream at him for speaking in riddles. But exhaustion pulled at her bones, heavier than she had ever felt. The bond still pulsed in her veins, thrumming with each heartbeat.
As Kael disappeared into the shadows at the end of the hall, Lianna whispered into the silence:
"What am I becoming?"
The torches flickered, and the walls seemed to hum in response—like the ancient stones themselves were waiting for her to find out.