am. Not you."
The whispers laughed in reply.
Chapter 4: Strangers in the Dusk(~1,200 words)
Kael stumbled onward through the graveyard of statues. His body was stronger, but his mind felt fragile, like glass under strain.
The Dusk stretched on without end, crimson moon hanging heavy. He wondered if he was still asleep somewhere back in Stonemarket. If his body lay on his thin cot, pale and still, while his soul wandered here.
A voice broke his thoughts.
"Hey! You there!"
Kael spun, chains stirring instinctively.
Two figures emerged from the ruins. Both human. One was tall and broad-shouldered, carrying a rusted sword across his back. His jaw was square, eyes hardened from survival. The other was a girl with hair the color of night and silver eyes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. She carried no weapon, yet she walked with the calmness of someone who didn't need one.
Kael's chest tightened. Strangers again. Would they abandon him like the others?
The man's eyes narrowed. "You're new."
Kael didn't answer. His throat was dry.
The girl tilted her head. "He reeks of shadow."
Kael stiffened. "What?"
Her silver eyes gleamed as she studied him. "You've bound one. No… more than one."
Kael's stomach dropped. "Stay away from me."
The man raised a hand, placating. "Relax, boy. We're not here to kill you. Unless you give us a reason."
Kael's chains rattled faintly beneath his skin. The whisper hissed: They'll betray you.
The girl smiled faintly. "Shadow-binders are rare. Dangerous. Some say cursed."
Kael's fists clenched. "I didn't choose this."
"None of us did," the man said. "The Dusk doesn't give choices. Only chances."
He lowered his sword slightly, voice firm. "Name's Brann. This is Selene. If you want to live longer than a day, come with us. Alone, you'll starve. Or worse."
Kael hesitated. The whisper screamed in his chest. They'll betray you. Alone is safer.
But his stomach twisted with hunger, and his limbs shook with exhaustion.
He forced out the word. "Fine."
Selene's faint smile lingered. "Good. Let's see how long you last."
am. Not you."
The whispers laughed in reply.
Chapter 4: Strangers in the Dusk(~1,200 words)
Kael stumbled onward through the graveyard of statues. His body was stronger, but his mind felt fragile, like glass under strain.
The Dusk stretched on without end, crimson moon hanging heavy. He wondered if he was still asleep somewhere back in Stonemarket. If his body lay on his thin cot, pale and still, while his soul wandered here.
A voice broke his thoughts.
"Hey! You there!"
Kael spun, chains stirring instinctively.
Two figures emerged from the ruins. Both human. One was tall and broad-shouldered, carrying a rusted sword across his back. His jaw was square, eyes hardened from survival. The other was a girl with hair the color of night and silver eyes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. She carried no weapon, yet she walked with the calmness of someone who didn't need one.
Kael's chest tightened. Strangers again. Would they abandon him like the others?
The man's eyes narrowed. "You're new."
Kael didn't answer. His throat was dry.
The girl tilted her head. "He reeks of shadow."
Kael stiffened. "What?"
Her silver eyes gleamed as she studied him. "You've bound one. No… more than one."
Kael's stomach dropped. "Stay away from me."
The man raised a hand, placating. "Relax, boy. We're not here to kill you. Unless you give us a reason."
Kael's chains rattled faintly beneath his skin. The whisper hissed: They'll betray you.
The girl smiled faintly. "Shadow-binders are rare. Dangerous. Some say cursed."
Kael's fists clenched. "I didn't choose this."
"None of us did," the man said. "The Dusk doesn't give choices. Only chances."
He lowered his sword slightly, voice firm. "Name's Brann. This is Selene. If you want to live longer than a day, come with us. Alone, you'll starve. Or worse."
Kael hesitated. The whisper screamed in his chest. They'll betray you. Alone is safer.
But his stomach twisted with hunger, and his limbs shook with exhaustion.
He forced out the word. "Fine."
Selene's faint smile lingered. "Good. Let's see how long you last."