The lanterns of Elyndra had dimmed by the time Kaelis and Selara reached the edge of the city's old market district. The streets were quieter here, cobblestones slick from a recent drizzle, reflecting the muted glow of gaslights.
"You're not afraid," Kaelis said, breaking the silence as they walked side by side.
Selara chuckled softly, though there was a hint of tension in her voice. "Afraid? Of what? Shadows? Whispers? Or the truth?"
Kaelis frowned. "Truth?"
She stopped suddenly, turning to him. "You felt it back there, didn't you? The pull… the magic calling us. It's rare. Dangerous. And not everyone survives it."
Kaelis's heart skipped. "I… I felt something. But I don't understand it."
Selara studied him carefully. "Most people don't. But you're different, Kaelis. I can see it in you." Her eyes glimmered like starlight. "You have a gift. You just haven't discovered its limits yet."
Before he could respond, a sudden ripple in the air made the lanterns flicker. Shadows twisted unnaturally, and a chill crawled up Kaelis's spine.
"Stay close," Selara whispered, her voice now sharp and urgent. She raised her hand, summoning a faint shield of light that shimmered between them.
From the darkness, a figure emerged. Cloaked, tall, and silent, it moved with a grace that was almost predatory. Kaelis felt the pull of the whisper intensify, tugging at his chest like a tether.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The figure stopped, and a deep, calm voice replied. "I am Orin Thale, guardian of the Dreamrealm. You have both been touched by forces beyond this world. And now, the boundary between your reality and mine has begun to blur."
Selara's grip on his hand tightened. "Kaelis… I didn't want to drag you into this. But the prophecy… it begins with us."
Kaelis swallowed hard. "Prophecy?"
Orin's piercing gaze settled on him. "Yes. The one that speaks of two souls whose bond could either save or destroy the worlds. You, Kaelis Veyra, and you, Selara Nyx, are the ones foretold."
The weight of the revelation pressed down on him. He had been just a healer, living a quiet life in Elyndra. And now, in the span of a single night, everything he thought he knew had changed.
Selara whispered, almost to herself, "We can't run from it. Not anymore."
Kaelis nodded, feeling a strange mix of fear and determination. Somehow, he knew she was right.
And as the shadows deepened around them, the whisper returned—stronger this time, calling their names in a melody only they could hear.