The evening had settled into a quiet stillness, the kind that hung heavy in the air, thick with anticipation. The Crimson Hearth Bistro was still warm with the scent of roasted meats and freshly baked bread, the flicker of candlelight casting dancing shadows over the tables. Outside, the world was a bustle of life—streets filled with the chatter of patrons and the hum of life, unaware of the shifting currents beneath their feet.
But inside, tucked away behind the heavy velvet curtains that separated the kitchen from the rest of the bistro, Naevia moved with purpose, her eyes sharp and calculating.
Tonight, Kael had taken the children for a walk—out of the bistro, down the cobbled streets to the nearby park. It was the perfect moment.
She turned a key in the hidden lock beneath the floorboards of the storage room, the entrance to an old, forgotten cellar that had been sealed for years. A cool draft swept up from the depths as the door creaked open.
"Naevia," a voice called softly from the shadows.
Her heart skipped at the familiar sound.
The tall, robed figure stepped into the dim light—a man with eyes that shimmered like midnight stars. Saelith.
He was an enigma, a figure woven into Kael's past and a secret only Naevia had ever truly known. A former ally, perhaps even a lover from the years Kael had tried to run from his past. His presence, though comforting in many ways, also carried the weight of things best left untouched. His connection to her, to Kael, was complicated—and in some ways, it still was.
"What are you doing here?" Naevia asked, her voice low.
Saelith's mouth curved into a grin, but it was a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I come to warn you, Naevia," he said, his voice low and tinged with concern. "The Shadowsong have moved. The winged woman you saw—Liryel—she's more than just a scout. Her interest in Kael isn't simple."
Naevia's breath caught in her throat. Her gaze flickered to the dark passage behind him. "You've seen her before?"
He nodded, the silvery glow of his eyes dimming. "I've felt her presence in the distance. Valen—he won't stop. Kael's past will catch up with him. You and the girls... will be targets."
Her fingers tightened around the edges of the doorframe, her heart suddenly heavy. She had known, deep down, that their peace would be shattered. The world of shadows never truly left a warrior.
"Why are you telling me this?" Naevia's voice was strained, betraying the emotions she was trying to keep hidden.
"Because," Saelith said, his eyes softening, "I owe him. I owe Kael. And you." He took a step closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I've seen what you're building here. This life… this family. But you won't be able to protect them alone."
A long silence stretched between them, Naevia's thoughts racing.
"You want to help us," she said, her voice flat. It wasn't a question.
Saelith's smile flickered again. "I always did, even when it was dangerous." His expression shifted, turning more serious. "I can't stop them. But I can prepare you. There's something else... something Kael doesn't know. You should tell him."
Naevia's brow furrowed. "What is it?"
Saelith stepped closer, leaning in so only she could hear his words. "The fire inside him... it's not just a relic of the past. It's a power that's still growing, still burning. And whoever controls that flame... controls everything."
Naevia swallowed hard, her heart racing. "And who do you think controls it?"
Saelith hesitated, then pulled a small, silver sigil from his cloak. It was engraved with strange symbols, glowing faintly. "The Shadowsong will come for Kael. Not just because of his past, but because of the potential that power holds."
Naevia's eyes widened as she took the sigil from his hand. "You're saying they want to use him... or kill him?"
"Yes," Saelith replied, his voice cold now, like steel. "Whichever serves their purpose."
Naevia stepped back, clutching the sigil tightly. "What do you suggest?"
"You need to be ready. Kael needs to know what's coming—before it's too late."
---
The wind howled outside, the cold creeping in from the cracks in the walls. But inside the cellar, a fire burned brighter than ever—the ember of a new fight.
As Naevia stood alone in the darkness, she made her decision. She would not let Kael face this alone again.