Chapter 6 – The Girl Who Saw
By the next morning, the rumors had spread like wildfire.
The orb didn't shatter because of age. Someone broke it.
It was him—Kael Draven. The boy from the empty house.
They say the orb exploded because it tried to read something it couldn't contain.
Kael walked the streets of Emberlight with his hood low and his eyes sharper than usual. Vendors still yelled. Kids still ran between stalls. But eyes lingered on him longer. Faces turned faster.
It wasn't that they knew what he'd done.
It's that they knew something was wrong with him—and humans feared what they didn't understand.
"They're sniffing around too soon," Pyra muttered. "We need to keep you invisible until your power solidifies."
"I know."
"You're bad at subtle."
"You're literally a flaming voice in my skull."
"I'm elegant. There's a difference."
Kael stopped at a tea vendor's cart and bought a small cup. The vendor didn't meet his eyes. He almost seemed afraid the coin might burn him.
He walked to a quiet corner of the inner wall and sipped.
Then, a voice from behind:
"You broke the orb."
Kael didn't turn.
"Half the city thinks I did."
"You're not denying it."
Kael slowly turned around.
A girl stood there—about his age, maybe a bit younger. Pale gray cloak, white trim, short black hair tied into a knot behind her head. Her expression was cold, but her eyes were curious. Dangerous curious.
And pinned to her shoulder was the symbol of a noble house—House Elvane, if Kael remembered correctly. A major family tied to the city's military council.
Not good.
"Can I help you?" Kael asked, cautious.
"You're not supposed to be alive."
"Charming."
She took a step closer. "I was there. I saw it. The orb didn't just break. It screamed."
Kael's hand twitched toward his sleeve.
"Don't use Void Step," Pyra warned. "She's watching for it. She's trained."
The girl tilted her head slightly. "I didn't come to fight."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to know what you are."
Kael stared at her, silent.
"This one's dangerous," Pyra whispered. "Talented. Not fully awakened yet, but she's special. I can feel it."
"…Who are you?"
"Lira Elvane," she replied. "Second daughter of Commander Aren Elvane. And apparently the only one with eyes during the ceremony."
Kael felt his jaw tighten.
Lira stepped closer and extended something—a small, dull crystal orb, the size of a walnut.
"This is a resonance stone. It reacts to awakened systems. If you don't have one, it stays dark."
Kael didn't move.
Lira watched him. "You don't have to touch it. I already know."
"Then why test me?"
"To see what you do."
Kael met her gaze. "I'm not your experiment."
"No. You're worse. You're interesting."
"I hate this girl," Pyra said.
"Same," Kael replied.
Lira pocketed the orb. "You'll need allies soon. Whether you want them or not."
"I prefer silence."
"I prefer control."
She turned and began walking away.
Then paused.
"Also," she added, not looking back, "someone's following you. They've been tracking your movement since yesterday. Low-level cloaking technique. Very clumsy."
Kael blinked. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because if you die early, I won't get answers."
She vanished into the alleyway, as casually as she'd appeared.
Kael stood frozen.
"I don't like her," Pyra repeated.
"She knew too much."
"She also just saved your life. I suggest you take her advice and deal with the tail."
Kael slowly turned, scanned the street—and spotted the shift. Just a flicker. A shadow near the blacksmith's awning that moved when it shouldn't.
He stepped into the side alley without hesitation.
Let them follow.
He had a new ability to test.