In the gritty streets of Kallzara, a small wayside town where light barely touches the alleys, Revan Sorna survives by his wits—and by magic long forbidden. With the help of a shadowy tome found in forgotten ruins beneath the city, Revan can summon shadows to deceive and distract, but such power comes with a price: shadows cannot be created from nothing, and his own is lazy and stubborn, testing his patience at every turn.

Revan’s partner in crime, Cassie, is a clever con artist with a talent for ice magic and a convincing lost-girl act. Together, they make a perfect team, surviving by picking pockets, pulling cons, and running from those who would see their kind dead or worse.

Tonight’s target is an easy mark: a drunken sailor leaving The Golden Pig tavern. But when Revan’s swift theft is interrupted by a brutal punch, the simple job spirals into something far more dangerous—and far more personal.

As dark secrets from the ruins threaten to surface and enemies close in, Revan and Cassie must rely on their skills, their magic, and each other to survive. But in a town where shadow magic is heresy and trust is a currency rarer than gold, survival might just mean losing everything.

Location: Ruined quarters of Iskarra — hidden safehouseTime: Nightfall, city alive with whispered dangers


The scholar and Kael crouched over a battered map, eyes scanning leyline markers flickering faintly beneath the city's ruins.


Around them, the safehouse was sparse—dust motes hanging in stale air, relics of a forgotten rebellion lining cracked shelves.


Kael's voice was low but grim:"Everyone wants the fragments now. The Accord hunts us. The masked woman hunts us. Even the rogue mercs smell blood."


The scholar's fingers traced the map:"The Silent Watcher's binding bought time—but not peace.We need allies. Or this ends in ashes."


A soft knock. The door creaked open, revealing a figure draped in shadow—an emissary from a forgotten faction, the Veilborn—mages who abandoned the Accord long ago.


"You seek answers," the emissary said, voice smooth as silk."But the truth you carry threatens more than you know."


"We can offer knowledge... and sanctuary," they added, stepping inside."For a price."


The scholar and Kael exchanged wary glances.


Trust was a currency more precious than magic.


"We have little choice," Kael muttered."But every pact has its cost."


The emissary smiled, eyes glinting with secrets:"Then let us begin."


As the candles flickered low, plans were drawn and risks weighed.


The world outside had turned hostile—an endless hunt for power and survival.


But in the shadows, new alliances took root—fragile, dangerous, and full of possibility.


Chapter 39 - Allies in the Shadows