The journey through Evaria stretched over the course of a week, filled with rolling golden fields, sprawling rivers, and distant mountain ridges that painted the horizon. The air smelled of wildflowers and fresh earth, carried by the constant breeze that whispered through the plains. It was peaceful, almost deceptively so, as if the land itself wanted us to forget the dangers that lurked just beyond sight.
The wagon rattled over dirt roads, the wheels kicking up trails of dust as we followed the well-worn path toward Luthadel. Inside, the atmosphere shifted between lighthearted banter and moments of silence where we each lost ourselves in thought. I sat beside Elaris, her lavender eyes watching the passing scenery with a quiet smile, her hand resting gently over mine.
Alaria, on the other hand, had grown more unpredictable. One moment she was relaxed, teasing me with offhand remarks, and the next she'd withdraw into her own thoughts, staring out the window with an unreadable expression. The others had noticed it too, though no one spoke of it. We all knew why.
Kaivya's absence lingered like a wound that wouldn't heal. No matter how much time passed, there was always that missing presence—the sharp remarks, the cocky smirks, the way she challenged everyone around her. It was like a phantom limb, something we should have moved on from but couldn't. Every so often, I caught Alaria glancing at the empty space beside her, the one Kaivya would have filled, and I knew she was feeling the loss just as much as I was.
Lucian, Rowan, Gareth, and Callen—the newer additions to our group—kept their distance when it came to matters of the past. They joked with one another, helped pass the time with stories of their own adventures, but they never pushed. They weren't Kaivya, but they weren't trying to be.
At night, when the fire crackled and the stars painted the sky, I often found myself staring into the darkness, listening to the whispers only I could hear.
You're hiding yourself from them.
Veylara's voice was always there, curling around my thoughts like silk.
"You don't trust them. And why should you? The moment they know the truth, they'll fear you. They'll abandon you."
I would sit there, gripping my hands together, feeling the scars that Rift Magic had already left on my body. The power inside me was different from what I once had—twisting, consuming. Unlike light magic, which had felt warm and radiant, Rift Magic was cold and demanding, like an insatiable hunger that threatened to consume me whole.
Elaris had sensed it. She hadn't said anything outright, but I'd caught her watching me when she thought I wasn't looking. She had always been the one to read me best.
By the seventh day, the landscape began to shift. The golden fields of Evaria gave way to thicker forestry, the roads becoming smoother, better maintained. More merchant wagons passed us by, the traffic increasing the closer we got to our destination.
And then, finally, Luthadel appeared before us.
The city was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Massive ancient trees surrounded its outskirts, their thick roots weaving through the cobblestone streets, as though nature itself had become part of the city's foundation. Blossoms of deep red and violet adorned the branches, their petals fluttering like snowflakes in the breeze.
Buildings stood tall and elegant, crafted from dark oak and stone, their rooftops decorated with gold and crimson banners. Soft lanterns lined the streets, casting a warm, perpetual twilight over the city. Unlike the other towns we had visited, Luthadel thrived in the evening—its heart beating strongest under the moon's glow.
The air smelled of spice and perfume, the mingling scents enticing and foreign. Every street corner held performers—musicians playing enchanted instruments, illusionists casting shimmering displays of light, and dancers moving with fluid grace.
Then there was The Moonlit Hollow—Luthadel's famed red-light district.
Even from the main road, I could see its entrance. An archway of dark wood carved with intricate symbols led into a realm of soft, glowing lanterns and veiled figures who watched with knowing smiles.
Fox and wolf beastkin walked the streets in flowing silks, their tails flicking as they whispered enticing invitations to passersby. Some lounged outside grand establishments, their gazes sultry, their laughter like a song meant to lure in prey.
Alaria leaned forward, resting her arms on the wagon's edge as she surveyed the city with intrigue. "Well, well… this place has character."
Elaris, on the other hand, looked slightly unimpressed. "It's certainly… lively," she murmured, tightening her grip on my hand.
Lucian let out a low whistle. "I've heard stories about Luthadel, but this is something else entirely. You could probably get lost here for months and never want to leave."
Rowan, the quietest of our group, merely adjusted his hood and kept his thoughts to himself.
I exhaled, taking it all in.
Luthadel wasn't just a city—it was a test. A place of temptation, mystery, and hidden dangers lurking beneath its alluring surface.
And somehow, I knew—this was going to be more than just a stop on our journey. This city held secrets, and whether we wanted to or not, we were about to become entangled in them.
As we passed through the main gates of Luthadel, the atmosphere shifted completely. It was as if the very air hummed with an energy unlike any other city we had visited. This was not just a place of commerce or governance—it was a city that thrived under the moon's gaze, a place where stories were spun in shadows and secrets exchanged in whispers.
The streets were alive, even as the sun dipped below the horizon. Luthadel truly awakened at night.
Merchants called out from their elaborate stalls, selling wares that ranged from enchanted jewelry to rare spices. The architecture here was intricate—wood and stone entwined with the roots of colossal trees, their glowing blossoms illuminating the roads in hues of violet and crimson. I had seen many cities, but none quite like this. There was something undeniably alluring about Luthadel, yet it was impossible to ignore the other feeling lingering beneath it.
A sense of something deeper. Something watching.
Elaris stayed close to me, her fingers laced with mine, her lavender eyes scanning our surroundings with a mix of curiosity and caution. Alaria, on the other hand, was completely in her element. She practically glowed with excitement, her emerald gaze darting between the sights, her crimson hair shifting in waves as she leaned forward in the wagon.
"Alright, I love this place already," she said, grinning as she took in the beautifully dressed beastkin courtesans who strolled the streets of the Moonlit Hollow. "I mean, look at them—exotic, mysterious, dangerous. I think I'd fit right in."
"Wouldn't surprise me if you already knew people here," Gareth smirked from behind her.
Alaria shot him a playful glare. "What's that supposed to mean, mage boy?"
"Just saying," Gareth shrugged, a glimmer of amusement in his storm-gray eyes. "You do have a type."
Elaris sighed, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. "We should focus on finding a place to stay first, before we get lost in whatever this is."
Lucian, ever the strategist, nodded. "I agree. The city is enormous, and we don't want to split up just yet."
Callen, who had been silent for most of the ride, leaned forward slightly, his sharp blue eyes surveying the crowd with his usual alertness. "We also need to be careful. Luthadel isn't just famous for its beauty—it has a reputation. People come here to indulge, but they also disappear."
That statement put a damper on the mood. I could already tell—Luthadel was going to be far more than just a pit stop.
Our wagon rolled past the edges of the Moonlit Hollow, and I caught glimpses of its establishments. There was a dreamlike quality to the district—swaying silk curtains, the flickering glow of lanterns, the quiet, sultry laughter of courtesans as they enticed passersby into their dens of pleasure. The scent of perfumed oils and exotic spices clung to the air, mingling with the ever-present whispers of the wind.
And yet, beneath it all, there was something off—a thread of tension woven into the beauty, a sense that not everything here was what it seemed.
Veylara's presence stirred in my mind, her voice like silk brushing against my thoughts.
"Be wary, my dear Noctis. This city is not unlike me—beautiful on the surface, but filled with dark secrets waiting to be uncovered."
I exhaled through my nose, unwilling to let her words rattle me.
The wagon came to a slow halt near the central district, where most of the city's larger inns were located. The Silver Mirage stood out among them—an elegant establishment with arched doorways, intricate carvings, and warm lantern light spilling from its windows. It looked safe enough, which was good, considering I was still recovering from the wounds I'd earned back in Sundermere.
As we climbed down from the wagon, I turned to Elaris. "This should be good for the night," I murmured.
She nodded, though I could tell she was still on edge. Her fingers brushed against mine, a silent reassurance between us.
Inside, the inn was bustling. Patrons crowded around the bar, drinking and laughing, while others lounged near the hearth, speaking in hushed tones. It was a strange blend of warmth and wariness—the kind of place that welcomed both travelers and trouble alike.
We arranged for rooms—one for the boys, another for Alaria, and a separate one for Elaris and me. The innkeeper, an older man with keen golden eyes, handed us our keys with a knowing smirk. "Welcome to Luthadel. Try not to lose yourselves in the wrong parts of the city."
Lucian chuckled. "Wrong parts?"
The innkeeper's smirk widened. "You'll know them when you see them."
With that cryptic remark, we headed upstairs to drop off our belongings.
Elaris and I entered our room, and the moment the door shut behind us, she exhaled heavily, resting her forehead against my shoulder. "This place makes me uneasy."
I wrapped an arm around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It's different," I admitted. "But we've been through worse."
She nodded against me, but I could still sense the tension in her shoulders.
After freshening up, we regrouped downstairs, discussing our next steps over a light meal.
"So," Callen leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Are we going to pretend we don't all feel like someone's been watching us since we entered this place?"
Everyone went silent.
Alaria was the first to scoff, though I noticed the way her fingers toyed with the hilt of her dagger. "It's probably just the usual city paranoia. We are the Voidbane Seraph's party now," she smirked at me. "People are bound to stare."
Rowan, ever the quiet one, finally spoke. "It doesn't feel like admiration. It feels… expectant."
A chill ran down my spine at his words.
Elaris's hand found mine beneath the table, her warmth grounding me. I squeezed back gently, forcing myself to stay calm.
Veylara's voice returned, curling around my mind like a dark whisper. "Ah… I see now. You're not just being watched, Noctis—you're being awaited."
I stiffened slightly, but said nothing. The last thing I needed was the others realizing just how deep her influence ran.
Lucian sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Either way, we should all stay together tomorrow. No one wanders off alone."
Everyone murmured their agreement.
As the night went on, the tension didn't fade. It lingered in the air, in the way people looked at us, in the way the city seemed to pulse with something unseen.
Luthadel was not just a city of beauty and indulgence. It was a city of secrets.
And somehow, I knew—we were about to become a part of them.