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: Vault of Knives — The Black AlcoveTime: Dead of night, when only whispers dare speak


The chamber was carved from obsidian stone, lit by flickering runes that cast long, twisting shadows.


Around a circular obsidian table sat five figures cloaked in muted colors, faces hidden beneath heavy hoods. Their voices were low but edged with cold steel.


"The scholar's meddling accelerates the Crown's return," said the first — a slender woman whose voice was sharp as shattered glass."We cannot allow these amateurs to stumble into ruin."


"Amateurs?" growled a broad-shouldered man, his voice gravelly and hard."It is the masters who have failed. We should reclaim the fragments ourselves. Control the Crown before others do."


"Control what?" sneered another, a lithe figure whose eyes glinted with amusement."A curse. The Crown devours all who wear it. We are guards, not conquerors."


"Guards who hesitate are traitors.We must act decisively — and if necessary, eliminate those who resist."


"Including Councilor Maelor," muttered the broad man."He softens the Accord's edge. His loyalty is… questionable."


Suddenly, a new voice — low and smooth — broke the stillness.


"Then we are agreed," said a shadow stepping forward, revealing a mask half-forged from shadow and gold.


"The Accord must be cleansed from within. Only then can the Hollow Crown be secured."


They laid a sealed parchment on the table.


"This is the list. Names, locations, weaknesses. We strike before the scholar can unravel more."


"But what of the outsider — the masked woman seen near the fragments?" asked the amused figure."She grows closer each day."


The masked voice smiled, cold and cruel.


"Let her come. She will find the Accord's divisions as deadly as any blade."


The five placed their hands on the table, the runes flaring bright.


"We act at dawn.For the Accord.For the Crown."


Chapter 34 - Shadows in the Vault