Selene led Liora down a narrow passage, deeper into the hidden layers of the city. The walls here weren't solid—they rippled slightly, as if alive, reacting to their presence.
"This is your first lesson," Selene said. "The city notices everything, but it also has gaps. Your job is to find them—and survive."
"Gaps?" Liora asked, uncertain.
"The city bends reality, but nothing is perfect. Fear, hesitation, doubt… these are its tools. Control them, and you control yourself."
Kael remained silent, observing. He knew the city's dangers far too well, but even he had to admit—Selene was right.
A shadow emerged from the wall. It flowed like liquid, yet solid enough to strike.
"Focus," Selene instructed. "Don't fight it. Understand it."
Liora's pulse raced. She concentrated, letting the memory of the vanished guide her senses. The shadow hesitated, curling away from her awareness.
"Good," Selene said. "Now push it back."
Instinctively, Liora extended her hands. Light flared at her fingertips, rippling outward. The shadow recoiled, twisting and dissolving into the cracks of the floor.
Kael's eyes widened. "You're stronger than I expected."
Liora's chest heaved. "I didn't know I could do that!"
Selene smiled faintly. "Power isn't just in doing—it's in choosing when to act. Hesitate, and the city will punish you."
The walls around them shimmered. A whisper slid past Liora's ears, almost teasing: "Too bold… too brave…"
She shivered. "It's testing me again."
"Exactly," Selene said. "And now, you must learn to see without fear. Only then can you move forward."
Kael glanced at her. "The next time the city tests you, it won't stop."
Liora nodded, determination solidifying in her chest. She wasn't just surviving anymore—she was learning to fight.
And the city, for all its power, had noticed.