The forest was never the prison… it was the safety.
And now, they stepped into a world that didn't know them…
A world that offers no second chances,
And shows no mercy to those who don't know themselves.
Here, strength alone isn't enough.
You must know why you fight.
It's not enough to wield magic…
You must know when to use it — and when not to.
This world doesn't ask, "Who are you?"
It shoves you into reality,
Watches you in silence,
And if you fail to find your path —
It carves one for you… in blood.
And so,
The journey began.
Along a dusty trail, where earth and wild herbs blended in scent,
Leora and Raven walked with steady steps.
The forest behind them… and fate ahead.
They arrived at the gates of Kalvera,
The first stop in their journey,
Unaware of what the stones might whisper…
Or who would wave them goodbye.
From afar, Kalvera emerged through the fog like a painting,
Drawn in winding lines of smoke and light.
Half-ruined towers pierced the sky,
And gray walls crawled along the hillsides
Like a living creature that had been breathing for centuries.
The wind from the city carried a strange blend:
The scent of warm bread…
Something like gunpowder…
And a shiver with no name.
Raven closed his eyes and took a deep breath:
— "I smell fresh bread… warm smoke… and an overwhelming hunger coming on."
Leora chuckled softly:
— "Ahh… You really do love food."
They approached Kalvera's gate,
Where crowds flowed in and out.
Vendors shouted at the top of their lungs,
Soldiers inspected cargo,
Barefoot children darted through the crowd laughing—
As if the city had never known fear,
Or simply laughed in its face.
Leora spoke in a soft, happy tone:
— "This scene… reminds me of our land, before silence took it.
The noise, the life,
The people unafraid to speak loudly…
The laughter of children…
I thought I had forgotten the feeling of safety…
But I'm glad I remember it now."
Raven looked at her in silence,
And in his eyes, a tiny gleam—
Not because of the city, or the chaos,
But because he finally saw a flicker of happiness on her face,
Even for a moment.
As if she reminded him why he was here…
And why he would never leave her.
Kalvera was unlike anything they'd seen.
A city that breathed, roared, laughed—
And hid countless unsaid things in its shadows.
They passed a vendor offering blue drinks to an elderly woman,
A band playing on a street corner,
A child drawing an unreadable word into the dirt with a stick.
Raven suddenly stopped in front of a sweet shop:
— "Leora… this isn't training. This is heaven.
Do you see those pastries?
They're literally smiling at me."
As they wandered through the alleys,
Leora paused, reaching a hand toward Raven to slow him down:
— "Wait… Listen."
A soft melody drifted between the stones,
Simple, yet impossible to ignore…
As if someone were trying to convince life to stay alive.
In a shaded corner, between a vegetable shop and a tiny window,
An old man sat on a worn wooden chair,
A forgotten stringed instrument resting in his lap.
His fingers moved with delicate grace and quiet longing.
He played a sad tune…
Like an apology to the world.
Then the melody shifted… filled with hope—
As if the city, despite everything, was still singing.
Leora stood still, her eyes shimmering softly:
— "Look at him, Raven…
He asks for nothing.
He expects no applause.
He just… plays.
As if the strings remember the city's secrets,
And each note tells the story of someone who's no longer here.
He gave the street its memory back…
And gave my heart… a piece of calm."
Raven blinked in surprise, then smiled gently:
— "Leora…
I'm truly happy…
To see you smiling like this."
Then he added:
— "But I think it's time to stop being poetic and go eat.
Or else… I'm going to actually die."
Leora smiled, ready with her usual sarcasm:
— "No problem. I'll make your death quick."
Raven opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly—
A sharp cry pierced the air behind them.
Then another.
They turned quickly—
Chaos erupted in the heart of the marketplace.
Children running barefoot,
Women dragging baskets of bread,
A vendor overturned his cart and screamed:
"The Shadowborn! The Shadowborn are back—RUN!"