Draven:

  Morning came too soon.

  Golden light bled through the window, stretching long across the wooden floor. The sounds of Evermere stirring reached my ears—distant chatter from the streets, the occasional clang of a blacksmith’s hammer. The city was awake.

  I wasn’t.

  I lay still, staring at the ceiling, my body leaden with exhaustion. My limbs ached—not from exertion, but from something deeper, something that weighed me down from the inside. My mind felt slow, heavy, as though my thoughts had been dulled overnight.

  I should have gotten up.

  I needed to get up.

  But I didn’t move.

  The night before lingered at the edges of my mind—the chase through the library, the thing in the dark whispering to me, the way it had stopped at the threshold as if bound by some unseen force.

  And worse than all of that—

  It had smelled something on me.

  I exhaled sharply, pressing the heel of my palm against my forehead. None of it made sense.

  And right now, I wasn’t sure I had the energy to figure it out.

  For once, I wished the world would let me rest.

  But I knew better.

  A knock at the door broke the silence.

  Soft, but firm.

  I groaned, dragging an arm over my eyes. "What?"

  The door creaked open slightly, and my father’s head appeared through the gap. He didn’t step inside, just leaned against the frame with his usual ease.

  "Alaric and Selene are outside," he said. His tone was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity beneath it. "They’re asking for you."

  I sighed, letting my head sink further into the pillow. "Tell them I’m dead."

  He snorted. "I’ll let you deliver that message yourself."

  I didn’t respond. I wasn’t in the mood for company.

  But my father didn’t leave right away. He lingered for a moment longer, his gaze steady. Not pressing, not questioning—just watching.

  Something about that made my skin itch.

  Then, finally, he exhaled. "If you don’t want to see them, I’ll tell them you’re resting."

  I hesitated.

  I was exhausted. My body still felt like lead, and my thoughts were far too tangled to sort through. But ignoring them would only make things worse later.

  I pushed out a slow breath and rubbed my temples. "Give me a minute."

  My father nodded, stepping back. "They’ll be waiting."

  The door shut softly behind him.

  I stared at the ceiling for a few more seconds, then forced myself upright.

  Whatever Alaric and Selene wanted—

  It probably wasn’t just a friendly visit.

  I dragged myself out of bed, every movement slow and unwilling. My body still felt weighed down, like the exhaustion from last night had settled deep into my bones.

  Splashing cold water onto my face helped, but only barely. The fatigue didn’t fade—it just shifted, pressing itself into the back of my mind rather than clouding the surface.

  I threw on my cloak, tugging the fabric tighter around my shoulders before stepping out of my room. My father was no longer in the hall, but I could hear faint murmurs from the kitchen—my parents speaking low, their words too soft to catch.

  I ignored it.

  Instead, I made my way to the front door.

  The moment I stepped outside, I was greeted by Alaric’s voice.

  "Well, well. He lives."

  He stood at the edge of the walkway, arms folded, smirking as if he had expected me to ignore them entirely. Selene was beside him, her expression far less amused.

  "You look awful," she said bluntly.

  "Good morning to you too," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face.

  Alaric tilted his head, grin fading just slightly. "Rough night?"

  I didn’t answer. Not immediately.

  Because how was I supposed to explain any of it?

  Instead, I exhaled. "Why are you two here?"

  Selene studied me for a second longer before speaking. "Because something’s wrong. And we know you’re not going to talk about it unless we make you."

  My fingers curled at my sides.

  I had barely processed last night myself. I wasn’t ready for this.

  But one look at them—Alaric’s forced lightheartedness, Selene’s unwavering stare—and I knew they weren’t going to leave without answers.

  The problem was—

  I wasn’t sure I had any to give.

  I leaned against the doorframe, rubbing my temples. "You could’ve at least let me wake up before interrogating me."

  Selene didn’t blink. "You were awake. You just didn’t want to get up."

  Alaric smirked. "She’s getting better at reading you."

  I shot him a dry look. "Unfortunate for me."

  Selene crossed her arms. "Draven."

  I sighed. I knew that tone. It was the one she used when she had already made up her mind about something.

  "You collapsed," she continued. "Not just a stumble, not just exhaustion—you collapsed. And before that, you looked…" She hesitated, searching for the right words. "Wrong. Like you weren’t here for a second."

  Alaric nodded, his usual lightness gone. "She’s right. One second you were standing there, the next—it was like you were flickering."

  My stomach tightened.

  So they had seen it.

  I forced my expression neutral. "I don’t know what you want me to say."

  "The truth would be a good start," Selene said.

  I hesitated.

  I had spent years keeping things to myself. Not because I didn’t trust them, but because half the time, I didn’t understand what was happening to me either.

  And last night?

  Last night was worse than anything before.

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  I could tell them I had a vision. That I had seen Evermere burning, collapsing under a destruction that hadn’t come yet.

  I could tell them that something had spoken to me. That a creature with hollow eyes and jagged teeth had chased me through the library, whispering that I smelled ripe.

  I could tell them that I had never been more terrified in my life.

  But instead—

  "I’m fine," I said.

  Alaric groaned. "Oh, fantastic. He’s lying to us."

  Selene’s eyes narrowed. "Draven—"

  "I don’t know what happened," I admitted, and that much was at least true. "It wasn’t normal. But I don’t have answers."

  Selene watched me for a long moment.

  Then, finally, she exhaled. "Then let’s find them."

  Alaric spread his arms. "And there it is. The inevitable Selene research initiative. You knew this was coming."

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I was hoping to avoid it."

  "Not a chance," Selene said.

  Alaric grinned. "Come on, Draven. You love making things complicated. This is perfect for you."

  I sighed.

  I didn’t have the energy for this.

  But I also knew—

  They weren’t going to let it go.

  I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as if that would shake off the weight pressing against me.

  Selene was right. Alaric was right. Something was wrong. But I wasn’t ready to talk about it—not yet.

  "Later," I said.

  Selene frowned. "Later?"

  I nodded. "Not now. Not today. I just—" I rubbed the back of my neck. "Not today."

  Selene studied me for a moment, searching my face. Alaric, on the other hand, grinned like he had just won a bet.

  "Finally," he said. "Some common sense. So, what’s the plan? Are we just aimlessly wandering the city like lost souls, or do you actually have an idea?"

  I thought for a second. Then, I shrugged. "We could get something to eat."

  Alaric perked up instantly. "Now that’s an idea I can get behind."

  Selene raised an eyebrow. "That’s your plan?"

  "Would you rather we go out for a drink?" I asked dryly.

  Alaric snorted. "As much as I’d love to witness you attempt to hold your liquor, I’d rather not get us banned from half the city before we turn sixteen."

  Selene sighed. "You do realize we’re fifteen, right?"

  "Exactly," Alaric said. "Which means we get the fine privilege of drinking water while the old scholars sip their imported wine and talk about the good old days. Very thrilling."

  I smirked slightly. "So, food, then."

  Selene shook her head but didn’t argue. "Fine."

  Alaric clapped me on the shoulder. "Now you’re thinking like a sane person. Come on, before I waste away from starvation."

  The weight of last night still sat in my chest, just beneath the surface. The library, the vision, the voice—I hadn’t forgotten.

  But for now, I could ignore it.

  Just for today.

  We left my house behind, stepping into the midmorning bustle of Evermere.

  The streets were already busy—vendors setting up stalls, scholars moving between the library and the academy, apprentices rushing to their masters before they were inevitably late. The city had a rhythm, steady and predictable.

  It was comforting, in a way.

  Alaric stretched his arms over his head, walking backward as he looked at us. "So, where are we eating? Because if this is another one of Selene’s ‘light meal’ ideas, I swear I’m leaving you both for a real tavern."

  Selene sighed. "Not everything needs to be drowning in grease, Alaric."

  He gasped in mock offense. "Blasphemy."

  I shook my head, smirking slightly. "The bakery near the south quarter. It’s quiet, and they make good bread."

  Alaric groaned. "Bread? We’re eating bread?"

  "They serve other things," I said.

  Selene gave him a pointed look. "And you’ll eat all of them, no matter what you say now."

  Alaric sighed dramatically. "She knows me too well."

  We weaved through the streets, the familiar sights of Evermere slipping past. The library’s spires still loomed in the distance, a reminder I wasn’t ready to deal with yet.

  For now, I focused on the small things—the smell of fresh pastries curling through the air, the faint warmth of the morning sun, the easy rhythm of conversation between the three of us.

  The weight of last night lingered.

  But for now, I could pretend it wasn’t there.

  The bakery was warm, filled with the scent of fresh bread and honeyed pastries. Sunlight filtered through the wide windows, casting a golden hue over the wooden tables and shelves lined with neatly wrapped loaves.

  We found a table near the corner, away from the small crowd of early customers. The space was quiet enough that I could almost forget about everything else—almost.

  I took my seat and exhaled, letting the warmth of the place settle into my bones.

  A server passed by, and I ordered without hesitation. "A strong black tea. As hot as you can make it."

  Alaric smirked. "Of course. Draven’s daily dose of liquid strength."

  Selene shook her head, resting her elbows on the table. "You act like tea is some kind of battle preparation."

  "It is," I said. "Some people need sleep. I need this."

  Alaric snorted. "I think you just like the taste of something bitter enough to remind you life is suffering."

  "That too."

  Selene sighed, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression.

  Moments later, our food and drinks arrived. I wrapped my hands around the ceramic cup, letting the heat seep into my fingers before taking a careful sip. The dark, slightly astringent flavor spread across my tongue, grounding me.

  For the first time since last night, something felt normal.

  Then—

  The city bell tolled.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Then silence.

  I frowned, glancing toward the window.

  Alaric raised an eyebrow. "That was—short."

  Selene’s fingers tapped against the rim of her cup. "The first bell of the day always tolls three times. That was only two."

  The quiet stretched.

  The city beyond the bakery hadn’t changed—people still moved through the streets, conversations still murmured through the air. But something about the moment felt… off.

  The bell had never rung incorrectly before.

  I took another slow sip of my tea, forcing my expression neutral.

  It was probably nothing.

  But I didn’t believe that.

  Not for a second.

  The sound lingered in my ears longer than it should have.

  Two tolls. Not three.

  I swirled the tea in my cup, watching the dark liquid shift, letting the warmth seep into my fingers. It doesn’t matter.

  But my mind refused to let it go.

  The bell tolling thrice.

  I had heard the phrase before. A whisper of an old saying, buried in the city’s history, passed down like a warning no one took seriously.

  The first bell marks the shift.

  The second marks the unseen.

  The third—

  I exhaled through my nose, gripping the cup a little tighter. No.

  It was just a mistake. A miscalculation. Someone at the tower had gotten distracted, or the mechanism had caught on something.

  That was all.

  Selene and Alaric didn’t seem overly concerned. Alaric had already returned to eating, tearing into a pastry with enthusiasm. Selene still watched the window, thoughtful but not alarmed.

  If I pointed it out, she’d notice the tension in my voice.

  So I let it go.

  I took another sip of tea, letting the strong, bitter taste settle my thoughts.

  I had other things to deal with.

  The library. The vision. The thing that had whispered to me in the dark.

  I didn’t have the energy to care about a mistimed bell.

  Even if something deep in my chest told me—

  This was only the first.

  The conversation drifted back to safer topics—nothing pressing, nothing that required too much thought. Alaric filled most of the silence, bouncing between stories about a brawl he almost got dragged into yesterday and the latest complaints from his apprenticeship.

  I listened without really listening, letting his voice fill the space in my mind.

  Selene, however, kept glancing toward the window.

  "You’re still thinking about it," I muttered, taking another sip of tea.

  She didn’t look at me right away. "Aren’t you?"

  I wasn’t sure how to answer that.

  Alaric waved a hand dismissively. "It’s just a bell. If something was actually wrong, someone would’ve said something by now."

  Selene didn’t argue, but her fingers still drummed lightly against the tabletop, her gaze distant.

  I forced myself to lean back in my chair, setting my cup down with deliberate ease. "If no one else is worried, why should we be?"

  The words tasted wrong.

  Alaric grinned, satisfied. "Finally, some sense from you." He stretched, exhaling contentedly. "Now, if we’re done contemplating the meaning of life through breakfast, I say we find something interesting to do. We’ve got a whole day ahead of us."

  I nodded, too easily.

  Selene hesitated for only a moment longer before finally sighing. "Fine."

  The moment passed.

  The tension faded, or at least, we pretended it did.

  But as we left the bakery and stepped back into the streets of Evermere, the city felt different.

  Subtle.

  Unseen.

  Like something had shifted beneath the surface—something no one else had noticed yet.

  But I did.

  And I had no idea what it meant.

  The streets of Evermere were unchanged.

  Merchants called out their daily offerings, children wove between carts and stalls, and scholars moved toward the library with ink-stained hands and tired eyes. It was the same city it had always been.

  And yet—

  I still felt it.

  Something just beneath the surface.

  I had spent years memorizing the rhythms of Evermere, the quiet, structured predictability of it. But today, the patterns felt off. Not wrong, not obvious—just… shifted.

  Like the city was holding its breath.

  Alaric, oblivious as ever, stretched his arms behind his head. "So, we’re just wandering now? Because if we’re wandering, I have a strong preference for wandering in the direction of the market. Specifically, near the stalls that give out free samples."

  Selene sighed. "You just ate."

  "And I could eat again."

  I barely heard them. My gaze drifted toward the bell tower in the distance, its silhouette cutting against the sky.

  The first bell had already rung.

  And whether I wanted to admit it or not—

  I was waiting for the second.

  I exhaled sharply, shaking the thought away.

  Not today.

  I wasn’t going to spend my morning waiting for something that might not even happen.

  I turned back to them, forcing my expression into something neutral. "Fine. We can go to the market. But if you try to barter for more free food, I’m walking in the opposite direction."

  Alaric grinned. "You say that like I won’t follow you."

  Selene rolled her eyes, but I caught the way her shoulders eased slightly, her focus shifting back to the present.

  The conversation moved on, the weight of the morning peeling away bit by bit.

  I let it go.

  For now.

  The market was alive with movement. Stalls lined the streets, filled with everything from fresh produce to handwoven fabrics. The scent of roasted nuts and spiced bread curled through the air, mingling with the chatter of merchants and customers alike.

  Alaric was already leading the way, eyes scanning for anything remotely edible. Selene followed at a steadier pace, though her gaze flickered occasionally toward the bell tower.

  I tried to focus on the present. On the noise, the warmth of the sun against the stone streets, the ordinary rhythms of Evermere.

  Then, a hand closed around my wrist.

  Firm. Unmistakable.

  Before I could react, I was pulled sideways, away from the flow of the market, into the narrow space between two buildings.

  I twisted instinctively, pulling against the grip—only to be met with dark, steady eyes.

  Elias.

  His posture was as composed as ever, his expression unreadable. But his grip didn’t loosen.

  "You need to listen," he said.

  My pulse kicked up. "What—"

  "Not here." His voice was low, even. "Walk."

  I clenched my jaw, glancing toward the market. Alaric and Selene hadn’t noticed I was gone yet, lost in their own conversations.

  Elias let go of my wrist, nodding forward.

  I hesitated. Then, reluctantly, I followed.