The Past Seeping in

As the server collected the payment, a small envelope materialized beside Liora's plate as though it had always been there. The paper, aged and fragile, bore the faint scent of old ink and smoke, evoking the image of forgotten libraries and sealed secrets. The handwriting was sharp and deliberate, every stroke of the bold ink conveying intent. On the outside, a single line etched with haunting precision read: "To Rylan Duskwhisper."

Liora's smirk disappeared as if snuffed out by an invisible hand. His fingers hovered over the envelope for a moment, the slightest tremor betraying the tension coiling within him. When he finally picked it up, his movements were deliberate, almost reverent, as though the envelope carried a weight far heavier than its physical form. His eyes flicked across the room, scanning the faces of the patrons with a focus that set Kael on edge.