Chapter 2: The Veil's Keeper

The silver coin in her hand felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried the weight of the decision she had just made. Aurelia slipped it into her pocket and glanced around, ensuring no one else had witnessed her conversation with the stranger. In the Shadow Market, information was more valuable than gold, and secrets were traded like currency. She couldn’t afford to be careless.

The crowd surged around her, oblivious to the turmoil swirling in her mind. Aurelia moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the faces of the vendors and buyers, searching for a clue. The symbol on the coin was unfamiliar, but she had a feeling it was more than just decoration. Whoever the Keeper was, they would recognize it.

She approached a stall where a merchant was hawking strange artifacts—bone-carved statues, obsidian daggers, and glowing crystals. The man behind the table was hunched and toothless, his smile as sharp as the knives he sold.

“Looking for something, dear?” he rasped, his eyes narrowing in on her.

Aurelia kept her expression neutral, not wanting to reveal too much.

“I’m looking for someone,” she said, her hand slipping into her pocket to grip the coin. *“Someone who deals in… unique items.”

The merchant’s smile faltered for a brief moment before he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Unique, you say? Perhaps I can help… for a price.”

Aurelia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Everyone in the market wanted something in return, and trust was a rare commodity here. She pulled the coin from her pocket and held it up, letting the torchlight glint off its surface.

The merchant’s eyes widened slightly, and his demeanor changed. He glanced around quickly, as if making sure no one else had seen.

“You’ll want the old shop on the far side of the market,” he muttered, pointing toward a narrow street. “Third door on the left. Knock twice, then once. But be careful, girl. You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

Aurelia nodded and tucked the coin back into her pocket, her heart racing. She had a lead now, and the Keeper was within reach.

The far side of the market was quieter, the bustling energy of the stalls fading as she ventured deeper into the labyrinth of alleyways. The buildings here were older, their stone facades crumbling with age, and the torches were fewer, casting long shadows across the ground.

She found the door easily enough, a weathered wooden entrance with iron hinges that creaked in the wind. It looked no different from the others, but Aurelia could sense the magic radiating from within. Taking a deep breath, she knocked twice, then once, as instructed.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, slowly, the door creaked open.

Aurelia stepped inside, her hand instinctively reaching for her dagger as the door closed behind her. The air inside was thick with the smell of incense, and the room was dimly lit by a single candle flickering on a low table. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, jars of strange powders, and objects she couldn’t even begin to identify.

Sitting in a chair behind the table was a man, old and frail-looking, with long white hair that fell over his shoulders. His eyes were sharp, though, and they locked onto Aurelia the moment she entered.

“So,” he said, his voice dry and raspy. “You’ve come for the Veil.”

Aurelia’s breath caught in her throat. This was the Keeper.