Chapter 21: Shadows Unveiled

Chapter 21: Shadows Unveiled

Silvia's POV

The caravan had left the outpost behind before the sun fully broke the horizon. The morning air carried a chill, but tension still clung to the group like a second skin. The night's attack had left everyone shaken, and now every rider, every guard, and every trader kept their hands close to their weapons.

Silvia sat at the back of one of the lead wagons, staring at the landscape stretching ahead. The next city—Ravenspire—was a half-day's journey away. It was a corporate-run city, walled, fortified, and filled with the kind of people who only cared about power.

"Not exactly the best place to lay low," she muttered.

Dragon, sitting beside her, kicked his feet up onto a crate and smirked. "Nope. But it's the best place to dig up dirt."

She narrowed her eyes. "You sound too confident about that."

He grinned. "Because I know people."

That didn't exactly comfort her.

The Journey to Ravenspire

The road was surprisingly quiet. Too quiet.

Silvia had grown accustomed to the constant presence of danger—monsters in the wild, desperate raiders, corrupt enforcers—but for hours, nothing happened. It felt unnatural.

Tarren rode up alongside their wagon. "Something doesn't sit right about this."

Silvia nodded. "No trouble since last night? No sign of pursuers?"

"Not a trace." Tarren's expression was grim. "Either we scared them off, or they're waiting for us to walk into something worse."

Dragon rolled his shoulders. "If they're waiting in Ravenspire, they'll regret it."

Silvia sighed, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led somewhere, rather than simply being hunted.

The real question was—who was pulling the strings?

Arrival at Ravenspire

By mid-afternoon, the towering walls of Ravenspire loomed ahead. Jagged black steel stretched high, reinforced by old-world technology. Watchtowers lined the top, manned by guards armed with long-range rifles and something more dangerous—arcane weaponry.

The city gates were massive, guarded by corporate enforcers dressed in black tactical gear. Their armor was marked with the emblem of Echelon Corp, one of the largest remaining corporate entities.

Silvia clenched her jaw. So it is a corporate faction hunting us.

Tarren rode ahead to handle the entry negotiations while Silvia and Dragon stayed back.

"This place is worse than I remember," Dragon muttered.

Silvia eyed him. "You've been here before?"

He hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "A long time ago."

She narrowed her eyes, but before she could push further, the gates creaked open. The caravan rolled forward, swallowed by the shadows of the towering walls.

The Market District

Inside, Ravenspire was a mix of opulence and desperation. The main market district was alive with trade—merchants selling food, weapons, illicit tech. But the deeper you went, the clearer the divide became. The wealthy lived in elevated districts, where golden lights shone through towering skyscrapers. The rest of the city was suffocating—tight streets, dark alleys, and too many people looking over their shoulders.

Tarren led the caravan toward a secure checkpoint, arranging for a safe location to set up for the night. Meanwhile, Silvia and Dragon slipped away, heading into the heart of the market.

"Where exactly are we looking?" Silvia asked.

Dragon grinned. "For someone who doesn't like cities, you sure ask a lot of questions."

She rolled her eyes. "Just answer."

"There's a place called The Gilded Fang—a high-end bar in the inner district. It's where the powerful come to drink and deal in secrets."

Silvia folded her arms. "And how, exactly, do you know that?"

Dragon smirked. "Because I used to do business there."

Silvia sighed. "Of course you did."

The Gilded Fang

The bar was expensive-looking, lined with dark glass and gold trim. Guards stood at the entrance, but Dragon walked in like he owned the place. Silvia followed, keeping close.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with smoke and whispered conversations. Business deals, corporate espionage, and dangerous alliances were made here.

Dragon strode up to the bartender, flashing a coin. "Looking for someone."

The bartender eyed him, then nodded toward the back.

Silvia followed as they moved toward a private booth. Inside sat a woman with sleek dark hair, dressed in black and silver. Her gaze was sharp, predatory.

"Dragon Bromson," she purred. "It's been a while."

Dragon grinned. "Lysara. You look well."

Silvia crossed her arms. "Friend of yours?"

Lysara smirked. "Something like that."

Silvia didn't like the way she said that.

Unraveling the Truth

They sat across from Lysara, tension settling between them.

Dragon leaned back. "We're looking for someone. A corporate agent. We know they were tracking a caravan, gathering intel."

Lysara swirled her drink. "And why should I help you?"

Dragon smirked. "Because you owe me."

Silvia raised a brow. Another debt?

Lysara sighed, then slid a small data pad across the table. "A man came through here two nights ago. High-ranking Echelon Corp agent. He was asking about a mage with fire abilities."

Silvia's stomach clenched. They were looking for her.

Lysara's voice dropped lower. "Word is, they're planning something big. You're a high-value target, Silvia."

Silvia clenched her fists. "Why?"

Lysara shook her head. "That's what you need to figure out. But if Echelon Corp wants you this badly, it's because they think you're a threat to something they're building."

Silvia exchanged a glance with Dragon. Whatever was happening, they were at the center of it.

Lysara leaned in. "I'd be careful. You're walking into something much bigger than you realize."

Silvia exhaled slowly. Then it's time to start digging.