Chapter 22: City of Shadows

Chapter 22: City of Shadows

Silvia's POV

Ravenspire pulsed with a different kind of danger than the wastelands. The city was an intricate web of deception, power plays, and unspoken rules. Silvia had survived monsters, assassins, and betrayals, but she wasn't sure she was prepared for the kind of battlefield that existed here.

She and Dragon walked the narrow streets leading away from The Gilded Fang, keeping to the shadows. The deeper they moved into the lower district, the more the wealth of the city faded away. The glow of neon signs flickered, barely illuminating alleys filled with merchants peddling stolen goods, backdoor doctors offering questionable treatments, and enforcers watching everything with cold, calculating eyes.

"This place is a den of snakes," Silvia muttered.

Dragon smirked. "Then it's a good thing I know how to speak their language."

She gave him a sidelong glance. "We need to find out what Echelon Corp is planning, and we need to do it fast."

Dragon nodded, his expression turning serious. "Then we start with the underground."

The Informant

They made their way to a darkened building near the edge of the district. The entrance was hidden, marked only by a small insignia painted on the side—a dagger entwined with a serpent. Dragon knocked twice, then once more, following some kind of coded rhythm.

The door cracked open just enough for a pair of sharp eyes to peek through.

"Password," a raspy voice demanded.

Dragon leaned forward. "The tide rises at midnight."

A pause. Then the door swung open, revealing a dimly lit interior. Silvia followed Dragon inside, her senses on high alert. She didn't trust this.

A man sat behind a cluttered desk, thin and wiry, his fingers tapping against a small data pad. He wore an old-world coat with too many patches and a belt filled with tech devices. His gaze flicked between Silvia and Dragon.

"Didn't expect to see you again, Bromson," the man said. "Last time we spoke, you cost me a lot of money."

Dragon grinned. "And yet, here you are, still thriving."

The man, Rez, leaned back. "What do you want?"

Silvia stepped forward. "Information. Echelon Corp. They're hunting me. Why?"

Rez studied her, then exhaled. "You're stepping into a game that's been in motion for a long time."

Silvia frowned. "Explain."

Rez pulled a small chip from his desk and slid it toward her. "Echelon's been developing something big—something they call Project Dominion. The details are locked tight, but from what I've gathered, they've been tracking individuals with rare magic abilities. Powerful ones."

Silvia's pulse quickened. "And they think I'm one of them?"

Rez nodded. "They don't just think—you are. Whatever they're planning, you're a key part of it."

Silvia exchanged a glance with Dragon. This was worse than she thought.

Unraveling the Web

Silvia ran her fingers over the data chip, her mind racing. "If Echelon's tracking people like me, how do we stop them?"

Rez shook his head. "You don't. Not without leverage."

Dragon crossed his arms. "Then we get leverage."

Rez smirked. "That's the tricky part. Echelon's main hub in this city is locked down tighter than a vault. But…" he hesitated. "There's a data courier. He moves between corporate offices and the lower districts, carrying sensitive information."

Silvia's eyes narrowed. "And where do we find him?"

Rez leaned forward. "Tomorrow night. He'll be at the Azure Spire, one of Echelon's upper-class meeting places. You intercept him, you might just get the answers you're looking for."

Silvia straightened. "Then that's what we'll do."

Dragon grinned. "I do love a good heist."

Rez sighed. "Be careful. If Echelon knows you're after them, they won't hold back."

Silvia exhaled. They never did.

A Dangerous Plan

Back on the streets, Silvia replayed the conversation in her mind. If Echelon was collecting magic users, she had to find out why. And she had to stop them before they found more victims.

Dragon walked beside her, unusually quiet. She glanced at him. "You're thinking about something."

He smirked. "Always."

She rolled her eyes. "Something useful?"

He hesitated, then said, "Echelon doesn't do anything without a reason. If they've been watching you, it's because they need you for something specific."

Silvia shivered. She didn't like the sound of that.

They turned a corner, moving toward the place they were staying for the night. The plan was reckless, but it was the only shot they had.

The inn was small, a safehouse of sorts for travelers looking to avoid unwanted attention. Silvia settled in, her thoughts still racing. Dragon sat beside her, cleaning his dagger absentmindedly.

"You think we'll find something useful tomorrow?" she asked.

Dragon smirked. "We always do."

She sighed. "And if we don't?"

He leaned back, resting his arms behind his head. "Then we improvise."

Silvia shook her head but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "That's not a plan."

"It's our plan."

She groaned but let the conversation drop. Sleep wouldn't come easily, but tomorrow, they had work to do.

As she lay back, staring at the dim ceiling, Dragon leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You know," he mused, "it's funny how much trouble we get into together."

Silvia smirked. "Funny isn't the word I'd use."

He chuckled, tilting his head toward her. "Come on, you love the thrill. Admit it."

She rolled onto her side to face him. "I like surviving, and somehow, you make that harder."

Dragon grinned. "You wound me."

Silvia playfully poked his chest. "You'll live."

For a moment, there was silence between them, and then Dragon's expression softened. "You know, Silvia, no matter what happens tomorrow, I've got your back."

Silvia felt something warm stir inside her, something she wasn't ready to name. She simply nodded. "I know."

Dragon's smirk returned, but there was something more in his eyes. "Then let's make sure tomorrow is worth all this trouble."

Silvia laughed softly. "Tomorrow's going to be chaos."

Dragon stretched out beside her. "And that's exactly why it's going to be fun."

As exhaustion finally took over, Silvia closed her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of Dragon's breathing. The weight of their mission still lingered, but for now, she let herself relax—just a little.

Tomorrow, they would infiltrate the Azure Spire.

Tomorrow, they would find the truth.