[Out of the Fire]

The smell of fresh morning rain filled the air as we moved through the streets.

Lyra led the way, her steps light but steady. The smuggler had arranged everything. The plan was simple: get me out of Elaris, away from the Holy Order's reach. No turning back now.

But even with the rain washing away the grime of the city, I couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was just beginning.

The smuggler—Gorak, I think his name was—had set us up with a hidden passage that would take us out of the city. A safe house on the outskirts. He hadn't asked too many questions about why the Order was hunting me. I was grateful for that. But his eyes had lingered a bit too long on the ring I'd given him. The one I still didn't understand.

Lyra had picked up on it too, but she hadn't said anything.

I glanced at her, walking a few steps ahead, her braid swaying with each movement. The rain had softened her usual tough exterior, and for the first time, I noticed the scar that ran across her cheek—a reminder that she was no stranger to violence.

"Where are we headed?" I asked.

She shot a quick glance over her shoulder, her green eyes sharp. "To a place you'll be safe for now. But don't get comfortable. You're not out of the woods yet."

I nodded, but the uneasy feeling in my chest didn't go away.

We walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being the soft patter of the rain and our footsteps on the wet cobblestones. The city had already started to wake up, but the streets were still quieter than usual. A lot of people were probably scared after the rumors of the Order's manhunt.

After a while, Lyra led me to an alleyway. She knocked on a door hidden behind some crates. The wood creaked open, revealing a narrow stairway that led down into the shadows.

"Down here," she said.

I hesitated for a moment, then followed her into the darkness.

The air grew colder as we descended, the smell of damp earth filling my nostrils. It didn't take long before we reached the bottom. The room was small, lit only by a few flickering lanterns. At first glance, it looked like a storage room, but I quickly noticed the hidden passage on the far side of the wall.

Lyra led me to the entrance, a trapdoor covered by old rugs. She crouched down, pulling up the rug to reveal a metal ring embedded in the floor.

"This is your ticket out of here," she said, gripping the ring and lifting the trapdoor open with a groan.

The passage below was narrow and dark. The air smelled stale, but it was better than staying in Elaris.

I glanced up at her. "You sure this will work?"

Lyra nodded. "We'll reach the safe house in a few hours. From there, you can figure out your next move."

Before I could respond, a soft sound reached my ears—the unmistakable clang of metal hitting the ground.

I froze.

"Stay quiet," Lyra whispered. She closed the trapdoor behind us, sealing us inside the passage.

My pulse raced. Had the Holy Order found us already?

Lyra pulled a small blade from her belt, holding it tightly in her hand. "You stay low. I'll go check."

I didn't argue. I stayed close to the wall, trying to steady my breath.

Lyra crept forward, moving quickly but silently. I barely heard the soft rustling of her movements. For a moment, I thought I heard voices. Low whispers.

No.

Not now.

Suddenly, I felt a strange pull. A warmth building in my chest. The Abyss. Something deep inside me was stirring again, like it was trying to wake up. I didn't know what was happening, but I couldn't ignore it.

The whispering voices in the passage seemed to grow louder. I felt the air shift around me. The feeling of power was so strong, it was almost suffocating.

Without thinking, I lifted my hand. The pull grew stronger, sharper, and the shadows around me seemed to bend.

I closed my eyes.

Then, just like before, the world snapped—and suddenly, I was standing somewhere else.

Everything was different. The damp passage was gone. The walls, the air, the faint sounds of movement—all vanished in a heartbeat.

I was somewhere cold.

Stone walls towered around me, covered in frost. The air was thick with the scent of decay and something ancient. The floor beneath my feet was icy, and I could see my breath misting in the air.

I gasped, eyes wide. What had I done?

I turned in a circle, panic rising. But there was nothing. Just stone—and the darkness.

Then, I heard her voice.

"Kieran."

I whipped around. Lyra stood a few feet away, looking just as confused as I felt. Her eyes were wide, a mix of surprise and suspicion in them.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded.

I shook my head, barely able to form words. "I—I didn't mean to. The Abyss—it… pulled me."

Her gaze softened, but only for a moment. "You have powers, don't you?"

I nodded slowly. "I think so."

She sighed. "Great. Now we're stuck somewhere we shouldn't be."

I looked around, trying to make sense of our surroundings. The stone walls, the ice, the suffocating silence—this wasn't normal.

The Abyss? Was this part of it? Or had I just activated some kind of strange teleportation again?

I closed my eyes and focused. Slowly, I reached out, trying to feel the pull of the Abyss again. But this time, I controlled it.

I could feel the energy, like threads stretching out from me, weaving through the air. And then, with a thought, I pulled.

The world shifted again.

This time, when I opened my eyes, we were back in the passage.

Lyra blinked, looking at me like I was a ghost. "What the hell did you just do?"

I rubbed my forehead, trying to calm my racing heart. "I… I don't know."

"That was insane."

I took a deep breath, still trying to understand what had just happened. "I need to figure this out. I can't keep running from this power."

Lyra nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "You better. Because the Holy Order's not giving up on you. And neither are the shadows."