Shadow of Fate

Kaelen moved through the labyrinthine alleys of Vael'Zyrenn's slums, his mind still lingering on last nights events. He had seen plenty of violence in his life, witnessed desperate souls carving each other apart just for scraps of bread; but something about that girl's stare unsettled him. It wasn't fear, nor gratitude. It was recognition. As if she had expected him.

He hated that feeling.

The morning air carried the stench of filthy bodies and rotting waste as the city slowly roused from its slumber. In the slums, dawn was not a herald of hope but a reminder that another day had to be endured. Merchants of dubious legality set up their makeshift stalls, their voices raspy from years of shouting over chaos. The strong preyed on the weak, and those who couldn't fight were forced to scavenge for survival. Power was all that mattered.

Kaelen blended into the crowd, keeping his had low, his movements precise. He had lived in this hell long enough to understand its rules, seen too many would be heroes try to change thing, only to end up as nameless corpses in the gutter with the previous ones.

But last night was different, he interfered. why?

His thoughts were cut short by the sudden sound of heavy footsteps behind him. Instinct took over. Without turning his head, without making them aware he knew, he adjusted his pace, weaving between the morning crowds. His hands reminded loose, ready to reach for his dagger should things turn ugly.

The foot steps followed.

Kalen ducked in to a narrow passage between two crumbling building, his body pressed against the cold stone wall. The dim alley swallowed him whole, leaving nothing but silence. The pursuer hesitated at the entrance, unsure whether to proceed.

A shadow flickered in Kaelen's periphery.

"Too slow."

He lunged, drawing his dagger in a single motion and pinning the figure against the wall. His blade pressed lightly against the strangers throat, his grip firm and controlled. One mistake and they die, no second chances.

"Impressive," a familiar voice murmured. "Didn't even hesitate."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed. It was the girl, Rina.

She help her hand in surrender, smirking despite the cold steel against her skin. "I knew you were fast, but this is a bit too much, don't you think?"

Kaelen exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Why are you following me?"

Rina rubbed her throat, unconcerned. "I wanted to thank you. And maybe find out why someone like you is wasting away in the slums."

Kaelen sheathed his blade, his patience wearing thin. "I don't owe you answers."

"No, but I might owe you some."

That caught his attention. He studied her properly now, noting the way she carried herself; not like a helpless girl from the slums, but someone accustomed to danger. Her clothing, though torn had once been fine. The dried blood on her tunic suggested her wounds from last night were worse than she let on.

Rina tilted her head. "You're not from here originally, are you?"

Kaelen's jaw tensed. "You asked too many questions."

"Maybe. But I have a feeling you're not just some nameless their trying to scrape by."

He didn't answer. He had spent years ensuring no one pried too deeply into his past. He wasn't about to start now.

Rina sighed. "Alright, mystery man. If you don't want to talk about yourself, lets talk about something else."

"I'm not interested."

She ignored him. "You made an enemy last night. That brute, He worked with some annoying fella. Man named Orin Vash. He runs half the criminal trades in this sector, and he's not eh forgiving type."

Kaelen's expression remained impassive, but internally, he weighed the implications. He had dealt with gang leaders before, but Vash was dangerous; too well connected, too ruthless. If word had spread, he would be marked before the sun set. Now wondering if he should have finished that brute, since the dead don't speak.

"Still not interested?" Rina pressed. "Because I have a way out for you."

Kaelen scoffed. "There is no 'way out' of the slums."

"There is, if you know where to look."

He folded his arms, sceptical but willing to listen. "What are you offering?"

Rina leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A chance to leave Vael'Zyrenn behind. I know people, people who can get us out of this wretched place."

Kaelen frowned. "Us?"

"You saved my life," she said simply. "That means I trust you more than most. And besides... I don't want to die here."

There was something in her tone, something Kaelen recognised. Not desperation but determination. The same quiet defiance that had kept him alive all these years.

He stared at her for a long moment, considering. Then finally, he nodded.

"Tell me more."