Chapter 5: Shadows on the Tide

Cassia sat in her rented chamber at the inn, the faint glow of a candle casting flickering shadows across the worn wooden walls. The events of the past few nights had left her restless—whispers in the Midnight Market, the note she had received, and the name it bore: Aurelian Varro. It wasn't a name she recognized, but something about it gnawed at her.

Aurelian Varro.

She traced the letters on the parchment with her fingertips before slipping the note into her satchel. If she wanted answers, she needed to act fast. The longer she stayed in Aurelia, the more dangerous it became. Someone had recognized her. She was sure of it.

But before she left, she had to follow this lead. And where else would she start from if it's not there....

"The Library of Aurelia."

The library was an ancient structure, tucked between the bustling merchant quarters and the quieter noble district. It held records that dated back centuries, chronicling the rise and fall of families, trade agreements, and secret dealings woven into Velmora's history.

Cassia entered, hood drawn low, and made her way to the records section. The librarian, a thin man with ink-stained fingers, barely spared her a glance as she flipped through the heavy tomes.

And then she found it.

Aurelian Varro – Merchant of Aurelia. Disappeared two decades ago. Last known family residence: Thessalius.

Thessalius. A port city in the Kingdom of Lunareth, near the Crimson Ridge. The Kingdom of Lunareth is located Southeast of The Kingdom of Velmora.

Cassia's pulse quickened. If she could find Aurelian Varro's family, she might be able to piece together why his name was left for her. What connection did he have to the whispers in the market?

She snapped the book shut, thanked the librarian, and hurried back to the inn. She needed to leave at dawn.

...

Octavian stood by the entrance of the inn, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Cassia had told him the night before that she was leaving, and though he wasn't one to pry, something about this journey unsettled him.

"You're sure about this?" he asked as she fastened her satchel.

"I have to be," she said, securing the strap over her shoulder. "I don't have time to second-guess myself."

Octavian exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then I won't stop you. But I am concerned about your well being, so here you go." He held out a pearl, but this was no ordinary pearl, it was a vox dama!!!

Vox dama is a pearl used to communicate with people. Each Vox Dama is registered from the Urbs Sonorum, the city of Sounds, through agents found in every city. When a citizen receives their Vox Dama, they are assigned a unique registration number. To make a call, the user speaks their number into the pearl, activating it. The activation signal travels to the central hub at Urbs Sonorum, where skilled operators match the number with the desired recipient. Once connected, the recipient's Vox Dama begins to glow softly, signaling an incoming call. The two pearls then link, allowing secure, instant communication over long distances across Velmora.

Cassia stiffened. "That's not necessary—"

"It is," Octavian interrupted. "Because if you don't get lost, someone has to know where to look."

She sighed, not wanting to argue. "Fine. But I will make sure to return the favour."

Octavian gave her a dry smirk. "Don't worry about it, I made sure it's registered under your name."

Cassia slings her bag over her shoulders and walks out of the inn.

"Oh and Cassia, if you need help reach out to me." Shouted Octavian behind her from the entrance of the inn. With wave she exits the gate.

She stepped out onto the cobbled streets, casting one last glance over her shoulder before disappearing into the early morning fog.

....

Cassia traveled light, joining a small merchant caravan heading east, to the Eastern port of Aurelia, to catch the next ship going to the scholarly Kingdom using the Eastern route. Aurelia is an island and has four major ports to the east, west, north and south. Each port is responsible for verifiying what goes into and out of Aurelia.

Cassia kept to herself, listening more than she spoke, observing the way traders bartered, how they exchanged glances when certain names were mentioned.

They were halfway to the port when the attack came.

Horses neighed in panic as masked figures emerged from the trees, swords glinting in the moonlight. The merchants scattered, but Cassia was not so lucky. A hand clamped over her mouth before she could scream, and darkness consumed her.

...

When she awoke, the scent of salt filled her nostrils. The rhythmic rocking of a ship told her she was no longer on land.

Cassia's eyes fluttered open, her wrists bound, her back against cold wooden planks. The dim lantern light revealed a tall figure sitting across from her, arms crossed, watching her with sharp, unreadable eyes.

He wasn't dressed as a noble, nor did he wear the garb of a simple traveler. There was an air of control about him, something calculated in the way he sat, in the way he had orchestrated this.

"You're awake," he said, voice smooth but firm.

Cassia narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

"A friend," he replied.

She scoffed. "Friends don't kidnap each other."

Lucius leaned forward slightly. "You were being hunted, Cassia. If I hadn't taken you, someone else would have."

Her breath hitched.

"So tell me," he continued, gaze unwavering. "Why is the name Aurelian Varro worth risking your life?"

Cassia swallowed hard. Because she didn't know the answer herself.

Yet.

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