TWILIGHT ACCORD : Echoes of the Veil - The Velmora Arc Begins

Chapter Eight

Echoes of the Veil - The Velmora Arc Begins

The morning mist clung to the cobblestones of Velmora like a second skin, curling around the boots of wanderers and adventurers alike. High above, the ever-turning sky-ring flickered with pale blue runes, forecasting calm weather. From the Low Quarter, where the scent of oil-lamps and roasted meat mingled with the salt of the cliffside breeze, Kael and Mara moved like shadows. Cloaked and quiet, they followed their new companion through the bustling veins of the city.

The demi-human, was all smirks and sharp glances. His wolfish ears twitched whenever someone mentioned coin or trouble. His dark gray coat fluttered behind him like a tail, his boots quick on the pavement as he guided them toward the Guild of Ardent Resolve—one of the more respected, if not showy, adventurer guilds in Velmora.

Zerai tossed a slim, rune-etched bracelet toward Mara just as they neared the towering obsidian-and-brass archway. "Put that on. It'll veil your... let's say, other self. Don't want the Enforcers sniffing your tail."

Mara caught it, slipping the bracelet on beneath her cloak. A flicker of blue light shimmered over her skin, and in an instant, the faint unnatural aura she radiated dulled. Her appearance smoothed into a human form, her eyes dimmed to a soft violet, and her presence became unremarkable—at least to the casual observer.

Inside the guild's grand hall, voices echoed against gear-framed chandeliers and arcanely lit banners. A crystalline board hovered over the reception desk, listing quests, ranks, and recently registered names. The receptionist, a stern woman with a visor of rotating symbols, eyed the trio before motioning them to the back chamber for assessment.

"State your names and intent," she said flatly.

"Kael," he answered.

"Mara," she followed, her voice quiet but firm.

Zerai gave a mock bow. "I'm just the babysitter."

The assessments began swiftly.

Magical Aptitude: Kael stood before a crystalline pillar etched with ancient key runes. Placing his hand on the surface, the runes flared into silver fire. The observer's eyebrows lifted slightly—his Aethra-born magic was subtle, but deep-rooted, like tapping a wellspring.

Mara followed. Her reading was odd—a quiet hum, then a sudden, sharp surge that made the pillar tremble. The instructor's hand twitched toward a failsafe rune, but the surge stabilized, the bracelet pulsing once. "Rare type. Unquantifiable. Let's proceed."

Mental Acuity: Puzzles of illusion and memory flickered into place. Kael solved them with clear logic, occasionally squinting as if seeing seconds ahead of the puzzle's shift—a flicker of Aethra's Sight aiding him without conscious effort.

Mara excelled in pattern recognition, though she hesitated whenever violence entered hypothetical equations. She was protective. She was sharp.

Combat Evaluation: In a wide chamber bordered by training observers, Kael faced an armored veteran wielding a poleaxe. The crowd watching muttered about the his chances.

"Pipsqueak's gonna lose an eye," someone sneered.

Kael stood calmly, his sword still sheathed. The first swing came fast—a blur of steel and intent. But Kael had already stepped left, twisting his body, foot sliding across the stone just enough to offset the opponent's balance. He didn't strike back—he tripped the man, caught his elbow, and sent him to the ground in one motion.

Another challenger tried. Then another. Kael never struck with lethal force. He used precision, prediction, and footwork.

The crowd quieted.

Mara's turn was less flashy but just as effective. She wielded a short blade in reverse grip, defending instead of attacking. Her movements were reactive, shielding herself and disabling her attacker with disarms and redirections.

The instructors exchanged glances.

After a final trial of magical dueling against arcane constructs, which Kael disrupted with raw spiritual pressure and Mara redirected with her sealed essence, the results were finalized.

"Your starting rank..." The evaluator paused. "D. Congratulations on becoming new adventurers!"

Kael blinked.

Zerai laughed, arms crossed. "Told you they'd notice."

After receiving their sigils—arcane tattoos etched with guild-authorized enchantments that marked them as licensed adventurers—Kael and Mara sat quietly in the corner of the mess hall with Zerai.

He munched on roasted skewer meat, grinning. "You two are fun. Not often you see that kind of potential bottled up in kids."

Kael nodded. "Now about that lady... beneath the city."

Zerai's grin thinned. "She's real. But you won't find her with a map. You need Labyrinth access. That means quests. Ranks. Proving you're not just talented, but reliable."

He leaned forward, the brass light glinting off his eyes.

"Velmora's not just a city. It's a crucible. Everything that enters changes or burns. Let's see what you become."

Kael looked down at the mark on his palm, the faint glow beneath his glove.

He said nothing.

And so, the Velmora Arc began.

Continue to chapter IX...