In the gritty streets of Kallzara, a small wayside town where light barely touches the alleys, Revan Sorna survives by his wits—and by magic long forbidden. With the help of a shadowy tome found in forgotten ruins beneath the city, Revan can summon shadows to deceive and distract, but such power comes with a price: shadows cannot be created from nothing, and his own is lazy and stubborn, testing his patience at every turn.

Revan’s partner in crime, Cassie, is a clever con artist with a talent for ice magic and a convincing lost-girl act. Together, they make a perfect team, surviving by picking pockets, pulling cons, and running from those who would see their kind dead or worse.

Tonight’s target is an easy mark: a drunken sailor leaving The Golden Pig tavern. But when Revan’s swift theft is interrupted by a brutal punch, the simple job spirals into something far more dangerous—and far more personal.

As dark secrets from the ruins threaten to surface and enemies close in, Revan and Cassie must rely on their skills, their magic, and each other to survive. But in a town where shadow magic is heresy and trust is a currency rarer than gold, survival might just mean losing everything.

Location: The Silent Watcher's LairTime: Moments after the vision fades


The cavern's pulse slowed, the ancient runes dimming to a gentle glow.


The Silent Watcher's presence lingered like a heavy breath.


Kael broke the silence first, voice rough:"Binding the traitor's soul… means trapping something inside again. Maybe worse than before."


The scholar's eyes didn't leave the monolith."We can't let the Crown rise. Not like before. But if we destroy it… what if the leyline tears apart?"


Kael's fingers clenched a small talisman, scarred and worn."We choose between chains and chaos."


The scholar pulled the scorched journals closer, tracing the final burned sigils."Thaleon paid the price for binding the world's fury.If we bind it again, are we doomed to repeat his fate?If we break it… what monsters will slip free?"


A long pause. The weight of history settling between them.


Kael's gaze hardened."We don't get to choose safety. Only sacrifice.""We do this together. No half-measures. No turning back."


The scholar nodded slowly, voice steady but low."Then we break the cycle — but we bind ourselves.""We carry this cost, so no one else must."


Together, they began weaving ley-silk threads around the monolith, chanting the ancient bindings from the journals.


The air thickened, energy crackling — the Silent Watcher's form flickered, a mixture of pain and relief.


The traitor's soul screamed in echoes, bound once more.


The monolith now radiated calm strength — the leyline singing softly beneath the surface.


Kael and the scholar slumped against the cold stone, breath heavy.


The cost was theirs — but the world was safe, for now.


Chapter 37 - The Choice of Shadows