Ravenspire in the morning felt like a celebration.
Not a peaceful celebration.
A dangerous one.
The streets were already crowded, filled with voices, music, and noise that refused to die. Vendors shouted about roasted meat and spiced broth. A group of gamblers argued loudly beside a wooden table, slamming coins down as if money was the only religion they knew. Someone played a flute from a balcony above, the tune fast and wild, like the city itself was dancing.
Even the air smelled alive.
Warm bread. Smoke. Sweet herbs. Strong liquor.
Ravenspire was not a place for the innocent.
It was a place where people survived because they were smart enough to.
Or ruthless enough to.
Kael walked beside me with his hands in his pockets, pretending to look relaxed, but his eyes never stopped moving.
"You know," he muttered, "if this town had rules, I might actually behave."
I did not look at him.
"If this town had rules, you would already be in prison," I replied.
Kael smiled faintly.
"That is true," he admitted.
Then his expression shifted.
Serious.
Just for a moment.
"You are sure about this guild thing," he asked quietly.
I kept walking.
"I need a place to hide," I said. "I need training. I need information."
Kael nodded.
"And enemies," he added.
My jaw tightened.
"Yes," I said. "Enemies too."
We reached the Raven Guild Hall before midday.
It was built like a fortress, dark stone walls rising high, with iron torches burning on both sides of the entrance. The raven symbol above the gate looked like it was carved to warn people rather than welcome them.
Two guards stood outside.
Their eyes swept over me.
One of them smirked.
"This the girl Darius invited," he said.
The other guard laughed.
"She looks like she belongs in a noble garden, not a guild hall," he muttered.
Kael stepped forward.
"She is tougher than she looks," he said.
The first guard turned toward Kael.
His eyes narrowed.
"You," he said slowly. "I know your face."
Kael froze.
Then he smiled.
"No you do not," he replied.
The guard's smile became dangerous.
"You stole a Raven Guild supply cart last year," he said.
Kael blinked.
"That was a misunderstanding," he muttered.
The guard stepped closer.
"That was theft," he corrected.
Kael pointed at me quickly.
"I am with her," he said.
The guard looked at me again.
Then he sighed like he was tired of life.
"Fine," he muttered. "But if you steal anything again, I will cut off your hands."
Kael swallowed.
"Understood," he whispered.
I stepped inside.
Kael followed behind me quietly, his humor fading.
The Raven Guild Hall was huge.
It was filled with warriors, mercenaries, and blood mages. Some were sparring in the center ring. Some were cleaning blades. Some were drinking while watching others fight.
The atmosphere was intense, but it was also… alive.
This was not like the capital where everything was polished and cold.
Here, power was earned with sweat.
And respect was earned with scars.
The moment I walked in, dozens of eyes turned toward me.
Not friendly eyes.
Judging eyes.
A girl in a red cloak near the sparring ring looked me up and down and scoffed loudly.
"What is that," she said. "A merchant girl"
Her friends laughed.
"Probably here to beg for protection," one of them said.
Another man smirked.
"She is pretty," he muttered. "Pretty girls always think they can survive in Ravenspire."
A few others chuckled.
I kept my face calm.
But inside, my blood stirred.
The Queen's voice whispered.
They are barking dogs. Ignore them.
I did.
Kael leaned closer to me.
"Try not to kill anyone," he whispered. "We are supposed to stay low."
"I know," I replied.
Then a voice echoed across the hall.
"Mira Vale."
The crowd parted.
Darius Crowe walked down from the upper platform, his cloak flowing behind him like shadow.
The hall fell quieter the moment he appeared.
Not silent.
But respectful.
Darius's eyes landed on me.
"You came," he said.
"I said I would," I replied.
Darius's gaze flicked briefly to Kael.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly, like he recognized trouble.
But he said nothing.
He gestured toward the sparring ring.
"Step forward," he ordered.
I walked into the circle.
The murmurs grew louder.
Some laughed.
Some whispered.
A man sitting on a barrel shook his head.
"She does not even have an aura," he said loudly. "She will die in two minutes."
Someone else shouted.
"Just surrender, girl. This is not a place for your soft hands."
A woman laughed.
"She probably thinks beauty is a weapon."
The crowd chuckled again.
Kael clenched his jaw.
He looked like he wanted to punch someone.
But he stayed quiet.
Darius spoke calmly.
"The Raven Guild does not accept weaklings," he said. "If you want protection, you earn it."
He turned his head slightly.
"Bring in the first opponent."
A large man stepped into the ring.
He was muscular, covered in scars, and his aura flared faintly red around his body.
He looked at me like I was prey.
The crowd cheered for him instantly.
"Garron!"
"Break her bones!"
"Teach her a lesson!"
The man grinned.
"You are brave for standing here," he said. "Or stupid."
I said nothing.
The Queen's voice whispered.
Do not show them your crown.
I would not.
Darius lifted his hand.
"Begin."
Garron attacked immediately.
His fist came toward my face like a hammer.
I dodged to the side.
The air moved from the force of his punch.
The crowd gasped slightly.
Garron swung again.
I ducked.
He swung again.
I stepped back.
I could hear laughter.
"She is just running!"
"She cannot fight!"
"Stop wasting our time!"
Garron lunged again, faster now, angry that I was not falling.
His elbow aimed for my ribs.
I blocked, but pain exploded in my side.
My breath caught.
The crowd cheered louder.
"There you go!"
"She felt that!"
"Now finish her!"
Kael's fists tightened.
I could feel his anger like heat beside the ring.
But he did not speak.
Good.
Garron attacked again.
This time, I stepped forward instead of backward.
I slipped under his arm and struck his knee with my boot.
His leg buckled slightly.
Not enough to break.
Just enough to slow him.
The crowd laughed.
"She kicked him!"
"That is her big move!"
A man shouted.
"Give up, pretty girl. You do not have the strength!"
Garron roared and grabbed for my cloak.
I twisted away, letting the fabric tear slightly.
Then I struck his wrist hard.
He hissed in pain.
I did not use blood magic.
Not even once.
Only technique.
Only movement.
Only control.
The Queen's voice whispered.
Good. Let them underestimate you.
Garron swung again, but his breathing was heavier now.
His movements were getting slower.
I waited.
I watched.
Then I stepped in close, right into his reach.
The crowd gasped.
"She is insane!"
Garron grinned.
"Finally," he snarled. "Now you die."
He swung.
But I dropped low.
His fist passed over my head.
And in that moment, I grabbed his belt, used his own weight, and flipped him.
His body slammed into the ground with a loud crack.
The hall went silent.
For one heartbeat.
Then Garron groaned and tried to rise.
I placed my boot on his chest and pushed him back down.
Not violently.
Just enough to show dominance.
The crowd erupted.
Not in cheers.
In disbelief.
"No way!"
"How did she do that!"
"That was luck!"
"She tripped him!"
The girl in the red cloak scoffed.
"Lucky," she said loudly. "He was careless."
Garron coughed, staring up at me in shock.
His pride looked broken.
Darius's voice echoed.
"Winner: Mira Vale."
Some people clapped.
Others booed.
Most just stared.
Kael exhaled.
He looked like he had been holding his breath the entire fight.
Then he whispered to himself.
"She is insane."
Darius stepped closer.
His eyes studied me carefully.
"You did not use aura," he said.
I met his gaze calmly.
"I do not have much," I lied smoothly.
Darius's eyes narrowed.
He did not believe me.
But he did not expose me.
Instead, he turned to the crowd.
"Trial Two."
The crowd murmured again.
A young man stepped into the ring.
He was lean, sharp, and moved like a shadow. His aura was controlled and dangerous.
The moment he appeared, the crowd became excited.
"That is Varric!"
"He is Darius's killer!"
"That girl is dead!"
Kael stiffened beside the ring.
His voice dropped.
"Elara…"
I glanced at him.
Kael swallowed.
"That one is serious," he whispered.
I already knew.
Varric stared at me with cold eyes.
"You are not normal," he said quietly.
I tilted my head.
"I am just a merchant," I replied.
The crowd laughed.
Varric's smile was faint.
"No," he said. "Merchants do not stand like warriors."
Then he attacked.
Fast.
Too fast.
I barely dodged.
His blade cut through the air near my throat.
A few strands of my hair fell.
The crowd cheered.
"YES!"
"Finish her!"
"She cannot even see him!"
Varric circled me slowly.
"You are hiding something," he whispered.
I kept my breathing steady.
I refused to use blood threads.
Not openly.
But I could still use them subtly.
A thread slipped from my fingertip, thin as air.
It wrapped around the dust near the ground.
I let it stretch across the ring.
One line.
Then another.
Not enough for anyone to notice.
Varric attacked again.
His blade grazed my shoulder.
Pain flared.
The crowd screamed in excitement.
"She is bleeding!"
"Told you!"
"Give up, girl!"
The girl in red laughed loudly.
"She does not belong here!"
Varric leaned close, whispering as he passed.
"Your blood smells strange," he murmured.
My chest tightened.
The Queen's voice sharpened.
He senses royal blood.
I forced my face to remain calm.
Varric attacked again.
This time he lunged directly toward my chest.
I stepped back.
His boot landed on the dust line.
And my thread tightened slightly.
Not enough to trap him.
Just enough to throw his balance off by half a step.
His blade missed my heart by an inch.
The crowd gasped.
Varric's eyes narrowed.
He attacked again.
And again, I guided him with tiny pulls, tiny shifts.
To the crowd, it looked like he was simply missing.
To Varric, it felt like something unseen was interfering.
His jaw tightened.
He grew angrier.
His strikes became heavier.
Less controlled.
I waited.
Then he lunged again.
And this time, I stepped aside and used his momentum.
I hooked his arm.
Twisted.
And slammed him to the ground.
Hard.
The sound echoed.
The crowd froze.
Kael's mouth opened.
Varric coughed violently.
Blood dripped from his lip.
He stared up at me like he could not understand what happened.
The crowd erupted.
Some cheered.
Most shouted.
"That was luck!"
"He slipped!"
"No way she did that!"
"She is just lucky!"
The girl in red spat on the ground.
"She is not strong," she said loudly. "She is just lucky."
Darius raised his hand.
The hall went silent.
He stepped into the ring.
His eyes were fixed on me now, sharper than before.
"Luck does not beat Varric," he said calmly.
My heartbeat stayed steady.
Darius turned toward the crowd.
"This girl will join the Raven Guild as a trainee."
The hall exploded with noise.
Some protested.
Some laughed.
Some looked angry.
But nobody dared argue with Darius.
Varric stood slowly, wiping blood from his mouth.
His eyes stayed locked on me.
Not with hatred.
With suspicion.
He leaned close and whispered.
"This is not over," he said.
Then he walked away.
Kael rushed toward me.
His face looked relieved, but his eyes were troubled.
"You were too close," he whispered.
"I controlled it," I replied.
Kael shook his head.
"No," he said quietly. "You survived it. That is different."
His voice was serious now.
Then he hesitated.
"Elara," he said softly, "this place… it reminds me of what happened to my sister."
My expression tightened.
Kael's gaze dropped.
"She wanted to join a guild," he murmured. "She said she was tired of being weak. She said she wanted to become someone people feared."
He swallowed hard.
"She was laughing when she left. She told me to stop stealing and find honest work."
His voice cracked slightly.
Then he forced it back down.
"They promised her training," he whispered. "Protection. A future."
His eyes lifted to mine.
"But they sold her."
Silence hit me like a blade.
Kael clenched his fists.
"I searched for her everywhere," he said. "I stole information. I stole letters. I stole from nobles just to buy rumors."
He laughed bitterly.
"And then I learned the truth."
His voice dropped into something colder.
"The Blood Council takes girls like her," he whispered. "They take them and turn them into experiments. Into weapons."
My jaw tightened.
Kael looked away.
"So when I tell you not to trust guilds," he said quietly, "it is not because I am scared."
He looked back at me.
"It is because I have seen what happens when you trust the wrong people."
For a moment, his humor was gone completely.
He looked older than he should have.
Not by age.
By pain.
I nodded slowly.
"I understand," I said.
Kael exhaled.
Then, as if he realized he had revealed too much, he cleared his throat quickly.
"Anyway," he muttered, forcing a weak smile, "if you become queen, can you at least make stealing legal"
I stared at him.
Kael blinked.
"Bad timing," he whispered.
I turned away.
But something inside me shifted.
Not romance.
Not softness.
Just something quiet.
A realization.
Kael was not just a thief.
He was someone who had lost everything.
And somehow…
he was still standing.
Darius's voice echoed from the platform.
"Training begins tonight," he announced. "If any of you fail, Ravenspire will swallow you whole."
The hall roared in response.
I pulled my hood lower.
Mira Vale.
That was my mask.
And in Ravenspire…
a mask was the only thing keeping me alive.