The city never truly slept.
Even as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the stone streets of Vireon, the noise never faded. Voices overlapped, footsteps echoed, and energy pulsed through every corner of the place.
Elian felt it immediately.
Not just life.
Power.
"You feel that?" he asked quietly.
Kael nodded once.
"This city doesn't hide what it is."
Elian watched as a group of people passed by—one of them casually lifting small rocks into the air with a flick of his hand, another creating a brief spark of fire to light a lantern.
"…they're not afraid," Elian murmured.
"No," Kael said.
A pause.
"They've learned to live with it."
The wind circled Elian slowly.
"…but not all are kind…"
Elian's expression tightened.
"…figures."
They moved deeper into the city.
The streets grew narrower, more crowded. The buildings leaned closer together, and the air carried a mix of heat, metal, and something unfamiliar.
Then—
A voice.
"New faces."
Elian turned.
A girl stood a few steps away, leaning casually against a stone wall. Her eyes were sharp, observant—watching them like she had been there for a while.
"Travelers?" she asked.
Kael didn't answer.
Elian hesitated.
"…Something like that."
She smirked slightly.
"Yeah, I figured."
Her gaze shifted to Elian more closely.
"…you're not from around here."
Elian crossed his arms. "Is it that obvious?"
"Very."
A small swirl of dust lifted near her feet—unnatural, controlled.
Elian noticed immediately.
"…you use wind too?"
She laughed softly.
"No."
She raised her hand—
The ground beneath them shifted slightly.
"Earth," she said.
Elian blinked.
"…oh."
Kael finally spoke.
"We're not here to cause trouble."
The girl tilted her head.
"Everyone says that."
A pause.
"…before they do."
The air grew slightly tense.
Then—
She pushed herself off the wall.
"Relax," she said. "If I wanted trouble, you'd already be in it."
Elian raised an eyebrow.
"…confident."
She smirked.
"Experienced."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then she extended her hand slightly.
"Name's Lyra."
Elian hesitated—
then shook it.
"Elian."
Her grip was firm.
"…you're different," she said quietly.
Elian frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Lyra glanced at Kael briefly—then back at Elian.
"…I don't hear it."
Elian's chest tightened.
"Hear what?"
She stepped closer.
"The element."
A pause.
"Everyone here… you can feel what they are."
She gestured around.
"Fire burns. Water flows. Earth stands still."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"But you…"
Silence.
"…you feel like a storm that hasn't decided what it is yet."
The wind stirred.
"…she sees you…"
Elian didn't know what to say.
Kael watched quietly.
"…interesting," he murmured.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"So," she said,
"what exactly are you?"
Elian exhaled slowly.
"…I'm still figuring that out."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"…good answer."
The wind circled them softly.
For the first time—
It didn't feel like danger.
It felt like something new.
A beginning.
But far above—
Hidden beyond sight—
The sky was still watching.
And this time—
It wasn't alone.