Elian moved through the streets of the unfamiliar city, his gaze sliding over the tall buildings lit by strange lights. The world had changed, and he felt like an outsider among these metal structures and the rapidly moving carriages without horses.
His clothes were torn, his armor cracked, and his sword had long since lost its former shine. People passing by gave him quick glances, but no one stopped. In their eyes, there was a hint of contempt, as if he were a beggar or a madman.
He turned into a narrow alley, hoping to find something suitable for himself. There, among the trash and old items, he spotted several pieces of cloth that might pass for clothing. But before he could pick anything up, his attention was drawn to a group of people standing nearby.
Their aura was... strange. It didn't resemble anything he had encountered before. A dark mist swirled around them, something he could feel even from a distance. They spoke in an unfamiliar language, but Elian could sense — these were not ordinary people.
As he took a step closer, one of them abruptly lifted his head, as if sensing his presence. Their gazes met, and Elian understood: these beings knew who he was, or at least suspected.
— Who are you? — a cold voice of one of them asked.
Elian didn't answer immediately. He simply straightened up slowly, letting his own aura slip out a little. The air around him trembled, and the darkness that surrounded the strangers momentarily dispersed.
They took a step back. Fear? No, more like caution.
— Just a wanderer, — he said quietly. — In search of answers.
One of them narrowed his eyes, but then slowly nodded.
— Then perhaps you'll find them sooner than you expect...
Elian didn't know what this person meant, but he felt it: his journey was just beginning, and this new world hid far more secrets than h
e could have imagined.