The masochists

Elara moved cautiously toward the shadowed booth, every step measured. The air around the mysterious figure felt different—dense, like the weight of unspoken knowledge pressed against it. Rael walked beside her, silent but alert, his presence grounding her.

The figure did not move as they approached, only tilting their head slightly as if acknowledging their presence. A faint glow reflected off their fingers as they traced the rim of their glass. When they finally spoke, their voice was smooth, laced with something unreadable.

"You're marked," they said simply.

Elara tightened her grip on the obsidian coin Vera had given her. "I figured that much."

The figure chuckled. "And yet, here you are. That's either bravery or stupidity."

Rael slid into the seat across from them without hesitation. "She doesn't have time for riddles. If you know something, start talking."

A pause. Then, the hooded figure leaned forward, revealing just enough of their face for Elara to see the deep scar cutting across their jawline. Their eyes gleamed, sharp and assessing.

"They sent Kalen after you," they said, watching for a reaction.

Elara blinked. "Kalen?"

The stranger smirked. "So they sent someone that high up, and you didn't even know his name? Interesting."

Rael's expression darkened. "If Kalen was the one who tested her, then this isn't just a warning. It's a recruitment."

Elara frowned. "What do you mean?"

The stranger tapped a single finger against the table. "The Eclipse Syndicate doesn't waste resources. If they sent Kalen, it means they see something in you. They don't just kill potential." Their gaze locked onto hers. "They claim it."

A chill ran through Elara. The fight with Kalen had been brief, but his power had been undeniable. And yet, he had left without finishing her off. Had it been a test? A message?

Or an invitation?

The stranger continued. "Right now, they're watching. Waiting to see what you'll do. You have two choices—run, or play their game."

Elara exhaled slowly. "And if I don't want to do either?"

The stranger smiled. "Then you make your own rules."

Rael leaned back, his fingers drumming against the table. "That's easier said than done."

The stranger shrugged. "Everything is. But you're not as alone in this as you think."

Elara narrowed her eyes. "And why are you helping us?"

A soft chuckle. "Because power shifts in this city like the tides. And when it does, I'd rather be on the right side of it."

Elara studied them for a long moment before finally nodding. "Then give me something real. Something I can use."

The stranger leaned in, voice dropping just above a whisper.

"There's a meeting tomorrow night. The Eclipse Syndicate's inner circle. Kalen will be there." They slid a folded scrap of paper across the table. "If you want answers, that's where you start."

Elara took the paper, unfolding it just enough to glimpse an address scrawled in precise, almost inhuman handwriting.

Rael sighed. "You realize this could be a trap."

Elara smirked, tucking the note into her coat. "Then I guess we'll see who catches who."