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Cloudsdriftedlazilyacrossthesky,andafaintscentofincensewaftedthroughtheair.Thedimlightingcastlongshadowsacrosstheroom,makingitseemasthoughthenightitselfwasaliveandwatching.Cloud‘sheartflutteredwitheverybeat,herpulsepoundingintimewiththerhythmofthecity.
Shestoodoutsidetheoldtavern,hereyesfixedonthedoor.Itwasasmall,unassumingplace,thekindofestablishmentwhereonlythemostdesperateanddowntroddencametoseekrefuge.ButitwasherethatCloudhadmethim-theonewhohadchangedeverything.
Agentlebreezecarriedthesoundoflaughterandmusicfromwithin.Cloud‘sstomachtwistedintoaknotasshepushedopenthedoor.Theroomeruptedintochaos,patronsscramblingtogetoutofherwayasshemadeherwaytothebar.
Thebartender,agruffoldmanwithathickbeard,lookedupatherandnoddedcurtly.“WhatcanIgetyou,miss?“
Cloud‘seyesscannedtheroom,searchingforaglimpseofhisfamiliarhairorthecurveofhislips.Shespottedhiminthecorner,sittingaloneonastoolandnursingamugofale.
Assheapproached,helookedupandtheireyesmet.Theconnectionwasinstant,theairbetweenthemcracklingwithtension.Cloud‘sheartskippedabeatashesmiled,hiseyescrinklingatthecorners.
“You‘relate,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky.
Cloudfeltaflushrisetohercheeksassheslidontothestoolbesidehim.“Ihadtodealwithsome...business.“
Heraisedaneyebrow,butdidn‘tpressfordetails.Instead,hetookasipofhisale,hiseyesneverleavinghers.
Thenightworeon,andCloudfoundherselfdrawnintohisworld-aworldofdarknessanddanger,wherethelinesbetweengoodandevilwereblurredbeyondrecognition.Shewasbothfascinatedandrepelledbyit,herheartpoundinginherchestasshenavigatedthetreacherouslandscape.
Asthehourstickedby,Cloudbegantorealizethatshehadstumbleduponsomethingmuchbiggerthanherself-aconflictthatwoulddeterminethefateofentirerealms.Andatthecenterofitallwashe-theonepersonwhoseemedtobeconnectedtoeverythingandeveryone.
“You‘reinvolvedinthis?“Cloudasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.
Thebartenderleanedin,hiseyesdartingbackandforthbetweenthembeforehespokeinalowtone.“Youcouldsaythat.Yousee,thiscity...it‘snotwhatitseems.Thereareforcesatworkhere,forcesthatwouldteartheveryfabricofrealityapartifleftunchecked.“
Cloud‘smindreeledasshetriedtoprocesstheimplications.Shehadalwaysknownthattherewassomethingstrangeaboutthisplace-afeelingthatlingeredjustbeneaththesurface,waitingtopounce.
Butshehadneversuspectedanythinglikethis.Awaronthehorizon,onethatwouldpitgoodagainstevilanddeterminethecourseofhistory.
Andinthemidstofitall,Cloudfoundherselfatthecenterofthestorm-astormthatthreatenedtoconsumeherverysoul.
“ThenwhatdoIdo?“Cloudasked,hervoicefirmwithdetermination.
Thebartender‘seyeslockedontohers,hisgazeburningwithanintensitythatmadehershiver.“Youhaveachoicetomake,“hesaid.“Youcaneithergetinvolved,oryoucanwalkaway.Butknowthis-onceyou‘rein,there‘snogoingback.“
Cloudtookadeepbreath,herheartpoundinginherchest.Sheknewwhatshehadtodo.
“I‘min,“shesaid,hervoicesteadyandfirm.
Thebartendernodded,asmallsmileplayingonhislips.“Ithoughtyou‘dsaythat.“
Asthenightworeon,Cloudfoundherselfdrawndeeperintotheheartofthecity-aworldofdarknessanddanger,wherethestakeswerehighandtheconsequencesweredire.Butshewasready.Shehadalwaysbeenready.
Forthiswashermoment,herchancetoproveherselfandmakeanameforherselfinaworldthatseemeddeterminedtocrushher.
Andatthecenterofitallwashe-theonepersonwhoseemedtobeconnectedtoeverythingandeveryone.
