Lira's breath caught in her chest as she sprinted through the narrow streets of Thal'Dara. The stone, now a burning weight in her palm, was the only thing she could focus on. She had no idea who the man was, or why he had died, but his warning lingered in her mind. Someone was coming. Someone would be after the shard. But who?
Her legs burned as she ran, her heart pounding in her ears. She couldn't stay in the city—not with this stone, not with whatever was coming. She needed to find answers, and she needed to do it quickly.
As she reached the edge of the market, Lira ducked into an alleyway and pressed her back against the wall, trying to catch her breath. She looked down at the shard in her hand. Its glow had faded, but there was something about it—a faint hum, like it was alive. It felt as if it was calling her, urging her to follow its pull.
She didn't know what to do. She had no training for something like this, no knowledge of the old legends or the powers that had once ruled Aera. But she knew one thing for sure—her life had just changed forever.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the alley, snapping Lira out of her thoughts. She quickly shoved the shard into her pocket and drew her hood over her head, trying to blend into the shadows.
Two figures appeared at the end of the alley. They moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the area. Lira held her breath, praying they wouldn't notice her.
"We know she's here," one of the figures said, his voice low and commanding. "The girl with the shard. Don't let her escape."
Lira's pulse quickened. She had to move, and fast.
She darted out of the alley, pushing herself harder than she ever had before. She couldn't let them catch her—not with this shard, not with whatever was at stake. She had to keep running, keep surviving. She would find out what this was all about, and she would make sure no one used the shard for evil.
The skyless world was about to face a storm. And Lira would be at the center of it.