Chapter 2 - Chapter 2 – Streets of Durnfall

The streets of Durnfall were eerily quiet after the initial surge of shadows. Liora's footsteps echoed against cracked stones as she followed Kael through alleys littered with debris. The violet glow in her eye pulsed faintly, reacting to the lingering darkness that seemed to crawl along the walls."Something isn't right," Kael muttered, scanning the rooftops. "The shadows… they're learning. They watched us yesterday."Liora gripped her dagger tighter. She had trained for shadow manipulation, but nothing had prepared her for a force that observed and adapted. Every corner seemed to twist unnaturally, shadows stretching toward them like fingers.Suddenly, a scream echoed from the marketplace. Liora and Kael ran toward the sound, finding a group of merchants surrounded by writhing dark tendrils. Liora raised her hands instinctively, and the shadows that obeyed her recoiled, scattering the tendrils just enough to give the merchants time to flee.Kael's eyes widened. "You did that… without thinking?""I don't know how," Liora whispered. "It's like the shadows themselves… choose to obey me."A sharp crack rang from the rooftops. Liora turned, dagger ready, only to see a silhouette vanish into the twilight. The shadow's movement was deliberate, almost human.Her heart pounded. This city isn't safe anymore, she realized. And the fortress in the distance pulsed again, like a heartbeat calling her closer.