The air was thick with tension as Ivy and I approached the old tavern, a place notorious for housing secrets and whispers of those in hiding. We were here to gather information—anything that might lead us closer to understanding what had happened to her. The tavern’s windows were fogged, its dim lights casting a warm but eerie glow onto the cracked cobblestone streets.
I glanced at Ivy as we stepped inside. Her focus was sharp, but I could sense the underlying unease she hadn’t yet voiced. Her powers were still new, raw, and unpredictable, and I had no idea what we’d find in this place.
The moment we entered, eyes flickered toward us, curious and wary. The room was filled with all sorts—mercenaries, drifters, people like us, searching for answers in the shadows. We kept our heads low, wa
