Whispers Of The Forgotten Realms

dn't let up

the concrete. The building rose into the mist like a blade piercing the sky - sleek, glassy, and cold. Even in

dane. Boring. But Vale Industries paid triple what the museum had, and after two mon

herself. This was it.

xtures above, casting glimmers on polished black marble. A fountain of what looked suspiciously like obsid

ee

approaching. "Aria Monroe. For t

ed woman with ice-blue eyes, no

No computer che

er palm against a smooth panel. The wall behind the

he woman said.

d. "Already

es not

ed before she

The mirrored walls shimmered faintly, as if hiding something behin

lways had. But this one

d, Aria stepped into a space

d with books and artifacts - not replicas, real pieces. An ornate sword rested above the fireplace,

n she s

an V

ouldered. His black suit tailored to perfection, his posture impossibly

ice was deep, smooth, with the faintest edge o

," she said before sh

tur

world

n soulmates. In fate.

gaze that saw straight through her - Aria knew somethi

did

altered for just a second. Just enough to

slow ste

ot what I

er ar

"Your assistant sa

eplied. "But fo

art th

hell was

hair across from his

, pulse

nd. Your thesis on pre-Elyri

hat's not publi

ngers steepled. "Tell me, Ar

ocked the breat

use

magic. Not sleight of hand. Not fantasy. Po

on't think that's r

dimmed. Not visibly, but... energeti

it is,"

ain. And then - the sword on the man

"Okay. I don't kno

he said, rising. "Yo

p a step. "W

r a heartbeat, she saw something

n it wa

, hands raised. "I didn't mean for you to see.

houl

ich with something pri

ng in her screamed to run - an

t of her wa

eyes again and whispered,

nched, eyes

s is fate. And I've waited a lon

rt beating so fast it felt

" she whispered.

u felt it the moment we saw

to argue - but the

he was

r. Like waking from a dream she didn't know she was in. A hum i

just a man. A powerful, probably manipulativ

t I'm not playing," she said, gripp

have it. If you want it. But understand this - work

y m

the bookshelf behind him. He selected a thick leather tome - bound wit

t's

atalog it. Translate the

re etched across the surface - but they di

... th

ed over the marki

shot through her hand. She yelped, pulling back

hell?" she

ly those of certain blo

at was... static. Or a t

now, charged. The book was still glowing wher

nes?" sh

her died when you were young. Your father never spoke of he

d at him,

new

a line of seers, Aria. Dream-walkers. Light-

wed. "This

seen things you couldn't explain? Felt something s

oat tig

e

he was

et. Her mother's locket - always warm when she felt afraid. B

"Echoes of the power within you. But it'

You're talking like a lunatic. Dragon

golden eyes glowing faint

ld answer, the

adows gathered at the

- f

- a sigil, pulsing with heat and life. She gasped. The flame curled around th

raised

bloomed i

e - alive, swirling with impossible g

ed, roote

quietly. "This is the world

re van

ilenc

to scream.

e whispered

voice like thunde

ria. You're the key to a prophecy

yes w

prop

l of the Age, and the Dragon will rise to meet her. Tog

ed. "That's-

he said, "h

d spinning. "You think

d even closer.

eneath his skin. And yet, there was something else in

o deny him.

eep inside her

gently brushing his

nited between them. Not just m

bo

bur

g her hand back. "

o. "The first spark

No, n

ight fate,"

vator, breathing hard. "I need t

he said. "But after that,

doors opene

n't loo