Chapter 11: Shadows on the walk home

Chapter 11: Shadows on the walk home

Fiona stepped out of the Obsidian Spire into the late-afternoon light, the sun hanging low and turning the bay into a sheet of warm copper. The air had cooled, carrying that sharp salt bite that always cleared her head after a long day inside. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, took a slow breath, and started the familiar walk back toward Lunara Cove.

Her heels clicked softly against the pavement. The path curved along the waterfront—same as yesterday, same as it would be tomorrow. A few joggers passed, a couple with a dog on a leash, a street vendor packing up his cart of roasted nuts. Normal. Quiet. Safe.

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