The Arcane Beast Tamer

The sun was high in the sky by the time Kael and his companions reached the gates of Draycott. The city loomed before them, its stone walls weathered but sturdy, the spires of watchtowers reaching toward the clouds. People bustled in and out of the gates, merchants with carts full of goods, travelers in dusty cloaks, and guards in gleaming armor keeping a wary eye on everyone who passed.

Kael adjusted his satchel nervously. He hadn't been to a city in years, and the sheer size of Draycott was overwhelming. The noise, the crowd, the constant movement—it was so different from the quiet, familiar rhythms of the village.

Ember padded beside him, her fiery tails dimmed to avoid drawing attention. "Try to look like you belong, Kael," she muttered. "You're staring like you've never seen a city before."

"I haven't," Kael admitted, his voice low. "Not one like this."

Umbra trotted close to his other side, his shadowy form small and unassuming. "Will they allow us entry?" he asked.

"As long as we don't cause trouble, we should be fine," Ember replied. "Just keep your head down, and let me do the talking if anyone asks questions."

Kael nodded, pulling his hood up to cover his face. They joined the flow of travelers entering the city, passing under the massive stone archway of the gate. The guards glanced at them but didn't stop them, their attention focused on a group of merchants arguing over a misplaced cargo manifest.

Once inside, Kael couldn't help but gape at the city around him. Narrow cobblestone streets wound between rows of tightly packed buildings, their upper stories jutting out over the roads. Bright banners fluttered from windows, and the air was filled with the smells of baking bread, sizzling meat, and the acrid tang of a nearby forge.

"Welcome to Draycott," Ember said dryly. "Try not to get lost."

Kael tore his eyes away from a street performer juggling flaming torches and focused on his companions. "Where do we start?"

"We need information," Ember said. "Somewhere in this city, there's bound to be someone who knows about curses or arcane magic. A library, a scholar, a mage—we just have to find them."

Kael hesitated. "What about the Serpent Guard? What if they're already here?"

"They won't be," Ember assured him. "They stick to the wilds. Cities like this have rules, laws, and patrols that even mercenaries can't ignore."

Kael nodded, though the knot of worry in his stomach didn't ease. "Alright. Let's find someone who can help."

They made their way through the bustling streets, weaving between carts and crowds. Kael kept his head low, but he couldn't stop himself from glancing at the colorful stalls lining the roads, the shouts of merchants advertising everything from fresh fruit to enchanted trinkets.

Umbra's ears twitched, his gaze flicking from one passerby to the next. "This place is… overwhelming," he murmured.

"You'll get used to it," Ember said, though her tone was less confident than usual.

As they turned a corner into a quieter alley, a sharp voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Kael spun around to see a young woman leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and a sly grin on her face. She couldn't have been much older than Kael, with short, messy hair and a dagger strapped to her belt. Her eyes were sharp and assessing, flicking between Kael, Ember, and Umbra.

Kael's hand instinctively went to his satchel. "Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

The woman pushed off the wall and sauntered toward them, her grin widening. "Relax, I'm not here to rob you. Name's Lira. And you're not exactly subtle, you know."

Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lira raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward Ember and Umbra. "Two magical beasts following you around? You're practically shouting 'look at me.' It's a wonder the city guards haven't stopped you yet."

Ember growled softly, her flames flaring. "Watch your tone."

Lira held up her hands in mock surrender. "Easy, fireball. I'm just trying to help."

Kael glanced at Ember, who was bristling with barely contained irritation, then back at Lira. "Why would you want to help us?"

"Because you're interesting," Lira said simply. "And because I know my way around this city. You're looking for something, right? Information? A person? A place? Whatever it is, I can help you find it—for a price."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "What kind of price?"

Lira smirked. "We'll figure that out later. For now, consider it a favor. Besides, you look like you could use a friend."

Kael hesitated. He didn't trust Lira—her cocky attitude and sharp grin reminded him of the merchants in the village who always seemed to get the better end of every deal. But she was right about one thing: they needed help.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "We're looking for someone who knows about arcane curses. Mages, scholars, anyone who might be able to tell us more."

Lira's eyes lit up. "Curses, huh? Now that's interesting. Lucky for you, I know just the place."

"Where?" Ember demanded, her fiery eyes narrowing.

"There's a tavern in the lower quarter," Lira said. "The kind of place where people with… specialized knowledge tend to gather. It's called The Broken Dagger. If anyone knows about arcane curses, they'll be there."

Kael exchanged a wary glance with Ember and Umbra. The idea of walking into a tavern full of shady characters didn't exactly fill him with confidence, but they didn't have many options.

"Alright," Kael said. "Lead the way."

Lira grinned, spinning on her heel. "You won't regret this. Probably."

As they followed her through the winding streets, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far bigger than they realized.