The Arcane Beast Tamer

The air grew heavier as Kael followed Lira deeper into the lower quarter of Draycott. The cobblestone streets became narrower and more uneven, the buildings more dilapidated. Faint shadows lingered in the alleys, and Kael couldn't shake the feeling of eyes watching him from the darkened windows above.

"Keep up," Lira said over her shoulder, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

Kael's grip on his satchel tightened as he kept pace. Ember trotted silently beside him, her flaming tails dimmed to avoid attention. Umbra, small and agile, stayed close to Kael's other side, his glowing eyes darting around warily.

"This place feels wrong," Umbra murmured, his voice barely audible.

Kael nodded, his unease growing with every step. The lower quarter was nothing like the bustling streets they had passed earlier. Here, the smells of baked bread and sizzling meat were replaced with the acrid stench of refuse and stale ale.

"Relax," Lira said, as though sensing their discomfort. "The Broken Dagger might look rough, but it's the best place in the city for finding… unconventional knowledge."

"Unconventional?" Ember muttered. "Sounds like trouble."

Lira grinned. "Trouble's where the best stories come from, isn't it?"

Kael didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the crooked wooden sign hanging over the entrance of a squat, stone building. A dagger, snapped clean in half, was painted on the weathered wood—the only indication they had reached their destination.

"This is it," Lira said, pushing open the creaking door. "Welcome to The Broken Dagger."

The inside was dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and the sour smell of spilled ale. Rough-hewn wooden tables were scattered across the room, occupied by a motley assortment of patrons. Men and women hunched over their drinks, their faces obscured by hoods or shadow. A bard played a mournful tune on a lute in the corner, his music barely audible over the low murmur of conversation.

Kael hesitated in the doorway, his heart pounding. This wasn't the kind of place he ever imagined himself walking into.

"Come on," Lira said, motioning for them to follow. "The person we're looking for usually sits in the back."

Kael exchanged a nervous glance with Ember, then followed Lira across the room. He felt the weight of dozens of eyes following him, sizing him up, but no one moved to stop them.

Lira led them to a table in the far corner, where a hooded figure sat nursing a mug of something dark. The person didn't look up as they approached, but their voice, low and gravelly, cut through the noise.

"You're late."

"Nice to see you too, Garren," Lira said, sliding into the seat across from the figure. "These are the ones I told you about."

Garren lifted their head, revealing a weathered face marked with scars and eyes that gleamed with a sharp, unnatural light. Their gaze swept over Kael, Ember, and Umbra, lingering on the shadow wolf cub.

"Interesting," Garren said, their voice rasping like old parchment. "A tamer, a fox with arcane flames, and a shadow beast. You don't see that every day."

Kael shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "Lira said you might know something about curses," he said cautiously.

Garren raised an eyebrow. "That depends. Curses are… complex. What exactly are you dealing with?"

Kael glanced at Umbra, who stepped forward hesitantly. "I was cursed," the cub said, his small voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Controlled. My will was not my own."

Garren's eyes narrowed. "A beast curse. Rare, but not unheard of."

"Rare enough that someone powerful must have cast it," Ember added.

Garren leaned back in their chair, their fingers tapping the edge of the table. "If what you're saying is true, then whoever did this is no ordinary mage. Beast curses require not just arcane knowledge, but the willingness to break natural laws. It's dangerous magic, outlawed in most kingdoms."

Kael's stomach churned. "Do you know who could've done it?"

Garren shook their head. "No, but I can tell you this: if you've been targeted by someone capable of casting a curse like that, you're in deep trouble. Beasts aren't cursed randomly. There's a purpose behind it—control, destruction, or worse."

The weight of Garren's words settled over the group like a heavy shroud. Kael clenched his fists, his mind racing. "There has to be a way to stop them," he said.

Garren studied him for a long moment, then leaned forward. "There might be. But it won't be easy."

"What is it?" Kael asked.

"There's a man in Draycott," Garren said. "A scholar of arcane magic. He's reclusive, paranoid, and notoriously difficult to deal with—but if anyone knows about beast curses, it's him. His name is Orlin Vayne."

"Where can we find him?" Ember asked.

Garren chuckled darkly. "That's the tricky part. Orlin doesn't like visitors. He lives in the ruins of an old monastery just outside the city. If you want his help, you'll have to convince him—and that's no small task."

Kael nodded, determination hardening his features. "We'll find him."

Garren's expression softened slightly, though their tone remained cautious. "Be careful, boy. If Orlin can't help you, or if the curse you're dealing with is stronger than he can handle, you might not make it out alive."

Kael swallowed hard but didn't falter. "We don't have a choice."

Lira leaned back in her chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Looks like you're in for a fun little adventure," she said.

Kael shot her a look. "You're coming with us, aren't you?"

Lira shrugged. "Depends. What's in it for me?"

"Helping us is enough," Ember growled, her flames flaring slightly.

Lira laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll tag along—for now. But don't expect me to stick my neck out for free."

Kael sighed, already regretting his decision to trust her. But for now, he didn't have much of a choice.

As they left The Broken Dagger and stepped back into the dim streets of the lower quarter, Kael couldn't help but glance over his shoulder. The feeling of being watched was stronger now, and he knew their journey was only growing more dangerous.