8. Kieran

8

KIERAN

I watch Aria's face as peruse the chaotic heart of Nightmarket, savoring her mix of fear, awe, and wonder. Her eyes dart from one impossible sight to another, widening with each new grand horror. It's... gratifying to see her experience this for the first time.

"Stay close," I murmur, placing a hand on the small of her back. I feel her shiver at my touch, fear and excitement warring within her. Good. That edge of fear will keep her alert. Nightmarket is no place for the complacent.

We weave through the crowded streets, past vendors hawking everything from bottled starlight to fermented emotions. Aria's head swivels constantly, trying to take it all in. I guide her deftly, avoiding the more dangerous areas... for now.

"Where are we going?" she asks, her voice barely audible over the market's cacophony.

I allow myself a small smile. "To treat you, my dear Aria. You've earned it."

As we step into The Crimson Grimoire, the air grows thick with the scent of old parchment and something metallic - blood, perhaps, or something far more esoteric. The proprietor, a being of living shadow and flame called Umbra, nods respectfully as we enter. Their form flickers and shifts, never quite settling on a definite shape.

"Lord Kieran," Umbra's voice crackles like a dying fire. "And a new acolyte, I see. How... intriguing."

I feel Aria stiffen beside me, no doubt unnerved by Umbra's otherworldly presence. "Feel free to browse," I tell her, my hand resting lightly on her lower back. "But be careful what you touch. Some of these tomes have a mind of their own."

We move deeper into the shop, past shelves that seem to stretch into infinity. The books here are unlike any Aria has seen before. Some are bound in materials that pulse with an inner life, others whisper dark secrets as we pass.

"The Crimson Grimoire specializes in the darkest and most potent magics of the Winter Court," I explain, watching Aria's reactions closely. "Here, you'll find knowledge that most mortals - and even many fae - would kill for."

Aria's eyes widen as she takes in the titles. "'Frost-Bound Hearts: A Compendium of Emotional Manipulation'," she reads aloud. "' The Midnight Sun's Shadow: Bending Light and Darkness'... These are real?"

I smile, pleased by her curiosity. "Very real, and very dangerous in the wrong hands. Or the right ones, depending on your perspective."

We pause at a section dedicated to what appears to be necromancy, but far beyond anything taught at Ravencrest.

"'Whispers of the Eternal Frost'," I say, pulling down a tome bound in what looks like translucent ice. "A fascinating study on communicating with spirits trapped in the great glaciers of the Winterlands. Some have been frozen there for millennia, their knowledge... unique."

Aria reaches out, then hesitates. "May I?"

I nod, and she takes the book, her fingers tracing the intricate frost patterns on its cover. As she opens it, a chill mist spills out, carrying with it the faintest sound of distant, agonized wailing.

We move on, passing by "Shadows of the Nevermore," a set of scrolls that detail the art of weaving nightmares into physical form, and "The Hollowed King's Lament," a treatise on the creation and use of soul-devouring weapons.

Aria pauses at a particularly ancient volume, its cover writhing with eldritch symbols that seem to squirm away from direct observation.

"The Codex of Eternal Shadows," I say, coming up behind her. "It's said to contain spells that can unmake reality itself. Tempting, isn't it?"

Aria's hand hovers over the book, trembling slightly. "What would happen if I opened it?" she asks, her voice a whisper.

I lean in close, my lips nearly brushing her ear. "Why don't you find out?"

For a moment, I think she might do it. I see the hunger in her eyes, the desire for knowledge and power warring with her lingering morality. Then, with visible effort, she pulls her hand back.

"Maybe... maybe another time," she says, her voice shaky.

I hide my smile. Disappointing, perhaps, but telling. She's not ready to abandon all her principles... yet.

We continue our browsing. I guide her towards "Veins of the Earth," a grimoire that teaches the art of blood manipulation and earth-shaping, allowing the caster to create labyrinths of living stone. Next, we examine "The Songbird's Lament," a deceptively small book that contains the secrets of weaponizing one's voice, turning words into deadly spells.

"This," I say, gesturing to a shimmering text that seems to fade in and out of existence, "is 'Echoes of Neverwhen.' It deals with temporal manipulation - not just seeing the future or past, but weaving alternate timelines into our reality."

Aria's eyes light up. "Could someone... change the past with this?"

"Theoretically," I reply, noting her interest. "But the consequences can be... unpredictable. Time has a way of resisting change."

As we're examining "The Frostfire Codex," a treatise on combining the destructive powers of ice and flame, a commotion outside catches my attention. My senses, honed over centuries, pick up the telltale signs of an impending attack.

"Aria," I say sharply, "stay close to me."

No sooner have the words left my mouth than the shop's windows explode inward. Shadowy figures pour through, their blades gleaming with a sickly green light. Assassins, and skilled ones at that.

I react instantly, shadows coalescing around my hands into razor-sharp claws. The first assassin to reach me falls in pieces, his scream cut short.

To my surprise and satisfaction, Aria doesn't freeze. The vials of nightmare essence are in her hands in an instant, and she hurls their contents at the nearest attacker. The liquid transforms mid-air into a cloud of terrifying illusions. The assassin stumbles, slashing wildly at phantoms only he can see.

In the midst of the carnage, I feel a surge of... something. Pride? Exhilaration? The simple joy of a teacher watching a star pupil excel? Whatever it is, it's as intoxicating as the finest faerie wine.

As the last assassin falls - really, they should have sent more if they wanted to make this interesting - Aria and I find ourselves face to face. There's a wild light in her eyes, a flush to her cheeks. She's spattered with blood, some hers but mostly not, and she's never looked more radiant.

Without thinking, I reach out, cupping her face in my hand. "You were magnificent," I murmur, as if complimenting her on a particularly well-executed spell in class.

For a moment, we stand there, connected by something deeper than mentor and student, predator and prey. I see a reflection of my own darkness in her eyes, and it's... delightful.

I step back, smoothing my slightly rumpled attire. "Well, that was invigorating," I say, my tone as casual as if we'd just finished a brisk walk. "Though I do believe we've made a bit of a mess. Terribly rude of us."

I retrieve the book we came for, pausing to straighten a fallen display. "Now then," I continue, approaching the wide-eyed Umbra, "I believe this should cover the damages and any inconvenience." I place a small pouch of gold on the counter, its weight suggesting a sum far beyond mere repairs.

"Shall we continue our outing?" I ask Aria, offering my arm as if we were simply strolling through a garden. "I know a delightful little place that serves the most exquisite shadow-infused tea. Perfect after a spot of impromptu combat, don't you think?"