Leaving the enchanted square, Kael took the path that led to the Upper City market—a lively cluster of tents, magical stalls, and merchants of all races. Day had not yet completely given way to night, and the magical lights of the runic lampposts began to light up one by one, bathing the street in soft shades of gold and blue.

He needed some specific herbs, reagents for his manipulations, perhaps a new grimoire to record the patterns that were emerging more clearly in his practice. In addition, there was something on his mind — a restlessness. And Raven, with his bar hidden in the heart of the city, would be the perfect place to process everything with a strong drink and the discreet silence of those who understand the weight of carrying power.

But as Kael crossed the first aisles of the market, he felt something.

It wasn't the touch of magic. It was... presence. As if a pair of eyes were fixed on the back of his neck with more attention than necessary. The feeling intensified when he turned down an alley between two tents, the fabric vibrating with the proximity of mana. It wasn't paranoia. He knew the signs well.

Kael lightly touched the side of his head with two fingers and murmured, "Umbra... are you feeling this too?"

For a brief moment, the world seemed to darken slightly around his eyes. A subtle shadow ran down his back, and a melodic, ancient female voice answered in his mind.

"Yes... we are being followed. But not by something ordinary. It is... strange. Mixed."

"Hostile?"

"Not yet. But curious... and persistently close. You should see for yourself."

Kael snorted, already expecting that cryptic answer. Umbra was his spiritual ally, a semi-independent manifestation of his dark affinity, linked to the wind and the soul. Despite her wisdom, she rarely gave direct answers.

"Any suggestions?"

"Turn left at the next arch. There's a hidden alley behind the mask shop. Hide. Wait."

Without hesitation, Kael did just that.

He turned sharply to the left, passing an illusory artifact stall and crossing a small stone arch adorned with enchanted moss. The mask shop was closed, its shelves displaying expressionless faces under mirrored glass.

Next to it, a narrow passageway led to a curved alley. He entered, walked to a cracked stone pillar—probably part of a building that predated the district's restoration—and positioned himself behind it. His body blended naturally with the shadows, the affinity of the wind around him muffling his movements and silencing even his breathing.

Silence.

Then, footsteps.

Slow. Timid.

Delicate, almost hesitant, as if the person knew they were being followed too, but by their own fears.

Kael waited until the footsteps were a few meters from the entrance to the alley. Then he moved with precision.

In a single leap, he appeared behind the figure, grabbing them by the shoulders and pushing them lightly against the wall, without lethal aggression—but firmly enough to establish who was in control.

The figure's hood fell back.

Red eyes. Golden hair framing a pale, demonic face. Red horns curved gently over the forehead. And as soon as she saw him, her eyes widened.

"Master...?"

Kael blinked. He froze for a moment.

"Sazhara...?"

The succubus's eyes widened even more. And then, before he could react, she pulled him into a desperate embrace, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

"MASTER!" she whimpered loudly, without any shame. "I found you! Finally! I was so scared!"

Kael blinked, trying to absorb what was happening, as she began to sob loudly against his chest, sniffling directly into the bottom of his leather tunic. The touch of her thin nails scratched his back as she trembled in his embrace.

"Wait, wait—what happened? Didn't you stay behind in the elven kingdom?!"

Sazhara sniffed loudly, pulling her nose and wiping it on the fabric of his cloak as if it were a handkerchief.

"A woman grabbed me! She was scary! VERY scary!"

"What woman?" Kael already felt an uncomfortable suspicion rising in the pit of his stomach.

"She appeared out of nowhere! She had golden eyes and red hair. And... and she looked at me like I was an insect! She said I needed to go after you and help you, right after you disappeared!"

Kael let out a long sigh, covering his eyes with his hand.

"Redhead?"

Sazhara nodded quickly, still trembling.

"Yes. Very beautiful. Very dangerous. She didn't even hit me! She just looked at me... and my magic stopped working! Then she threw me into a teleportation circle with a seal I'd never seen before. It was horrible!"

Kael muttered something unintelligible and pulled away slightly from the embrace, just enough to look into the succubus's eyes, now red from crying.

"It's her thing."

"Who... who was she?" Sazhara asked, still clutching the fabric of the cloak, now soaked.

Kael closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with a resigned gleam.

"My mother."

Sazhara froze.

"...What?"

"Yes. Congratulations. You were kidnapped by her."

The succubus slowly backed away, still sniffling, her eyes wide as if she had just discovered she had insulted an ancient goddess. She pulled on his cloak again and used the hem to wipe her face, trying to compose herself.

"I'm sorry... I got everything dirty..."

"It's not the first time my clothes have served as a handkerchief," he said, rolling his eyes. "But you'll explain it to me in more detail later. For now, we need to get out of here."

"You... are you going to send me away again?" Sazhara asked, her voice wavering with fear.

Kael hesitated. But only for a second.

"No. You're part of this now. And if she threw you back here, it means that, as much as it bothers me... she recognized that you're important enough not to kill."

Sazhara's eyes widened again.

"You... you think I'm important?"

Kael turned, leaving the alley, and replied over his shoulder:

"Apparently, even she thinks so."

The succubus followed him, still sniffling from time to time, her eyes shining with some strange mixture of happiness, relief, and absolute panic.

The market was emptier now. The magic tents were beginning to close. Most of the merchants were carefully retreating, avoiding the hour of shadows, when the city became more... dangerous.

Kael followed the familiar path to the underground district where Raven's Bar was located, a structure built into a street below the main level of the city, almost hidden by selective perception spells.

"Let's go," said Kael. "Raven will want to kill me for bringing you along, but... she's tried to kill me for less."

"Is she scary too?"

"Definitely."

When they reached the hidden entrance to the bar, lit by a single dark blue magic torch, Kael made a specific gesture over the symbol carved into the door—a raven with a dagger in its beak.

The door opened.

The muffled sound of soft music and the smell of magical spices escaped from inside. And at the back of the hall, Kael could already feel Raven's aura watching those who dared to arrive late.

Sazhara grabbed his arm, her eyes still red and her expression hesitant.

"You... won't leave me alone, will you?"

Kael glanced at her, then sighed.

"You've already survived my mother. The rest of the world will seem easy now."

[At Raven's Bar...]

The bar was as usual: lit by amber lights attached to enchanted lanterns, the air permeated with black myrtle incense, and a slow arcane jazz track echoing through the corners. There were few customers at that hour—a few contract hunters, an alchemist sleeping on top of his grimoire, and a sleepy harpist chatting with the golden-eyed bartender.

At the back of the hall, behind the carved onyx counter, stood Raven.

Tall, dressed in a dark leather bodice and a short cape that revealed the symbol of a serpent entwined around a dagger on her shoulder, she stared at them as she cleaned a glass. Her violet eyes seemed to pierce flesh and intention.

Seeing Sazhara behind Kael, cowering but still clinging to her cape like a wet cat, Raven raised an eyebrow with elegant disdain.

"I didn't know you were that kind of man."

Kael, who had already expected a dramatic reaction, just gave her an exhausted look.

"For a single MILF who's never had sex, you think too much."

The sound of the glass cracking in her hand was subtle but audible.

Raven stared at him for long seconds, her eyes half-closed. Her voice came out low, threatening, but cold as a dagger pressed against his spine.

"I'm going to kill you."

Kael gave a half-smile, without humor.

"My mother will kill you."

Silence.

The two stared at each other long enough for one of the customers in the background to decide to pay the bill and leave discreetly, realizing that some magical tension was beginning to boil in the air.

Sazhara stood between them, completely motionless, staring at each other with wide eyes.

Raven dropped the broken glass on the counter with a clack, and without looking away, declared coldly:

"There's no room for her."

Kael replied in the same tone, without blinking:

"Yeah. I figured as much. She'll stay with me."

Another heavy silence fell.

Raven crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly to the side, analyzing Kael with the look of someone sizing up enemies on the battlefield — or suitors in a duel of wills.

"Don't you think you're flirting dangerously with death? If your mother sees you with a succubus..."

"She sent this one to me." Kael said, completely breaking Raven's face.

'Is she crazy?..."