Kael threw his trench coat over his shoulder and stepped onto the street. A cool breeze brushed against his face, light and refreshing as he walked.
He felt good.
The exhaustion built up over months had vanished after just one night of real rest. His mind was clear, his focus sharp, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he actually felt like himself again.
"So… Syleena, huh?"Kael murmured the words under his breath, rolling his shoulder with a slow, fluid motion.
He moved down the street with a single goal for the day.To find Syleena.
He passed houses, stalls, and shops without a glance, his pace steady and unchanging. Soon, a familiar building came into view. Without pause, he stepped inside the café.
He made his way to the counter, where the barista greeted him warmly. Kale responded with a brief nod and placed his order without delay.
With his coffee cup and breakfast bread in hand, he made his way to a quiet corner table.
As he sat down, his gaze sharpened, turning cold.
Now, all that remained was to wait.
The café was one of the places Syleena visited every morning. She would walk in, make the same order each time. A cup of tea, a pastry, nothing more, nothing less.
Kael sat motionless, his eyes sweeping the café. Nothing escaped him. Every subtle shift in posture, every exchanged word, every order placed and who placed it, he tracked them all. He counted the patrons, marked every new arrival, and recorded it in the quiet recesses of his mind.
Torin's description of the young heir had been precise, leaving no doubt Kael would recognize her the moment she stepped through that door. If she followed her usual routine, if her habits remained unchanged, he would see her.
Three hours had passed. She hadn't arrived.
He tapped softly against the rim of his empty coffee cup.
The longer he waited, the sharper the edge in his thoughts became.
'Did she notice me? Or has something forced her to alter her schedule?'
His eyes moved once more across the room.
The world was unforgiving. Disruptions happened, schedules shifted, and it was natural for plans to change. But this wasn't natural. This wasn't a routine habit, this was a security protocol. A discipline hammered into her since birth.
For her not to appear...
Kael's finger stilled as his mind began to turn.
Syleena was the heir of the Eireindaile family. If there was one thing she would never lack… it was discipline.
Not wanting to draw attention, and with too little information to work with. Kael rose to his feet and left, heading for his next destination.
Having mapped out the city the day before, Kael moved through the streets with practiced ease until he reached his next stop.
'The library.'
His eyes remained on the towering stone structure for a moment before stepping inside.
The air greeted him with the familiar scent of old paper and polished wood.
'Second location of the day.'
This was where Syleena was supposed to come, usually sitting near the entrance on the second floor, studying and reading.
Kael drifted between the shelves, pulling a few books at random before settling at a table with a clear line of sight to the entrance.
He leaned back slightly, letting his eyes rest on the entrance.
'Let's see if you show up this time.'
Kael flipped through one of the books, careful not to let himself get completely absorbed in it.
Hours passed, dragging on in their slow, silent way. Eventually, he closed the book with a soft thud and leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes.
Once again, he had missed nothing. Every movement, every arrival and departure had been counted and observed.
Yet despite it all, there was no sign of Syleena.
She had not come to the library.
Kael rose from his seat and returned the books to their places on the shelves. With that done, he moved toward the library's front counter.
His steps made little sound, but the young woman behind the counter noticed him as he approached. She straightened slightly, her eyes following him with faint curiosity.
As Kael stopped at the counter, he described Syleena, her appearance, her usual habits, and asked if the librarian had seen her.
For a brief moment, the young woman's gaze lingered on the scar across his neck. Then, meeting his sharp green eyes, she gave a small nod.
"Syleena? Yes, she was here earlier this morning. She usually comes around this time, but…"
Her words slowed, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…But it seemed like she had to come earlier today for some reason."
Kael scoffed inwardly. She didn't need to spell it out for him. He was more than capable of doing that himself.
Without another word, he gave her a slight nod, turned, and stepped back into the streets of Velthoria.
His eyes traced the cobblestone road as he walked. He had missed her, but not because he had been careless. She had changed the time of her library visit, making it impossible for him to intercept her.
'This won't make things easier.'His eyes followed a drifting cloud overhead.
Even so, he wasn't without options. There was still one more place she was supposed to visit today.
But before that, there was somewhere else he needed to check.
He stepped into the café, heading straight for the counter. The barista glanced up, offering a polite, weary look.
"I'm looking for someone," Kael said with a calm voice. He gave a brief description of Syleena, watching the barista's face for any flicker of recognition.
The barista furrowed their brow, thinking before giving a small nod.
"Yeah… she was here just a little while ago. Only just left."
Kael's brow tightened slightly.The same as at the library. She had changed her schedule.
Without another word, he turned and walked out, stepping back onto the street. His steps remained steady, but his mind raced ahead.
He headed toward their final stop, focus sharpening with every footstep.
She had changed the timing of both visits, yet she had still made sure to go to both places. That could mean a few things. Either something unexpected had forced her to adjust her schedule, or she was deliberately shifting her habits to shake off someone following her.
But who could that be?
Kael wanted to believe she hadn't noticed him, but now he was starting to become unsure.
Was it just a coincidence that she switched things up right as he started tracking her? Or had she really picked up on his presence?
He quickly got lost in his thoughts, and before he knew it, he had reached the city's shore. He glanced at the sun setting in the distance, its golden light spilling across the lake once more.
As he walked along the shoreline, he soon arrived at the bench. This was the last place Sylena was supposed to visit today. Even if she had changed the timing of her visits to the library and the café, this one should remain the same.
He looked up at the bench. As always, it sat atop the cliff, offering a clear view of the lake.
However…
It was empty.
Kael's eyes lingered on it for a moment, but he was not disheartened. He kept walking with a steady pace.
As soon as he reached the bench, he sat down, resting his cane against it before turning his gaze to the lake. It was unbothered, peaceful even as it reflected the fading light of the evening sky.
Hours passed.
Above, the first stars pierced the darkening sky, scattered like distant embers. Slowly, they multiplied, until the entire expanse stretched into a sea of silver lights. The world had stilled, wrapped in the hush of night.
Yet Kael remained.
He let out a slow, steady breath.
There was no point in pressing further. Syleena hadn't shown, and there was nowhere else to check.
'Tomorrow, then," he murmured under his breath.
With nothing left for the day, he stayed where he was, eyes lifted toward the quiet sky, his only company the steady drift of his own thoughts.