THE UNSPOKEN RULE
631 Words
The Solis district was filled with the worried whispers of its people. Kael moved through the bustling streets, his golden aura of authority, now dimmed with unease. The image of the Lunaris healer haunted him. Not just her silver magic, but the jolt when their powers met. A powerful, unsettling feeling.
He found Officer Valerius at the precinct, hunched over a cluttered desk, his brow furrowed with the day's reports. The air crackled with the usual static of Solis enforcement, but Kael felt an unfamiliar chill.
"Any progress on the rogue spellcaster?" Kael asked, leaning against the doorframe, his voice low.
Valerius grunted without looking up. "Same as always. A burst of uncontrolled fire, then nothing. No trace. They're getting sloppier, or smarter. Hard to tell with these types." He finally looked up, his eyes sharp. "You look like you saw a ghost, Kael. Something else bothering you?"
Kael pushed off the doorframe, walking closer. "I encountered someone at the scene. A Lunaris healer."
Valerius's eyes widened. "A Lunaris? In our district? What were they doing?"
"Healing," Kael replied, the word tasting strange on his tongue. "A Solis child, injured by the rogue mage's fire. She saved him."
Valerius scoffed. "Saved him? A Lunaris? They wouldn't dare. They stay in their shadows, away from our light. You sure it wasn't some trick?"
"It was no trick," Kael said, his voice firm. "Her magic... it was pure. And powerful." He hesitated, then continued, "And when our auras met... there was a reaction. Something I've never felt before."
Valerius frowned, pushing aside his reports. "A reaction? What kind of reaction? You know the laws, Kael. Mixing magic, even touching auras, is an abomination. A violation."
"I know the laws," Kael countered, a flicker of irritation in his tone. "But this was different. A jolt. Like a reflection of my own power, but... opposite." He paced the small office. "She vanished before I could question her further. Just melted into the shadows. But I felt her presence linger. A silver thread in the air."
"So, you're telling me a Lunaris broke every rule, healed one of ours, and then escaped your grasp?" Valerius's voice held a note of disbelief. "That doesn't sound like the Kael I know."
"She was fast," Kael defended, "and focused on the child. I had a duty to ensure the victim was safe." He paused, running a hand through his hair. "But I can't shake the feeling. Her magic wasn't just healing. It felt… unique. Unnerving."
Valerius stood up, his gaze intense. "Kael, be careful. This sounds like the kind of talk that leads to trouble. If a Lunaris is involved, especially one bold enough to cross into our territory and then evade an enforcer, there's more at play than a simple rogue spell." He leaned over the desk. "Focus on the rogue mage. That's our priority. And if you see this Lunaris again, apprehend her. Immediately. No matter what 'feeling' you have."
Kael nodded, though a part of him rebelled. "Understood." He turned to leave, but Valerius's next words stopped him.
"You said she had powerful magic. Stronger than most Lunaris, perhaps?"
"Possibly," Kael admitted. "It was... abnormal."
Valerius stroked his chin. "Interesting. Keep an eye out. And keep this 'connection' to yourself, Kael. For your own good."
Back on the bustling street, Kael’s thoughts raced. He was an enforcer of law, of order, of the clear lines between Solis and Lunaris. Yet, the memory of her silver light, and the undeniable jolt of their combined auras, played over and over in his mind. He was searching for a rogue mage, yes, but a part of him knew he was also searching for her. He needed answers about that connection, even if finding them meant walking a dangerous path.
- Writer
