Chapter Thirty-One:

  "Stranger in Mar’abar"

  The road to Mar’abar stretched endlessly under the sun’s merciless glare. Sand and dust clung to Raya’s skin, dry and relentless. For hours, she had ridden Ani’s back, exhaustion settling deep in her bones, but the city ahead,full of life, sound, and movement, kept her going.

  Ani was not the same as before. The creature beneath her was something more, something bound to her in ways she didn’t yet understand. His massive paws barely left a trace in the sand. He was a guardian now, summoned by her will, and though he did not speak, she knew he understood.

  She ran a hand through his thick coat. “You know… you’re a little intimidating like this.”

  Ani huffed softly, almost as if he understood. She slid off his back, stretching stiff limbs. Ani’s form shifted, shrinking until he was a small, unassuming pup at her side. A smirk tugged at Raya’s lips. “Much better.”

  As the walls of Mar’abar rose in the distance, Raya took in its towering structures and clustered rooftops, glowing in the waning sun. The city was alive in ways she had only dreamed of, bustling markets, packed streets, the distant echo of prayer calls and shouting merchants. Yet something about it felt... tense.

  Mar’abar, once the central religious hub of Eldoria, had become a city divided.

  Two factions vied for control, The Way of the First Light, followers of the High Testament, a sacred text that had guided Eldoria for millennia, and The Awakened, a growing sect who claimed to hear the Goddess whispering to them.

  Banners lined the streets, some bearing the old sigils, others freshly painted with the rising symbol of The Awakened. The tension was undeniable, reflected in wary glances, hushed arguments at street corners, and graffiti scrawled across ancient temple walls.

  Raya had grown up in a world where faith divided cities, where belief could mean the difference between life and death. Here, it seemed, was no different.

  Her stomach twisted as the scent of sweet apples filled the air. A vendor’s cart stood nearby, fruit piled high. Her mouth watered, but she hesitated. She had no coin, no way to barter. In her world, there had been nothing to steal,only things to scavenge. But here, in a city of laws, taking what wasn’t hers had consequences.

  Before she could decide, movement caught her eye. A hooded girl, no older than herself, stood at the edge of the market stall. With a glance toward Raya, she lifted a finger to her lips, a silent warning, before slipping two apples into her cloak, unseen by the merchant.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The girl turned, meeting Raya’s gaze, then tilted her head, motioning for her to follow before vanishing into the alleyways.

  Raya hesitated only a moment before slipping into the crowd, trailing behind the girl. Mar’abar may have been a city of faith, but faith alone wouldn’t be enough to survive it.

  The alleyways twisted and narrowed, the scent of spices growing fainter as damp stone and stagnant air took its place. Shadows deepened, the towering buildings pressing inward.

  Her steps slowed. Unease curled at the edges of her thoughts. She glanced at Ani, who met her gaze. They both felt it, an unspoken warning. Let’s be careful.

  Finally, they emerged into a quiet courtyard, shaded by overhanging cloth banners, the noise of the marketplace a distant hum.

  The girl turned, pulling back her hood to reveal a mischievous smile and striking golden eyes.

  “You looked like you needed a hand,” she said, tossing Raya one of the apples she had stolen. “Figured I’d help out.”

  Raya caught it, fingers tightening around the fruit. She hesitated, then took a careful bite. It was crisp, fresh, better than anything she had tasted in her life.

  “You don’t steal much, do you?” the girl asked, amused.

  Raya swallowed. “Never had much to steal from.”

  The girl grinned. “Fair enough. I’m Hex.”

  Raya studied her, sensing something playful but not immediately threatening. “Raya, and this is Ani.”

  “Nice to meet you, Raya.” Hex crouched down, beaming at Ani. She scratched behind his ears, and Ani, to Raya’s mild surprise, wagged his tail and pressed into Hex’s touch. “Oh, I love him already. I could just hold his head in my arms and pet it all day!”

  Raya narrowed her eyes slightly. “He’s not usually this friendly.”

  Hex laughed, standing up again. “I have that effect on people… and dogs, apparently.” She winked before stretching her arms overhead, her entire demeanor easy and confident. “I should probably introduce myself properly. I’m Hex Sterling.”

  The name meant nothing to Raya, but Hex said it like it should.

  “I like sneaking out,” Hex continued. “Seeing the city without a thousand eyes on me. My father would throw a fit if he knew I was out here.”

  “Your father?”

  Hex smirked, tucking her hands behind her head. “Lord Sterling. He kind of runs this place.”

  Raya tensed slightly but kept her expression neutral. A noble’s daughter? She hadn’t expected that. But Hex didn’t carry herself like someone spoiled or untouchable, she was too at ease, too comfortable in the backstreets.

  “Not really from around here, huh?” Hex asked.

  “Not exactly.”

  Hex grinned. “No worries. Every girl’s allowed her secrets. Goddess knows I have mine.”

  “So… your dad’s a big deal?”

  “Yeah, but don’t sweat it. I’ll help you out.” Hex tossed her apple core into a crate. “Girls like us gotta stick together. Right?”

  Something about the way she said it made Raya pause.

  Hex clapped her hands. “So, listen. You’re new, you look exhausted, and you probably need a real meal and a proper bed. Why don’t you come back to the palace with me?”

  Raya hesitated. “The palace?”

  Hex laughed. “It’s huge. More rooms than I can count, and trust me, you’ll love the food.” She leaned in slightly, voice dipping into something softer. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

  Raya exhaled slowly, weighing her options. Every instinct told her to be cautious, but Hex didn’t feel like a trap. She felt like an opportunity. Maybe even a friend.

  “…Alright,” she said at last.

  Hex beamed. “Great! C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  As they left the courtyard, Ani trotted happily at Raya’s side, oblivious to the weight of the choice she had just made.