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The next morning

As Aurora sat up in bed, the soft morning light streaming through the window illuminated the room, and Aurora's memories of the previous evening's events came flooding back. She rubbed her temples, trying to process the strange encounter with the elves.

The scent of pipe smoke and honey wafted from the kitchen, and Aurora's stomach growled in response, reminding her that she was still in the elves' home, and that she had no idea how she would get back to her own world.

Noticing her growing hunger , she went outside the room. Aurora's eyes adjusted to the soft light and she took in the warm, inviting atmosphere. The table was set for a simple breakfast, with a small pitcher of steaming tea and a plate of freshly baked bread . The aroma of warm bread and sweet spices wafted up, making her stomach growl with hunger.

Despite the eerie events of the previous night, Aurora felt a sense of comfort and tranquility wash over her as she approached the table, wondering if the elves' kindness would extend to a warm meal.

Aurora walked through the quiet halls, her footsteps echoing off the walls as she searched for Zira and Vela. She checked the living room, but they were nowhere to be found. She peeked into the kitchen, where she saw that they had left a trail of crumbs and dirty dishes behind them, but they were still absent.

Aurora burst into a room, out of breath from her search, and was met with Vela and Zira packing for the journey, their bags and gear scattered about the room.

Zira looked at her and asked if Aurora had eaten breakfast which was laid out on the table .

Aurora replied ," I thought that we could eat together "

Zira's expression remained neutral, but a hint of a smile played on her lips as she nodded slightly.

" I'm sure we'll have a chance to eat together soon. There's a lot to prepare for our journey

"I think we can make time for a meal." Vela, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up,

"I think I'll go check on the horses while we're getting ready to leave. We don't want to be late" said Zira to no one in particular .

Aurora quietly observed as zira left the room leaving Vela and Aurora in it.

"Sorry about her Aurora , she's just stressed about the journey."

"Oh no it's completely fine , in fact I should be the one apologizing for causing you trouble" replied Aurora

Just then Aurora's stomach growled causing an awkward air to surround them in the silent room as Aurora's face went pink with a familiar sense of embarrassment.

" You must be hungry . Let's go eat " smiled vela

" Thank you , that would be great " thanked Aurora

As they sat down at the table, Aurora noticed that the room was filled with the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and the soft glow of morning sunlight streaming through the windows.

She couldn't help but feel as if everything was going to be alright. Noticing that Vera had already started eating Aurora got herself a piece of bread , tea and berries that she had never seen before .

Noticing the questioning look on Aurora's face while eating the berries, Vera explained :

" Those are called Wurgles . They can only be found here " said Vela as he took some from the basket.

After eating they both went out to the stables to see what Zira may be doing.
Aurora and Vela arrived at the stables to find Zira already prepared to depart, her bags securely packed and mounted on the horses.

A few moments later , the trio set off towards the Iron Works, their horses' hooves echoing on the dusty road as they rode into the unknown. The sun was high overhead, casting a warm glow over the landscape as they journeyed towards their destination.

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As the hours passed, the trio rode through a diverse range of landscapes, from lush forests to rolling hills and vast plains. As the sun began to set, the sky transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, painting the horizon with hues of orange, pink, and purple. Eventually, the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, and the trio found themselves approaching the outskirts of a small town.

The trio's horses slowed to a halt as they entered the town, the only sound being the soft creaking of leather and the clinking of bridles. The streets, lined with quaint English-style buildings, were eerily silent and devoid of any signs of life.

The flickering gas lamps that lined the sidewalks cast an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the pavement. The air was thick with an unsettling sense of abandonment, and the group exchanged uneasy glances, their senses on high alert as they dismounted their horses and approached the town's central square.

As Zira approached an inn along with Aurora and Vela , she noticed that the wooden counter was eerily silent and empty, with no sign of the innkeeper or any other staff. She called out loudly, hoping to rouse someone, but there was only silence.

Feeling a sense of unease, she decided to investigate further. As she examined the counter, she noticed that a piece of chalk had begun to write on the board, asking her name. Zira hesitated for a moment before responding with her own name, and the chalk continued to write, asking for payment.

Zira agreed to pay, but then asked for the key to her room before handing over the money. To her surprise, a small key suddenly flew off the counter and landed at her feet, and she was left wondering what kind of strange magic was at work in this mysterious town.

She put the asked coins on the counter and started moving towards the creaky stairs up to their room.

As Zira picked up the key and led the way to their room, Aurora and Vela exchanged uneasy glances, still trying to process the bizarre events that had just unfolded. But Vela, ever the curious one, noticed that the shadow on the board seemed to be moving of its own accord, and his eyes followed it as it danced across the counter.

Despite the initial shock, Vela's curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to investigate further. He casually trailed behind Zira, her eyes fixed on the shadow as it seemed to fade into the darkness.

The trio arrived at their room, and Zira opened the door with a flourish, revealing a cozy space with a small fireplace and a comfortable-looking bed. Vela hovered in the doorway, still watching the shadow as it seemed to dissipate into the air, leaving him with more questions than answers.

As they closed the door behind them, Aurora finally began to relax, shedding her coat and letting out a sigh of relief. She looked around the room, taking in the simple but cozy furnishings, and nodded in approval. "Not bad for a small inn," she said, her voice softening as she gazed around at the warm, golden light of the fireplace. Vela, still lost in thought, barely noticed Aurora's words, his eyes fixed on the spot where the shadow had disappeared.

Zira, meanwhile, was already exploring the room, running her fingers over the intricately carved wooden furniture and opening the small window to let in a fresh breeze. The room was quiet and peaceful, and for a moment, it seemed as though the strange events outside had been left behind.

"There was-

" A shadow , I know . We're in the city of shadows and they are certainly not kind to travellers. The news of us here would reach the Queen any moment now.

We must leave early" announced Zira.

"But what are we going to do if we get caught?" Asked Vela

Zira looked at her brother in the eyes as if warning him " we die" .

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