The city is nothing like he expected. It’s a fusion of everything that shouldn’t work but somehow does—towering buildings made of polished stone and shimmering, enchanted metals, their surfaces glowing faintly with mana. Arched windows and ancient runes coexist with sleek, modern lines, metallic accents, and glowing energy conduits. Floating platforms drift lazily above the streets, ferrying people and goods as glowing streetlamps flicker to life with the fall of dusk.

  The air hums with life, alive with voices and bustling energy. Elves, dwarves, fae, beast-men, and humans—all moving, interacting, blending into the tapestry of The Bazxar. Vendors line the streets, colorful stalls spilling over with enchanted trinkets, their wares pulsing faintly under the orange glow of the setting sun. Magical carriages and sleek, rune-carved vehicles glide effortlessly by, their paths guided by glowing ley lines etched into the cobblestones.

  As the sun dips lower, the city shifts into something else entirely. Neon lights, powered by magic and runic circuitry, flicker to life, painting the streets in vibrant hues. Signs shimmer in the air, advertising everything from enchanted restaurants to hidden guild halls. The air is alive with a soft hum, a strange symphony of magic and machinery blending together.

  Kain stands there, rooted to the spot, his mouth slightly open as he takes it all in. This wasn’t just a city—it was a testament to what happens when two worlds collide and create something entirely new. He can’t help but feel small, yet incredibly alive, in the face of it all.

  Haley walks up beside him, her pace slowing as she glances at his wide-eyed expression. A teasing smile tugs at her lips. “Still not over the wow factor, huh?” she says, nudging him with her elbow.

  Kain doesn’t answer immediately, his eyes still fixed on the glowing skyline. “It’s not just the wow factor,” he murmurs, his voice softer than usual, almost reverent. “It’s… everything. This world… it’s incredible.”

  For a moment, neither of them speaks. The sounds of the city hum around them, the soft buzz of magic and conversation melding into the background. It’s a moment of pure stillness amidst the chaos, the kind of quiet that makes everything feel important.

  Haley breaks the silence, her voice a little more subdued. “You know,” she begins, her words almost hesitant, “I wasn’t born knowing about all this magic stuff either. Most of my childhood, I thought I was just… normal. I used to think places like this were just stories.”

  Kain glances at her, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. “What changed?”

  She sighs, slipping her hands into her jacket pockets. “It started when I was about twelve. I noticed… things. Random bursts of energy, at first. It wasn’t like I was just hyper, it felt… off. And then came the changes.” Her voice lowers, her eyes focusing on something far away, like she’s reliving it in real-time.

  “I’d wake up some mornings, and there’d be patches of scales on my arms. My nails would grow sharp, like claws. My eyes… my eyes started changing, too. My pupils would narrow, like a reptile’s.” She pauses, letting out a soft breath. “And the worst part? My back. I could feel something shifting in my shoulder blades. Like… like they were trying to change.”

  Kain listens intently, his expression softening as he processes her words. Belmont’s voice cuts through his thoughts, calm and understanding. Sounds about right. Star bloodlines often manifest during early adolescence. The physical change is the first sign of awakening.

  Haley continues, seemingly oblivious to Kain’s internal dialogue. “At first, I thought I was just… a freak. I hid it from everyone—my friends, my teachers, even my dad. I thought he didn’t notice, that he was too busy with work. But… I was wrong.” She chuckles softly, though there’s a trace of sadness in her voice. “He knew.”

  Kain looks at her, his brow furrowing. “He knew?”

  “Yeah,” Haley says, her voice quiet now, almost distant. “Turns out, He knew exactly what was happening to me. He just didn’t say anything—he was waiting for the right moment.”

  She takes a deep breath, shaking her head, as if she’s about to dive into something she’s still trying to forget, yet like a bad toothache it's never truly gone. “One day, I was walking home late—really late. It was winter, and the streets were empty, just me, the cold, and the dark. And then, I felt them first... Big. Silent. Keeping their distance—but closing in, following me. At first, I thought they were just some creeps, but when I looked back—they weren’t human.” She stops, jaw tightening, like she can still see them in the shadows. “Shrills.”

  “Shrills?” Kain repeats, his voice flat with disbelief.

  “Yeah,” Haley says, nodding grimly. “I didn’t know it at the time, but certain beings are drawn to the energy of a Star bloodline when it starts to awaken. I guess I was glowing like a beacon to them. They cornered me in an alley, and it was clear—there was no way out.” She inhales sharply, her fists clenching. “I could feel the heat in my chest, like I was about to explode. My arms started to shift—scales, claws… I froze.... then, they moved...fast. Too fast. Before I could even scream, they were on me...”

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  Kain’s eyes narrow, his fists instinctively tightening. He could feel the tension in her voice, the weight of those memories. But Haley keeps going, her tone changing from anger to something more reflective.

  “And that’s when my dad showed up. I didn’t even see him at first. One second, I’m panicking, crying and the next, one of the trolls is on the ground, groaning. And there he is—standing between me and them, in his stupid work jacket, looking like he’d been dragged into something he didn’t want to be part of.” She grins at the memory, the nostalgia creeping back into her voice. “Turns out, he wasn’t just a tired office worker. He moved like someone who knew how to fight. Like he’d been doing it his whole life.”

  Kain watches her, still processing her story, but there’s a warmth in his chest. “Your dad… he’s amazing.”

  “Yeah, he was,” Haley says, her voice quieter now. “He didn’t treat me like I was some freak. He taught me how to be strong, how to protect myself. He made me realize that the changes weren’t something to fear—they were something to own.” She looks up at Kain, her grin returning a twinkle of pride in her eyes. “It’s why I don’t back down, even when things get weird. I’ve had to fight my whole life, just to keep going. And now, I’m ready.”

  Kain nods slowly, his gaze softening. “Sounds like you’ve had one hell of a ride.”

  Haley smirked, the corner of her mouth tugging upward. “you have no idea.” she said, her tone carrying a mix of pride and nostalgia. “After that night, he didn’t just save me from those Trolls—he opened up this whole other world I didn’t even know existed. He taught me about the supernatural world, the laws, the balance that holds everything together. And then, get this—he enrolled me in the Celestial Order Institute.”

  Kain raised an eyebrow. “The Celestial Order Institute?”

  “Yeah,” Haley said, her smirk turning into a full grin. “It’s like… think Scholomance but way more badass, and instead of just wands and flying brooms, add martial arts, ancient bloodlines, and learning how to keep the supernatural world from falling apart. Only the best of the best get in, and my dad? He had enough pull to get me through the door. Guess having a Star bloodline didn’t hurt, either.”

  She paused, glancing up at the fading sunlight as the city’s vibrant magical lights began to shimmer around them. “Don’t get me wrong—COI was strict as hell. Classes started before sunrise, and if you weren’t ready to throw down in sparring by six a.m., you were already behind. But even with all that, my mind was blown by what I saw there. You’d walk down a hallway and see Vampires debating philosophy with Faeries, Trolls studying runes next to Wizards, and even a Werewolf professor who taught ethics. It was this insane mix of everything you’d never expect to coexist.”

  Her voice softened slightly, and she glanced at Kain, a rare sincerity shining through her usual playful tone. “And the world, rookie? It’s beautiful. I mean, yeah, there’s chaos, but when you see it all—how delicate the balance is, how everything fits together—it’s impossible not to be in awe. The way magic flows through everything, the way the supernatural and mortal worlds touch but don’t fully collide? It’s like this intricate dance. And we, the ones who know about it, get to be the ones who protect it.”

  Haley flashed him a grin, her cool demeanor returning as she nudged him with her elbow. “So yeah, the world’s wild, it’s dangerous, and it’s more than a little messy, but trust me—it’s worth fighting for. And if you’re lucky, maybe I’ll show you some of the cooler spots. That is, if you can keep up.”

  Kain smirked, shaking his head. “You make it sound like an adventure and a death sentence all rolled into one.”

  “Once again… welcome, rookie,” Haley said with a flourish, her voice laced with amusement. “I promise it’ll never be boring, that’s for sure.”

  For a long moment, neither of them speak. The city buzzes around them, but there’s a shared understanding between them now, a silent camaraderie forged in stories of struggle and strength. Kain takes in a deep breath,

  breathing in the scent of spice and city life. “Well… I gotta say best tour guide ever.”

  Her grin turns sly, eyes glinting with mischief “Yep. Now please leave me a 5-star review on Menlo?”

  Kain laughs.

  as the two of them step into the vibrant streets of The Bazxar, the weight of their pasts settles into place, and the future seems just a little bit clearer.