The streets of Haldrath were unshaken perfection: every stone aligned, every conduit humming with controlled energy. Soldiers marched in precise formation through the city, their footsteps synchronized like clockwork. Above it all loomed the Obelisk of Stability, a towering monument that radiated calm—a stark contrast to the chaos breaking out in the surrounding realms.

Koina Meris stood at the edge of the city square, her dual chakrams resting against her hips. She had arrived early, drawn by the rippling ley line disturbances she’d felt in her homeland. Haldrath wasn’t home, but its orderly structure felt unsettlingly alien.

“This place could use a little less… tension,” she muttered, spinning one chakram absently.

A sudden burst of movement pulled her gaze to the steps of the obelisk. A young woman dashed past, her scarf trailing in the wind as she vaulted over a confused guard.

“Sorry, no time to explain!” Aeris Skylark called, flashing a grin. Her crossbow jostled on her back as she disappeared into the crowd.

Koina blinked, caught between amusement and disbelief. “Well, that’s… something.”

Not far behind, Vera Solari strode toward the obelisk, her tower shield strapped to her arm and her longsword glinting in the sunlight. Her expression was stern as she surveyed the city square, eyes narrowing at the retreating figure of Aeris.

“What’s the rush?” Koina asked, stepping into Vera’s path.

“Security breach,” Vera said curtly, her tone as rigid as her posture. “Someone shouldn’t be here. And I intend to ensure they don’t disrupt the peace.”

Koina raised an eyebrow, spinning one of her chakrams. “Seems like peace is already fraying at the edges. You here for the ley lines too?”

Vera hesitated, then nodded. “The instability has spread across realms. If it reaches Haldrath, even this city’s structure won’t hold.”

“Then maybe chasing people isn’t the best use of time,” Koina said lightly, earning a sharp glare from Vera.

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From above, a rumbling sound drew their attention. A massive platform—a training ground for Haldrath’s soldiers—began to collapse, its conduits sparking violently. The crowd scattered, screams filling the square.

“Finally, some action,” Kael Drakos said, his voice tinged with amusement as he leapt down from a nearby rooftop. His axes gleamed as he landed beside the two women, his grin wild.

Vera instinctively raised her shield. “Who are you?”

Kael shrugged, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the chaos. “Just a guy who likes to see what breaks under pressure. You’re welcome for the assist, by the way.”

Koina stepped between them, holding up a hand. “Let’s focus, maybe?”

Above the crumbling platform, a figure emerged, walking with deliberate calm. Calia Ardent’s rapier glinted in the fractured light as she surveyed the chaos below. Her analytical gaze darted between the conduits, her lips tightening as she calculated the damage.

She called down, her voice clear. “The platform’s collapse is tied to the ley line network. If it isn’t stabilized, the energy will cascade into the city’s core.”

“And you know this how?” Kael asked, smirking.

Calia descended carefully, her expression unamused. “Because I don’t guess. The patterns are obvious if you look closely.”

Kael chuckled. “Sounds boring.”

Vera crossed her arms, studying Calia. “You’re not from Haldrath.”

“No,” Calia said curtly. “But I can solve this. Can you?”

As the group reluctantly began working together to clear debris and stabilize the platform’s conduits, a new sound cut through the chaos—a low hum emanating from the obelisk. The crowd quieted as a figure stepped forward: Elder Vardis, his staff glowing faintly as he raised it toward the obelisk.

“The ley lines are calling you here,” he said, his voice resonant. “Haldrath has stood as a bastion of stability for decades, but even its strength cannot hold against the fractures spreading through the realms.”

He turned his piercing gaze on the group. “Each of you has felt the pull of the instability. It is no accident you are here now.”

Aeris reappeared, leaning casually against a nearby wall. “Great. So we’re part of some big cosmic plan? That’s not ominous at all.”

Vardis smiled faintly. “Not cosmic. Practical. The ley lines require unity, harmony, and strength. Qualities you all possess in your own ways.”

“Unity?” Vera asked skeptically, glancing at Kael and Aeris. “That seems… unlikely.”

“Likely or not,” Vardis said, his tone firm, “it is necessary. The ley line disturbances are leading to Zephyros. If they are not stabilized, freedom itself will unravel into chaos.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the task sinking in. Koina stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

Vardis nodded. “Then go. Haldrath’s ley lines remain steady—for now. But Zephyros needs you.”

As the group departed, their unease lingered. The fractured ley lines had brought them together, but their differences threatened to pull them apart.