Raven Mistgale's Arc

Chapter 1 of 6

Raven Mistgale pressed her wrinkled hands against the ancient stone wall of the old library. The City of the Black Flame had many secrets, but none called to her like the forbidden alchemy texts hidden somewhere in these dusty halls. She needed them. Her life's work depended on mastering their knowledge. The cold stone offered no answers. She pulled back and studied the dim corridor. Years of searching had led nowhere. The texts weren't here. Someone had moved them long ago. But where? A merchant in the marketplace had whispered about a manor on the city's edge. Black scales covered its walls like dragon skin. Glowing runes marked the entrance, warning away the curious. Raven gripped her walking stick and made her way through the narrow streets. The manor rose before her as evening fell. Dark and massive, it loomed against the sky. The scales reflected the last rays of sunlight. Orange runes pulsed above the door. Her heart raced. This was it. The forbidden texts waited inside. She stepped forward and placed her palm against the carved door. It was time to claim what she'd searched for all these years. The door swung inward without a sound. Raven stepped into a vast entrance hall. Candles flickered in iron holders along the walls. The air smelled of old parchment and sulfur. She moved deeper into the manor, her stick tapping against stone floors. Each room held shelves lined with bottles and ancient instruments. But no texts. Her chest tightened. Had the merchant lied? Then she saw it through an archway. A wooden cart sat in the center of a large chamber. Black wood carved with raven designs. Iron wheels. The sides folded down to display rows of bottles and rolled scrolls. She approached slowly and picked up one of the scrolls. Her fingers trembled as she unrolled it. The symbols were unmistakable. Forbidden alchemy. She had found them at last. Raven gathered three scrolls from the cart and tucked them into her leather bag. She turned to leave but stopped. A slate board stood against the wall, carved with more raven designs. Papers were pinned to its surface. She stepped closer and read the notices. Offers for rare ingredients. Warnings about city guards. One page mentioned book trades happening near the eastern gate. Her lips curved into a smile. This manor wasn't just a hiding place. It was a meeting point for others like her. People who studied what the city forbade. She pulled down the notice about the book trades and slipped it into her bag with the scrolls. Tomorrow she would visit the eastern gate. But tonight, she would begin her real work. The forbidden texts would finally reveal their secrets.