It was the crack of dawn. Aren reached for his clothes on the small nightstand as soon as he woke up. Every movement he made was silent. Victoria was still asleep, her breathing calm and peaceful, tightly wrapped in the comfort of her blanket. Aren took a long, deliberate look at her, as if wanting to etch the image into his memory. He paused for a moment, trying to suppress the unease gnawing at him. "I promised you…I'll come back."
Aren left the manor. The cool morning air greeted him as he stepped outside and began walking. For about twenty minutes, he made his way through the cobblestone paths of the island. Eventually, he reached the city's busiest and most bustling district. Here, almost everyone had one thing in common: they were Vex users. For most, their Vex abilities were tools to simplify life and indulge in comfort. Yet, ambition gleamed in their eyes—a collective yearning to climb higher and earn more wealth.