Kael's mission in Seregon is critical: obtain the latest developments in crystal technology. The Queendom of Lysara, while powerful in its own right, lags behind Seregon in this crucial area, and Kael has been tasked with closing that gap by any means necessary. His contacts have arranged a meeting with an informant from within the city—a figure with access to the inner workings of Seregon's technological advances. However, Kael is not one to take unnecessary risks. Before making contact, he surveys the park, his eyes flicking from one person to the next, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
Unbeknownst to Kael, Captain Marieke de Vries is observing him closely. Disguised as a casual visitor to the park, Marieke blends in with the crowd. Dressed in a simple yet elegant dress, her hair pinned back in a loose bun, she appears to be just another citizen enjoying a leisurely day. But beneath the surface, she is alert, every sense on edge as she follows Kael’s movements. Marieke has been sent by her superiors, despite her usual jurisdiction being far from the Upper District, to uncover who this foreign agent is meeting and what they are after. Her superiors hope that her unfamiliarity with the Upper District will keep her from being recognized, though the risk remains.
As Kael approaches the central pavilion, he senses that he is being watched. He glances casually to his left, where a man sits reading a newspaper on a bench. This man, nondescript in appearance with a plain brown coat and hat, is Kael’s second set of eyes, a shadow meant to blend into the background while keeping an eye out for any unwanted attention. The two exchange a brief, nearly imperceptible nod—everything appears clear, but Kael knows better than to trust appearances entirely.
Marieke, who has positioned herself near a flowerbed within earshot of the pavilion, notices the exchange. She subtly adjusts her position, trying to remain inconspicuous while closing the distance between herself and Kael. Her heart pounds in her chest as she wonders if the man on the bench is watching her, but she doesn’t let her nerves show.
Kael’s informant, a slight man with a nervous demeanor, approaches from the opposite direction. The two men exchange pleasantries as they sit down on a bench, their conversation masked by the ambient noise of the park. Marieke, now just close enough to hear snippets of their conversation, catches words like "crystals," "extraction," and "schematics." Her instincts tell her this is the moment she’s been waiting for.
But just as she edges closer, the man with the newspaper lowers it slightly, revealing his face. For a brief moment, their eyes meet, and Marieke feels a chill run down her spine. She’s been spotted. The man folds his paper, stands, and begins walking towards Kael and the informant, his steps unhurried but purposeful.
Kael, sensing the change in the atmosphere, quickly concludes the conversation with his informant, handing him a small, sealed envelope. The informant, visibly anxious, tucks it into his coat and hurriedly leaves the park. Kael remains seated, his eyes scanning the area, while his associate keeps a wary eye on Marieke.
Realizing she’s been made, Marieke knows she must act quickly. She turns to leave, hoping to slip away before Kael and his shadow can follow. But as she walks, she feels their eyes on her, tracking her movements. She needs to get out of the park and back to her superiors with the little information she has gathered, but escaping unnoticed may prove more difficult than she anticipated.