The gates of Everspring creaked open as Aurelith approached. Golden sunlight spilled through the entrance, illuminating a gathering of familiar faces that made her heart swell. Aelindor stood at the forefront, his silver hair catg the light. Beside him, the vilge advisors clustered together while Thalindor's beard twitched with barely taiement.

  Her boots ched on the gravel path as she crossed the threshold. Despite the exhaustion that weighed on her limbs, a smile tugged at her lips. Dried demon blood still g to her armor, and her quiver hung nearly empty at her side.

  "I'm back." Aurelith's voice carried across the courtyard, met with grins and knowing looks from her weling party.

  "And in one piece, ss." Thalindor stepped forward, his eyes already assessing the state of her equipment. "Though that armor's seeer days."

  "Wele home, Aurelith." Aelindor's warm tone washed over her like a healing balm. He gestured toward the vilge hall. "I trust you have much to tell us."

  The group fell into step around her as they made their way through the vilge. Lira appeared at her side, pressing a water skin into her hands. "Drink first, talk ter."

  The familiar wooden doors of the vilge hall swung open, revealing the circur chamber within. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, dang across the carved wooden table where they ducted their most importaings.

  As they settled into their seats, Aurelith felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. Here, surrounded by those who had bee her family, she could finally share the weight of what she'd discovered.

  "Now then," Aelindor leaned forward in his chair, "tell us everything."

  Aurelith spread her field maps across the wooden table, pointing to the marked locations.

  "The first site showed signs of a skirmish - broken arrows, blood trails, and scorch marks from magical attacks. But what caught my attentiohese." She traced her finger along the sketched patterns.

  "Corruption markings, spreading in a spiral pattern from where the demons fell. The trees around that area had started to b, their leaves witherie being in season."

  She moved to the sed location on the map. "Here, the corruption was more pronouhe demon's presence had turhe soil ashen gray. The vegetation showed signs of decay extending about twenty feet in every dire. What's ing is how the corruption seemed to pulse - like it was alive, spreading through the root systems."

  Aelindor leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "And the third site?"

  "That's where I entered three demons." Aurelith pulled out a detailed sketch. "The corruption there was different. Instead of spreading outward, it trated in specific patterns." She id out her drawings of the markings. "These symbols appeared where the demons died. They matt texts about demon summoning rituals, but they're inplete - like fragments of a rger design."

  She poio specific details in her sketches. "The trees hese markings didn't just die - they transformed. The bark turned bd crystalline, and the brawisted in unnatural angles. Even the air felt wrong, heavier, as if the corruption was seeping into the very essence of the forest."

  "In all three locations, I found these recurring patterns." Aurelith arranged her sketches to show the simirities.

  "They're not random. The demons are leaving these marks deliberately, possibly preparing for something rger. The corruption spreads faster in areas with more magical energy, and it seems to be drawn to ley lines."

  Her firaced the path betweehree sites. "The spag between these locations isn't random either. They form aeral triangle, with each poily seven leagues apart. Whatever they're pnning, these positions were chosen with purpose."

  Aelorin's fingers drummed against the wooden table. "Tell us about the demons you entered. Their formations, their behavior."

  Aurelith traced the battle site on her map. "Three demons total. Two bde dancers carried corrupted steel longswords - the metal had turned bck with veins of sickly purple running through it. They crouched by a makeshift camp, tearing into what looked like deer meat."

  Her nose wri the memory. "The third, an archer, stood apart from them he treeline."

  She sketched quick marks on the part. "The archer focused on carving corruption markings into the trees and ground. Each stroke of their bde left trails of dark energy that seeped into the bark."

  "How did you ehem?" Aelorin leaned forward, her warrior's mind already analyzing the tactical situation.

  The archer posed the biggest threat with their corruption-spreading ritual, so Aurelith prioritized eliminating them first. She moved like a shadow through the dense underbrush, her turies of forest training evident in each silent step.

  When she finally had clear sight of the archer's exposed neck, she struck with lethal precision. Her ented dagger sliced through corrupted flesh with a whisper, and she caught the demon's body before it could crumple noisily to the ground.

  She shifted the worn map slightly, her eyes flickering with the memory.

  "The sword demons hadn't noticed their panion's death at first but somehow learned about it just moments ter. but by that time I was already nog an arrow, eling wind magito its shaft - the specialized kind that creates violent micro-turbulence around the arrowhead. When it struck the first dancer's neck, the wind magic shredded through muscle and bone like leaves in a storm. Not even their corrupted armor could withstand the focused destru."

  The advisors exged g the mention of her wind enhaeique - a rare skill that had taken her decades to master.

  "The st demon charged at me with its bde." Aurelith traced her finger across the map, recreating the battle se. "I had no choice but to meet it head-on."

  Her voice remaieady as she described infusing her entire body with wind magic, pushing it to its absolute limits. The magic coursed through her muscles and boransf her movements into something beyond mortal capability.

  The demon's corrupted bdes whistled through empty air as she darted past its defenses, her daggers finding vital points with surgical precision.

  The room fell into a heavy silence. Aurelith gnced up from her map, puzzled by the sudden tension. Even Aelindor's usual calm demeanor had shifted to something mrave.

  Nimroth cleared his throat. "And what happened when you pushed wind enhao such extremes? This was your first time, wasn't it?"

  "Oh, that." Aurelith shrugged. "All the muscles in my legs tore. But Elena's healing potion worked perfectly - good as new within hours."

  "That expins the blood on ygings," Aelorin poio the dark stains visible beh the tears in her armor.

  A chill ran down Aurelith's spine as she registered the shift in atmosphere. Every advisor, from Nimroth to Aelorin, fixed her with inteares. Even Aelindor's usually warm gaze had turned sharp and critical. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as their collective disapproval bore into her.

  She'd faced demons with less trepidation than she felt uheir bined gres. The realization slowly dawned on her - perhaps treating such a serious injury so casually hadn't been the wisest choice.

  "I had to push myself because…" Aurelith's words were cut short by Aelorin smming her palm oable.

  "Reckless! Absolutely reckless!" Aelorin's eyes bzed. "I taught you better than to destroy your own body like that. What if the healing potion hadn't worked? What if there had been more demons?"

  "But I calcuted the risks…"

  "Calcuted?" Aelindor's voice carried a sharp edge she'd rarely heard. "There was nothing calcuted about tearing ys apart. You could have been stranded out there, alone."

  Cadwen's lips curled into a sneer. "And here I thought you were actually intelligent. Seems I overestimated you."

  "The wind enhaeique isn't meant for full-body application," Nimroth's schorly tone carried disappoi. "The magical theory alone should have told you…"

  "I uand the theory," Aurelith straightened her spine. "But in that moment…"

  "In that moment you chose to gamble with your life," Thalorin cut in, his deep voice rumbling with . "What good are you to anyone if you're dead?"

  "Listen, I…"

  "No, you listen," Aelorin's voice rose. "This isn't about your skill or your power. This is about your plete disregard for your own safety!"

  Each attempt at expnation only fueled their s, their voices overpping in a cresdo of worry and disappoi. Aurelith's shoulders slumped lower with each rebuke, the weight of their words pressing down on her.

  Finally, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry. You're right - it was reckless. I should have found another way." Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "It won't happen again."

  The tension in the room shifted as Thalorin stroked his beard, his eyes softening. "Lass, you're the you advisor Everspring has ever had. Book knowledge isn't the same as battlefield experience."

  "He's right," Aelorin crossed her arms. "Reading about demon bat and fag one are worlds apart. Your tactical mind is sharp, but theory only take you so far."

  Aurelith's shoulders dropped further. "I uand. My as were born of inexperience. I apologize for causing everyone such worry."

  "What did you learn from this enter?" Nimroth leaned forward, his schorly i piqued.

  "The wind enhaeique..." Aurelith's eyes fixed oable.

  "I pushed it beyond its limits because I pahe texts mentioned demons' superior strength and speed, but experieng it firsthand..." She shook her head.

  "Instead of adapting my strategy, I resorted to brute force. The damage to my legs could have left me defenseless if there had been more enemies."

  Aelorin nodded. "And?"

  "I should have maintained distance, used the terrain to my advahe forest offered plenty of cover fuerril tactics." Aurelith's firaced the battle map. "My arrows and wind magic would have been more effective fre. Instead, I engaged in close bat and nearly crippled myself."

  The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, dust motes dang in the golden beams.

  Aelindor's voice broke through the quiet, warm and relieved. "We're all gd you made it home safe, Aurelith."

  Aurelith wiped her face with her sleeve, attempting tain her posure. "Well, at least I brought bae demon parts for study. Though they're probably not as intact as…" Her voice cracked, and tears spilled down her cheeks. She pressed her palms against her eyes, but the dam had broken. Years of pressure, to be perfect, of pushing herself beyond limits, came p out in quiet sobs.

  "Now look what you've done, Aelindor." Thalorin's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You made the poor ss cry."

  "What? But I…" Aelindor's silver brows furrowed in fusion.

  "Such a stern father figure." Aelorin shook her head, fighting back a smile. "Making your daughter cry in front of everyone."

  "That's not…" Aelindor's protests were cut short by Nimroth's theatrical sigh.

  "And here I thought you were the gentle one among us." Nimroth clicked his tongue.

  "You all scolded her just as much as I did!" Aelindor's ears reddened. "Why am I suddenly the vilin?"

  Thalorin stroked his beard. "Ah, but you're the father figure. That makes it worse."

  Even through her tears, Aurelith couldn't help but ugh at Aelindor's flustered expression. The sound came out as a half-sob, half-giggle that set the other advisors chug.

  Aelindor let out a long-suffering sigh and rose from his chair. He walked over to Aurelith and pced a gentle hand on her head, just as he had done tless times since she was a child.

  "Good job ing home safe," he said softly. "Just... try not to worry your old man so muext time."

  As the situation subsided, Cadwen cleared his throat, determio lighten the mood further. "Well, at least she didn't end up like that demon who walked into a bar." He paused for dramatic effect. "He got a splitting headache."

  The room fell into dead silence. Aurelith wiped away the st of her tears to stare at him in disbelief. Thalorin's beard twitched as he struggled to maintain his posure.

  "By the arees," Aelorin pihe bridge of her hat was terrible."

  "What? It's because demons split into…" Cadwen's attempt to expin his joke only made it worse.

  "Please stop," Nimroth held up his hand. "You're making my ears hurt."

  Thalorin burst into deep, rumbling ughter. "Lad, stick to your books. edy isn't your strong suit."

  "I thought it was rather..." Cadwen's deferailed off as the entire room erupted in ughter.

  "If you keep this up, you'll bee the vilge jester instead of an advisor," Aelindor's eyes kled with mirth.

  "Remember wheried to make that jest about the ented scroll st month?" Aelorin wiped tears from her eyes. "Even the apprentices were embarrassed for him."

  Cadwen's ears turned bright red as his colleagues tio roast his attempts at humor. Even Aurelith, who moments ago had been g, now clutched her sides with ughter.

  "At least I'm trying to…" Cadwen started.

  "No, please don't try anymore," Nimroth cut him off, shoulders shaking. "We only handle so much sedhand embarrassment in one day."

  As the ughter faded from the chamber, Aurelith reached into her ented poud spread the demon remains across the table. The corrupted items cast an eerie purple glow across the wooden surface.

  "I collected everything I could." She arrahe spes methodically. "The ons still pulse with dark energy, and the corruption hasn't faded even after death."

  Aelorin picked up one of the bed bdes, the bow and some arrows, her keeudying the purple veins that ran through the metal.

  "The craftsmanship is unlike anything I've seen. These weren't fed by human hands." She gathered the ments and pieces of corrupted armor.

  "I'll analyze their position iraining grounds."

  Cadwen's attention fixed on the ses of tree trunk bearing the demon's markings. His firaced the air above the corrupted symbols, careful not to make tabsp;

  "These patterns... they're simir to a demonic texts, but the structure is different." He collected the marked pieces, already lost in schorly ption.

  "The bodies are remarkably intact." Nimroth leaned over the demon remains. "The corruptioo have preserved them somehow." He ed the spes in protective cloth befathering them. "This will help us uand their physiology better."

  Thaloried several samples of corrupted vegetation - tree bark, grass, and soil. "The spread pattern here could tell us how their magic affects the natural world."

  "Good." Aelindor rose from his chair. "I want everyoo iigate their findings thhly. We'll revene once you've had time to study the evidence." His silver hair caught the sunlight as he surveyed his advisors. "This information could be crucial to uanding what we're fag."

  * * *

  After the samples were distributed, Aurelith turo Aelindor. "What news did I miss during my iigation?"

  Thalorin straightened in his chair. "We sent word to Seraphine about accepting the alliahe messenger returned with this." He pulled out an echoshard from his robes, its crystalline surface gleaming in the chamber's light.

  "Shortly after the messenger's return, we received our first unication." Thalorihe crystal oable. "Seraphine expressed her joy at finding, in her words, 'a reliable ally for the cause.'"

  The room fell into an uneasy silence. Aurelith's gaze darted between the faces of her fellow advisors, noting their tense expressions.

  "Why do I feel there's more to this message?" Her fingers drummed against the wooden table.

  Aelindor's silver hair caught the light as he leaned forward. "Listen carefully." He activated the echoshard with a geouch.

  Seraphine's voice filled the chamber, clear and measured, each word carrying the weight of diplomatisideration: "In light of our new alliance, I have a proposal. Your advisor, Aurelith, shows remarkable potential. Her reputation for strategic brilliance has not gone unnoticed, even from afar. We at Stonehold would wele her presence here, where she could gain invaluable experience w directly, not under but, with our forces. The challenges we face against the demon armies could be greatly from her unique perspective. sider this an open invitation for her to join us."

  The crystal's resonance gave her words an almost ethereal quality, hanging in the air like autumn leaves caught in a gentle breeze.

  The crystal's glow faded, leaving Aurelith staring at the now-dormant echoshard. Her golden-brown eyes widened, flecks of red and e swirling in their depths as she processed the ued offer.

  "She wants me to go to Stonehold?" Aurelith's voice came out barely above a whisper.

  The chamber fell into a heavy sileer Seraphine's message faded. Aelindor's face remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on the echoshard.

  Thalorin broke the quiet first, his voice carrying the measured tone of diplomatisideration. "This could be an invaluable experience for you, Aurelith. W directly with Stonehold's forces would broaden your uanding of military tactics beyond our forest borders."

  "Indeed." Nimroth's schorly demeanhtened. "Such practical exposure might help el that... enthusiasm of yours into more calcuted approaches. Perhaps then we won't have to worry about you fag three demons alone."

  Aelorin nodded, her practiature showing through. "Books and training only teauch. In Stonehold, you'll get hands-on experieh everything we've taught you. The dwarven military structure alone would be worth studying."

  The room turo Aelindor, who finally lifted his gaze to meet Aurelith's. "The choice remains yours, but sider this - if you still pn to cim yhtful position, su alliance could prove crucial." His voice softened. "Though as yuardian, I must warn you - the journey ahead holds great dahink carefully before you decide."

  Cadwen's face twisted into a smirk as he crossed his arms. "No matter how hard you struggle or how many demons you defeat single-handedly, I'll bee chief before you. Your reckless as only prove you're not fit for leadership."

  Aurelith's face sparkled with amusement. "Oh? And here I thought your nose ermaly stu those dusty tomes. How will you lead from behind a mountain of books?"

  "At least I know the value of knowledge over blind a." Cadwen's fiightened around his sleeves. "Unlike someone who charges into battle without…"

  "It's time, Cadwen." Aelindor's voice cut through their bickering. "There's something you o know."

  Aurelith's eyes widened, her pyful demeanor vanishing. "Must he? Chief, I…"

  "He should know." Thalorin's ge firm voice supported Aelindor's decision. "It's been long enough."

  Aelindor leaned forward, his silver hair catg the light. "Cadwen, listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you must never leave this room." He paused, his gaze intense. "Aurelith is the princess of Emberveil."

  Cadwen's smirk froze on his face, then slowly melted away as the weight of Aelindor's words sank in.

  Cadwen's eyes darted from face to face around the chamber, seeking firmation. One by ohe advisors nodded solemnly. His face drained of color as the reality of the situation crashed over him like a tidal wave.

  "The princess of... but that means..." His normally eloquent speech fragmented into broken phrases. The schor's hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the table. "All this time?"

  Memories flooded his mind - every snide ent, every dismissive gesture, every petitive jab he'd thrown at Aurelith over the decades. His face cycled through a spectrum of emotions: shock, disbelief, horror, shame. The blood drained from his features as each recolle hit harder tha.

  "I called you..." His voice cracked. "Last month, I said your strategiing was fit for a vilge idiot." He ran his hands through his hair, tugging at the strands in distress. "Two months ago, I pared your archery skills to a blind troll's."

  Cadwen slumped in his chair, his usual posed demeanor shattered. "By the arees, I told the princess of Emberveil to go stuff her head in a beehive."

  His eyes grew wide with mounting horror. "The jokes about your heritage... I said you must have been raised by squirrels because no elf could be that scattered..." Each memory seemed to physically pain him, making him sink lower in his seat.

  The proud schor looked like a man who'd just discovered he'd been juggling dragon eggs - the magnitude of his past as crushing down on him with devastating crity. His face flushed deep red, then pale, then red again as he remembered every iion through this new lens.

  "Why wasn't I told?" He whispered, his voice barely audible. "All these years..."

  A smirk pyed across Aurelith's lips as she watched Cadwen's meltdown. "Now this is something for the history books. The great schor of Everspring, reduced to a stammering mess." She leaned ba her chair, sav the moment. "Should I make notes? Dot this rare occurrence for future geions?"

  Cadwen's face cycled through another shade of red.

  "Oh, how the mighty have fallen." Aurelith's face sparkled with mischief. "Remember st spring when you said my battle tactics belonged in a children's fairytale? I wonder what ems of wisdom you've bestowed upon your future queen."

  "Aurelith." Aelindor's voice carried a note of warning, but she pressed on.

  "Wait, wasn't it you who suggested I'd have better luck herding cats than leading missions? The irony is just..." She gestured expansively, "...delicious."

  "That's enough." Aelindor's firm to through her amusement. He turo Cadwen, who looked ready to sink through the floor. "We kept this from you for a reason. The fewer people who knew Aurelith's true identity, the safer she would be. The demons who destroyed Emberveil still hunt for her."

  "The knowledge of her heritage was shared only with those who o know - myself, Thalorin, and a select few others who were present when she arrived." Aelindor's silver hair caught the light as he leaned forward. "Your rivalry with her, though sometimes problematic, helped maintain her cover. No one would suspect a princess would engage in such... spirited debates with an advisor."

  Cadwen's mouth opened and closed several times, but no words emerged. The revetion had effectively silehe usually verbose schor.

  Thalorin's diplomatic demeanor softened as he addressed Cadwen. "You were exactly what she needed - a fresh graduate from Aurora's Grace Academy, specializing in iigation tactics. Your passion for knowledge, your dedication to books... it made you the perfect mentor."

  "Perfect might be stretg it." Nimroth's eyes kled with amusement. "But your academic achievements were impressive. Your research methods and analytical skills provided a foundation Aurelith desperately needed."

  Aelori out a shh. "Even if you 't hold a bow straight to save your life, your thirst for knowledge is unmatched. The way you devour books like they're your st meal - it's both impressive and slightly ing."

  "The cil saportunity." Thalestured between them. "Someone closer to Aurelith's age, someone who could show her the power of knowledge firsthand."

  Aurelith's expression softened as she looked at her longtime rival. "I didn't like the idea at first. Being paired with someone who seemed to exist solely to challenge everything I did?" She shook her head, auburn hair catg the light. "But they were right. Your drive pushed me to be better, to think deeper, to questiohing."

  She met Cadwen's stunned gaze. "I feel terrible for using you like this, but I couldn't refuse such a golden opportunity. Your rivalry forced me to grow in ways I never expected." She paused, firag patterns on the wooden table. "Even if you were insufferably smug about it most of the time."

  Cadwen sat there, processing this new information, his world view shifting like leaves in an autumn wind. The realization that his role in Aurelith's life had been carefully orchestrated from the beginni him speechless - a rare occurrence for the verbose schor.

  Cadwen rose from his chair, his shoulders squared despite the visible tension in his frame. "Yhness, I must apologize for my past behavior. The things I said were…"

  "Stop." Aurelith lifted her hand, cutting through his formal tone. "If you start treating me like some delicate royal flower, I'll stuff your precious books down the hollow tree."

  "But the things I said…"

  "Were exactly what I needed." Aurelith's golden-brown eyes fixed on him.

  "I'll accept your apology on one dition - you keep treating me exactly as you have been. No bowing, no 'Yhness,' no walking on eggshells."

  Cadwen blinked rapidly, processing her words. "You wao tinue insulting you?"

  "Well, someone o keep my ego in check." Her lips curved into a smile. "Though perhaps y off the jokes about Emberveil. Those hit a bit too close to home."

  Color returo Cadwen's face as he straightened.

  "I... uand. You have my word - I'll never mock Emberveil or its legacy again." He paused, a hint of his usual fideurning.

  "But your strategiing still needs work."

  "And your archery still looks like a drunk squirrel trying to dance." Aurelith's eyes sparkled with mischief. "At least the squirrel might occasionally hit its target."

  Laughter echoed through the chamber as Aurelith and Cadwen traded their familiar barbs, the tension from earlier revetions dissolving into the fortable rhythm of their usual banter. Even Aelindor's stoic demeanor cracked, a smile pying at the ers of his mouth.

  "Since you two seem to have found your footing again," Aelindor's eyes twinkled, "Cadwen, would you be ied in w more closely with Aurelith? The position is open."

  Cadwen's mouth fell open, his quick wit failing him for the sed time that day.

  "You're one of the resources I o achieve my goals," Aurelith said seriously despite her earlier pyfulness.

  "Your knowledge, your research skills - they're invaluable."

  "What exactly are you pnning?" Cadwen's voice carried a mix of curiosity and caution.

  Aurelith's spiraightened, her bearing suddenly every inch the princess she was born to be. "I pn to retake Emberveil aore it to its flory. It won't be quick - we're looking at decades of work - but if you're ied, there's a pce for you in this endeavor."

  Cadwen's eyes wideo the size of dies, his usual eloquence deserting him once again.

  Nimroth and Aelorin exged knowing grins. "Look at that," Nimroth chuckled, "we've finally found something that leaves our resident schor speechless. Three times in one day - that must be some sort of record."

  "Give him time," Aelorin added with a smirk. "His brain's probably still processing the fact that he's been iently training the future queen of Emberveil all these years."

  "Of course," Aurelith nodded, amusement dang in her eyes. "Take all the time you need, Cadwen. Though preferably before the tury rolls around."

  Aelindor's silver hair caught the evening light as he surveyed the room. "Is there anything else we o address?"

  "Yes, about thees you entered." Thalorin leaned forward. "They mentioned a demon among them?"

  Aurelith's features gleamed.

  "The demon thought it blended in perfectly. But its movements were too precise, too calcuted. Nee stumbling through the forest moves like that."

  "How did you ha?" Aelorin's i peaked.

  "I watched it from the moment the group approached. When the right moment came, I struck." Aurelith's firaced an invisible line across her neck. "One cut betweehird and fourth vertebrae. Its head came off before it realized I knew what it was."

  Nimroth's eyebrows shot up. "You severed its spihout alerting the others?"

  "Actually, I cut its head off in front of everyone," Aurelith corrected, her auburn hair catg the fading light. "The refugees o uand the danger. Demons are gettier at mimig appearances - they had to see it with their own eyes."

  Nimroth leaned forward. "And?"

  "They were furious at first. Called me a murderer." Aurelith's lips curved into a wry smile. "But when the head rolled and the gmour faded, revealing those obsidian eyes and scaled skin... well, their tune ged rather quickly."

  "The refugees thanked me afterward. Said they'd never have known until it was too te." She shrugged. "Sometimes the harsh truth is better than fortable ignorance."

  "Brilliant," Aelorin nodded approvingly. "Not just eliminating the threat, but turning it into a teag moment. That's the kind of thinking we need."

  Nimroth's eyes sparkled with pride. "Using the situation to educate others about demon infiltration tactics - that's exactly what I'd expect from my best student."

  Aelindor rose from his chair, his silver hair gleaming in the dying light. "I believe we've covered everything for today." His gaze softened as he looked at Aurelith. "Get some rest. You've ear. And take some time to sider Seraphine's offer - Stonehold could provide valuable experience."

  The other advisors stood, gathering their materials. Each paused to address Aurelith on their way out.

  "Sleep well," Thalorin smiled warmly.

  "Don't fet to think about Stonehold," Nimroth added.

  "Rest up," Aelorin csped her shoulder. "You'll need your strength for whatever es ."

  * * *

  I stepped out of the vilge hall, my muscles ag from the loing. The market's familiar bustle ed around me, a wele ge from the temosphere inside.

  A all caught my eye - one of the refugees from Stonehold had set up shop, the aroma of freshly baked pies drawing curious ers.

  The woman behind the ter looked up as I approached. Her weathered face broke into a warm smile. "Advisor Aurelith! We heard about your return."

  "How are you settling in?" I leaned against her wooden ter, taking in the rows of golden-crusted pies.

  "Better than we could've hoped. The people here..." She wiped her hands on her apron. "They've been so kind. Here-" She ed one of her pies in cloth. "Fing us safely to Everspring."

  "Oh, I couldn't-"

  "Please, I insist." She pressed the ackage into my hands.

  Before I could protest further, the wine mert two stalls down called out. "Lady Aurelith! A drink for our brave advisor?" He held up a bottle of amber liquid.

  The fruit vendor joined in, fresh juice. Soon I found myself den with gifts - the unity's way of showing gratitude for my safe return.

  "Thank you, all of you." My throat tighte their generosity.

  I found a spot under an old oak tree, its leaves casting dang shadows on the ground. The pie's crust crumbled perfectly, revealing savory meat aables inside. I alternated between sips of wine and juice, letting the market's peaceful atmosphere wash over me.

  Once finished, I gathered my things and headed toward Elena's shop. The gifts had lifted my spirits more than I'd expected - sometimes it was easy tet that behind all the strategy meetings and bat reports, there were real people whose lives we were proteg.

  I pushed open the door to Elena's shop, the familiar tingle of magical wards washing over my skin. The bell chimed, and Elena's head snapped up from her workbench. Her eyes lit up like a child during the harvest festival.

  "You're back! Did y me anything?" She practically bounced around her ter, knog over a few empty vials in her excitement.

  I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Actually..." I reached into my pad pulled out the carefully ed demon remains. "I found something rather unique during my mission."

  Elena's eyes widened as I uned the package. The demon scales caught the afternoon light streaming through her window, their surface shiftiween deep purple and midnight blue.

  "These scales..." I traced oh my finger. "They're different from any demon I've entered before. The iridesce remained even after death."

  "Fasating!" Elena pulled on her wloves and lifted one of the scales closer to her face. "The crystalliructure appears to be maintaining its magical properties despite cellur breakdown." She grabbed her magnifying gss from her workbench. "And you say this came from the demons you entered?"

  "Yes, but be careful. The body's already deposing."

  Elena waved off my , already s through her colle of preservation jars.

  "Please, I've handled worse. Remember that rotting troll liver from st spring?" She effitly began preparing the spe for study, her movements precise and practiced.

  "This could provide valuable insights into demon physiology. Thank you, Aurelith."

  "Just promise you'll share your findings with me?"

  "Of course! Though you might regret asking when I start rambling about cellur structures and magical resoterns."

  I caught Elena staring at me with that familiar glint in her eyes - the ohat spelled trouble. A shiver ran down my spine as her lips curved into a mischievous smile.

  "No. Don't tell me-"

  "It's experiment time!" Elena cpped her hands together.

  "Not another potion experiment." I backed away from her workbench. "Remember what happe time? My skin turned blue for a week."

  "But this one's different!" She rummaged through her shelves, pulling out a small crystal vial filled with shimmering liquid. "I've perfected the formu."

  "Elena..."

  "Please?" She batted her eyes at me. "You're the only orust with my experimental potions."

  I crossed my arms. "That's because everyone else knows better."

  "Just oiny drop?"

  Those pleading eyes. I'd faced down demons with less difficulty thaing Elena's enthusiasm. My shoulders slumped i.

  "Fine. What's it supposed to do?"

  Elena bounced ooes. "It promotes hair growth! If it works, we could help all those poor dwarves who lost their beards in fe acts."

  "Well..." I touched my hair. "At least if it goes wrong, I just cut it."

  "Perfect! Hold still." Elena uncorked the vial, carefully tilting it to get a single drop.

  Her hand slipped.

  "Elena, wait-"

  The drop nded squarely on my left eyebrow. We both froze, staring at each other in horror.

  "That... wasn't supposed to happen." Elena's voice came out in a squeak.

  My left eyebrow tihen it started growing. And growing. And growing.

  "Elena!" I swatted at the hair now dangling in front of my eye. "Do something!"

  "Don't panic!" Elena grabbed scissors from her workbench. "I'll fix this!"

  The eyebrow hair reached my , the extending. Elena lunged forward with the scissors.

  "St to cut it!" I batted her hands away. "With this growth speed, there's no end! Find an antidote!"

  "But it's growing so fast-"

  "An antidote! Why are y to cut instead of finding something to stop this?"

  Elena froze mid-snip, scissors h in the air. "ht. Why didn't I think of that?"

  "ELENA!"

  She jumped at my scream, dropping the scissors. "Sorry! Sorry!"

  The eyebrow now reached my waist, a curtain of dark hair obsg half my vision. Elena scrambled to her shelves, knog over bottles in her haste.

  "It has to be here somewhere..." She rummaged through various potions, muttering to herself. "No, not the strength potion... definitely not the fire resistance..."

  "Hurry up!" The hair was now pooling at my feet.

  "Found it!" Elena snatched a small blue bottle from the back of her highest shelf. "This should teract the growth formu!"

  I reached for the bottle, but my newly-grown eyebrow had tangled around my arm. "Just give me the antidote before I trip over my own eyebrow!"

  Elena burst into ughter, doubling over as she held the antidote. "I'm sorry, I just- your face- and the eyebrow-"

  "This isn't funny!" I swatted at the still-growing hair. "Give me that bottle!"

  She wiped tears from her eyes and uncorked the vial. The liquid inside looked... wrong. Greenish-brown and viscous, it g to the sides of the bottle like old honey gone bad. My stomach tur the sight.

  "Elena, that looks terrible."

  "Trust me, this is defihe antidote." She dipped a finger in, and the substaretched betweetle and her hand in sticky strings. "I know it looks... unusual, but it'll work!"

  My eyebrow had reached the floor and started coiling around my feet. The weight of it pulled at my forehead. "Are you absolutely certain?"

  "Would I give you something dangerous?" She paused. "Don't ahat."

  The hair grew another foot while I debated. At this rate, I'd need a cart just to carry my eyebrow around Everspring.

  "Fine." I closed my eyes and tilted my head. "Just do it."

  Elena's fiouched my eyebrow, spreading the cold, slimy substance along its length. It felt like slugs crawling ay skin. I suppressed a shudder.

  "There!" Elena stepped back. "Noait."

  I cracked one eye open. The endless stream of hair had finally stopped growing. Relief flooded through me until I noticed Elena's expression.

  "Why are you making that face?"

  "What face?" She tried to look i. "I'm not making any face."

  "Elena..."

  "Well..." She twisted her hands together. "The good news is your eyebrow stopped growing."

  "And the bad news?"

  "The antidote might take a few hours to... reverse the growth," Elena said, wringing her hands nervously. "Maybe three or four. Six at most."

  "'t we just cut it?" I gathered the endless stream of hair in my hands. "This is ridiculous. I 't walk around looking like I'm wearing half a curtain on my face."

  Elena shook her head, her eyes sparkling with that dangerous curiosity I'd e to fear. "There's no guarantee what might happehe reversal kicks in. The hair could grow back wrong, or-" She bounced ooes.

  "Actually, it might be fasating to see the effects! Think about it - if we cut it now, we could observe how the magic redistributes itself."

  "Elena." I narrowed my eyes. "You're not using my eyebrow for another experiment."

  "But what if it grows ba spirals? Or ges color?" She leaned closer, examining the still-excessive length. "The worst case is you'll end up with no hair on your left eyebrow."

  "No hair- Elena!"

  "Which would also be iing to dot!" She grabbed her notebook. "We could track the regrowth patterns-"

  "Absolutely not." I dropped the mass of hair, letting it pool around my feet. "I'm not risking a bald eyebrow for your research."

  "Fine." She pouted, setting down her quill. "But you're missing out on a unique opportunity fical study."

  "I'll survive the disappoi." I slumped against her workbench. "How long did you say this would take?"

  I stared at the pile of eyebrow hair around my feet, my stomach sinking. The auburn strands formed a small mountain of silk-like threads that practically mocked me. "A few hours?" My voice came out higher than intended.

  "But hey, at least it's not still growing!" Elena backed away from my gre, bumping into her workbend rattling several gss vials. She gave a weak ugh.

  "Maybe we could braid it? You know, make the best of the situation? I hear eyebrow braids are quite fashionable in some circles..."

  "ELENA!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, my patience finally snapping. The fory shout made the nearby dles flicker, and I could feel my face burning with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

  I slumped in Elena's worher chair, watg my refle in her brass mirror as my eyebrow slowly retracted. The mountain of hair on the floor shrank with each passing miil finally, mercifully, my eyebrow returo its normal length.

  Elena srying to tain her ughter. "You should have seen your face when it first started growing."

  "I'm esting your potions again." I shot her a dark look.

  "Oh e on, you looked like a very fused cat with all that hair in your face." She doubled over, shoulders shaking. "Remember when you tried to drink your tea and got a mouthful of eyebrow instead?"

  "That's not-" I tried to maintain my stern expression, but Elena's iious ughter cracked my resolve. The er of my mouth twitched. "It wasn't that funny."

  "It absolutely was." She wiped tears from her eyes. "And the way you kept tripping over it? Priceless."

  Despite my best efforts, a chuckle escaped. "Fine. Maybe it was a little amusing."

  "There's the smile I was looking for!" Elena rummaged through her shelves. "Here, I have something for you - and no, it's not another experimental potion."

  She pulled out a small crystal vial filled with pale golden liquid. "Lavender and ile oil. For your muscles after that long journey. Just add a few drops to your bath."

  The oil caught the afternoon light, tiny sparkles dang within. I took the vial, unc it to catch its soothing st.

  "Thank you, Elena." I tucked the vial into my pocket. "Though I'm still not testing any more of your potions."

  "We'll see about that." She grinned. "I have this fasating new formu I'm w on-"

  "No."

  "But-"

  "Absolutely not."

  * * *

  The st of coal and hot metal greeted me as I pushed open the heavy wooden door to Thalindor's fe. The dwarf stood by his workbench, his silver-streaked beard ly braided and his leather apron already covered in soot despite the early hour.

  "I wondered when you'd show up." His eyes kled at the ers.

  "Miss me already? We just saw each other this m." I set my ons on his bench. "Thanks for cheg o the gate, by the way. Though I think Elena's potion was worse than any demon wound."

  He let out a belly ugh that shook his whole frame. "How's that eyebrow doing?"

  "Back to normal, thank the stars." I touched it self-sciously. "But I'd rather face three more demons tha another of her experiments."

  "Speaking of demons." He picked up my bow, running his calloused fingers along its length. "How'd my babies perform?"

  "Like a dream." I unstrapped my armor. "The draw weight is perfeow, and the ring sang true with every shot. The armor..." I gestured to my blood-stained leggings. "Well, it kept me alive."

  "Aye, I see you've added some iing red detailing." He squi the dried blood. "Not quite the color scheme I had in mind when I crafted it."

  "What I say? I'm an artist at heart."

  Thalindor snorted and began examining each piece of equipment with meticulous care. His thick firaced every scratd dent, making small sounds of disapproval at particurly deep marks.

  "You really put these through their paces, ss." He held up my dagger to the light. "Though I suppose that's what they're for."

  "There's something else I o ask you about." I shifted my weight, wing at the lingering pain in my legs. "Remember that wind magic teique we discussed st month?"

  Thalindor's bushy eyebrows shot up. "The one I specifically told you was too risky without proper prote?"

  "I might have used it." I traced the fresh scratches on my armor, feeling the rough edges beh my fiips.

  "I faced a situation where if I didn't use it, the demon might have overwhelmed me, and I couldn't let that happen. Not when others were ting on me. So I eled the wind to unch myself forward, just like we discussed."

  "By the fe!" He smmed his hammer down with such force that the tools on his workbench rattled. "Show me ys. Now."

  I rolled up my leggings, wing at the tender flesh as I revealed the purple-bck bruising that spread ay calves and thighs like spilled ink.

  "The impact was... more intehan I expected. The force propelled me faster than any arrow I've ever shot, but the nding-" I gestured at the mottled skin. Though Elena's potions had worked their usual miracles and I could roperly now, the damage wasn't pletely gohe memory of that bone-jarring impact still made me shudder.

  "Nearly shattered your bones, I'd wager." He prodded the bruises with expert fingers, his touch gentle despite his gruff demeanor. Each press made me bite back a winbsp;

  "You're lucky you're still walking, ss. Damned lucky."

  "That's why I'm here." I met his ed gaze steadily. "Is there a way to reinforce the armor? Something to absorb that kind of impact if I o use that teique again? Because we both know there will be a ime."

  Thalindor stroked his beard, his eyes taking on that distant look he got when solving plex engineering problems.

  "Could yer the greaves with reinforced padding, maybe incorporate some shock-abs runes. But ss, even the fi armor has limits."

  "I know, but having the option could mean the differeween life ah. Not just for me, but for others too."

  "Hmph." He pulled out a worher notebook and begag. "I might have an idea. Remember those a Emberveil texts yht me st year? There was something about impact-resistant entments.

  bined with some dwarvealwork principles..." His pencil flew across the page. "It'll take time, and resources we don't have much of, but-"

  "Whatever it costs, I'll cover it." The mention of Emberveil texts made my heart skip, but I kept my voice steady.

  "Thank you, Thalindor. Your improvements have saved my life more times than I t." I traced the sketches in his notebook, admiring the intricate rune work.

  "Just promise me ohing." He set down his pencil and fixed me with a stern look.

  "Train properly before you try that wind teique again. I've seen too many young warriors rush into mastering advanced skills without proper preparation. Don't let yerness outpace your abilities."

  "I promise." I pressed my hand to my heart. "No more improvising with ued teiques."

  "Good." He nodded, satisfied. "Now, what's this I hear about Seraphine inviting you to Stonehold?"

  "Word travels fast." I leaned against his workbench. "She wants to colborate on iigating the increased demon activity in Stonehold. What do you think? Should I accept?"

  Thalindor wiped his hands on a cloth, leaving streaks of coal dust. "If I were in your boots? I'd accept without hesitation."

  "Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "Even with all the risks?"

  "Think about it, ss. What's there to lose? You're already iigating the demons. Having Stonehold's resources and information at your disposal would only help." He picked up a hammer, testing its weight.

  "And Seraphine didn't ask you to work for her - she asked you to work with her. That's a crucial difference."

  "But we trust them?"

  "Trust is earhrough a, not words." He set the hammer down with a solid thunk. "This could be the first step toward building that trust. Besides, Stonehold's smiths have access to materials and teiques we only dream of here. The potential bes far outweigh the risks."

  "Thank you, Thalindor. Your advice means more than you know." I pushed myself off the workbench, my muscles protesting the movement. "Though if I do accept Seraphine's invitation to Stonehold, you might regret being so encing."

  "Oh?" His thick eyebrows lifted. "And why's that?"

  "You know how Stonehold's warriors are." I gestured to my ons id out on his bench. "Ohey see your craftsmanship, the requests will pour in faster tha a dwarve. Every fighter will want their ow."

  A slow grin spread across Thalindor's face, his eyes twinkling with unmistakable pride and anticipation. "Bring them here. Every st one of them."

  "You sure about that? You're already sed with work for Everspring."

  "Lass, do you know how long it's been since I've had a proper challenge?" He patted his fe with affe. "Besides, showing those Stonehold smiths what a 'humble vilge bcksmith' do? Worth every sleepless night."

  "I'll let you know once I've made my decision." I gathered my ons, careful not to aggravate my bruises. "Though something tells me you're already pnning improvements to your fe."

  His only response was anrin as I headed for the door, the familiar st of coal aal followi into the air.

  The marketpce bustled with its usual m energy, but I spotted Lira's silver hair easily among the crowd. She lounged against a fruit stall, haggling with the mert over a basket of apples.

  "Three silver for these? They're barely bigger than as." Lira held up one of the fruits, turning it in the sunlight.

  "Save your breath," I called out. "Old Finn never budges on his prices."

  Lira's face lit up. "Look who finally emerged from Thalindor's smoke den." She tossed a to the mert and pocketed tles. "Want to grab a drink? The tavern's quiet this time of day."

  We made our way to The Dang Pines, our usual haunt. The tavern smelled of fresh-baked bread and pine smoke, with m light streaming through the windows. We cimed our favorite er table, away fr ears.

  "So," Lira bit into her apple, "what's on your mind? You've got that look."

  "What look?"

  "The one where you're pnning something that'll probably get us into trouble." She slid the sed apple across the table. "Spill it."

  I caught the fruit a aside. "Seraphine invited me to Stonehold. To help iigate their demon problem."

  "Stonehold?" Lira's eyes widened. "The dwarven stronghold? That's... ued."

  "Want to e with me?" I traced the wood grain oable. "Could use someoo watch my back. Plus, you've always wao see their famous archery ranges."

  "Their underground archery ranges, you mean." Lira wrinkled her nose. "How do they even practi those caves?"

  "They use special crystals fhting. Or so I've heard." I leaned forward. "e on, when's the st time we had a real adventure?"

  "You mean besides your solo demon-hunting expedition that had the whole vilge in an uproar?" She raised an eyebrow. "The one you're still sp bruises from?"

  "That was different. This would be official business. Diplomatic, even."

  "You? Diplomatic?" Lira snorted. "Now I have to e, if only to see that."

  "I knew you'd e around." I gri Lira. "The look on those dwarven faces when we show up - priceless."

  "Speaking of showing up." Lira leaned ba her chair, taking another bite of her apple. "Those bruises on your foot look nasty. What exactly happened out there?"

  I pulled up my leggings, revealing the mottled purple skin. "Remember that wind enhaeique that I've been w on? Well, I might have pushed it too far."

  "Show me." Her eyes lit up with curiosity.

  I held out my hand, letting a small whirlwind dance ay palm. "It's like pressing a tornado into your muscles. Makes you faster, stronger, but the nding..." I winced. "Let's just say I need more practice."

  "You should talk to Nimroth about this. He'd love to help refi. And cure those faster."

  "That's the pn, after we finish here." I took a sip of water. "Though first I o figure out what to call it. 't keep saying 'that wind thing that almost broke my legs.'"

  Lira's eyes sparkled with mischief. "How about 'The Graceful Face-palm'?"

  "Very funny." I rolled my eyes. "What about 'Storm Surge'?"

  "Too basic. 'Whirlwind Sprint'?"

  "'Hurrie Steps'?"

  We traded increasingly ridiculous names bad forth between bites of food.

  "'The Flying Squirrel'?"

  "'Wind's Embrace'?"

  "'Tornado Tango'?"

  Finally, I sat up straighter. "'Gale Force'" The name felt right on my tongue, capturing both the porecision of the teique.

  "That's... actually perfect." Lira nodded approvingly. "Though I still think 'The Graceful Face-palm' had potential."

  "It's amazing, you know" Lira leaned forward, her silver hair catg the afternoon light. "Creating your own magic skill from scratch? Most mages speuries just masteriing spells."

  I shrugged, rotating my wrist to dispel the lingering wind currents.

  Lira whistled low. "From basid spells to Gale Force. That's quite the journey." She raised her cup. "To persistend probably a lot of broken bones along the way."

  "More than I care to t," I ked my cup against hers. "But worth every moment."

  By the time Lira and I finished our meal, the sun started deing lower from the mid point. She grabbed the st bite of her apple and flicked the core into a nearby waste bin.

  "Try not to break any more bones while practig yale Force,'" she said, rising from her seat. "A me know when you want to head to Stonehold. I ime to polish my arrows - 't let those dwarven archers think we're amateurs."

  "I'll send word once I've sorted things out with Nimroth." I stood, suppressing a wince as my legs protested. "Thanks for Lunch."

  "What are friends for?" She waved and disappeared into the crowd.

  I made my way through Everspring's winding paths toward Nimroth's tower. The old structure rose above the treetops, its weather-worn stones covered in creeping vines.

  The door to Nimroth's study creaked open before I could knock. Books and scrolls covered every surface, and the air smelled of ink and old part. The mage himself stood at his desk, his silver hair tied back as he studied an aext.

  "I was w when you'd visit." He didn't look up from his work. "Elena told me about your... creative application of wind magic. I didn't expect you to actually use it in battle."

  "I had to." I approached his desk, careful not to disturb the precariously baowers of books.

  Nimroth let out a heavy sigh, his eyes fixed on my legs. "How are they?"

  "Elena's potions worked their usual magic, but..." I shifted my weight. "The damage hasn't pletely faded."

  "Show me."

  I rolled up my leggings, revealing the mottled bruises. Nimroth k down, his weathered hands h over the injured areas. Warm healing magic flowed from his palms, seeping into my ag muscles.

  "What are your pns now?" His magic pulsed steadily as he worked.

  "I want to master Gale Force before heading to Stonehold. or at the least, improve it."

  His hands paused. "So you're actually going there?"

  "Yes, I've decided. And Lira's ing with me."

  A smile tugged at his lips. "Well, with Lira around, I suppose you'll be fine. Doubt anyone will try c you or slipping something in your drink this time."

  "Will you stop treating me like a child?" Heat crept up my neck. "That was decades ago."

  "Oh? Shall we discuss the time you tried impressing that mert's son with your archery skills and shot your own hat off instead?"

  "That was different-"

  "Or perhaps when you attempted to charm that visiting dignitary but actally shred his ceremonial robes with your wind magic?"

  My face burned hotter. "I was still learning wind magic-"

  "A's not fet the infamous dang i at the annual festival."

  "Nimroth!"

  He chuckled, clearly enjoying my disfort. "What about that time you tried brewing your own healing potion and turned your hair green for a month?"

  I buried my fa my hands, uo stop the blush spreading ay cheeks. "Are you done?"

  Nimroth's ughter finally subsided, though his eyes still sparkled with mischief. He pulled back his hands from my legs, the warmth of his healing magic fading.

  "There, that should do it." He stood, joints creaking as he made his way to a cluttered shelf. His fingers danced over dozens of gss vials until he found what he wanted - a small bottle filled with swirling blue liquid. "Rest tonight and drink this before you sleep. You'll be healed pletely by dawn."

  I took the vial, watg the tents shimmer in the mplight. "Thank you, Nimroth. Not just for this, but for everything. I wouldn't have made it this far without yuidance."

  "Save the se for someone who hasn't seen you trip over your own wind currents." But his voice held warmth, and he squeezed my shoulder with familiar affe. "Now go rest those legs before you find some new way to injure yourself."

  I pocketed the vial and headed for the door, pausing only to dodge a floating stack of books that drifted past. "Good night, Nimroth."

  * * *

  I set down my bags of ingredients o ter and began preparing dihe familiar motions of choppiables and seasoni helped ease the tension in my shoulders. Soon, the aroma of herbs and roasted meat filled my small home.

  While the stew simmered, I headed to the bathroom and poured Elena's healing oil into the stoub. Steam rose as hot water mixed with the oil, carrying the st of vender and mountain herbs. I sank into the warm water, letting out a long breath as my muscles began to rex.

  The smooth stone walls reflected the soft dlelight as I leaned back, mind drifting to the problems at hand. The wards needed improvement - knowing something crossed them wasn't enough anymore.

  We o know what and how many. Perhaps bining wind ah magic could create a more detailed dete system? The wind could traent patterns while earth magic could sense weight and numbers.

  My thoughts shifted to Seraphihe human ander had shown wisdom in handling the demon infiltrator. What gift would be appropriate? Something practical yet meaningful...

  The water rippled as I adjusted my position, sidering how to better trol Gale Force. The teique's raas incredible, but the toll on my body was too high.

  I o find a way to el the wind currents more effitly, maybe start with smaller bursts before attempting full-body enha.

  My legs still ached from the earlier strain, reminding me of the work ahead. I'd have to begin training at dawn, fog on precise trol rather than pure speed.

  The smell of dinner wafting in from the kit told me it was time to get out of the bath. I reached for a towel, my mind still turning over ward modifications and trainihods.

  I id out the spread on my wooden table - herb-crusted venison, roasted root vegetables, and fresh bread from the market. The hearty aroma made my stomach growl. After the past few days, a proper meal was exactly what I needed.

  Between bites of tender meat, my hand brushed against the ring on my finger, reminding me of the demon archer's arrows stored ihe crystalline shafts had an unusual position - not quite iot quite stone.

  Nimroth would want to examihem. The demon's longsword was ioo, its bde wickedly sharp despite its crude appearance.

  "At least something good came from that fight," I muttered, sopping up the st of the gravy with a piece of bread.

  The medie Nimroth gave me sat on the ter, its green liquid swirling with golden specks. I uncorked the vial and dow in one gulp, grimag at the bitter taste. But the effect was immediate - warmth spread through my limbs, easing the lingering soreness from using Gale Force.

  My eyelids grew heavy as the medie took hold. I ed my dishes, leaving them to dry on the rack, then made my way to bed. The soft sheets weled me as I sank into their embrace. For once, sleep came easily, without the usual weight of responsibilities keeping me awake.