Clara licked her lips, staring helplessly at the wide array of foods on display—sweet, spicy, savory, and everything in between—topped off by several kegs of ale runed with frost.
She covered her freckled face with her hands.
"I can't decide..." she moaned, turning toward her companions.
Dhalia rolled her eyes.
"Pick one already."
Sophie tried not to laugh at Clara's forlorn expression.
"Just get one of everything. Aren't you training really hard?"
Clara's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Really hard," she agreed earnestly—then promptly began ordering from every booth within reach.
Cane and Fergis split off, scanning the vendors before choosing their favorites.
"Cane!"
Sophie hugged him from behind with one arm, holding a wooden stick with a sticky ball of candy in the other.
"That candy?" Cane asked, turning to return her embrace.
"Yes. It's hot, but really sweet too." Sophie smiled and offered him a taste.
"Sure..." Cane ignored the candy completely, kissing her instead.
"Oh... you're right. That is sweet."
Sophie blushed.
"You are so cheeky sometimes."
Cane grinned without apology.
"Are you heading to the capital again this weekend?"
Sophie nodded, twirling the candy stick.
"Yes. Mum's going too. We're leaving tomorrow with the first merchant caravan. She's so excited."
"She deserves it."
Cane ordered a roasted skewer of meat and vegetables, speared efficiently on a single stick.
"Mum told me to let you know—the orders you put in? She'll have them done before she leaves."
"Perfect."
Cane kept his expression neutral, eating a few bites before tilting his head.
"Want to see something?"
Sophie nodded eagerly.
Cane pulled a heartguard from his storage ring, holding it against his chest.
"Help me fasten this."
Sophie moved behind him, deftly securing the straps in place.
"This is a heartguard?"
"Check this out."
Cane tapped the rune embedded in the center.
He vanished.
Sophie jumped to her feet from the fountain ledge.
"Goodness!"
She waved her hand in front of her—only to bump straight into Cane's invisible shoulder.
All around them, the murmur of the central court faltered into silence.
Clara's eyes went impossibly wide.
She sprinted forward, voice full of desperate hope.
"You made us all one?!"
Cane laughed and turned off the effect, reappearing.
He handed out the rest of the heartguards to eager, outstretched hands.
A blur of movement marked Elohan's sudden return.
"May I see that, Cane?"
Cane nodded and handed his over.
Elohan lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"What I said earlier was a joke.
Unless you really do want to pursue a life of thievery. In which case... I'd be happy to teach you."
Cane laughed, shaking his head.
"No. But thanks for the offer."
"A shame," Elohan muttered, turning the heartguard over in his hands before returning it.
"I bet there isn't a single vault you couldn't open."
He walked off, still muttering to himself.
Cane activated his psi-rune.
Cane: Don't use the heartguards too much before the mission. I brought spare soul gems, but I don't know how long they'll last.
Cane entered his room hours later, slightly dizzy from ale and laughter.
He closed the door behind him, feeling a presence—and starlight bloomed overhead as he equipped Starbolt, immediately immersing into the weapon.
"Come out."
Moriwynn appeared silently, perched on the open window sill.
"Forgive the intrusion," she said calmly. "I understand it is rude to enter without permission."
Cane frowned, slipping the trident away.
"Did you want something, Commander?"
"Is it too much to call me Mori?" she asked.
"A bit, yes," Cane admitted, sitting on the edge of his bed as he pulled off his shoes and robe.
Moriwynn studied him.
"It's not impossible for elves and humans to be friends," she said.
"I have several friends among your race."
Cane snorted softly.
"Do they know that?"
Moriwynn didn't react.
"I could offer you a gift. Or a favor."
Cane raised an eyebrow.
"Are friends purchased, then?"
"No." She shook her head.
"But don't humans do things for their friends?"
"You want something from me." Cane leaned back, studying her.
"It must be related to the metal singer ability."
Moriwynn nodded.
"It wouldn't endanger you.
And I would protect you with my life."
Cane shook his head.
"Like I said... I'm not interested."
Moriwynn looked away, gazing out the window into the night.
"Friendship forms over time, doesn't it?
Perhaps I was pushing too much."
Cane considered it.
"Maybe we can start small."
He glanced toward the window, toward the road beyond.
"There's a caravan leaving for the capital tomorrow.
We don't have a guard company here—never needed one.
But... I worry something might happen."
Moriwynn tilted her head.
"You have friends among them?"
"My girlfriend's parents.
Neither of them are fighters."
Moriwynn smiled faintly.
"Then I will accompany the caravan, unseen. I will ensure they arrive safely."
"And in return?" Cane asked.
She turned back to him.
"Nothing difficult.
Just... call me Mori."
Cane smiled slightly.
"Agreed, Mori."
Moriwynn disappeared into the between, the light bending strangely in her wake.
She reemerged at the rocky coastline, the stars glinting silver above her.
Pulling a small flute from her storage ring, she sat on a boulder and placed it to her lips.
Soft notes drifted out—high and pure—summoning the magic and mana of the night.
Creatures, prey and predator alike, drew near, fearless.
"You still play beautifully, Sister," came a voice.
Elohan stood a short distance away, his own flute in hand.
"Shall I?"
Moriwynn nodded.
And for a while, two flutes sang under the stars.
The song ended... but the magic lingered, reluctant to leave the moonlit shore.
Moriwynn stared out over the black water.
"His eyes glow," she said softly.
"Isn't that amazing?"
Elohan smiled faintly.
"If you dared take him, Telamon would probably destroy our entire family."
Moriwynn's lips curved in a rare, genuine smile.
"I won't do that."
She glanced sideways at him.
"You said our family."
"Slip of the tongue," Elohan replied, bowing lightly.
He turned to leave.
"Take care, Mori."
Moriwynn's smile lingered, gentler now.
"You too, Elohan."
Cane slept soundly, not budging until a soft knock sounded at his door.
"It's open…" he mumbled.
Pudding flapped from his perch swooping out the open window.
Sophie bounded toward the bed, laughing, and landed squarely on top of Cane, who was still half-asleep.
"Morning!"
Cane chuckled, barely feeling her weight.
"You got me."
Sophie kissed his cheek playfully.
"Yep. Gotcha.I was about to see my parents off—you don't have to come if you're tired."
Cane yawned, sitting up despite her clinging to him.
"Nah. I have to pick something up at the tailor shop anyway.
Might as well say goodbye while I'm there."
Sophie perched in the open window, gazing out across the campus as Cane dressed behind her.
"Your view's really nice," she said softly.
"Agreed.
And… done." Cane pulled on his boots and held out his hand.
Without hesitation, Sophie took it.
"I'm a little worried," she admitted as they walked toward the back gate.
"Sometimes there are bandits between here and the capital."
"Nothing to worry about." Cane squeezed her hand gently.
"The bandits are laying low.
There's been too much troop movement lately."
"Really?" Sophie looked up at him.
"I haven't heard anything like that in the reports."
"The reports don't mention everything," Cane said easily.
"After the turnaround at the Scorpion Straits, a lot of naval forces got their first shore leave in a year."
Sophie smiled, her steps slowing as she leaned against him.
"That makes me feel better.
My parents are excited about staying at your estate, you know.
They've been talking about it non-stop."
"They're going to love it." Cane smiled.
"You did a great job setting up their sewing suite.
It'll feel like home."
They stepped onto the boardwalk, the early sun glinting off the six-wagon caravan waiting by the gates.
Four of the wagons bore the Sweetwater insignia.
Lorna waved excitedly when she spotted them, hurrying over to pull them both into hugs.
"I'm so excited!" she said breathlessly.
"And everything's finished with your order, Cane."
She pressed a neatly wrapped parcel into his hands, which he tucked into his storage ring without opening.
"Thanks, Lorna.
Here—" he passed her a folded letter, sealed with wax.
"Give this to Relen, my butler. He'll take care of you when you arrive."
Lorna nodded eagerly.
"I will! See you both soon."
Sophie hugged her mum tightly, whispering a few last words, while Cane stepped aside to hug Dagan.
"Love you guys," Sophie called after them as the Sweetwaters climbed aboard their wagon.
"Be safe!"
Dagan grinned down at them from the seat.
"It's quite the adventure, isn't it?"
Cane smiled.
"You brought tents and enough supplies, right?"
"Everything's packed into the ring you gave us," Dagan assured him.
Cane nodded, then made a slow circle around the wagons, his eyes sharp despite the casual stroll.
Everything looked good—the wheel teams were strong, the guards vigilant.
But as he turned back toward Sophie, he caught it—
a shimmer of an image, perched lightly atop one of the cargo crates.
Moriwynn.
Watching.
Protecting.
Cane allowed himself a small, private smile before turning away without a word.