Valdar – Kingdom of Thrandel – Year 985
Hyran stopped in his tracks. A tearing sound came from his head. Suddenly, his eyes reshaped. Vida tilted her head at him in blinking in confusion.
His gaze locked on the same single spot in the sky. His pupils widened until they almost filled his eyes—dark circles rimmed with a faint golden glow, like an owl ready to strike at night.
But this time, his sharp vision found nothing.
Impossible! My senses never fail me.
something's off.
He lowered his head, scanning the street—wooden huts, mud-brick stalls, hands carrying bread, indifferent eyes.
Then his eyes snapped back to normal, leaving his body tense and his senses scrambled.
He growled as he exhaled, nostrils flaring. Vida leaned closer, worry on her face.
"Hyran…"
But his mind kept racing.
Damn it… I'm sure I saw something!
Her hand reached out, trembling, and touched his arm. Her voice was rising.
"Hyran… Hyran!"
He flinched as if under attack, eyes wide, and yanked his arm, knocking Vida to the ground in front of passing strangers.
His face froze; panic cracked his voice:
"Vida?… I—I'm sorry!"
He rushed to her, scooping her up in his huge arms like a baby. He leaned in too close, his monstrous face near hers, his voice hoarse:
"Are you hurt? I—I didn't mean to!"
Her body was stiff in his grasp, eyes shut tight. Sweat slid down her temples despite the cold. Her breath came sharp and uneven.
"Vida! where does it hurt?"
Her shaky lips moved with effort, her voice trembling:
"You… too close… put me down."
He set her on her feet right away, stepping back, his huge hand half-raised, then stopping midair. His eyes narrowed, pained.
A heavy silence pressed between them. Vida's breathing slowed as his gaze searched her for any sign of injury.
She raised her hands to her chest, held them there for a moment, then lowered them slowly.
Gently, with a long exhale, she clasped his raised hand between her own and pressed it down.
"Don't worry… I'm fine. It's just…" She swallowed. "…I panic when someone's face gets too close."
Her words tumbled out, nervous:
"Of course… It's not about your face scares me—"
He interrupted with a deep sigh.
"Damn it, Vida… I thought you were hurt."
She leaned forward slightly, voice soft:
"No, Hyran. I'm fine. I was just… worried about you. You don't seem like yourself."
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a faint, bitter glint.
"You're too kind… Don't waste it on me. For a moment, I thought I saw something."
He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Forget it… Let's just walk."
Vida glanced down at her dress, her breath still shaky.
"But… my clothes… they're dirty. Can we go back for a quick change?"
He shook his head, voice rough:
"That's on me. No need to go back. There's a shop nearby—I'll get you another dress."
Her cheeks reddened; she turned away, stumbling over her words:
"Wha—no, Hyran, you don't need to—"
He cut her off, his massive hand covering hers as he pulled her forward a step.
Her eyes widened, a tear glinting at the corner. She looked down at his fury hand holding hers… and a small smile broke on her lips as they walked on together.
******
(Two months later)
Evandriel Inn - Valdar - Kingdom of Thrandel - Year 985
At crimson sunset, the smell of stew and fresh bread lingered in the air, shadows stretching across the courtyard like claws of night.
Hyran and Zarius sat cross-legged on a rough mat by the inn's gate. Hyran gulped from his jug, his heavy chest rising and falling with a growl.
"Such a shame… our betting game might end today. That fucking witch got her strength back."
Zarius cracked a seed with his teeth and spat the shell onto the ground. A lazy grin tugged at his lips.
"Boring. Just look at those abs… disgustingly perfect."
He raised his clay flask, took a long swig, then shouted across the yard, half-joking, half-serious:
"Hey, Moriana! Don't you dare fail—my money's on you!"
Vida arrived with a tray of pies. She placed it on the mat, her smile soft as she sat in the corner, hugging her knees.
"Even with all this nonsense… seeing you both like this again puts me at ease"
"Shut up!" Hyran and Zarius barked in unison. Vida smiled so wide her eyes shut, curling up with her knees to her chest.
In the middle of the yard, Moriana appeared. Sweat glistened on her brow, her tight training clothes clinging to her body—not for show, but for freedom of movement.
She paused, breathing deep, then started stretching—thighs, back, shoulders. Her body bending with sharp precision, like a bow pulled to its limit.
A sharp, flirty whistle cut the air. Yulia leaned over, smirking.
"You should've shown off that ass a long time ago."
She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, set one hand on her hip, and tugged at the fabric with the other.
"Ugh, these clothes feel awful… though I have to admit, they stretch like crazy."
"Finally building muscle, huh? Good. You used to be nothing but a spoiled brat leaning on Exim," Yulia said, twirling her pen, and flicked her gaze at Gord.
He sat a few meters away, hand brushing his sword hilt, eyes blank.
"Enjoying the view from over there, Gord?"
Two seconds passed before he even looked her way. His voice was ice-cold, flat:
"Did you say something, Yulia?"
She slapped her hand to her forehead, tilting her head back with fake drama.
"Ah, my bad... Forgot you're just a castrated creep."
Then she turned away and walked to the corner of the yard. She pulled a sticky patch from her pocket, pressed it to the wall, and fixed her pen to it, its tip jutting forward.
Then she returned to where Moriana was standing and stood beside her, speaking while her breath came a little faster:
"Alright, Mori. The target is simple… I want you to release a very small burst of Skarnex Exim through the pen's tip…"
She pointed with her finger toward the pen and continued:
"You just need to hit the ink cartridge — no scratches on the pen, no damage to the nib. clear?"
She turned toward Moriana, her face showing some fatigue, her mouth slightly open:
"Take your time and prepare well."
Vida's eyes widened in shock, and her voice came out as a hesitant whisper:
"Only the ink cartridge… is that even possible?"
Meanwhile Moriana glanced back and forth in astonishment between the pen and Yulia, then stammered:
"Wait… Yuli… you are joking, right? I can't even lock onto the pen's tip from here with my sight! Are you ser—"
Yulia cut her off, pressing her index finger against Moriana's lips:
"Hurry up, it's getting dark — you won't be able to do it once the light's gone."
Her eyes widened as she stared seriously into Moriana's face, her voice sharp.
"Stop whining like a bitch… in your current state, something like this is nothing to you."
Moriana's head pulled back, both arms before her face like a shield.
"Fine, fine! Just move back a little… that bitter herb smell is all over you!"
Yulia stepped back and sat beside her, watching intently. Moriana stared at her for a moment, then turned back toward the pen's tip.
Sorry, Yuli but...
I can't stand hearing your heavy, breathing anymore.
Hyran suddenly rose, his massive body stiffening.
"That little zombie… is she planning to keep us stuck in Valdar forever?!"
Zarius closed his eyes, a confident smirk tugging at his lips."I don't think so, Hyran. Sorry, but looks like I'm winning again."
Moriana took a deep breath and closed her eyes, gathering her focus. The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze all at once.
Gord rose to his feet., alert, his eyes fixed without a blink.
At the back, Hyran's golden gaze tightened, his heavy fingers trembling as his fist clenched, muttering to himself:
Wh– She's...
Moriana opened her eyes faintly, locking onto the pen's tip. She slowly raised her right hand, pressed her thumb to her forefinger, then snapped her thumb with a faint crack.
The burst shot out slowly, invisible to everyone.
Zarius straightened with a scowl twisted in anger:
"This isn't the time for jokes... We're seeing nothing!"
Moriana ignored everything around her, her thoughts whispering inwardly:
The flowing Exim is part of the Handler's own being."I can trace and sense what it touches and what it nears.
I'll guide it slowly toward the pen untiI can slip it through.
The burst danced around the pen, circling its surface without striking, searching for its way inside.
No opening here.
No. No. pull back a little.
Maybe I need to go lower, just a bit.
Moriana persisted until, for a fraction of a second, she finally sensed an opening for the burst to pass through.
She narrowed her eyes, her focus burning, and screamed inside her head:
Found it!…
Now!