Ryn woke to a dull ache in his chest. His satchel was still warm, like the map inside had never slept.
He tried to convince himself he was just tired. That the events of yesterday were over.
But the city disagreed.
Outside, the square was cordoned off. Yellow tape fluttered in the wind, and town guards muttered to each other as they repaired cracked stones and lifted fallen carts.
Ryn froze.
He'd been hoping no one would remember. Hoping his panic and inexperience would vanish with the sunrise.
It hadn't.
A small crowd had gathered, whispering, pointing, shaking their heads. Children peeked curiously through gaps between adults.
Great.
Ryn lowered his gaze, pretending to tie his boots.
A sharp tap on his shoulder made him jump.
"Finally," Kael said, arms crossed, eyes scanning the square like he could read its pain. "You really know how to make an entrance, you know that?"
Ryn gritted his teeth. "I didn't..."
"You did," Kael interrupted. "And now the guild doesn't have the luxury of pretending your training mistakes are… mistakes. The council is talking about it."
Ryn felt his stomach drop. "Talking about what?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Disciplinary action. Restrictions. Maybe suspension. And you're the reason the east gate is half gone."
Ryn's head spun. "East gate?!"
Kael snorted. "Yeah. The one you practically drew into collapse with a hill. Congratulations."
Ryn wanted to protest, to argue that the anomaly hadn't followed the lines exactly. That maps had minds of their own. But he didn't. He just stared at the cracked stone, feeling smaller than he ever had.
I can't mess this up again, he thought, heart hammering. I can't.
Inside the Guild, Master Elara awaited. Her arms were crossed, eyes sharp as obsidian.
"You understand the consequences of your actions, Ryn?" she asked.
Ryn swallowed. "I… think so."
"That is not enough."
She gestured at the maps surrounding the hall. "Maps are not forgiving. Neither are the streets. Neither are the people. Every misstep has a cost. You learned yesterday, but lessons are expensive."
Ryn's throat tightened. He wanted to speak, to say he was ready, but the words tangled in his mouth.
"You will take responsibility," Elara continued. "You will rebuild part of the square. Under supervision. Every stone you damaged, every cart you displaced, you will restore, or worse will happen."
Ryn nodded mutely.
Kael smirked from across the hall. "Guess you're learning humility," he said softly, though the smirk didn't reach his eyes.
Ryn glared, but his stomach twisted in agreement. He was learning humility. In the worst way possible.
That afternoon, Ryn knelt in the square, chiseling cracked stones with hands that blistered quickly. Sweat ran down his forehead, mingling with dirt and ink stains.
He worked in silence. Not because anyone asked him to, but because he couldn't face Kael's amused gaze if he slacked off.
I almost leveled the square, he muttered under his breath. And all I can do is fix it.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Kael watching.
"You'll be faster if you stop thinking so much," Kael said casually.
"I am thinking too much," Ryn admitted. "I almost killed people yesterday. Not thinking enough isn't exactly..."
"Exactly," Kael interrupted, grinning faintly. "So… maybe slow down, maybe speed up, maybe… just stop panicking all the time."
Ryn huffed, ignoring him, but a small laugh escaped despite himself. He's trying, he thought. Somehow, he's trying.
By evening, Ryn's hands ached, and the repaired square didn't look perfect, but it was stable.
Master Elara approached, inspecting his work. She didn't smile, but there was a faint approval in her eyes.
"You are learning," she said. "But learning under pressure is not the same as mastery. There will be consequences for the rogue cartographer who watches you. And soon, you will not have the guild between you and disaster."
Ryn swallowed hard. "I… understand."
Kael's voice came from behind her. "You'll be fine. Mostly."
Ryn blinked. "Mostly?"
Kael smirked again, just faintly this time. "Don't worry. You're… less hopeless than I thought."
Ryn glared again, but his stomach warmed slightly. Less hopeless. That was… progress.
That night, alone in his room, Ryn traced the edges of the map in his satchel.
It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat he could feel through the skin of his fingers.
I'm responsible now, he thought. Not just for the guild, not just for the square… maybe for everything the maps touch.
And somewhere, far away, a quill moved across a blank page with a hand that didn't tremble.
Ryn Elowen, it seemed to whisper. You're on my radar now.