Suddenly, she felt two warm hands on her shoulders, and Einar appeared before her.

"Easy now. It's just a dream," he soothed.

Severa took a deep breath. Just a dream. The sun was rising, painting the sky in shades of red. Her gaze drifted toward the green light on the horizon. It was less vivid in the growing daylight, but it had spread further. They were closer now.

Einar leaned his head toward hers, trying to catch her eye. "Good morning, Captain Veneficii," he teased. "I hope you weren't dreaming about me."

Severa shook her head, and Einar removed his hands from her shoulders.

He hesitated for a moment. "What was it about?"

Severa bit her lip. She wanted to tell him the truth, though she wasn't sure why. Either way, it wouldn't work in her favor. If he didn't believe her, he might brand her as a keeper of lore, like so many others had. What if he had ulterior motives, just as they did?

If he did believe her, he might hate her—for unleashing the evil she could have left chained. Perhaps they should turn back immediately. Whatever that woman wanted, Severa couldn't let her have the chance.

"Well?" Einar's questioning gaze lingered.

"A pyroraptor," she replied, hoping he'd accept the excuse. But he looked unconvinced.

"So, it was about me," he nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I thought as much. I mean, I am a gem of a man. Polite, charming, your steadfast rock. Irresistibly attractive, really. And yet you remain so aloof, as if you..."

Severa raised an eyebrow. The conversation wasn't going in the direction she'd hoped.

"...fear me! You still think I'm really a pyroraptor," he chuckled, slapping his thigh. "Queen Veneficii is afraid of me!"

"I am not!" Severa protested, though she couldn't help wondering what he meant when he claimed to descend from a pyroraptor.

"Oh, really?" Einar darted forward, placing a hand over her heart and pushing her back slightly. The boat rocked violently, and he grinned. "Then why's your heart racing?"

Severa felt her cheeks burn as she shoved Einar off her. "Because an Ósköp is about to throw me into the water, and I can't swim," she retorted as coolly as possible. "Besides, you've given me nothing but vague stories. A moment ago, you thought you were irresistible. Do you think I can take you seriously?"

Einar retreated to his seat, crossing his arms in mock indignation. "Hmph. I haven't lied to you, you know. Here, let me prove it." He undid his shirt completely, proudly displaying his smooth chest.

Severa flushed and quickly looked away. "I prefer men with hair," she blurted defensively.

Einar burst into laughter. It took him a moment to recover, and Severa felt uncomfortably self-conscious. She briefly considered pushing him overboard, but the risk of falling in herself kept her rooted.

"I meant my scars," he said through a chuckle, running his fingers over a faint pattern of dark, dry skin. It was a burn mark that resembled scales.

Severa raised an eyebrow. "Wow, so you survived a pyroraptor attack. Yup, that makes you definitely linked to the creature forever," she scoffed.

Einar shook his head. "I wasn't attacked," he said, buttoning his shirt. "I wondered about the scar for years. I only understood when it was too late. My lost memories came rushing back after I left Brimsjá. My father didn't raise me; my mother did, and that pyroraptor."

For a moment, he smiled, as though fond memories were flashing in his mind. Then his gaze turned somber as he looked to the horizon.

"I think my father stole me from my mother because he knew the pyroraptor would come for me someday. He knew I was that creature's weakness."

Einar sighed wistfully. "I wanted to discover who I was. I hoped to be a heroic prince, like in the forbidden library's stories. I thought I was meant to fight raptors. But when I saw what they were doing to the poor creature, I realized that if I had wanted to be a hero, I should've saved it."

"Enough," Severa grumbled. "That dreadful raptor reduced everyone I knew to ashes. Even my mother was killed by one."

"They poured oil over it; it couldn't help itself!" Einar argued passionately. He quickly fell silent, staring at his lap.

"I get it," he mumbled eventually. "This world has twisted all our perspectives. Only the keeper of lores seem to see a way out." He hesitated. "Are...you a keeper of lore?"

Severa laughed derisively. "As much as you're a pyroraptor."

He grinned, but his expression fell again, disappointment evident.

Severa pulled an apple from her pocket and took a large bite. "Why are you looking for keepers or lore?" she asked, chewing.

Einar's gaze turned dreamy but tinged with sadness. "I thought they might know how to banish evil for good. To bring back the days of fairy tales, where those with good hearts triumphed."

Severa nearly choked on her apple from laughing. "You wanted to save the world from evil and instead set it on fire," she wheezed.

Einar crossed his arms, grinning despite the hint of pain in his eyes. Guilt pricked at Severa, but only slightly. "And I'll starve to death while you choke on our food supply," he shot back as Severa coughed up the apple.

She tossed him one, partly in apology. "Eat up. We'll probably be dead before we starve."

Einar shot her an indignant look but set the apple aside and resumed rowing. "Why do you think that? That green light is getting closer. We'll make it."

Severa took a deep breath. "You might be right about that light," she admitted.

Einar pulled the oars from the water, squinting toward the horizon. "Did you see what was in that temple?"

Severa bit her lip, trying to maintain her casual, unshaken demeanor. "I released it," she said curtly.