Raelyn approached the massive gate in the outer wall of Ardesco. The gates, towering and formidable, stood wide open as they always had. There was no need to close them—peace had reigned in Kaiswen for years. The magic barrier created by the ancient wizards had kept the borders safe, and there had been no threat to the land in her lifetime. The wooden gates were carved with mysterious symbols, marks she couldn't read, but they seemed to pulse with an ancient energy as she passed beneath them.

She entered the courtyard—a wide, open space where trees of all kinds grew in a circle around a small herb garden at its center. The air here was alive with the scent of rosemary, thyme, and lavender, mingling with the fresh earthiness of the soil. Raelyn paused for a moment, breathing deeply. The peaceful fragrance of nature was a rare comfort. Her busy days at Ardesco rarely allowed her such moments of stillness.

With a sigh, she continued across the courtyard, her soft leather boots barely making a sound on the stone pathway, and entered the castle.

Inside, the halls of Ardesco were grand but narrow, their high ceilings echoing every step Raelyn took. The sound of her boots clicking sharply against the cold tiles bounced off the stone walls, reverberating in the silence of the empty corridors. 

She reached the kitchen, a cacophony of activity: cooks shouting orders, maids rushing in and out with trays, the sizzle of pots on the stove. Raelyn knew better than to get in their way. She waited by the counter, eyes downcast, until the head chef handed her a steaming plate, the rich aroma of roasted meat and fresh vegetables making her stomach growl in spite of herself. She mumbled her thanks, already eager to leave the frenzy of the kitchen.

The walk to the tower was a familiar one. She passed by a small cluster of maids gossiping in hushed tones. As she neared, their conversation faltered, and she felt the weight of their eyes on her. Their whispered words followed her, barely audible but no less cutting.

"White-haired freak."

Raelyn's shoulders stiffened, but she didn't react. She had learned long ago that ignoring them was the only way to survive the quiet cruelty of the castle's undercurrents.

The plate of food was heavy in her hands as she ascended the spiral staircase, the savory scent tempting her, but she kept her focus. When she reached the door to Magus Keardath's chambers, she knocked gently and waited for his voice to call her in.

Keardath's chambers were modest, though not lacking. Red curtains hung at the sides of the long windows. A canopy bed stood in the left corner of the room and a large painting adorned a wall. The magus sat at his desk, absorbed in a book, a circlet of silver adorned with an emerald resting on his brow. His robe, olive green, was simple but well-made, the fabric worn at the edges but cared for with an attention that spoke to his pride.

As Raelyn entered, he looked up, his wrinkled face breaking into a warm smile that softened his otherwise stern expression.

"Ah, Raelyn. You've come." He set the book aside and gestured for her to place the food on the small table in front of him.

She did so without a word, stepping back and folding her hands before her, eyes respectfully cast downward. She could feel the hunger gnawing at her stomach, the sight and smell of the meal almost unbearable in its temptation. But she held herself still, waiting for his next command.

"Thank you, Raelyn." He said to her "How are you?"

"I'm fine magus," She answered, not wanting the magus to know how much the day had treated her "...just fine."

Keardath didn't respond right away, his attention now fully on his food as he cut into a potato. He chewed thoughtfully, then nodded toward her arm, where the sleeve of her shirt had rolled up slightly.

"And that?" He motioned with his fork, eyes narrowing with concern. "Who did that to you?"

Raelyn stiffened, glancing down at her arm, and saw the faint, red welt from where the stablemaster's whip had caught her. She quickly tugged her sleeve back down, trying to brush off his question with a casual shrug.

"It's nothing, really. A branch, Magus," she said quickly, lowering her gaze to the floor.

Keardath raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "A branch, hmm?"

Raelyn bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. The truth was far worse. Grorm, the stablemaster, was known for his cruelty, and Raelyn knew that if she spoke up, his punishment would only grow worse. It was better to keep quiet.

"Let me guess," Keardath continued, his voice quiet but knowing. "Grorm again?"

Raelyn's long white hair swayed as she shook her head, but her thoughts were tangled. She couldn't lie outright, but neither could she reveal the full extent of Grorm's cruelty. "It was just a branch, Magus," she said again, trying to sound more convincing.

The old wizard sighed, but there was no anger in his voice, only a quiet weariness. "You know you can tell me, Raelyn. I won't let him harm you." He smiled, the warmth of his expression softening the severity of his words. "But next time, don't hide it. And please, call me Keardath. Magus is so formal, don't you think?"

Raelyn gave a small smile, her heart easing slightly at his words. Keardath was the closest thing to a father she had ever known. His kindness was a rare comfort in a world full of harshness.

The two shared a quiet moment as Keardath finished his meal. But just as the silence began to settle, the door to the room opened, and another figure entered.

"Magus Keardath," said a younger voice, brisk and formal. It was Irdarith, his red robe standing out in sharp contrast to the dim light of the room. "I come with news from the barrier."

Keardath set down his fork and sat back in his chair. "Go on," he said, his tone patient but attentive.

Irdarith hesitated, his gaze briefly flicking toward Raelyn. Keardath noticed and waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't mind her," he said. "Speak freely."

The young magus closed the door behind him and stepped forward, his expression tight with concern. "The number of demons gathering near the Ostbarrow barrier has increased," he said. "There are more than a dozen now. Perhaps more."

Raelyn's eyes drifted toward the window. She knew the border well—the line where Kaiswen's bright skies and fertile lands gave way to the desolation of Bromaric. The barrier that kept the horrors of the wastelands at bay was invisible, but it was easy to see where it stood. The lands beyond the barrier were dark, dead, and the sky was always thick with roiling clouds, casting an eerie shadow over the land.

"The barrier has withstood thousands of demons in the past fourteen years," Keardath said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Don't worry about a few more."

Irdarith's brow furrowed. "It is not the demons I fear," he said. "But the people of Ostbarrow. They are growing frightened."

Keardath sighed and rubbed two fingers over the side of his face as he thought. "Keep me aware of any developments. If their numbers grow further, I will send some of our finest magi to ensure the endurance of the barrier," he said after a few seconds. 

Irdarith nodded, then bowed quickly before exiting the room, leaving Keardath and Raelyn alone once more.

Raelyn stayed silent, her thoughts heavy with the news of the demons. She wished she could ask more, but it wasn't her place. Instead, she waited patiently as Keardath finished his meal.

When he was done, he thanked her with a smile. Raelyn collected the plate and left the room, retracing her steps through the quiet halls of Ardesco. As she descended the stairs, her thoughts lingered on the darkening border and the growing tension beyond.

By the time she reached the tavern, the Cup and Staff, night had fully fallen. The low hum of voices from below drifted up to her as she hurried up the stairs to her small room. But before she reached the top, she heard a voice sharp as a whip.

"Your rent's late girl!" Raelyn sighed and turned around to the short woman wearing an apron over a red tunic. 

 "I get paid tomorrow Ranati, you know that. I will pay you then, I always do." She replied. 

 Ranati crossed her arms and tilted her head "You better." She answered, turning around "Or I'll kick you out."

Raelyn took the stairs up to her room, ignoring the threats of the tavern's owner, like she always did. She entered her cramped room consisting of nothing but a mattress on the floor and a chest for the little belongings she had. She moved around in the dark, looking for a candle. When she finally found it, she lit it and put it in a candleholder before putting it on the chest. The flame of the candle illuminated her room enough to see. She walked towards the window and pulled it up to stick out her head. "Rakz?" she whispered softly. She waited for a few seconds as she stared into the darkness, at the tree just outside her room.

"Rakz?" She tried a little louder this time. She stared at the tree until she saw two bright yellow eyes with a vertical slit. A smile appeared on her face.

"Come here, Rakz."

The small creature, a lizard with sapphire-colored scales and a long, flicking tongue, slithered along the branch and dropped lightly onto the sill. Raelyn scooped him up, cradling him in her arms as she closed the window behind her.

Rakz was her reptilian pet the size of her lower arm. When she found it a year ago it was the size of her thumb. Pets were not allowed in the tavern, so she let the lizard hunt during the day. Raelyn set him down on the bed and Rakz quickly crawled under the sheets. 

She took off her clothes and changed into an old rag that served as her night gown. She chuckled when she took Rakz from under the sheets and crawled under them herself before laying down. Rakz crawled towards the chest and jumped up on it, looking at her with his yellow eyes. Raelyn nodded 

"Do it." The lizard turned to the candle and with his nostrils blew it out before returning to the mattress and crawling on top of the sheets next to her. Raelyn wrapped her arms around the lizard and pulled him against her as she closed her eyes. The lizard sizzled and Raelyn smiled, slowly falling asleep.