Folainn stepped back slightly from the embrace, his green eyes scanning Raelyn's face as though he were confirming an impossible vision. "I can't believe you're here," he said, his voice charged with astonishment and relief. "What are you doing in Flatrest?"

Raelyn's cheeks flushed, the suddenness of the encounter rendering her momentarily speechless. "I... I..." she stammered, her mind racing to form an answer. Standing just behind her, Benji shifted uncomfortably. His arms crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze darted between Raelyn and Folainn, betraying his irritation at the stranger's familiarity.

"Who... who is this?" Benji asked, his tone sharper than he intended. He took a step closer, a protective edge seeping into his posture. Rakz, perched nearby, let out a low, inquisitive growl, his yellow eyes narrowing as he observed the newcomer.

Raelyn managed to find her voice. "This... this is Folainn," she said, her tone caught between awkwardness and relief. She glanced quickly at Hovan and Benji. "He's a student at Ardesco. He's..."

The mention of Ardesco seemed to steady her thoughts. Turning back to Folainn, her initial shock gave way to a torrent of questions. "How are you here?" she blurted. "How did you make it out of Ardesco? Are there... are there any other survivors?"

Folainn's expression darkened as he exhaled deeply. "We fought," he began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "We fought as long and as hard as we could. But when it became clear the battle was lost... I fled. A few of us managed to escape, but..." He paused, his gaze falling to the frost-covered ground. "Not many. Barely a handful."

Raelyn's throat tightened, her heart pounding with unspoken fears. One question burned brighter than all the others. "What about Keardath?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Did you see him?"

Folainn's expression turned grim. He shook his head slowly. "No," he admitted. "Knowing Keardath, he wouldn't have left. He'd have stayed behind, fighting until the end to protect the students. I didn't see him among the others when we fled." He hesitated, his voice growing quieter. "I didn't see him at all when the High Council began their countermeasures. I... I'm sorry, Raelyn."

The words struck Raelyn like a physical blow. Her knees felt weak, and for a moment, the bustling marketplace around her faded into an indistinct haze. Keardath, her mentor and the closest thing she had ever known to a father, was most likely gone. She drew a sharp breath, forcing herself to remain upright and composed. "What happened after that?" she asked, her voice brittle as she fought to suppress the rising tide of grief.

"I joined the fight to liberate Ardesco. But the horde of demons was never-ending," Folainn said, his jaw clenched, frustration etched deeply into his features. "When the High Council shifted their focus from liberation to containment, I couldn't take it anymore," he continued bitterly. "It felt like they had given up. I couldn't stay there, waiting for the inevitable. I heard about a magus in Grorith—someone powerful, someone who could teach me what the Council never would. So, I came here."

His gaze shifted to Raelyn, a flicker of surprise softening his expression. "Wait," he said, a small smile forming on his lips. "What are you doing here? How did you make it out of Ardesco? The last time I saw you, you were still learning under Corix. I had no idea you could use magic."

Raelyn's cheeks flushed a faint pink, and she glanced away, brushing a stray strand of white hair from her face. "Neither did I, at the time," she admitted softly. The weight of Benji's irritated stare prickled at her senses, his arms crossed tightly as he stood a step closer than necessary. "It's... a long story."

Folainn raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Well, I'm all ears. What brought you to a place like Flatrest?"

Raelyn hesitated, her instincts urging her to trust Folainn as she always had, but before she could explain, Hovan's subtle but firm glance warned her against saying too much. Clearing her throat, she forced a small smile. "We're running an errand for Keardath. We... left before the attack," she said simply. "It's... complicated."

Folainn nodded, though a flicker of disappointment passed through his expression. "I'm glad you made it out," he said softly. "And it's good to see a familiar face. This world feels like it's shrinking and unraveling at the same time." His gaze lingered on her, a small, rueful smile tugging at his lips. "And you... with magic. I never would've imagined."

"Neither did I," Raelyn murmured, her blush deepening under his attention. She shifted awkwardly, acutely aware of Benji's glare from beside her. Desperate to redirect the conversation, she said, "You must love being under the guidance of such a talented magus again. I'm glad you found somewhere to belong."

At her words, Folainn's expression darkened. His gaze darted around the marketplace, his posture stiffening as though sensing unseen eyes. He leaned in closer, the sudden proximity making Raelyn's breath hitch. The color rose in her cheeks again, and she struggled to keep her composure. "At first, it seemed like a dream come true," he said. "The magus was brilliant, talented, and her knowledge seemed boundless. But then..." His voice dropped to a near-whisper. "Then I discovered what she really was."

Hovan stepped forward slightly, his posture rigid with suspicion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice sharp.

"She practices dark magic," Folainn said grimly. "I caught her one night, deep in a ritual. It was... horrific. I tried to leave, but by then she'd already bound me to some kind of artifact. Now, I can't stray far from it without..." He pressed a hand to his chest, his face contorting with pain. "Without feeling like my soul is being ripped apart."

Raelyn's eyes widened. "Why not destroy the artifact?" she asked, her voice urgent. "If you know where it is, why not break the tether?"

"I tried," Folainn said bitterly. "The artifact's in her study, at the far end of the mansion. But the tether won't let me get close enough to destroy it. And even if I could, she's always watching. Always one step ahead."

Hovan's hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his sword. "Where is this magus now?" he demanded, his voice low and taut.

Folainn gestured toward a distant hill where the silhouette of a mansion loomed against the snowy landscape. "She's up there," he said. "That's her domain. She rarely leaves it, but her reach... it's everywhere."

Suddenly, Folainn stiffened, his face paling. His hand flew to his chest, and he winced as though something unseen was pulling at him. "She's summoning me," he said through gritted teeth. "I can't stay."

Raelyn stepped forward, her hand outstretched. "Folainn, wait—"

He shook his head, his expression softening despite the pain contorting his features. "Be careful, Raelyn. She's more dangerous than you can imagine. And..." His voice faltered, but he managed a weak smile. "It was good to see you. One last time. I'm glad you're alive."

He turned to leave, but before disappearing into the crowd, he glanced back one last time. "I'm sorry for how I treated you at Ardesco," he said, his voice barely audible. "Losing everything... it changes you. Makes you see the error in your ways."

Raelyn remained rooted in place, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of grief, anger, and determination. Rakz let out a low, concerned growl, brushing against her leg as though to comfort her. Benji stepped closer, his expression a mixture of frustration and unease.

Hovan placed a steady hand on Raelyn's shoulder. "I know what you're thinking," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Raelyn nodded slowly, her gaze lingering on the hill where the mansion loomed ominously. "He needs our help," she murmured, more to herself than to the others.

The marketplace's usual bustle felt muted as the group stood in a tense tableau, the distant silhouette of the magus's mansion casting a shadow over their thoughts. Folainn's departure had left a heavy weight among them, the unresolved moral dilemma tangling with the practicalities of their journey. Raelyn's gaze lingered on the hill, her expression resolute despite the uncertainty clouding her thoughts. Rakz, as ever attuned to her mood, let out a low growl and paced in deliberate, restless steps, his yellow eyes darting between the companions as if to urge them toward consensus.

"We can't just leave him like that," Raelyn said abruptly, her voice breaking the silence with a sharp edge of determination. "He's bound to that artifact, trapped under her control. If we don't help him, who will?"

Hovan sighed, his broad arms crossing over his chest as he measured her words. "Raelyn, I understand how you feel," he began, his tone steady but firm. "But this isn't about Folainn alone. If we risk everything to help him, we jeopardize our mission—and Unevia... Unevia cannot afford for us to fail."

Benji, standing slightly apart from the others, let out a derisive snort. His arms were crossed tightly, his posture rigid as he cast a skeptical glance toward Raelyn. "I'm with Hovan on this," he said, his voice sharper than usual. "Folainn's the one who went to that magus. He knew the risks when he walked into her domain. Why should we risk everything to save him from his own choices?"

Raelyn turned to Benji, her eyes blazing with frustration. "Because it's the right thing to do," she shot back. "You heard him. He tried to leave. He didn't choose this, Benji. She trapped him. What kind of people would we be if we just abandoned him?"

Benji's jaw tightened, his irritation clearly visible as he glanced away, his shoulders rising defensively. Rakz stopped pacing and tilted his head toward Benji, letting out a soft, questioning chirp as if to echo Raelyn's sentiment. For a moment, Benji didn't respond. When he did, his voice was quieter but no less biting. "You can't save everyone, Raelyn. That's not how this works."

Hovan stepped forward, his gaze shifting between the two of them. "Raelyn, I get it," he said, his tone softening slightly. "But Folainn isn't our responsibility. Our mission is to retrieve the weapon of the gods and stop Baragor. If we get sidetracked and fail..." He let the implication hang in the air. "The stakes are too high."

Raelyn's voice rose, her conviction undiminished. "And what about the stakes for Folainn? If we leave him, he'll be trapped there forever. Or worse. I can't just walk away from that."

Benji's shoulders sagged slightly, his stance losing some of its rigidity. Rakz padded over to him, nudging his leg with a comforting trill. Benji sighed deeply, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Even if it's right," he muttered, "it doesn't mean it's smart."

Hovan's voice cut through the uneasy quiet that followed. "Even if we agree to help him, how do you propose we do it?" he asked, his tone laced with practicality. "Sneak into the magus's mansion? Destroy the artifact? Get him out without her noticing?" He gestured toward the hill, his eyes narrowing at the distant silhouette of the mansion. "This isn't a simple task, Raelyn. We're not thieves. How do you plan to pull this off?"

Raelyn hesitated, her confidence faltering as her gaze returned to the imposing mansion. "I don't know yet," she admitted softly. "But there has to be a way. If we're careful... if we plan it..."

Hovan shook his head. "Careful or not, this could bring Baragor's forces down on us. Even if it doesn't, the risk of capture or worse is too great. We have to be realistic, Raelyn."

Before anyone could speak again, their attention was drawn by a loud commotion from a nearby bar. Raised voices spilled into the marketplace, accompanied by the unmistakable crash of shattering glass. The door to the bar slammed open, and a figure tumbled out, landing unceremoniously at their feet with a heavy thud.

The man groaned, propping himself up on his elbows. His dark hair was wild, and his face bore the smudges of a fight, yet his sharp eyes glinted with unmistakable amusement. Despite his disheveled state, a crooked smirk tugged at his lips. "Well," he muttered, brushing imaginary dust from his shirt as he climbed to his feet. "That was uncalled for."

Raelyn's eyes widened as recognition dawned. "Danio?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief and surprise.