The soft warmth of morning sunlight filled Raelyn's room, coaxing her awake. She rubbed her sore, dry eyes, the exhaustion from the night still lingering in her body. Rakz stretched and climbed off her lap, flexing his short limbs with a quiet grunt before locking his yellow eyes on her. Raelyn smiled down at him, gently stroking the top of his head. A sigh escaped her lips as she slowly got up, preparing herself for another long day.

She opened her chest and pulled out a cerise tunic, as faded and worn as the iris-colored one she had worn the day before. After slipping it on, she took the small pouch containing Keardath's riyans from the previous day and emptied its contents into a small case. The case, half-filled with the coins she had saved for a future beyond Westwell, clinked softly as the riyans settled into place. 

Raelyn looked down at Rakz, her gaze softening. She scooped him up, pressing her forehead gently to his. Her eyes fluttered shut as a small smile tugged at her lips. For a moment, she considered staying in her room with him for the rest of the day, letting the world outside fade into nothing. But deep down, she knew that she couldn't avoid the day's troubles forever. She had to face them—she had to face Ranati.

She placed Rakz on the branch outside the window, watching him crawl toward the forest with an affectionate glance before turning to the door. Her fingers gripped the handle, her resolve stiffening as she steeled herself for the apology she owed.

The Cup and Staff was deserted when Raelyn entered, save for Ranati, who stood behind the bar, wiping it down with a cloth. She approached the innkeeper quietly, knocking once on the wood to catch her attention.

"Ranati?" she called softly.

The older woman, wearing a too-tight black dress, turned around, her expression unreadable. She shook her head and placed her hands on her hips.

"Oh, it's you," she muttered.

Raelyn lowered her gaze to the floor, her heart heavy with regret. "I wanted to apologize for what I said last night," she began, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "I was in a bad place, but that's no excuse for yelling at you. I'm terribly sorry."

Ranati fixed her with a long, hard stare. The silence stretched between them before the innkeeper sighed. "Very well. I forgive you." Raelyn lifted her head slightly, a weak smile playing on her lips. "However," Ranati continued, her tone sharp, "you will work for me for one week without pay."

Raelyn opened her mouth to protest but closed it again when she saw the determination in the older woman's eyes. She nodded reluctantly, her gaze falling to the floor before she turned and left the tavern.

The redness in her eyes slowly disappeared as she walked through the cobblestone streets of Westwell. She reached the edge of the small town when a gathered crowd grabbed her attention and curiosity. When Raelyn got closer to the mass, she heard mumbles and whispers that piqued her interest. She stood on the tip of her toes to get a view of what they were looking at, but it wasn't enough. She grumbled and pushed aside a few people, struggling to get to the front of the crowd. When she finally reached the front, she was amazed at the sight. 

A procession of knights and magi was making its way toward Ardesco. At the head of the group was Keardath, his emerald robe shimmering in the sunlight. Behind him walked Corix and Irdarith, their expressions serious. Following them was a large, tinted man carrying a casket on a white cushion, his armor clattering as he walked. He turned to look at her, exposing a big scar that ran from the top of his head to the side, only interrupted by the short black mohawk.

Raelyn swallowed hard, her breath catching in her throat. But then, something strange happened.

A pulse, like a wave of energy, rippled through the air. It was subtle at first, barely noticeable, but then it intensified, flowing through her entire body. The world around her seemed to brighten—colors sharper, the air warmer—as if her troubles had momentarily disappeared. For a fleeting moment, she felt... peaceful.

She glanced around, searching for the source of the strange sensation. Her gaze locked onto the casket the scarred man carried. Her curiosity flared, and she couldn't tear her eyes away as it passed by her.

The pulse faded as the procession moved farther away, but Raelyn was left with an inexplicable feeling of longing. She turned to the woman standing next to her, excitement in her voice. "Did you feel that?"

The woman looked at her, confused, and took a wary step back. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her tone dismissive.

Raelyn's brow furrowed, and she shook her head, feeling a strange mix of frustration and disbelief. How could she not have felt it?

"Never mind," Raelyn muttered, her curiosity burning. "What was in that casket?"

The woman chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "No one knows."

Raelyn simply nodded, her mind racing with unanswered questions. She walked away, her thoughts consumed by the mysterious casket. Why had it been so heavily guarded? Why had only she felt the strange pulse? And why was it being taken to Ardesco?

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Raelyn moved through her chores in a daze, her mind constantly returning to the casket. It had been carried into Ardesco, that much was certain. But the castle was vast—too vast for her to search for it. She would likely never see it again, let alone discover its contents.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she found herself standing in Keardath's chamber, though she couldn't remember how she had gotten there. The magus sat behind his desk, frowning at her.

"I would like my dinner now," he said, his voice curt.

Raelyn blinked, momentarily confused. She glanced down and realized she was holding a plate of steaming food.

"Oh... right," she muttered, still dazed.

She set the plate in front of him, watching as he began his meal. Her mind wandered again, drifting back to the pulse she had felt earlier. Then, it happened.

Her attention returned to the room immediately. She felt it, she was sure of it. Even though Raelyn had only felt it once before, and even though it was faint, she could sense the same vibrations in this room. Barely noticeable, but undoubtedly there. Slowly she let her gaze wander around the room for the casket, trying not to let Keardath know of her intent.

After a few minutes of exploring every inch of the chamber within her sight she still couldn't locate the source of the pulse. But it was here, in this room, she was sure of it. Raelyn looked at Keardath as he ate, wondering if she should ask him about the casket. Keardath had nearly finished his dinner when Raelyn built up the courage to ask.

"What was in that casket?" she blurted out, her voice betraying her curiosity.

Keardath looked up at her, surprise flashing across his face before it quickly shifted to a serious expression. The room fell silent as they stared at each other, the weight of her question hanging in the air. Finally, he spoke.

"It's nothing of importance, dear."

Raelyn frowned, unconvinced. "Forgive me, Magus, but if it's of no importance, why was it guarded by knights?"

Keardath sighed, setting his cutlets down and swallowing the last of his food.

"The contents of that casket are not your concern. I need you to forget about it."

Raelyn felt a twinge of frustration. "But I felt..." she protested.

Keardath's gaze darkened. His hand slammed onto the desk, making her flinch.

"Forget about it, Raelyn," he commanded, his voice harsh in a way that sent a chill down her spine.

She stepped back, her throat tightening. She lowered her gaze to the floor. "Yes, Magus. As you wish."

Keardath's tone softened as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm sorry, Raelyn. But trust me when I say it's best for you to forget everything about what you saw this morning."

Raelyn nodded quietly, forcing a faint smile onto her lips. "I will, Magus. I promise."

"Good," Keardath said, his expression lightening slightly. "I'm glad."

Later that night, Raelyn lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as Rakz slept peacefully on her stomach. His soft breaths were the only sound in the room, but sleep eluded her. Too many thoughts swirled in her mind—questions without answers. She tried to push them away, to think of something else, but the mystery of the casket and the strange vibrations refused to leave her.

With a frustrated sigh, she rose from the bed. Rakz stirred, crying out in surprise as she stood.

"I'm sorry, Rakz," Raelyn whispered, stroking his head as he tried to settle back down. "I just can't sleep."

She began changing into her clothes, shaking her head. "I need to clear my head."

Rakz jumped onto her lap, rubbing his head against her belly, but Raelyn gently pushed him away with a soft chuckle.

"No, Rakz. Stay here." She tapped his nose lightly and placed him back on the mattress.

Raelyn leaned down to rest her forehead against his. "Guard our home," she murmured.

With one last glance at her reptilian companion, Raelyn left the room, her mind heavy with unanswered questions.