After the chaos of her first few weeks as a bakery owner, Serys finally found her rhythm. It had taken a fair amount of trial and error, but she had figured out how to balance running The Enchanted Hearth with ensuring she didn’t burn out.

The bakery was now closed two days a week, allowing Serys some much-needed balance. Sundays were reserved for logistics—balancing her books, managing inventory, receiving bulk deliveries, crafting shopping lists, and making trips into town to restock supplies. Wednesdays, by contrast, were her personal days. She spent them at the guild house, watching recruits train, offering advice, occasionally joining quests, and catching up with her closest friends. Still, she often began these mornings at the bakery, taking the early shift to prepare everything her staff would need for the day ahead.

Her newly expanded staff also lightened the load. After consulting with Halen, Rieze, Iona, and Ronan, Serys started hiring lower-ranked adventurers looking for steady work between quests. Their duties extended beyond bakery tasks like taking orders, serving customers, and cleaning tables. Serys also taught them practical skills: basic potion-making, foraging for edible plants and herbs with buffing properties, and preparing nourishing meals in the wild. Many found these lessons invaluable for crafting healing potions or surviving in harsh conditions.

Teaching brought Serys unexpected joy, and her adventurer employees were deeply grateful. Word spread quickly among the guilds, and soon her shop was famous not just for its pastries but also for the skills its part-time workers gained.

One quiet afternoon, as the last customers trickled out, Halen finally stopped by.

“Well, look who decided to grace my humble bakery,” Serys teased, grinning as she emerged from behind the counter.

Halen chuckled, his stout figure blocking some of the sunlight streaming through the door. “I’ve been hearing nothing but praise about this place. Figured it was time to see what all the fuss was about.”

“Better late than never,” she said, bringing over a plate of freshly baked ham-and-cheese pastries and a steaming cup of coffee.

Halen took a bite and closed his eyes, savoring the flavors. “By the gods, Serys, this is dangerous. You’re going to put every other bakery in town out of business!”

“I aim to please,” she said with a laugh, sitting across from him. “So, what brings you here? Besides the food, of course.”

He sipped his coffee, his expression turning serious. “I stopped by the guild house, but neither Rieze nor Gress was there. I was hoping to talk to them about something urgent.”

“They’re probably out training recruits or on a quest. I’ll let them know you’re looking for them when I get home tonight.” Serys refilled his coffee, but something in his expression gave her pause.

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“There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

Halen didn’t look satisfied with her answer, and Serys knew he wanted her to do something else.

“Whatever it is, Halen, I’m not up for it. I’m retired!” Serys said, trying to laugh away the awkwardness between them.

“I know that. But I am hoping you could convince them to help the Registry?”

“I don’t know, Halen. I think other guilds can also—”

“The Registry would be happy to pay hands—”

“We have a deal!” Serys replied, not letting Halen speak. “But if it’s something Exia can’t handle on its own, we’ll ask the other guilds to help out and you’ll pay us equally,”

She narrowed her eyes. “Fine. But if this is something Exia can’t handle alone, you’ll call on other guilds and split the pay equally.”

“Fair enough,” Halen agreed, sliding a wax-sealed envelope across the table.

Serys’s stomach sank when she saw the broken seal—a royal crest embossed in red wax. She read the letter twice before speaking.

“So it’s true? Monsters are moving away from their usual territories?”

Halen nodded grimly. “The King received reports of monsters abandoning their usual haunts and showing up in unexpected places. The Registry is issuing warnings across the continent. We need to prepare.”

Serys frowned, her mind racing. “What does this mean for Eldoria?”

“For now, the town is safe,” Halen said. “But if this continues, we’ll need to bolster defenses and make sure lower-ranked adventurers are supervised. You hear a lot running this place—locals, adventurers, travelers. If you catch wind of anything unusual, let me know.”

Serys considered his request, absently twisting the signet ring on her pinky finger—the crest of her guild. “I’ll talk to the others and see who’s available for scouting. And if I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Thanks, Serys.” Halen drained his coffee and stood. “Your pastries are worth the trip, by the way.”

As the sun set, Serys closed the bakery for the day. Just as she finished cleaning, the doorbell jingled.

“Shop’s closed,” she called without looking up.

“I know,” came Rieze’s familiar voice.

She turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, his usual calm demeanor softened by the golden glow of twilight. “Dinner?” he asked.

Serys blinked in surprise before smiling. “Let me grab my things.”

They strolled through the quiet streets of Eldoria, the day’s worries fading with each step. For a brief moment, Serys allowed herself to enjoy the peace.

The next morning, as she arranged freshly baked loaves, the doorbell jingled again. Rieze walked in, his expression unreadable.

“Sorry, I’m not hiring,” Serys jokingly said.

“Nah. Baking is outside of my expertise.”

“Then, what’s up?”

“I wanted to talk about Halen’s visit,” Rieze said, leaning on the counter. “I’ve already sent Khai and Trej to scout the surrounding areas. Let’s wait for their report before deciding anything.”

Serys sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. “Rieze, I can’t just leave the bakery.”

“I’m not asking you to,” he said gently. “But your experience and connections could help us figure this out. Just… think about it.”

She hesitated before nodding. “I’ll consider it. But for now, my place is here.”

“Fair enough.” Rieze straightened and smiled faintly. “You know where to find me.”

As he left, Serys turned her attention back to the bakery. But in the back of her mind, Halen’s warning and the strange movements of the monsters lingered like a shadow.