The town of Greymire was beginning to feel too small. Not in the way of crowded streets or bustling markets, but in the way it closed around Ellie like a tightening net. What had once been an anonymous, backwater refuge now thrummed with the murmur of voices, all repeating the same name: Ellie Liddell.

Her name drifted on the air in the taverns, carried on the lips of adventurers huddled around fire pits, whispered in the corridors of the guild hall. No matter where she turned, it found her.

“It’s true, then? Ellie Liddell defeated the Stonebeast of the Ruins?” a voice broke through the din of the marketplace.

“Aye, they say she didn’t even break a sweat,” another replied, full of disbelief. “Just a flick of her wrist, and that beast was done for.”

It had been just two days since their return from the ruins, but already the word had spread far beyond Greymire’s modest borders. News of her victory—her supposed victory—had taken on a life of its own.

First, the guild, then the local farmers and merchants, and now adventurers from neighboring towns had arrived, drawn by tales of an unrivaled mage who had defeated a fearsome beast and saved her comrades with barely a gesture.

“Imagine the glory of having such a hero in our midst.” Someone’s laughter mingling with the sounds of the square. “I hear she’s been spotted in the market today. We should find her and get the details!”

Ellie tugged her hood lower over her face as she walked through the square, hoping it would help her blend in with the crowd. The morning mist had yet to burn off, but the marketplace was already alive with activity.

She kept her steps quick, her head down, and avoided eye contact. Perhaps if she moved fast enough, if she slipped unnoticed through the streams of villagers, she could—

"Ellie Liddell!"

She froze.

A young adventurer, sword slung across his back and a wide grin plastered across his face, was pushing through the crowd toward her. She had never seen him before, but he seemed to know exactly who she was.

Behind him, two others followed, equally enthusiastic. Their clothes were marked by the dust of the road, and the light of fresh ambition shone in their eyes. She didn't need to ask where they’d come from. Their expressions told her everything. They were here because of her.

"I’ve been looking for you everywhere." The young man finally reached her, out of breath but beaming with excitement. "I heard you’re the one who brought down the Stonebeast. Everyone’s talking about it. The whole guild's buzzing!"

Ellie swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. She tried to think of a response, something simple, something that would disarm the conversation and allow her to slip away. But before she could find her voice, another of the young adventurers stepped forward.

“Is it true?” It was a woman this time, her eyes wide with awe. “You took down the entire dungeon by yourself? No incantations? No fancy rituals? Just a flick of the wrist?”

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Ellie wanted to laugh. A flick of the wrist? She had tripped over a rock and nearly got them all killed. Her breath quickened, and she could feel the walls closing in again, even though she stood under the open sky.

"Ah… well..." She forced a strained smile, "it wasn’t quite like that. The others—"

"Modesty!" the first adventurer cut in, nodding sagely as if he’d known her for years. "Of course. It’s always the truly great mages who play down their abilities. You don't need to show off, right? You let your actions speak for you." He laughed, and the others joined in as though she’d told a clever joke.

Ellie’s hands trembled, and she shoved them into the pockets of her cloak. The more she tried to deflect, the more they built her up in their minds. And the more they built her up, the harder it became to extricate herself from this false narrative.

What would happen if she slipped? If they saw the truth—her unpredictable magic, her blundering luck? But no, she realized with a sinking dread, they wouldn’t believe the truth even if she shouted it at them. They were already too deep in the myth of Ellie Liddell.

“I—I really need to—” Ellie stammered, stepping back.

“Of course! Sorry, we didn’t mean to keep you.” The woman’s eyes were still wide with admiration. “You must be busy preparing for your next mission. But… one day, maybe we could spar? Not that I’d stand a chance against you, but I’d love to learn just from watching.”

Ellie’s blood ran cold. Sparring? She could barely manage the simplest of spells without things going catastrophically wrong, and now they expected her to duel? She forced another smile, her lips twitching with the effort. “Another time, perhaps.”

She turned and hurried toward the guild hall before they could ask anything more, her heart pounding in her chest. The square seemed to close in around her, the chatter of the marketplace drowning out her thoughts. Even as she slipped away, she could feel their eyes on her back, expectant, hopeful.

Inside the guild, the noise was even louder. Adventurers from all over, gathered in clusters, their conversations flowing easily between rumors and plans. Ellie ducked behind a pillar, scanning the room for an exit. But before she could make her escape, Guildmaster Hargrave spotted her. He waved her over, his booming voice cutting through the din.

“Ellie! Over here!”

She flinched, but there was no avoiding it now. Taking a deep breath, she approached the bar where the guildmaster sat, hoping to keep the conversation short.

“Looks like you’ve become quite the sensation.” His eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and amusement. “The best adventurers from three towns over are asking about you. And not just the young ones either—veterans. They're curious, Ellie. They want to meet the mage who can take down monsters without breaking a sweat.”

“I’m not really—” The guildmaster cut her off with a hearty laugh.

“They’re talking about challenges, duels, tests of strength.” He clearly enjoyed the attention his guild was getting. “And I can’t blame them. I mean, we all saw what you did at the ruins. Not many can pull off a feat like that.”

Ellie stared at him, her throat tight with panic. "I really think—"

“I get it.” The guildmaster leaned in, his grin widening. “You’re keeping a low profile. Smart. Keeps your opponents guessing. But, Ellie, you can’t hide forever. Sooner or later, you’ll have to show them what you’re made of.”

Ellie felt as though the floor were shifting beneath her. The air was too thick, too stifling. She nodded mechanically, her mind racing for a way out, but the guildmaster clapped her on the shoulder before she could protest.

“Keep up the good work, Ellie. You’re doing the guild proud.”

As she left the guildhall, her vision swimming, Ellie’s pulse quickened. She had to find a way to undo this. Before they forced her into something she couldn’t fake her way through. Before her luck ran out.

Because, sooner or later, it would. And then what?