The mood in Greymire had shifted, subtle at first but unmistakable in its growing weight. Ellie felt it as soon as she stepped out of her room the next morning, the quiet murmur of the townsfolk quickening into something more animated.

“Look, it’s her!” a young girl exclaimed, tugging at her mother’s sleeve. “That’s Ellie Liddell!”

Ellie smiled at the child, but her heart raced.

“Do you think she’s really as powerful as they say?” The mother glanced at Ellie with a mix of admiration and apprehension.

“She beat Kaedin! That’s gotta mean something!” The girl’s eyes were wide with awe.

They had begun to recognize her—no longer just the strange, quiet adventurer who kept to herself, but Ellie Liddell, the one who had bested Kaedin in a duel with seemingly effortless magic. The story of her victory had spread like wildfire.

“Ellie! Can you show us a spell?” a boy shouted from the crowd, his enthusiasm infectious.

Ellie felt a warmth spread through her. “Maybe later,” she called back, feeling the weight of their expectations settle on her shoulders.

As she walked toward the guild, heads turned. People whispered in her wake, eyes wide with admiration or curiosity. Some smiled in a way that made her skin crawl, the kind of smile that expected something from her, though she wasn’t sure what. Ellie had always known she wanted to blend in, to remain unseen, but here she was, drawn into the very center of the spotlight.

“Do you think she’s here for a quest?” one voice murmured.

“I bet she could take on a dragon all by herself!” another voice chimed in, filled with awe.

She quickened her pace, hoping the doors of the guildhall would offer some reprieve from the growing attention outside. But when she stepped through the threshold, it was clear the guild had already become a hub of excitement. Adventurers milled about, their conversation lively, but it was the glances they cast in her direction that made Ellie’s stomach twist.

“Ellie Liddell, the unstoppable,” someone murmured as she passed.

“She crushed that duel yesterday. Not even breaking a sweat,” another added, voice low with admiration.

Ellie winced. She couldn’t even remember half of the duel. It had been a blur of panic, misplaced steps, and wild, uncontrollable magic. There had been nothing deliberate about it. She hadn’t meant to win. And yet, here she was, being hailed as though she had calculated every spell, every move.

It wasn’t long before a familiar voice called out to her. “Ellie!”

She turned reluctantly, finding Kaedin leaning against the guild’s main counter, his ever-present grin stretching across his face. His arm was wrapped in a bandage, no doubt from the friendly duel he had so eagerly suggested. Ellie had barely bruised him, but the bandage looked unnecessarily dramatic.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Kaedin.” She managed a thin smile.

“I’ve been telling everyone what a legend you are.” He crossed the room with that easy swagger she had come to associate with him. “You’ve got to teach me some of those moves. Honestly, I don’t know what spell you used, but I’ve never seen anything like it. Everyone here’s been talking about it.”

Of course they have. Ellie felt the weight of his words like a stone lodged in her chest. She wished she could retreat into the shadows, but the eyes around her were relentless.

Before she could reply, the guild doors swung open again, letting in a gust of cold air and something else—something heavier, a presence that seemed to demand attention. Ellie turned, and immediately her heart sank.

Three figures entered, tall and cloaked, with an unmistakable air of authority. They weren’t just adventurers. They moved like hunters, their eyes sharp, their expressions unreadable beneath the hoods of their long, dark cloaks. Weapons gleamed at their sides, and the faint pulse of magic, raw and potent, thrummed in the air around them.

The guild fell silent as the trio stepped inside, their gaze sweeping the room before settling—inevitably—on Ellie.

The leader, a woman with piercing eyes and a scar tracing the line of her jaw, stepped forward. Her voice was cool, authoritative. “We’ve come to find the one called Ellie Liddell.”

Ellie’s stomach twisted. She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be a casual inquiry.

Kaedin, never one to shy away from an audience, stepped forward with a laugh. “You’re looking at her!” He clapped Ellie on the shoulder, far too cheerfully for her comfort. “Ellie Liddell—Greymire’s finest adventurer. What can we do for you?”

“We’ve heard of your... feats.” The woman’s gaze didn’t waver, her eyes locked on Ellie as though weighing her. “There are some who would be interested in hiring someone of your... capabilities.”

Ellie felt a tremor of unease creep through her, but she forced herself to speak, her voice steady, though her heart was hammering in her chest. “I’m not interested.”

There was a flicker of surprise in the woman’s expression, as though she hadn’t expected such a direct refusal. Behind her, the other two figures shifted slightly, as if preparing for something more. The air grew tense, thick with unspoken expectation.

“Are you sure?” the woman asked, her tone polite but firm. “There are rewards beyond anything you’ll find in this town.”

Ellie’s mind raced. She could feel the weight of the crowd behind her, their curiosity, their anticipation. If she declined, would it make her look weaker? Would the rumors start to unravel? But if she accepted, what then? She couldn’t keep up this charade indefinitely.

Before she could answer, Kaedin—bless him—stepped in once again, his grin widening. “Oh, Ellie doesn’t need rewards.” He waved his hand. “She’s not in it for the glory, right? She’s just that powerful.”

Ellie shot him a look, but Kaedin seemed oblivious. He was enjoying the attention, the admiration reflected in the guild’s collective gaze.

The leader of the trio regarded Kaedin for a moment, then nodded slightly, as if deciding to let the matter rest, though her eyes remained on Ellie, the unspoken challenge lingering in the air. “Very well. But know this—your reputation is growing. And it’s not just adventurers who are taking notice.”

With that, the trio turned and left, their cloaks sweeping the floor behind them as they exited. The tension in the room didn’t lift until the doors closed with a heavy thud.

Ellie exhaled slowly, her heart still pounding in her chest. She could feel the eyes of the guild members on her, more curious than ever. She had no idea who those people were, or what they truly wanted. But it was clear that her unwanted fame was spreading far beyond Greymire—and not all attention would be so benign.

As the guild returned to its usual hum of conversation, Ellie couldn’t shake the growing sense of dread. She had started this journey hoping to disappear, to become someone else. But now, with every step, it it felt like a cage, each bar forged from the memories she tried to escape.

And somewhere out there, in the growing shadows beyond Greymire, darker forces were stirring.