I experienced such a sense of relief after I had confessed to Seraphina, a feeling that everything was right in the world after I had unburdened myself. It hadn't felt right for her not to know the truth about my mask. She had not, as I had—half-expected—run out screaming, or busted out a gem and flattened me. I didn’t know if she had that ability, but it would not surprise me.

Seraphina and I had talked for hours.

I had so many questions I hadn’t been able to ask anyone else before now.

"How can we speak the language here, and read the writing? To me, it's second nature. As if I've done it my entire life."

"That is a mystery I won't pretend to understand. I had the same reaction when I blinked into this body. I feel like my mind still sees in our language, but maybe that's just a fallacy."

"It's a hell of a mystery. It's like going to France; you can suddenly speak and read the language like a native, with no training."

"When I visualize words and try to write them in English, they come out in this world's language."

"So weird. You know, I hadn't thought to ask this. What is the cycle like here? How many months and days are in a week? That kind of thing?"

"Good questions. I should have thought of faking a head injury when I got here to explain my lack of knowledge. It's late spring. Summer is just around the corner. There are a few extra days per month, and we're on a ten-month cycle. Winters here can be harsh, but they rarely touch us. I suspect this year will be mild. Everspring was named for its location. This town is almost forever in spring. It's honestly quite magical."

"I need a calendar."

"You do. I'll see if I have an extra."

"Thank you." I glanced at my wrist for the thousandth time since I had arrived here."Oh. Do you ever stop doing that?"

"It took a few months. I don't think about watches anymore. Same with instant communication and…" Seraphina lowered her voice, "social media. I don't miss it one bit."

"You and I both. One thing lacking is phones. How will we stay up all night talking like a couple of teenagers?"

Seraphina's eyebrows went up.

I laughed as I realized we were doing it in person.

We went downstairs for another drink and sat at the bar. Seraphina brought the silencing gem downstairs and placed it on the bar between us.

Lady Churl appeared from the space under the tavern. "Hey boss, headin' out to do a little foraging."

"Hi, Lady Churl," Seraphina greeted her with a wave.

"She knows," I told Lady Churl.

"She ain't called the guard. Guess you worked it out."

I smiled as I looked at Seraphina. "We came to an understanding."

Lady Churl waved once. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your human stuff to yerself. I gotta go pick mushrooms. Maybe peppers. Should check on me cave."

"Cave?" Seraphina asked.

"Yeah. She kicked a bear out of a cave."

"But you live here now, right?" Seraphina asked Churl.

"Aye. It's the principle of the matter. Gotta be honest."

"She used to hide a certain device there."

"Oh," Seraphina said.

After Lady Churl departed, we spent another hour chatting and pointedly avoiding Earth-related topics, which was not easy. I learned about Seraphina’s work. I was fascinated with her ability to use enchant gems or remove curses, as I’d seen firsthand.

"I don't see what you find so attractive about that tart, darling," Ophelia admonished. "She is paler than a new moon."

I glared at Ophelia, but she didn't take the hint.

"A fine-looking woman, and exceedingly smart. I've seen those with gem enchanting abilities, but few as strong as her."

"Don't encourage him," Ophelia told Garin.

They kept going round and round. I did my best to ignore them. At one point, I could barely concentrate on Seraphina as the others chatted and interrupted my thoughts every other minute.

I held up my hand and put my finger on the ring. "Guys. If you don't stop…"

"Pardon?"

"Eh. I told you about my three friends. Sometimes, they won't shut the hell up. I can't concentrate with them going on and on."

Seraphina lowered her voice and said, "Are you sure you're not just hearing voices? It's okay. We can get you some help."

I laughed and said, "That might be easier."

"So the cursed ring came from the treasure room. And when you put it on, you started seeing them?"

"At first, all I got were glimpses. I had a conversation with one of them before I put on the ring, which is genuinely baffling. Did I mention one is a paladin named Garin Thorneblade? He thinks you're pretty cool. I was out foraging for mushrooms when he just appeared in the woods. I thought he was a real person at first."

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"I'm sorry. Did you say Garin Thorneblade?"

"Yeah."

"He is quite the historical figure. Many still speak of him."

"Glad to see my reputation is still intact." Garin puffed up his chest.

"He and Ophelia have a weird thing. I think they like each other but refuse to admit it. Oh. Lady Ophelia Nightshade was a dark sorceress and apparently married to You Know Who."

"That's what you meant when you mentioned your ex. I thought you meant Mira."

"Nah. Mira and I came close to a thing, but I think she was looking for something casual. One day, we were washing up. She, uh, well. She removed some of her clothes and invited me to do the same. I freaked the hell out when she told me to take the amulet off so it wouldn’t t get lost in the water, and then reached for it."

"Mira, huh?"

"It didn't turn into anything!" I told Seraphina. "There's only one woman in this world who interests me, and her name is not Mira."

"It's Lady Churl, isn't it?"

My laugh nearly spit Orange Blush all over the counter.

"Mira is good with our relationship the way it is. We're work friends."

"That's a phrase I haven't heard in some time."

"You're full of old euphemisms, Varix."

I sighed. "Can't be helped. They're ingrained. Besides, who knows how they come out to the people here? Most, I suspect, are lost in translation."

"Possibly. You know, I was thinking about your ring. I'm not sure what purpose it served, but I suspect it was used to enhance communion with the dead. It's pretty on brand for You Know Who."

"He needs a nickname."

"How about Big M?"

I laughed. "That's good."

"So that ring. Why did it get stuck on me in the first place?"

Seraphina shrugged. "Could be that someone put a curse on it. Maybe it was a prank."

Lady Ophelia laughed.

My eyes darted to her. "A joke? You think it could have been cursed as a joke?"

"My secret is out." Ophelia looked away.

"You never mentioned that," I shot at the former sorceress.

Ophelia shrugged and studied her nails, but her ghostly shoulders shook as she fought laughter.

Seraphina had been staring into space. She turned to me and lowered her voice. "I've also been considering a solution to help with the pendant. I need to go through my storage chests and find a particular gem. I believe that with the right spell and attunement, the amulet will continue to hide your visage but also mask the relic from the hunters. I have a few books I need to consult."

"This thing is mentioned in books?" I touched the pendant.

"It is. The Heart of Shadows is old beyond reckoning. It is pre-cataclysm."

"There was a cataclysm?"

Seraphina sipped her drink and set it down. "There are so few details. Before the rise of Morthisal, possibly thousands of years ago, the land was a much different place. Mythralon, as they call it now, was shattered by forces we do not understand. They might have been gods. Or it might have been sorcerers whose power was beyond anything we know now. I'll lend you some books.”

"That would be wonderful."

Lady Ophelia spoke up, "I can add little more. Morthisal wasted a lot of time and energy looking for these relics. I believe his intent paid off, as it led to the creation of his staff. Its creation was an impressive feat."

I passed on Ophelia's words.

"He was a menace. Speaking of. What do you intend to do with the staff?"

"I have an idea. The relic hunter said they take items of power that can be used to harm the world, and they destroy them in rivers of lava."

"How very One Ring," Seraphina said, then slapped her hand over her mouth. She lowered her voice. "It's hard to remember sometimes."

I nodded. "I know. I keep wanting to do the same thing."

"We need to be careful."

"Agreed."

"We can discuss the staff later. I would love to stay up talking all night, Varix. Then, for us to walk out to the field at dawn and watch the sunrise, but I need to get a little sleep before I begin researching a solution to your amulet problem. Plus, I have my day job."

“Thank you, Seraphina. For understanding what happened to me."

“You’re very welcome, Varix.”

"I'll walk you to your shop. Do you live there?"

"I do. Stalker much?"

I laughed. "No. I had a feeling you had a room in the back. It seems like a lot of shop owners live at their businesses.”

“I have a nice apartment upstairs. I’ll show you, but not tonight.”

“I understand.”

We strolled through the streets, her hand in mind, and chatted about little things with smiles and laughter. When we reached her door, I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

She smiled and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Until later, Seraphina”

“Until later, Varix.”

----------------------------------------

I managed to squeeze in two hours of sleep and woke sluggish, with a headache. My eyes were so dry that my lids felt like they were coated in sandpaper.

I rolled over, stared at the empty room, and thought of Seraphina. It was suddenly easy to get out of bed. I couldn’t help but smile. I knew it had been a gamble to reveal who I was under the pendant, but it had paid off. Better still, she hadn't run away, screaming.

My first stop was to visit The Whistling Kettle. As I stepped inside, I found Milo standing behind the counter, tossing a pair of dice.

“Hey, Mr. Vel’Naris!” He greeted me warmly.

“Coffee. Stat.”

Milo cracked out the coffee and made me a cup.

“How are you doing today, Milo?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking. It's been slow. But Mrs. Qualor asked for coffee, and I made it using your method."

"Did she like it?"

"She did. She said it was lovely that she didn't have to spit out the grounds."

"Mrs. Qualor is right about that."

While Milo made my coffee, I said, "I need help with my new food wagon today. Do you know anyone who would be willing to work day to day? I need someone scrappy, and ready to work under pressure.”

“You already have that person.” Milo smiled. “That’s me.”

“But you have to work here, right?"

Milo stepped from around the counter and walked to the back of the room. He opened a door, stuck his head in, and yelled, “Mom! Mom! Come watch the store!”

"Wait, Milo. You don't have to do that." I protested.

“Mom! You need to watch the shop today. I’m going with Mr. Vel’Naris.”

Milo’s mother, a surprisingly trim woman with a straight back and curly blonde hair, bustled into the shop. "What's this, then?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Mom. Just watch the store. I'm going to help Mr. Vel'Naris here in his tavern kitchen and make some money today."

"Oh?"

I shook my head. "I didn't mean to impose. I asked him if he knew of any help I could hire for the day. I need assistance with some cooking prep work and dishes."

"Busy work and some labor? Is that what you're getting at?"

My face flushed in embarrassment. Come on, Milo!

"Er. Yeah. Like I said, I didn't mean to…"

She looked her son up and down and nodded once. "Go on. Get some experience." Milo's mother also nodded once at me. "I'm glad he's found an apprenticeship."

"Wait. I didn't…"

"Let's go, Mr. Vel'Naris!" Milo grinned enthusiastically and headed for the door.

What had I just gotten myself into?