Sylvia Talgan’s POV

“Mmmmhmm…mmm,” I hummed to myself as I dusted the top of the shelves in the kitchen.

It was the first time I had ever held a feather duster, but it was pretty easy to use. Just flick the wrist a few times, and the dust rolled down and…right into my face. I let out an annoyed sigh more at myself than the duster. I honestly don’t know why Kaladin was so adamant about cleaning our dorm room with just the three of us.

If we had even two or three more hands, things would be over in a blink of an eye. Mila was also a small child, so her being expected to clean thoroughly for the first time in her life wasn’t realistic. And I know I’m not perfect.

I can count the hours I’ve spent cleaning on two hands. It’s just something that Kaladin always did for me, which I did feel bad about. So in order to make up for my pathetic cleaning skills, I offered to do the laundry for us while we still lived here in the dorms.

The laundry was easy, and just a bit of washing and some time left to dry, and you could always tell when it was clean. But cleaning a room was different. Every time I dusted something, it felt like something else got dirty, and if I looked at something at just the right angle, I could see the dust on that, so I felt the need to well…dust it.

It was a never-ending cycle of dusting and wiping…shouldn’t I be better at this? Isn’t this what a mother…wait…come to think of it. I never saw my mother dust a single thing ever…huh.

There was a loud thump and a squeal of surprise followed by a throaty cough. I turned around from atop the counter and just watched as I felt a smile form on my face.

“Mila, be more careful with the duster, okay? You don’t have to be so aggressive with it,” Kaladin chided with a thin smile as he held Mila by the back of her apron, suspending her in the air.

It looked like Mila got a face full of dust and bumped into the table and nearly fell. But Kaladin caught her before she could fall. It was somewhat funny watching Mila dangle helplessly in the air as he held her there with ease.

Is this why he got us aprons? I don’t really get it, but he was also rather insistent on that part. I guess it does stop our clothes from getting dirty.

“Sylvia? Is something wrong?” Kaladin asked.

I looked back up from the pink apron and caught Kaladin staring at me with a blank expression. Mila craned her neck enough to look at me and mimicked her father’s face. It was adorable enough to make my heart ache.

I just smiled. “Not at all,” I told him as I returned to dusting.

I think I understand what Kaladin wanted now…

I moved to the next set of tall cabinets and just listened quietly as Kaladin instructed Mila on the finer points of cleaning. He was gentle in his explanations, and even if Mila made a mistake, he never got angry and instead would repeat the process until she understood it. Kaladin really was a good teacher when he wanted to be.

I also snuck plenty of glances at him, and all of them made me smile. It was refreshing to see Kaladin smile at even the most minor things now. Even if he wasn’t doing anything at all and just wiping down the floor, he still had a light in his eyes that just wasn’t there a few years ago.

Come to think of it, Kaladin really has changed a lot, hasn’t he? Even more so recently.

The grumpy and brooding boy that only responded with a few words at a time was long gone and was replaced by an almost unrecognizable man. At first, things started small. Trying to compare Kaladin to when we were in the dungeon was a night and day difference, so it wasn’t even worth comparing.

But it felt like, after the dungeon, Kaladin started changing just a little bit, at least around me. Around that time, he began to trust me a little more, or so it felt. He said what was on his mind or confided in me if he had a problem. But it wasn’t until we met the Pruits at the ranch did I get to see a different side of Kaladin.

Ealric and Myla, the two children, were able to slice a small hole into the stoic Kaladin’s heart while we were there. At the time, I would have never imagined Kaladin spending any time with a child. I thought he would have grown sick and tired of them, but that never came to pass.

Even though his face back then was covered by his mask, I still remember getting the impression that he enjoyed being around those children. That was also around the time that things started to change for us. Sometimes I still have fond dreams about that night when he prepared a gift for my birthday. It was nothing more than that silly little cake with melted chocolate, but it was one of the best gifts I had ever received.

I remembered my birthdays growing up somewhat, even if they were just blurs of the past. It’s not like I hated birthdays or my family. It’s just…none of them drummed up the same feelings in me as what Kaladin did for me.

Is that just because of love? Maybe. But who cares?

But it wasn’t until we reached Luminar did things start to change genuinely, albeit slowly. Even his nightmares started to lessen around that time. He stopped waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, forcing me to pretend to be asleep as I felt his intense stare. It was a bit exasperating watching him mingle with the other students. He was awkward, blunt, and rough around all the edges. He was just socially awkward to the point it hurt.

Regardless, he never stopped trying. Of course, it probably didn’t help that he decided to befriend some of the most eccentric, or should I say, “unique” people at Forward University. But for what it was worth, that was probably a good thing in the long run. Only those with a few hits to the head could have called Kaladin a friend back then.

Not that I'm one to talk. At least Kaladin made friends where I failed. I tried, but I just ended up burning that bridge down over an argument…that I ended up being right about, but that doesn’t matter. I’m not a sore loser…I was just right, and we made up now, so it’s all water under the bridge as far as anyone is concerned.

Then Mila came into our lives, and that’s when Kaladin started to come into his own. Perhaps he was finally able to focus on something other than the looming threat of his identity being revealed or his family’s possible return. But it was that distraction that Mila brought that let him relax in a way he had never had the opportunity to feel before.

Instead of worrying about what could happen to him, he started to worry about Mila. He made sure that she was clothed, fed, safe, and, most of all, happy. And in doing so, it lightened the burden on his heart and mind. And that distraction became something important to him.

Unfortunately, that was also when the Dragon attacked, seemingly undoing all those months of hard work. He receded into his shell once more and, like a creature, started swatting at anything that approached or threatened him. It was a worrisome time, where I really thought we would have to start over again.

But that never came to be as he bounced back with the help of everyone around him. Of course, I did my best to support him at the time, reassuring him that he was loved by not only me but everyone around him. That he wasn’t the monster that he thought he was.

And then his family came, and Kaladin was finally able to relax after what must have been years of stress, and now that one of his most pressing life concerns had been lifted, things started to move in other directions. I finally told him how I felt, and although he didn’t tell me he loved me back, he didn’t reject me either. Which, in hindsight, was what I should have expected from him. But I knew that my feelings had reached him. Of course, he also had some drama with his family, but I never pried too deep into that. And looking back, it seemed he handled most, if not all, of it.

Well, there was one lingering thing from his past that is bothersome, but that can be handled in other ways later…damn vixen.

Then Kal’s birthday happened, it was an embarrassing ordeal for me, but it had a profound effect on him. He told me all about it, seeing his old comrades and talking to the Moon Mother. It was a lot to take in, and I was afraid it would change him again for the worse, but I was wrong. On the contrary, it seemed to have changed him for the better.

Kaladin has been acting differently recently, in a positive way.

I snuck another glance back at him, and he was just as he had been, smiling to himself as he helped Mila. Kaladin has even begun to dabble in other ways socially. For example, he made jokes without prompts or even downright teasing people just for fun, something he never did before.

The memory of him calling me pretty as the moon has been engraved into my soul forever. I was so surprised that I couldn’t believe it was him. It was the first time that he had complimented me in such a way that felt… different. It was like it came from another place than usual.

Kaladin had complimented me before but never like that. Sometimes I even purposely fish for compliments from him, knowing full well that I’m embarrassing him or intentionally attracting his eye. It’s just that he was so dense I felt that I had to remind him that I was still there.

I mean, what else did he think when I came out of the bath with next to nothing on, I’m not dumb. I wanted him to stare at me. It helped remind me that he still held an interest in me and also reminded him that I existed.

Even so…everything he does now with me feels different. He hugs me tighter than before. I catch him staring at me occasionally, but the gaze feels different than before. He makes comments on what I wear, even if it's nothing special. He doesn’t seem to mind me getting closer to him.

Is this his way of saying that he loves me now? Has he finally accepted me? He hasn’t kissed me yet or said that he loved me out loud.

I mean, it’s a rather roundabout way, but it is what Kaladin would do. I would have preferred it if he just came out and said it. It would make me feel a lot better and put my heart to rest. But I can tell he was trying. Well, this was fine for now. Pushing him any further might scare him off, and I’m immensely enjoying this peaceful life with him.

But I looked down at my hands. Had I changed? Looking at Kaladin, anyone would say he has become a better person, but what about me? I made a simple promise to myself to love Kaladin and Mila, to show them that I both cared deeply.

And I can say I succeeded in that just based on our relationship. Mila and I have grown far closer than what we once were. I might not be her favorite person, but nobody is going to be able to take that title away from Kaladin, not until she grows up and has a family of her own. But…

Have I….become a better person? After all this time, have I changed into somebody to be proud of? I…I’m not sure that I can say that, can I?

“Alright, that’s the bathroom and the living room cleaned. Are you done, Sylvia?” Kaladin called out to me.

“I uh, yeah,” I said in surprise as Kaladin knocked me out of my train of thought. “I am…done, apparently…” I muttered in disbelief.

I’ll have to become a better person for not only these two but for myself as well. Just how do I get about doing that?

Somewhere along the line, I had finished dusting and wiping down all the counters before I even knew it. I hadn’t even realized I was done. I guess time escapes people during moments like these.

I wish this could last forever.

“Good, now onto the bedrooms. Shall we do yours or mine first?” Kaladin asked me with a raised eyebrow.

…

…

Crap, I’m done for.

I laughed nervously. “How about we do yours first? That should be fine, right?”

Kaladin shrugged. “If that’s what you want. There shouldn’t be much to clean, though.”

And Kaladin was right. There was very little to clean in his cell he called a room. A little bit of dusting and mopping was all it needed.

“Mila, can you rip the bedsheets off?” Kaladin asked.

“Okay,” she answered back as she began ripping the sheets off while giggling.

But honestly, we had been living here for over a year at this point, yet he hadn’t bothered to add anything to the place he slept. He used the same bedsheets and the same table. The walls were barren, and there was nothing in that room that was Kaladin’s.

I’m not one to talk, but at least my room feels like my room and not a prisoner’s cell.

“Kaladin, would it kill you to put something in your room? Anything? Like even a painting or maybe a portrait on that wall?” I suggested as I wiped his nightstand off.

“A portrait, huh…” he mused as he rubbed his chin. He looked at Mila and then at me. “That’s not a bad idea,” he said with a satisfied nod.

“That was easier than—”

Thump.

Kaladin and I turned to the sound to find Mila rolling across the ground. She had tugged too hard on one of the corners and fallen off the bed and into the pile of sheets, she made. Thankfully she wasn’t hurt, but she immediately looked back in shock, like she was surprised at the turn of events.

I looked at Kaladin, and he just had a wry smile on his face, which Mila must have taken as a sign of an impending lecture. She quickly dived under Kaladin’s bed while laughing. Kaladin let out a sigh that was more for show than anything as he walked over to the bed and started reaching under it.

“Get out here, you little—” Kaladin’s words stopped in his throat as he pulled Mila out by her legs.

“Daddy, what’s this?” Mila asked innocently while holding up a dirty and wadded-up towel. Even from here, I could see the crusty stains. I didn’t want to imagine the smell. I thought this was nothing more than a lousy rumor about men.

Everything after that happened in a blur. He grabbed Mila by the apron, dragged her out, and tossed her in the pile of sheets. Then, in one swift motion, he launched the undesired item out the window, followed by the fastest Fireball I had seen him cast, disintegrating the thing in one go, and slammed the window shut.

Mila tossed the sheets off her head and looked up at her father with a pouting face. “Daddy! Why did you do that!”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“It was nothing, don’t worry about it,” he said, patting her head.

Mila seemed not to care anymore as she nestled into Kaladin’s hand, melting away with a dopey smile. Kaladin turned his head slowly to me and looked at me with an expressionless face. I decided to say nothing on the matter, not only not to embarrass him but for Mila’s innocence.

Besides…things weren’t looking good for me either. I just hope he extended the same courtesy to me.

We finished up in his room, and the moment we opened the door to mine, I felt the regret and embarrassment wash over me. Mila and Kaladin just stood in the doorway without saying a word. I could still see all the clothes tossed around on the floor…it was terrible, and I knew it.

“You know, I used not to care what you did in your room because it was your space. But I think we both need to set a better example for Mila,” Kaladin said solemnly.

I poked him in the back somewhat hard. “After what I did, you are going to betray me like this?” I hissed.

But I knew his words were nothing short of the truth. I used to not care about my room because, well, why would I? It’s not like it was filthy beyond recognition. It was just a room that someone clearly lived in…and people made messes…not everyone was a neat freak like Kaladin.

Mila looked back at me with pity, and my heart sank. “I—I’ll do better…this won’t happen again. I’ll even clean the entire room by myself, I promise.”

“Good because—” Kaladin trailed off as we all looked at the door. Somebody was knocking.

“I’ll get it,” he said as he went to open the door.

On the other side was a tall man in a professional-looking black and red robe. His deep blue eyes hid behind a thin pair of reading glasses, and his face was the standard of Elven beauty, with his sharp jawline flanked by long blonde hair. Even so, he wasn’t a full-blooded Elf, barely even half, evident by his short, almost Human-like ears.

“Good morning, JD. What brings you here? Shouldn’t you have let yourself in?” Kal asked in a friendly tone.

JD let out a sigh and adjusted his glasses with a single finger. “I thought I apologized for that, Sir Shadowheart. I just let Miss Mila into your room because she requested to see her father. I thought nothing of it,” he said in a tone of voice that matched his attire.

JD was Bowen’s right-hand man and personal assistant. With how busy Bowen was, it was no wonder we had never met this man earlier. However, we have become acquainted as he is the man who is essentially running the Dragonheart Foundation in our stead.

“It’s fine. I’m really not bothered by it,” Kaladin said back to him.

JD narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow only to shrug. “I have arrived with news for both of you in various states. For one, I have arrived here under orders from the Headmaster. Please read this notice as it will pertain to both of you and will help explain the following change in schedule.”

Kaladin nodded as JD handed him an envelope. Kal ripped it open and scanned it for a moment before nodding to himself. “I guess the queen is finally making her move, huh?”

JD looked confused but nodded. “I see…you don’t seem surprised, which means that you knew beforehand… interesting, considering this is coming as a surprise to literally everyone,” he mused.

I walked over, and Kaladin handed me the paper. I only needed to read the first few lines to let out a surprised grunt. I thought I had misread the Human language twice and reread it for the third time, but the ink was there, and it had set.

“The crown is moving the tournament to another city this late? Is she crazy? Isn’t this going to piss everyone off? The tournament is in less than two months,” I said out loud.

JD shrugged and eyed me. “I shall ignore the insult to Her Majesty because even I question this sudden change. This will undoubtedly anger many people, and many businesses will have to be reimbursed not to anger the populace. I can not fathom Her Majesty’s plan this time around. Anyway…” he trailed off, purposely stepped in, and handed me an envelope.

“This is for you via Her Majesty and the Foundation. Please read it, President Sylvia, and prepare accordingly. If you require assistance, you know where to find me and who to ask. I apologize for the late notice,” JD said with a slight bow.

“Thanks,” I grumbled as I ripped open the letter and read it. And all I could do was sigh. “I get it. I’ll start thinking of something.”

Kaladin looked at me expectantly. “It’s an…invitation to speak at the school’s opening ceremony to announce the Dragonheart Foundation and its founding message.”

“Oh, that should be fun,” Kal muttered with a nod.

No! It’s not going to be fun at all!! All those people… will stare at me, and it’s…I can already tell it’s going to be a real pain…

“Seems we shall be busy for some time,” JD muttered with a tired expression.

“Speaking of busy…did you ever send that notice to hire out?” Kal asked.

JD nodded once. “I did, Sir. It was some time ago, and although I did not prioritize the notice as urgent, I should receive an answer soon.”

“Good, hiring her will be important,” Kaladin said with a satisfied nod.

“What is going on?! Kaladin! Is that you?!” a voice echoed out in the hall.

“It appears Princess Lauren is not pleased,” JD muttered. “I shall take my leave as I now have a mountain of work to accomplish. Good day to the Shadowheart family,” he said politely with a bow.

“Bye-bye, Mr. Nice Man!” Mila said with a little wave.

JD, who remained relatively placid in his expressions, let a smile form on his lips as he waved back to her. Lauren waltzed right by JD and held up her own notice to us. “What is this!? Do you know about this?!” she demanded.

Sigh…here we go again…

—

Kaladin Shadowheart’s POV

We finished talking with the complaining Lauren, dropped our linens and bedsheets off to be washed by the school, and went back to my parent’s home. It was a fun day of cleaning, for sure. However, seeing Mila and Sylvia in their aprons was just the sight I was hoping for. I even got the idea of having a portrait of them painted just to commemorate the occasion.

Even with the announcements souring the day, it wasn’t the end of the world. It was inevitable, but things would start to pick up, and life would become busier. I had just hoped I could at least breeze through the start of my final school year, but luck was not on my side.

I swung Mila’s hand up and down, much to her enjoyment, until we reached the front door. There wasn’t much point in knocking, so we just unlocked it and went inside to find an odd…gathering of sorts.

Mom was embracing Cerila and just rubbing her back gently. Padraic looked unbothered, and Dad just watched on alongside Dallin. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. For some reason, I thought this was a goodbye. Thankfully, my heart settled quickly as it didn’t seem to be anything like that, considering Cerila was just wearing regular clothes.

Cerila turned around, and our eyes met. I couldn’t help but feel awkward with her gaze, but she also averted her eyes in embarrassment. It was just good to see her, as it had been a few days. She looked tired, but she didn’t look like she had lost her mind anymore, and she was better clothed. It was a relief to see her back to normal.

Cerila took a deep breath and walked over to us. She went straight to the floor, placing her forehead firmly onto the ground as she raised her black tablet to me. I quickly read the tablet.

I’m deeply sorry about what I have done and what I tried to do to you. I can’t even begin to ask for forgiveness for attacking you, Kal. Please, I’m…

I stopped reading after that and knelt down. I tapped her on the head, and she looked up at me with watery eyes.

I signed.

Relief washed over her face, and she looked about ready to cry. She hesitantly reached out to me but pulled back. So instead, I took the step and just hugged her. There wasn’t any reason to be mad at her. Cerila didn’t attack me because she wanted to.

Although I wished she wouldn’t push herself to such lengths anymore, I understood why she first took the drug, but sequential doses were unnecessary. Although I’m hardly one to tell her that, considering I’ve taken drugs when the need arose.

Cerila shuttered in my embrace but hugged me back. I gave her one final squeeze and stood up as I had a feeling this wasn’t the end of her apology.

Cerila quickly picked up the tablet that she had let fall and cleared it, and quickly began writing on it with a practiced finger. She stood in front of Sylvia, and I watched as she clenched her hand tight, no doubt frustrated. But even so, Cerila did the same, bowing her forehead to the floor and extending the tablet to Sylvia.

The tablet read much the same. Cerila apologized for causing problems and thanked Sylvia for helping her despite knowing the risk. Sylvia let out a tired sigh and looked more fed up than angry.

“Just…gah…get up, will you? It’s not your fault,” Sylvia said begrudgingly.

Now that’s a surprise. I was expecting Sylvia to be far angrier than this.

Sylvia’s crimson eyes locked onto me, and she glared at me. “What’s with that stare, huh?” Then she looked around the room to equally surprised stares. “What? Are all of you surprised?! I’m not that heartless! I’m the one that healed her, so I know that something was wrong! She wasn’t in the right mind! I can’t be mad at someone for something like that!” she pleaded in her defense.

“I guess you are making some sense,” Padraic grumbled louder than he should have.

Sylvia sent a glare his way, and Padraic immediately stared into the corner of the room. Cerila was already getting up slowly, but Sylvia pointed a slim pale finger at her. “However! I—damn, what was the hand gesture again? Crap…it goes like…uh…whatever!”

Sylvia tossed her hands up, her attempt at Sign Language failed quite spectacularly. On the other hand, it was impressive that she had learned any amount of Sign Language, given it's only been a few months.

“You can read my lips, so it doesn’t matter,” Sylvia grumbled as she looked down at Cerila with narrowed eyes. “Although you may have been out of your mind and what you did was out of your control, the reason it happened was your fault. Don’t take that stupid drug anymore because you are going to cause more problems. If you do it again, I won’t help you. And if you ever hurt Kaladin again, I’ll—” Sylvia stopped herself as she looked over at Mila, only to let out an annoyed sigh and wave her hand dismissively.

Cerila looked hurt by the curt response, but she nodded her head obediently and stared at the floor.

I was about to help her up, but she stood up on her own and walked away back up the stairs. Perhaps she wasn’t fully recovered yet, or maybe this was just a bit too much for her right now. But I was thankful for the apology nonetheless.

And it was also hard to refute Sylvia, as she wasn’t wrong. It would be best if Cerila never took that drug again. And at this rate, I don’t think she ever will.

“Well, that went way better than expected,” Padraic chuckled.

Mom slapped Padraic quickly upside the head. “Don’t be rude now, Padraic. That was a genuine apology that took a lot of courage,” Mom chided.

Padraic rolled on the floor and was already whining. “I know my mothers said you could hit me, but please hold back! My precious skull isn’t as thick as your sons! I can’t deal with that kind of damage!” Mom responded with a light kick to his back.

Back to normal, it seems.

—

Priestess Melori’s POV

“Var, eat your potatoes. It’s good for you,” I scolded.

“Yes, Sister…” the young boy groaned as he poked the potato with his fork.

I moved on to the next kids to ensure they were all eating. It’s been some time since Sir Winterheart gave us funds to move and feed ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s been long enough that some of the children have forgotten their manners. Only some food was grown on trees, but all food cost money, which we could not afford to waste.

I have been living frugally with the money our savior Sir Winterheart bestowed upon us. His generous donation has changed the lives of every single child I cared for, mine included. We went from living in a run-down church in the worst part of town to something far more humble and safe.

The children had a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and a fireplace to keep them warm in the winter. We even had the luxury of separating the kids by age to have their own rooms. The kids even had beds, something not even I had enjoyed in all my life. Long gone were the cold straw “beds” we used that were nothing more than mats on the bone-chilling stone floor.

Life was a hundred times better because of the kindness of a single man. I can only pray that he is doing well in the world, wherever he may be. I also do hope he will visit again soon. The children miss him dearly and often ask about him.

Knock.

Knock.

“A visitor this late in the night?” I muttered.

“Is it Mr. Voker!?” Nria shouted in excitement, dropping her spoon into her stew.

I just smiled warmly at the young girl. “Probably not, dear. Mr. Voker is a very busy and important adventurer, after all.”

Nria deflated into her seat and puffed her cheeks out. Despite her usual calm and collected demeanor, the girl always got excited at the prospect of seeing Mr. Winterheart again. Even mentioning his name was enough to make her and many of the others smile.

Knock.

Knock.

“I’ll go check,” a young man said, pushing himself out from the chair and scratching his black hair.

His name was Craith, a young local landowner who sold us this building for an unbeatable price after hearing our story. He has been nothing short of kind since then, even going so far as to help the children in their studies as well as helping around the home. He even went as far as to have three of our children adopted into well-off families, something I thought I would never see, and he made sure that the process was smooth and that they were a good match for each other.

Craith went to open the door and immediately took a step back in shock. Even from behind him, I could see the robed man in black and red being illuminated by the torch. He was flanked on both sides not by typical city guards but by Royal Guards, unmistakable with their golden armor. I had only ever seen them in parades before. Why they were here only lent me to worry.

Have they finally come for us? Some of these children are not citizens of Luminar… I also heard that Amon-Ra churches were being pushed out by the kingdom, but we are no longer a church! Or are they here to audit us for the money Mr. Winterheart gave us? Are we in trouble?! This can’t be!

The bald, robed man peered into the building with cold eyes. He seemed the exact type of taxman one did not want to quarrel with. He seemed to be the worst type of person. But much to my surprise, the man put on a smile that did not match his face.

“It appears there is a severe misunderstanding judging by your stares. There is nothing to be concerned about,” he said calmly yet kindly. The man slightly dipped his head in greeting. “I am Faboren Wyll, an appointed, albeit temporary, member of the Dragonheart Foundation. And I am here on the directive of the Vice President. Is a Melori present within the residence today?”

Vice President? Dragonheart Foundation? I…don’t understand a thing he is saying. But maybe I judged him too harshly. Years of being defensive may have hurt my soul.

Regardless, I took a step forward and stood a little taller. “Good evening, My Lord. I am Melori,” I said with a bow.

“Ah, good evening, and please, I am a humble noble and do not ask that you lower yourself for me. I apologize for the late arrival. I deemed that this message should reach you sooner rather than later. Please, if you may be inclined to hear me out, I have come with an offer from Vice President Shadowheart. He has named you specifically and wishes to hire you for the Dragonheart Foundation. The details are in this missive. Please read them thoroughly before making any kind of judgment, Miss Melori. Your response is not immediately required and can be given whenever you so please. However, suppose you do not decide within the next three days. In that case, I shall be leaving for the capital, and you can reach us by simply penning a letter through the Adventurers Guild directed at the Dragonheart Foundation,” Faboren Wyll explained with a smile as he handed me a sealed envelope.

A humble noble being guarded by the Royal Guards? I find that hard to believe even as a simple priestess. He must be an important man.

The man took a step back and bowed deeply. “I once again apologize for imposing on you so late in the night. I look forward to your favorable response.” Faboren Wyll motioned with his hand, and his guards followed behind him wordlessly.

I just held onto the letter, more confused than anything. I didn’t know what to say to the man or what to even comment on. There was so much I wanted to know, but I had a feeling that most of my questions would be answered within this missive.

“A job? Are you…going to take it?” Craith asked me with a worried look.

I just smiled at his concern. “I don’t think I will, but I should at least read what it’s about. Besides, this Vice President Shadowheart… seems to be a Dark Elf with a similar name to our savior. I wonder if they are perhaps related…”

All the children still eating at the dinner table gave me worried looks, but I just smiled and told them to continue to eat dinner before it got cold. I examined the red wax seal, it looked to be that of a dragon claw grasping a beating heart. So without waiting, I opened the letter and began reading it, only for tears to start flowing down my cheeks. It was a lengthy missive, but I had to power through until the end. And when I got there, I could believe what I had read.

I…just can’t believe this…I…this is beyond my wildest dreams…he…did all of this and still thought of the children? Of me? After all this time?

"Sister, what’s wrong?” Var asked from beside me. “Why are you crying? Did that man make you sad?”

I wiped the tears with my sleeve and patted Var on the head. “Not at all. These are tears of happiness,” I choked out.

“Is it…good news? Craith asked me.

“It’s the best news I could have ever hoped for in this life.”