Talia stood on the balcony of her guild tower. Wind whipped her hair and cloak like she was trying to shoot a dramatic movie.

Below, the busy streets of the guild’s town stretched out. But Talia was focused on the horizon. Somewhere out there was Drudgery Village. Even the name sounded awful.

She flicked a CaptureCube. Blue flash.

A huge MagicBeast appeared. A sleek bird with shiny feathers that looked a little too proud. The bird looked at her with an intelligence that almost matched hers. Almost.

“You’ll do,” Talia said, nodding. “Fast, quiet, and—” She squinted at its sharp talons. “Try not to look too scary, okay? I’m trying to be undercover.”

The bird tilted its head, like it was saying, “Me? Scary?”

Talia climbed onto its back in one smooth jump.

The MagicBeast let out a cry. Something between an “epic battle scream” and a “dramatic seagull.” Then they were off.

The ground blurred below. Fields and rivers zoomed by.

Talia held tight to the bird’s feathers, a big smile on her face. For a moment, she thought maybe she should forget the whole “blend in” plan. Flying into Drudgery village on this beast would make such a cool entrance. Like, “Hey everyone, guess who’s awesome? It’s me.”

But then she remembered the trio. And the villagers.

“Normal people don’t just drop out of the sky on magical creatures,” Talia said. “They walk. Like peasants. Not that I care what they think… But still.”

The MagicBeast gave a soft caw, turning its head to look at her.

“I am not overthinking this,” Talia snapped. “It’s called strategy. Ever heard of it?”

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The bird cawed again. It almost sounded amused.

Talia glared at the bird. “Oh, great. My own ride is making fun of me. If anyone in the guild hears about this, I’m blaming you.”

Drudgery Village came into view. A sad bunch of huts and muddy roads.

Talia groaned. “Ugh. This place makes ‘drudgery’ sound like a dream vacation.”

She tugged the reins. The bird swooped low, landing with a soft thud in some wildflowers.

Talia slid off, brushing imaginary dust off her cloak. The CaptureCube flashed, and the MagicBeast disappeared. But not before tilting its head, like it was saying, “Good luck, you’re going to need it.”

Mud. Everywhere. Talia’s boots sank with every step. “This is why people use carriages. Or horses. Or literally anything else.”

Her cloak snagged on a branch. Again. “Stupid cloak. Stupid mud. Stupid village.” She yanked herself free, glaring at the path ahead. “Not that I’m complaining. This is all part of the plan. Totally fine.”

Up ahead, a farmer appeared with a cart of vegetables. He looked at her curiously as she got closer.

Talia’s mind raced. Okay. Normal peasants. What do they talk about? Weather? Crops? I’ve got this.

“Morning, miss,” the farmer said.

“Weather!” Talia blurted out, startling both of them. “I mean—lovely weather, right? So… weather-y. Very sunny. Or maybe cloudy. Hard to say, really.”

The farmer raised an eyebrow. “Uh, right.”

“And crops!” Talia added quickly, feeling panic rise. “How are your crops? Those are turnips, right? Or carrots?? Root vegetables. Very… nutritious.”

The farmer gave her a strange look. “You feelin’ okay, miss?”

Talia froze. Abort! Abort! “Yes! I’m feeling very… peasant-y! Just a simple traveler, appreciating the humble… turnip!” She spun around and walked away quickly.

Talia’s boots squelched in the mud with every step. She clenched her fists, her face burning red. “Peasant-y?! I said peasant-y?! What is wrong with me?!”

She kicked a rock, watching it splash into a puddle. “No, no. This isn’t a failure. It’s a learning experience. Next time... less talk about turnips. More... normal peasant talk.”

“Greetings, fellow turnip fan?” Talia cringed. “No, that’s worse.”

The path narrowed. Scraggly bushes. Sad flowers. Mud everywhere. Each step made Talia question her choices. “I run a guild. I command an army. And here I am, wading through mud, talking about vegetables. For what? To prove I’m ‘normal’?”

She paused, then quickly added, “Not that I care what they think. I don’t.”

The village gate finally came into view. Sagging wood. Rusty hinges.

Talia took a deep breath. “Focus. I’m here for a reason.” She adjusted her cloak and stood up straight. Which only made her look even more out of place. “I’m blending in. I’m doing great. No one suspects a thing.”

Talia stepped into the village. Determined. Ready for whatever came next. Probably.