Neri reappeared, sliding back into the chair next to Iris with a determined look in her eyes. “Alright, I'm just going to ask. Helda mentioned you're starting a guild for this whole adventuring thing. I want in.”

Iris raised an eyebrow at the young woman, exchanging a glance with Kaira before turning her attention back to Neri. “Why? You have a good life here in Cosdale, don't you?”

The young telv woman took a deep breath, her gaze never wavering. “Iris, I've only ever known Cosdale. I've watched you, what you've done, how you've saved this town–”

“Some might argue that it's my fault the town was in danger in the first place..." Iris mumbled as memories of the drakyyds flashed through her mind.

Neri dismissed her comment with a wave of her hand. “You can't listen to them. They don't know what they're talking about. I saw you day in and day out, Iris. When you were at your lowest. You have a fire in your eyes now. What I see... I see someone who changed her life around and is now changing the world, and I want to be a part of that.

“I want to see the cities beyond these fields. I want to do something worthwhile, not just serving drinks and cleaning rooms. Let me join you.” Her voice was filled with a quiet desperation and hope that Iris found herself unable to ignore.

Iris considered Neri's words and her earnest expression, weighing her options. After a long moment, she finally shrugged. “Alright, Neri. Once the guild officially forms, I'm sure we can find a role for you. However, we're currently on a quest and won't be heading straight to Brightburn.”

Just as she finished, Helda appeared by their side. “Don't worry about that,” she reassured, her voice filled with warmth as she addressed Neri. “We'll ensure you make it to Brightburn safely.”

Iris looked up at Helda with a grateful smile. But the older woman's gaze was stern as she turned to Neri. “Get back to work, girl. You haven't left yet, and people are clamoring for their food.” Neri nodded and scurried off, leaving Iris and Helda at the table.

Iris glanced over at where Akane had been sitting, her eyes widened as the kitsune was not where she last saw her.

Her head jerked around to look for the kitsune, but Helda waved her off. “She went outside, presumably to see Mocha.”

Once Neri was out of earshot, Helda turned to Iris with a hard look in her eyes. “She’s looked up to you ever since you stumbled into my inn all bruised up and showed her magic that first time all those seasons ago. I trust you'll do right by that girl, Iris. If not, I won't hesitate to trek up to Brightburn and whip your scrawny human ass.”

“You know I will, Helda. I’ll take care of her,” she promised. At the woman’s look, Iris smiled and then sniffed in faux outrage. “Also, these arms are all muscle with magic coursing through my veins. I’m a badass. I am not scrawny. ”

With a playful chuckle, Kaira tilted her head slightly, her eyebrows dancing in a teasing manner as she quipped, “Nope, your body is perfect.”

“Well, if I'm so perfect.” Iris leaned in toward Kaira with a mischievous smirk. “Then you must be the ideal blueprint of a goddess. Because every time I look at you, I feel like I've found heaven.” She then winked exaggeratedly, her smile turning into a grin at the sight of Kaira's surprised and amused expression.

Helda groaned and rolled her eyes at their exchange, standing up to leave. “Who taught either of you how to do this? Please, keep those words for the bedroom. You're going to scare my patrons away with your atrocious flirting.”

Iris raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Our flirting is horrible?”

Helda nodded as she moved away, her parting words echoing around them. “Yes, and ask your singing friend for better lines next time. Now, I need to get back to work.”

The innkeeper stood up, and with a final wave, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Iris and Kaira chuckling at their table.

✦ ✦ ✦

Later that night, as Iris finally lay down to sleep back in the room she had called home for so long, she let out a deep exhale and stared at the ceiling.

The events of the fort played out in her mind, her near-failure against Jonan, the leader of the poachers, standing out most vividly. She had been caught off guard by his magic.

That was twice now that she’d failed at subtlety, and it seemed she really needed to fix her shit.

Arrogance had played a part, she had to admit. She was high-level, and so had grown used to the idea that most would not pose a real threat.

But Jonan, he'd matched her for longer than she'd anticipated.

Then even before that… the sight of seeing Mocha approaching the fort with Akane alone… She took a deep breath as a shudder ran through her. The thought of Mocha risking her life because of Iris's underestimation and lack of ability to keep a handle on Akane… It was almost too much.

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Man, I really messed up.

Again.

No more. It was time she changed.

Again.

She couldn’t keep going like this, with very little regard for others, let alone herself. Brute force and overwhelming firepower were no longer the name of the game, she needed finesse, strategy.

Smarts.

They would be going after the Marauder Prince, and she couldn’t afford any more fuck ups.

She sat up in bed, her hand running through her damp hair, and accidentally undid her hair tie in the process. She groaned in mild frustration while fussing with her hair back into a bun on the top of her head.

Iris nodded to herself. Time was too short to worry about what-ifs, and she could still be a badass without being arrogant or self-destructive.

Her thoughts shifted to Sera, back in Brightburn, working tirelessly to set up the Adventurer’s Guild. Then to the three hopeful adventurers back in Stilstead, who'd been inspired by her. Then Neri, who was willing to leave her familiar life in Cosdale to join the guild.

And then there was Kaira.

She said to take it slow, but more and more she’s signaling that we’re more than what we are…

Kaira, the woman who had dropped everything, a stable life as a captain in the City Guard… all to follow Iris on a quest and join her as an adventurer. Who clearly wanted more, but held back. Not that Iris could blame her.

I haven’t given her a reason to want to move forward. All I’ve shown her is how reckless I can be, how close I am to getting killed.

Who would want that life? Iris knew she wouldn’t. There was a difference between understanding your partner walked a dangerous path, and seeing your partner have a blatant disregard for their own self-preservation.

Then there were Laken, Gryff, and Bree… they’d all followed her and Kaira blindly, despite Iris never really explaining what they were getting into. She had done them a disservice, and it was so easy to forget that just because she had ideas and knew what to expect, others may not.

Sometimes people don’t know what they don’t know.

Finally, her thoughts settled on Mocha.

Oh, Mocha.

Her best friend, her confidante. The one who had stood by her through it all. Who fought a mage because Iris had been caught unawares. She owed Mocha more than she could ever express.

She’s more human than anyone else I’ve met in this world.

She owed Mocha more than she could ever express. She needed to do more for her friend, to show her how much she cared for her.

Maybe I can actually find a true home in Brightburn. Somewhere that doesn’t have Mocha sleeping in some inn’s stables every night.

Iris sucked in a breath, the thoughts of what she should have done settled into her, feeling as though everything… she shook her head. No, she wouldn’t focus on that.

Tomorrow was a new day, and this time… Iris would be ready to take a step forward. To truly become the woman she needed to be.

Too many people were counting on her now.

And she needed to show them that they were right to trust in her. To trust in Iris Stuart–not Iris Stuart the wannabe hero, but the woman who happened to be an adventurer.

As she laid her head back on the pillow, exhaustion of the past however many hours since she slept before the attack on the fort finally catching up to her, the thoughts that had been at the forefront of her mind finally faded away.

There was a point where you became so exhausted that you couldn’t sleep, then when that time finally passed, sleep came suddenly, wrapping her in its welcoming embrace.

A voice echoed in her head, but she was too far gone in the world of dreams to register it.

[Storm Warden – Step 50 attained!]

[Conditions Met: Trait – Telekinesis obtained!]

✦ ✦ ✦

Morning dawned on the inn, casting a warm, inviting glow through the windows while the sounds of early risers mingling with Helda’s staff could be heard, echoing up the stairs. Iris, armored and ready to go, emerged from her room, stepping into the hallway just as Bree did the same.

The sun elf woman looked anything but well-rested.

Her face was pale and her eyes were squinted shut against the light. A low groan slipped past her lips, the unmistakable sound of a hangover. Seeing her discomfort, Iris couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. After all, the spirited singing from the previous night had gone hand in hand with ample libations.

“Bree,” she called out gently. “Go see Helda. Ask her for her hangover cure. It’ll make you feel better.” Iris had been a repeat customer of the remedy before and wholeheartedly recommended it to anyone.

The elf nodded in understanding, another groan escaping her as she moved to follow Iris down the stairs. Her steps were sluggish and unsteady, and fairly reminiscent of a zombie–a clear contrast to Iris’s vibrant stride.

“Don’t worry about us,” Iris added, glancing over her shoulder. “We’ll gather everything and wait for you outside.”

Her words seemed to offer some comfort to Bree, who nodded once more before disappearing toward the tavern in search of Helda. Iris couldn't suppress a small chuckle as she aimed the opposite way toward the entrance, intent on getting everything prepared for the next stage of their quest.

As Iris walked outside, she found the rest of her group already busying themselves. Laken and Gryff were lifting and loading supplies onto their sturdy wagon, their brows furrowed in concentration.

A few feet away, the two mundane horses were standing together, appearing a bit skittish as they eyed the owlbear trying to assist Laken and Gryff. The owlbear would carefully pick up a box and hand it to the men who took them with wary smiles, while Laken was heaping praises onto the large creature.

Kaira was off to the side, focused on adjusting the fit of Mocha's barding, her fingers expertly fastening the buckles and securing the plates.

Iris stepped forward to join them when suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her sides, causing her to shriek in surprise and jump away.