The Talon quivered in fear. Judging by his broad shoulders, I assumed he was male, and judging by his innocence, he was young.

“Silence marked the beginning and will mark the end of my life.

Silence marked the beginning and will mark the end of my life.

Silence marked the beginning and will mark the end of my life.”

He repeated the mantra in a hushed, scared voice, trying to reassure himself that his death would be swift and quiet.

I extended my arm toward him and removed his owl mask, revealing a young boy. He couldn’t have been over twenty, for his soft features and eyes were too kind for the profession he was in. His olive green eyes didn’t meet mine; instead, they stared at the blood-soaked ground in terror as he continued to chant.

“What are you doing? Why is he still alive?” Orion charged toward the boy with murderous intent, his eyes bloodshot and his body drenched with the blood of Talons.

“Stand down, Orion!” I commanded, interjecting myself between the two.

“Move, kid,” he warned in a low, almost growling tone.

“Use that thick head of yours and think for a second!” I grabbed him by his collar and yelled, trying to snap him out of his rage. “He may be the only one who knows how to help your dying friend over there,” I said, pointing to Kaela, who lay in an alley where a little girl was doing everything in her power to help her.

“Kaela!” Orion exclaimed, as if the battle had completely made him forget why he fought in the first place.

While he rushed toward her, I grabbed the young Talon off the ground and tied his hands. He didn’t resist; his spirit was already broken. Together, we made our way to Kaela.

The little girl beside Kaela had her hands bloodied from trying to close the wound with a needle and thread likely meant for mending clothes.

“Will she be okay?” Orion asked, his face etched with worry.

“I-I did what I could... However, her veins have been tainted with some form of poison or dark magic; I’m afraid this is beyond me. I’m sorry,” the girl apologized, trying to hold back her tears. Despite her fear, she remained brave.

“You have nothing to apologize for, little mouse. You saved her life, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful,” Orion said as he gently patted her head and then turned his attention to the young Talon.

“What have you done to her?” he growled, then suddenly punched him in the gut.

The force of the blow made the young Talon vomit as he fell to his knees.

“Tell me!” Orion screamed, grabbing the Talon’s hair and yanking his head back to meet his gaze.

“I-I don’t know!” the Talon flinched in fear. “N-no one has survived the Poisonvein daggers, except him,” he stuttered, pointing at me.

“Yes. You died,” Orion said, releasing the Talon and turning his attention to me. “How is that possible?”

“I’d love to tell you my whole story, but if I start talking, your friend here will die before I finish,” I replied.

Orion didn’t respond, just stared at me intensely, creating a tense atmosphere. He didn’t trust me, but that was irrelevant; this was his mess, not mine.

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“I-I’ve read about Poisonvein before!” the little girl beside Kaela broke the tension, excitedly speaking. “In one of my books, it says a leviathan called the Tidal Monarch rests at the bottom of the western seas! Witches and wizards from the magic academy of Vixengaard extract poison from the leviathan and merge it with magic of their own. This results in Poisonvein, which they store in magic crystals and sell at high prices. Your best option is to travel to Vixengaard!”

“But Vixengaard is in the western realms, on the other side of the continent,” Orion said, deep in thought.

Looking at Kaela’s body, it was clear she didn’t have much time left. A journey by horse would take over a hundred days—far too long. Kaela would be long gone within the first few, judging by how she quivered in a cold sweat, her veins now a deep green, indicating she could die at any moment.

"There might be a way to get there faster!" the little girl spoke again, pulling Orion back to reality.

"What is it, little mouse?" Orion asked.

"There's a peculiar man at the far end of Buckleberry who specializes in making portals, or so I've heard. He lives inside a windmill, hard to miss," she explained.

Orion approached her and patted her head once more. "What's your name, little mouse?"

"It's Amelia, sir. Amelia Goodwill," she said proudly.

"I'm Orion. Orion the White," he said, extending his hand, which she gladly took. "May you live up to your last name and forever do good, for you are a kind soul, and that's a rare thing nowadays."

"Yes, sir!" she nodded proudly and merrily.

"Until next time," Orion said softly as he picked up Kaela's unconscious body and began walking away, searching for the windmill.

"I'll come with you," I said, grabbing the Talon from the ground and following close behind Orion.

"I don't remember asking you to," he replied.

"I'm not doing it for you. It's only a matter of time until the fey arrive, and since we committed mass murder in their lands, I'd rather not be here when they show up," I explained.

"Fair enough," he chuckled.

"I'll come too!" Silas chimed in, seemingly out of nowhere. "Wherever you go, I'll follow! By the way, what's your name?"

"It's Valerian," I replied. At the mention of my name, Orion flinched and turned his head toward me before continuing on.

"You've reunited me with my long-lost love, and for the first time in a long time, I have a song in mind," Silas said.

"Well then, let's hear it," I said.

Silas slowly strummed his lute and began a song as we walked through Buckleberry for the last time.

I once set out with a heart full of dreams,

Left my home for the worldly treats,

Thought the world held treasures untold,

But found a story too harsh and cold.

Spent my last coin on a beggar's hand,

Wandered lost in a desolate land,

Found myself in a tavern's dim light,

Where I drank away the endless night.

In the Burping Dwarf, I lost my way,

Dreams and songs turned to shades of gray,

Seven years in a drunken haze,

Forgot my name, my songs, my days.

Then walked in a man with a fire's gleam,

Valerian, like a distant dream,

He sat by my side, with a knowing gaze,

Lit a spark in my hollowed haze.

He reminded me of the songs I knew,

Of the paths I’d wandered, the skies so blue,

In his eyes, I saw my old reflection,

A bard lost in need of resurrection.

In the Burping Dwarf, I found my way,

Dreams revived from the shades of gray,

Seven years in a drunken haze,

Remembered my name, my songs, and my days.

Then the Talons came, with shadows and fear,

In a battle fierce, I shed my tears,

For Valerian fell, in a hero's plight,

But rose again in the dead of night.

In that moment, I saw a tale unfold,

A story greater than any told,

With a heart renewed and songs reborn,

I vowed to follow where he was sworn.

For where Valerian goes, the adventure calls,

In the rise and fall of ancient halls,

Together we'd walk the paths untread,

Chasing dreams wherever we're led.

In the Burping Dwarf, I found my song,

Dreams restored where they once went wrong,

Seven years in a drunken daze,

Now I walk with Valerian, to brighter days.