“So, when are you three exploring your first fable?” Marvin—which Syllis had learnt was the name of Korman’s father—calmly asked, his mouth chock-full of food.

A large smile crept up Syllis’ face.

“Make it four.” Syllis replied to the question that was certainly not aimed for her. She was waiting for this to come up. Ever since Clyde told her that she would be able to break the news.

Aura’s reaction was going to be her reward for suffering through their spar. ‘As if dragging her across the ground wasn’t enough of one.’ Syllis mused.

“Oh? Are you going with them?” Marvin shared a similar, uncanny smile. “You know… Clark was just telling me about your spar with Aura. You seem to be a force to be reckoned with, they will be lucky to have you.”

“I am, and they are.” Syllis spoke, a heavy confidence lingered in the background of her voice. “And of course I’m sure that Aura, having experienced my bond first-hand, will appreciate having me there. Actually, I only signed the contract today.”

As Syllis finished speaking, her gaze lingered on the tan human who had treated her so rudely. Aura awkwardly shifted under the observation of her seafoam eyes.

It was not uncommon for sought after kindred to be recruited to accompany nobles into fable rifts. In fact, nearly every rift they entered would have at least some contracted kindred.

What was unusual was the lack of a non-disclosure clause within her contract, this allowed her to speak freely. Though, Syllis felt like that was exactly what Clark wanted.

If people found out that the Boorne family had a relationship with an unknown kindred that could topple one of the strongest juvenile kindred in Asanoch, then their standing would instantly increase.

There would also be gossip around this unknown kindred and once it was revealed to be Syllis, then her standing would increase. She would likely already become a staple name, and in doing so, the Boorne family’s reputation would grow further.

It was a symbiotic relationship. While Syllis did not completely know whether she wanted to be known yet, this helped her. There would undoubtedly be spars to have her prove her strength, and Syllis enjoyed her spars with these noble kindred more than anything else she had experienced.

So, despite playing right into the hands of Clark deciding not to include the Clause, Syllis decided to plant the seeds.

A man with swamp-like eyes, lifted his chin and spoke.

“I would think that you would consult us before injecting an outsider into their array, Clark.” A disgruntled tone stirred at the edge of his voice.

‘That entire family is a bunch of snakes…’ Syllis hissed internally.

“Do not think that I have not thought this through, Vernon.” Clark’s vision settled on the man, his arms crossed. “If the three of them have not grown fully accustomed to this nymph then she will not accompany them into the rift.

“Or do you believe that I lack the ability to void this contract? Do you believe that this nymph would be able to win against my team of lawyers?” Clark circumvented Vernon’s concerns.

‘He’s just saying this to appease Vernon. He’s just saying this to appease Vernon.’ It took everything the secare nymph had to contain her bubbling rage.

Syllis had a soft spot for the outer ring. Even though she struggled in it for years, it had become the closest thing she had to home. She met all sorts of people out there.

Of course, some were criminals and most were addicts. However, there were also the poor. They were a small minority—nobody moved to Asanoch without money after all—but the government had turned their back on these people.

So, any disrespect towards the outer ring understandably offended the nymph. Syllis had to grip her knee to keep her tolerant of it in this situation.

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Both of Aura’s parents scoffed and rose from the table. Picking up Aura from her seat, they exited the banquet hall.

Syllis felt relieved. The warmth provided over dinner was always interrupted by the Thermans without fail. Every scoff, slight and snarky look ruined the tender atmosphere that had been built up.

“Do not mind the Thermans, they are not the warmest bunch. They will warm up to you.” Linda, Korman’s cute mother consoled the nymph.

‘I don’t need to be coddled.’ She fought the urge to roll her eyes.

“Hah! It might take a while. I can only imagine the scene of you dragging Aura across the ground. It seemed to scar everyone there, they were afraid to tell me about it in front of Cora and Vernon.”

Marvin spoke enthusiastically, in stark contrast to Korman and his mother. The both of them wanted to hide in embarrassment, placing hands overtop their faces.

“If only there was a spectator with an appropriate bond.” Dalea, sighed at the thought.

The rest of the table sighed at her statement, apparently sharing the sentiment.

Syllis only sat, in a slightly awkward spot. ‘If only I’d anticipated what Clark would say… I would have tried harder to get the Thermans to like me. Well, I would have tried at all…’

Clyde chirped aloud, ending the moment of silence. “I for one am glad about Syllis joining us, I am glad to have another talented kindred join us.”

Clyde smiled warmly and raised his glass filled with a light juice into the air. He pretended to clink it before pushing it towards Syllis.

Syllis pushed her similar glass—holding a darker fruit juice—into his, they clanked, the motion causing their drinks to mix slightly.

The enthusiastic boy turned to the secare nymph.

“I am even more excited to show her around Lurgica tomorrow.”

Syllis' face was blank after this statement. Her eyes darted around, intending for someone else to chime in.

‘What the hell is a lurgica?’ She struggled to decipher the word based on the name alone.

Seeing that no one was going to answer for her, she spoke. “And I am excited to visit… Lurgica.” Syllis spoke obtusely.

The group exchanged some slight dialogue as they finished their meals. The once titanic feast, laid out along the equally lengthy dining table, was now ravaged.

Syllis could not help but feel wasteful. ‘This whole table could have lasted me months in the outer ring…”

‘Such a large amount of food, and these nobles scoffed it down in one night. Even if they aren’t the corrupted bunch I expected them to be, they’re ignorant. Or is this a normal amount of food to eat?’

Syllis did not know who was more absurd. ‘Is it the upper class or the outer ring?’

Everyone made their way outside, it was time for the Ceirns to be on their way. A tall carriage that Syllis did not recognize was sitting just outside the front gate. It was painted in a rustic wooden color.

“It was a pleasure to meet you.” Marvin bid her farewell before doing the same to the Boornes.

He then headed towards the carriage. Linda trailed behind him, her orange dress furrowed slightly as she crossed the slightly uneven pathway.

After the carriage left, Syllis exchanged a few pleasantries with the Boorne family before heading to her room.

‘My room…’ Syllis sighed as she flopped onto the made bed. It seemed a maid had found the time to fit her sheets and set the pillows in a fashionable manner.

It still felt absurd to her, that her life could change in such little time. It had only been a little less than a week since her chance encounter with Clyde.

‘Isn’t it funny how something so insignificant at first glance could turn into something so… Well, significant.’

Originally, Syllis was planning to steal a brazier from the cellar. However, the moment she laid on her bed, every bit of fatigue dawned on her.

Syllis had: ended up sparring with Aura, gotten treatment, then had her bi-weekly episode before getting more treatment. All before attending a mentally taxing dinner. She had definitely earned a decent night of sleep.

Syllis stripped down. She had never been able to sleep without wearing her lengthy dress or ramshackle clothing in the outer ring. It was cold, nearly every night.

So, the fact that she now had blankets to keep her warm felt impactful. Enough so that she wanted to experience the comfort of sleeping with fabric grinding against her skin all night.

Syllis smiled, pulling the hefty blanket over herself. She thought about what she was going to do tomorrow: her trip to whatever Lurgica was, her journey into the Boorne’s cellar. Most intriguing was finding out what was hidden within the lightless room.

‘Seriously, what kind of room wouldn’t have lighting when all of the surrounding rooms do? There has to be something bizarre there.’

She thought through various scenarios in her mind as the tired hands of sleep drew near. Until her last, mumbled snippets, she wondered what would be found.

Eventually, the world pulled away and she had her first good sleep in several, long years.