After the classes ended, I sat at one of the tables near the giant tree, its branches stretching wide overhead. The gates were still shut as the guards finished their "safety check," making sure no elves were waiting outside. I didn’t mind. After everything that happened, my heart wasn’t ready for another ambush. I could wait, no problem.

I pulled two silver coins from my pocket and set them on the table, tapping them idly with my fingers. Just two coins. Nowhere near enough to buy a bow and arrows. I’d have to hunt a rabbit to complete the quest eventually, but without proper gear, that wasn’t happening.

“Rich man over here,” a familiar voice quipped from behind.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Mox strolling up, her wings shifting slightly as she walked. Her grin was sharp, teasing. She plopped into the chair next to me, leaning her elbow on the table like she owned the place.

“People’ll start getting jealous if you keep flaunting that fortune,” she added, flicking a finger toward the coins.

“Yeah, right,” I muttered, still turning one of the coins in my hand. “I need a bow. How much do you think one costs?”

Mox tilted her head, thinking it over. “I’ve got a spare,” she said casually, like it was no big deal. “What are you hunting?”

“Rabbits,” I replied. “Never shot an arrow before, though.”

Her eyes flicked to me, amused. “Oh, so you’re a complete beginner,” she said, leaning back in her chair with a grin. “I could teach you. I’m pretty decent with a bow.”

“What do you want in return?”

“Smart,” she said with a short laugh. “I just picked up a quest from the Guild.”

I glanced at her, waiting for her to explain.

“Gotta deliver two shields and two swords,” she continued, stretching her legs out under the table. “And let me tell you, those things are heavy. Carry them with me, help me deliver them, and I’ll give you the bow.”

“That’s it?” I asked, eyeing her carefully.

“That’s it,” she said, flashing a grin. “Deal?”

“Deal,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. “When are we heading out?”

“As soon as they let us out of here,” she said. “Meet me in front of the girls' dormitory. The weapons are stored there.”

“Hmm.”

Her grin twisted into a mock scowl. “No thanks? No 'appreciate it, Mox?' Just a grunt?”

I didn’t bother answering, letting the silence settle between us. My eyes drifted to the ground as my thoughts wandered to Void 101, that book I’d read. It mentioned that people used to open portals to the Void, but that was back in the "olden days"—whenever that was. Maybe people like that still existed. If I could find them, they might help me get back home. But thinking about it too long made it seem more like a pipe dream than a plan.

Mox let out a long sigh, clearly bored. She kicked her legs under the table, swinging them back and forth in slow, lazy arcs.

“Can I be honest with you?” she asked suddenly.

“Hmm.”

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. Her gaze pinned me with quiet curiosity. “I don’t think you’re from Kora.”

My eyes flicked up to meet hers, my face still as stone. There it was—that exact problem I’d been trying to avoid. I knew getting too close to people would bring this kind of attention. Should’ve kept my distance. Should’ve kept my mouth shut. But it was too late for that now.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I took a slow breath, keeping my gaze steady. “And what makes you think that?”

“You’re from Kora, but you’ve never hunted with a bow? Never seen a Noxivera before, either,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “Doesn’t add up.”

Her words hung in the air like a blade balanced on its edge.

“Let’s say you’re right,” I said, leaning forward, my voice low and even. “What then?”

She shrugged, her wings giving a faint twitch. “I dunno. Just curious why you’d lie about it.” She leaned back in her chair, watching me with that same cool stare. “It’s not just that, though. Your mana feels… off. I heard about you in class. People said you dropped that Ice Barrier spell after ten seconds… I think it was on purpose.” Her eyes narrowed. “Didn’t want to stand out too much, huh?”

“Why would I do that?” I asked, my eyes sharp on hers.

“Like I said, I don’t know,” she replied, her voice as calm as if we were discussing the weather. She tilted her head, studying me like I was some puzzle she couldn’t quite solve. “You hiding something, Millo?”

I folded my hands on the table, leaning forward just a bit. “And what if I am?”

Her wings twitched, her eyes narrowing as a smile curled at the edge of her lips—not a friendly one. Leaning forward, she pressed both hands onto the table, her gaze locked on mine like she was sizing me up. I stayed put, my face blank, refusing to rise to whatever challenge she thought she’d set. If she wanted to push me, she’d be disappointed.

Her mouth opened like she had more to say, but after a pause, she leaned back in her chair instead. Her wings gave another flick, but she didn’t press further. I quietly exhaled, keeping my relief hidden. Lying in a world I barely understood was already hard enough. The last thing I needed was someone like her digging into it.

No matter how I looked at it, she had enough clues to piece things together. My story was full of cracks, and I knew it. The longer I stayed here, the more tangled the lies would get. I needed something more solid, something that would stick.

A teacher’s voice called out from across the courtyard, sharp and clear. “You can all go out now. Everything is safe.”

Mox’s chair scraped against the ground as she stood. Her wings shifted as she stretched, glancing at me. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I got up, shoving my hands into my pockets. My gaze stayed ahead, watching the doors swing open. “You were right,” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the path ahead. “I’m not from Kora.”

Her pace slowed just enough for her to glance at me, eyebrows raised. “Knew it.”

“I went there to see if there was anything worth taking after the attack,” I said, the lie already forming as I spoke. “But a goblin spotted me, so I ran.”

“A scavenger, huh?” She tilted her head, watching me like she wasn’t sure if I was clever or just pathetic.

“Not a thief,” I said firmly, matching her gaze. “I used to live in a hut outside Kora. Then one day, a bandit group showed up, ransacked my home, and chased me into the woods.” I glanced to the side, my voice quieter now. “I ended up near Kora, but the villagers didn’t care. They called me a freeloader, a thief. Beat me up and threw me out.”

Her grin faded. Her eyes shifted toward me, and this time, she didn’t look amused. “That’s rough,” she muttered.

“Yeah,” I said, brushing my thumb over the edge of my sleeve like it was nothing. “There were two Noxivera in that crowd. They did most of the… damage. So, when I saw you back in the street that day…” I hesitated, glancing at her wings. “I thought you were one of them. Thought maybe you followed me.”

“Thought I was after you?” she asked, her tone more curious than offended.

I nodded.

“So, after they kicked you out, what happened?”

“I stayed in a cave for a while,” I said, my gaze distant like I was replaying it in my head. “But hunger’s a nasty thing. I went back to the village hoping maybe… maybe they’d listen this time. But turns out, I didn’t have to. The whole place got attacked.” I rubbed the back of my neck, looking anywhere but at her. “Figured I’d scavenge for supplies. That’s when the goblin spotted me.”

“Yikes,” she muttered, folding her arms. Her gaze lingered on me for a second too long, her eyes sharp with thought.

“Yeah,” I said. “Fun times.”

“Why lie about it?” she asked, her steps matching mine as we neared the doors. “That’s not even that bad of a story. Just tell people.”

I shook my head. “Don’t want them knowing I was alone in the forest. A loner.” I muttered. “Can you keep this between us?”

Her wings shifted, giving a lazy flap as she glanced up toward the sky like she had to think it over. “Fine,” she said with a shrug. “But only if you follow through on helping me with this quest.”

“Deal,” I said, stepping through the double doors as they creaked open. The world outside stretched wide with the afternoon sun catching the rooftops and cobblestone streets. The fresh air hit my face, cool but welcome. “Thanks, Mox.”

“Don’t mention it,” she said, walking ahead with her hands behind her head. “No, seriously—don’t mention it. People start thinking I’m nice, I’ll never hear the end of it.”