{-Casrane-}
Vureta walked up to the three of them near the end of the celebration. “When do you plan on heading out for Kehnore?”
“I actually think we’re going to spend a little more time here in Kyirius,” Casrane remarked. “I have a feeling there’s going to be a few more things you could use our help with.” Besides, she knew what they’d run into there. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to give them some time to relax or the opportunity to get stronger in order to face the challenges they’d come across.
“I thought this whole party was great and all, but I wanted to give you my own thanks,” Vureta said. “If not just to apologize for dragging you into it to begin with. I can guide you guys back to the city and pay for your night in the inn.”
“Would you mind staying with us for a few moments once we get there?” Llewel asked. “You were the one who wanted to know and I think you’re safe enough to tell, just… once we’re in a quiet place, with as few others listening as possible.” He touched his necklace so they all knew exactly what he was talking about.
Vureta nodded. “I’ve already told them I may be gone for a couple of hours, so it should be fine if I come back a little later. I’ll make sure to let Relenri know you’ll need somewhere far away from the rest of the guests. I’m sure she’ll be able to make something work for you.”
Both the twins gave thankful nods.
They said their final goodbyes to everyone at the base—ultimately offering to come back later, if they ever needed more help—and began their walk to Kyirius City. It wasn’t long before a conversation was started—one Casrane didn’t need to prompt and wasn’t meant to happen.
“There’s one thing I’ve been curious about,” Myr remarked, glancing at Vureta, “and I guess you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Just… why did you really want to go after that ghoul all on your own? If Casrane couldn’t get rid of it quickly, I don’t think there’s much of a chance you could’ve…”
“I’m going to pretend like you didn’t just insult my abilities. I’ll have you know I’m a very reliable scout.” Vureta paused and sighed. “But that’s more or less all I am. I already told you that I wanted them to stop treating me like a kid—I’m the youngest of the group, so apparently that means they ignore the fact I’m still eighteen. My plan was to get rid of the ghoul and prove to them that I was just as amazing as the rest of them. I’m pretty sure they’re only going to think less of me now, since all I did was get outsiders involved…”
“I don’t think the respect of someone isn’t going to come after one achievement,” Llewel pointed out. “The fact that you went alone to begin with would keep at least some of them from acknowledging anything else.”
“But I’m sure you’ll get there eventually!” Myr said reassuringly. She glanced at Casrane. “Right?”
It took her a moment to nod. “Sometimes you just need to be patient.”
She wasn’t sure if she was saying it because of what so many others had said to her, or because she truly believed the advice.
Vureta grinned. “I’m going to keep working at it, then. Next time you come back through Kyirius, I’m gonna have at least a bit more respect earned for myself. Maybe one day, I’ll be a hero here—so you better not forget when it comes time for the heroes to meet again!”
They kept along the lines of casual conversation on their way back to the inn. Casrane, most of the time, was too busy admiring them as they joked around with each other and being themselves to contribute much. It meant that it was working, though perhaps not completely in the ways she’d been expecting.
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It also brought to mind what happened with the ghoul and her father’s words. She hoped that, whenever they looked back at her, they didn’t see those thoughts swirling in her head. No one said a word related to it, at least.
“Welcome to the Kyirius City Inn,” Relenri greeted with a smile. “What can I do for you four today?”
“I’m buying a room for these three,” Vureta explained, gesturing to the others. “Somewhere further away from most of the guests, if it’s possible.”
“As it happens, we don’t have many here right now.” Relenri walked out from behind the counter and gestured towards the stairs. “You’ll get your pick of rooms. I’d recommend some on the end of the hallway, so there’s only neighbors on one side of you.”
Casrane showed gratitude on behalf of all of them. “Thank you.”
Relenri smiled back. “It’s not a problem at all.”
She showed them all of their options until they decided on one. Once she made sure they were all settled in, she announced she’d be at the counter if they needed anything else.
Llewel didn’t spare much time in getting to the point, gesturing to the beds and single chair but sitting in none of them himself. He solemnly touched the necklace, gave a glance around to assure that they were the only ones who would hear it, then began the explanation.
[https://i.imgur.com/6MTld68.png]
“Duuzlo gave these to us when we were young. At first he didn’t really explain what they were supposed to do—we didn’t think to ask and we wouldn’t have been able to grasp it if we did. It wasn’t the first hint he gave us, but slowly it could all be pieced together after that.
“They say that there were two things that helped Emmyth clear the runes the first time: something unique only to him and the pendant he wore. There was just something about the mix that made him able to do what others have tried and failed to. When everything was done, the pendant split in half and it disappeared with Emmyth. Only fragments of either of their whereabouts since then have been discovered, and it wasn’t until a lot more recently did anything definitive come out of it.
“One of the other priests working with Duuzlo found these broken pendants, and Duuzlo befriended our mother—a descendant of Emmyth and his love—shortly after. He used to say that he wasn’t sure if it was the world’s way of telling us the problem was going to come back or had already arrived.”
Myr moved a bit in her spot, quieter than he had been. “Eventually Duuzlo told us the connection. With the pendants and Emmyth’s blood… we can either solve this problem once and for all or give the bad guys exactly what they want.”
“But didn’t that guy just seem interested in the necklaces?” Vureta asked. “He was just trying to force you to hand them over, not come along quietly.”
Llewel nodded slowly. “It’s… something we may have to discuss with Duuzlo later. The Rune Reactivation Project is determined to see their goals through. If they somehow know a way to bypass one of the qualifications, it becomes a lot easier for them. It… may only be a matter of time before they don’t even need us or the necklaces.”
Vureta paused for a moment before daring to ask, “What’ll happen after that?”
“They’ll get what they want. We’d lose and it would be too late to try to fix it.”
“No one really knows all that they’ll be risking,” Myr mumbled. “They think they know what they’re doing, but in the end, they’re less confident about what’s really going to happen than we are. They’re not very interested in listening to reason about it, either…”
“We’ll figure out a way to stop them,” Casrane assured them. “With the three of us together, we’ll give everyone a happy ending.”
The twins both smiled, albeit small ones. It showed that they trusted her and that was enough.
Vureta got up. “I should probably be heading back soon, if that’s everything. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and you’ll be the first to know about it.” She paused right before she was about to leave. “Do you guys have any connections in Kehnore?”
Llewel shook his head.
“There’s this guy I know that’s from there. Come see me when you’re ready to leave and I can guide you back out of the forest so you can meet him.”
“Thanks,” Casrane said on behalf of all of them.
Vureta smirked. “Hey, it’s no problem! I’ll see you then.” She waved and left.