Colim, Lyra, and Setru sat around the small table in the dimly lit room at the inn, tensions high. Setru was in the middle of an argument with Colim, his voice raised.

"How could you forget me, Colim?!" Setru shouted, frustration and hurt evident in his voice. "We fought side by side! And now, you barely recognize me?"

Colim stayed silent, his face calm but pained. Just as Setru was about to continue, a sudden knock echoed from the door, breaking the heated moment.

Everyone froze.

Lyra and Setru instantly went on high alert, their hands hovering over their weapons. No one had sensed anyone approaching, and that set them both on edge. Colim, however, remained unnervingly calm.

"Come in," Colim said, his voice steady, though his companions gave him questioning looks.

The door creaked open, and to everyone's surprise, a small, frail figure entered—a young girl, no older than twelve, dressed in a heavy cloak that seemed to swallow her slight frame. She shyly stepped into the room, her eyes downcast, speaking in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

"Hello, sir," she said, her voice serene despite her timid demeanor. "May I request a bit of your time, please? If you're busy, I can come back tomorrow."

As she began to step back toward the door, Colim's sharp gaze took in her thin, malnourished body. She was barely able to stand straight.

"Hey, little girl," Colim called out, stopping her in her tracks. "Have you eaten yet? We've got some food here."

Lyra frowned, immediately suspicious. "Colim, she might be an assassin."

Colim waved off her concerns. "An assassin needs to stay in shape. Look at her. She's skin and bones." He gestured to the girl, who was standing awkwardly by the door, reluctant to accept the offer.

"I… I'm not allowed to eat without my master's permission," the girl said quietly, her voice trembling. "But he's been dead for days now."

"Your master?" Colim asked, his tone gentle.

"Yes, it's… Raider," she said, her voice faltering.

At the mention of the name, Lyra and Setru moved without thinking, their instincts screaming at them to act. But before they could take a step, Colim grabbed them both by the wrist, stopping them in their tracks.

"Wait," Colim ordered, his voice firm. "Let the girl finish."

"Colim, it's Raider!" Lyra hissed. "She can't be trusted!"

"She can't hurt anyone in her condition," Colim replied calmly, his gaze steady. "Let her speak."

Setru's fists tightened, but he remained still, though both he and Lyra kept their eyes locked on the girl, ready to strike if needed.

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Colim turned back to the girl. "It's been five days since Raider's death?" he asked, his voice softer now.

The girl nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, sir."

"You poor thing," Colim said gently. "Why don’t you join us? It’s okay now. You can eat whenever you want. Your master told me to take care of you, as his last wish."

The girl looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "He… he did? Do you know him?"

Colim smiled softly. "Yeah, you could say that."

The girl hesitated for a moment longer, then slowly nodded. "Okay... thank you."

Lyra watched the interaction with narrowed eyes, her hand never leaving her blade. "If she makes one wrong move, I’ll handle it," she muttered under her breath.

"Me too," Setru added, his eyes never leaving the girl.

"No need for that," Colim said, with a slight grin. "We'll continue this conversation after we eat."

As they sat down to eat, the girl gradually began to open up, though her timid nature remained. She introduced herself as Ceat and explained that she had been a slave, purchased by Raider to assist him with menial tasks like carrying luggage and cleaning.

"Whenever I made mistakes, he'd hit me," Ceat said softly, her head bowed. "Sometimes he would tie me up as punishment. But… he was kind sometimes, too. He bought slaves and set them free. He even took some of them back to their homes. But… he never let me go. He said I was special."

Colim's jaw clenched at her words, anger flashing in his eyes, but Ceat seemed almost indifferent, as if she had accepted her fate long ago.

"I don't hate him, though. I guess he deserved to die at some point," she added, her voice strangely calm.

Colim frowned. "Why do you say that?"

Ceat’s voice trembled as she continued. "He… he was asked by a bald man to attack Retseid. Raider refused at first, but… the man whispered something to him. I don’t know what he said, but after that, Raider agreed. He was angry for days after that… and then he stopped speaking to me altogether."

Colim's eyes widened slightly. "A bald man?"

"Yes," Ceat replied, her voice shaky. "I couldn't hear everything, but I was hiding under a bookshelf when it happened."

Colim's heart sank as she revealed more. "And who was this bald man?" he asked, though he already feared the answer.

"It was Fon Duer Solt," Ceat whispered, her voice breaking with fear.

Lyra and Setru exchanged uneasy glances, and Colim felt a wave of realization wash over him. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, but the picture they formed was far from reassuring.

"Ceat," Colim said gently, his voice steady. "I promise you'll be safe with us from now on."

Ceat nodded, a small, genuine smile spreading across her face for the first time. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Speaking of which," Colim said with a slight grin, "let's eat. It's been a long day."

As they began to eat, the atmosphere lightened slightly, though the tension remained. Lyra kept stealing glances at Ceat, her jealousy simmering beneath the surface. And when Colim told Ceat she could sleep with them, Lyra’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, the jealousy clearly taking hold.

But for now, Colim had other things to worry about. The girl had brought with her information that would shake the very foundation of what they thought they knew—and the name Fon Duer Solt was just the beginning.

The real enemy was still out there, and Colim knew that this is going to be a hell of journey and a calm before the storm.

The next morning, the morning sun filled the room with warmth as Colim, Lyra, Setru, and Ceat readied themselves for the journey ahead. Ceat, filled with excitement, couldn’t hold back her joy as she bounced over to Colim, her eyes shining with anticipation.

“Colim! We’re going on a real adventure today, right? I can’t wait to see what’s out there! You, me, Lyra, and Setru—we’re going to face everything together, aren’t we?”

Colim smiled down at her, nodding. “Yes, Ceat. We’ll face it all together.”

His words were genuine, but deep inside, Colim knew that this journey was far too dangerous for her. He had no intention of bringing Ceat into the thick of battle or exposing her to the violence ahead. In his mind, he was already forming a plan to leave her with someone he trusted—a friend who could ensure her safety and happiness once they reached a safer place. But that plan, for now, remained a secret.

Ceat’s excitement only grew. “And when we reach Knorr, we’ll all stick together, right? You’ll protect me, Colim?”

Colim crouched down to her level and met her gaze. “I’ll protect you, Ceat. Always.”

Her eyes sparkled, and she beamed at him. “I knew it! I’ve never felt so safe before, not with anyone but you.”

Lyra, watching from the corner, gave Colim a curious glance but said nothing. She sensed that Colim’s mind was elsewhere, though he never showed it. Setru, as usual, was focused, his expression serious as he checked their supplies.

“We’re going to see so much!” Ceat continued, bubbling with excitement. “It’s going to be just like the stories! I’ve always dreamed of traveling with a brave warrior like you.”

Colim nodded again, agreeing to every word. “It will be an adventure, Ceat. One you’ll remember.”

Satisfied and full of energy, Ceat skipped over to help Lyra and Setru pack, oblivious to the quiet thoughts running through Colim’s mind. As they prepared to leave the inn, Colim stood at the door, his eyes drifting to the horizon.

Lyra approached him and spoke in a low voice. “Are you really going to bring her all the way to Knorr?”

Colim kept his voice steady. “I promised I’d protect her. And I will.”

Lyra gave him a long look, then nodded. “Just don’t forget—this road is filled with danger.”

“I know,” Colim replied. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

With that, the four of them—Colim, Lyra, Setru, and Ceat—stepped out into the cool morning air, beginning their journey toward Knorr. The road ahead was uncertain, and Colim knew that the hardest choices were still to come. But for now, he would let Ceat believe they were embarking on an adventure together, all the while keeping his plan to ensure her safety tucked away in the back of his mind.

To be continued...