"Come on, Zeera, let's hit the hot spring," one of the worm handlers said, pointing down a narrow path leading to the faint sound of bubbling water.
Zeera hesitated, glancing around with a wary expression.
"I don't know," she muttered. "We're supposed to be back in five yellow glows—"
"Exactly! Plenty of time," the handler interrupted, grabbing Zeera's arm with a grin. "And besides…"
Without warning, the handler leaned in, taking an exaggerated sniff near Zeera's arm.
"Elder Elies practically begged us to take a bath."
Zeera jerked her arm away, her face flushing with embarrassment and anger.
"Damn you. What are you doing?"
Zeera napped, swinging at the handler in frustration.
The member ducked down, laughing as they dodged her blow.
"What? What? Saving the stink for someone special?"
the handler teased, her grin growing wider.
"Shut your trap."
Her sharp retort only made the rest of the group burst into laughter, their voices echoing off the cave walls.
"Alright, alright, calm down!" one of the other handlers called out, still chuckling. "She's got a point, though—we all stink. Let's get cleaned up before the elder decides to dunk us herself."
Zeera huffed, crossing her arms then she noticed Veshira.
Veshira disappeared into the bustling streets the moment Elder Elies dismissed them.
Zeera's gaze followed her, narrowing as she caught sight of the delicate necklace glinting on Veshira's neck—a modest trinket, but one that didn't go unnoticed.
Where did she get the money for that? Zeera wondered bitterly. Did that slacker sweet-talk Elder Elies into handing over some funds and then waste it on herself?
"Ugh. Look at her."
"What's her deal lately? Flitting between Thalvyr and Ereshar like she can't make up her mind."
"Well, isn't that just like her?" She couldn't even decide whether to born a Novathorn or a Dualsage."
"Staying cozy with Tricrowns is probably the only way she feels relevant.
"At the end of the day, she's just trying too hard to be something she's not."
Zeera didn't join in, but neither did she silence them.
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I stepped into the crowded street, the hum of voices rising and falling like waves in a restless ocean. People jostled past, shoulders brushing, conversations blending into a dull roar.
A man passed by, his pouch of coins dangling carelessly from his belt. He stopped to examine a display of carvings, his focus entirely on the vendor's wares.
Too easy.
With a casual glance around, I let my hand brush against his side, fingers finding the pouch's cord and loosening it in a single practiced motion. The weight of it in my palm sent a thrill coursing through me, even as I slipped it into my pocket without breaking stride.
I wandered further down the street, the buzz of the crowd pressing in on all sides. My heart raced—not with guilt, but with exhilaration.
That was when I saw it.
A modest stall tucked into the corner, half-hidden by a low-hanging canopy. Strings of necklaces draped across wooden hooks, each one catching the dim light in its own way. One in particular drew my eye: a delicate silver chain with a teardrop-shaped pendant of polished green stone.
My steps faltered. I reached out before I could think better of it, the cool metal settling into my hand.
"How much for this?"
"Twenty coins."
The merchant, a wiry woman with sharp eyes, tilted her head.
I felt the weight of the pouch in my pocket and the grin that tugged at my lips. I counted out the coins, her gaze never leaving my face. She handed me the necklace without a word, though her expression suggested she was sizing me up even now.
I lifted the jewelry up, letting it catch the faint glow of the overhead fungi.
Beautiful.
Just like me.
A pretty thing meant only for others to admire.
"That looked beautiful. I guess you and Ereshar made up."
The voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Zeera standing nearby.
"Oh, this?"
I touched the pendant lightly, letting it catch the light.
"Yes, well... I told him not to, but he insisted. What could I do? I had to give in."
Her smirk deepened, her gaze lingering on the necklace before flicking back to my face
"I'm heading to the hot spring. Care to join me?"
I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged with a small smile.
"Sure. Why not?
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"STOP! STOP! STOP! HAD YOU ALL GONE MAD?"
I thrashed against their grip, but the handler group held me firm.
Their hands pinned my shoulders and arms, pressing me down against the rough stone floor of a secluded corner of the hot spring.
The steam curled around us, dampening my cries and muffling the sounds of the bustling settlement outside.
Zeera crouched in front of me, her expression unnervingly calm.
Her fingers brushed the hair away from the back of my head, revealing the small horn hidden beneath the thick strands.
"There it is."
Zeera said, gripping tightly onto the smaller horn.
"Please, stop!"
I pleaded, thrashing against her grip.
"We had a thing, Veshira. If only you'd stayed quiet—lived as the useless Novathorn like you were supposed to—we could've shared Ereshar"
"But no. You just had to reveal that you're a Dualsage, didn't you?"
"Wait!"
I gasped, my voice breaking as panic surged through me.
"If this is about Ereshar, you can have him! I don't care about him—I swear! Just... please, spare me!"
The words tumbled out between shaking breaths, my chest heaving as ugly sobs choked me. Tears streamed down my face, my vision blurring.
Zeera paused, she sweeped over me with her cold eyes. Without warning, her hand shot forward, and gripped out my necklace.
"This is your last warning. Stay in your lane."
Zeera and her group walked away, leaving me lying on the ground.
Tears continued to spill from my eyes, even though the sobs had died down into shallow, shaky breaths. My chest ached with the effort, each gulp of air felt heavy.
The taste of blood lingered on my tongue, a reminder of the blows I couldn't defend against.
Shame tightened its grip on me, squeezing my chest like a vice.
I gripped my nails hard into my thighs. The faint sting helped ground me, though it wasn't enough to chase away the simmering anger underneath.
It took time—long, dragging moments of silence—before I managed to push myself upright. My limbs felt heavy and uncooperative, my body protesting with every move. Slowly, I made my way toward the hot spring.
When I reached the water's edge, I paused, staring at the surface as steam curled up into the cool night air. The reflection that greeted me felt like a stranger.
I knelt down and cupped the warm water in my hands, splashing it onto my face. The heat stung the cuts, but I didn't care. Again and again, I repeated the motion until my skin felt raw but clean, the dirt and blood rinsed away.
Reaching for my satchel, I fumbled with the flap and retrieved the small jar of blue healing goo. Carefully, I smeared the cool, sticky salve onto my wounds.
I lingered there for a while, the heat of the spring warming me, the rhythmic chirping of insects filling the quiet. For a moment, the world felt safe.
But safety was a fragile thing.
When I finally stepped out of the spring, water dripping from my clothes and skin, I froze.
The guards were already waiting, standing with the man I had stolen from and the woman who had sold me the necklace.
"There she is!"
The woman said, pointing a finger at me. Her voice carried a sharp edge of accusation.
The man stepped forward, his face flushed with anger.
"You! Hand over the money you took from me!"
My heart sank as their words cut through the crowd's murmur. People were starting to gather, their curious stares like needles against my skin.
One of the guards raised a hand, silencing the onlookers.
"Enough. We need to investigate this further. For now, everyone disperse!"
The crowd reluctantly obeyed, leaving me surrounded by the guards and my accusers.
"You'll come with us. We need to sort this out away from prying eyes."
I didn't argue. What could I say that wouldn't make things worse?
Strange. They are leading me out of the settlement.
When we stopped, one of the guards turned to me, his expression unreadable.
"Here's the deal. We can keep this quiet. No one has to know. But only if you... cooperate."
I swallowed hard.
"What-- What do you want?"
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No tears remained. I lay sprawled on the cold.
The guards had left, their laughter still echoing faintly in the distance, leaving only silence in their wake.
"I like the look on your eyes."
I blinked, my gaze snapping into focus.
Standing above me was a humanoid cavecrawler, its form both alien and eerily captivating. Chitinous plates shimmered under the faint light, blending seamlessly with flesh. Eyes that seemed too large, too bright.
A strange grace in its movements, and I thought it was... beautiful.