When I returned to the cabin, the sun had started its descent. I hadn't realized this would take all day, but the Cabin was further than I thought and I was stuck in that stall for far too long. On the trip back I had maxed out my reserves despite the pain, figuring I would need them for what was to come, and the night would give me a moment to rest. Mara looked up from where she was sitting, her staff resting beside her and her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her scarf. Her eyes lit up with relief when she saw me, though worry quickly clouded them.
"You're back," she said, standing and crossing the room to meet me. "What did you see? Are they still there?"
I nodded, leaning against the doorframe for a moment to catch my breath as I recalled the brutality of the Paladins against that simple town.
"They're still there," I said. "Twelve paladins, at least. They've taken over the square, interrogating people, aggressively. I saw them drag a shopkeeper off to the stockades. They're treating everyone like they're guilty just for living there."
Mara's brows knitted together, and she bit her lip. "That's awful. Those poor people… All because of those zealots. Did they… Did they see you?"
I shook my head. "No, I stayed hidden. Used Shadow Dance to get in and out. But I overheard enough to know this isn't just some passing hunt. One of the paladins we took out in the alleyway was a captain. The golden-armored leader—they just refer to him as Commander—he's furious and using that as fuel to terrorize the townsfolk."
Mara's expression shifted from concern to determination. "So, what's the plan? Are we going to help them? We can't just leave them to suffer because of us."
"I know," I said, holding her gaze. "I've been thinking about it on the way back. We can't let this continue, but we also can't rush in blindly. They're trained soldiers, and there are too many of them for a direct fight. But… I have an idea."
She tilted her head, waiting.
"We'll set traps," I explained. "In the woods. I'll make myself seen in the village, maybe stealing some food to make it look like I'm just trying to survive. They'll chase me and I'm counting on that. If they can see my face, that will only drive them further to capture me. Once I lure them into the woods, we'll pick them off one by one using the traps we set up."
Mara frowned slightly, crossing her arms. "That's risky, Lucian. What if they don't take the bait? Or worse, what if they overwhelm you?"
"That's why I'll need you to help me set up the traps," I said. "We'll make them simple but effective. You know, like pitfalls, tripwires, maybe a few nasty surprises if they're unlucky. You'll stay back while I lead them in. If it all goes wrong, I can use Shadow Dance to get away."
She studied me for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You're really determined to do this, aren't you?"
"We can't live in this cabin forever, Mara," I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "And you… you need to get to the capital. You've got a future ahead of you, an apprenticeship waiting. I can't keep dragging you into danger like this. If we don't deal with the paladins, they'll never stop hunting me, and anyone who's with me."
Her eyes softened, but there was a flicker of hesitation. "And what if something happens to you, Lucian? I can't just leave you to face this alone."
"You won't be leaving me," I reassured her. "We'll do this together. The traps, the fighting, we are a great team and this shouldn't be an issue. Hell, we took out three of them on a whim. After that, I'll handle the rest. I know it's dangerous, but I need to figure out why they're after me, and I can't do that if we're constantly running."
She sighed, stepping back and pacing the room. "I hate this plan, but… you're right. We can't stay here forever, and the villagers shouldn't have to suffer because of us."
"Because of me," I corrected, guilt weighing heavily in my voice.
Mara stopped pacing and looked at me, her expression softening. "No. It's because of them. They're the ones choosing to do this, not you. And we'll make sure they regret it."
A faint smile tugged at my lips. "That's the spirit. We'll start setting up at first light. For now, let's get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."
Mara nodded, though the worry in her eyes hadn't faded completely. She stepped closer, her hand brushing against mine. "Once we take care of them, we can continue our journey. Everything is going to work out!" she was nearly vibrating with positive energy.
"Yeah," I muttered, "After this, it will be all good," my voice trailing off as I tried to keep my face smiling. The paladins had my description, I was stuck in this for the long haul, but Mara could still move on once we took this group out. The only way I would be safe is if I took another host, and then she wouldn't know me. Even if I told her, she would see me for the abomination I really was.
I closed the door and walked over to take a seat next to Mara, placing my hand on her thigh while she placed her hand on mine, as an intense silence separated us. I wasn't sure what more to say, and thankfully Mara found this to be a good opportunity to speak up.
Mara's hand lingered in mine for a moment before she pulled away, her expression shifting slightly like she was trying to muster some optimism. "Well, if we're going to make it through this, you're going to need some fuel. I made dinner while you were gone, and tidied up a bit. Organized our supplies, too. Figured it'd keep me busy while I waited for you to come back."
A smile tugged at my lips. "You've been busy, haven't you?"
She shrugged, but there was a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "Someone had to make this place livable. It's begging me for a little attention."
"You might have to deal with more of the same" I replied to her confusion.
"What do you mean?" she had a smile on her face, but it was clear she had no idea what I was referring to.
"Oh you know, begging for attention," I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and snaking it under her arm, eliciting a small giggle as my fingers passed across her armpit and went to cup her breast.
"Oh… OH!" it hit her finally, "We'll see, I think we both kind of stink right now and that can't be very arousing." she leaned into me but made her discomfort about the act clear.
"I wouldn't mind… but I get what you're saying. Maybe we can celebrate once things are taken care of in town?" I countered, but it was hard to keep the want from my voice.
"Deal!" she said, tilting her head to give my neck a few kisses before kissing me on the cheek. She stood up, leaving me there as tingles covered my body.
I glanced around, noticing the subtle changes. The table was cleaner, the scattered odds and ends had been neatly arranged in a corner, and the faint smell of something savory lingered in the air, drawing me toward the fireplace. "You really didn't have to go all out."
"Well, I did," she said with a mock huff, moving toward the table and motioning for me to follow. "Now sit. You're eating everything I put on that plate."
"Yes, ma'am," I said, chuckling as I pulled out a chair.
Mara busied herself at the small hearth, ladling out portions from a pot and setting two bowls on the table. The stew smelled far better than I had expected from our limited rations. She must have added some herbs she'd foraged or something we'd overlooked in our supplies because it smelled warm, earthy, and comforting.
"Alright," she said, sitting across from me and gesturing dramatically toward the food. "Feast your eyes…and then your stomach!"
I picked up my spoon and took a cautious taste, expecting the usual bland fare of survival food. Instead, the flavor surprised me, a hint of thyme, a dash of pepper, and the richness of what must have been some kind of dried meat she'd rehydrated. I had no idea when or where she got ahold of potatoes, but it was a nice touch. As for the mushrooms, I assumed she foraged them while I was out, and I didn't question whether or not she knew which ones were edible.
"This is…" I trailed off, genuinely impressed. "This is actually really good, Mara. Where did you learn to cook like this?"
She shrugged, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, you know. When you're on the road as much as I've been, you learn how to make the most of what you've got. Plus, I had some pretty good teachers along the way."
"Well, consider me impressed," I said, taking another bite. "This might just be the best meal I've had since… well, ever. It puts the inn-food to shame."
"Flattery will get you everywhere," she teased, but her smile betrayed how much she appreciated the compliment. "Now eat up. You'll need the energy for tomorrow."
We fell into an easy rhythm, making small talk as we ate. I asked her about the capital, what it was like, and what she was most excited to see when she got there. She told me about the academy and the apprenticeship she was looking forward to, her voice lighting up as she described the city's towering spires and markets that remained open 24/7.
"And what about you?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. "What are you planning to do once all of this… madness is behind us?"
I hesitated, my spoon hovering over the bowl. "I'm not sure. I was kind of thrust into all of this. I don't even remember anything about my life before the bandits, it's all just jumbled in my brain. For now, I think it's just about surviving and making sure you get to the capital in one piece."
Her expression softened, and for a moment, the weight of everything around us seemed to fade. "Well, whatever happens, I'm glad you don't have to do this alone. Even if you did, you've got this… way of making even the craziest situations feel manageable."
"Coming from you, that means a lot," I said, my voice quieter now. "I just hope I don't let you down."
"You won't," she said firmly. "I know you won't."
We finished the meal, tidied up, and packed what little was left into a bag for the next day. By the time we were done, the fire had burned low, casting long shadows across the room.
"We should get to bed," I said, glancing toward the makeshift bed in the corner. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow, and we'll need every bit of rest we can get."
Mara nodded, stifling a yawn as she moved toward the bed. "Yeah, you're right. Early to bed, early to set traps and kick some zealot butt."
Her playful tone lightened the moment, and I found myself smiling as I meadered over to restock the fire before I joined her. We settled in, and her warmth beside me beat anything the fire could produce. As I lay there, staring at the faint glow of the dying fire, I found myself happy for everything that had happened. My previous life, no, not the lynx or the boar, or the crow, but my life back on Earth, that was nothing compared to this. At the very least, I could say I was never bored. At best, I would say I finally found a place for myself and could finally see a future… so long as I didn't think too hard about my deal with Morgana.