two days later

I walked through the crowded market. It was one of the few places that reminded me of home.

Naris was nice, but it wasn't as beautiful as Manthe. I didn't see a reason to come back to this place.

Today felt different. I couldn't figure out why though.

I realized it as I bought my breakfast from a vendor. She was so distracted she didn't realize who I was. Apparently, I had been paying five times the normal price.

I turned to what she was looking at. A woman was walking down the path towards us, a smaller teenage girl clung to her side.

I leaned against the cart. I couldn't just ask the vendor who she was, I wouldn't get an answer. "Remind me, when was the last time she set foot in Naris?"

"Years." The woman whispered. "I mean, we hardly see council members in Naris, but Veya never leaves Sifa."

I perked up at that. Council members?

I looked at the woman. Veya. What a pretty name. It matched her face.

Stop Eres. You don't have time for this.

And you don't even know her.

I turned back to the vendor. "I need a council member's help with something, do you think she'd be willing to?"

The vendor laughed. "Veya Morningstar? She isn't helping anyone."

"A woman named Tanthi Amara wants them to help me, would that help?" I raised an eyebrow.

She turned to me and finally realized who I was. "Where did you get that name?"

"A Map told me her name would help me find my friend."

She smiled. "Yeah, go walk up to her. I'm sure Veya will be happy to help you."

I frowned. She would probably hit me with that scythe as soon as I was close enough. But I didn't really have any other choice, she was here now.

Part of me wondered if the scythe was a weapon or a farming tool. It seemed like such a strange thing to be carrying around.

I pushed the thought away. I had to focus if I was going to get this done.

I walked over to her, she was picking out some kind of fruit from a cart.

...

"Sarafruit?" I stared at Kovi.

"Please. They don't grow in Sifa, I haven't had one since we left Calla." She begged.

I sighed. "Alright." They were expensive, but it was the least I could do considering she had almost drowned in the river on our way here.

I walked over to the cart and stared at the spiked blue fruit. My mouth watered at the sight, we almost always had them when we lived in Calla. The vendor stared at me in shock. "How can I help you?"

I gave him a warm smile. "I'll take two."

I reached into my bag to grab my money but the vendor reached out his hand to stop me. "Please, take what you want. Free of charge."

"Oh, no-no." I shook my head. "That's hardly fair."

He looked at Vorneya's Scythe then back at me. "You're the one in the prophecy, correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then this is the least I can do. Please, pick out which ones you think are best." He motioned to the fruit.

I studied the fruits in front of me, if it wasn't extra I would try and get the best ones. Kovi deserved it.

"Veya, right?" A man's voice beside me said.

I didn't bother to turn my head. If I looked away from the fruits I would lose my spot. "That would be me. Do you need something?"

"Actually yes." I heard a smile in his voice.

"I'm not interested." I deadpanned. Senna's constant nagging was enough, I didn't need some stranger doing it too.

"Ouch, before you even bothered to glance my way." He chuckled. "That's not what I'm interested in though, at least not at the moment."

My stomach did a flip. I pushed it down, I didn't have time for this. "What do you need then?"

"It's my understanding that one of your friends took one of mine. I would like to get her back, but I need your help."

I laughed. "I think you got some bad information then, either way, I don't have time to help you."

Now I could hear him smirking. I almost rolled my eyes. "I know for a fact that the Flame and Vision have her."

I almost dropped the fruits as I looked up at him. Piercing gray eyes with fire behind them stared into mine.

Some sort of alarm went off in my mind and all of the small feelings I had felt before I saw him went away.

"As I said, I don't have time to help you." Venom dripped from my words.

He looked almost stunned. "I think-"

"I don't care what you think." I shoved the fruit into Kovi's hands and walked away from him.

He chased after me. "Look, I don't want to hurt you. I'm sure we can come to an agreement of sorts."

I scoffed. "Your people just burnt down my home. Why the Hell would I do that?"

"I have been here for almost a week, locals can testify that." He sounded a little confused, but he pressed on.

I walked out of the village and towards where Kovi and I had set up camp. "I don't care. I have no reason to help you."

He ran ahead and stood in front of me. "A woman named Tanthi Amara said you should help."

"Oh?" I gave him a mock smile. "Did she tell you that before or after you imprisoned her daughter and stole her magic?" I pushed past him.

"After." He muttered.

I set my stuff down as I reached the campsite. "Get the fuck out of here, I'm not helping you."

He tilted his head to the side as he looked at the makeshift alters I had set up. "That's the Cure dagger isn't it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I lied. How the fuck does he know.

"It is." He smiled. "Why did you leave it out in the middle of the woods unsupervised?" He walked towards it.

I smiled as he reached out for it. The barrier shadows reached out from the ground and knocked him on his ass. "You were saying?"

He smiled at me. "You're collecting artifacts. I can help."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure you can."

"How else are you going to get the Map rock?"

"It's called the Stone of Celeste." I glared at him. "And I have a plan."

"If that plan involves the Stone of Celeste being in Manthe, you're being conned."

"Excuse me?" I stared at him in shock.

He jumped to his feet. "Whenever a magical object is taken into custody by the crown, an anonymous message is sent out to people who are seen as threats. If you would've gone to Manthe you would've been killed or arrested."

"If you're insinuating that I am not strong enough to take on your soldiers, I think you've confused me with yourself." I crossed my arm.

"I'm sure you could murder millions, but the Stone of Celeste is still in Kalheim. I'd like to know how you plan on getting past the shadow rooms." He smirked.

I glared at him. "If I get you your friend you can get me the Stone?"

He nodded.

"And Mari?"

"Why do you need her?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I won't be able to communicate with my friends unless she's safe." I lied.

All I needed was the Map magic, but he didn't know that.

"Fine."

"Fine." I sighed. "But you mess up once and you're dead."

"Of course." He smiled.

...

This feels rushed.

Might rewrite this later l m a o

<3