The warm glow of late afternoon bathed the wooden beams and stone walls of their inn as Kael stepped into their shared room, the lingering dampness from her bath still clinging to her skin. Dressed in a relaxed yet practical outfit—a dark, fitted tunic cinched at the waist by a leather belt, loose trousers tucked into knee-high boots, and a long-sleeved cloak draped over her shoulders—she felt lighter, more at ease. Her damp hair was loosely tied back, revealing the curve of her neck, where a few stray droplets of water glistened against her skin.
Riven, who had been lounging in the chair near the window, seemed to freeze as he took in her appearance. His mind, which had been preoccupied with analyzing Kael's recent shifts in behavior—her quiet curiosity in the marketplace, her genuine fascination with the city, and the subtle ways she was lowering her guard—now came to an abrupt halt. He swallowed hard, the sight of her catching him off guard. Something about seeing her like this, unarmored and unguarded, stirred something deep within him.
He shot up from his seat. "I—I need a bath," he blurted out, making a swift retreat toward the washroom before Kael could question his sudden nervousness. She arched a brow at his odd behavior but dismissed it. Riven had his moments.
With the room now quiet, Kael settled onto the cushioned seat near the window and pulled out a small enchanted parchment. With a whisper of magic, ink formed on its surface, connecting her to Jorrik in real-time.
Kael: Everything is going smoothly so far. Saint-Aure is…different from Veyholm. Busier. More alive. How are things on your end?
She waited, her fingers idly tapping against the wood. Her gaze wandered outside, observing the vibrant city. The streets bustled with activity; merchants shouted their wares, a group of dwarves haggled over the price of iron, a centaur courier weaved through the crowd with impressive agility. Kael closed her eyes briefly, letting the sounds of the city wash over her, finding an unexpected comfort in the liveliness of it all.
Then, a strange sensation prickled at the back of her neck. A presence. The unmistakable feeling of being watched.
Her eyes snapped open, scanning the crowd below. But there was no one—no lingering gaze, no suspicious figure lurking in the shadows. Yet the feeling remained.
Her fingers tightened around the parchment, but before she could dwell on it further, Riven burst back into the room, shaking droplets from his darkened hair, his usual playful smirk back in place. "Did you miss me?"
Kael sighed. "You were gone for ten minutes."
"A lot can happen in ten minutes." He wagged his brows, flopping onto the bed dramatically. "I was also thinking… this will be the first time we share a bed."
Kael didn't react, simply removing her boots. "And?"
Riven propped himself up on his elbows, watching her. "You're surprisingly calm about this."
"I knew there was only one bed when you booked the room," she said plainly. "It's not a big deal."
Riven blinked, then scoffed. "You could've at least pretended to be flustered."
Kael smirked. "Why? Would that have been fun for you?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, but there was a glint of amusement in them. "You're cruel, Solis."
She shrugged. "You'll survive."
After storing their belongings, they made their way into the streets of Saint-Aure, heading toward the Exchange—a large hall where adventurers could trade monster parts for coin. The building was bustling with activity; hunters, mages, and alchemists bartered over rare materials, while scribes meticulously recorded transactions. A dwarf behind the counter inspected their collection of monster remains.
"A fine haul," he admitted, weighing a particularly large claw. "All together, I'd say you've got about fifty silver's worth here."
Kael did the conversion in her head. One silver equaled one hundred bronze, and one gold equaled one hundred silver. It was a decent amount for their first trade, though not a fortune.
Riven leaned against the counter. "We'll take it."
The dwarf counted out their payment, sliding the coins across the counter. "If you get your hands on any rare beast cores, bring 'em here. Good market for enchanted parts."
Kael pocketed the coins, and they left the Exchange, heading toward the tavern for a meal.
The tavern was dimly lit, filled with the scent of roasting meat and spiced ale. They found a table near the hearth, and soon, plates of steaming food were set before them—grilled venison, a thick stew with root vegetables, and fresh bread still warm from the oven.
Kael picked at her food thoughtfully. Riven, on the other hand, was halfway through his meal. They sat their for a while, savoring their meals and looking everywhere.
After that they paid for the food,as they wandered the city after dinner, they took in the sights—artisans displaying finely crafted jewelry, blacksmiths hammering out weapons, performers entertaining crowds with fire magic.
Despite the weight of the information they had overheard, Kael found herself enjoying the stroll, something about the bustling streets making her feel… almost normal.
As they approached the inn, Riven suddenly nudged her. "So, about that bed arrangement…"
Kael rolled her eyes. "You're still on that?"
Riven smirked. "You sure you don't want me to take the floor? I snore, you know."
Kael gave him a flat look. "You're not sleeping on the floor."
"Ah, so you do care about my comfort."
She sighed, shaking her head. "I just don't want you complaining about back pain tomorrow."
Riven grinned. "Fair enough. But just so you know, I take up a lot of space."
Kael smirked. "Then try not to get kicked off the bed."
With that, they stepped inside, unaware that the same unseen presence still lingered in the shadows, watching their every move.