Teri and prince ivive's spear training

Morning dawned, Kiera's absence a lingering ache. The remaining five travelers pressed onward, their footsteps etching a path through snow-kissed landscapes. The innkeeper, portly and eager, arrived at the manor flanked by two servants. His offerings—a pair of sturdy tents and provisions—were accepted with gratitude.

"A portrait," the innkeeper requested, eyes gleaming. "Of Teri, the ghost weaver. A keepsake for my boasting."

An artist accompanied him, but Mizak intervened. "I'll paint it," he declared. And so, beneath the morning sun, he labored—brushstrokes capturing Teri's essence, the firelight dancing in his eyes.

Hours passed, delaying their departure. But when the portrait was complete—a reflection of both truth and myth—they resumed their journey. Cloaks drawn tight, they rode their horses along the path to the capital.