Subtle Inquiry

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew as Kael stepped into the courtyard of Eclipsevane. He adjusted the leather straps of his cloak, his gray eyes scanning the guild grounds. The decay and disorder were even more apparent in the light of day. Where once banners of pride had hung, now only tattered remains swayed in the weak breeze.

Kael inhaled deeply, steadying himself. Jane. Focus on Jane. Not the past, not the dagger, not… anything else.

He spotted her across the courtyard, her back turned as she surveyed the trainees sparring near the weathered fountain. Her dark hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and for a moment, Kael hesitated. The memory of their strange conversation the night before lingered in his mind, and the faint hum of unease returned to his chest.

Pushing it aside, he strode forward. "Jane."

She turned, her emerald eyes meeting his with mild curiosity. "Kael," she said simply, her tone even but guarded. "I wasn't expecting to see you this early."

"I wanted to talk," Kael said, standing a bit awkwardly as he searched for the right words. "About something… important."

Jane raised a brow, tilting her head slightly. "Important? You're full of surprises, aren't you?" Her tone carried a trace of amusement, but her expression remained cautious.

Kael glanced around, lowering his voice. "It's about what's happening in the North."

At that, Jane's demeanor shifted. The guarded look in her eyes deepened, and she crossed her arms. "The North is complicated," she said carefully. "What exactly do you want to know?"

Kael hesitated, trying to gauge her reaction. "I've heard there's a… force gathering there. Something dangerous. And a woman leading it. I was hoping you might know more."

Jane's lips pressed into a thin line. She looked past him, her gaze drifting to the distant mountains visible through the cracked archway of the courtyard. "There are always forces gathering somewhere," she said finally. "But the North… it's been strange lately. Reports of disappearances, entire villages wiped out with no explanation. And that woman…" She trailed off, her expression darkening.

Kael leaned in slightly. "What about her?"

Jane sighed, her fingers tightening around her arms. "We don't know much. Just whispers—descriptions that don't add up. Some say she's a shadow, others say she's fire incarnate. But wherever she goes, devastation follows."

Kael's jaw tightened. That has to be her. "Have you… seen her? Fought her?"

Jane shook her head. "Not yet. But we've had scouts vanish without a trace when sent to investigate. Whoever she is, she's not someone to take lightly."

Kael studied her carefully, trying to keep his voice steady. "And if she came here? To Eclipsevane?"

Jane's gaze snapped back to his, her emerald eyes hard. "If she did, she wouldn't leave alive." Her tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of something behind it—doubt, perhaps, or fear.

Kael nodded slowly, processing her words. "Thank you," he said quietly. "That's all I needed to know."

Jane frowned slightly, stepping closer, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you asking about this, Kael? Most people steer clear of the North, yet here you are, prying into things you shouldn't care about. Why?"

Kael hesitated, his mind scrambling for an answer. "Because someone I care about asked me to," he said truthfully, though he left out Lysa's name.

Jane tilted her head, her gaze scrutinizing him now. Her voice softened, but the edge of suspicion lingered. "There's something familiar about you," she said, taking a step closer. "Your voice… the way you talk. I feel like I've heard it before."

Kael froze for a split second before forcing a casual shrug. "I get that a lot," he said, keeping his tone light. "Must have one of those voices."

Her eyes narrowed further. "It's more than that. You… remind me of someone."

Kael's stomach churned, but he didn't let it show. He gave her a small, disarming smile. "I guess I just have one of those faces too."

Jane didn't smile back. She studied him for a moment longer before sighing and stepping away. "Maybe," she said, though her tone suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "But if you're hiding something, Kael, I'll figure it out."

Kael let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as she turned back toward the fountain. His fists clenched at his sides as he watched her walk away. Damn it. That was close.

Kael's muscles were tight, his heart hammering in his chest. Jane's suspicion still lingered in the air, an invisible weight pressing down on him. She stared at the fountain for a moment, her hands resting lightly on her hips, before turning back to him with an unreadable expression.

"Kael," she said after a long pause, her voice softer now, almost casual, "what are you planning to do while you're here?"

Kael blinked, her question catching him off guard. "I… haven't really thought about it," he admitted. "I figured I'd find Jane—uh, you—and see where things go from there." He gave a half-hearted shrug, trying to deflect the lingering tension.

Jane raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "That's not much of a plan," she said. "What happens after you find me? You think you'll just… wander off into the sunset?"

Kael scratched the back of his neck, his mind racing for a response. "Something like that," he said, forcing a grin. "Though I hear the sunsets here are overrated."

Jane let out a short laugh, the sound genuine but fleeting. Her eyes softened slightly, and for the first time since their conversation began, the tension seemed to ease. "You're an odd one, Kael," she said, shaking her head. "But maybe that's not such a bad thing."

Kael tilted his head. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Jane stepped closer, her gaze turning serious. "Look," she began, "if you're planning on sticking around, Merrick and I are heading out on a mission soon. You should come with us."

Kael's breath hitched. "A mission?"

Jane nodded. "We could use an extra hand. And you…" She hesitated, her eyes flicking over him as if she were weighing her words carefully. "You seem capable. If you're serious about helping, this is your chance."

Kael opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, the weight of her offer sinking in. Go on a mission? With Jane and Merrick? This is more than I bargained for.

He cleared his throat. "What kind of mission are we talking about?"

Jane crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Recon. There's been activity near the northern border—raids on small settlements, travelers going missing. Elara wants us to figure out what's going on and report back."

Kael felt a chill run down his spine. The North. The same place Lysa had warned him about. The same place where the mysterious woman—the one he suspected was Berethia—was said to be gathering power.

"When are you leaving?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.

"Soon," Jane replied. "A couple of days, maybe. Merrick and I are finalizing the details with Elara. It's not a big team, so we'll need to move carefully."

Kael hesitated, his mind racing. He couldn't turn this down—it was the exact kind of lead he needed. But the thought of being so close to Jane, of her possibly figuring out who he really was, made his stomach churn.

"I'll think about it," he said finally.

Jane studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. Let me know when you decide. But if you do come…" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't make me regret asking."

Kael gave her a small, tight smile. "I'll do my best."

Jane turned to leave, pausing after a few steps. She glanced back over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "Oh, and Kael?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever secrets you're keeping," she said quietly, "don't let them get you killed."

With that, she walked away, leaving Kael standing in the courtyard, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders.

Kael was still standing in the courtyard, Jane's words echoing in his mind, when he heard the sound of steady footsteps approaching from behind. Turning slightly, he saw Merrick striding toward him, his expression a mixture of determination and unease.

"Kael," Merrick called out, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I take it Jane already asked you about the mission?"

Kael nodded, his hands slipping into the pockets of his cloak. "Yeah, she did."

Merrick stopped a few feet away, his eyes scanning Kael as though searching for something. He sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "Look, I need to say something before you make your decision."

Kael tilted his head slightly. "What's that?"

Merrick's shoulders sagged just a little, a rare crack in his otherwise resolute demeanor. "I know this isn't fair. Turning to someone like you—someone with little to no combat experience—for something this dangerous. It's not what I'd normally do."

Kael blinked, taken aback by the man's honesty. "You're apologizing for asking me to help?"

Merrick nodded slowly. "I am. I don't like putting people in positions they're not prepared for. But we're stretched thin, Kael. The guild isn't what it used to be. We've lost too many good people, and the ones who are left… they're not ready for this kind of mission."

Kael shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Merrick's words settling on him. "Little to no combat experience," huh? If only he knew. But he said nothing, letting the man continue.

"I wouldn't have asked if we had better options," Merrick admitted, his voice quieter now. "But Jane sees something in you, and if she thinks you can handle this, I'm willing to give you the chance."

Kael's jaw tightened. He glanced away, his gaze settling on the cracked stone of the courtyard beneath his boots. "I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to be dragged into anything like this," he said, his voice measured. "But if you're that desperate, I guess I can't exactly say no."

Merrick gave a faint, humorless chuckle. "Desperate doesn't even begin to cover it." He stepped closer, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. "I don't know you, Kael. Not really. But if you're going to do this, I need you to promise me one thing."

"What's that?" Kael asked, meeting Merrick's gaze.

"That you'll come back," Merrick said firmly. "I've seen too many people walk into missions like this and never return. I don't want you to be another name on that list."

Kael hesitated, the words sticking in his throat. "Come back." That's the plan, isn't it? Or at least, it should be. But he couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would be anything but straightforward.

"I'll do my best," he said finally, his tone soft but resolute.

Merrick studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "That's all I can ask." He removed his hand from Kael's shoulder and stepped back. "We leave in two days. Make sure you're ready."

As Merrick turned and walked away, Kael exhaled slowly, his thoughts swirling. Jane's offer, Merrick's apology, the looming threat in the North—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he wasn't sure he wanted to solve.

Two days. That's all the time I've got to figure out what the hell I'm walking into.

As Merrick walked away, Kael felt a sudden surge of practicality cut through his swirling thoughts. He raised his voice, calling after the older man. "Merrick! Wait!"

Merrick stopped and turned, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "What is it?"

Kael hesitated for a moment before holding out his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "I don't really have a weapon. Just a knife. And, uh… I don't think that's going to cut it. Pun not intended."

Merrick's lips twitched, the ghost of a smile appearing for a moment before he motioned for Kael to follow. "Come with me. We'll fix that."

Kael followed Merrick through the crumbling halls of Eclipsevane, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone walls. The air grew cooler as they descended into the lower levels, and the faint metallic tang of oil and steel began to fill his nose. Merrick stopped in front of a sturdy wooden door reinforced with iron bands, pushing it open with ease.

Inside was the guild's armory, though it was far from the impressive display Kael imagined it once had been. Rows of weapon racks lined the walls, many of them empty. A few swords, spears, and axes were neatly arranged, though their edges looked dull and worn. The faint glimmer of shields and chainmail caught the light from a single, flickering lantern.

"Not much left," Merrick admitted, stepping inside and gesturing for Kael to follow. "But it'll do. Take a look and see what feels right."

Kael nodded and began scanning the racks, his eyes moving over the array of weapons. A broadsword caught his attention first, its heavy hilt and wide blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. He hefted it for a moment, but it felt unwieldy in his hand. Setting it back down, he moved to a rack of smaller weapons.

His hand hovered over a dagger. Its blade was simple but well-forged, the hilt wrapped in worn leather. Without thinking, he reached for it, his fingers closing around the grip. A strange sense of familiarity washed over him as he held it, his heart skipping a beat.

"That one, huh?" Merrick's voice broke through his thoughts. Kael looked up to see the older man standing nearby, arms crossed as he observed him. There was a flicker of something in Merrick's expression—curiosity, perhaps, or recognition.

Kael turned the dagger over in his hand, testing its weight. "Yeah," he said, his voice quieter now. "Feels… right."

Merrick stepped closer, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Not many choose daggers as their primary weapon," he said. "They take precision, speed, and a certain… mindset."

Kael shrugged, trying to keep his tone casual. "Guess I just like the feel of it."

Merrick studied him for a moment longer before letting out a soft hum. "You're not the first I've seen gravitate toward one."

Kael glanced up, his curiosity piqued. "Who was the first?"

Merrick's gaze drifted to the far side of the room, his expression growing distant. "Someone who was… good at what they did," he said carefully. "Quick, resourceful, and more than a little stubborn."

Kael frowned slightly. There was something in Merrick's voice—a mix of respect and sadness—that made him press further. "What happened to them?"

Merrick's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Kael thought he wasn't going to answer. Finally, the older man sighed, shaking his head. "Let's just say they're not around anymore."

The words hung heavily in the air, and Kael didn't push further. Instead, he turned his attention back to the dagger, gripping it tightly as he tried to focus on the present.

Merrick clapped him lightly on the shoulder, breaking the silence. "If that's the one, keep it. Sharpen it up, get a feel for it. You'll need it out there."

Kael nodded, slipping the dagger into his belt. "Thanks," he said simply.

Merrick gave a small nod in return before heading toward the door. "Two days, Kael," he reminded him. "Be ready."

As the door closed behind Merrick, Kael stood alone in the dim armory, his hand brushing against the hilt of the dagger. A faint unease prickled at the back of his mind, but he shook it off. Not around anymore. The words replayed in his head, but he pushed them aside. There were enough ghosts in this place without him chasing new ones.