Speaking with Vaelira

Vaelira pulled a small metal case from her coat, flicking it open with a practiced motion. A single cigarette rested between her lips. She plucked another one and held it out to him.

"Smoke?" she offered in a neutral tone.

"No, thanks."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged her shoulders and lit her cigarette, inhaling deeply. "Haaah… I needed this so badly…" she exhaled with utmost satisfaction. Then, the blonde woman looked at Kaiden once again. She sighed. "I'm sorry."

"For?" Kaiden asked with a raised eyebrow, trying to make sense of what was happening.

"For how I treated you. All four of you are doing better than my so-called 'guild mates' who have been training for years, yet I gave you a great deal of trouble."

"No doubt about that. Why, though?"

"To make the stream more enjoyable. Watching us suffer in the desert heat gets boring quickly… I needed to provide them with some drama."

"I see."