I logged into Eidolon Nexus, the familiar hum of the guild hall filling my ears. The soft, warm glow of Emberhold greeted me as the world around me materialized. It was strange how peaceful it looked now, the ughter of guild members echoing across the room, the ctter of weapons and pyful banter repcing the usual tension of mission briefings.

  I stood still for a moment, letting the sounds of activity settle over me. After everything that had happened—the Wastes, the battles, the secrets—I needed this quiet moment to gather myself. The weight of what I was pnning to do ter that day lingered at the edge of my mind, but for now, I pushed it aside. Today was a day for connection, for unwinding with the people who had become more than just allies in a game.

  I took a deep breath, adjusting the straps of my gear as I scanned the room. Across the hall, familiar faces were scattered about, each engrossed in their own activities.

  My gaze settled on Era, who was sitting at a circur table near the library alcove. A group of younger pyers surrounded her, their journals open as they hung onto her every word. She waved her hands in eborate motions, her voice carrying over the hum of the hall.

  “And that’s why you never cast a chain spell without first stabilizing your mana flow,” Era expined, her tone firm but patient. She drew a glowing diagram in the air, the runes hovering before her students. “If you don’t, the spell could backsh and drain your entire pool.”

  One of the pyers, a mage with wide eyes and a mismatched robe, scribbled furiously in his journal. “What happens if it backshes?”

  “Best-case scenario?” Era said, raising an eyebrow. “Your spell fizzles, and you lose mana. Worst case? You get knocked out of combat—or worse, out of the game. Always stabilize.”

  The group murmured in awe, their admiration for her clear. I watched for a moment, a small smile tugging at my lips. Era had a natural way of commanding attention, her expertise making her seem untouchable in an intimidating and inspiring way.

  “Want to join the lecture?” she called suddenly, her sharp eyes locking onto mine.

  I blinked, realizing I’d been caught staring. “I think I’ll leave the magic theory to the professionals,” I said, walking closer. “You seem to have it under control.”

  “Smart move,” she said with a faint smirk, waving a hand to dismiss the glowing diagram. “But if you ever want to refine your abilities, let me know. You might not be a caster, but even melee fighters can benefit from better mana control.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, leaning against the table. “Do you do this often? Teaching, I mean.”

  Era shrugged, her expression softening slightly. “It’s important. A lot of pyers just run into fights without understanding how their abilities work, and it gets them killed—or worse, locked out. If I can help them avoid that, it’s worth the time.”

  Her words carried an edge of protectiveness, and I couldn’t help but respect her for it. She wasn’t just a top-tier pyer—she cared about the people she fought alongside.

  “You’re good at it,” I said.

  Her smirk returned, though it was faint. “Of course I am. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more minds to mold.” She turned back to her students, her hands already weaving a new set of runes in the air.

  Leaving Era to her impromptu lesson, I wandered toward the far side of the hall, where a different kind of energy hung in the air. Lyra sat at a corner table, her legs propped up on a stool as she spun a dagger zily between her fingers. A small crowd had gathered around her, though they kept a respectful distance, watching as she tossed the bde into the air and caught it with unnerving precision.

  “Alright,” Lyra said, her voice carrying a pyful edge. “Who’s next? I promise I won’t aim for anything vital this time.”

  A groan rippled through the crowd as a pyer stepped forward hesitantly, holding a small pouch of coins. “You said that st time.”

  “And you’re still here, aren’t you?” Lyra replied with a wicked grin. “Rex. It’s just a game.”

  The “game” in question was a simple but nerve-wracking challenge: toss a coin into the air and see if Lyra could pin it to the wall with her dagger before it hit the ground. From the glint in her eye, it was clear that this wasn’t about the money but the thrill of showing off her skills.

  The pyer tossed the coin, and before it even reached its apex, Lyra’s dagger shot forward, embedding itself in the wall with a dull thunk. The coin was pinned perfectly through its center, spinning slightly before settling.

  “Easy,” Lyra said, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. She flicked her wrist, and the dagger returned to her hand in a fsh of light. “Who’s next?”

  I watched from the edge of the group, trying not to look too impressed. Lyra noticed me almost immediately, her grin widening.

  “Kiera,” she called, her tone dripping with mischief. “Come to test your reflexes? Or just here to admire the view?”

  “More like trying to figure out how you haven’t gotten banned for gambling,” I shot back, earning a ugh from the onlookers.

  Lyra’s grin didn’t falter. “It’s not gambling if you’re always the one winning. Besides, it’s good practice.” She flipped the dagger in her hand, catching it by the hilt. “You never know when you’ll need to throw a bde in the middle of a fight.”

  I hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. “Alright, let’s see if you’re as good as you think you are.”

  Her eyes lit up, and she tossed me a coin. “Toss it high, rookie. Let’s see if you’ve got the guts.”

  I did as she asked, throwing the coin into the air. Before I could blink, her dagger flew past me, embedding itself in the wall with a thunk. The coin was pinned perfectly, just like before.

  “Still perfect,” she said, winking. “Care to try again?”

  I ughed, shaking my head. “I’ll leave the theatrics to you.”

  “Smart choice,” she said, easily pulling her dagger from the wall. “Come back if you feel like losing some gold.”

  The ughter and cheers from a group at one of the rger tables pulled my attention. Fi and Mason were in the middle of an intense game of Goblin’s Gambit, surrounded by a handful of other guild members who alternated between cheering and groaning as the game progressed. One of those pyers stood out—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scruffy beard and a gruff voice.

  “Drog, you can’t just tank your way through a card game!” Fi shouted, smming a card onto the table. “This isn’t a dungeon raid!”

  Drog, who was indeed as tank-like in personality as he was in combat, crossed his arms with a mock scowl. “It’s called strategy, Fi. Maybe if you pyed with your brain instead of your mouth, you’d win more often.”

  “Big words from someone with three cards left,” Mason chimed in, smirking as he flipped over one of his own cards. “Let me guess—you’re saving them for a dramatic finish?”

  “I always finish dramatically,” Drog said, leaning back in his chair with exaggerated confidence.

  “You always finish losing,” one of the other pyers quipped, earning a round of ughter from the group.

  Curious, I stepped closer to the table. The cards in Goblin’s Gambit were vibrant and intricately designed, depicting goblins, dragons, and other fantasy creatures in various states of chaos and battle. The board was a maze of pathways, traps, and treasure markers, with tokens scattered across it to represent each pyer’s position.

  Fi gnced up and waved me over. “Kiera! Perfect timing. We need someone to keep Drogo honest.”

  “I’m honest!” Drog protested, though his grin betrayed him.

  “You’re terrible at lying,” Mason said, tossing a handful of dice onto the board. “That’s why you’re losing.”

  Drog leaned forward, his tone mock-serious. “You know what, Mason? I don’t need your attitude. I’m winning this.”

  Fi cackled, tossing a card onto the board that immediately caused Drogo’s token to slide backward. “Not anymore, you’re not.”

  “Unreal,” Drog groaned, throwing his hands up. “You’re all conspiring against me!”

  One of the other pyers, a rogue with a username hovering above her head—ShadowSprinter—leaned on the table with a grin. “Drogo, you’re like a walking magnet for bad luck. How do you manage it?”

  “It’s not bad luck,” Drog grumbled, staring at his dwindling hand of cards. “It’s sabotage.”

  “Maybe you should stick to tanking dungeons,” Mason teased, earning more ughter from the group.

  Drog pointed at him. “Careful, Mason. I might ‘accidentally’ let an elite mob smack you around next time.”

  Fi leaned toward me, her voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear. “He says that every time. Never does it.”

  “That’s because I’m a team pyer,” Drog shot back, crossing his arms. “Unlike some people at this table.”

  “Oh, don’t drag me into this,” ShadowSprinter said, holding up her hands. “I’m just here for the chaos.”

  Fi looked at me expectantly. “What do you say, boss? Wanna join? We could use a fresh victim.”

  “I think I’ll just watch,” I said, smiling. “For now.”

  “Coward,” Mason said with mock disdain.

  “Smart,” Drog corrected. “This game’s a bloodbath.”

  I stayed for a while, enjoying the back-and-forth banter and the friendly jabs as the game unfolded. Fi’s aggressive pystyle cshed hiriously with Mason’s calcuted moves, while Drog’s stubborn insistence on tanking his way to victory drew constant ridicule. ShadowSprinter, meanwhile, pyed the wildcard, throwing unexpected moves into the mix just to stir the pot.

  “Alright, final round!” Fi announced, her grin wicked as she smmed her st card onto the board. “Prepare to lose, peasants.”

  “You’re insufferable,” Mason muttered, though his grin didn’t falter.

  Drog groaned, throwing his cards down in defeat. “I’m calling it. I quit.”

  “Wise choice,” Fi said, leaning back in her chair with a triumphant ugh. “Bow before your queen.”

  The table erupted into ughter and pyful jabs, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  ?????°???°?????

  I wandered through the guild hall, letting ughter and games fade into the background as I approached one of the quieter side rooms. I’d seen Ethan log in earlier, but as usual, he’d kept to himself. A small part of me was relieved he wasn’t diving headfirst into the chaos of the main hall. It gave me a chance to talk to him without everyone else hovering around.

  The side room was sparsely decorated—just a few chairs, a low table, and a rge window overlooking the mountains beyond Emberhold. Ethan sat near the window, one leg propped up on the chair beside him as he leaned back with a faintly distracted expression. His armor was neatly polished, though his HUD visor flickered faintly, showing he was scanning through menus or maps.

  When I stepped inside, he gnced up, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Kiera. Didn’t expect to see you sneaking off from the party.”

  “Not sneaking,” I said, sitting across from him. “Just needed some air. You’ve been hiding out here?”

  “Something like that,” he admitted, closing his menus with a flick. Didn’t think I’d get in trouble so soon after logging in.”

  I snorted softly, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down. “You’re not in trouble—yet. But I figured you’d be somewhere like this.”

  “I prefer to think of it as avoiding unnecessary social interactions. Your guildmates aren’t exactly lining up to be buddies.”

  “They’ll come around,” I said, though his skepticism was written all over his face. “Eventually.”

  “Well,” he drawled, tilting his head. “If they don’t, at least I have you to defend my honor. That’s worth something, right?”

  His grin was pyful, but his tone carried a hint of sincerity. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

  “Comes with the territory,” he said, shrugging lightly. “What can I say? I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

  I hesitated, gncing down at my hands as I tried to find the right words. Ethan’s teasing demeanor softened slightly, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Alright, out with it. What’s on your mind?”

  “I need to tell Devon and Selene,” I said quietly, lifting my gaze to meet his. “About... what happened. About what I did to you.”

  His eyebrows rose slightly, but he didn’t look surprised. Instead, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Telling your knight in shining armor and your shadowy assassin queen about our little... moment, huh? Bold move.”

  “It wasn’t a ‘moment,’” I shot back, though the heat rushing to my face probably said otherwise. “It was a tactical decision.”

  “Right,” he said, leaning back again with a faint chuckle. “Tactical. Let’s go with that.”

  “Ethan, I’m serious,” I said my tone firm. “They deserve to know. I’ve been keeping it from them, and it’s been eating at me.”

  His smile faded, and he nodded slowly. “Yeah, I figured. They’ve probably noticed something’s been off with you.”

  “They have,” I admitted. “And I hate that I’ve been hiding it. I just... don’t know how they’ll react.”

  “They’ll side with you,” Ethan said, shrugging as if it were obvious. “They care about you. They’ll get why you did what you did.”

  “And you?” I asked, studying him. “What about you?”

  He smirked again, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I’ll take the fall. They’ll probably bme me for everything. Wouldn’t be the first time someone needed a convenient scapegoat.”

  I frowned, my voice softening. “That’s not fair.”

  “It’s reality,” he said, his tone light despite the weight of his words. “But hey, I’m a big boy. I can handle a little righteous fury. Besides...” His gaze softened, and his smirk turned into something more genuine. “You’re going to vouch for me, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” I said firmly. “I’m not letting them throw you under the bus.”

  He just looked at me for a moment, his dark eyes searching mine. Then, with a soft chuckle, he shook his head. “You really are something else, Kiera.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I figured you were just another naive, self-righteous hero,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “But you’re not. You’re... complicated. Loyal to a fault, stubborn as hell, and way too good at making people see the best in you. It’s irritating.”

  I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. “Is that... supposed to be a compliment?”

  “Take it however you want,” he said, smirking again. “But for what it’s worth, I admire it. You’re not like the others.”

  His words lingered in the air between us, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Finally, I managed a small smile. “Thanks, Ethan.”

  “Don’t mention it,” he said, leaning back again with a zy grin. “And hey—when Devon inevitably tries to punch me, I’ll let him nd the first hit. Just to keep things fair.”

  I ughed, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “And you love it,” he teased, winking.

  Ethan’s smirk lingered as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with that familiar mix of amusement and challenge. “So, if you’re going to ‘break us up’ by confessing to your knight and assassin duo, don’t I at least get something out of it?”I tilted my head, curious. “Something like what?”“A kiss,” he said, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You know, for my trouble. I think I’ve earned it.”I blinked, taken aback by his boldness. “A kiss? You serious?”He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening. “Yeah. Why not? Consider it payment for all the headaches I’m about to get when Devon tries to pummel me, and Selene sharpens her daggers in my direction.”I folded my arms, arching an eyebrow. “You’re awfully confident.”“Always,” he replied smoothly. “He shrugged nonchantly, though the pyful glint in his eyes betrayed him. “I’m a simple guy. Besides, it’s not every day I get to ask something like that from someone like you.”“Someone like me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Should I be insulted?”“No,” he said quickly, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “Impressed, maybe. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite like you. Stubborn, unpredictable... and weirdly loyal for someone who could probably have anything—or anyone—she wanted.”The flicker of sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. For a moment, the teasing smirk fell away, and he looked at me like he wasn’t joking—like he really meant every word. That made my decision all the easier.“Just one. It’s not too much to ask, is it?”

  I tilted my head, studying him as if weighing the idea. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “And yet,” he said, leaning forward slightly, his grin tilting into something softer, “you’re still here, which makes me think you’re at least considering it.”

  I thought of Fi’s antics in the hot springs, her teasing way of handling situations that left me completely flustered, and a mischievous idea took shape. I gave him a sly smile and took a step closer.For once, Ethan seemed at a loss for words. His confidence faltered slightly as I approached, his teasing smirk giving way to a flicker of surprise. His gaze followed my every move, and his breath hitched when I leaned forward, just close enough that our faces were inches apart.

  “Wait, are you actually—”His voice caught as I closed the distance, my lips just shy of brushing his. His face turned a deep shade of red, his usual cool demeanor slipping entirely. He froze, his eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe this was happening.I tilted my head slightly, letting the moment just long enough for him to start leaning in—before I shifted and pressed a light kiss to his cheek instead. His stunned expression was priceless.Pulling back just enough to see his reaction, I grinned and gave him a wink. “There’s your kiss,” I said, my voice light but dripping with amusement. “Try not to let it go to your head.”Ethan blinked, his hand brushing his cheek where I’d kissed him. His face turned an even deeper shade of red, and for the first time, I saw him completely caught off guard. “You—” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a soft ugh. “Alright, you got me.”As the shock wore off, his pyful smirk returned, but there was something softer behind it now—something I hadn’t seen before. “Guess I’ll have to work a little harder, huh?”

  “Work harder at what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I stepped back.

  His grin widened, though there was a weight to his words that his tone tried to hide. “At making you think twice about those two.”

  It was meant as a joke, his usual bravado wrapped around something real. But I could feel the faint sincerity lingering in the air, like a hidden truth he wasn’t ready to admit fully. The teasing glint in his eyes only half-masked how he watched me like he memorized the moment.

  “Well, good luck with that,” I said, my voice matching his lighthearted tone. “You’d need a miracle.”

  “Maybe,” he said, chuckling softly as he leaned back in his chair. “But you’ve got to admit, I’ve got persistence on my side.”

  I rolled my eyes, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

  As I turned to leave, I caught his voice one st time. “Kiera?”

  I gnced over my shoulder.

  “Thanks for not treating me like the bad guy,” he said, his voice quieter now. “It... means more than I thought it would.”

  For a moment, I just looked at him, my smile softening. “You’re welcome, Ethan.”

  With a teasing wave, I walked out of the room, feeling lighter than I had in days. Behind me, I thought I heard him mutter, just loud enough to carry: “Damn. You’re going to be the death of me, Kiera.”