Today was supposed to feel relieving. This morning, I woke up knowing we would finally leave Yggdra soon. The Caravan Master decided we would travel east toward the nearest harbor city and return to Port Roderick by merchant vessel instead of taking the full overland route. With the caravan, the goods, and the profit from the Voidscale negotiation, sea travel would apparently save both time and cost. Yesterday, I attempted to joke with Ryn. Or at least I think that was my intention. I told her fifty percent of the Voidscale profits should belong to me since the negotiation only succeeded because of what happened to me. To my surprise, she agreed. She opened a heavy chest filled with gold bars marked by the symbol of the white fox mask. The sight alone nearly made me sick. Ryn said I could take as much as I wanted. That I deserved it. In the end, I took nothing. The mask inside my satchel already weighed enough. Even seeing the fox insignia stamped into the gold made my stom...
This morning, Ryn came to my room unexpectedly. She asked me to accompany her to The Moonthread Bazaar. Honestly, I wanted to refuse. Even after ten days, Lunaveil still made my skin feel tight somehow. But Ryn said we only had two days left before departure, and she needed to inspect market prices before leaving the city. So eventually, with considerable reluctance, I agreed. We walked together through Lunaveil beneath drifting silk banners and pale morning mist. Every Moonfen Sister who saw me stopped briefly to bow. Some only lowered their heads slightly. Others bent deeply enough to make me uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. Ryn clearly noticed. But she said nothing. Only continued walking beside me at a slightly slower pace than usual. The Moonthread Bazaar was as beautiful as ever. Soft fabrics. Warm lantern light. Perfume. Gentle voices. Everything still looked exactly the same. But now the beauty felt hollow somehow. Or perhaps I was the hollow one. I followed Ryn w...