So, you two finally made it."
Reth reached for his blade—until the voice registered. Dry. Sharp. Familiar.
Elenya stepped out from the corner of the dim room, arms crossed. Her gray cloak was damp, strands of her braid clinging to her cheek.
Asthia began stripping off her gloves, her tone flat. "Next time, don't sit in the dark like some creep."
Elenya smirked faintly. "And miss the dramatic entrance?"
Asthia didn't respond—just cast her a glance, then moved to the far wall, tossing her travel-stained cloak over the chair near the shuttered window.
Silence stretched.
Elenya exhaled and rolled her shoulders before turning toward Reth.
"Well… how was your journey? The princess doesn't seem in the mood for conversation, so I'd rather ask her loyal shadow." Her brow lifted. "Bodyguard?"
Reth looked at her for a beat. Thinking. Should he tell her about the cannibals? The bodies?? Or how their horses ran off after a long rest stop and they'd walked the last leg on foot?
"…Nothing," he said. "It was a good journey. Wouldn't want to do it again."
Elenya let out a soft laugh. "Fair enough."
She stepped over to the table where a half-burned candle leaned crooked in its holder. She tapped the wax with a finger, then looked back to Asthia.
"Since I got here before you two, I looked around a bit. About this 'meeting' in two nights."
Asthia, still facing the window, finally spoke. "And?"
"There's a party," Elenya went on. "City Lord's estate. Same night as the meeting."
That got a flicker—just the barest turn of Asthia's head. Enough for candlelight to catch the edge of her eye.
"A party," she asked.
Elenya nodded. "Formal. Visiting dignitary, apparently. Normal for the season, but... the timing stinks."
Reth folded his arms, frowning. "You think they're connected?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't believe in coincidences." Her voice dipped low. "Not in cities that wear gold over their cracks."
Asthia turned, slowly. Picked up the candle. Studied it like it might flinch. "If it's a trap," she said, "then someone's either very confident... or very stupid."
"Could be bait," Reth muttered. "See who shows up asking the wrong questions. Sort the curious from the dangerous."
Elenya nodded, one shoulder lifting. "Makes our next step a little trickier."
Another pause. No one filled it.
The candle guttered suddenly, sending shadows flailing across the walls. Elenya didn't move. Asthia just set it down.
"We'll split tomorrow," she said. "Reth and I will scout the estate. Look for an invite list, faces worth watching."
Elenya tilted her head. "And I... mingle?"
"Taverns. Corners. People talk louder when they're pretending they're not."
A brief nod. "Discreet inquiries. Got it."
Asthia sank into the chair like a knight surrendering armor.
She didn't sigh—but her stillness said enough. The day had worn her down.
Reth stayed standing. He didn't like chairs, not in unfamiliar rooms. His gaze flicked toward the window, but the shutters were closed tight.
Elenya paced once, slow. "Any idea who we're meeting? Or what it's about?"
"No," Asthia said. "That's why we came."
"Lot of effort for a question mark."
Asthia didn't answer.
Instead, she stood. Slow. Like the weight of the day had caught up all at once.
Then she looked at Elenya.
"Go to your room," she said, tone dry but final. "I'm going to sleep. And I don't feel like kicking you out when I'm halfway there."
Elenya arched a brow, but didn't argue. Just tugged her damp cloak tighter around herself.
"Already took the room next door," she said, heading toward the door. "Walls are thin, by the way. Try not to groan too loud if your back seizes up."
Asthia gave her a look that might've been a glare. Or exhaustion. Hard to tell.
Elenya smirked and slipped out, door closing softly behind her.
The room went quiet.
Asthia stepped toward the bed, boots thudding dull on old wood. She didn't bother changing—just unbuckled her belt, slid the scabbard free, and set it on the floor beside the nightstand. Then she sank onto the mattress face-down with a grunt, arm dangling off the side.
"Ugh. I'm going to die here," she muttered into the sheets.
Reth didn't move from where he stood. Just watched her in silence.
[System Notification: Observe Commander Asthia – No Active Command]
Then she spoke again, voice muffled by the pillow.
"My shoulder's..."
She turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him.
"Massage it," she said. No request. Just command. Like asking someone to pass the salt.
[System: Command Received – Perform Shoulder Massage for Princess Asthia]
[Objective: Comply with Command]
[Reward: 10 EXP]
[Failure: Minor Punishment Trigger]
Reth blinked. "You serious?"
She didn't even look at him now. Just lifted one arm over her head and let it flop lazily onto the pillow.
"Do I sound like I'm joking?"
Reth stepped closer, slow.
He crouched beside the bed, reached up, and pressed his thumbs into the base of her shoulder.
Asthia didn't flinch. Didn't tense. Just exhaled through her nose like someone letting go of tension built up over miles of bad roads.
"Harder," she muttered.
[System: Command Updated – Increase Pressure of Massage]
[Objective: Adjust Technique per Instruction]
[Reward: +5 EXP]
Reth obliged.
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of his fingers working muscle, and her quiet, steady breathing.
He leaned in slightly, pressing deeper along the knots.
Still no reaction. No blush. No shift.
[System: Emotional Note – Trust Increment: Minor]
[Loyalty Sync: +1.2% – Action Recognized as Personal Support]
After a minute, she muttered, "You're not completely useless."
Reth huffed. "High praise."
Silence again.
And then—
"Don't stop yet."
[System: Command Extended – Continue Massage]
[Objective: Maintain Compliance]
[Reward: +5 EXP]
He didn't.
And she didn't say anything else.
[System Notification: Command Completed – Shoulder Massage Performed]
[EXP Gained: +20]
[Current EXP: 390/ 400]
[Loyalty Sync: 31%]
[Relationship Note: Subtle Bond Strengthened – Commander Asthia]
///
[Redhill Town Map]