Ravyn’s words lingered in my ears as a whirlwind of emotions and what-if scenarios clouded my thoughts. I still intended to visit her later, just to make sure she was alright. Even if I did, there wasn’t any guarantee she would answer her door. But the last thing I wanted between us was friction.

To be honest, I was at a total loss for what to do.

No matter what I came up with, a nagging voice in the back of my head continued to bombard me with the notion that our relationship would never be the same after this.

That voice grew louder and louder during my walk back to the village, and I was struggling to quiet it. Ravyn had always been so reliable and levelheaded. Snarky, bit of a foul mouth and a short temper—a little petulant maybe—but reliable. A lot of times the words she shared with us weren’t the best, and the delivery wasn’t kind. However, experience was teaching me that there was a big difference between what I needed to hear as opposed to what I wanted to hear.

If not for Ravyn, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to handle what Yomi did. It was thanks to her that I could sleep at night, knowing that it would never happen again. Ravyn had gone the extra mile whenever possible. When we needed money, it was Ravyn who stepped in. If there was a complicated issue, Ravyn was often the one to provide the solution. Hell, when Cannoli fed her pan to a roach, she was the first in line to replace it.

I felt for the bud around my ear. My face grew hot as I recollected the day she pierced it. She had a strange way of showing she cared. At times it felt like my mother was scolding me—and I was beginning to wonder if she’d ever depend on me the way we depended on her.

With everything she’d been through, I imagined it wasn’t that easy for her. Still, if this encounter had shown me anything, Ravyn was trying to let herself open up again. Maybe it really just was a matter of time.

My head was starting to hurt, and it wouldn’t do me a lot of good to dwell on things I couldn’t do change at the moment. Plus, anything I could use to quit the ghosts of Ravyn’s soft skin under my fingers was a boon.

Dammit, man. Concentrate.

So I sought out whatever distraction was available. Make a list. I wanted to know what had happened on Ni Island since I’d left, and I still had to speak to Espada about getting some new gear. The latter, I’m sure, was close to closed for the day, but she always seemed readily available to shoot the shit. Not to mention, Saphira had completely blindsided me in the market square.

I really do need to pay her a visit soon. Maybe she’d enjoy some intimacy? Fuck, Kelmer, you sound as desperate as when you got here.

Ravyn aside, it was hard to get my head straight. I was frustrated beyond belief, and I found myself teetertottering between whether I should just take a girl to bed or continue my trek through the village. I settled on the latter.

“Hey, Matt!” Tristan stood a few feet from Espada’s shop and waved me over. Ara was standing a few paces behind him, a rare smile on her face.

“Heya,” I said with a casual wave. “Get a good tour of the island?”

“I think so.” Tristan beckoned Ara over with a hand. The maid took to her master’s side with a curt nod. “I love how friendly everyone is.”

“A little too friendly,” Ara commented. “Many of these girls do not know how to keep their hands to themselves.”

“Ah, you’ve met the welcoming committee,” I said with a chuckle. “You won’t be stepping on my toes if you’d like to get more acquainted with them.”

Ara raised a brow.

“Ah,” Tristan said, suddenly uncomfortable. He blushed and ran a hand through his hair. “O-okay, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks. But, anyway! The Espada I read about is the very same! It’s her!”

Well, I’ll be. Queen’s Guard? Who would’ve thought?

“You’re sure?” I asked, slipping my hands into my pockets. The sound of clanging metal rang through my ears. My gaze veered off to the lone blacksmith who seemed to be burning the last drops of daylight hard at work on something. A sheen of sweat covered her entire body, her muscles tensing and brimming with each swing of her hammer. I couldn’t tell what she was working on from where I was standing. “Kinda pictured the guard being a little more, I dunno, eloquently spoken.”

The ears atop Espada’s head twitched, and I caught her glancing in my direction. She glared before returning to her work.

“Absolutely! The hair, her height, the scar on her face, how she carries herself! She fits the bill! She’s the one and only!” Tristan spoke with the fervor of a young boy who’d discovered that his role model was as true as the rumors claimed. There was a sparkle in his eye. He extended his index finger and drew closer as he spoke. Felt like I was back in college with an overtuned professor. “She’s so powerful, and she looks so dependable!”

“Wonder why she ended up here,” I said, half-interested.

“I have a few working theories, but I didn’t want to bother her. She looks really busy.”

“And we’re about to add to her honey-do list.” I shuffled past Tristan and Ara, up to Espada’s counter. “Hey, Espada. Long time no see.”

The blacksmith glanced, then turned back around, unimpeded. “Did you break something again?”

Ow. Just my pride.

“You’ve got to work on your customer service. I’m not feeling very welcome in this establishment.” I crossed my arms over my chest and grinned.

Espada sighed, turned around, then approached the counter, resting her palms on its surface and leaning forward. She was clearly not in a joking mood. “Make it quick. The gear behind me is hot. Start talking before I charge you a hundred Bells a minute.”

“Just a few seconds. I’ll need to get my armor checked and a new shield made.” I pointed toward Ceres. “A new member of my party needs to also be measured and outfitted for armor. Got time in the next week for me?”

“I do. Your armor’s leather, though, yeah?” I nodded. “I got a friend coming into town tomorrow. She’s a pro with leather. Let her look over yours, and I’ll get your friend’s measurements in the afternoon. You got the ore for a shield?”

I shook my head. “Not yet, but I can get that to you.”

“I’ll need a couple days to make it once you get it here. But I can sneak you into my schedule.”

She’s being awfully compliant. My lucky day? “Thanks a ton, Espada. I have the money, so don’t worry.”

“Of course.” Espada put her gloves back on and waved me away. “Don’t be a stranger, Matt.”

I returned to Tristan and Ara. Keke, Cannoli, and Ceres had joined them now, and the picture of them happily chatting with one another brought a smile to my face.

“Hey. How do you like Ni Island?” I asked Ceres.

Ceres’ eyes lit up, and her mouth hung slightly agape. “My Lord! This island is breathtaking! Every detail about it, from the crisp scents of the ocean to the luscious forests that take root under our very feet!” Ceres tapped the ground with one foot to emphasize her exuberance. “I had no idea you hailed from such a beautiful land!”

“Ahaha. Well, I’m glad you like it. Ni Island is—”

“And the boats!” Ceres huffed. She clapped her hands to her mouth. “I am so sorry, my Lord. I cut you off and continued on without consideration for you.” She bowed at the waist. “My sincerest apologies.”

“It’s fine,” I said, shaking my head. “It might not have the trade or grandeur of some of the other islands, but it’s home. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Keke and Cannoli flashed toothy grins. I smiled back.

“Oh, that reminds me!” said Cannoli. “There’s a wandering minstrel coming into town later tonight.”

“What’s she like?”

“A little on the stranger side,” Keke said with a shrug. “But what [Wizard] isn’t?”

I frowned. “She’s not a specific [Bard] Class or anything like that?”

Cannoli giggled. “Of course not.” Then her mouth hung open as she thought about it. “That would be so neat! Someone who sings on a battlefield!”

Ara rolled her eyes. “Please. What a ridiculous notion. In what world would music be a proper tool in combat?”

“I’ve heard some awful, ear-bleeding sounds off of violins,” I argued, “so there’s always a possibility.”

“She does do something pretty unique, though,” said Keke. “Her music doesn’t sound like most others. There’s a rumor going around that she’s completely changing how other minstrels perform.”

“How so?”

“Are you talking about Iggy, the Wandering Bard?” asked Tristan.

A number of confused expressions bore down upon Tristan.

Is there anything this guy doesn’t know about? How does a dude who’s locked up in a room for years know more than I do?

“Young Master has exceptional knowledge. You would do well to listen.” Ara chuckled and rested the fingers of one hand over her lips, her affectionate gaze doting on Tristan like a proud mother.

Keke giggled and folded her arms. “Well, you seem to know all about her. Why don’t you tell us then?”

Tristan frowned, and a pink hue decorated his cheeks. “Well, from what I’ve read about her, you either love her, or you hate her. Her music sounds a lot like, ah—” Tristan looked to me, “like an electric guitar. One of the men from another island wrote an article on her. She’s picked up on a lot of rock somehow.”

“An electric guitar in Nyarlea?” I wondered aloud. The ice cream shop in Venicia had made sense with magic. But magnifying the sound of an instrument? “How would you even do that without an amp?”

Tristan shrugged. “I don’t know. Obviously, I’ve never seen her myself.” He chuckled, then cleared his throat when Ara turned her head. “A-apparently she’s a natural [Wizard]. Incredible electrical magic.”

“Electrical?” Cannoli asked aloud as if pondering the question herself.

“Lightning, thunder,” I explained. “It went by a few other names in our old world.”

But damn. If she can put out rock music on a magic guitar? I’d pay to see that.

“Well, she’ll be performing here later tonight. Why don’t we all go?” Keke suggested.

“I would love to!” said Cannoli.

“I am very curious to see it in action,” Tristan agreed.

“Well, I suppose we are deserving of a short vacation.” Ara shrugged.

“I welcome the opportunity to learn from fellow spell crafters,” Ceres said, clutching her fists to her chest. “I wholeheartedly agree that a respite is in order as well.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll drink, party, and sing the night away.”

Ravyn’s potential retorts to the idea, along with her sardonic smile, rushed through my head as soon as the words left my mouth. But the smiles on the others’ faces and cheers from Ceres and Cannoli said I’d made the right decision.

Just welcome the distraction for now, Matt. Everything else can come later.