{-Llewel-}

He didn’t say anything to her about it. He couldn’t muster the words, his thoughts a mix of why he listened to her and why he thought it would be any different. Of course he wasn’t going to see Casrane there. Yet he still went all the way out here to be disappointed.

Nezri gave them both thankful nods. “Thank you both for helping me. You have my sincerest gratitude… and also all these rewards.” He first looked at Tinath before remembering he needed to give them to Llewel. “I’m going to head back to where you found me, now that the heirloom’s safe. Or at least, safe until I come back, and then it’s with me again…”

“We could probably bring you back,” Llewel offered.

“No we can’t,” Tinath mumbled. “There’s still something else we need to do here.”

“We already saw those illusions. What more is there to do?”

She showed him instead of saying anything. In the middle of the clearing was a lone feather. “Those illusions aren’t the only thing here. This [Phoenix Feather] is used later, so it’s easier if you just start holding on to it now. It keeps you from having to come back here to get it, anyway.” She handed it to him and the description for it popped up.

[Quest Item: Phoenix Feather

A feather from a fiery bird cursed to experience life and death forever. Someone may be more likely to notice you if he sees you with this.]

Llewel stashed it away, though it wasn’t long until he asked what their next course of action had been.

Nezri’s voice, though a bit quieter since he’d wandered a little, was still clear through the trees. “Llewel? Yes, I’ve seen him. He’s right over there. Wait, are you really who I think you are? Earlier I mentioned how I wanted to see you! You’re better in person—”

“Yeah, we’re not dealing with that right now.” Zetai’s voice heralded her presence before she walked up to Llewel. Reynneak and Myr were close behind her.

Llewel ignored everything else for a moment to focus on his sister. “You’re feeling better?” He paused. “Why do you have a coat on..?”

“You’re going to need one, too,” Zetai remarked. She pulled one out of her Inventory and handed it to him. With a wary glance at Tinath, she added, “I can explain later.”

“Did anyone see you on your way here?” Reynneak prompted, quieter but otherwise making no point to hide the question from the others.

“I don’t think we’ve come across anyone once we left the city,” Llewel replied cautiously. Still, he put on the coat. “Do I want to know what’s going on..?”

Zetai sighed and glared at Tinath. “Can you leave us alone for a minute? We need to have an important party member meeting and, last I checked, you’re not a part of that.”

“I’ll help Nezri the rest of the way to his usual spot,” Tinath mumbled after a minute. “Just come find me when you’re done and I can show you what that feather’s supposed to be used for.”

Zetai waited until Tinath was a safe distance away, though still kept her voice low. “Relenri told us that people from Nankohm were trying to find you two again. They weren’t just looking through Nafrius and Anthalas—there were plenty of them in Kyirius, too. We’re pretty sure nothing good is going to happen if they find you so we’re going to have to make sure we’re careful.”

“Alright…”

But she wasn’t done. “Which leads me to the next thing I wanted to ask you. Why did you think it was a smart idea to look for Casrane all on your own?”

There was a moment where he thought to defend himself. Then he realized there was nothing he could say and shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

“Even if this wasn’t going on, it’s still better if we all know exactly where we are,” Reynneak pointed out. He seemed rather casual about the whole thing, though. “There doesn’t have to be a time limit on this whole thing if you don’t make it seem like there is.”

“I have no idea what it must feel like for you two,” Zetai sighed, “and I probably never will. I know you want to see her again. But you need to make sure you’re thinking things through, too, and figuring out what’s the best move for all of us.” She dropped the serious tone in favor of a lighter one, grinning when she said, “What are friends there for if not to rush into possibly-dangerous situations together?”

Llewel nodded. “You’re right. We should be doing this together…”

“Did… did you actually see her?” Myr asked in a near whisper.

“Not the real Casrane. Just fragments of memories…” He stopped, remembered what he did before they came, and showed them all the [Phoenix Feather]. “Tinath gave this to me before you showed up—it’s what she mentioned before she left.”

“It’s a part of a quest,” Reynneak observed. “We’ve still got some time left before we have to leave for the day, so we should at least be able to get it started.”

Zetai led the way back towards Tinath and Nezri… before she apparently remembered that she didn’t actually know where Nezri was originally. Llewel took the lead from there. When they got there, the two were having what seemed to be a rather tense conversation; neither mentioned the topic when they saw the other four, however.

“What’s with the coats?” Tinath questioned when they got closer. “I noticed them earlier but you shooed me off before I could ask.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Zetai dismissed. “Do you know something about that quest item?”

“The feathers? Yeah, I know exactly where you’re supposed to go to use them.” Tinath maintained a casual tone throughout, though there was something that suggested there was more to it. “They’re probably not going to lead us any closer to Casrane, though, if that’s what you’re hoping for.”

“We’re just looking for something to do,” Reynneak said with a shrug. He glanced at the twins. “I think we could use a less serious trip. This… is going to be an easier quest, right? Not one of the ones that has to do with the Rune Reactivation Project guys or the ones with darker tones to them?”

Tinath shrugged. “Only if you want it to be.”

“Come on, you must’ve done this if you know about it. At least a warning…”

The hawk on her shoulder cawed before she said, “Just don’t look into it too much and you’ll be fine.”

She guided them from there, taking them through the forest. She didn’t look back to make sure that they were following her though, for the most part, they didn’t fall too far behind.

It wasn’t long until they found someone. He was sitting by a small lake, reading something he seemed to be rather absorbed in. With Tinath’s motion, Zetai pulled out the feather, the only reason the scholar acknowledged that they were there at all.

“My, that’s quite the item you have with you!” he remarked as he looked at it. “May I see it more closely?” Zetai handed it to him. “Yes, it’s quite rare to come across phoenix feathers like this. Usually they burn up with their original owners. Only a handful that are shed during the phoenix’s lifetime remain to be admired.”

Then he moved on from the feather to observe the people that gave it to him. “You know, you look like a capable bunch of adventurers. Could I trust you to do something for me?”

[Quest: Ruin Request

David is a scholar interested in the ruins found throughout Kyirius. But, unfortunately, they found that the last clue they needed to solve an academic mystery is locked in a ruin they can’t access. He’ll reward anyone able to help him find that clue generously.

Rewards: access to the Kyirius Ruins dungeon, 1 powerful weapon per party member, Kyirius Artifact, +100 EXP, 500 coins]

Zetai was impressed for a moment before something else crossed her mind. “What are the weapons? Just something random?”

David shook his head. “Suitable weapons based on your level and class.”

“Are you going to tell us any more about it?” Reynneak asked. “All of that seemed pretty… vague.”

“I assure you, I can explain everything you need to know on the way there,” David said. “It’s not something we usually go about flaunting, so I apologize. I don’t want to share too many details with someone who might not even end up agreeing to come along.”

Zetai nodded. “Either way, we’ll help. All that stuff will be pretty useful to have before we get to Kehnore.”