Stella slipped into the crowd having changed her appearance again. She’d gone for something a bit more nondescript, a conglomeration of the hundreds of Azar faces she’d seen over the years. The result wasn’t exactly appealing but that wasn’t what she was going for anyway. She kept her hood up and tried not to come into contact with anyone directly. She frowned, keeping her eyes straight ahead and fixed on the first landmark, the gates out of the tower-city itself. Around her, the bustle of Osan continued at its normal clip, people coming and going from shops and places of work as they lived out their lives.

She’d thought about leaving a note, trying to explain her decision, but there was really no point. Her mother was dead-set on keeping her in one place. Safety was nice, but she couldn’t stand the idea of just sitting around while whatever the hell this was plagued her and her mother. If her Mother was going to focus on other issues rather than herself, then Stella would do it for her. There was no way of knowing how long it would take for her Mother to return from the badlands or when they would learn anything about this affliction. Stella had all but consigned herself to remaining in her chambers until the matter was solved.

Then it happened, she’d been given her first quest.

Journal Update!

[Path to the Truth]

A monstrous illness has befallen you and your mother. While its effects only trigger on a lengthy but regular interval, the effects have proven to be crippling. Your mother has assigned you to your chambers for your own protection. The truth and a solution lies outside Osan, however. Escape the city. The next quest prompt will provide more information.

Reward: Experience

Accept the Quest?: Yes / No

A quest, just like the adventurers and her mother. Was it because she was like her mother in a way? She didn’t know for sure but she did remember what Journey had said to her when she was little. That sometimes quests came to people even outside of her own control and that they always lead to answers. Was it a lie? Maybe. The Four often distrusted Journey, eyeing her with contempt when she was present around the Queen. But her mother trusted the quest system! Why couldn’t she? If she’d been given the opportunity then why not take it? She couldn’t be a pampered princess forever and she knew how to fight!

Off to her right she spotted some hurried movement, a pair of wardens walking with rushed footsteps. She glanced ahead and spotted a Manikin move to the gates and stand nearby, scanning the faces of every person that came and went. She groaned, boy she moved quickly. Stella pulled her hood a bit tighter around her head and pressed forward, sticking as tightly with the crowd as possible. As they passed closer to the gates she held her breath, praying that they wouldn’t spot her. If she could just get out into the wider city she would basically be set.

“Stella.”

The voice was sharp, almost harsh. There was a disappointed tone to it as well. She knew that tone. She cringed and slowed to a stop as the people moved around them. “Mother.”

“Journey tells me you got a quest,” Her mother said.

Stella spun and found a pale-skinned northern Azar standing behind her, silver hair pulled up into a bun and a simple cloak wrapped around her neck. Honestly, it could have been anyone. Those eyes, though, were molten gold and faintly glowing with intense heat. Stella swallowed, “Mother, I-”

“Was one moment of weakness enough to make you not trust me?” Her mother asked, raising an eyebrow.

Stella fumbled her words, “It’s not like that! I just, you’re going to the badlands rather than trying to figure this out, I can’t just sit and do nothing. I’ve spent every day learning from Myranda and Conrad and Azrael and Sari, I know how to do so much but all I’ve done with my life is sit around and wait for my time to come.”

“You’re only five years old,” Her mother reminded her, “And Sari says it's very likely you’ll stop aging when you hit adulthood, like a Rilk Queen. You’ve got plenty of time. Besides, Yaga is going to look into it. What is going to happen if you’re in danger and you have an episode?” She pressed, “What are you going to do then?”

Stella hesitated and looked down at her feet, “I don’t know, but I’m not going to sit around while you’re away.”

Her mother sighed, “I suppose you wouldn’t, you’re my daughter after all.”

“Are you going to lock me up?” Stella asked.

“I don’t lock people up,” Her mother shot back, “Least of all my own daughter.”

The crowds continued around them as Stella held her mother’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was this permission or a warning? The Queen of Osan crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, “But if you think for a moment you’re going anywhere alone you are sorely mistaken. There are dangerous things out there, dangerous people. So I am not sending you without a guarantee of your safety.”

Stella blinked and her mother smiled warmly, “I haven’t forgotten about that cute little dream of yours.”

The princess flushed, “I was tiny.”

“A General like the Four,” Teyva said, “You aren’t going to grow into something like that hiding in a palace,” she paused and put her hands on her hips. “I will tell Yaga to wait for you at the outer gates. She’s carrying recall gems made by Paraklytus. If it looks hairy she will send you back home, no questions asked. Do you understand?”

Stella’s eyes widened, “You’re serious.”

“You could have just asked me, Stella,” Her mother said softly, “Besides, I’d rather play a role in it than let you sneak off in the dead of winter while I’m in the Badlands.”

Stella's arms fell to her sides, she hung her head and sighed, “I’m so sorry.”

An arm wrapped around her and she felt herself get pulled into an embrace, “I’m sorry that this is happening to us, I’m sorry that this quest fell on you, I gave Journey an earful about it but she can only influence the quest system sometimes it just does its own thing.”

She knelt a little and lifted her daughter’s chin. Stella looked into her mother's eyes and the older woman smiled, “I want you to grow and become powerful, I want you to be able to defend what you love just as much as I can. You need to experience things to do that. All I ask is that you promise me that when the time comes you will use those recall gems and return home if you are in real danger. Take some rilks with you too.”

Stella felt herself melt a little, a wetness welling in her eyes. She swallowed and nodded, “I promise, I will.”

Teyva grinned and released her daughter, putting her hands on her hips. “The ailment is on a twelve-hour loop, it’ll hit like clockwork and it will absolutely suck every single time, just like the first one,” She warned, “Make sure you are somewhere safe and secure during that time. You have some of my powers, use them.”

“I will,” Stella said, starting to feel a little excited. Was this really happening? Just like that?

Her mother put her hands on her hips and tilted her head, “I love you, Stella.”

“I love you too, mom, I won’t let you down.”

“I know, now go on,” She grinned mischievously, “And keep that disguise up! I haven’t warned off the Wardens or my Manikins. If you get caught then obviously you aren’t ready for what’s out there.”

Stella’s eyes widened, she looked over her shoulder at the guards at the gate, and looked back to where her mother had been standing. The spot was empty, only the crowds weaving around her.

—

Teyva leaned against the wall watching her daughter fret for a moment before rousing up her courage and turning back towards the gates. A dark shape formed in the surface to her left and Azrael stepped out, an amused look on her face. “Are you really going to let her go, with just Yaga, in her condition?” She looked to where Stella was trying to merge back into the crowd and back at Teyva, “The adventurers aren’t slouches either, even if the broad majority isn’t a match for Yaga.”

Teyva spluttered out a laugh, “Hell no,” Teyva said, “The kids right though, she needs this.”

“So do you at least have a plan?” Azrael pressed.

“I didn’t tell her that Yaga was going to be traveling with Conrad’s detachment for the raid on East Balthin. They’ll of course part ways in the forest, no need to get caught up in a skirmish. Viira’s queens will be watching them every step of the way and a few of the rilk nests have already spread into the forest.”

She paused, “More importantly, I slipped a little something into her pocket.”

Azrael raised an eyebrow as Teyva pulled a gold coin out of her own pocket. The tiny object sprang to life, its itty bitty legs scrambling over her hand and onto her finger. Teyva cooed at it before looking up to see Stella slip through the inner gates. “She’s got a big family looking out for her. She’ll be fine.”