Lira hadn't spoken much since they left the tower.
Julian noticed. Not because she was usually chatty—she wasn't—but because even *less* Lira was a problem. She walked ahead, fast and silent, barely glancing back as they moved through the forest trail heading south.
Julian jogged to catch up. "So, uh... what's the plan again?"
"We reach Eastgrove. Get supplies. Disappear."
"Cool, cool. Just one question."
She didn't slow down. "What?"
"Why are we going *south* when the closest friendly town is *north*?"
She didn't answer.
Julian narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something."
[Correct. Her heartbeat spiked when she mentioned the route.]
Lira stopped and turned, slowly. "Stay out of my business."
Julian raised both hands. "Look, I just don't want to walk into another ambush. Or flaming pit trap. Or cursed door puzzle."
[To be fair, two of those were your fault.]
"Not the point."
Lira exhaled and leaned against a mossy boulder. She looked tired. More than tired—*worn*. Julian realized for the first time that she hadn't slept much since they met.
"I have someone I need to find," she said at last.
Julian blinked. "Okay. Who?"
"My brother."
That shut him up.
She continued. "He vanished six months ago. Last seen heading toward the Wyrmspire border. Said he was following a lead on illegal mindcraft spells. He was trying to protect people from... exactly this kind of magic."
Julian felt the scroll tucked in his bag grow a little heavier.
"He was a Guild mage," she added. "Low rank. Smart. Brave. Too brave."
Julian sat on a rock across from her. "So this isn't just about helping me."
"No. You just happened to be carrying the one scroll that might help me find him."
[That explains her initial interest. And her hesitation.]
Julian nodded slowly. "Okay. So what's in Eastgrove?"
"A contact. Ex-Guild. Might know where my brother went."
"And if he doesn't?"
Lira stood. "Then we keep walking."
Julian met her gaze. "You could've ditched me already."
"I could've."
"But you didn't."
She didn't reply. Just started walking again.
Julian followed, tapping the spoon against his leg like a nervous habit. Blobby peeked out of the pouch, blinking curiously.
[Her mission is personal. But now, it's entwined with yours.]
"I know," Julian whispered. "And we're not leaving her alone with it."
[Sentimental.]
Julian smiled. "I have my moments."
[So does mold.]
The trail narrowed into a cliffside pass, winds howling around them. Lira suddenly held up a hand. They both stopped.
Below, far in the distance, torchlights danced—too many for a merchant group. And moving fast.
Julian squinted. "That's a lot of people."
"Not people," Lira said. "Hunters. Cult agents. Tracking us."
Julian's hand drifted to his pendant.
[You need to hide your presence. Now.]
"I don't know how—"
[Then improvise.]
He closed his eyes and focused. Pushed the fear, the urgency, into his mind like pressure behind glass. Thought of static, of silence, of being small.
The pendant pulsed once.
The wind died down around him.
The spoon dimmed.
"They just... passed us," Lira whispered, amazed.
Julian opened his eyes, panting. "I think... I just made myself forgettable."
[Temporary aura suppression. Not bad.]
Lira looked at him differently for a second. Not just with surprise—but respect.
"Let's keep moving," she said. "Before it wears off."
As they continued, Julian muttered under his breath, "Let's not die today, okay?"
[Working on it.]