Ailith paced.
The door to her room at the Kori Inn was shut, the soft candlelight flickering across the old wooden walls, but she barely noticed. Her arms were crossed tightly, her cloak tossed onto the bed in a heap, her boots still on. She hadn't even sat down.
What the hell is his problem?
He hadn't said a word the entire walk from the guild. Not really. She had tried—gods knew she had tried. Asked about the mission, the money, even cracked a joke about the receptionist's face when Reka showed up.
Nothing.
Stone cold silence.
And not the moody, brooding kind she could tolerate. No. This was… distant. Like he wasn't even with her. Like he was somewhere else entirely.
She clenched her jaw.
"He told me all he wanted was money and a name," she muttered aloud. "But he got ten coins today. Ten! We could buy a damn house with that much. And he still says, 'only this much.'"
She threw her hands up.
"And not even a word about splitting it. Not one damn thing. We agreed—temporary party, split rewards. Was that all just... for show?"
Ailith stopped pacing and stared at the small mirror above the basin.
And that smile. Gods. That smile he gave when we were leaving the guild. Who was he smiling at? Certainly not me.He "Sure, he's smiled around me before… but not like that. Not the way he did back there."
It's not like I care we just met 4 days ago hmph
She sat down, finally, on the edge of the bed.
Her fingers brushed the hilt of her dagger resting on the bedside table.
That woman… Reka. The way she entered. The power she had. And yet, Rei wasn't affected at all. Like it was just wind passing through a window. How?
No. Not how. Who.
Who the hell is Rei Noven really?
---
Scene shift.
In a private chamber somewhere deep in the city, well beyond the reach of street lamps or merchant noise, a soft amber glow filled a spacious room.
Curtains of deep red hung over tall windows. The walls were stone, but the room was warm.
Leyla sat calmly on a large bed, her hair flowing over a satin nightgown the color of midnight.
Reka knelt at her feet, dressed more loosely than usual—silk that clung to her form, a nightdress that felt both formal and far too personal. Her head was bowed, but not in shame.
"My lady," Reka spoke softly. Her voice trembled, but only slightly. "I… I want to know something."
Leyla smiled—not the gentle smile she gave as a guild figurehead. This was different. Older. Knowing.
"Ask away, Reka."
Reka lifted her eyes.
"Who is Rei Noven to you?"
Leyla's expression didn't falter. But her eyes narrowed—just a bit.
"A monster," she said plainly. "With a heart. But ruthless when it matters."
Reka flinched.
"A… monster? You? Saying that?"
Leyla leaned forward, brushing a strand of silver-blonde hair behind Reka's ear.
"Shh. Don't say things you'll regret."
"But… you're one of—"
Leyla placed a finger on Reka's lips.
"Ah ah. Not now." Her voice dropped an octave. "No titles here. No formalities. Just us."
Reka's breath caught.
The weight in the room shifted—not magical, but intimate.
Leyla rose slightly, guiding Reka gently onto the bed. Silk rustled beneath them. Leyla hovered just over her, a playful smirk curling her lips.
"You worry too much, Reka. That's what makes you adorable."
"I…"
"You want to know what he means to me?" Leyla whispered, her mouth near Reka's ear. "He's someone I'll be watching. Carefully."
"Jealous?"
Reka's breath hitched.
"No," she lied.
Leyla chuckled softly. "You're a terrible liar."
Fingers brushed skin. Legs tangled. Reka's eyes fluttered closed as Leyla leaned in, lips barely grazing her collarbone.
"And yet…" Leyla whispered, "you're still my favorite."
Whatever came next was only for shadows and whispers.
But in that room, behind closed doors, it was clear:
This was not just a partnership.
Not just loyalty.
There was want.
There was power.
There was something more.
And somewhere, beyond city walls, as Rei stared into the unknown of his path—
Leyla, once again, smiled.
But this time, it wasn't for anyone else.
It was just for herself.
"Her eyes gleamed—not with desire, but with something deeper. Something that had watched empires rise and fall."