Milly slowly blinked awake, her vision hazy and her head pounding like she'd been hit by a training dummy.
"Ugh… my head… still hurts…" she mumbled, pressing her palm to her temple. The forest canopy above her shimmered with the first light of dawn, scattering golden flecks across the ground.
The remains of last night's fire were just faint embers now, smoke curling lazily in the morning air. The half-eaten boar from her midnight snack still sat on the spit, and Milly grimaced.
"Right… I fainted. From singing. Great start, Milly."
She stood up, brushing off the dried leaves that clung to her clothes. Her wings hidden under a thick cloak twitched slightly as if impatient.
At first, she thought about heading north toward Thornhill the usual route travelers took. But something tugged at her chest, a strange pull, quiet yet insistent.
"…No. I'll go west," she muttered to herself.
The air seemed to hum for a moment, as though the world itself acknowledged her decision.
Her destination: Berbeign, a bustling trade city near the western plains. A place known for its mix of humans, demi-humans, and draconic traders. Somewhere loud, chaotic and perfect for blending in.
As she walked, she hummed softly again, though she stopped halfway through the tune when the same dull ache crept back into her skull.
"…Guess I'll stop singing for now," she said with a small, forced laugh.
Hours passed. The forest thinned out, the dirt path turning into a cobblestone road lined with wildflowers and merchant carts.
By the time the afternoon sun hung high, the grand gates of Berbeign City rose before her tall, metallic, and covered in intricate runes that shimmered faintly when the guards approached.
One of them eyed her cloak suspiciously.
"Traveler, name and purpose?"
Milly blinked, realizing she didn't have an answer for the second part.
"Uh… Milly. Just… sightseeing?"
The guard squinted. "Sightseeing? With a travel bag full of tools and… dragon scales?"
Milly froze for a moment, then laughed awkwardly.
"Souvenirs! Totally… souvenirs."
The guard sighed and waved her through.
As she passed into the city, Milly's eyes widened. The streets buzzed with energy vendors shouting prices, carriages rushing by, and magical lights flickering over every building.
She couldn't help but smile a little. "It's… kinda nice here."
Still, that small ache lingered in her chest, and she glanced toward the horizon, whispering under her breath,
"Maybe… I'll find something here."