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[b][color=crimson]”The bits I’ve… unintentionally... overheard from the Librarium was that same fact and that it has been happening for 7 months or so. This other ‘bit’ I’ve heard, which I’m personally unsure if it is unrelated or not, is that there’s been a string of killings where the bodies found were oddly mutilated...”[/color][/b]

Stunned into silence, Karya let Ixius' words sink in. The aftertaste of wine turned sour in her mouth as the casual banter faded into the background, food and drink suddenly the furthest things from her mind. Closing her eyes and clenching the handle of her mug, she shook her head. No, no, no, she couldn't think the worst. If a wood nymph had been found, surely the news would have gotten back to the forest communities by now. And Xan was tough. She HAD to be alive...

With a deep, shaking breath, Karya opened her eyes. [color=76c429]"Oh gods..."[/color] She glanced from Ixius to Anise, her other hand balling into a fist on the table. [color=76c429]"All the more reason to get stronger, huh? To do the best we can as adventurers. To look into things like this and put a stop to them."[/color] The sheer grit in her tone likely left no doubt that this was personal.

Although the more lighthearted conversation - Finn chatting up Valencia over food and champagne, Calven's cheery introduction - seemed a world away, she overheard mention of the Magus Librarium. For Cal's sake, she forced a smile. [color=76c429]"Good to meet you Calven! And yep. Ixius, you heard him, about getting along."[/color] She gave Ixius a mock pointed look before turning her attention back to Calven, her expression serious once more. [color=76c429]"Not to bring down the mood too much, but if you're from the Librarium, you wouldn't have heard anything about this? About what's been happening lately?"[/color]

More talk about the horrors going on in the world. This wasn't what Selena needed right now, Karya thought with an inward shudder. Even though the kitsune girl had calmed down to an extent, her distress was still clear from her quietness. Karya didn't want to be the one to put a damper on the feast, but she had to find out as much as possible.