[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tHK3yAW.png[/img][/center]
[hr][hr][sub][b]Location:[/b] Aelios Temple > Hot Springs[/sub]
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Eris kept her expression composed as she and Lord Raunefeldt walked down the hall, leaving the High Priestess’ chambers behind them. The two guards remained near the room, already speaking in low, urgent tones about calling for reinforcements to investigate the alleged “break-in.”

[color=B1E4FC][i]Good[/i][/color], she thought. Little of Ayel’s story made sense to her, but she wasn’t about to question him directly. Not without evidence of what had really happened. Not when her energy was already running dangerously thin.

As they entered the central chamber of the temple, she stepped aside and inclined her head toward him with practiced diplomacy. [color=B1E4FC]“Thank you again, Lord Raunefeldt, for your… patience. I greatly appreciate it and I—”[/color]

Mid-sentence, a thought struck. Frazzled by Ayel’s forwardness, she’d completely forgotten to ask something.

Eris blinked and immediately turned toward the hallway, then paused. [color=B1E4FC]“Forgive me. I need to speak with the guards. Be well, Lord Raunefeldt. May Aelios guide you safely.”[/color]

Before Ayel could respond, she pivoted, her boots tapping swiftly against the stone floor as she returned to the two guards who were now forming a barricade at the High Priestess’ doorway.

Kale straightened at her approach. [color=FA8072]“I’m sorry, Lady Hightower, but we can’t have you back here.”[/color]

[color=B1E4FC]“I apologize,”[/color] she said, lowering her voice. [color=B1E4FC]“But have either of you seen the innkeeper today? I heard she was headed this way. Or the High Priestess? Do you know when she’ll return?”[/color]

[color=FA8072]“I saw the innkeeper head out to the hot springs a while ago,”[/color] Kale replied, glancing at his counterpart who simply shrugged and shook his head. [color=FA8072]“Haven’t seen the High Priestess since this morning.”[/color]

[color=B1E4FC]“Thank you.”[/color] Eris glanced briefly past him into the dark of Tia’s room. [color=B1E4FC]“Please let me know what you learn about the break-in, when you can.”[/color]

Kale nodded once, then flicked a subtle look down the corridor, signaling that it was time for her to move on. With that, Eris slipped away. 

In the temple’s center, she paused at the eternal flame, letting its sacred heat seep into her. Quietly, she whispered a prayer for strength, then crossed the chamber and pushed open the side door that led to the back of the temple.

Warmth met her immediately. A dense wave of steam rolled from the springs, curling around her face and loosening the tension in her shoulders. A small blessing. 

For a moment, it almost felt peaceful.

Her gaze swept through the drifting fog, finding the familiar alcove at the top of the steps leading into the private baths. Instinctively, she slipped her hands into her pockets, fingers finding the hairpins Tia had left behind. She recalled sitting there with the High Priestess — Tia’s quiet guidance, the push to investigate the blight-born’s blood…. but [i]how[/i] had she known?

Hearing a faint echo of voices coming from below, Eris stilled. For a moment, she simply listened, trying to pick out each word and voice. How many people were there? Who was it? Were the tones happy? What was she about to walk into? 

To her dismay, she was unable to decipher much. 

Mindful of the slick stone, she began descending the large steps toward the lower springs. Sya’s voice reached her first. The northern Aurelian wilds cadence was unmistakable.

As Eris drew nearer, she spotted Sya’s silhouette through the steam. The form of a half-snake, half-woman was difficult to miss, even blurred. She was speaking to an exceptionally tall man, wrapped around him, and beginning to lead him… somewhere. 

Eris’ curiosity flickered, but she kept it tightly contained, careful not to let it show in her expression as her gaze flicked between the pair. The man looked… imposing, to say the least. But if Sya was comfortable with him, then he was likely safe… right? 

Her stomach tightened as the steam parted, her eyes finding Sya more clearly. The innkeeper’s new serpent tail gleamed, damp from the springwater, coiled where legs should be — where they [i]had been[/i] only mere weeks ago. 

Eris swallowed. 

She’d always hated snakes. Their movement, their eyes, the way their tongues flicked. In Aurelia, many carried venom potent enough to kill. And yet Sya…. was Sya. Gentle. Warm. Earnest. 

She remembered her own reflexive flinch when she’d first seen Sya’s second transformation. The way Sya’s expression flickered painfully at Eris’ speedy retreat. And the short letter Sya had written afterward, so soft and kind. Just as Sya had been from the moment they met in Dawnhaven, just over two months ago. 

[color=B1E4FC]“Sya…”[/color] Eris called softly, slowing her pace, her gaze flicking briefly to the stranger then back to her friend. [color=B1E4FC]“I’m sorry… I hope I’m not interrupting something?”[/color]
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[sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Sya [@PrinceAlexus], Valthyr [@Fetzen], Ayel [@Dezuel][/sub]