A week after the sewer incident, Lyria stood at the guild notice board scanning Bronze-rank contracts while Kara read over her shoulder.

  "Escort merchant caravan to Riverside, three days, thirty silver. Could be boring or could be bandits."

  "Pass," Lyria said. "Too long away from town."

  "Eliminate slimes in Marshwood, twenty silver. Messy but straightforward."

  "Maybe."

  "Oh, here's one, investigate strange lights near Old Miller's farm. Twelve silver." Kara tapped the posting. "That sounds interesting. Could be will-o-wisps, could be smugglers. Either way, good experience."

  "I'll take that one," Lyria decided, pulling the notice from the board.

  This had become their routine over the past week. Morning training with Finn, then checking the board with Kara, taking one or two Bronze-tier contracts, returning before evening. Simple. Structured. Normal.

  Lyria had completed eight Bronze-rank jobs so far, all with Kara as her partner. Nothing dramatic, escorting deliveries, clearing minor monster infestations, investigating disturbances. The kind of work that paid decent money without requiring her to reveal the full extent of her capabilities.

  She was getting better at it, too. Learning to gauge threats, to work cooperatively, to handle contracts professionally instead of just throwing power at problems.

  Kara had been a good teacher, patient with Lyria's gaps in practical knowledge while respectfully not asking too many questions about where those gaps came from.

  "You improved fast," Kara had commented yesterday after they'd cleared a pack of aggressive wild dogs from a farmer's property. "When we started, you fought like someone who'd trained alone. Now you're actually watching your partner's back."

  It had felt like a genuine compliment.

  They logged the new contract with Mira, who stamped their tags with her usual efficiency.

  "Lights near Old Miller's farm," Mira read. "Be careful with that one. Could be fae. They don't take kindly to interruption."

  "We'll be diplomatic," Kara assured her.

  "Uh-huh." Mira didn't look convinced. She handed back their tags, then paused. "Oh,the investigation into the sewer corruption came back. Thought you'd want to know, since you were the one who first encountered it."

  Lyria's ears perked forward. "What did they find?"

  "Traces of dark magic. Not strong, but present. Someone's been conducting minor rituals in the deeper tunnels." Mira's expression was troubled. "Guild sent a mage down to cleanse the area, but it's concerning. Dark magic in the city sewers means someone local is involved. We're keeping an eye out, but..." She shrugged. "Not much else we can do unless they try something again."

  "Dark magic," Kara repeated. "In Millbrook? That's unusual. This town's pretty quiet."

  "Unusual times lately," Mira said. "Speaking of which, you two heard about the refugees?"

  "Refugees?" Lyria asked.

  "Started arriving two days ago. Families from the east, Thornhaven and beyond. Not many yet, just a trickle, but they all say the same thing, crops failing, livestock dying, bad dreams. They're spooked enough to abandon their homes." Mira sorted papers on her desk. "Could be nothing. Could be drought or disease. But combined with dark magic in our sewers? I don't like it."

  Neither did Lyria. Her prey instincts were whispering warnings she couldn't quite articulate.

  "Has anyone investigated what's happening in the east?" she asked.

  "Not yet. It's outside our jurisdiction, and the reports are too vague to warrant an official contract. But Guildmaster Aldric is keeping tabs on it." Mira looked at them seriously. "If you hear anything concrete, anything at all that sounds like a legitimate threat, report it immediately."

  "We will," Lyria promised.

  Outside the guild hall, Kara stretched in the morning sun. "Well, that's ominous. Dark magic and refugees. Think they're connected?"

  "Maybe. Or maybe it's just coincidence."

  "I've been adventuring long enough to know there's no such thing as coincidence when it comes to dark magic." Kara adjusted her sword belt. "But that's a problem for higher ranks. We've got lights to investigate. Come on."

  They were halfway across the town square when Lyria heard it, two merchants talking in low voices near a produce stall.

  "-swear I saw her. The silver hair, the rabbit ears. Just like in the paintings,"

  "The Moonshadow's been dead for decades. You're seeing things."

  "I know what I saw! She was at the guild hall yesterday. Tall rabbitfolk woman, silver hair, had this... presence about her."

  "Probably just a regular rabbitfolk. They're not all that uncommon."

  "Not like this one. I'm telling you, she looked exactly like the legends describe."

  Lyria's ears flattened under her hood. She quickened her pace, pulling Kara along.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "What's wrong?" Kara asked.

  "Nothing. Just want to get moving."

  But it wasn't nothing. This was the third time this week she'd overheard whispers about the Moonshadow. About Lyriana Moonshadow. About her, or rather, the legend of who she was supposed to be.

  The Cloak of Mundanity was supposed to help her blend in, but it had limits. It couldn't completely hide distinctive features like her silver hair or her height or the way she moved. And apparently, the real Lyriana had been famous enough that people still remembered her. Still looked for her. Still whispered when they thought they saw her.

  Lyria had thought introducing herself as just "Lyria" would be enough distance. A nickname. A fresh start.

  But people were making the connection anyway.

  "Hey," Kara said, her voice gentle. "You okay? You look worried."

  "Fine. Just... people talk too much."

  "They do," Kara agreed easily. "Millbrook's a small town. Everyone gossips about everyone. Best to ignore it."

  If only it were that simple.

  ***

  The investigation at Old Miller's farm turned out to be will-o-wisps, harmless spirits that were attracted to the farmer's new windmill. A few polite words and an offering of honey convinced them to relocate to the nearby woods.

  "See?" Kara said as they walked back to town in the late afternoon sun. "Not everything has to be a fight. Sometimes it's just problem-solving."

  "I'm learning that," Lyria admitted.

  "You're learning fast. Another few weeks and you'll be ready for Silver rank." Kara paused. "Though I have to ask, are you planning to stay in Millbrook? Or is this just a temporary stop?"

  "I don't know," Lyria said honestly. "I like it here. It feels... safe. Comfortable."

  "But?"

  "But I keep feeling like something's coming. Like this peace won't last." She looked at Kara. "Does that sound paranoid?"

  "After hearing about dark magic in the sewers and refugees fleeing bad dreams? No, it sounds like good instincts." Kara was quiet for a moment. "Whatever comes, though, you won't face it alone. That's what parties are for."

  "Thanks," Lyria said, meaning it.

  They entered town through the eastern gate, and Lyria immediately noticed the difference from this morning.

  More people. Unfamiliar faces. A family with a loaded wagon, children looking exhausted and frightened, parents talking urgently with a town guard.

  More refugees.

  "That's more than a trickle," Kara observed.

  Lyria's ears swiveled, picking up fragments of conversation.

  "-couldn't stay, the darkness was coming."

  "-whole fields turned black overnight."

  "-my daughter saw something in the woods, something that shouldn't exist."

  Darkness. Black fields. Things that shouldn't exist.

  Her prey instincts screamed warnings she was starting to understand.

  "Kara," Lyria said quietly. "I think something bad is happening in the east. Really bad."

  "Yeah," Kara agreed, watching the refugees with troubled eyes. "I think you're right."

  They made their way to the guild hall to report on their contract. The common room was more crowded than usual, adventurers clustered in small groups, all talking in worried tones.

  Aldric stood near the notice board, deep in conversation with a traveling merchant. When he saw Lyria and Kara, he beckoned them over.

  "Contract completed?" he asked.

  "Will-o-wisps. Relocated peacefully," Kara reported.

  "Good, good." Aldric barely seemed to register the information. "Listen, both of you, I'm organizing a scouting party. Need to send someone east to investigate these reports. Bronze and Silver ranks, small group, in and out quickly. Interested?"

  "How far east?" Kara asked.

  "Thornhaven area. Maybe beyond if the situation warrants. Three, four days round trip. Twenty gold each, plus hazard pay if you encounter anything dangerous."

  Lyria's instincts said this was a terrible idea. Said she should stay in Millbrook where it was safe, where she could keep building her normal life.

  But those refugees, the fear in their eyes, the desperation in their voices, reminded her too much of herself. People running from something they couldn't fight, couldn't understand.

  And if something was wrong in the east, really wrong, maybe she could help fix it before it became everyone's problem.

  "I'll go," she heard herself say.

  Kara looked at her in surprise. "You sure? You just said you wanted to stay close to town."

  "I did. But..." Lyria gestured at the refugees. "They need answers. We need answers. And sitting here worrying won't help anyone."

  "She's right," Aldric said. "So, you're both in?"

  Kara hesitated, then nodded. "If Lyria's going, I'm going. Someone needs to watch her back."

  "Excellent. Party leaves tomorrow at dawn. I'll have four others join you, experienced scouts, one healer. You'll take orders from the party leader, a Silver-rank named Garrett." Aldric made notes. "Pack light, bring emergency rations. If you find something you can't handle, you retreat and report. No heroics. Clear?"

  "Clear," they said in unison.

  "Good. Dismissed. Get some rest,tomorrow might be a long day."

  Outside the guild hall, Kara turned to Lyria. "So much for routine Bronze-rank work."

  "Yeah," Lyria agreed. "But you don't have to come. I can handle,"

  "I'm coming," Kara interrupted. "That's what partners do. Besides, someone has to make sure you don't do anything stupidly heroic if things go wrong."

  "I don't do stupidly heroic things."

  "You jumped into a swarm of hundreds of rats to save me."

  "That was tactically necessary."

  "Uh-huh." Kara smiled. "Go tell your student you'll miss training tomorrow. Then get some sleep. Dawn comes early."

  They parted ways, and Lyria made her way to the orphanage to find Finn.

  He was in the yard, practicing the stances she'd taught him, his stick-sword moving through the forms with increasing confidence.

  "Miss Lyria!" He ran over when he saw her. "Watch this!"

  He demonstrated a combination, stance shift, weight transfer, strike. Still rough, but recognizably correct.

  "That's good," Lyria said. "Really good. You've been practicing."

  "Every day! The other kids think I'm weird, but I don't care." Finn grinned. "Are we training tomorrow?"

  "Actually, I have to go on a contract. Short trip east, should be back in a few days." She saw his face fall and added quickly, "But when I get back, we'll train twice as much. Deal?"

  "Deal," Finn said, though he still looked worried. "Be careful, okay? The other kids have been talking about the refugees. They're saying scary things about what's happening out there."

  "I'll be careful," Lyria promised. "And I'll come back. I always come back."

  "Promise?"

  "Promise."

  She ruffled his hair, making him laugh, and headed back to the Copper Bell Inn.

  In her room, she checked her equipment. The Traveler's Cloak of Mundanity, definitely wearing that. Basic armor underneath. Her sword. Emergency healing potions, though she had to be careful about using those too conspicuously.

  Everything she'd need for a simple scouting mission.

  She lay down on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her ears twitching with nervous energy.

  Tomorrow she'd head east. Toward whatever was scaring refugees from their homes. Toward darkness and bad dreams and fields that turned black overnight.

  Part of her whispered that this was a mistake. That she should stay in Millbrook where she'd finally found peace.

  But a louder part, the part that was slowly becoming Lyria instead of just wearing her face, knew she couldn't hide from every threat. Couldn't build a life while ignoring people in danger.

  Sometimes heroes had to go toward the darkness, not away from it.

  Even when they were terrified.

  Even when they had no idea what they'd find.

  "Just a scouting mission," she told herself. "In and out. Nothing dramatic."

  Her reflection in the window looked skeptical.

  "Okay, fine," Lyria amended. "Probably something dramatic. But I'll handle it. Somehow."

  She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, knowing tomorrow would bring answers she probably didn't want.

  But at least she wouldn't be alone.

  At least she had Kara. And a party. And a town to come back to.

  That was something.