The silence stretched like a cloud, the grinded steel smell was stale, carrying the faint tang of coal smoke.
"Are- are you Violet?"
Violet eyes widened, her lips trembled and Vael immediately stood in front of her– "Who are you? How do you know her?"
Eiran stood up with a deep breath;
"Relax! I mean no harm, your papa... I mean your father, Garrett Holloway, had saved my little brother.
David, you must've heard about him." She averted her eyes while scratching her cheek.
***
Violet's PoV
Her voice was a little hesitant like she was a little embarrassed...
"He has told me about you in letters when he was Greyhollow and after he came back from there.
He was really thankful to your father, he said he wouldn't be alive if your father had not made it in time.
But—"
Eiran brows furrowed, "he has not written for 4 years, I am a big worried... Have you seen him?"
The expression on her face was quite familiar, same as mama...
I remember uncle David, he helped papa so much.
Papa seemed relaxed when he came to the village.
But how do I tell her that I haven't even seen my own papa and mama for almost 4 years...
I shook her head slowly. "No. I haven't seen him since then, but he was a great help there." I smiled.
Eiran sighed and nodded, swallowing whatever emotion stirred beneath her calm.
She walked to the table and took a look at the bows and raised me to gaze with a faint grin.
She wore her glasses and picked them up– "Since I don't know whether he paid his dues or not, let me do it in his stead."
"You don't owe me anything," I understood where she was coming from, living under the rock of favours, that gets heavy every passing moment.
"Maybe not," Eiran chuckled... "But I can at least mend your bow. Free of charge."
I blinked. "No—you don't have to—"
She raised a brow with a scoff "Consider it gratitude. A sister's due."
"It was my papa who saved him, not me," I lowered my gaze. "And I'll pay for the work."
I can't help but remember him, his long and big arms that felt like shield that could even stop storms,
His warm-rare smile,
His stern voice that felt like it wayed away every misfortune.
Without realising I teared up, maybe Eiran saw it and continued working.
A small laugh broke from Eiran, low and dry. "Then it'll cost you thrice what it should. Two gold."
"Thrice?" Vael said from the doorway, leaning his shoulder against the frame, "Take the offer, Violet. Unless you plan to sell me to slave traders..." His ear dropped like he was ready to be sold.
I giggled a little, "Two gold it is."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a tiny gemstone, faintly glowing in the forge's light.
***
Eiran and Vael were staring at Violet's finger, she held a small stone with a green glow that changed color to orange every time sunlight passed through it.
"Here, maybe this can help a little," Violet murmured.
It was Mr. Raven. This morning before changing, she found a small pouch with few gems in her gown, she knew it was him because of his habit to collect gemstones and shiny metals.
She thought he must've been out there when he took her to this world...which was true.
Eiran stepped closer, her gaze sharp. "May I?"
Violet nodded, and the woman took the gem between her fingers, holding it to the firelight. "Gods," she breathed. "You know what this is?"
Violet said no but she knew eyes Mr. Raven knows the value of everything.
"Worth fifty, maybe sixty gold. A clean cut, no flaws. Just where did you get this?" Eiran whistled while putting her glasses away.
"Fifty gold!" Vael yelled...
She set the stone down gently, then counted out coins from a small box. "Here, fair trade... If you have more don't sell it for any less."
"You really pull out some really surprising things." Vael's eyes shifted, he looked a little disappointed for some reason.
Violet took the gold, "I really needed this... Can't make Vael pay for everything..."
"I don't mind you know..." Vael said looking all non-chalant.
Eiran realised and broke a small laughter...
Eiran raised a hand. "I insist.
Also I recommend getting a Jack ring with some of it.
Keep your money sealed and invisible. Only the owner can touch what's inside."
"Safe but expensive!?" Vael spoke, he swung a sword in the air playing a warrior.
"Five gold," Eiran said. "But worth every coin if you plan to travel far."
Violet thought of the road ahead—the capital's sprawling gates, the whispers of danger. "Then we'll do that."
***
By late afternoon, they were returning from the merchant guild.
The wind outside had turned colder, the kind that scraped the lungs raw.
They moved together—Eiran, Violet, and Vael—following the cracked road to the merchant guild.
The guild's hall behind them loomed, its brass emblem dull with age.
Violet fingers had black ring that slowly vanished in light.
She had brought the Jack Ring.
The place smelled of parchment, sweat, and suspicion followed them.
Vael gritted his teeth as they stepped into the open air.
"If you hadn't stopped me," he muttered, "I would've crushed those bastards."
"Listen boy, things will only turn out for worse if I get involved with them much.
But I didn't expect them to react like that looking at you Violet, those questions were more suspicious than formality."
Vael only snorted and looked away.
***
They returned to the Eiran store...
The sky burned pale gold, and the heat of the day was fading into frost. Eiran worked without words, her hands sure and deliberate.
The bow she shaped gleamed under the lamplight—strong, graceful, perfectly tuned to Violet's height.
When she placed it in Violet's hands, it felt alive.
A smile appeared on her face when she pulled the smile back, the same feeling when Garrett was training her aim in her cottage.
Violet then struck a string, the soft sound somehow calmed her... "It's beautiful."
Eiran smiled faintly. "She'll last you through a storm or worse. Two gold, as promised."
Violet placed the coins on the table.
But before she could step back, Eiran reached behind the bench and set down a quiver filled with different colored feather arrows.
"These are frost-oak. They fly straighter in cold air, some explosive arrows, some trapping arrows and some useful ones. It'll help you on your journey."
Violet shook her head. "You've done enough. I can't—"
"Don't argue," Eiran pushed it to her, her tone was firm but kind.
"Take them. I won't sleep easy knowing I sent a girl out unarmed."
Violet sighed but accepted the gift. "Thank you. For everything."
Eiran's expression softened again. "If you see David… tell him at least send one letter telling he is face.
Violet's throat tightened and she looked down "I will."
***
They returned to Kerran apothecary...
Kerran was waiting, sleeves rolled, a bundle of glass vials and dried roots beside him...
"You're back," he said. "Medicine's ready. I threw in some ready to mix ingredients if the mix runs out. You already know the process girl."
Violet smiled and bowed in gratitude and then pulled out her pouch, "How much?"
He frowned, and accepted it.
He looked at her, then sighed and took the coins. "I am sorry, I wouldn't have accepted it, if I things was good."
His gaze flicked toward the shuttered windows. "We're leaving soon anyway. Slave traders have been sniffing around. They want Jaden."
Vael sat with a thump on a nearby chair. "where will you go?"
"For now," Kerran said. "Somewhere far away from the eyes of traders, A few of my men are injured. I can't move them yet."
Violet held the Kerran hand gently, "You don't owe me anything. I did everything in the spur of the moment and I am more than happy to help those kids."
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Then I'll remember that. And repay it someday."
She hesitated before turning to go. "Kerran," she asked quietly. "Your son… what happened to him?"
Vael's voice was low, warning. "Violet."
But Kerran only exhaled, a sound that carried years of dust and grief. "Seven years ago. He was five. A sickness took him—something close to mana deterioration. We couldn't stop it. Only two children survived—Jaden and his sister.
He looked toward the back room, where the two small figures stood in the doorway. "I took them in to understand why. Turns out the boy's mana heals. Slowly, but enough to keep them both alive. The others… they weren't as lucky."
Violet's eyes dimmed. She stepped toward the children. Jaden's sister's hand clung to her sleeve, tiny and trembling.
"You were brave," Violet whispered. "Both of you."
Jaden tilted his head. "Will you come back?"
Violet smiled and knelt matching their eyes, she pulled them into a quick embrace, then touched Jaden's shoulder. His skin was warm, pulsing faintly with mana like a soft heartbeat.
"Take care of them," she said to Kerran.
He nodded. "You too, girl."
***
Outside, night had begun to settle. The carriage waited by the road, its wheels sunk in frost-soft mud. The horses stamped, breath misting in the cold.
Vael climbed in first, then turned to offer his hand. Violet took it, the weight of the bow and quiver slung over her shoulder. Her fingers brushed the invisible Jack ring—it shimmered briefly before fading, the magic hiding it from sight.
Eiran stood by her forge door, firelight painting her hair in amber. She raised a hand in farewell.
Violet lifted hers in return. For a moment, the sound of the forge—the slow rhythm of hammer against steel—echoed in her chest, steady as a heartbeat.
The carriage rolled forward. The town shrank behind them, the forge's glow swallowed by night.
Violet leaned her head against the window, watching the dark trees blur past. Her reflection stared back at her—tired eyes, pale skin, a faint light glinting where the invisible ring met her pulse.
Somewhere ahead lay the capital. Somewhere beyond, answers.