Magodilin hadn't changed. The same crooked rooftops rose above dusty streets, the same pale mist curled around the cracked walls of the old fortress at its center. The villagers still stared when Stephan and Olath arrived, but the fear that once gripped them was gone. Now, there was something like acceptance in their eyes, a reluctant respect, perhaps even admiration for the man who had gone into the Soul Desert and returned alive.

But it wasn't Stephan who drew the most attention this time. It was her.

Death walked behind him, calm and poised, her long violet hair flowing like moonlight. Her eyes glowed faintly violet, and the black horns curving from her head made her seem otherworldly. Whispers rippled through the crowd. Mothers pulled their children close. Some men dropped their tools, staring as if she were a ghost pulled from a forgotten legend.

Stephan stopped in the middle of the street, folding his arms. "They'll get used to her," he murmured.

Olath grinned, waving at the villagers. "They're just shocked, that's all. Wait till they hear where we've been!"

The crowd swarmed around the Olath before Stephan could stop them. Dozens of voices rose at once, all eager to hear his tales. They laughed, gasped, and clapped as Olath spoke, telling them about the Soul Desert, the endless sands that devoured souls, the terrifying beauty of the Elves, and the fight that nearly cost him his life.

"And you should've seen Stephan!" he said, standing on a barrel so everyone could hear. "He fought an elf magician, faster than light! And his new soul servant, Death..." He gestured toward her. "...she's even stronger than the last one! She fought an elven knight and held her own ground"

The crowd murmured in awe. A few of the younger men even cheered, though the older ones stayed wary, their eyes flicking toward Death's horns.

Death herself stood quietly, unmoved by the attention. "Mortals are the same everywhere," she said softly, her voice low but clear. "They fear what they do not understand."

Stephan smirked. "You'll get used to it."

"I doubt that, my lord," she replied.

The noise of the villagers faded when two familiar figures appeared through the crowd. Yennefer and Anna Mary ran toward Stephan, their faces lighting up with relief.

"Stephan!" Yennefer cried, nearly colliding with him as she threw her arms around his chest. Anna Mary followed, smiling brightly though tears welled in her eyes.

"We thought you were dead," she said breathlessly. "It's been days!"

"I told you I'd be back," Stephan said with a small smile. "It just took longer than expected."

Behind them, Grief approached quietly. Her aura was cold and silent. The moment her eyes landed on Death, the air seemed to tighten.

The two soul servants stared at each other.

Grief's expression was unreadable, but her soul energy flickered faintly around her like a warning flame. Death didn't move, her violet eyes met Grief's blue ones without flinching. The silence between them was heavy, a tension that only Stephan seemed to notice.

"Grief," he said slowly, "this is Death....meet my new soul servant."

Grief tilted her head slightly. "You gave another one a name."

"Yes," Stephan said. "She earned it."

Death inclined her head in acknowledgment. "I am not here to replace anyone. Only to serve my master's will."

Grief's lips curved into something that might have been a smile, or a challenge. "We'll see about that."

The tension broke when Anna Mary spoke. "A new servant? That's amazing, Stephan!" she said, clapping her hands together. "We could use more protection now that we will be meeting the other players soon."

Yennefer nodded eagerly. "And she looks powerful. You've really outdone yourself this time."

Stephan chuckled. "She's reliable, that's what matters."

As the villagers resumed their chatter, Olath continued entertaining them with stories. Children tugged at his sleeves, begging for more tales about dragons and elves. Men offered him food and ale, calling him "the brave little traveler."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Magodilin didn't seem so bleak. There was laughter in the air, and even Stephan allowed himself a faint smile.

Grief's gaze lingered on Death, her expression sharp and thoughtful. Death ignored it, her eyes scanning the rooftops as if sensing something none of the others could.

"They weren't supposed to be there," Olath had said.

No, Stephan thought. They weren't. Which means someone sent them.

He looked toward the horizon, where the mountains bled red under the setting sun. Whatever peace Magodilin offered would be short-lived.

The real storm hadn't even begun.

Stephan exhaled as the last light of day slipped behind Magodilin's jagged rooftops. The long, grueling journey through the Soul Desert, the mountains, and the tunnels, all of it felt like a distant blur now. He was back. They were safe. For the first time in days, he could lower his guard, if only a little.

Still, his mind refused to rest.

He needed to speak to the King, soon. If anyone in this realm knew why the elves were suddenly roaming the Soul Desert, it would be him. Maybe the King had the answers he was looking for. But that was for later. For now, he allowed himself a moment to breathe.

Anna Mary and Yennefer stood nearby, their laughter soft and genuine as they spoke with the villagers. Seeing them safe was enough for now. After everything, that was what mattered most.

Olath, though, was already surrounded again, this time by more than half the village. His animated voice carried above the crowd as he retold the story of their travels for what must have been the third time. His hands waved wildly in the air, exaggerating every scene, from the dragon flight to the elven standoff.

And then, through the crowd, came a voice that froze everyone in place.

"Olath!"

The queen's voice, sharp, trembling, and full of relief, cut through the evening air.

Queen Shiva rushed toward them, her crimson robes sweeping through the dust as she ran. Her golden hair was disheveled, her crown slightly askew. Her face was streaked with worry and exhaustion, but the moment she saw her son, all of it broke into tears.

"Mother!" Olath said, leaping down from the barrel he'd been standing on. She threw her arms around him, hugging him so tightly he nearly squeaked in protest.

"My boy… my little fool! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?" she said, her voice cracking as she held him.

Olath grinned sheepishly. "I… may have gotten a little lost."

Queen Shiva pulled back just enough to glare at him. "Lost? You were captured by elves!" She turned her furious gaze on Stephan. "And you...you promised me you'd keep him safe!"

Stephan stiffened, meeting her eyes without flinching. "And I did. He's alive, isn't he?"

"That's not the point!" she snapped. "You took him into the Soul Desert! Do you have any idea what lives there?"

"I do," Stephan replied coolly. "I fought one."

Her words faltered, anger giving way to uncertainty. She stared at him for a long moment, studying the exhaustion written across his face, the faint aura of power still flickering around him like smoke. Then her gaze shifted, to Death, standing silently a few paces behind him.

Queen Shiva's eyes widened. "By the gods…" she whispered. "What is that creature?"

Death tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "A servant," she said softly.

The Queen's jaw tightened. "You brought another monster into my village."

"She's not a monster," Stephan said. "She's mine."

The tension between them hung heavy until Olath, ever the peacemaker, piped up. "Mother, it's fine! She's nice! She saved my life! The elves didn't stand a chance!"

That seemed to pull her back to herself. Slowly, she turned back to her son, brushing a hand through his hair. "You… fought elves?"

Olath nodded proudly. "Well, they fought us. But we managed to escape."

Something in her expression shifted then, her anger dissolving into a strange, quiet satisfaction. "Elves," she muttered under her breath. "Those arrogant bastards finally got humbled."

She looked back to Stephan, her tone softening for the first time. "You humiliated them, didn't you?"

Stephan didn't answer, but the faintest smirk curved his lips. That was all the answer she needed.

For a long moment, the Queen regarded him, then nodded slowly. "You've done well, human. Very well."

The villagers, sensing the tension fading, began to murmur approvingly. Some even cheered, proud to know that their own Queen's son had survived an encounter with elves, and that the man who brought him home had bested them.

At last, Queen Shiva placed a hand over her chest and bowed slightly, the gesture full of royal grace. "You have my gratitude, Stephan of the Soul Desert. You brought my son home alive, and for that, Magodilin will always welcome you."

Her eyes flicked toward Death once more. "Your… companion, too."

Death bowed in silence, her violet eyes gleaming faintly.

"Thank you," Stephan said quietly. "I'll only stay for a while. There's still work to be done."

The Queen smiled faintly. "Of course there is. There always is."

Then she turned back to her son, cupping his face in both hands. "Now, my dear boy...no more adventures for a while."

Olath groaned. "But mother...."

"No 'buts.'" She smiled gently, though her eyes still shimmered with unshed tears. "You've given me enough heartache for a lifetime."

As the villagers slowly dispersed, Stephan stood watching them, the laughter, the warmth, the relief. For once, there was peace here.

But deep in his chest, something unsettled stirred.

The elves in the Soul Desert. Their strange interest in a mere gnome. The golden light that rivaled his soul energy.

He looked toward the fading horizon again, his thoughts returning to the King.

He would need to visit him soon. The answers were out there, and whatever they were, he had the uneasy feeling that they wouldn't bring peace.

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