Warden.

  ?The title carried weight. In the storybooks Aelira read, Wardens were portrayed as towering warriors, stronger than ordinary knights, clad in shining armor and vigilance. Only those with exceptional skill could hold the title of a city's protector.

  ?At least, that was the fantasy.

  ?The reality sat before them, slumped over a desk buried in paper, his hair hanging limp on either side of his face.

  ?The man was slowly filling out a form, his hand moving with the sluggish rhythm of someone who hadn't slept in days. Dark circles hung heavy under his eyes like bruises.

  ?This is a Warden? Aelira thought, disappointment curling in her chest. He looks like he’s losing a war against ink.

  ?"How can I help you?"

  ?The man didn't look up. His voice was deep, slow, and textured like gravel.

  ?"I hope you can state your business fast. As you can see... I'm somewhat occupied."

  ?"Umm..." Aelira hesitated, glancing at Zaek for support. He just nodded for her to continue. "We... we wanted to ask about someone's whereabouts."

  ?The quill stopped scratching.

  ?The man slowly lifted his head. His tired, bloodshot eyes fixed on them. For a short moment, Aelira could feel the tension rise in the room.

  ?"Name?"

  ?"L-Lassandra."

  ?"Father's name?"

  ?"Father's... name?" Aelira blinked.

  ?The Warden sighed, rubbing his temples. "Commoners don't usually have family names. You have to know whose daughter she is. Otherwise, I have to dig through every 'Lassandra' in the registry. And trust me, that would take hours I don't have."

  ?"I... I don't know her father's name."

  ?She searched her memory, but Lassandra had always just been Lassandra.

  ?"Do you know anything specific about her?" the Warden pressed, picking up his quill again as if ready to dismiss them. "Where she lived? Where she worked?"

  ?"She worked for the Viremont family!" Aelira blurted out. "In Isenvale. About six years ago... she came back here."

  ?The quill froze again.

  ?"Viremont..." The Warden murmured. His gaze sharpened slightly, losing a fraction of its fatigue. "Six years ago... returned from the North."

  ?He tapped his chin with the feather.

  ?"That would be Flora's daughter then."

  ?"Do you know her?" Aelira gasped, leaning over the desk.

  ?"I know of her. Only a few from this city ever went to serve in the Viremont mansion. It’s not hard to remember."

  ?The man stood up.

  ?As he unfolded his frame, Aelira’s eyes widened. He was massive. Even hunched over, he towered over the desk, casting a long shadow across the room.

  ?He walked to a wall of wooden cabinets, his movements stiff but precise. He scanned the labels, muttered something under his breath, and pulled out a thin folder.

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  ?"Let's see."

  ?He flipped it open, glanced at the contents, and handed Aelira a single sheet of parchment.

  ?"Here."

  ?It was a residency record. A rough sketch of a smiling girl—younger than Aelira remembered, but unmistakably her—was drawn in charcoal at the top.

  ?Lassandra.

  ?Aelira’s hands trembled as she took the paper. She was so close.

  ?"Is it okay to just give me this?" she asked, her voice wavering. "Isn't this... private?"

  ?The Warden slumped back into his chair, the wood groaning under his weight.

  ?"Hmm? You're a member of the Viremont Household, aren't you? The guards downstairs aren't exactly quiet." He gestured vaguely at Zaek. "And you... you're Zaek Evarard."

  ?Aelira looked at Zaek. He was grinning, clearly amused.

  ?"Guilty as charged," Zaek said. "Nice to meet you."

  ?"Aelira Viremont," she added, bowing slightly.

  ?"You can call me Ivar," he grunted. "Now, anything else? Or can I go back to drowning in paperwork?"

  ?"Actually," Zaek leaned against the desk, "do you have anything for us? A commission, perhaps?"

  ?Ivar sighed, a long, soulful sound.

  ?"I prefer if you ask the Guild for that... but..." He paused, glancing at a specific pile of papers. "There is a merchant in town. Needs guards for a transport job. He's been pestering me for days to find 'capable' hands."

  ?"A merchant, huh? If he's asking the Warden directly, he must be important."

  ?"Or just annoying. Probably both."

  ?Suddenly, a frantic flapping noise erupted from the back of the room.

  ?One of the birds in the cages began to chirp wildly, throwing itself against the bars.

  ?Aelira jumped. "What's wrong with it?"

  ?The Warden stood up again, walking slowly to the cage. "It's over now. Easy, girl. Easy." He whispered to the bird until it calmed down.

  ?"Now that I think about it," Aelira asked, eyeing the creature, "why are there so many birds here?"

  ?"These aren't just birds, kid. They're Merkuits."

  ?"Merkuits?"

  ?"Messenger birds," Ivar explained, closing the cage latch. "Clever, fast, and attuned to mana. They connect the Wardens to the Guilds."

  ?"What for?"

  ?"Information," he said, his voice turning grim. "When there are whispers of danger—monsters, bandits, incursions—I send scouts. The birds bring back the truth. You can think of me as the eyes of the Guild."

  ?"So you're not just responsible for security, but also scouting for the Guilds? No wonder this place looks like a paper mill exploded."

  ?Aelira bent down to pick up a sheet that had drifted near her boot. Just trying to be helpful.

  ?"Don't touch that."

  ?The Warden moved with startling speed. He snatched the paper from her fingers before she could fully lift it, his eyes flashing with sudden intensity.

  ?He stuffed it back into a pile on his desk, then slumped into his chair, rubbing his face as if trying to wipe away the exhaustion.

  ?"Sorry," he grunted. "The filing system is a mess. Don't want things getting mixed up."

  ?Aelira blinked, surprised by his defensiveness. It was just a piece of paper...

  ?The Warden cleared his throat, regaining his professional, albeit tired, demeanor.

  ?"Anyway... the merchant you'll be looking for is Tobias Hellman. You can find him around Lunaréa District. It's the most famous inn around here. You can't miss it."

  ?"Tobias Hellman. Got it," Zaek said. "Thanks for your help."

  ?"Just doing the job. Now, if you have nothing else... please. The paperwork waits for no man."

  ?He waved a hand toward the door, already reaching for his quill.

  ?Zaek nodded and turned to leave. Aelira followed, clutching the sketch of Lassandra against her chest.

  ?Just as they reached the threshold, the Warden's voice stopped them.

  ?"Wait."

  ?They turned back. The man wasn't looking at them; he was staring at the sketch in Aelira's hand from across the room.

  ?"That girl... Lassandra." He paused, his quill hovering over the inkwell. "If you verify her whereabouts... please inform me as well. For the records."

  ?"Huh?" Aelira tilted her head. "But you gave us her address. Shouldn't she be there?"

  ?"What I gave you is where she lived," he said vaguely, his voice dropping an octave. "Records get old. Just... let me know."

  ?He returned to his writing, dismissing them.

  ?Outside, the fresh air of Oryndel felt jarring after the stuffy confinement of the office.

  ?Aelira stood by the entrance, staring at the closed door.

  ?"Is there something wrong?" Zaek asked, noticing her hesitation.

  ?"No, it's nothing..." she lied.

  ?But her mind was racing.

  ?The paper she had picked up—the one the Warden had snatched away so desperately—had flashed before her eyes for only a second. She hadn't read the whole thing.

  ?But she had seen the header.

  ?[MISSING PERSON REPORT]

  ?And below it, a list of names. Long. Too long for a peaceful city.

  ?Why was he so protective of it?

  ?A cold shiver, unrelated to the wind, traced her spine.

  ?Why did he ask us to report back about Lassandra?

  ?"Then shall we go?" Zaek asked, stepping onto the street.

  ?Aelira shook her head, pushing the dark thought away. She had to prepare herself to meet someone she hadn't seen for years. Someone she cared for, who left without saying goodbye.

  ?"Okay. Let's go find her."