The patrol didn’t lower their weapons.

  Four adventurers, bronze rank at minimum, armor marked with the Verdant Guild sigil. Their leader watched Aerin like he might sprout fangs at any moment.

  “I was scouting,” Aerin said evenly. “Found the ghoulwolf feeding near the grove. I didn’t lure it here.”

  “That thing shouldn’t exist,” one of them muttered.

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  The leader’s gaze sharpened. “And yet it died.”

  Aerin shrugged carefully. “So did my shoulder nearly.”

  She studied him for a long moment, then sighed.

  “…You’re lucky.”

  He blinked. “Lucky?”

  “Corrupted monsters mean escalation,” she said. “Escalation means attention. And attention gets places sealed.”

  Aerin’s chest tightened.

  “Report says iron-rank Aerin Vale,” she continued. “No prior anomalies. No known artifacts.”

  Her eyes lingered on him.

  “…For now.”

  They escorted him back to the outpost anyway.

  By nightfall, the Luneblossom Grove would be under review.

  By morning, the guild would be asking questions.

  And beneath layers of root and stone, Liora dreamed—

  —and remembered her name.