After outlining the basics of the printing press—its meisms, the principles of movable type, and the materials it required—Vivieched as Mizzra scribbled furiously into a thick ledger, her quill scratg like a busy i. The goblihusiasm was iious, and Vivienne could tell her mind was already rag with possibilities.

  "You’ve given me plenty to chew on, Vivienne,” Mizzra said, looking up with a wide grin. “This could be the start of something big, mark my words. I’ll reach out to some of my sisters, and we’ll see what we whip up.”

  Vivienne nodded, satisfied. "I’ll leave it in your capable hands. Just keep me informed—I’ll be curious to see how things develop.”

  Mizzra gave her a sharp salute with the quill. “Oh, you’ll be the first to know. And don’t be a stranger, eh? This pce could use more ers with ideas like yours.”

  “I think i o actually buy something to be a er, Mizzra.” Vivienne smiled warmly before stepping out of the shop. Renzia stood a few paces from the entrance, her rigid frame casting an odd but f shadow across the cobbled street. She was utterly still, her doll-like head tilting slightly toward Vivienne as though awaiting orders.

  “I think I might find some different street food,” Vivienne said, stretg her arms overhead as if to shake off the weight of their versation. “Then perhaps take it back so Kivvy and Rava have something to eat as well.”

  Renzia tilted her head the other way, her movements as meical and deliberate as ever. Though she didn’t respond verbally, the slight shift iance suggested a silent aowledgment.

  The streets had grown busier since Vivienne first wahrough them, with vendors calling out their wares and the warm, entig smells of grilled meats and spiced pastries wafting through the air. She took a moment to survey the bustling se, her sharp eyes pig out a cart further dowreet where smoke rose from a sizzling grill.

  “Pokopoko skewers again?” she mused aloud, gng at Renzia as if expeg an answer. “No, let’s see if there’s something different this time.”

  Her bare feet made no sound on the cobblestones as she strode toward the stall. The vendor, a stocky human with suhered skin and a thick beard, was turning over cuts of meat on a ft griddle, their rich aroma already drawing a small crowd.

  “Ah, miss!” the vendor called, his voice brightening automatically at the sight of a potential er. But his words faltered for a beat as his eyes took in Vivienne’s unusual appearahe sharp cws, her unnervingly dark eyes, and the faint aura of something other. Still, years of street trade had honed his instincts, and he quickly pstered on a practiced, if slightly stiff, smile. “What I get for you today? We’ve got hot pies, grilled redfin sausages, and fried karnok ribs fresh off the bone!”

  Vivieepped closer to the stall, the fai smirk tugging at her lips as she noted his initial hesitation. She tapped a cwed finger against her , the gesture light and ptive. “Let’s try the karnok ribs. I’ll take three,” she said, her tone almost pyful. “And maybe six of those sausages too.”

  The vendor’s hands moved swiftly, falling into the familiar rhythm of preparing food. His nervous energy ebbed slightly as the exge became routihe sound of sizzli and the aroma of charred spices filled the air, and Vivie herself enjoy the simple pleasure of it. She smiled faintly—food had a way ing gaps, even ones as wide as hers.

  “Oh,” she added casually, her voice cutting through the crackle of the grill. “Do you have anything a bit… bloodier?”

  The vendor froze, one brow arg high. “Uh, like… lightly cooked?” he ventured cautiously, his eyes flig to hers as if he hoped he’d misheard.

  “Raw,” Vivienne crified with a faint shrug. “The fresher, the better.”

  His hands stilled for just a moment before resuming their work, though his motions were a touch less sure. “I, uh… suppose I might have something,” he murmured, his voice quieter now, as though unsure how to hahe request. He turned and rummaged beh the ter, eventually pulling out a small bundle of fresh, glistening cuts ed in paper. “How much of it do you want?”

  “How much are the ribs and sausages?” Vivienne asked, her tone easy, as though they were discussing nothing out of the ordinary.

  “The sausages are eight copper each, the ribs a silver,” he replied automatically, though his gaze lingered uneasily on her sharp, inhumaures.

  Vivienne reached into her purse, pulling out a gleaming gold . She held it out to him between two cwed fingers. “Give me a few cuts of your freshest meat, and you keep the ge.”

  The vendor’s eyes widened, and his fear gave way to startled gratitude. “You’re… very gracious, my dy!” he stammered, his voice almost reverent. He quickly ed the raw cuts in an additional yer of paper and added them to the parcel with the ribs and sausages.

  As he handed over the bundle, he hesitated for a fra of a sed, his gaze flittiween the gold and Vivienne’s calm, otherworldly expression. He bowed slightly, murmuring, “Thank you, truly. This will help more than you know.”

  Vivienne accepted the buh a faint, knowing smile, the glinting as it ged hands. "You're wele," she said smoothly, her voice as warm as it was posed.

  The vendor straightened, his smile still tinged with unease as he watched Vivieie the bundle. She ha with care, peeling back the yers of paper to reveal the raw cuts of meat glistening in the sunlight.

  Without hesitation, Vivienne lifted one of the raw cuts to her mouth. Her jaw opened unnaturally wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth gleaming faintly in the light. She bit down with a swift, effit motion, tearing the flesh ly before swallowing the k in one deliberate gulp. A faint hum of satisfa escaped her, and she reached for the piece.

  “Ah! This does still have aether in it. Fantastic.” Said Vivienne happily, lig some blood from her lips.

  The vendor stood frozen, his eyes widening as he watched her repeat the motion with the remaining cuts, eae vanishing into her maw with startling speed. Her movements were smooth, almost graceful, but the sheer alien efficy of it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He gnced around, as though seeking reassurance from the crowd, but most passersby seemed oblivious to the quiet spectacle.

  Vivienne fihe st pied wiped her hands lightly on the paper, folding it ly before tug it bato the buh the cooked food. She looked up at the vendor, her dark eyes meeting his startled gaze.

  “Delicious,” she said warmly, as though she hadn’t just devoured raw meat in front of him. “Thank you for the meal.”

  The vendor swallowed hard, f a stiff smile to his lips. “I, uh… I’m gd it… met your expectations,” he stammered, his voice crag slightly. He fidgeted with the hem of his apron, clearly at a loss for words.

  Vivieilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable but not unkind. “You’ve been most helpful. Have a good day,” she said with a nod, her tone polite but final.

  As she turned and walked away, the vendor exhaled a shaky breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He watched her retreating figure, her casual stride belying the uling dispy he’d just witnessed.

  “Well,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head and trying to focus on the gold still clutched in his hand, “gold’s gold, I suppose…”

  Vivienne and Renzia strode through the bustling streets, the entig aroma of the cooked sausages and ribs wafting from the ly ed bundle in her hands. Renzia, as always, followed in her silent, mannequin-like fashion, her movements precise and almost too fluid at times, drawing the occasional curious gnce from passersby.

  The guards at the hall gates barely aowledged Vivienne as she approached. Their oiff posture and wary eyes had softened over the past few days, their unease dulled by her regur ings and goings. One even offered a slight nod, a gesture nition rather than respect, as he stepped aside to let her pass.

  Vivienne smirked faintly. It seemed her initial notoriety was fading. The whispers of "the monster woman" that had once rippled through the air like a tide of fear were now quieter, less tinged with terror. She wasn’t sure whether to find it amusing or disappointing. A small part of her relished the instinctive fear her presence could inspire; another part appreciated that life might be smoother without every pair of eyes glued to her every move.

  The hall’s interior was lively, with the familiar hum of voices eg in the corridors. It was a stark trast to the quiet of the city streets she’d walked earlier. People bustled about, their steps purposeful as they moved between rooms. Vivienne could hear the faint ctter of cookware and the soft murmur of versation from deeper ihe hall.

  “Rava and Kivvy should still be around,” she mused aloud, gng over her shoulder at Renzia. The mannequin offered no response, merely tilting her head slightly as though processing the words. Vivienne rolled her eyes affeately and tinued down the hall, her setuo the sounds of familiar voices.

  She didn’t have to search long. Turning a er, she spotted Kivvy seated on the floor near a low table, a wooden bowl of what looked like stew resting in her p. Rava was nearby, her sharp gaze sing the room with the air of someoually assessing her surroundings. Both looked up as Vivienne approached, their eyes flig to the bundle in her hands.

  “Back already?” Rava asked, her toral but with a flicker of curiosity.

  “And bearing gifts,” Vivienne replied, holding up the buh a grin. “I thought you might like something a little more substantial than whatever you’ve been sging up in here.”

  Kivvy’s eyes widened as she caught the st of the sausages, her witg. “Is that... meat? Real, cooked meat?” she asked, practically boung to her feet.

  Vivienne ughed, a low, melodic sound. “I is. Karnok ribs and redfin sausages, fresh from the market.” She uned the bundle slightly to let the savory aroma escape, causing Kivvy to sniff the air appreciatively.

  Rava crossed her arms, her expression unreadable but her gaze fixed on the food. “You didn’t have to do this,” she said, though there was no mistaking the faint appreciation ione.

  “I know,” Vivienne replied easily, setting the bundle oable. “But I wao. Besides, it’s not just for you two—I wanted some too.” She g Renzia, who stood silently at her side, and added, “Well, most of us, anyway.”

  Kivvy wasted no time, grabbing one of the sausages and taking a hearty bite. Her eyes lit up as she chewed, sav the rich, smoky fvor. “This is amazing!” she excimed through a mouthful of food.

  Rava picked up one of the ribs with a little more de, her sharp teeth tearing into the meat with precision. She nodded approvingly but said nothing, her focus entirely on the meal.

  Vivienne leaned back slightly, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips as she watched the others savor the food. Kivvy devoured her portion with gusto, her small frame hunched over the ribs like a creature guarding its prize. Renzia sat upright, meical and precise as always, carefully watg the reas of the people eating. Rava, ever the posed leader, took her time, though her expressions softened subtly as she ehe fvors. For all the chaos and uainty surrounding them, moments like this—simple, shared, and unguarded—felt like a small victory to Vivienne. A rare glimpse of what normalcy might look like.

  The peace was interrupted as a hall maid approached, her movements brisk but deferential. In her hand was a scroll sealed with the Ravanyr crest. She bowed her head slightly before addressing Rava. “Lady Ravanyr, your mother has requested you meet her in her office. She said you are wele t whoever you choose.”

  Rava’s brows knitted as she accepted the scroll. Breaking the seal, her eyes sed the ly written lines. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she gave a curt nod, tug the part away iunic. “Thank you,” she replied evenly. The maid offered a polite curtsy areated as swiftly as she had e.

  Vivienne raised an eyebrow. “Seems like the family business is calling again,” she remarked dryly, her tone pyful but her eyes keen.

  “It always does,” Rava replied with a touch of weariness. She g the group. “Finish up quickly. We’re going.”

  Kivvy perked up, lig her fingers . “Oh, are we doing something fun? Or... serious?”

  Rava’s expression was unreadable as she stood. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

  The group quickly ed up their impromptu meal. Vivienne wiped her hands on a piece of cloth she had tucked away, her dark eyes flitting over Renzia and Kivvy as they prepared themselves. Renzia stood silently, her movements smooth and precise as she set her now- ste bato its usual pce. Kivvy bouo her feet, wiping grease from her with the back of her hand and straightening her coat—a mix of youthful eagerness and curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

  Vivienne chuckled under her breath, her tail flig zily behind her. “Let’s hope it’s a bit of both,” she murmured to Kivvy.

  The walk through the hall was a quiet ohe atmosphere shifting from casual camaraderie to the weighty silence of anticipation. The intricate stonework of the hall caught the flicker of torches, casting long shadows as they navigated the winding corridors. The Ravanyr crest, engraved on banners and doorways, seemed to watch their every step.

  Rava led the way with her usual posed stride, her expressioraying nothing. Vivienne followed close behind, her sharp gaze abs the subtle details of their surroundings. Kivvy walked beside her, occasionally ing her o take in the grand architecture with wide-eyed wonder.

  As they reached the double doors of Korriva’s office, Rava paused, her haing lightly on the polished wood. She turo the group, her tone low and firm. “Keep your questions to a minimum unless addressed directly. This won’t take long.”

  Vivieilted her head, her lips curling in a faint smirk. “I’ll be on my best behavior,” she said with monoce.

  Rava gave her a look but said nothing, pushing the doors open with deliberate care. Ihe room was bathed in the warm glow of ntern light. The walls were lined with shelves of books, ledgers, and maps, interspersed with artifacts that hi the family’s long history. The High Fang stood behind a broad desk, her figure regal and anding.

  Korriva’s gaze flicked to each of them as they entered, her sharp, calg eyes taking in every detail of the group’s arrival. She stood behind a rge, imposing desk, the faint gleam of ntern light casting shadows that deepehe hard lines of her face. Her presence filled the room, an unspoken and emanating from every movement, from the way her hands rested calmly on the surface of her desk to the quiet authority in her posture. Her eyes locked onto Rava first, as expected, her daughter the one she measured most closely.

  Kivvy stared up at the head of the Serkoth , her eyes wide in disbelief. "Damn, I see where Rava gets her size from..." she muttered, not b to lower her voice. The words slipped out before she could stop them, even though the lekines were known for their sharp hearing. Vivieanding right beside her, caught every word. Everyone looked at her, and she shrunk uheir gazes.

  "Just sayin'..." she mumbled, her voice faltering as the intense gazes of the others bore down on her, shrinking uhe weight of their attention.

  Korriva turned her attention to her daughter.

  “Rava,” she greeted, her voice steady, unwavering, carrying a weight of responsibility that couldn’t be ignored. “And your… panions. New, and less new.”

  Rava ined her head slightly, her own gaze measured, her expression the picture of stoiposure. “High Fang,” she responded with quiet respect.

  Korriva’s gaze didn’t waver as she turo the rest of the group, pausing ever so slightly on Viviehere was something in that lingering gnce, a subtle shift of the eyes that suggested she wasn’t just assessing Vivienne’s appeara calg her p this ever-evolving web of alliances. Korriva’s expression remained unreadable, but there was no mistaking the sharpness of her focus.

  After a beat, Korriva straightened, her shoulders pulling back with a deliberate motion that marked the transitireeting to business. “I have an assig for you,” she said, the words weighted with the authority that only years of leadership could cultivate. Her voice held the kind of power that required no raising of tone—simply the certainty that she would be obeyed. “Ohat could determihe oute of our preparations for the ing war.”

  The mention of war was enough to draw Vivienne’s full attention, her sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She remained silent, her posture poised and still, but ihe flicker of i burned brighter. Korriva was rarely oo speak so directly of such matters, which made it clear that whatever she was about to say was not only important but critical.

  Korriva’s voice broke the silence again, her words deliberate as she made the stakes clear. “We arric,” she tinued, her gaze cutting to Rava as she spoke her brother’s name. “His expertise in prophed fht, as well as his experieravelling the Snty are vital. Without him, our strategies are inplete. While Narek is doing a fine job, he he help of your sed eldest brother. He’s been absent too long, and our scouts have been uo precisely locate him. You, Rava, must bring him back.”

  There was a noticeable tightness in Rava’s jaw at the mention of Tarric. While Vivienne couldn’t be sure of the nature of their retionship, it was clear that the and carried some weight for Rava—perhaps a family bond, perhaps the pressure of expectation. Still, she remained outwardly calm, her arms folding across her chest as she listeo her mother’s words.

  Rava’s voice, low but steady, cut through the tension. “Do you have any leads on his location?”

  Korriva’s hand swept toward the rge map id out on her desk, the edges frayed and dotted with the marks of tless strategic discussions. The map was littered with symbols—some Vivienne reized, others fn to her—but all clearly denoted areas of i. The territory marked in shadow caught Vivienne’s attention, a dark and jagged border that suggested danger, uability. “Reports suggest he was st seehe Shadowfrost Weald,” Korriva said, her firag the area on the map with a familiarity that suggested she had already sidered the risks. “Iigating ruins tied to his... personal is. It’s dangerous territory, but if anyone retrieve him, it’s you.”

  The mention of danger was enough to shift the atmosphere in the room. Kivvy’s ears perked up, her small frame suddenly brimming with attention, fiwitg at the prospect of excitement. Vivienne’s lips curled ever so slightly, amused by Kivvy’s obvious enthusiasm, but her own mind was elsewhere, calg the weight of the task ahead.

  “And,” Korriva’s gaze flicked toward Vivienne and Kivvy, her words cutting through the momentary silence. “Your panions may prove useful in this endeavor, so long as they don’t slow you down.”

  Kivvy’s eyes gleamed at the challenge, her fingers curling in anticipation, while Vivienne’s gaze remained posed. The briefest flicker of a grin tugged at Vivienne’s lips, but she said nothing. Her role was clear enough—she was a tool in the mission, an asset, and she’d make sure she was ohat would not be easily overlooked.

  Rava nodded once, decisively, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. “Uood,” she said, her tone clipped but firm. She turned her eyes to the map briefly before meeting her mother’s steady gaze. “We’ll leave as soon as repared.”

  Korriva gave a single nod iurn, her voice cool and posed. “Good. The usual funds will be allocated to this operation. Speak to Narek for it, as well as any requisitions you need.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she addressed the group. “You may leave.”

  The words were final, and the tension in the room seemed to loosen just a fra as the group turoward the door. But as they began to filter out, Korriva’s voice stopped them.

  “Actually, Vivienne,” she called, her tone shifting with a subtle, but unmistakable and. “I would like a word with you in private.”

  Vivieurned slowly, her brow arg slightly as she met Korriva’s gaze. She gave a small nod, the intrigue flickering again, though her expression remained ral. Korriva’s summons, especially to her, could mean anything. And Vivienne, ever sharp, would be ready for whatever came .

  “Meet us at the gates when you are ready.” Called out Rava before closing the door behind herself.

  SupernovaSymphony