Vivieopped mid-stride and spun on her heel with exaggerated fir. “Yeeeeesss, High Fang?” she drawled, her voice dripping with mock deferehough the glint in her eyes betrayed a deeper curiosity.

  Korriva folded her arms, her anding presendiminished by Vivienne’s irreverence. “Have you heard from your patron goddess?” she asked, her tone clipped and precise. “Any messages, signs, revetions?”

  Vivienne gave a half-shrug, her hands casually falling to her sides. “Not a one,” she replied breezily. “She kind of just dumped me in the middle of nowhere and hasn’t so much as whispered sweet nothings in my ear since. Holy, I wouldn't be surprised if she’s fotten about me entirely or just decided I’m not worth the effort.”

  Korriva’s eyes narrowed, but not in malice—more like the way one examines a puzzle. “No,” she said evenly, her voice thoughtful. “That is unlikely. The gods are rarely so careless and wouldn’t abandon their chosen, it would be a waste on their part if they did. They are not kind, nor cruel, but purposeful. Every act, every silence, serves a design we ot always see. If she is distant, it is likely to shape you, not abandon you.”

  Vivienne raised an eyebrow, her grin softening into something more ptive. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m ly an expert in diviives. Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention, but if she’s trying to shape me, she’s doing it with a chisel and no blueprint.”

  Korriva studied her for a long moment, her pierg gaze searg. “You uimate the gods,” she said finally. “They do not leave things to ce. Their designs are rarely for us to fully prehend, but that does not make them arbitrary. Whether you feel her presence or not, your role here is not without meaning.”

  Vivieilted her head, her tone softening. “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted. “I’m still figuring it all out, holy. This world—everything about it—it’s so vibrant and strange. I feel like I’ve been dropped into a story half-written, and I don’t knoart I’m supposed to py.”

  Korriva’s brow arched slightly, her tone calm but ced with sharp curiosity. “You speak as if you are not of this world,” she said, her gaze narrowing subtly, as if trying to pierce through Vivienne’s yers.

  Vivienne’s lips curled into a sly smile, her dark eyes glinting mischievously. “Maybe I’m not,” she replied, her toeasi deliberate, the words carrying just enough mystery to linger in the charged silence.

  For a moment, the High Fang studied her ily, the flicker of something thoughtful passing behind her easured expression. Then, in a toh careful and probing, she asked, “Does the word th mean anything to you?”

  Vivienne blihe pyful demeanor faltering ever so slightly as she tapped her in thought. The irred something in her memory, something distant and academic. “It would,” she admitted finally, her grin fading into something menuine. “It was a Greek city-state.”

  Korriva’s usually posed facade cracked for the first time, her expressioraying a flicker of surprise—genuine and unguarded. “You are from Gaia?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

  “We call it something different now, but yes,” Vivienne replied, crossing her arms. “My knowledge of a Greek history isly top-notch, though. I wasly a historian.”

  “A?” Korriva repeated, the word heavy with skepticism. “Do people still fear the gods?”

  Vivieilted her head slightly, a curious smile pying on her lips. “Which gods?”

  Korriva’s expression shifted to somethiween disbelief and curiosity. “Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, of course.”

  At that, Vivie out a soft, ironic ugh, shaking her head. “Ah, those gods,” she said. “No. I don’t think anyone’s believed in them—or feared them—for well over eleven hundred years.”

  Korriva stared at her, the weight of Vivienne’s words sinking in. The High Fang’s usual anding presence seemed to falter, if only slightly, as she processed the revetion. “Eleveuries,” she murmured, as if the cept of gods fading from relevance was a fn one.

  Vivienne shrugged lightly, her tone casual yet ced with an undercurrent of thoughtfulness. “Times ge, High Fang. Beliefs shift. Gods fade into myths, their stories dissected rather than revered. And sometimes... they’re fotten altogether.”

  Korriva’s gaze grew distant, her features softening in a rare moment of vulnerability. “To me, I have walked this world for nearly four turies, yet it seems I have been absent from Gaia for far longer,” she said, her voice tinged with a wistful hat seemed at odds with her usual anding demeanor.

  Vivienne’s expression softened, a quiet uanding passiween them. Her lips curled into a faint, almost mencholic smile. “Perhaps we share a world, but even so, we’re from two entirely different ones. I doubt you’d reize what it has bee.”

  Korriva ined her head slightly, her pierg gaze thoughtful but not unkind. “As you said, times ge,” she murmured, her voice carrying both a sense of acceptand regret. “This versation is far from over, but for now, you shouldn’t keep my daughter waiting.”

  Vivienne nodded, her griurning, though it was gentler now. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” With that, she turned and strode toward the door, leaving the High Fang sitting amidst her trophies, the weight of turies hanging silently between them.

  The corridor stretched ahead, dimly lit by flickering sces that cast shifting shadows along the stone walls. Kivvy’s stubby legs worked double-time to keep up with Rava’s long, purposeful strides, her expression a mix of curiosity and mild exasperation. “So,” Kivvy began, her voice slightly breathless as she jogged to keep pace, “why am I bei around?”

  Rava didn’t immediately respond, her sharp gaze focused forward as they moved through the byrinthine hall. The faint echo of their footsteps filled the air, and Kivvy began to wonder if she’d be ignored altogether. Then, finally, Rava spoke, her tone measured and deliberate. “A few reasons,” she began, her eyes briefly flig down toward the goblin before returning ahead. “Your skill set has potential. I believe it could prove useful, particurly in the challenges we’re about to face.”

  Kivvy tilted her head, clearly unvinced. “Uh-huh. And?”

  Rava’s lips quirked slightly, though whether it was a smirk or merely a flicker of amusement was hard to tell. “Sedly,” she tinued, “Vivienne seems to have taken a liking to you. And as of yet, I see no reason tue with her judgment on that.”

  Kivvy’s ears twitched at the mention of Vivienne, her expressihtening ever so slightly. “Hah, well, I am quite likable, aren’t I?”

  Rava gave a soft huff that might have been a ugh before her tone lowered, growing quieter and more serious. “Thirdly,” she said, her voice almost spiratorial now, “it would be good to have more people around her who keep her grounded.”

  Kivvy’s steps faltered for a moment as she processed the words, her brows knitting together. “Grounded, huh?” she echoed, her usual chipper tone repced with something more thoughtful.

  Rava’s golden eyes flicked down toward Kivvy, her expression calm but guarded. “She’s... unusual,” the lekine began, her voice quiet yet firm, as if treading carefully with each word. “And dangerous. Not in a way you should worry about—at least, not directly. But her e to this world…” Rava hesitated, her gaze momentarily distant. “It’s tenuous at best. She’s walking a fine liween the present and something far removed from it.”

  Kivvy furrowed her brow, her steps slowing slightly as she absorbed Rava’s words. The lekine pressed oone softening just enough to feel personal. “People like you, who keep her anchored in the moment, who remind her of what’s real and tangible… you’re more important than you might realize.”

  The goblin blinked, her usually sharp wit faltering uhe ued weight of the statement. “I… see,” she managed, her voice quieter than usual.

  And then, without missing a beat, Rava deadpanned, “Holy, though, it’s just so she has someone else to tease.”

  Kivvy’s mouth fell open in mock e. “Seriously?”

  “Perhaps.” Rava shrugged, her posure unbroken, though there was a faint glint of humor in her eyes. “But I’m also ied in learning more about you—and any insights you might have on the Snty.”

  Kivvy snorted, rolling her eyes. “There it is. You lot always want information.” Her voice turned dry as she gestured dramatically. “Listen, I don’t have much to spill, all right? You realize how little freedom me and my sisters have back there, don’t you? It’s ly a ‘travel the try’ kind of py kind. More the ‘Build what they tell you and when’ pce.”

  Rava tilted her head, her tone shifting ever so slightly to something more thoughtful. “I assumed as much. But even from the margins, you might have seen things others overlook. Perspectives like yours be valuable.”

  “Uh-huh,” Kivvy muttered, crossing her arms. “Valuable enough t me out of a pce I couldn’t wait to escape from in the first pce. Guess that’s something.”

  Rava cast a sidelong g Kivvy, her expression thoughtful yet tinged with a rare softness. “If nothing else, sider this your ce to redefine what freedom means for you,” she said, her voice carrying a siy that was hard to ignore.

  Kivvy’s sharp tongue faltered, her usual quips momentarily stilled as she processed the words. The lekine’s calm vi was disarming in its simplicity, and though Kivvy wasn’t oo dwell oiment, the idea stuck with her. She walked in silence for a moment, her small fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve.

  “Fine,” she said finally, her tone a mix ing acceptand her trademark sass. “But don’t expect me to be all grateful about it or anything. I’m still keeping track of who owes who in this arra.”

  “Noted,” Rava replied evenly, though the faint curve of a smile on her lips betrayed her amusement. Her steps didn’t falter, her calm presence as steady as ever. “For what it’s worth,” she added after a pause, her voice dropping slightly, “I am sorry you had to gh it.”

  Kivvy waved a hand dismissively, though her movements were less flippant than usual. “Yeah, sure,” she muttered, but there was no real bite iohough now that I’m on this side of things, I gotta admit I’m a little more enthusiastic about the idea of tearing those bastards down. Maybe even freeing some of my sisters while I’m at it.”

  Rava’s smile grew, her golden eyes gleaming faintly in the corridor’s dim light. “That be arranged,” she said, her voice calm but carrying an edge of promise.

  Kivvy snorted softly. “Careful, dy. You keep making promises like that, and I might start liking you.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad,” Rava replied dryly as they rouhe er to Narek’s office.

  The High Fang’s soed them with his usual crisp professionalism. Though the iion was brief and businesslike, it was clear he had already anticipated their needs. With practiced efficy, he handed Rava the allocated funds and a requisition form for supplies. There was no unnecessary versation—Narek was never oo waste time—but his nod of approval as they departed was subtle yet meaningful.

  As they exited the office, Kivvy clutched the requisition form in her hands, her green eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity aement. “All right, what ? Shopping spree?” she quipped, falling into step beside Rava with an energy that hadn’t been there before.

  Rava g her with a raised brow, her lips quirking into another faint smile. “Most of it will be for our travels, we’ll be colleg most of what we need from hall store horses or nearby artisans.”

  “Fine, fine,” Kivvy replied, waving her hand dismissively but with a grin tugging at her lips. “But if there’s aover , I’m g dibs on snacks.”

  Rava chuckled quietly as they walked on, the unlikely duo slipping into an unspoken rhythm as they made their way toward their destination.

  The group revened in the bustling courtyard, a stohrow from the gates leading to the supply depot. Rava had the requisition slips and funds in hand, her demeanor still cool and calcuted. Kivvy walked by her side, her eyes darting around, taking iivity with the sharpness of someone who had been forced to adapt quickly. Vivienne and Renzia were already waiting by a stone fountain, with Vivienne looking casually intrigued by the passing crowd while Renzia observed the nearby objects with a distant, curious gaze.

  Kivvy snorted when she saw them. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say the two of you have been out here just to stare at people."

  Vivienne gnced over with a grin. "Well, there’s a certain charm to people-watg, don’t you think?" she teased, her eyes glinting with mischievous delight.

  Renzia tilted her head, her movements slorecise as always. She looked at Viviehen at Kivvy, as if processing the banter but uo fully grasp its meaning.

  Rava stepped forward, holding up the requisition forms and funds. "We've got the funds. Time to get the supplies for the journey."

  Vivieraighte that, her i piqued. "Anything iing on the list?" she asked, her eyes flig between Rava and the forms.

  Rava sed the dots briefly before folding them in half. "We need ons, rations, tents, and a few specialty items for the jourhe usual. Though I doubt you and Renzia need mu the way of rations."

  "Fair enough," Vivienne said lightly, “Whatever we need.”

  Kivvy smirked at that. "So are we getting a carriage or something? I’m ly the beast of burden type, y’know, being so short."

  Vivieurned her head toward the woman, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Actually, I was thinking about that. You know, if you don’t want to deal with a bunch of heavy wagons or extra animals, I could pull the carriage for you." She gave a casual shrug, as though it were no big deal. "Or, if you prefer, I could transform into something that carry everything—might be quicker than waiting around."

  Rava stopped iracks, eyeing Vivieh an unblinking stare. "You’re serious?"

  "Of course." Vivienne gave an exaggerated wink, her voice dripping with pyful fidence. "I’ve got the hydra form for heavy lifting, or I could use my wolf form for speed. Take your pick."

  Kivvy let out a ugh. "You’ve got to be kidding. You really think you just... pull a wagon?"

  Vivienne smirked, unfazed by Kivvy’s skepticism. "Why not? We’re going into dangerous territory anyway, and you’ll have more pressing s than w about beasts of burden." She tilted her head, amused. "I’ll even make sure not to get in the way. But hey, if you’d rather cart animals around, feel free."

  "Wouldn’t hurt to have a backup pn," Rava mused, though she didn’t seem entirely vinced. "But it’s not a bad idea. If you’re serious about it, it could save us some trouble."

  Kivvy raised an eyebrow, gng at Vivieh a mixture of skepticism aant curiosity. "Alright, alright. But if you turn into a hydra and start sg the crap out of everyone, don’t expect me to cover for you."

  Vivienne chuckled softly, her dark eyes glinting with mischief. "No promises," she said, her voice l slightly, drawing out the words with a teasing smile. She took a step closer to Rava, her lips curling into a pyful smirk. "But hey, Rava, what do you think? Want to see me pull a wagon for you?"

  Rava’s lips curved into a knowing smile, the glint in her eyes sharper now, her gaze traveling over Vivieh an almost predatory i. She leaned in just a little closer, her tone smooth and sultry as she answered, "Oh, I’m sure you'd look very good doing that. Strong, powerful... and obedient," she said, the words lingering a little too long, a suggestive edge to her voice. "In fact, I think I'd love to see just how much you carry for me."

  Vivienne froze for a moment, caught off guard by the direess of the words. Her heart skipped a beat, and a wave of heat spread across her chest, her usual smirk faltering slightly. She wasn’t used to this kind of attention—not so... bold, not so obvious. "I—uh... I—" she stammered, trying tain her usual fidence. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly cleared her throat, attempting to hide her disfort behind a feigned casualness. "Well, I suppose I could impress you, if you want," she said, her voice faltering slightly as she tried to recover.

  Rava’s smile only deepened, her eyes never leaving Vivienne’s face as she handed over the requisition slips, brushing Vivienne’s hand with a touch so light it might have been actal—except the lingering spark between them suggested otherwise. "All strapped up to the wagon," Rava said, her voice lower now, each word deliberate. "Bound and ed in a harness, with only my orders to follow."

  Vivienne blinked, her breath hitg for a moment, the words settling in her mind like an ued weight. She quickly pulled her hand back, though the flush on her face remained, and she could feel her pulse rag beh her skin. She tried to ighe way her heart seemed to flutter in her chest, how her thoughts became a little jumbled at the iy of Rava’s gaze. "I... What?" She bit her lip, looking anywhere but at Rava.

  Rava chuckled softly, her expression a mix of amusement and an air of authority. "Well we should get those supplies. I have a list of things I’d like to get before we leave.”

  Vivienne swallowed, still trying to find her footing. She wasn’t used to feeling this flustered. "I—yeah. Right. I’ll—" she stammered, and then, finally, with a little more fidence, added, "I’ll show you exactly what I do."

  Rava gave a low ugh, clearly enjoying the rea she had drawn. "I’ll be looking forward to it," she said, her voice filled with quiet promise.

  SupernovaSymphony