They made it to the ruins the next day, much to the relief of Kivvy, who had been grumbling nonstop about the hardness of the seats for most of the journey. She’d shifted uncomfortably in her pce, every bump in the road an excuse for another round of compints. “How do you people stand this? My back’s aching, and my legs are stiff from sitting so long,” she muttered under her breath for what felt like the hundredth time. Vivienne, Rava, and the others exchanged knowing gnces, but none of them were inclined to remind Kivvy that the journey was far from over.

  As the sun hung low in the sky, the silhouettes of the ruins finally came into view. The crumbling stone towers and fractured walls loomed like ancient sentinels, their sharp edges softened by the passage of time and the growth of ivy. The air around the ruins seemed to hum with an unsettling quiet, the kind that always filled Vivienne with a sense of anticipation. They were close—closer than they’d been in days—but the mystery of what y within the ruins remained.

  They set up camp with the ruins looming in the distance, just barely within view. The crumbling towers and jagged remnants of walls were faint shadows in the gathering dusk, but the eerie silence that seemed to emanate from them felt unsettling even from this distance. Rava, ever cautious, insisted on keeping their camp a safe distance away. “I don’t want to test the wards more than necessary,” she said, her gaze narrowing as she surveyed the area. “The closer we are, the more likely we are to trigger something we can’t control.”

  Vivienne nodded, her own senses prickling with a strange unease. She’d learned from Rava that the ruins had a peculiar way of interfering with the wards they set up. On occasion, the magic of the pce could warp the barriers, making them less effective or, worse, unpredictable. The st thing they needed was to be caught off guard by a sudden breach or worse, something worse that the ruins might draw out. The decision to stop a little further back felt wise, even if it meant losing sight of the ruins for now.

  Once the camp was set up, Rava worked with her usual precision to establish the barrier—a shimmering veil of magic that would shield them from prying eyes and dangerous forces. Vivienne watched her with admiration as Rava’s movements were calm, efficient, and precise, each gesture calcuted. When the barrier flickered into pce, a soft hum filled the air, and Vivienne could feel the faint pulse of magic settle over them, solidifying their protection.

  With the camp secure, Vivienne and Rava exchanged a brief gnce, both understanding the same thing without needing words. It was time to do a little scouting. They couldn’t risk venturing too deep, but a quick reconnaissance would be enough to get a sense of what y ahead.

  Kivvy, who had been quietly unpacking her things and muttering about the discomfort of their camp setup, raised an eyebrow when Rava turned to leave. “You two are going already?” she asked, her tone half incredulous and half curious.

  Vivienne fshed her a grin. “We’ll be back soon, don’t worry. Keep an eye out. We don’t need any surprises tonight.”

  Kivvy grumbled in response but nodded, her hands resting on her hips as she gnced toward the distant ruins. “I’ll make sure Renzia doesn’t wander off. I still don’t trust her to stay put.”

  Rava’s eyes flicked toward Renzia, who stood nearby with her usual bnk expression, always motioning as if she were listening to something only she could hear. “She’ll be fine. Just make sure the fire stays low.”

  With that, Vivienne and Rava set off, their footsteps muffled by the earth beneath them. The path to the ruins was jagged and uneven, the ground cracked in pces as if the very earth had been unsettled by something long ago. The fading light of the day cast long shadows as they neared, and the air grew heavier, tinged with the strange energy that always seemed to emanate from the pce.

  As they moved closer to the ruins, Vivienne’s senses sharpened, and a strange pull tugged at her—one that wasn’t there during her st encounter with a fallen ruin. This was different. The air around the crumbled site felt alive, like it was beckoning her, whispering in a nguage she couldn’t quite understand. It was as if the ruins themselves were calling to her, urging her forward.

  The air was thick with stagnant aether, so dense that Vivienne could almost taste it—a sharp, oppressive energy that clung to everything around her. The scent of decay and ancient stone lingered, but it was eclipsed by something more potent, something primal and dangerous. As she drew a slow breath, her senses sharpened, fring in response to the potent aether swirling through the ruins.

  It moved like restless currents, tempestuous and wild, twisting in the air in faint streaks of bckened mist that flickered and dissipated as quickly as they appeared. This was no ordinary aether; it was tempest and tidal energy intertwined, chaotic and ever-shifting, yet somehow deliberate. It felt alive, pulsing with a presence that was both ancient and deeply unsettling.

  A low hum resonated in her ears, a sound that grew louder the longer she stood there, vibrating on the edge of distraction. It wasn’t just audible—it was visceral, thrumming against her very essence. Vivienne couldn’t tell if the sound was external or internal, but it was impossible to ignore.

  “Do you hear that?” Rava’s voice cut through the stillness, low and wary. She had stopped a few paces ahead, her sharp eyes scanning the desote ruins.

  Vivienne halted, her gaze fixed on a crumbled building in the distance. There was something about it she couldn’t ignore—an invisible pull, insistent and undeniable, like a thread winding tighter around her with each step closer. “Yes,” she said softly, her tone almost reverent. “It’s hard not to.”

  Rava turned to her, confusion flickering across her features. “I was going to say there’s nothing. No animals, no insects—not even the wind. It’s dead silent for me.”

  Vivienne frowned, her focus remaining on the ruins. “But it’s so loud,” she murmured, her voice distant. “How can you not hear it? It’s... everywhere.” Her expression sckened as she stared deeper into the crumbled ndscape, her tail swaying absently behind her. “I need to go to it.”

  Rava stepped forward, her brow furrowing in concern. “Vivienne, wait—”

  Vivienne moved to take a step toward the ruins, her foot brushing against the uneven ground, when she felt a sudden force yank her back. A firm, unyielding pressure gripped her shoulder, halting her momentum. Before she could react, she was spun around, and a pair of strong hands—cwed and steady—grasped her shoulders, holding her in pce.

  Golden eyes bore down on her, sharp and unwavering, filled with an intensity that left no room for argument. Rava’s expression was a mix of concern and frustration, her features tight as she leaned slightly closer, as though willing Vivienne to focus.

  “Vivienne,” Rava said, her voice low but firm, carrying a weight that demanded attention. “Stop. Just for a second. Look at me.”

  Vivienne blinked, the strange pull of the ruins momentarily eclipsed by Rava’s commanding presence. Her lips parted as if to argue, but the intensity in Rava’s golden eyes stilled her. It wasn’t fear reflected there—it was something deeper, rooted in protectiveness and concern.

  “Vivienne,” Rava said, her voice steady but edged with worry. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting... off since we got here.”

  Vivienne hesitated, her gaze drifting past Rava to the ruins as though drawn by an unseen thread. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice quiet yet den with curiosity. “There’s this sound. This hum. It’s everywhere—like it’s alive. You really can’t hear it?”

  Rava’s grip on her shoulders tightened slightly, grounding her. “No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “I don’t hear anything. Not a hum, not animals, not even the wind. Just silence. And that’s what worries me.”

  Vivienne’s brows furrowed, her expression torn between fascination and frustration. “It’s not just silence for me,” she murmured, her eyes flickering with an almost childlike wonder. “It’s like... the ruins are speaking. Calling. And I—” She stopped herself, gncing back at Rava. “I need to know why.”

  Rava’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she was silent, her sharp golden gaze searching Vivienne’s face as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning behind her words. When she finally spoke, her tone softened, though the underlying concern remained. “Curiosity is one thing,” she said, her voice steady, “but don’t let it pull you in blind. If these ruins are calling you, there’s a reason—and I doubt it’s a kind one.”

  Vivienne stood still, the magnetic pull of the ruins tugging at her focus even as she forced herself to meet Rava’s eyes. She let out a slow breath, her shoulders rexing slightly as she broke the spell of silence. “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she said, the faintest edge of reluctance in her tone. Her gaze lingered on the distant ruins for a moment before returning to Rava, a spark of resolve in her bck eyes. “Shall we take a peek tomorrow instead? We are here to find your brother, after all.”

  Rava’s lips pressed into a thin line, her expression softening at the mention of Tarric. “That’s the pn,” she said, her voice quieter now, touched with a trace of weariness. “If he’s been through here, we’ll find something—signs, tracks, anything. But we will do it tomorrow. No rushing into things.”

  Vivienne hesitated, gncing back toward the ruins before nodding. “Tomorrow, then,” she agreed, though the pull of the pce still lingered in the back of her mind. With that, the pair turned and began making their way back to camp, their steps quieter now, as if the weight of the ruins pressed down on their thoughts.

  When they arrived, the camp was still and calm under the encroaching dusk. Kivvy looked up from where she was crouched near the fire, her sharp eyes narrowing as she noticed Rava heading straight for the barrier. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice cutting through the quiet. “You’re taking the ward down already? Did something happen?”

  Rava didn’t answer immediately, focused instead on carefully dismantling the intricate threads of magic she had woven earlier. Her movements were precise, practiced, and she barely spared Kivvy a gnce. “It’s nothing you need to worry about,” she said curtly, her tone leaving no room for further questions.

  Kivvy frowned but didn’t press, instead retreating to stir the pot hanging over the fire. Vivienne stood nearby, observing Rava with a curious tilt of her head. The energy surrounding the ward shimmered faintly as Rava unraveled it, the faint hum of its magic dissipating into the night.

  Once the ward was down, Rava turned to Vivienne, motioning her over with a sharp gesture. “Come here,” she said, her voice quieter now, though no less commanding.

  Vivienne approached, her tail swaying idly behind her. “What is it?”

  Rava studied her for a moment before speaking, her tone firm but not unkind. “I think it would be best if you stayed inside the ward tonight,” she said. “You’re... attuned to something in those ruins, and I don’t trust it. Not while we’re out here.”

  Vivienne blinked, surprised by the suggestion. “Inside the ward?” she repeated, her voice tinged with curiosity rather than protest. “You think I’ll wander off?”

  “I think,” Rava said, crossing her arms, “that whatever’s calling to you might try harder to get your attention. And I’d rather not take that risk.”

  For a moment, Vivienne considered arguing—she wasn’t reckless, after all—but the memory of the ruins’ pull and Rava’s earlier concern silenced her. Instead, she nodded. “Alright,” she said. “If it’ll ease your mind.”

  Rava’s expression softened slightly, and she inclined her head. “It will.” Her gaze drifted back toward the ruins, her golden eyes narrowing in unease. “There’s something about that pce, Vivienne. Something I don’t trust.”

  Vivienne hesitated, her bck eyes following Rava’s line of sight to the shadowed ruins. The pull was still there, insistent and tantalizing, whispering of secrets waiting to be uncovered. “I feel it too,” she said, her voice thoughtful, almost wistful. “It’s like it’s... calling to me. There’s something in there, Rava, and I can’t just ignore it.”

  Rava turned back to her, her expression a mix of concern and quiet resolve. “I understand your curiosity, Vivienne, but that’s exactly what worries me. We will explore tomorrow, okay?”

  Vivienne sighed. “Sure.”

  With that, she turned back to her work, weaving the ward anew. The threads of golden energy flickered to life under her cws, forming an intricate web that surrounded the camp in protective magic. Vivienne watched in silence, her gaze thoughtful, the ruins’ hum still faintly echoing in her mind.

  When Rava stirred awake the next morning, the faint glow of dawn illuminated the camp. Stretching with a yawn, she stepped out of her tent only to see Renzia near the edge of the ward, her cloth-wrapped hands moving in frantic gestures toward the opposite direction. The mannequin’s agitation was clear, though her silent motions offered no immediate expnation.

  Rava rubbed her eyes, following the line of Renzia’s gestures, and froze. Standing unnervingly still within the protective barrier, Vivienne gazed out toward the ruins, her bck eyes unblinking, her posture eerily rigid like a statue rooted to the ground.

  Frowning, Rava stretched her arms over her head as she made her way toward Vivienne, her boots crunching softly against the dirt. “Viv? You alright?” she asked, her tone calm but edged with concern.

  Vivienne didn’t respond right away. Her head tilted slightly, as if the words were traveling to her through water. Slowly, almost unnaturally so, she turned her head to look at Rava. “Hmm? Yes? I am fine. Aren’t you going to bed?” Her voice was light, almost dreamy, as if she hadn’t fully registered the world around her.

  Rava’s brow furrowed. “It’s morning, Viv. Me and Kivvy already slept.” Her golden eyes searched Vivienne’s face, noting the faint traces of exhaustion beneath her usual vitality.

  For a moment, Vivienne simply stared at her, her gaze bnk and unfocused. Then, like the flick of a switch, her face broke into a grin, her usual pyful energy rushing back. “Yes! Of course. I was just joking,” she said, her tone deliberately bright. Too bright.

  Rava didn’t smile back. Her eyes narrowed slightly, not missing the strain in Vivienne’s expression. “Joking…” she said, her voice measured as she studied the smaller woman. “Have you been standing there all night?”

  Vivienne shrugged, her movements too casual, too breezy. “I suppose so. Just... thinking. The ruins are fascinating, aren’t they?” She waved a hand toward them, as if to deflect the subject. “Can’t bme me for being curious.”

  “Thinking,” Rava repeated, her tone ft. “All night?”

  Vivienne chuckled softly, avoiding her gaze. “There were many thoughts that needed to be thunk.”

  Rava crossed her arms, her golden eyes not letting up. “And that’s all?”

  For the first time, Vivienne hesitated, her grin faltering slightly. “I’m fine, Rava. Really. Let’s focus on today, alright? We’re here for Tarric.” Her tone held a touch of finality, clearly an attempt to steer the conversation away.

  Her gaze lingered on the diminutive monster-woman for a moment longer, the tension in her jaw betraying her unease. With a quiet grunt, Rava turned away, retreating toward the center of the camp where the morning fire crackled softly. She didn’t like what the ruins were doing to Vivienne—the way they seemed to reach for her, pulling at something deeper than mere curiosity. Yet, there was a part of her that wondered if this connection might reveal something valuable.

  Perhaps, thanks to Vivienne’s unique nature, they might finally gain some insight into the enigma of the fallen ruins. Tarric would undoubtedly be fascinated by the opportunity—getting a firsthand account from an aetherbeast that could articute what drew her kind to these desote pces. Assuming, of course, that it was the same force affecting Vivienne. Rava frowned, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Were the ruins truly all connected in purpose, or was this one different? She found herself considering a return to the previous ruin they’d encountered, wondering if its stillness had masked something more insidious. What had made that one so different from this?

  Questions for another time, she supposed. Right now, she needed to focus on the present and the challenges that y ahead. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she reached for a small bundle of rations. With deliberate movements, she tore into a piece of bread and some dried meat, the tough texture familiar and grounding.

  Washing it down with a few swigs from her waterskin, she allowed herself a moment of stillness, though her sharp eyes occasionally flicked back to Vivienne, who continued to stand there motionlessly.

  SupernovaSymphony