Tyana was lazily flipping through the pages of an old magazine, her eyes tracing the faded images of women in flowing white dresses. The magazine's edges were worn, and some pages were missing corners. Still, Tyana admired the elegance captured in the photographs — the delicate lace veils, the bouquets of pastel flowers, and the joyful faces of brides in timeless attire. She adored the ways of the ancients, their traditions filled with symbolism and celebration.

  On her pouch, tiny tokens rattled softly with her movements—her library of treasured items. Among them were a miniature house, a modest stack of books, several empty jars, and trinkets. Each had its place and purpose—a reflection of her organized mind.

  Her peace, however, was short-lived.

  Rustling leaves and hurried footsteps broke her focus. Tyana sighed heavily, knowing who it was before she even looked up. Moments later, Bernard emerged from the treeline, sweaty and exhausted, dragging a wooden cart carrying the massive corpse of the slain snake. Jill walked beside him, a victorious grin plastered across her face.

  "Tyana!" Jill called with exaggerated excitement. "Check out what we caught for dinner!"

  Tyana's eyes widened in horror. "You're joking." She slammed her magazine shut and stood. "You think I'm going to cook that monstrosity?"

  "Why not? It's meat!" Jill shot back. "Plenty for all of us. I'd say that's generous."

  "Generous?" Tyana's tone sharpened. "You want me to deal with a snake the size of a tree trunk? I'm not wasting my energy on something like that."

  "Oh, you won't waste energy because you'll be standing by the fire barking orders — like always," Jill quipped, folding her arms.

  "Oh? And you?" Tyana scoffed. "You'll probably try to cook it with your Igeni and leave half the forest in flames."

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  "Hey!" Jill barked back. "At least I get things done. Unlike you, sitting here reading about people dancing in white dresses!"

  "That's enough!" Bernard interjected, stepping between the two. His face was strained from both frustration and exhaustion. "Look, Tyana... I'll take care of the snake. I'll bury the thing myself and help you cook dinner, alright? Just... let's not start a fight here."

  Tyana exhaled slowly, crossing her arms. "Fine," she muttered. "But no snake on my plate."

  "Deal," Bernard nodded. "But if you and Saphyra could find a good place for camp, that would help."

  "Come on, Tyana," Saphyra said softly, touching her shoulder. "We'll find somewhere with clean water and decent cover."

  Tyana shot Jill one last annoyed look before grabbing her pouch and heading off with Saphyra. The two vanished more profoundly into the trees, their voices fading as they debated the best camping spot.

  "That could've been worse," Bernard muttered under his breath.

  "Pfft. I had it under control," Jill replied smugly.

  "No, you didn't," Bernard said with a tired smile. "Come on, let's get this over with."

  The two set to work on the grim task. Bernard dug a wide pit using his Creation Igeni, weaving wooden branches into a makeshift shovel. The process was slow, and the weight of the snake's body didn't make it easier. As Bernard strained to drag the serpent into the pit, Jill stood nearby, arms crossed.

  "You could help," Bernard grunted, sweat pouring down his face.

  "I caught it. You bury it," Jill smirked.

  Bernard paused, glaring at her. "Yeah, well... what if I can't bury it without your help? What if this thing sits here, rotting until every animal in the forest comes sniffing for snake scraps?"

  Jill groaned, clearly not thrilled, but eventually relented. With a grunt, she grabbed a thick branch and helped Bernard maneuver the snake's heavy form into the pit. Once inside, Bernard used his Igeni to guide dirt and leaves back into the hole, burying the beast completely.

  Both stood quietly for a moment, exhausted and dirt-covered.

  "I'll say one thing," Jill said between breaths, "That thing's gonna make a great story when we get back to the Academy."

  "When will it be that?" Bernard wandered before adding.

  "Yeah... assuming Tyana hasn't throttled you by then."

  They both laughed, their earlier tension forgotten. The forest around them grew quieter as dusk crept in, and the sky turned shades of orange and purple. With the heavy task behind them, the two turned toward the direction Tyana and Saphyra had gone, eager to find their friends and a warm meal waiting.