The woods just outside town had always been like Janine’s private sanctuary. Whenever she needed time alone, she hid away in the branches of a tall tree not far from the river, one with sturdy branches and a knothole rge enough to hide a box of the little treasures she’d collected. One day, that tree might become a shell for a Py’riel, but at least for now, it was a safe pce to herself. After the encounter with Galen, she’d retreated to her perch high in the branches, leaning over the sword in her p to examine the reflection of her eyes.

  My magic had been influencing Janine’s behavior at a far deeper level than I’d realized. I didn’t see it clearly until her confrontation with Galen, but the more I thought about the events of the past week or so, the more I saw that I’d unintentionally created a version of Janine I didn’t recognize. I’d repced a helpful, selfless woman with someone who would jeopardize her dream job to sy some monsters, to make up for my own shortcomings from years ago. I know Janine wanted to be rid of the Py’riel too, but she wouldn’t have challenged the captain’s decisions if it weren’t for me and my magic altering her goals for my gain.

  I could have gone even further with my influence. That scared me. I could have twisted her desires until she defied Galen’s orders and set out to find the Py’riel nest on her own. That likely would have killed her, and I’d have become the exact sort of dangerous relic Galen spoke about.

  Maybe... it was time for me to let Janine be herself again. She needed some time apart from me to clear her mind of my unintended magical effects.

  Janine fished her treasure box out of the knothole. Inside it, she had stored a journal, some interesting coins she found along the riverbank, some feathers, all sorts of little interesting baubles. And soon, I decided, I’d be stored there too—at least long enough for Janine to clear her mind of my presence. I could see the conflict in her eyes as she reached back to the csp of the neckce chain, fidgeting with it. I pushed her to remove me, but she’d kept me with her for so long that she hesitated despite my pressure.

  “Someone was in quite the hurry to flee the citadel today,” a voice said from below the tree. Janine looked over the side of the branch, seeing Warren standing at its base.

  Interrupted by the sudden visitor, my influence faded and Janine let go of the neckce chain. “How did you find me?”

  Warren motioned a gloved hand along a procession of bootprints in the dirt and grass. “I worked as a tracker before joining the Passguards, I used to spend all my time looking for people who lost their way. Though, you didn’t give me much of a challenge with prints like these.” He took a seat on one of the massive roots protruding from the ground, removing his gloves and scabbard and setting them aside.

  “What, you think I’m lost now?”

  “Not physically, no. But, I heard about what happened with Galen. Normally I’d leave you be, but I thought this time you could use some company, because something’s clearly the matter.”

  After a few moments of silence, Janine shut her treasure box and stashed it again, climbing down from the tree to sit next to her mentor. “I guess I’m not feeling like myself tely.”

  “I can tell,” Warren said. “I know it’s a lot of stress to be singled out by the captain the way he did, we’ve all had our moments with him. I never would have thought you’d barge into his office, though. Is fighting the Py’riel really that important to you?”

  Janine sighed, resting her head back against the tree trunk. “I didn’t think it was. I don’t know that it is, really. I mean, I didn’t like feeling excluded, but I felt something else... something more.” She pinched me between her fingers, twirling me idly as she collected her thoughts. “The captain thinks my neckce’s magic that is affecting me. I’m worried that he might be right. What if I really am carrying around a dangerous relic that could shatter my mind and put everyone around me in danger?”

  “Do you think that’s really what your Viridian Sphere would do?” The veteran Passguard leaned against the tree trunk, taking a deep breath as he rexed in the sunlight filtered through the canopy above. “You’ve had it for years, surely if there were any signs of the relic being dangerous, your uncle would have picked up on it. If you ask me, you seem fine, if a little worked up from Galen’s demands. A little time with him away will do us both some good, I think. It’ll be more like the old days of the Passguards around here for a few weeks. Helping travelers and such, keeping our town safe, that’s the work your father preferred anyway. We don’t need to fight Py’riel to make a difference.”

  The two sat in silence for a while, before Janine spoke again. “I think I’d prefer his way too. I just want to do whatever I can to keep everything from falling apart again.”

  “I should hope so! You did more than your share of putting Quinn’s Peak back together, after all. You’re not bad with a sword, but I think you’re even better with a hammer. Wouldn’t want to see all that hard work go to waste.” Warren chuckled. “Your father would be proud.”

  Janine smiled.

  Warren’s words were meant for Janine, but I needed to hear some of them just as much. Quinn’s Peak had always been my home too, and if I was to do anything more—to help Janine do more—then it had to be in service of the town’s wellbeing. The Py’riel were a threat, but they didn’t require my focus. So long as Janine kept me around her neck, I’d promise to help her find success with her true purpose of this whole endeavor as a Passguard.

  So, fine, I thought. Let the captain do as he saw fit. Let him and the others take the glory. We’ll safeguard a future for Quinn’s Peak, no matter what does—or doesn’t—show up at the gates.