The moment we each took hold of our treasure, Kevin with the book, Vivianne with the dagger, Evelina with the ring, and me with the key, the world erupted into light. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Blinding.

Seething.

It seared our skin for a single, agonizing second before any of us could speak. Then the light swallowed everything, and the library vanished.

When I finally blinked the last of the brightness from my vision, I found myself somewhere familiar. Somewhere impossibly familiar.

Berian.

Evelina and I stood directly before our estate, the morning sun warm on our faces. No sign of Kevin or Vivianne. No archmage. No library.

Just us.

"I dropped them off at her estate’s gardens," the archmage’s voice echoed in my ear, answering the question I hadn’t asked yet.

Evelina crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Didn’t even let us say goodbye."

"Did you want to?"

"No."

The archmage’s voice faded into silence, leaving only the soft rustle of wind through the estate gardens. The morning sun climbed higher, burning off the last traces of mist that clung to the grass.

Evelina turned the ring over in her fingers, watching the grey iron catch the light. Patterns shifted across its surface, too fast to follow, too complex to understand.

"It doesn’t look like much," she said.

"That’s usually how the best treasures look."

She slipped the ring onto her index finger. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the air around her shimmered, rippled, and settled back into place like a stone dropped into still water.

"I can feel it," she said quietly. "It’s easier to get in your head now."

"Wasn’t that already easy?"

"Well, now it’s easier."

As for mine, the key rested in my palm, the crescent moon head cool against my skin. Unlike Evelina’s ring, it didn’t seem to do anything. It was just a key, old and silver and faintly warm.

"You’re disappointed," Evelina observed.

"No, it’s exactly what I wanted, honestly. I’m just disappointed it looks so bland for a key that can open anything."

"Always so picky."

"When have I ever been picky?"

Evelina arched an eyebrow. "Out of every woman in the entire academy, you chose me. And I know my own worth well enough. I’d say that makes you picky."

"It just means I have incredibly high standards."

The estate gates creaked open before us, and a servant appeared, bleary-eyed and yawning. She stopped mid-yawn when she saw us, her face cycling through confusion, recognition, and then outright panic.

"L-Lady D’Arclight! You’re back! We weren’t expecting—I’ll inform the staff immediately—"

"Don’t bother," Evelina said, waving a hand. "We’ll be inside. No visitors. No interruptions."

"Of course, my lady."

The servant bowed and retreated, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste to disappear.

Evelina’s hand found mine again, her fingers cool despite the morning warmth. The ring glinted on her finger, ordinary and extraordinary all at once.

"When did we ever have servants?"

"Remember when I asked for a minute before you teleported me to the library?" Evelina said, leaning against the doorframe. "I decided it’d be good to have someone take care of the place while we were gone."

Before I could respond, she pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me with a dangerous wink.

"And don’t worry," she continued, her voice dropping to a near-whisper, "whatever lustful fantasy you’re cooking up in that head of yours can still happen. Even with servants around. It’ll just take a bit more cloaking magic, that’s all."

I caught her wrist, gently pulling her finger away. "You know me so well."

"After I broke down crying because I couldn’t name your favorite food?" She smiled, soft and self-deprecating. "I’d better."

***

The estate’s interior was exactly as we’d left it. Same polished floors, same high ceilings, same dust motes drifting through shafts of morning light. The servants had clearly been keeping things tidy in our absence, though no one seemed brave enough to approach us after the first one’s hasty retreat.

Evelina kicked off her boots by the door and padded barefoot across the marble, her ring catching the light with every step.

Guess even the mighty Evelina gets annoyed at wearing boots for an unknown amount of time.

"We should probably check in with Marcellus," she said, not sounding particularly enthusiastic about it.

"Soon."

"Soon," she repeated, turning to face me. "Not now?"

"Not yet."

She studied me for a long moment, her crimson eyes unreadable. Then she nodded, slow and deliberate, and began walking toward the staircase.

"You horny little..." Evelina smirked, before catching herself, her eyes darting toward the hallway where servants’ footsteps echoed faintly. The used-to-be empty mansion wasn’t so empty anymore. "Fine. But after we take a bath."

"Can’t you just magic yourself clean?"

"Nothing beats the relaxation of water running down my body." She tilted her head, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "Besides, I’m sure you’d like to join me."

"I was already thinking it. No need to remind me."

She laughed, low and warm, and tugged me toward the door.

***

The bathroom was already prepared when we arrived. Steam rose from the tub in gentle curls, scented with something floral I couldn’t name. Candles flickered on the marble ledges, their flames casting dancing shadows across the tiled walls.

Her servants worked fast. Unnervingly so. They had kept absolutely everything ready, even when we weren’t present.

Evelina was already unbuttoning her ruined shirt, her white hair falling across her bare shoulders as the fabric slipped down her arms.

"Don’t be shy," she said without turning around.

"Want me to be the dominant one this time?"

"Perhaps."

The shirt hit the floor, and Evelina stepped out of the remains of her skirt with a casual grace that made the mundane act feel like a performance. She didn’t rush. Didn’t fumble. Just moved, piece by piece, until she stood in nothing but the ring on her finger.

"Don’t keep me waiting."

"I never plan to."