Lia

I walked into the town and to the building where they had made themselves at home. The elder I spoke with before looked at me, frowning.

“You’re late.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” My voice came out rough, heavy with exhaustion. I held out the relic. “And I got what you wanted.”

The elder stepped forward, taking the relic from my outstretched hand. They turned it over slowly, inspecting every jagged edge, every faint pulse of magic.

“This will do.”

I let out a bitter ...