Umber’s First Darksday of Harvestfall, 1442, alleyways, city of Luminara.


    As Vaelith arrived at the end of the winding street that she had just helped light, she found herself back in the bazaar. Despite the late hour, there was still a surprising amount of activity, though it had definitely slowed down. Luminara, it seemed, was a city that never slept.


    A voice interrupted her thoughts, smooth and teasing, cutting through the noise of the market.


    “Impressive. Most players would’ve left the old man in the dark, but not you.”


    Vaelith looked up, startled to see a honey-blonde Half-blood felinae sitting cross-legged on the ledge of a fountain, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. Her gaze travelled over Vaelith, taking in every detail, making her feel suddenly self-conscious. The feline ears atop her head twitched slightly, as if they also were appraising her. Vaelith felt a surge of fear as the woman loomed over her, a full foot taller; her presence was overwhelming, making Vaelith feel insignificant and exposed, like a tiny rodent under the gaze of a predator.


    But the stranger stood up, and continued the conversation by herself, apparently unaware of the impact she just had on Vaelith. “You’ve got a good eye,” she said, her voice lilting with amusement. “And I’m not just talking about your lantern work.”


    The dracan blinked, unsure how to respond to the unexpected compliment. “Were you… spying on me?”


    The catgirl shrugged, stepping closer with a smooth, predatory grace. Her movements seemed calculated, designed to draw attention. “It’s hard to miss someone who looks like the spitting image of Luxoria, you know? You realise you’ve got every priest in this city glancing your way, right?”


    Every priest? If that was true, it certainly had not helped when she tried asking for their support earlier.


    Vaelith shifted uncomfortably, her silver hair falling over her shoulders as she looked away. She mumbled. “I didn’t choose this. It just... happened.”


    “Of course it did.” The felinae purred, dripping with sweet condescension, as if she did not quite believe her. “But you know, being a dead ringer for a goddess could be useful. Especially if you’ve got the right friends to help you play the game.” She emphasized the last word, letting it linger, her lips curling into a sly smile.


    Vaelith frowned slightly, unsure if her words were a compliment or a veiled insult. “I’m just looking for someone to join our party,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “We need a healer.”


    A cheshire cat grin appeared on the blonde’s face, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “A party, huh? And you’re the one with the infamous Wind sylvani martial artist tank?”


    “You’ve heard…?” But Vaelith nodded cautiously. “Yes, but she’s great. Elyssia—she’s my friend. If only people would give her a chance, they’d see how good she really is.”


    “Oh, I’m sure she’s very talented,” the other said with a dismissive wave. “But finding someone to heal for a tiny little Wind sylvani? That’s going to be tricky. Unless, of course, you have a little divine intervention.” She raised an eyebrow, her gaze once again sweeping over Vaelith, as if sizing her up.


    Vaelith’s cheeks flushed under the scrutiny. “I’m not... I don’t want to use my appearance for something like that. That’s not why I look like that.”


    The blonde burst out laughing. Her laughter was a soft, musical sound that seemed to echo through the plaza. “Why not? You’ve got the looks, diosa. Might as well use them. Everyone’s playing some kind of game in here. Some of us just play it better than others.”


    She took a step and leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “And besides, an evasion tank means less steady healing, just bigger heals when something slips. That’s less work for little Kaelyn—and it’ll keep things interesting. And you…” Her eyes trailed all over Vaelith’s scales. “You will keep things interesting, too.”


    Vaelith’s heart raced. Was this person—this Kaelyn—actually interested in joining their party, or was she just toying with her?


    “And that’s you? That’s your name? Are you a healer? And serious?” Vaelith asked, her voice catching.


    “The one and only! Kaelyn Moonshadow, priestess. At your service.” Kaelyn bow dramatically. When she stood back up, she smiled slyly, her tail swishing lazily behind her. “Of course I’m serious, cari?o. If I wasn’t, would I still be standing here wasting both of our time?”


    But before Vaelith could even formulate a response, Kaelyn’s eyes flicked to the wares of a nearby vending stall. “Oh, would you look at that,” she said, her voice light as she strolled toward a display of shimmering necklaces. “These pieces are exquisite!”


    Does she have the attention span of a cat, or is she just playing it up? I can’t make head or tails of her…


    Vaelith watched as Kaelyn picked multiple necklace, their shimmering stones glowing as they reflected the bazaar''s many lights.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    But suddenly, Kaelyn turned and held out a necklace with a beautiful, chiseled amethyst stone. “This one would look stunning on you.”


    “I... I’ve never worn jewellery, I wouldn’t…” Vaelith said, stammering in surprise.


    She’s not giving me a second to put a word in edge-wise…


    “Nonsense,” Kaelyn said, stepping closer. She eyed the necklace in her hands. Her gaze darted between Vaelith and the necklace, possibly assessing how it would look?


    She turned to face the shopkeeper. “Can we…?” she asked, miming the act of trying it on. The man nodded his approval.


    Without waiting for Vaelith’s permission, Kaelyn’s fingers deftly moving behind Vaelith’s neck. Before the dracan could protest, the cool metal brushed against her skin, sending a soft, startling chill through her body. Kaelyn’s hands lingered behind her neck, a casual intimacy in the way her fingertips grazed Vaelith’s collarbone.


    “There,” Kaelyn said, whispering. Her face was uncomfortably close, only a few inches away. Vaelith could feel the warmth of the air blows against her fins as Kaelyn let out a brief breath.


    The feeling of hot air sent a sharp jolt tearing through Vaelith’s body, like a shockwave passing directly into her core. Her fins caught every subtle vibration of Kaelyn’s breath, amplifying it until it was as if the air itself trembled around her. The feeling of hot air sent a jolt through Vaelith’s body, her fins catching the subtle vibrations, amplifying the sensation until her knees wobbled. Her tail twitched and Vaelith nearly toppled over, but Kaelyn caught one of her hand and gently held her until Vaelith found her balance.


    The blonde beauty leaned in even closer, perhaps unaware of the storm she had stirred within Vaelith. So close that the warmth from Kaelyn’s skin brushed against Vaelith’s cheek, her presence so near it was as though the space between them no longer existed. Vaelith could feel the gentle rise and fall of Kaelyn’s breathing, each exhale a whisper of heat against her skin, each movement drawing her further into the magnetic pull of Kaelyn’s proximity. She could almost feel her, as if the next heartbeat might bring them into contact.


    “Now you look irresistible. I might have to keep you all to myself if you keep turning heads like this. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Luxoria herself sent you just to tempt me.”


    Vaelith’s cheeks burned hotter, but it was the sensation in her fins that nearly unravelled her composure. Each soft vibration of Kaelyn’s voice seemed to hum against them, pulsing with warmth, as if her very voice was echoing inside her head. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus, but her body betrayed her—nerves ignited in a delicate dance between pleasure and shock.


    Did Kaelyn realise how she’s making her feel?


    Her mouth opened, a half-formed objection hanging in the air, but by the time she had the strength to say anything, Kaelyn was long gone, having walked away to pay for the necklace.


    “Think of it as a gift,” Kaelyn said as she walked back, her voice dripping with casual elegance. “A token of our new partnership.”


    Vaelith struggled to respond, the aftershocks of Kaelyn’s whisper still buzzing through her, leaving her both flustered and disoriented. A gift.


    “I... I can’t let you do that,” Vaelith said, short on breath, barely managing a full sentence.


    “Don’t worry about it,” Kaelyn purred, her smile widening. But then her face change, turning more serious, heartfelt. “You deserve it.”


    You deserve it. The words echoed in Vaelith’s mind.


    Earlier, she had been thinking about how no one ever did anything for her. Was this not a perfect example of someone giving something, asking nothing in return?


    Maybe Vaelith had just never been able to see or notice when people offered. Maybe she had never allowed herself to accept anything.


    Because I didn’t deserve it. It was money or time better spent elsewhere.


    Kaelyn smiled, stepping back to admire her work. “And besides, darling, it’s important to make an impression, don’t you think? Trust me—you’ll be turning heads with that.”


    And now, here she was, being doted on by this Kaelyn. Vaelith had only said a few half-formed sentences, and Kaelyn had carried the conversation all by herself.


    Vaelith looked down at the necklace, feeling a strange mix of discomfort and delight. Kaelyn’s boldness was overwhelming, but also intoxicating. There was something about her that made Vaelith want to step out of her shell, even if only for a moment.


    “You really didn’t have to do that,” Vaelith said, her fingers brushing the amethyst at the heart of the necklace. Its deep, shimmering violet mirrored the exact hue of her eyes, catching the light in a way that made it seem like the artisan crafted the necklace just for her, as if it belonged to her all along.


    Inside her heart, Vaelith had already accepted the gift. She knew that this was a significant step in self-acceptance.


    If things continue this way, this evening of gaming will end up with a record number of firsts for me...


    “I know,” Kaelyn winked. “But I wanted to. And you know what? I think you’ll find that sometimes, letting someone give you something is part of the fun.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a sensual whisper. “Especially when it’s me.”


    Vaelith swallowed hard, both flustered and charmed by the priestess’s relentless confidence.


    “Now,” Kaelyn said, straightening up and flashing her a dazzling smile. “Where is your friend, anyway?”


    “She’s still on her way here,” Vaelith said, her voice finally getting steadier.


    Kaelyn’s smile widened. “Then we’ve got time to kill. Come on, ni?a. Let’s turn some heads together.” She took both of Vaelith’s hands in hers and, with a light tug, pulled her deeper into the market.


    “They’re all watching, you know,” Kaelyn purred, casting a sly glance at the surrounding crowd. “Wondering who the little Dracan with the goddess’s face is. We might as well give them something to talk about.”


    Vaelith looked around her for just one instant, but it was enough to confirm what Kaelyn had said. All eyes were on them. Of course they would, with a beauty like Kaelyn acting so boldly, loudly. Being so visible, and unapologetic. The only reason they’re looking at me is because Kaelyn is shining the spotlight on us. They would never see me without her around.


    She started overheating, unsure of what to do next, but Kaelyn led her by the hands through the plaza, an unfamiliar feeling tugging inside her chest—half wanting to disappear, as she always did, and half feeling the urge to stand taller, to be seen.


    It was not just the necklace or her resemblance to Luxoria. It was something deeper, something Kaelyn had awakened. Maybe Kaelyn was right—maybe there was power in letting others take notice of her, in stepping into the light, even if it made her heart race.


    The crowd was still there, their gazes unwavering. Vaelith’s fingers brushed the amethyst necklace, its smooth surface cold beneath her fingertips, grounding her in this strange moment of being seen, really seen, for perhaps the first time. Her heart quickened—but before she could dwell on it further, Kaelyn tugged her hand gently, leading her deeper into the thrumming marketplace. For the first time, she wondered if stepping into the light might not be so bad after all.