The morning sun reflected blindingly off the snowdrifts as Valeria and Kael prepared to leave.
The farmhouse had been transformed into a makeshift command center. Ignis sat at the table, sketching a detailed map of Fort Riven, the nearest trading hub, on the back of a piece of peeled birch bark.
"The Apothecary District is here," Ignis said, tapping a charcoal mark. "It is run by the Alchemist Guild. They are greedy, xenophobic, and they inflate prices for non-locals. If you go in looking like a refugee, they will fleece you."
He slid the map toward Valeria. His red eyes were critical, assessing her outfit.
Lucian had done his best. Valeria wore a heavy woolen cloak dyed a deep charcoal grey, trimmed with the fur of the boar Kael had killed. Underneath, she wore a simple but sturdy linen dress. She didn't look like a Duchess anymore. She looked like a traveling merchant's wife, respectable but obscure.
"And Kael," Ignis continued, looking at the Tiger. "You are the problem."
Kael stood by the door, wrapped in a massive cloak that covered his broad shoulders. He had pulled the hood low, but his sheer size was impossible to hide. He loomed like a mountain.
"I will keep my head down," Kael grunted.
"Your height screams 'Beastman'," Ignis countered. "Walk with a stoop. Carry the heavy pack. Humans ignore servants carrying loads. If you look like a laborer, they won't look at your eyes."
Valeria looked at Ignis. The Dragon was genuinely worried. He had spent the last hour drilling them on entry protocols and escape routes.
"Thank you, Ignis," Valeria said. "Your intel is invaluable."
Ignis paused. He looked away, feigning interest in his charcoal stick. "I am merely protecting my investment. If you get arrested, I stop getting my medicine."
[System Notification: Husband Affinity Updated.]
[Ignis: 20% (Cautious Respect). Note: Subject values competence and strategic planning.]
"We'll be back by sundown," Valeria promised. "Caspian, keep the fires hot. Lucian, keep sewing. Silas... stay inside."
Silas was sitting by the fire, chewing on a bone. He looked up and gave a sharp bark of acknowledgment. The sedation from the needles had worn off, but he was calm, anchored by the presence of the pack.
Valeria turned to the door. "Let's go, Kael."
The journey to Fort Riven took three hours on foot.
Kael pulled the sled until they reached the main road, then they stashed it in the brush and continued on foot to avoid drawing attention. Kael carried a massive rucksack filled with the wood Bram had cut, acting the part of a beast of burden.
Valeria walked beside him. She felt the weight of the coins in her hidden pockets and the weight of the Fire Bloom wrapped in damp moss inside her satchel.
"Use the item," Valeria whispered to herself.
She touched her eye.
[Item Activated: The Merchant's Monocle.]
The world shifted. A subtle digital overlay appeared over her right eye.
She looked at Kael.
[Object: Tiger Beastman (High Tier).]
[Condition: Recovering. Metal Attribute Awakening.]
[Market Value: 5,000 Gold Coins (Illegal).]
She shivered. Seeing a price tag on a person was nauseating.
She looked at the trees lining the road.
[Object: Pine Tree.]
[Value: Negligible.]
It worked. It was a basic appraisal tool, but for a merchant, it was a godsend.
They reached the gates of Fort Riven. It was a walled town of grey stone and timber, bustling with winter trade. Guards in iron armor stood at the portcullis, checking papers.
"Papers," the guard demanded as they approached. He looked bored, his nose red from the cold.
Valeria handed him the forged travel pass she had found in the Library's "Counterfeit & Espionage" section. It identified her as Valeria Stone, a freelance herbalist.
The guard glanced at it, then at Kael. Kael hunched his shoulders, staring at the ground, looking for all the world like a broken, dim-witted laborer.
"Big one," the guard commented. "He bite?"
"Only his food," Valeria said smoothly, pressing a small silver coin into the guard's hand. "He's simple. Strong back, weak head."
Kael made a convincing grunt of stupidity.
The guard pocketed the coin and waved them through. "Move along."
As they walked into the chaotic noise of the market square, Kael leaned down, whispering so low only she could hear.
"Weak head?"
"Method acting," Valeria whispered back. "You're doing great."
The Apothecary District smelled of sulfur, dried sage, and desperation.
Valeria located the shop Ignis had marked on the map: The Golden Mortar. It was the largest shop on the street, with a gilded sign and glass windows displaying rare roots.
"Stay close," Valeria told Kael. "And don't growl at the customers."
They entered. A bell chimed above the door.
The interior was warm and cluttered. Shelves reached the ceiling, packed with jars of colored powders and pickled organs. Behind the counter stood a short, balding man with spectacles and a stain on his apron.
[Target: Master Varnish.]
[Class: Alchemist (Level 3).]
[Trait: Greedy. Unethical.]
Varnish looked up. He saw Valeria's plain dress and Kael's rough cloak. He sneered.
"We don't buy firewood," Varnish said, returning to his ledger. "Try the smithy."
"I'm not selling wood," Valeria said, walking to the counter. "I'm buying. I need Shadow Moss. And Moon Dust."
Varnish paused. He looked up, his eyes narrowing behind his spectacles.
"Restricted ingredients," he said slowly. "Used for suppression potions. Or dark rituals. Do you have a license?"
"I have coins," Valeria said.
"Coins are good," Varnish said, a greedy glint entering his eyes. "But the risk is high. Shadow Moss is rare this season. Five gold coins for an ounce."
Valeria stifled a gasp. Five gold? That was extortion. The standard price was maybe fifty silver.
She activated the Monocle. She looked at the jar of dark moss sitting on the shelf behind him.
[Item: Shadow Moss (Old).]
[Quality: Low. Desiccated.]
[Real Value: 20 Silver.]
"Five gold for that?" Valeria laughed. It was a cold, mocking sound. "For dried-out, year-old moss that has lost half its potency? You must take me for a fool, Master Varnish."
Varnish stiffened. "How dare you! My stock is premium!"
"It's brown at the edges," Valeria bluffed, using the Monocle's data. "Shadow Moss should be deep indigo. If I brew with that, the toxicity will kill the patient. I'll give you ten silver."
"Get out!" Varnish shouted, slamming his hand on the counter. "I don't deal with beggars who insult my craft!"
Kael took a step forward, his shadow falling over the alchemist. Varnish squeaked, taking a step back.
"Wait," Valeria said, holding up a hand to stop Kael. She looked at Varnish. "I didn't come empty-handed. I prefer to trade."
She reached into her satchel and pulled out the small wooden box she had prepared. She opened the lid.
Inside lay a single Fire Bloom.
It wasn't dried. It was fresh, vibrant crimson, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic heat that misted the glass of the counter.
Varnish's eyes bulged. He leaned forward, drool practically forming at the corner of his mouth.
[Item: Fire Bloom (Fresh).]
[Quality: S-Rank (Grown in Spirit Soil).]
[Market Value: 50 Gold.]
"Is that..." Varnish whispered. "A Fire Bloom? Fresh? In the middle of winter?"
"My supplier has a greenhouse near a volcanic vent," Valeria lied effortlessly. "I have more. But I need a reliable partner. Someone who knows quality."
She snapped the box shut.
"But if you think brown moss is premium, perhaps I should visit the Royal Alchemist across the street."
"No!" Varnish shouted, running around the counter. "No, please! Wait! I... I may have misspoken. My eyes aren't what they used to be."
He rubbed his hands together. "I have a fresh shipment of Moss in the back. Top quality. And Moon Dust. Pure crystal grind."
"I want the Moss, the Dust, and a set of basic alchemy tools," Valeria negotiated. "In exchange for the flower."
Varnish did the math. The flower was worth fifty gold. The supplies were worth maybe ten. He was making a killing.
"Done!" Varnish squealed. "A pleasure doing business, Lady...?"
"Stone," Valeria said.
Varnish scrambled into the back room.
Kael leaned down. "You just gave him a fortune for a handful of weeds."
"The flower cost me nothing but water," Valeria whispered back. "And to him, it's a treasure. To us, it's a ticket to Silas's freedom. That's trade, Kael."
Kael looked at her. The Monocle wasn't needed to see the respect in his eyes. He didn't understand the value of flowers, but he understood the value of dominating an opponent. And she had just dominated this human without lifting a finger.
Varnish returned with a heavy crate.
"Shadow Moss, Moon Dust, a copper cauldron, and a set of vials," Varnish listed, panting. "And... perhaps you have more flowers to sell in the future?"
"Perhaps," Valeria said, taking the crate. She handed it to Kael. "If the price is right."
She turned to leave.
"Wait," Varnish called out. "One question. Who grew that? The mana signature... it's incredibly pure."
"A wizard," Valeria said over her shoulder. "A very grumpy wizard."
They left the shop and merged back into the crowd. Kael carried the crate as if it were empty.
"We have what we need," Kael said. "Back to the gate?"
"Not yet," Valeria said. "We have money left. We need winter boots. And blankets. And..."
She stopped.
They were passing the town square. In the center stood a large, iron cage on a raised platform. A crowd had gathered.
Inside the cage was a creature.
It was a bear beastman. He was massive, chained, and covered in whip marks. He roared at the crowd, shaking the bars.
Two men in distinctive blue uniforms with gold trim stood by the cage. They held shock-batons.
[Faction Identified: The Imperial Beast Taming Guild.]
"Roll up! Roll up!" the Guild master shouted. "A fresh catch from the Northern Woods! A feral Ursa! Perfect for heavy labor or arena fodder! Bidding starts at twenty gold!"
Kael stopped. His entire body went rigid. A low, vibrating growl started in his chest, so deep it felt like an earthquake.
"Kael," Valeria warned, grabbing his arm. It was like grabbing a steel beam.
"He's a child," Kael whispered. "Look at his teeth. He's not full grown. They're selling a cub."
Valeria looked closer. The bear beastman was indeed smaller than an adult. He looked terrified beneath the rage.
"We can buy him," Kael said, his voice pleading. "We have the gold from Bram. We have the Fire Blooms."
Valeria looked at the Monocle's valuation of the bear. [Value: 20 Gold]. They had enough.
But then she looked at the guards.
[Target: Guild Enforcer (Level 15).]
[Target: Guild Enforcer (Level 18).]
There were six of them. And in the shadows of the alley, she saw another figure watching the crowd. A man with a crossbow.
"It's a trap," Valeria whispered. "Or a high-security sale. Kael, if we buy him, we have to register him. They will ask for ID. They will check our background. They will see that 'Valeria Stone' doesn't exist. And they will look at you."
She squeezed his arm. "They will see a Tiger with metal skin. And they will realize you are Kael, the missing gladiator."
Kael trembled. "So we leave him?"
"We can't save everyone," Valeria said, her heart breaking at the words. "Not yet. If we get caught, Silas dies. Ignis dies. Lucian dies. Are you willing to trade five brothers for one stranger?"
Kael closed his eyes. He took a shuddering breath. The growl faded.
"No," he said. The word was heavy with shame.
"We will come back," Valeria promised fiercely. "When we are strong enough to burn the Guild to the ground. But not today."
Kael opened his eyes. They were hard. "Let's go."
He turned away from the square, marching toward the gate with a grim determination.
Valeria followed, but she didn't look away from the cage until they turned the corner. She memorized the face of the Guild master.
Add him to the list, she thought.
The walk back to Oakhaven was silent. The victory at the apothecary felt hollow after the scene in the square.
Kael walked faster, pushing through the snow as if trying to outrun his guilt.
When they finally saw the farmhouse smoke, the sun was setting.
Ignis met them at the door. He took one look at Kael's face and didn't ask about the trip.
"Did you get the ingredients?" Ignis asked Valeria.
"Yes," Valeria said, unpacking the crate. "And boots for everyone. And wool."
She handed the bag of alchemy supplies to Ignis.
"Lucian, take the fabric. Make blankets," she ordered. "Caspian, help Kael with the wood. Silas..."
She looked for the Wolf.
Silas was hiding under the table again. He smelled the city on them. He smelled the Guild.
Valeria sat on the floor near him.
"We saw them," she whispered to the Wolf. "But they didn't see us. You're safe."
Silas sniffed her hand. He licked her fingers.
"Safe," he echoed.
Valeria stood up. She looked at her broken kings. They were surviving, but they were still living in fear.
"Ignis," Valeria said.
The Dragon looked up from the Shadow Moss. "Yes?"
"How long to brew the potion?"
"Two hours," Ignis said. "It's simple chemistry now that we have the moss."
"Do it," Valeria said. "And then... teach me about the Guild. I want to know their hierarchy. Their bases. Their weaknesses."
Ignis's eyes widened slightly. "You plan to fight them?"
"I plan to destroy them," Valeria said calmly. "Eventually."
Kael, who was stacking wood by the fire, paused. He looked at her.
[System Notification: Husband Affinity Updated.]
[Kael: 45% (Deep Trust). Note: Subject is beginning to view you not just as a provider, but as a leader.]
"I'll sharpen the knives," Kael said quietly.
That night, the potion was brewed. It was a thick, indigo liquid that smelled of rain.
Silas drank it without complaint.
The effect was subtle. The frantic energy that constantly buzzed around the Wolf faded. His scent, the sharp, ozone smell of a Silver Moon beastman, dampened into something earthy and common.
"How do you feel?" Valeria asked.
Silas stood up. He stretched. He walked to the window and looked at the moon. He didn't howl. He didn't shake.
"Quiet," Silas said. "The noise in my head... is quiet."
He turned to Valeria and gave a clumsy bow.
[System Notification: Husband Affinity Updated.]
[Silas: 40% (Devotion). Note: Subject recognizes you as the Alpha who silenced the noise.]
"Good," Valeria said. "Now we can sleep."
But as she lay in her armchair that night, listening to the wind, she knew the peace was temporary. The winter was just beginning. And somewhere in the dark, the Guild was hunting.
She touched the Library interface in her mind.
System, show me the Agricultural Upgrade path.
If she was going to fight a war, she needed money. And to get money, she needed to turn this frozen wasteland into a goldmine.
[Library Section: Greenhouse Engineering.]
[Requirement: Glass, Iron, Mana Stones.]
"Glass," she whispered. "I need sand."
The Shark would know where to find sand.
Valeria closed her eyes, plotting. The Villainess was done playing nice.