I woke up this m and immediately had the stra craving. Bread. Not just any bread, but warm, soft, perfect bread. No idea why—there’s no bread to be had here—but I swear, I’d kill a dragon for even the smell of it.

  I shook the thought away and stretched, letting my joints crack before stepping out of the dim warmth of the cave. The m air was crisp, carrying a faint breeze that rustled the treetops. Dowhe unal fire, my mother was w with the other women, ughing and chatting as they pounded grains and prepared dried meats.

  Her pce among them had shifted. Ever since she shared the honey, her status had lifted. She wasn’t just another fa the tribe anymore—she was one of them, respected, even envied. “Huh,” I muttered under my breath. “If money buy love, honey seems to have dohe trick.”

  That was good news for both of us. It meant she was safer now, shielded from whispers and sideways gnces. And for me? It gave me time—time to work, pn, and strengthen myself without stantly w about what might happen to her when my back was turned.

  So, what should I do today? My eyes wao the forest beyond the cave, the m light dappling the ground in patches. Ah, yes. I needed mold. Yesterday’s close enter with the Fae was still fresh in my mind.

  I thought back to the way my spell had burhe thing, f it to retreat. They weren’t rationed foes—they were like psychotic wolves, cirg aing. If they didn’t draw blood, they’d e back stronger, bolder. But I’d proven we had teeth. That had to t for something.

  My schedule for today? Simple: get mold, kill something edible, and avoid being the test Fae curse victim. Solid pn.

  As I stood there for moment thinking drinking water from water-skin and making sure I didn't fet anything, a voiterrupted me.

  “Good m, Anir.”

  Oh, great. It’s Mohe guy has all the loyalty of a rat sniffing out a free meal. Still, o let him know I see through him. “M, Monire,” I replied evenly, tightening my grip oer-skin to keep my hands busy—and away from my knife.

  “Did you hear about Lilona? A shadow attacked her st night.”

  My stomach did a slow flip. I kept my expression calm, but my mind so attention. “Really? A shadow? Lilona’s home is he back of the cave. That’s supposed to be one of the safest spots.”

  “That’s what she’s saying.” He leaned in spiratorially, as if sharing a great secret. “But her mom spanked her for lying about it.”

  I arched a broould she lie about something like that?”

  “She wet the fur in her sleep. Or…” He smirked, clearly enjoying the gossip, “she was too scared to make it to the pissing holes.”

  Internally, I rolled my eyes. Too scared or too smart, Mohe shadows aren’t just bedtime stories. If Lilo something, even if no one else believes her, I o pay attention.

  “So,” he tinued, his voice taking on a casual, almost wheedling tone, “are you hunting more rabbits today? Maybe I could e with you?”

  And there it is. Always angling, always sniffing around for an advantage. “Not this time,” I said, keeping my tone light and dismissive. “I prefer going alone. Helps me practice moving quietly, avoiding making noise is an important skill I need.”

  His grin faltered for a sed before boung back like a rubber ball. “Well, don’t go pushing too deep into the forest, huh? You know how dangerous it gets.”

  “I know,” I replied with a polite nod, my voice calm. I know more than you ever will.

  Finally, he wandered off, probably to tto someone else’s success like a leech. As I watched him go, I couldn’t help but smirk. Good riddance, Monire. You’re predictable, and predictability is useful. Maybe one day I’ll find a purpose for you. Until then, enjoy being a bottom feeder.

  Before starting my work, I retreated to the privacy of the cave, in my home, where n eyes could catch a glimpse of the spell I was about to use. Though most of my spells were silent, this one caused a brief flicker of light in my aura upon casting—a momentary bea that could draw attention. Oivated, the spell would fade, cloaking itself entirely, allowio move safely, ued.

  I closed my eyes, fog on the flow of mana within me, and began weaving a passive monit spell into my aura anchored to a small gold hreads of magic extended outward, like invisible tendrils brushing against the air, seeking the fai ripple of danger. As the spell took hold, my senses sharpened, every sound and vibration filtering through the spell’s delicate web.

  As I excited the cave.

  The world felt alive, hyper-aware. The subtle sway of leaves, the distant rustle of animals, even the faint hum of the cave walls—all of it whispered to me. It wasn’t sight or souly, more like a pulse of awareness, a silent arm ready to fre at the slightest threat.

  The spell settled over me like a sed skin, faint but present, a low hum of vigince c through my body. For the first time in days, I felt... prepared.

  Theed protective spell against the Fae anchored into one of the iron s I gathered st night.

  I took my backpa went on gold hunt.

  I shaped the protective spell carefully, weaving my aura around the iron until it hummed faintly with potential energy. The sigils etched into my mind guided each thread of mana, f yers of defensive entments. This wasn’t just any protective spell—it was tailored against the Fae’s tricks, their illusions, and their invasive magichored to the iron , it would create a localized barrier, disrupting their ability to influehe area around me.

  Ohe spell was plete, I held the in my hand, feeling its subtle pulse, a quiet promise of safety. Not invulnerability, of course—nothing could grant that against beings as uable as the Fae—but it was better than fag them unarmed.

  Satisfied, I tucked it into my belt poud grabbed my backpack. The iron would be useful, but gold was the real prize. If I wao cast stronger spells or stabilize more plex entments, I needed a stockpile. Gold’s properties made it invaluable—dug mana smoothly, enhang spell precision, and, most importantly, grounding my aura when casting rger, riskier spells.

  The river awaited, and I ks bed still hid treasures I hadn’t uhed.

  As I stepped out of the cave, the air was crisp, carrying the faint st of damp earth and pihe m light paihe forest in muted greens and browns, but even in this calm, I couldn’t shake the unease lingering from the previous night. The Fae were watg—I could feel it like a shadow at the edge of my senses.

  Still, I pressed on. The hunt fold wasn’t just about survival—it reparation for the battles I knew were ing. And in this world, preparation was everything.

  The river was quieter today, the sunlight glinting off the surface like shards of gss. I made my way further upstream this time, past the spot where I’d found gold before. I’d learned my lesson from st time—walking this path unprepared was an invitation for my heart to betray me again. This time, I came equipped.

  In my hand, I held a small of gold, smooth and warm from the aura I’d woven around it. The would serve as an anchor for my spell, stabilizing the process and making the search far less taxing.I crouched by the riverbank, feeling the earth beh me, letting my aura ripple outward like roots seeking sustenance. My mind focused, sharpening into the spell I’d crafted. With a deliberate push, I fed the spell into the , letting its resonance reach out to the silt and stones of the riverbed.The response was immediate. A faint tug, a vibration through the earth, as if the very stones were whisperis to me. My pulse quied as I followed the sensation, stepping carefully along the edge of the water.Then, I saw it.Buried just beh the surface, glinting faintly in the dappled sunlight, was something massive. My breath caught as I crouched down, brushing away the wet silt with trembling hands.The was huge—rger than I’d ever imagined possible. It was roughly the size of my chest, a behemoth of gold that seemed almost unreal in its brilliance.

  “The Motherlode,” I whispered, a grin spreading ay face.

  I pressed my hands against it, feeling the faint hum of mana still ging to its surface. My aura pulsed in response, like a predatnizing its prize. This wasn’t just gold. This ower.

  But excitement faded quickly as cautio in. My paranoia was having one of its unreasonable eres. This is too easy, I thought, my grip tightening on the . Nothing this big, this valuable, is left untouched.

  Most beast's like gold they eat it they grow stronger from it like me. So why is it untouched, no that's not it, oh the idea that triggered my paranoia is if I found it something else could now that it has been exposed.

  I o hid it.