Greymor sat in a shallow valley like it expected trouble.
Rex noticed it the moment they crossed the outer path.
The buildings were thick—stone reinforced with metal bands. Windows were narrow. Doors were heavy. Roofs slanted in ways that looked less decorative and more defensive. There were no banners, no carvings, no colorful trims. Even the well at the center of the village had iron braces.
"This place feels…" Rex searched for the word. "…ready."
Velkohr nodded. "That's because it is."
Rex glanced around again. "Why does everything look like it's been reinforced three times over?"
"Because it has," Velkohr said casually. "Greymor gets attacked every time things feel peaceful."
Rex slowed his steps. "…Attacked by what?"
Velkohr shrugged. "People. Monsters. Beasts. Magical weather. Landslides. One time, a migrating crystal growth ruptured half the north wall."
Rex stared at him. "So… it's on the front lines of a war?"
"No."
"…Then why—"
"It's not war," Velkohr interrupted. "It's just… unlucky."
Rex blinked. "That sounds exhausting."
"It is," Velkohr agreed. "That's why most people here sleep with weapons within arm's reach."
Rex laughed. "You're joking, right?"
Velkohr didn't laugh back.
Rex stopped laughing.
"…Oh."
They stepped fully into the village.
People moved with quiet efficiency. Conversations were low. A few villagers glanced at Rex's gauntlet and sword—not with fear, but with calculation.
Then someone shouted.
"DORI—!"
Before Rex could react, a blur crossed the street.
A woman slammed into Velkohr at full speed and wrapped him in a crushing hug.
"—YOU'RE ALIVE!"
Velkohr made a noise somewhere between a groan and a surrender. "Iris—can't—breathe—"
Rex stood there.
Staring.
Am I hallucinating?
Did I hit my head on the mountain too hard?
The woman finally released Velkohr, who staggered back rubbing his ribs.
"Still squishy," she said proudly.
Only then did she notice Rex.
She looked him up and down once.
Then smiled.
"Well, look what we have here," she said. "A cute kid with white-and-black hair, inverted silver eyes… Fluxian, right?"
Rex froze.
"…Yeah. Wait—how do you know that?"
The woman crossed her arms. "Kid, I research different species for a living."
Rex blinked. "…Huh. Someone other than Lira who knows what I am. Nice."
The woman laughed. "Who do you think told Lira about Fluxians?"
Rex opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
"…Wait."
She tilted her head. "Let me guess—blue hair, blue eyes, works as a receptionist at an adventurer guild branch?"
Rex stared at her.
"How the hell do you know that?"
"She sends me letters."
"…Why would Lira send you letters?"
Rex paused.
His brain finally connected the dots.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He looked at her face again.
Older. Stronger. Same eyes.
"…Are you her mom?"
The woman snapped her fingers. "Bingo. Smart cookie."
Rex slowly turned to Velkohr.
"…Wait. Lira is your sister."
Velkohr sighed. "Yes."
"So that makes her—"
"My mother," Velkohr said flatly.
Rex's soul left his body for half a second.
The woman laughed. "Gods, we didn't even introduce ourselves properly. Dori, say something."
Rex blinked. "Wait—who's Dori?"
She pointed her thumb at Velkohr. "Him. My son."
Rex's head snapped back. "But you said his name was Velkohr."
She laughed harder. "Oh gods, Dori. You took the family name as your personal alias? That's hilarious."
Velkohr muttered, "It sounded dignified."
"No," she said. "It sounded pretentious."
She turned back to Rex and extended her hand.
"I'm Iris Velkohr. Nice to meet you."
Rex shook it. "Rex Caldera. Nice to meet you too."
Iris smiled wider. "Alright, Dorian. What brings you and the kid to Greymor?"
Dorian cleared his throat. "Two things. One—checking if the village is still standing."
Iris gestured around. "Still here."
"And two," he continued, "this village gets attacked often, so we're here to test Rex's new spell."
Iris's eyes lit up.
"A spell?" she said, immediately interested. "So you're a mage?"
"I think?" Rex said carefully.
Iris laughed and slapped Dorian's shoulder. "Just like my idiot son—taking the family name and pretending he's mysterious."
"Mother—"
"Oh hush," she waved him off. Then she turned to Rex, eyes sharp and curious.
"Alright then. Let's see this spell of yours."
Somewhere in Greymor, the air shifted.
And the village that never relaxed leaned in—ready for whatever was about to go wrong.