Lira walked into the Velkohr Library like she owned the place—which, to be fair, she mostly did.
She sat down at the table without asking.
Rex looked up from where he was adjusting his focus pouch. "Oh—hi, Lira."
"Iris says hi," Iris added casually from nearby.
Lira blinked. "…Wait. You know Iris?"
Dorian leaned back in his chair. "I took him out of the village. Long story."
"I was actually coming here to talk to you about that," Lira said, then her gaze slid toward Rex. Her expression shifted into something suspiciously cheerful.
"Hey, Rex. It's been a few days since you last took a commission."
Rex straightened. "Oh—yeah, I guess it has."
"So," Lira continued smoothly, "I personally picked one out for you."
Rex's eyes lit up. "Oh? What is it?"
"It's a surprise."
"…That's not ominous at all."
"Just pack your things and head east," Lira said. "You'll find a mountain. At the top of it lives a troll. Kill it."
Rex grinned instantly. "Oh! I've never killed a troll before. This'll be fun!"
And with that, he was gone.
He sprinted off to grab his focus pouch, strapped on his armor, checked his sword, waved vaguely in the direction of everyone, and disappeared out the door.
The library went quiet.
Dorian slowly turned to Lira. "…You said that just to make him leave, didn't you?"
Lira nodded. "Yes."
Two Hours Later
Rex was freezing.
Like—really freezing.
He had climbed for two hours straight, and now he was crouched inside a small rocky entrance near the mountain's peak, snowstorm roaring outside like an angry beast. He activated his fire focus, the warm glow wrapping around him as he held his hands out.
"…Lira did not mention it would be freezing," he muttered.
After a few minutes, he sighed and stood up. "Alright. Can't fight a troll by hiding in a rock."
He moved forward, using the fire's light to guide him through the white chaos. The wind howled, snow whipped past his face, and just as he was starting to wonder if trolls even existed—
He saw smoke.
Thin, gray smoke curling from a small opening in the rock wall.
Rex frowned. "…That's not very troll-like."
He approached quietly and peered inside.
A girl was crouched there, struggling to light a campfire.
She had short brown hair, green eyes, and was muttering angrily to herself.
"Come on… light already… why is this not working?"
Rex walked up behind her.
Completely silently.
He stopped just behind her shoulder and said politely,
"Mind if I help?"
She screamed.
Like—actually screamed.
She jumped backward, nearly tripping over herself, eyes wide in terror at what she saw:
A demon-looking figure with white-and-black hair, inverted silver eyes, small black horns half-hidden by his hair. His left hand was encased in a flaming Gauntlet. His right held a sword.
She shrieked again, yanked out a copper sword, and pointed it straight at his chest.
Rex immediately raised his hands. "Whoa—hey—no trouble! I just asked if you needed help starting a fire!"
She didn't lower the sword.
Not even a little.
Rex sighed. "Okay, fair reaction. That one's on me."
Slowly, carefully, he lowered his left hand and gently touched the campfire with the Gauntlet.
Fwoosh.
The fire ignited instantly.
The girl froze.
"…Oh," she said quietly.
Rex stepped back. "Welp. I see I'm not wanted. I'll be going."
"Wait."
He paused.
"If you want," she said hesitantly, "you can… stay."
Rex glanced at the sword still half-raised. "…You're kind of still pointing a weapon at me."
She flushed and quickly lowered it. "Sorry. Reflex."
Rex sat down near the fire, keeping a respectful distance, and looked out at the raging snowstorm outside.
To her surprise—
He smiled.
Not a threatening smile. Not a smug one.
Just… relaxed.
The girl studied his face carefully, searching for hidden intent, malice, or danger.
She found none.
Only exhaustion.
And warmth.