The morning arrived with a thin, pale light filtering through the cracks in the shutters. Kirias was awake long before the sun, his mind instinctively checking on his internal pathways the moment he opened his eyes. Just two more days until his mana could flow freely.
Today, he left the "Flyn" persona dormant, continuing to let his circuits rest. And so, he reached for his mage robes. He settled the deep hood over his head, letting the shadows mask the features of his face.
When he descended the stairs, the common room was already a roar of activity. The air was thick with the scent of roasted grains and the sharp tang of citrus, but the atmosphere had changed since the night before.
Groups of travelers and locals were huddled over their tables, their voices raised in animated speculation. The name of the city, Herkum, was being tossed around alongside another name he didn't yet recognize. It was clear that someone important to this world would be arriving.
Kirias caught the innkeeper's eye, received a respectful nod and secured a bowl of hot porridge. He retreated to a central pillar, leaning against the wood. He remained a silent shadow in the corner, listening.
Strange, he thought, his eyes tracking the room from the shadows of his hood. He had expected to be the primary object of scrutiny, being a "Tree-folk" scholar and all. But it seemed to these beings, the impending arrival was far more interesting than a reclusive elf nursing a bowl of porridge.
Only as the chatter reached a fever pitch did he finally catch the title being passed from lip to lip: Saintess.
He froze, a cold jolt of adrenaline spiking through his system. Then, he forced himself to exhale, his mind taking back control.
No, he thought, relaxing his grip on the spoon. There was no way they had his exact location. The shroud was still working perfectly fine. They had likely only tracked his location to the general vicinity of Herkum. There was no reason to panic just yet.
He couldn't leave yet. Moving now carried a risk; even if he paid for the safest transport available, there was still a chance of being intercepted. This would be especially dangerous in his weakened state. Besides, if they were already on his trail, they would just follow him to his next location. He'd be forced to start this whole cycle over again in a new place. It was better to stay put, blend into the background, and wait until there was an opening.
Kirias signaled the innkeeper over with a subtle gesture. The lizardman approached, still wearing that look of cautious respect he reserved for the "High-Folk."
"A question, friend," Kirias said, his voice smooth and steady. "The Saintess. Why is she coming to Herkum now? And how long do they expect her to stay?"
The innkeeper wiped his hands on a stained cloth, his frill twitching. "Hard to say, Master Scholar. Some say the mana in the wells has been acting up, getting sour, and she's here to sweeten it. Others think she's just stopping through on her way to the capital. As for how long... could be a day, could be a week. Depends on what she finds, I suppose. It's all just talk until she actually walks through the gates."
Kirias nodded slowly. It was as he expected: pure speculation. The locals knew she was coming, but they didn't know the why or the how.
"And you?" the innkeeper asked, leaning in slightly. "I didn't catch your name last night."
"Caldris," Kirias replied without a second of hesitation. He let the fake name sit in the air, firm and unremarkable.
Kirias leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a casual, conversational tone. "And when exactly does this Saintess grace the city with her presence? I imagine the crowds will only get worse as the day approaches."
The innkeeper let out a short, gravelly laugh. "You've got a bit of time, Master Caldris. Six days. The word came from the couriers this morning. She's currently making her way through the lower valleys, blessed by the weather, they say."
Kirias nodded, his mind already working through the math. Six days. That was a significant window. It was enough time for his circuits to fully heal, and he'd have the time to research on how to protect himself from the overwhelming atmospheric mana.
"Six days," Kirias repeated quietly. "A long time to wait for a miracle."
"For some, maybe," the innkeeper replied, moving off to attend to a shouting group of beastfolk. "But for Herkum, it's just enough time to double the prices on ale and rooms."
Kirias watched the innkeeper walk away, his mind already drifting from the conversation. The lizardman's cynicism about the prices was a small detail, but it confirmed one thing: the city was about to become a chaotic, crowded mess.
Six days was a lifetime in his current situation, but it was also a rare opportunity. He needed to be smart about using this time. First of all, he would need to leave the common room. Staying would always carry the risk of his disguise failing.
He stood up, leaving the half-finished porridge on the table. He needed to get back to the safety of his room to weigh his options.
As he climbed the creaking stairs, he began to map out his options. His top priority was to spend the next two days quietly to let his circuits fully heal. Only going down for meals. Once his mana pathways were stable, he'd have four days left. He could use the "Flyn" or "Caldris" personas to scout the city's defenses, or he could finally dive into the subspace dimension to examine his remaining artifacts. There was a strong possibility that one of those items—the hexagonal coin in particular—could lead him somewhere he would greatly benefit from.
Or somewhere he absolutely could not afford to be seen.