Verene and Speraka had separated for the night. Only a small segment of the temple remained to be searched. As Verene rested on the blankets, she noticed the small pack often at her side, currently tossed to the bedside, shook. The shaking became more violent as Verene stared at the bag in surprise. Did a mouse crawl in?

She reached over and opened it up. As Verene dug through the pack, she noticed an opalescent egg-shaped stone at the bottom. The stone caused the shaking. Verene cautiously picked it up and the stone went still.

She nearly dropped the stone when a voice was emitted from within.

“Verene? Vereeene?”

“Yayscha?” Verene responded. She recognized that voice, but why did it come from the stone.

“Verene! I was worried the artifact wouldn’t work between realms. Although that’s a legendary artifact for you.” Yayscha exclaimed.

“Is this from the treasury?” Verene asked sternly. She was happy to hear her friend’s voice, but this method was, well not too great. Even if Yayscha was the prince, it could still be considered stealing from the kingdom.

“Prince I can only maintain this for so long.” A third voice interjected. Verene didn’t immediately recognize it. Although Verene assumed this individual was powering the device, perhaps one of the royal mages.

“Right. I know. Uh, it’s a secret I slipped into your bag before you left.” Yayscha chattered. “I was worried you’d take father’s word too seriously and didn’t want you to completely vanish. I can’t believe you actually left the city.”

Verene sighed. “I’m not going to vanish. I just thought I’d look for something.”

“Something. On a treasure hunt? Where are you?”

“Well. Sort of I suppose. I’m at the Dragon Tree. Remember the old records you found when we were kids. The ones written by the refugees during the calamity all those years ago. I figured I’d look for that artifact.”

Yayscha couldn’t respond immediately after he heard her location. After whispered words of reminder by the mage accompanying the prince on the spell’s limited time did Yayscha speak.

“How did you even? Ahh. That place is massive right? You’ve been gone months and father probably forgot the whole mess already. Everyone misses you. You can’t actually believe that artifact exists. It’s bound to take years to look alone anyways even if it does.”

“I’m not alone. There was still a priestess here when I arrived. She’s been helping me look.”

"Really. I thought everyone fled from there a couple of centuries ago. But still, it's a big place, right? An old lady won’t be much help. There are dragons up there, too? You haven’t been fighting with them, have you?” Yayscha went from excited to sounding genuinely concerned.

“She looks younger than me, and an Avanian. The dragons keep their distance and seem to listen to her.”

“A thousand-year mage from our species. That’s rare. I wonder why the dragons listen to her? I know we’ve sent other mages of similar caliber to cross between realms and they got turned away.” Yayscha started to drift away from his goal.

“I’m almost done here. So, end the call already. This must be draining for whoever you dragged into this.”

“Please listen to Captain Verene." The other voice sounded miserable.

“No. Just come home. I’m fine, so don’t waste your time.” Yayscha said.

“I’ll go back when I’m ready. I want to spend more time with Speraka, the priestess I mentioned. I honestly want to bring her back. I’m sure even if your father is mad with me, he’d still welcome her.”

“By the Patron, Verene!” Yayscha sounded excited again. “Then just go ask her to come back with you.”

“But she’s lived in an abandoned temple for years. Centuries. I’ve only known her for three months. Whatever is keeping her here is probably more important. I can’t just ask her.”

“If you’re scared of rejection. Ask her right before you leave then. If she says no, you can come crying back here.” Yayshca giggled. He attempted to sound sincere through his laughter as he continued. “Everyone misses you though. So come home. Your broken heart included.”

The last person Verene would cry to was Yayscha. “Mage.” Verene said sternly.

"Yes, Captain."

“End the spell.”

“Noo.” Yayscha whined. “It’ll end eventually anyway; it’ll take months to recharge. Let's keep talking.”

“This might be a good time to stop. The spell is almost up.”

“Don’t listen to her. Verene hurry home.”

“I’ll head back in a week.”

“Really that’s gre-”

A faint sizzling sound emitted from the stone in Verene’s hand. It shook once following the cut-off words Yayscha tried to speak.

Verene held the stone tightly. She had set a date to leave. The nearer Verene came to fully searching the temple, the more Verene had slowed down as she searched for the artifact with Speraka. But there would be a point where Verene would overstay her welcome. And Verene had duties at home that she couldn't set aside for her the sake of her own emotions.