That night, Kalin went out through the window, using magic to lower himself to the ground. The town was silent, he only heard his staff clicking against the walkways. After reaching the bar, he walked in to see an empty room. As he walked around, the letter reappeared, and a portal opened. 

Kalin stepped through into a large white room. The ceilings and floor were dull and covered in something. There were no mirrors or light sources, just dusty windows. In the corner, the person he saw from the window sat. 

She had navy blue hair down to her knees, pinned back in various places, the underneath was an iridescent color. Her wings appeared to be crystal-like in pattern, with multiple sets totaling six wings. She was wearing a crystalline dress, matching her sandals. When she stood up, he was able to see the various flowers dotting her bare arms and back as she turned to face him. Beside her on the table lay a large crystalline fan that reflected the moonlight from the window. 

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice. My name is Mayrin. I am one of Grayelle's nieces." She sat down next to Kalin. 

“Why did you call me here? I don't know Grayelle,” Kalin questioned. 

Mayrin looked confused, and down into a small bowl of water in front of her. She stayed silent for a moment before shakily sitting up. 

“You are Fae, are you not?” She asked and Kalin nodded. 

Mayrin was unable to see his back under his cloak and pursed her lips. She turned around to show Kalin her back. Along her spine was a black branding, leaving a stain originating from it like branches. Where it branched, the skin was bruised and inflamed. The branding was starting to encroach on her wings, darkening the color at the base. She turned back around, pulling a shawl over her back. 

“I cane to learn their healing practices, but they locked me here. I don't know how long this has been here, but it started hurting earlier.”

“I still don't understand why it was me you brought here,” Kalin pressed. 

“It will become clear at a later time,” Mayrin giggled before groaning and gripping her sides. 

Kalin asked her to lay down on her stomach. Her shawl was moved to the side, and he placed his hands along her back. He tried the diverse types of magic that he knew to no avail. He laid down across the foot of the bed to catch his breath. When Kalin got up, he noticed that the branding had continued to spread along her back and up her wings. Mayrin's wings were no longer iridescent like crystals, instead they had become dull. 

"How long are you able to keep the portal open?" Kalin asked as he gathered his bearings. 

"Long enough for you to come back," she said with a smile. 

Kalin quickly made his way back to the guild, nearly stumbling up the stairs to Meyra's room. Luckily, his staff caught against one of the guard rails, allowing him to regain his balance. He knocked on her door and waited, catching his breath in the meantime. Stumbling around was heard inside with a loud thump. The door opened to a disheveled and exhausted Meyra. 

"It's not morning, what do you need?" She asked while yawning, rubbing her eyes. 

"Come with me, it's urgent," Kalin said as he grabbed onto Meyra's wrist to drag her down the stairs. 

Once they were outside, he let go of her wrist. She used cleaning magic to get herself together while trying not to trip along the old walkway. After nearly falling multiple times, she shook out her wings before flying just above the ground. 

She landed on the ground outside the building and looked at Kalin confused. He opened the door and Meyra’s eyes widened as she looked through. From the other side Meyra was able to see a grand bedroom and raised her eyebrow. Her eyes widened as she saw Mayrin on the bed, her pushing herself up to say hello.

Kalin updated Meyra as she paced around, looking up at the ceiling knowing she would have to reach out to God. She walked over to the bed and looked at Mayrin's back. It had started to pulsate while they were gone, her skin bright red. Meyra reduced the swelling and her pain, excusing herself to go to the restroom. She frantically tried to reach out to God, before going out in defeat. 

She sat down on the ground, her wings slack behind her. Meyra wasn't sure what to do considering the restrictions that had been placed on her while here. She attempted to try to release or loosen an additional restraint, but that failed. Thinking back to her training, she remembered the process of amplifying magic. 

"Kalin, please feed your magic into me, I will not be able to do this by myself," Meyra said, looking at Mayrin who nodded. 

"This is going to hurt, please grab something to muffle yourself.” Mayrin shoved her face into her pillow. 

With Kalin's hands on her back ready when needed, Meyra tried to extract the branding. Instead of coming out like she hoped, it rippled like water, embedded too deep into her back to easily remove. Mayrin watched as Meyra grabbed a knife from her bag, her eyes widened as she scrambled to grab another pillow to cover her head. 

"Kalin, now!" Meyra cut into Mayrin's back. 

The cut was just deep enough to draw blood, the wound going down the entirety of her spine. The magic flowed into Meyra, making her back feel like it's on fire. She winced through the pain, placing her hands directly onto the cut. Using her magic, Meyra began to pull out a black sludge from her back. 

It squirmed around, acting more like a worm than a fluid. Meyra used one hand to open a jar in her bag, guiding the black fluid into it. The branding slowly drained until it was all contained within the jar. Kalin used magic over his ears, unable to focus through Mayrin's howls. The staining on Mayrin’s wings remained as Meyra took a breath. 

“Please stay as still as possible,” Meyra said as the golden marks appeared on her skin. 

Kalin acted the same, reassuring Meyra they were unable to be seen. She cut along the folds of Mayrin’s wings, placing her hands against the wounds. Kalin stayed back, waiting, watching the pillow become soaked. As Mayrin’s wings returned to normal, Meyra slumped against the side of the bed. 

Kalin used magic to check Mayrin before going to help Meyra to which she refused. She was unsure if her body would be able to be healed by another. Meyra weakly stood up, looking at Mayrin’s clothes, soaked in blood. She held onto Kalin as she slowly cleaned her up. 

Kalin checked on Mayrin, who was fast asleep. He smiled before sitting on one of the chairs, leaning over his knees. Meyra remained on the floor, looking up to the ceiling. 

Mayrin eventually woke up and turned to face the two. Her entire face was red up to her ears. She sat up, her arms shaking and nearly collapsing on her. Her wings came around her, Mayrin started to flutter them and let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you," Mayrin said, clearing her throat, "I thought I was going to die. I owe a great debt to you both." 

She grabbed a tissue to blow her nose and, from the bed, handed Meyra and Kalin some water and snacks that had been left for her. They both politely declined, unsure of how she had acquired the branding. Flustered, Mayrin dropped one of the pastries onto the floor, making them all go silent before laughing. Meyra cleaned up the pastry, wrapping it in a cloth before placing it on the nightstand. 

"I'm glad you reached out to us before things got worse. Do you want to come with us to the guild to rest for the night before leaving?" Mayrin gave a shaky thumbs up, grabbing onto the bed post to stand up. 

"Here, I'll help you. Tell us what you need to take." Meyra smiled, grabbing onto her waist to help her walk around the room. 

After packing everything up, there were two bags. Kalin grabbed the bags and stood next to the portal. On the bedside table, Mayrin grabbed crystalline charms and decorations before walking up to the portal. She looked back, her eyes teary, before stepping through. 

After the portal closed, Mayrin nearly collapsed to the ground, Meyra having to use her wings to pull her upright. She apologized, frequently stumbling on the stone walkways. When she was given permission, Meyra picked up Mayrin and flew her to the guild. Kalin was just in front of them, getting the door. 

No one was at the front desk, so Kalin put down the bags and grabbed some bedding from the back room. It was agreed on to have Mayrin stay in Meyra's room. They made their way upstairs, hiding the belongings under Meyra's bed and setting up the bedding beside her. Kalin waved goodnight and made his way to his room. 

"Are you feeling okay?" Meyra asked as she set up the bedding on the floor. 

"I'm not sure, I viewed them as extended family. I don't know who to trust now." Mayrin's eyes teared up before she began to cry. 

Meyra sat down by her side, giving her a hug and cloths to wipe her face. Remembering the jewelry she grabbed, Meyra asked about it. 

"These are worn by the Fae royal family. I was required to remove them when I was with Vallan, as social status is hidden," Mayrin said as she sniffed, gazing down at the charms. 

"Would you like help putting them back on?" Mayrin nodded, and Meyra started to place the jewelry on top of her wings, down her neck, and back. 

“Did anything happen between you and Kalin? He looked off when we came back,” Meyra asked while folding the cloths to be washed. 

“He reminded me of someone I used to know from my childhood, but I didn't want to pry.” Mayrin sniffled before hugging Meyra. 

Meyra felt dampness on her shoulder and held Mayrin close as tears trickled down her face. She wished she had a shoulder to cry on, still feeling lost and alone. Her story would not be told on deaf ears. They talked until light broke, when Mayrin reached into her bag and pulled out a crystal necklace. 

It cast rainbows throughout the room in the early light. 

"Please take this. I will never be able to pay you back, but I hope this can further exemplify my gratitude." Mayrin placed it in Meyra's hand. 

Meyra moved her left wing closer and grabbed one of her hair clips. She clipped the crystal to the side of her wing, matching Mayrin. She smiled, and stood up, clinking her crystal with Meyra's. The two laughed and talked until they fell asleep as the sun rose. 

Later that day, Meyra woke up not feeling her left wing. She frantically sat up and winced in pain. Mayrin had fallen asleep on her wing, hers propped up on a chair. She gently moved Mayrin and shook her wings. 

"Good morning, are you feeling any better?" Meyra asked once Mayrin woke up. 

Mayrin nodded, showing Meyra her hands that no longer shook. Meyra smiled and got up, grabbing a black robe with a hood. Mayrin got up and put it on, pulling it down to cover her hair and the crystals that adorned her forehead. 

The two made their way downstairs, quiet as it was not mealtime. Kalin was waiting downstairs with Ren and Ayra.

"I updated these two." Mayrin smiled, formally introducing herself to the other two as she uncovered the food.

Everyone caught up and talked like old friends. Eventually Ayra noticed the crystal on Meyra's wing due to it clinking against the table. She explained what happened and their plans to sneak Mayrin outside the town. 

"Once I'm out of Dovin I’ll be fine, I'm one of the best flyers." Mayrin mumbled in between her bites. 

"I think I should take you. I know this town like the back of my hand," Ayra said. 

Mayrin nodded her head silently, finishing the rest of her food. Shortly after she finished, someone ran into the front desk area. They frantically looked around for someone in charge. Unable to find anyone, they walked up to the dining hall's door. Mayrin ducked away, excusing herself. 

"Anekiel, the head of Vallan, has passed away. Please come to our location in the center of town at noon today if you would like to give your prayers!" After they finished, they ran out. 

The table looked at each other with wide eyes. Mayrin came back, hands shaking and shrinking back in her hood. Meyra placed her hand on hers and gave her a smile. 

"Do you think that's why they did that? Is that possible?" Mayrin shrugged her shoulders, unsure. 

"Is there anything that could be done? There's no proof remaining, unless you get testimony which would be putting the people involved in danger," Ren mumbled, sipping their drink. 

"On that note, is there anything else you would like to do before leaving?" Meyra asked, and Mayrin shook her head.