"Unfortunately, our thoughts were correct," Ren said as they sat down.

Meanwhile, Kalin’s friend flicked their hand and created a barrier, static filling the air. Ren signaled for a drink from one of the waiters. The waiter brought over a drink, placing it on a side table, before leaving. Ayra yawned, kicking her feet onto the top of the table. 

"The Cruxn fish was Peshwen. The toxicity was low enough for consumption, but there would be side effects like those that we are seeing,” Ren said while leaning back in their chair before taking a sip of their drink. 

"The monsters had the same toxins at lethal doses, in addition to others that we have not seen in food," Kalin added, “The bar fish was Riffen, explaining why they haven't had the same issues.”

Ren pulled out their notes, explaining everything in detail from what they'd seen. Ayra and Meyra explained what they saw earlier that day at Cruxn. As they did so, Ren put their belongings away as Kalin pursed his lips. 

“I think we need to tail them. We don’t know where rotting fish goes,” Ayra said, to which everyone nodded. 

Meyra looked back at the front desk. Signs were being hung about avoiding the forest. She turned back to the group. 

“What are those signs about?” She asked. 

“Shortly after you arrived Rendel made an announcement. We heard about it this morning,” Kalin said while sipping his tea. 

“We came back the same day, it takes longer than that by foot. How did they find out?” Meyra asked Ayra. 

“A letter must have been sent here. The royal family didn't send it, so someone there must be in cahoots with someone here,” Ayra said with a sigh. 

“Any ideas of who it could be?” Ren asked. 

“My guess would be Rendel so he could direct people to avoid the area,” Kalin said. 

He frowned, looking down at his reflection in the cup. Kalin looked at a painting on the wall of Rendel and Kalin outside the guild after renovations when he was young. He quietly sipped his tea as the others continued to chat. As the conversation simmered down, they agreed on a time to meet Weylyn. 

Meyra went into town, splitting from Ayra and Kalin. She stopped outside a pharmacy, the bell clinking as she walked in. Meyra looked at the numerous ingredients lining the walls. 

“Is there anything I can help you find?” The shopkeeper asked. 

“Do you have any uncommon detoxifying ingredients?” They nodded, beckoning Meyra to follow them into the back of the shop. 

There were various medicines in all forms lining the walls. In the corner, there was a small plate of herbs beside a candle. The shopkeeper closed the curtains behind the two and began to select items off the shelves. 

The shopkeeper had a small golden pin in their hair, partially hidden behind their long ears. It was in the shape of a four-pointed star. In the middle of the room, there was a cushion. The shopkeeper beckoned for Meyra to sit as they grabbed the remaining items. The shopkeeper pulled a piece of cloth over their face, covering up to their eyes. 

They lit the herb, and the smoke slowly filled the room. Meyra went to scratch her wing but was paralyzed. Her body went limp, falling onto another cushion. She looked up at the grinning shopkeeper before her vision was darkened by a cloth over her eyes. 

Meyra was unable to open her eyes, suspended in a thick fluid. She breached the surface, the oil dripping off her hair and onto her wings. The surface of the fluid was black with a sheen of a multitude of colors streaked across it. With the mirrored surface, Meyra was able to see her face. 

Her pupil began to fall down her eye like a liquid, starting to drag down her eyelid. She quickly closed her eyes, but the fluid continued to flow down her face. When she was able to open her eyes, her wings had detached from her back and were floating on the surface of the fluid. Looking down at herself, colors started flowing out of her body, acting like liquid in the air. 

The liquid took on a shape of its own, with an eye and a sharp-toothed grin. Her hands began to form claws made from the fluid. She dunked her body back into the fluid, and when she re-emerged, the fluid covering her body was gone. Meyra looked as she had before coming to this world. 

She dragged her body through the fluid, gripping onto the edge of the surface and pulling herself out. The fluid fell off her body and back into the pool, not touching the surface, as if something was dragging it back in. Meyra looked around, unable to see anything. The ground was white, and the sky was dark gray, with no source of light. 

In the distance, Meyra saw black smoke begin to spread upward. It had no defined shape toward the bottom but started to resemble a person towards the top. Suddenly, two white dots appeared, and the smoke began to move towards Meyra. It moved around her in a circle, looking up and down before backing away. 

The smoke took the form of a person. They had dark skin with various white dots and lines. Their hair was white and came down to the end of their black cape. Stars and dots surrounded their head in the air. 

The person smiled, removing the hood on top of their head. Their hair began to glow white, a white moon shaped halo appearing above. Meyra put up one of her hands to block the halo from burning her eyes. 

"Wait for Gionva," they whispered as they waved their hand. 

The two symbols on the fish at Cruxn Meyra had previously seen, appeared in the air. The person brought a finger to their lips and grinned before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The circular symbols fell to the ground, shattering like glass. 

Meyra was dragged back into the pool she had emerged from. The fluid reached through the air to cover her eyes and mouth, while grabbing her hands and ankles. She felt the wind rush past her as she went back underwater. Her back burned in pain as she felt the wings reattach to her back. She felt her insides shirt, making her howl. 

Meyra woke up on the same cushion. There was a small bin in front of her. She threw up some of the fluid, tears streaming down her face as it burned her. When she opened her eyes, she saw a moon-shaped crystal glowing on top of the fluid. She went to pick it up, but it burned her hand. 

"It appears that Deonva chose you. Please take this." The shopkeeper handed Meyra one of the golden pins. 

"It will help you along your journey, as Deonva has done for us as well," they bowed down to pick up the crystal, placing it upon a satin pillow. 

"Your items are packaged up front for you, no payment is required. Thank you for your business." The shopkeeper smiled as they began to clean up the shop. 

As Meyra stood up, she felt her wings drag against the floor and get stuck on something. There was a small star-shaped crystal stuck in her wing. She picked it out and it flung out of her hand and into the hair clip on the cushion. From the cushion, the clip flew up and buried itself behind Meyra’s ear. Meyra tugged on the hair clip, but it wouldn’t budge.

She got up and made her way to the front door, picking up her items. With her hands full, she went outside. Meyra turned back to see a dilapidated building, the bell and sign missing. Unsurprised at this point, Meyra turned and walked to the guild.

She climbed the stairs and knocked on Ren’s door. They opened it with soot covered hands. The bag was handed over to Ren, who gave Meyra a large grin and thanked her before closing the door in her face.

After dropping off everything, Meyra made her way to the Reporter. It was a large four-story building in the center of Dovin. On the second floor the exterior blinds were closed, allowing minimal light in. Meyra knocked on the front door. 

"Hello, how may I help you?" One of the workers answered the door, their clothes covered in ink. 

"I would like information on someone named Gionva," Meyra asked. 

"We do not give information out on individuals. My apologies." The person had a flat tone, not appearing apologetic, as they shut the door in Meyra's face. 

She pursed her lips, thinking back to what Deonva said, she decided to wait unless something came up. Meyra spent the rest of her free time walking around town, popping into various stores to pick up supplies. Shortly before their meal, Meyra dropped off all her belongings in her room and went to the living area. 

Eventually everyone filed in and sat down at the table they usually sat at. Ayra looked outside, watching the sun continue its descent. Shortly after sitting down, she got up and opened the front door for everyone to follow her. They made their way out of the guild and followed Ayra's lead. 

The group went down various back alleys, from well-lit to dim and moss-covered. Towards the middle of a walkthrough, there was a flower canopy above a few sets of doors. They were red with golden handles with small one-way windows at eye level. Ayra knocked, echoing throughout the walkthrough. 

"Please remove all weapons and shoes. We will store them," the person said as they opened the door.