The morning sky held the soft blush of dawn as Cain stretched and adjusted his gear, eyes fixed on the map sprawled across the war table. The keep was quiet but awake, soldiers shifting between patrols and scouts returning with fresh ink on their reports.
Only one contract remained.
The haunted grain silo in Dunnhar.
Cain, Callum, and Calanthe rode out just after breakfast, following a winding dirt trail past grazing fields and blooming thistle. Dunnhar came into view within the hour, a sleepy farming hamlet ringed by fences, with a stone church and a looming silo just behind the main granary.
The townsfolk welcomed them with reserved gratitude. Most kept their heads bowed in the presence of Calanthe's robes and Cain's golden eyes. Callum, ever the people's man, spoke warmly and easily with the mayor and villagers, drawing out details about the hauntings.
"It started with rats," one farmer muttered. "Then the rats got bigger. Then the shadows started moving."
"And then the grain spoiled," said another. "No smell, no rot. Just wrong."
Cain frowned. "Cursed object. Possibly spiritual decay."
That afternoon, the trio investigated the silo.
Inside, the air was stagnant. Cold. Unnatural.
Cain's medallion buzzed against his collarbone. He drew a slow breath and whispered a Sign.
"Yrden."
The purple glyph pulsed against the dirt floor, revealing a faint shimmer in the air. Then, a figure appeared.
A ghostly woman in torn robes, her arms cradling an invisible child. Her eyes were sunken, her mouth open in a silent scream.
"She was buried here," Calanthe whispered. "Not beneath the silo. Inside it."
Cain stepped forward and knelt. Beneath a loose plank in the stonework, he found bones.
Infant bones.
And beside them, a pendant marked with the crest of a minor noble house.
> [Quest Progress: Ghost in the Grain – Truth Revealed]
"Help her pass," Calanthe said softly.
Cain performed the rite himself, drawing a circle of salt and lavender oil. Calanthe intoned a mourning chant, weaving elder speech with calming tones.
The ghost cried once.
And vanished.
> [Quest Complete: Ghost in the Grain] Reward: 40 Crowns | Farmer's Amulet | + Reputation (Dunnhar)
That night, as the three rode back to the keep, the stars blinked above them like ancient watchers. Cain couldn't help but feel a soft warmth beneath his armor—the kind that came with closure, even the quiet kind.
"Well," Callum yawned, "if one more person offers me stew or a piglet as thanks, I might start a farm."
Calanthe chuckled. "You? Covered in mud, talking to crops?"
"I'd be a charming farmer."
Cain smiled faintly. But his mind was elsewhere. They had done good here—cleared the region, won favor, earned gold. But it wasn't just about contracts anymore.
It was time to build something more.
The next day, Cain pulled out the sealed envelope Meressa had given him before their departure.
Her personal sigil, pressed in wax. Letters of contact.
One was addressed to a woman named Ysolde Maran, an influential trade broker in Temeria. Another to Lieutenant Barsek, a veteran soldier stationed near the Temerian capital with ties to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
"We start with Ysolde," Cain told the twins at breakfast. "Trade routes give information. Coin. And movement."
Calanthe set down her cup. "I'll go with you. Callum?"
"I'll help the keep workers today," he replied. "Construction teams are short-handed. Besides, I know when I'm not needed."
He winked at Cain. "You two try not to destabilize the region."
Cain snorted. "No promises."
City of Brocheur, Central Temeria – Evening
Brocheur was a crossroads town on the river's edge, a lively place where barges offloaded crates of grain, wool, and steel. Cain and Calanthe entered the square just as market day closed, lanterns flickering to life along the merchant walk.
Ysolde's estate was nestled above the docks, her name guarded by two crossbow-wielding guards and a well-dressed steward.
"State your names."
Cain presented the letter. The steward read it, blinked, and immediately ushered them inside.
The interior was warm, polished stone, filled with imported luxuries: glass sculptures, silk curtains, and the aroma of spiced wine.
Ysolde Maran greeted them in a blue and gold gown, her hair coiled with jeweled pins. She offered her hand to Cain first.
"Meressa doesn't write letters often. That means you're important."
Cain nodded. "We're looking for allies. Reliable ones."
"Allies or opportunity?"
"Both," Calanthe said with a smile. "But we pay well."
Ysolde considered. "There are caravans needing escorts. Discretion required. Messages that can't go through the Brotherhood. Information that needs strong hands."
Cain tilted his head. "What do you need from us?"
She met his gaze. "Loyalty. And results."
He extended his hand. "Then we have a deal."
> [System Update: Faction Contact - Temerian Trade Syndicate: Ysolde Maran]
New Perk: Region Intel Boost
Discounts on Temerian Goods (+10%)
Access to Syndicate Requests
The meeting lasted well into the evening. When Cain and Calanthe returned to the inn, the mood was lighter.
"That went better than expected," Calanthe said, slipping off her gloves. "She liked you."
"She liked the letter."
"No, she liked you."
Cain raised a brow. "Jealous?"
Calanthe rolled her eyes. "Please. If I wanted you, I'd have tied you up by now."
Cain blinked. "...Good to know."
Only Calanthe laughed.
Back at the keep, Callum met them at the gate covered in dirt and sweat, a wide grin on his face.
"Look who returns. How was the trade princess?"
"Useful," Cain said. "And very well connected."
Callum slung an arm over Cain's shoulder. "Good. Because I heard rumors about a sorcerer out east messing with ley lines. Might be our next stop."
Cain nodded, already making a mental map.