Shards of Sin (solo)

[Kalestiya]

Upon returning to the inn, Seran guided Kalestiya to her room and helped her lie down. Her face had regained some color, but she still appeared uneasy. “Can I get you anything?” he asked, scanning the room. “Something to eat or drink?”

Kalestiya shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips as she sank into the pillow. Seran’s gaze lingered on her, his brow furrowed with concern. “You’d tell me if something was seriously wrong, wouldn’t you?”

A tired smile touched Kalestiya’s lips as she brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Of course,” she replied. “But this is nothing to worry about. Just a little fatigue, that’s all.”

Though doubts lingered in his mind, Seran nodded. “Alright, I’ll leave you be. But promise you’ll call for me if you need anything.”
With a weary sigh, Kalestiya closed her eyes. “I promise.”

Seran hesitated, torn between his concern and the need to let her rest. Finally, he stepped out of the room, closing the door gently behind him. Leaning against the door, he pondered what he could do, before making his way down the stairs. The concerned swordsman left the inn and hurried toward the apothecary shop. Upon arrival, he scanned the shelves filled with various bottles and jars, each containing different ingredients. He quickly searched for anything that might help Kalestiya, but the unfamiliar labels left him at a loss.

“Can I help you?” the clerk asked, emerging from the back room. Seran turned to her. “Do you have any healing potions?”

The clerk’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Are you sick? Do you have any symptoms?”

“No, it’s not for me,” Seran replied. “It’s for someone else.”

The clerk’s brow furrowed, confusion evident in her eyes. “I see,” she said slowly. “And what is the nature of their illness?”

Seran hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “She um- She’s in a lot of pain, and she’s been having trouble sleeping and eating lately. She’s also having frequent night terrors.”

The clerk listened carefully. “That’s quite a list of symptoms,” she remarked, turning to browse the shelves. “How long has she been feeling this way?”

Seran sighed. “For a while. She hasn’t told me the exact time frame, but I believe it’s only getting worse.”

The clerk hummed thoughtfully as she moved to another shelf. “Any changes in her behavior?”

Seran rubbed his forehead. “Well, she seems a bit distant at times. And she’s been irritable lately. It’s like she’s hiding something, but I don’t know what it is.”

The clerk frowned as she continued scanning the shelves. “I see. Is there anything else you can tell me about her condition?”

Seran shook his head. “I wish I knew more. But she refuses to talk about it.”

The clerk nodded. “Perhaps this may help,” she said, pulling down a small vial filled with a reddish-pink liquid. “This is a special blend of herbs designed to soothe the mind and body. It should help with the pain, and perhaps even the nightmares.”

“That sounds perfect,” Seran replied, taking the vial from her. “How much?”

The clerk smiled. “Ten gold pieces.”

Seran reached into his coin purse and handed over the payment. “Thank you,” he said, grateful for her assistance. “I hope it helps.”

The clerk quickly gripped Seran’s hand firmly as he took the vial. “If this potion does not remedy her condition, I would like to see her,” she said, her voice carrying an unsettling edge, “I will gladly give her a full examination.”

“I- I'll make sure she knows," Seran stammered, feeling the grip on his hand slowly loosen.

As Seran left the shop, the clerk’s eyes followed him, a look of unsettling interest etched on her face. “Interesting,” she murmured to herself, her voice barely a whisper. “Very interesting indeed…”

Back at the inn, Kalestiya lay curled up in her bed. She began to shiver. Despite the thick blankets piled on top of her, she couldn’t seem to get warm. Her body trembled as she buried her face in the pillow, desperate to block out the intermittent jolts of pain. Each breath became more a struggle. She whimpered softly as another painful sting stabbed through her abdomen.