"Olivia, careful," Lucius warned, his voice low and firm as his hand moved instinctively to the hilt of his short sword. The three of them stood motionless before the strange, massive butterfly, its wings slowly undulating in the salty air.
"The patterns on its wings…" Flavian murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Don't they look like the rune arrays Warlocks use in spellcraft? The kind used for defensive formations around the Senate and Palace back in Yome?"
Olivia tilted her head, leaning slightly closer. "Now that you mention it… yeah. The design feels familiar. And the energy it hums the same way. Almost like it's alive… but structured."
"And it's not afraid of us," Lucius added, eyes locked on the butterfly. "We're this close, and it hasn't moved or reacted. That's… not normal."
Driven by curiosity, Olivia bent lower to get a better view. Her hand slowly reached toward the butterfly.
"Olivia, stop!" Flavian snapped, grabbing her arm. "Don't touch it! You don't know if it's venomous or cursed."
"You're right sorry," she said quickly, retracting her hand with a sheepish grin.
Lucius shook his head, sighing. "I swear, sometimes I don't know what's going on in that head of yours. You'll hand out your last loaf to strangers, but you'll also poke at arcane butterflies like it's a game."
Then, without warning, the butterfly lifted into the air. Its wings beat once… twice… each flap slow and deliberate. As it rose, an unnatural chill swept across the pier. The wind cut through their cloaks with eerie sharpness, sending shivers down their spines.
"That… that's not just sea breeze," Flavian muttered, frowning.
"Now that I think about it," he added cautiously, "doesn't it look a bit like those enchanted butterflies used in the MoonGrace brothels? You know, for that dreamlike ambience?"
Lucius nodded slowly. "The shape, maybe. But this thing? It doesn't look organic at all. It feels like something a Warlock conjured."
"Exactly," Flavian said. "It's not natural."
Without turning his back on the creature, Lucius took Olivia by the arm. "Let's move. We've seen enough."
He and Flavian quickly stepped off the pier and back onto solid ground, guiding Olivia with them. The butterfly remained where it was, hovering silently… watching.
As they reached the edge of the harbor, the butterfly slowly turned and drifted upward into the sky, gliding away in a different direction.
Olivia's eyes tracked it with longing curiosity. "I want to follow it," she said, taking a step forward.
Lucius placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, no. We have things to do, and I'm not getting sidetracked chasing some mystical insect possibly crafted by a Warlock. Especially not here."
"He's right," Flavian added. "The Yoman Empire isn't exactly on good terms with Lumenoth. If that thing belongs to someone from there, we're better off avoiding it entirely."
He turned, already walking away. "Let's find lodging if there's anything left standing. I don't care how hard the mattress is. It's still better than the ground."
"Alright, I'm coming," Olivia said reluctantly, casting one last glance toward the butterfly as it hovered distantly for a moment longer… then vanished into the sky.
Some time later, the trio stood in front of a weathered building with a creaking wooden sign swinging overhead. It read: The Tipsy Toad.
"You think they've got any rooms?" Olivia asked.
"Only one way to find out," Lucius said, stepping forward and opening the door.
Inside, they were greeted by a stout woman with sharp eyes and thick brown hair tied behind her head. She turned around and looked beyond the counter at the trio and said "Welcome to The Tipsy Toad! What can I getcha this evening?"
Lucius stepped up to the counter and placed thirteen golden coins down. "We'll take three rooms for a few nights. Hot food, and access to the baths too, if that's possible."
The woman raised an eyebrow as she glanced at the coins. Then her gaze lifted to inspect them, her sharp eyes narrowing with curiosity. "You're not from around here, are ya? What brings strangers into a town like this? Most people steer clear these days."
"We're just passing through," Flavian replied smoothly. "Been traveling a long time. Just needed a place to rest."
The woman paused, then gave a nod. "Alright. But since you're the quiet sort, I'll give you some free advice. If your travels take you anywhere near the Vesto region… avoid the town of Terraco. And if you find yourselves in the forest after sundown, and you come across graves you don't remember seeing before, don't acknowledge them. Don't speak to them. Just keep walking."
She placed three iron keys on the counter.
"Name's Madra. I run the inn. Food'll be ready in an hour. I'll have the water warmed in twenty minutes. Go get cleaned up and come down when you're ready."
"Thanks for the warning," Lucius said, picking up one of the keys.
The other two followed suit, and together, the trio climbed the stairs.