A dialog with the Raven

Here we are again. Same inn, same room, same routine—different reflection.

Today was another big day. We got out of that nasty cave and found Sildar alive to boot!

Not before Roux got caught in a trap, though. He fell for the classic one: a net that sprang upward, lifting him ten to fifteen feet off the ground. It made me chuckle a little, but I might—or might not—have been the root cause of his predicament. Let's leave it at that. Luckily, cutting the rope meant he came down as swiftly as he went up. Even luckier for Roux, Valandra caught him in her arms as he fell. I guess we're fortunate he's not a troll or an ogre.

Not all was laughter, though.

I watched Roux come close to death. Don't get me wrong—I was used to seeing people die, and even some of my clan members didn't survive our harsh battles. But this one felt different. It felt... closer.

I struck one of the goblins attacking Roux, but I couldn't stop him. The other one—a larger, more commanding creature—rushed in and made sure to deliver the final blow. I answered by taking down the goblins in a flurry of strikes, making sure they stayed down.

Once more, Valandra saved the day. She patched Roux up as best she could, given the circumstances.

I saw a vision. Brief, but effective. Fleeting, yet impactful.

I found myself standing in Roux's place, saved from the brink of extinction. Maybe that's why this one felt so close.

This Valandra lady is precious. We must protect her at all costs.

Not even an hour into my reflective session, I was abruptly interrupted by the faded, somewhat crackling voice of a woman.

"You did well, my servant."

I sprang to my feet and looked around, but saw no one. Everything was peaceful. The windows and doors were closed, and I could hear the others snoring nearby.

"Another trick by Roux?" I wondered.

After all, he had asked me to swallow the image of some sort of butcher ghost, claiming it would grant me benefits in combat. I obliged, but I've yet to see any benefit.

"Do not fear, my child," the voice spoke again.

I searched the room once more, but again found no one.

"I'm not here in person, but I will always be with you in spirit," the voice whispered.

The words were spoken with a coldness that should have unsettled me, yet somehow they warmed my heart.

"Thank you for the memories today. They are precious."

And with that, the voice was gone.

I still don't know whether I was dreaming. Perhaps it was an illusion. Perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me.

Who is she? Where does she come from? How can she speak to me when I cannot even see her?

So many questions...

No time to dwell on them, though.

My right hand feels exceptionally cold, while my left feels unusually warm. It is an incredible sensation, though it unsettles me. They almost feel numb. The feeling isn't constant, either. It comes in pulses, some stronger than others.

I've been staring at my hands for nearly thirty minutes now.

When the others wake, I'll tell them. Maybe Valandra knows more. She seems knowledgeable.

We have ourselves a dwarf to find.

A mystery to solve.

Oh, and a ruffian to capture.

Survival is hard, and I learn every day.

I will not stop until survival becomes easy.