The night air was crisp as Ash and Maya slipped out of the inn, the weight of the enchanted necklace now a muted threat in Maya's pouch. The disruptor had done its job, stifling the gem's hum, and for the first time in hours, Ash felt a flicker of relief.
Maya, too, seemed lighter, her shoulders less tense as they melted into the shadows of Longhua Castle's alleys, heading for a safehouse on the city's edge.
As they moved, Maya's gaze drifted, her mind clearly elsewhere. "Third quest down," she said, her voice low but edged with pride. "That necklace was no joke. You know what this means, right?"
Ash glanced at her, keeping his pace. "You're gonna gloat about it?"
She smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Damn right. But also—fourth quest unlocked. My stats are screaming for it."
She tapped an imaginary interface in the air, a thief's habit when checking her progression. "Let's just say this one's gonna be a splash."
