Kaelara listened to Sonia's words with a calm yet calculating expression. The hunter's blunt assessment mirrored many of Kaelara's own unspoken thoughts. The possibilities Sonia laid out were grim but realistic. Kaelara appreciated the honesty—it was better to face the brutal truth than to walk into danger blind.
She let out a dry, humorless chuckle at Sonia's spooky gesture. "You're not wrong," she admitted, her voice low. "We can't afford to be naïve about this. Ruins aren't exactly known for welcoming visitors with open arms. And if we're up against something that took out trained soldiers, then we'd better be prepared for the worst."
Kaelara's grey eyes darkened at the mention of the Duke. "I've seen worse outcomes than bones left in the dirt," Kaelara muttered, her tone grim. "But you're right. The Duke's absence is strange. Either he's too grief-stricken to show his face or there's something else keeping him away. Either way, it doesn't sit right with me." Her tone carried a note of disdain—nobles and their games often left common folk to clean up the mess.
She leaned back in her chair, fingers tapping thoughtfully against the wooden surface of the bar. "As for the reward," she continued, her lips quirking in a wry smirk, "it's a gamble, no doubt. But I'm not here for gold alone. If there's a chance that lady's still alive, I'll take it—even if the odds are slim."
Despite her lone-wolf tendencies, Kaelara found herself appreciating Sonia's straightforward approach. Trust might not come easily, but at least Sonia seemed practical and grounded—a rare and valuable trait in an unpredictable mission.
"Looks like we're both stuck in this mess, huh?" Kaelara added, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Guess we'll just have to make the best of it."