Primrose walked carefully through the streets of Stillsnow, admiring the scenery all the while. She hadn't been given much time to relish in the changes she had brought about by killing Rufus during their previous mission, but now, she had every chance to enjoy how far Stillsnow had come. The streets were far livelier and brighter than they ever had been before, and more people were out and walking around too. Children were running and playing gladly, their laughter ringing out in the snowy skies. 

Primrose couldn't help smiling at the sight of it all. She had never imagined Stillsnow to be capable of such lighthearted joy. When she arrived there to kill Rufus, Stillsnow had felt oppressive and heavy. People shuffled through the shadows because that was the best way to survive without being swept up in the tide of evil Rufus seemed to take with him everywhere he went. With Rufus gone, every aspect of public life had improved drastically. If Primrose had to guess, she would have said it had something to do with Therion's work in the mansion. He had tried hard to keep his actions a secret, but Primrose could figure it out easily enough. Therion had grabbed money for the rest of the group, and it was a natural conclusion to assume he had done the same for the rest of the town. She didn't know why specifically Therion had gone so far, but she figured that was a question for another time. She would have a chance to talk to Therion while on the road, but first, there was someone else she needed to speak with before she left town.

Primrose knocked deliberately on the door of the house that had previously been used as the hub for all of Stillsnow's brothel girls. She wasn't entirely sure if Arianna would still be there now that she had been granted her freedom, but Primrose figured she would at least try to pay her old friend a visit while she was in town. Being back in Stillsnow was reminding her more and more of her mission and how long she had been holding it off. Primrose hadn't told any of her friends about her next destination being Noblecourt since she hadn't been ready to go back there when Therion had to pass through town previously, instead choosing to sit with the truth of her actions ever since leaving Stillsnow.

Primrose wouldn't go so far as to say she was ready to go to Noblecourt yet, but she was getting closer. Her thoughts on revenge were just as shaky as they had been when she first struck Rufus down whether she wanted to admit it or not. Killing Helgenish had felt good, far better than it had any right to, but revenge didn't strike Primrose as quite so perfect a purpose. It had been the only thing for her to live for ever since her father was killed... But was it really what she wanted? 

All thoughts of vengeance melted away from Primrose's mind as soon as the door opened. When she looked up, she was met with none other than Arianna herself. The other woman gasped in shock at the sight of Primrose before her face broke out in a smile. "Lady Primrose! I didn't realize you were back in town!" Arianna exclaimed. She stepped aside and gestured for Primrose to enter the building behind her, and the dancer gladly did so. "What are you doing here? I thought you were traveling across Orsterra."

"My traveling party just so happened to pass through Stillsnow again," Primrose replied. "I figured I would come by to see how you were doing. A lot has changed since I was last in town. Everyone seems so much livelier than when I was last here." Primrose proved her point by looking at Arianna from head to toe. She was no longer wearing the clothing of a brothel girl, instead having changed into a warmer jacket and skirt to fit the cold climate of the town. Her outfit was far less elaborate now, but that was exactly what she wanted. Arianna could dress how she wanted, and this was her decision.

"Life has been so much brighter since Rufus died," Arianna agreed. She gestured to the rest of the building, and Primrose glanced around at Arianna's suggestion. Most of the beds had been cleared out, leaving extra space for the few women who were still living in the building. There were decorations lining the walls, and more importantly, there were signs of the building having been lived in. Like the rest of Stillsnow, it felt alive, and the world was that much brighter as a result. "I suppose we have you and the rest of your group to thank for that."

"I'm glad to know I was able to help," Primrose smiled as she sat down next to Arianna on her bed. Her mind cast itself back in the direction of revenge, and she remembered admittedly belatedly that she had killed Rufus for the sake of fulfilling her own ends. Seeing the world change for the better as a result of his death was worth it to her though. Even if Primrose wasn't sure how she felt about revenge, she knew that helping others was a worthy purpose. That was what had made killing Helgenish so sweet to her, after all, even if she was a bit late in helping the one who needed it most.

Before Primrose had the chance to end up swallowed by her regrets regarding Yusufa, Arianna let out a small laugh. "I never realized how sweet it was to be free until I was given the chance to enjoy it in full," Arianna confessed. "I was afraid that my life would crumble after Rufus was killed since I had no other place to go and no means to leave the town, but... I didn't need to worry about it as much as I thought."

"I noticed the way the entire atmosphere in Stillsnow changed for the better," Primrose remarked. "There are more people out in the street, and the children are gladly playing. I was greeted by a few of them when I got here, as a matter of fact. I never thought I would see so many people happy in Stillsnow."

"Me neither," Arianna admitted. "But I'm glad to see the change... Though it never would have been possible without that friend of yours. I don't think I ever caught his name, but... A few people said they caught a glimpse of a white-haired man sneaking into the mansion after Rufus' death. Given the leaves that appeared in our bunks after that... It feels easy to conclude that he spread the money out throughout the townspeople."

"He got a few leaves for us before we left town too. It funded our inn stays for weeks afterward," Primrose nodded. "I had a feeling he had done something else with the rest of the money given how long he stayed out that day... It doesn't surprise me to hear he spread the leaves out to make sure everyone was able to get back on their feet."

"Stillsnow was suffocating before you showed up," Arianna said. "How could anyone want to live in a place that treated its people so poorly? We were only here because we had no other choice... But after Rufus died, me and the rest of his... Employees were able to step out of the shadows. Thanks to your friend, we could put our lives back together too. I was afraid I would be poor and doomed to suffer on my own forever without any leaves to my name, but your friend changed all of that. I hope I can thank him myself for what he did. He changed all of our lives for the better."

"I'll have to tell him that," Primrose smiled gently. "I don't know if he'd actually accept the compliment knowing him, but... I'd be happy to pass along the message." 

Arianna nodded at that, though her expression began to sober. "I can't say I understand why he did all of that though... He didn't know any of us. Nobody in the town even knows his name, and he left so much here for those of us who were working under Rufus before," she murmured. "I don't understand any of it."

"I was thinking the same thing," Primrose confessed. "I figured he had done something with the money Rufus left behind, and you've just confirmed it for me... But I don't know why. Therion does a lot of things I can't say I understand, but this has got to be the most mystifying of all. He's a better person than he lets on, and he doesn't want to hurt anyone if he can avoid it, but... It's still strange for him."

"Whatever his reasoning was, I hope he knows just how much we appreciate it," Arianna smiled gently. "Stillsnow will never be the same again, and I think that's for the best. It's amazing just how quickly a city like this can change as long as the people are given a chance."

"I hope you haven't run into too many issues since Rufus' ring was shut down," Primrose hummed. "I know Stillsnow has been changing a lot since he was killed, and I don't want any of that to end up being reversed because of his... Clients coming in here to tear all of that work apart."

"A few people have come through here looking for the services he once provided, but they usually leave rather quickly when they realize he's gone," Arianna explained. "There's not much of a purpose in them staying here as long as they can't get anything from him. Besides, it's not like anyone wants them here to begin with. Stillsnow is just barely starting to recover from the scars Rufus left behind. It was the worst-kept secret in town, and everyone knew about it at the height of his work. We all want to move on from it and find our own peace without him."

"Nobody wanted to speak out as long as he had guards at his disposal to silence anyone who dared to stand against him," Primrose concluded. "So now that the truth is out in the open with no one there to keep people's objections down..."

"We can't go back to the way things were," Arianna finished for her. "So many people turned a blind eye to what was happening, but everything has changed since Rufus died. I finally feel like I might have a future. I don't know if I'll ever leave Stillsnow or what I'll do if I do leave, but... I can think about that after all this time. It's not just thoughtless optimism anymore. It's actually possible." 

"I'm so proud of you, Arianna," Primrose smiled as she reached out and took her friend's hands in her own. "I don't think I could possibly say it enough. I'm glad to see you finally finding a place in the world. It may have taken a long time, but..."

"Better late than never," Arianna agreed with a nod. "How about you, Lady Primrose? What have you and the rest of your friends been up to? I know you've been traveling a lot, but you haven't told me anything about what specifically you've done."

Primrose hesitated at that and shrugged. "I've been avoiding Noblecourt, if that's what you're asking," she admitted. "I haven't been ready to go back there yet. I don't know if I ever will be. That's where the next man of the crow waits for me, and I want to kill him... But I'm not sure if that's really what I want anymore. I've been happier than I have been in years traveling with the rest of this group, and I... I don't know what to do without that."

"I understand," Arianna said. "Whatever you choose to do... I have no doubt you'll make the right choice. You did a lot for the people of Stillsnow when you were last here, and that's something you should take pride in. I know you're a good person, Lady Primrose. Whatever you decide to do from here... It'll be the best thing for you. I can feel it."

Primrose couldn't help her smile at that, and she allowed her eyes to slip closed gently. "Thank you, Arianna... That means a lot to me," she murmured. She wasn't entirely sure about what she was going to do when she inevitably returned to Noblecourt, but she would find the truth soon enough. Until then, she had a lot to think about in the moment, and she was happy to enjoy it while she could. "For now, do you want to hear everything we've done since we left Stillsnow? A lot has happened, to put it simply."

"I'd love to," Arianna nodded with a smile. "I'm all ears, Lady Primrose."

"Well, we went to Quarrycrest recently, for example," Primrose began. "And you won't believe who I just so happened to see there..."

~~~~~

Ophilia couldn't help but smile as she, Tressa, Cyrus, and Olberic walked through the streets of Stillsnow. They were taking their day in town to stock up on any supplies they needed more of, and along the way, they were enjoying the atmosphere of the changed city around them. It was amazing just how great the difference was between the last time they had been in Stillsnow and the town they were in now. The difference was like night and day, though even that felt like a massive understatement.

Children were playing in the streets freely with smiles on their faces. None of them had been able to spend much time outside before, no doubt because their parents were afraid of what would happen if they were noticed by any who worked for Rufus. Stillsnow had been incredibly dangerous when Rufus was in charge, but now that he was gone, everyone was finally free to come out of their shells. The people who had been forced into Rufus' trafficking ring had been freed, and they were making the most of their lives now that they could control their futures. Every part of the city felt brighter, and Ophilia couldn't hold back her grin no matter how hard she may have tried. Granted, she wasn't trying that hard since she loved the joyful atmosphere just as much as everyone else, but it still spoke to how lovely Stillsnow had become over the last few months.

The rest of the travelers were in high spirits too, and Tressa had an extra skip in her step when she went through their list of supplies and told the others what they needed to buy. Cyrus was more than happy to help her, and the two chatted excitedly as they moved between shops. Even the stores seemed brighter than before, and the wares were far better than they had been previously. Stillsnow had just needed a push in the right direction for everyone to get back on their feet, and now, it was thriving not only as a town, but as a community.

Tressa counted out a handful of leaves in her hand that she had managed to save from a perfect deal with a shopkeeper. Afterward, she smiled and tucked the money away in a pocket of her bag. "It's amazing just how much better everything feels now," she remarked. "I didn't know what to expect when we came back here, but I see now that I shouldn't have worried about it at all. The entire city feels like it's alive in ways I never would have thought possible when we were last here."

"I agree," Ophilia smiled. "It amazes me... We did this. When we went to fight Rufus, we brought peace to Stillsnow. Everyone is so much happier now, and it never would have been possible if we hadn't followed Primrose here."

"It certainly makes one wonder just how much the other towns we've visited have changed as well," Cyrus said. "It's been quite a while since we were last in Noblecourt and Goldshore for example. I wonder if taking the dragonstone from Noblecourt or driving Vanessa out of Goldshore changed those towns in similar ways."

"We'll just have to see," Tressa declared. "I know we're going to have to go to Goldshore soon since that's where the last leg of the Kindling takes place. It's just a matter of figuring out when the best time for us to go there is."

"We never figured out which town we were planning on going to next," Olberic pointed out. "Perhaps now would be a nice time for us to work out where our next few steps are going to take us."

"We could investigate one of the other potential shrine locations," Cyrus suggested. "As of now, there are four other locations we need to check now that we have ruled out the spot in Duskbarrow. One of them is all the way out in the ruins of Hornburg though... So we obviously wouldn't want to go that far."

"Personally, I think we should try to take it easy for a while," Tressa said as she rubbed at her shoulder with one hand. "That fight against the dragon was pretty intense, and I need some time to catch my breath before we go into another god fight. Dreisang gave us a thrashing like no other, and I'd rather not repeat that with another god who wants to test our worthiness. They're holding back less and less, and Dreisang was hard enough to fight as it is."

"I must agree," Ophilia nodded. "We've had a lot of tense fights recently, and I could use some time to rest... We could go to Goldshore to complete the last leg of the Kindling. It's been a while since we were last there, and I bet Alfyn would like to see Flynn and Ellen again."

"I had something else in mind," Cyrus told her. "Now that we have the herb of grace, I believe we should return to Stonegard. For all we know, the herb of grace may be able to reverse Z'aanta's petrification. Susanna seems to believe he will only return to normal after we defeat Redeye, but if we tested the herb of grace while there..."

"There's a chance we would gain a powerful ally in the battle against Redeye," Olberic concluded. "I have no doubts that H'aanit would like to do that as well. I know she's feeling better now that we have the herb of grace, but if we could free her master from his stony state now..."

"On top of that, we need to check out Stonegard for any signs of human experimentation," Tressa reminded the group. "I know none of us like thinking about what we saw in Quarrycrest, but it seems like Stonegard is the next destination of our enemy from the sewers. It wouldn't hurt to investigate there."

"As it stands, we are waiting on the black market auction to begin for Therion and I to continue our journeys. We need Redeye to come out of hiding for H'aanit, and we're waiting on the Merchants' Fair for Tressa," Olberic said. "Stonegard and Goldshore appear to be our two best options for a next destination..."

"But we should go to Stonegard," Ophilia told him firmly. "The human experimentation we saw in Quarrycrest was awful, and I can't leave the people there alone in good conscience. It would be best if we went to Stonegard and took care of the ones responsible for the experiments. We're in no rush to go to Goldshore."

"I fear the people of Stonegard may be in danger if we leave the mastermind alone for too long," Cyrus nodded. "We can investigate the human experimentation there while also seeing if we can use the herb of grace to free Z'aanta. It would allow us to take care of two asks at once."

"Then that settles it," Ophilia concluded. "After this, we can go back to Stonegard to see what we can find there. After that, we can consider investigating another shrine location. We should be able to take care of at least a few more before we have to go to Wellspring."

"Perfect," Tressa grinned. "Along the way, we can keep our ears open for any clues about the crow men too. I know we haven't heard much about them since we were last in Stillsnow, and Primrose still needs to take care of the other two."

"I suspect Primrose already knows where the next one can be found," Cyrus confessed. "She likely heard it from Rufus when we fought against him. She has made no efforts to try and investigate the rumors about the other crow men since Rufus was killed, and she would only take a step back like that if she already knew where they could be found. If I had to wager a guess, I would say the next crow is waiting for us in Noblecourt."

"That would also explain just why she was hiding in her room so much when we were in Noblecourt," Ophilia realized. "She didn't want to walk around her old hometown and risk being recognized, but beyond that, she was afraid of being spotted by one of the crows."

"Perhaps we should ask if she wishes to go to Noblecourt next," Olberic suggested. "I know we have already set our sights on Stonegard after this, but it would not hurt for us to see if she would be interested in returning to Noblecourt after we finish our business in Stonegard."

"She hasn't said anything about it yet though," Tressa pointed out. "I bet she's going to tell us where the next crow is when she's ready. If she's not ready, then I don't want to push her. I know being here in Stillsnow was hard enough for her before, so I don't want to push it."

"Then that settles it," Ophilia finished. "Next, we go to Stonegard to test the herb of grace and hopefully find the truth behind the human experimentation. After that, we can consider investigating another shrine location to fill the time until we go to Wellspring and Grandport. We can decide between Noblecourt and Goldshore when the time comes."

"Perfect," Tressa beamed. "But for now, we have to take care of our supplies. I think we could pick up a few other grapes and plums while we're in town, and since everyone is in such a good mood, I think we can snag a few extra discounts along the way." Her eyes gleamed at the idea of a potential bargain, and she was practically begging for the others to follow her so she could show off her skills.

Nobody objected to her idea, and beyond that, no one wanted to rain on her parade at the sight of her pure excitement. Just like that, their next step was decided, and they followed Tressa into another shop. When morning came, they would go to Stonegard, but until then, they would enjoy their time in the changed Stillsnow. Ophilia couldn't help but smile all the while. This was what life was meant to be, and she wouldn't have given it up for the world.

~~~~~

H'aanit walked into the inn and closed the door behind herself. She let out a sigh once she was welcomed into the warmth of the building, glad to be out of the cold for a short while. Linde loved playing out in the snow, and H'aanit was happy to indulge her for a while, but there came a point where even the huntress couldn't stay outside even with her thick furs. Linde had finally run out of energy, and H'aanit took that as her cue to retreat into the inn. 

When she stepped inside, she found the common room occupied. Alfyn was sitting in front of the fireplace as he looked over the contents of the vials Susanna had given the group earlier in the day. He was so caught up in his work that he didn't even notice H'aanit had entered the room. "Wow... Shucks," Alfyn murmured.

"What is it, Alfyn?" H'aanit asked. As was to be expected, Alfyn jumped in shock at her words, and H'aanit winced slightly. "Mine apologies. I did not intenden to frighten thou."

"It's okay," Alfyn assured her once he managed to get a grip on his racing heart once again. He moved over on the common area's couch to offer H'aanit the space she needed to sit, and she gladly took him up on that offer. Linde settled down on the floor at her feet, falling asleep in a matter of seconds after having run out of all of her kitten-like energy out in the snow. 

Alfyn put the vials from Susanna back in their box, but he didn't close the lid. He turned to H'aanit with a gleam in his eye as he continued speaking. "And I'm not doin' much of anythin'. Just admirin' the compoundin' in this potion. Your grandmother knows how to brew 'em, that's for sure. This is amazing."

H'aanit glanced down to the elixir made from the herb of grace, a light frown spreading across her lips. The potion looked much the same as every other blend Alfyn had concocted in the past, and H'aanit knew that if she was asked, she wouldn't have been able to tell the different bottles apart. "How dost thou judgen a medicine to be good or bad?" she asked.

"Oh, that's easy," Alfyn replied immediately. "It's right here." He poked one finger into the center of H'aanit's chest where her collarbones met. He wore a bright sideways smile, proof of his charm regardless of the situation.

H'aanit, however, remained confused. She looked down at his finger for a few seconds before shifting her attention up to Alfyn's face again. "Why art thou poking me in the chest?"

"Because I'm making a point. The answer's in here. Get it?" Alfyn asked. H'aanit once again responded with blinking, and he poked her chest a few more times for emphasis. "A good medicine has heart and soul... the heart and soul of the one that made it--and that old lady has oodles of both."

H'aanit nodded slowly. "I see," she murmured. She didn't understand what he was saying in full, but she could at least glean the general idea, and she supposed that was what mattered most. "Thou couldst have just said that without resorting to the poking."

Alfyn's smile went sheepish at that. "You've got me there. Sorry about that." He pulled his hand away and went back to looking down at the concoctions resting in the box on his lap. "I guess I get a bit ahead of myself when I see a good tincture. I can't seem to help it. I haven't been able to find a blend of this quality since we left Goldshore, and that..." His voice trailed off, and H'aanit knew where his mind was going. The person who had blended the concoctions back in Goldshore had been, at best, an awful person none of them wanted to ever have to think about again. Beyond that, Vanessa hadn't actually had passion for her craft nor had she brewed everything properly. She was alright with hurting people, and a medicine that harmed others could hardly be considered a fine product.

"I must admitten that I had no idea I even had a grandmother in the first place," H'aanit confessed, glad to change the subject when she noticed Alfyn's demeanor slipping. "Much less that she was has such skilled hands."

"It's amazin'," Alfyn beamed, getting right back on topic when he was pointed in the right direction. "I know we're probably going to be leavin' town tomorrow morning, but I'd love to talk shop with her one day. I bet she'd have a lot of interestin' tidbits to share with me, and I'm always up for honin' my craft."

"I'm sure she would be honored to hear that," H'aanit smiled. Her gaze shifted down to the vials of the herb of grace mix, and her expression slipped into a frown. She had been working as a hunter for years, but she had never learned much of medicine or healing along the way. She had rarely needed it, and even when she had, there had been others in S'warkii who were far more skilled than she could ever imagine. There had never been much of a reason for her to learn how to heal others on her own...

But the battles the travelers were fighting were getting increasingly more dangerous. It wouldn't hurt at all for H'aanit to try and learn more about how to handle herself in an environment where medical attention was necessary. In fact, she would argue that it would benefit her greatly. She needed to know how to apply medicine like the herb of grace for the battle against Redeye, and the perfect person to teach her how to do that was none other than Alfyn himself.

"If thou dost not mind..." H'aanit began, and Alfyn's expression quirked up in curiosity. "Wouldst thou be willing to teachen me how to create medicinal blends?" 

H'aanit was halfway ready to elaborate more if Alfyn needed a bit of extra convincing, but he didn't need to hear that at all. Instead, his eyes lit up at the first mention of H'aanit wanting to learn more of his craft, and he nodded gladly. "I'd be happy to teach you!" he cried out. "I've never had the chance to show others how I do my work in detail, and I think this could be a great chance for us both. I know you've never been the best with healin' magic, so it wouldn't hurt to have this as an extra skill in your back pocket."

H'aanit nodded her agreement, but Alfyn didn't give her a chance to reply. Instead, he set the small box of herb of grace concoctions off to the side and began to dig through his satchel. "I can show you the basics first, and we can go from there." H'aanit nodded once again, and Alfyn cleared his throat with a bright grin on his face. "You want to start with a medicinal base when you want to heal someone..."

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We're getting closer to wrapping up Stillsnow for the second time! Woohoo!

I really like how this chapter turned out honestly. Everything just feels so cozy and homey, and given how Stillsnow looked when the group was last in the area, that's a massive step up. On the note of how things were when the group was last here, Primrose visited Arianna. I had to throw in as much cohesion of the world as possible, and that means going to see Arianna again. They've both come a long way, and they've more than earned this peace... Even if Primrose doesn't know what she's going to do with it given her current issues with her revenge scheme.

Also, here's the announcement of what chapter is coming next! We're going to Stonegard for Cyrus three after this. In fact, I believe we'll reach Stonegard not this chapter, but the chapter after that. The next shrine fight will happen after Stonegard. For the chapter threes, the shrine fights happen after the first, third, fifth, and seventh chapter threes so they're decently spread out for pacing purposes. 

Last but not least, we have the H'aanit and Alfyn travel banter. H'aanit wanting to learn how to heal others from Alfyn was something I came up with while working on this scene, and I really like it. It's a small detail, but I think it goes a long way to establish a connection between the two of them. Plus, it gives me room to do something to lead into Alfyn's chapter three later down the line. I have a plan for this, I swear.

Next week, we're going to see our last chapter in Stillsnow before wrapping up H'aanit's chapter three entirely and moving right along. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital