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After leaving the Guild, Zarin wandered through the streets of Brellin, trying to find the home of the quest giver. He asked a few passersby about the house, mentioning the name of Lady Mariel. Some people pointed him in the right direction, but others seemed hesitant, their expressions suggesting unspoken concern.

“Just down that way, lad,” an older merchant had said, waving vaguely toward the outskirts of the town. “You’ll know it when you see it.”

As Zarin followed the directions, the houses became more spaced and grander, yet they seemed to need to be more inviting. When he finally reached Lady Mariel’s home, a wave of discomfort washed over him.

The house was far from being the largest on the street, and its state of disrepair made it stand out. The stone walls had weathered, and the windows were full of wild plant life. An iron gate stood, creaking gently in the wind with no guard and no sign of life.

That’s odd, Zarin thought, feeling uneasy as he stepped through the gate. Zarin noticed a figure sitting on a bench near the entrance as he approached the house. It was an older woman with a hunched, frail body dressed in a simple, worn-out dress. Her hair, filled with gray, suggested she had seen many years, but what caught Zarin’s attention were the dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t taken any sleep for a very long time.

‘That has to be Lady Mariel,’ Zarin thought, feeling a deep sense of empathy as he took in her appearance. Her pale skin looked like it hadn’t seen sunlight in a very long time, and her thin frame seemed too weak to support her.

Zarin walked toward her, trying to put on a friendly, approachable smile. “Excuse me, are you Lady Mariel?” he asked gently, stopping a few steps from the bench.

The woman’s head lifted slowly at the sound of his voice. She stared at Zarin for a moment as though trying to figure out why he was there. There was something more than just physical weakness in her gaze. Something was screaming to Zarin that something was wrong, but he couldn’t put it into words.

“I... I’m Zarin,” he said with his best reassuring smile. “I’ve come from the Lionhead’s Guild. I’m here to help with finding a cure for your condition.”

Still, a flicker of recognition crossed her tired eyes as she heard the word “cure.” She tried to say something, but in the end, she simply nodded.

This woman looked like she hadn’t slept properly in years, feeling the weight of the task ahead. She wasn’t just physically weak, which caused her to tear Zarin between the task’s ordeal and his determination to help.

“I—uh, I know it’s been a long time since anyone’s had any luck with this,” Zarin continued, unsure of what else to say. “But I’ll do my best to help.”

Lady Mariel’s lips quivered again, and this time, she spoke. Her voice was soft and barely above a whisper. “You’re young... too young... to waste your time on a lost cause.”

Zarin shook his head quickly. “It’s not a waste of time. I’m here now, and I’m going to try,” he declared with unwavering determination.

She smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Many have tried before you... and all have failed.”

The weight of her words settled over Zarin, but he forced himself to stay optimistic. “I know. But that doesn’t mean I’ll fail too. Maybe I’ll find something that others missed.”

Lady Mariel looked away, her gaze drifting toward the overgrown garden. “I hope... you’re right.”

Zarin stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do next. His heart ached for the woman before him, but he knew he was over his head. I need to figure out where to start... but how? He glanced back at the house, wondering if there was someone else he could speak to, someone who knew more about Lady Mariel’s condition.

“Is there anyone I could talk to?” Zarin asked. “Anyone who might know more about your illness? I need all the information I can get.”

After a long pause, Lady Mariel whispered, “My daughter... she’s inside. She knows.”

Zarin nodded and was relieved to get a lead. “Thank you. I’ll speak to her,”

With that, he gave Lady Mariel a reassuring smile, though inside, he was anything but confident.