“He has to be here somewhere, right Morri?” Cirice asked worriedly, casting her gaze back at Morrigan. But the tiefling was no longer right behind her, already headed towards the glowing gem ahead.

“Morri we can wait for that!” She calls to them.“We know where it is so we can come back and get it once we find Cantio.”
She watches him with exasperation, maybe the other mage was just really excited about the gem or maybe they saw something she didn't. Her worry over what may have happened to Cantio is much higher though, Astrid will absolutely kill her if she gets her dad killed.

Morrigan was already almost up the sprawling vines when they heard Cirice Lunestre calling out to them, voice heavy with worry. But Cantio Von Lumen was the least of their concerns right now. He was safe in the bottom of the ravine, and Morrigan was so close to the gemstone that they could reach up and brush against the side of it…

Just a little more-

And then they managed to wrap their hand around the gemstone, and the ruins lit up in a burst of light and pure, concentrated power the likes of which Morrigan had never felt before. The burst nearly threw them off their feet, but they managed to hold onto the vines long enough that they could slide back down to the ground, where Cirice Lunestre was looking at them with exasperation and disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe what they were doing.

With the gem in their hands, Morrigan felt on top of the world, overconfident. Their lips split into a smarmy grin as they dropped the showman’s facade, only for a moment. “Sorry, Cirice Lunestre. I need this gem to get into the Mage’s Guild, and I can’t really risk getting snubbed.” They almost sounded truly apologetic, which only served to be even more infuriating. “You may not believe me, but I was telling the truth when I said you’re a young spark. You’re powerful. Plenty of opportunities to find other artifacts, I figure. Ta!”

Before Cirice had the chance to do anything against them, Morrigan had already reached into their bag and pulled out a small, rounded flask that they juggled for a moment before smashing it on the ground.^[1]

The air between the two immediately filled with dark lavender smoke infused with glitter, so thick that Cirice could not make out Morrigan’s escape. By the time the smoke cleared, the tiefling would already be long gone, back at their own Wagon of Wonders.

The gem tucked carefully in their canvas bag, Morrigan shook the sleeping kobold awake. Bubbles yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he rolled around in his little hoard, blinking up at Morrigan with wide, trusting eyes.

“Master Moonweaver?”

Morrigan’s eyes sparkled as they pulled out a small vial, a tonic they kept only for emergencies. It was one they swore they’d only use when they were in a pinch, but they needed to make a quick escape right now. The Wagon simply wouldn’t cut it. “Bubbles, it looks like you’re gonna grow into a big dragon sooner than expected.” Their eyes sparkled with excitement.

The last thing Cirice Lunestre would see as she made her way back to the cave’s entrance was a large, red dragon taking off into the sky, Morrigan cackling all the way.

---

1. Smoke Flask