The Lost Treasure

Ravynne sat on a small stool as she wrapped bandages around an elderly man's arm. He suffered a decently sized gash after falling over and falling on a jagged rock outside his home. "You should probably have that rock removed so this doesn't happen again alright?" A tall, beautiful black haired woman with emerald green eyes told him as she gently patted his shoulder. Her name was Serin, she was only two years older than Ravynne and she was the doctor of Evania. Her medical office stood in the center of the village since Verlian believed that the doctor was the heart of the village, or so he said. Serin would tell you that it was only because he thought it should be easy to find for everyone.

The elderly man laughed and nodded in embarrassment and explained he would get his son to remove the rock and make sure there were no other sharp objects in the area. Serin saw him out as Ravynne began putting supplies away and cleaning up the area.

"You know, you've been getting pretty good at treating simple wounds, maybe this is your talent." Serin laughed. It had been a few days since Ravynne began helping out – so far she was only allowed to apply bandages and clean. Since Verlian had allowed Ravynne to stay, he had been teaching her how to fight and explained to her that it was important for her to assimilate into the village. She'd made a few acquaintances, everyone seemed very likeable and nice, but Serin was the one she seemed to bond with the most. When Serin offered to mentor Ravynne, she didn't hesitate to accept.

"Am I? I'm not sure, I don't know if I can call it a talent. I'm only doing simple tasks. This is probably as good as it's going to get." Ravynne responded, doubt filling her voice. Serin placed both of her hands on Ravynne's shoulders and pulled her away from her work. "It might be simple, but you ARE getting better. Improvement is improvement, take the win!" Ravynne smiled and nodded, she was so glad to have a friend like Serin. Even though Verlian and her were getting along well for the most part, she didn't feel she had this kind of relationship with him, especially not one where he would be so encouraging.

Just then Dino walked in with a huge grin on his face, "Ravynne, it's like you're my new sister! I like that we can be a happy family!"

"New sister? What do you mean?" Ravynne looked between Serin and Dino with confusion on her face.

"Did you not know? Dino is my little brother. You're just now learning this?" Serin laughed and hugged Dino tightly.

"I didn't! I've never seen you two together, and I've never seen Dino here so I didn't put two and two together."

"Well, we don't live here. This is just my medical office. Dino only comes when he has supplies to drop off since he has other things to do. I'm surprised it's taken such a long time for you to come to know this." Serin laughed and Ravynne felt a light blush spread across her face.

"Here's your stuff Serie, I have to hurry back to Ver!" He held up a box that was wrapped in cloth – creating a make-shift bag.

"Alright, thank you for dropping this off Dino. Be careful okay and be home on time for dinner. I don't care if Verlian wants to keep you late, no excuses!" Serin took the bag and shook her finger at Dino playfully. Dino laughed and nodded, "I promise, I promise!"

He gave both of the girls a tight hug and ran off, waving and smiling as he left.

"He's so cute. I can't believe I didn't know you were siblings. I didn't even know either of you had any other family." Ravynne said as she went back to cleaning up.

"Well…" Serin's voice changed to sudden seriousness, "Our parents abandoned us when we were little. We were left to die. Dino cried and cried for our mother, and I knew I had to do something. Then we were found by Verlian and Ashke who brought us to Evania. There wasn't much, this village has grown immensely since then, but it became our home. Dino has a lot of trauma from that night. I think that's why he wanted to save you, he didn't want to abandon you like our parents abandoned us."

Ravynne listened carefully, occasionally glancing over at Serin. "I can't imagine what that must've been like. I'm really thankful that he saved me, I owe him my life. Is that why he seems to love Verlian so much?"

Serin nodded, "Yeah. Verlian is sort of like a father figure to him and Dino really looks up to him."

Ravynne smiled as she began to wash the supplies used to stitch up the old man. "How cute." She thought.

"Honestly, it would be really great if Verlian and I could get married…for Dino's sake! I mean, I wouldn't mind for me too….he's really attractive….and the perfect guy…." Ravynne glanced over at Serin, who looked to be blushing and in a daydream like state. For some reason, Ravynne found herself feeling upset by this.

Later that night Ravynne returned home and sat on the bed. She ran her hand over the sheets covering the mattress and looked around the room. "It's probably so cold at night for Verlian….meanwhile I'm sleeping cozy in his bed." She thought aloud. Then, an idea popped into her head. "Oh I know! I'll rearrange the room!"

As of now, the bed was directly across from the doorway, against the wall, meaning that the cold drafts that came in from under the door, were hitting Verlian. Ravynne stood up and began moving the pelts across the room as she moved the bed kitty-corner to the wall. She placed the pelts back and made their beds as nicely as she could. "There! Now, the bed will block the air, and he'll be closer to the fire place." She smiled happily and continued to move things around, making a make-shift wall with the other furniture to make it as warm as possible for him.

Ravynne heard the door open behind her as she was replacing items on the nightstand. She turned around to see Verlian standing with his arms crossed. "What are you doing shadow." It should've been a question, but instead it was more of a demand.

"Verlian! Look, I've made it so now you won't get cold at night!" Ravynne trotted over to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him around the now-obstacle of furniture, and gestured to his bed on the floor.

"Who said I was cold? Now this place looks like a mess. What if something bad happens and we need to get out quickly? You've made it so it'll be difficult for me to get out." Verlian glanced at the nightstand and his eyes widened. "Where is my ring?"

Ravynne looked so discouraged; her head was hanging low as Verlian scolded her and only perked up in panic once he asked about his ring.

"Ring?! What ring?"

"My ring that was right here." Verlian marched over to the nightstand and pointed to the now empty spot.

"I-I didn't see a ring…."

"My ring, has been here since this house was built. Now you move everything and it's gone. Are you saying suddenly, someone else has stolen it? Or perhaps it walked away on its own." His anger was beginning to rise and Ravynne looked extremely worried.

"I'm not saying that. I'm sorry, I'll find it! I promise you I'll find it!"

Verlian huffed, "I want this house to be back to the way it was by the time I get back tomorrow and never touch anything again. This is not your house to do what you want with, it's my house." He stomped off and got in his bed, without looking her way again. He laid there facing the wall and Ravynne could practically feel the anger emanating off of him.

The following day Verlian went out with Ashke to survey the village. It was an activity they usually partook in to make sure the villagers were content and there were no issues. Ashke looked over at Verlian, "You seem upset."

"I am upset." Verlian said in a low voice.

"What happened? It's rare that I see you in such a state."

"That shadow of mine, lost my ring." Verlian stated with a growl.

"She what?! She lost it?!" Ashke exclaimed in shock. His hands curled into fists, his anger growing. "That fool! How could she lose such a precious thing?! Do you think she really lost it or do you think she stole it? Maybe she's planning on running and selling it."

Verlian shook his head, "No. I don't think that's it. I think she really lost it. She doesn't seem like the type to do that. She would've done so already if that were the case."

Ashke stared at him in disbelief. "Are you positive? You don't know her Verlian. Remember she had serious injuries. She still isn't fully healed, it may be preparations she's taking. You CAN NOT lose that ring Verlian. Everything will be over if that ring is gone."

"I already know that. You don't need to worry about that Ashke. It WILL be found."

"Verlian, honestly, just get rid of her. She's been causing you constant trouble. If it's not one thing, it's the other. Now, this? This is too much."

"Ashke, I don't need you to tell me that."

That night, Verlian returned home to find Ravynne searching everywhere. The house was already back to its original state. Upon hearing him return Ravynne swiftly turned around with her hands behind her back. "I-I haven't found it yet but don't worry I won't stop looking until it's back right here!" she tapped on the nightstand.

He looked her up and down, she looked absolutely exhausted. "Was it difficult with Serin today?"

"I went to Serin and told her that I couldn't help her until I found your ring."

Verlian was surprised; he didn't think that she would spend the entire day searching for it. Clearly, Ashke was wrong about her.

The two ate their dinner, with Ravynne constantly glancing around the room, and went to bed – or so he thought. He awoke that morning to Ravynne next to him, dead asleep, with the ring in her soot covered hands. It looked blackened; it must've rolled into the fireplace during all the commotion of her renovation. He grabbed the ring and put it on the nightstand before picking her up off the floor and tucking her into bed.