She was crouching down in the dirt, both knees bent, sleeves rolled up, fingers digging into the loose ground.

The soil was damp and cold but she dagged nevertheless.

She worked fast, like she already knew where the thing was buried.

She paused once, head tilting, as if listening.

I held my breath, certain she'd heard me.

After a heartbeat, she resumed digging, faster now.

After a moment, her fingers touched something hard.

She let out a long breath and leaned back slightly.

"It's still here," she said under her breath. Relief washing over her.

"That guy would be angry if I lost it."

She cleared the dirt away and pulled the object out of the hole.

She brushed the soil off with her palm and slipped it into a cloth bag.

I stayed still, barely breathing, pressed against the wall of the outdoor bathroom.

The bathroom was behind the inn, separated from the main building, half-hidden by old wooden panels and shadows.

From where I crouched, I could see her through a gap between two boards.

She opened the bag and took the thing out again.

Under the moonlight, I finally saw it clearly.

It was a crystal ball.

Its surface was smooth and round, catching the pale moonlight and reflecting it back in soft lines.

She stared at it for a second, as if checking it was real.

"It been 10 years since I buried it here" she sighed.

Then she sat down on the ground, crossing her legs, and placed the ball carefully on her lap.

She rested both hands on it.

Her fingers were steady.

She started rubbing the surface slowly.

The ball had a faint purple color, and as she rubbed it, she began murmuring words I couldn't understand.

Her voice was low and controlled, like she didn't want anyone else to hear.

At first nothing happened.

Then the crystal ball lit up.

The purple faded, replaced by a blazing white light that hurt my eyes.

I had to look away for a second.

When I looked back, the light had settled, and an image appeared inside the ball.

A hooded person.

The woman straightened her back in front of this person

Her expression changed.

She looked serious now, alert.

Then nodded lightly toward the image.

"It's been a long time, master," she said in revered tone.

The hooded figure didn't respond right away.

The light flickered slightly.

Then the man spoke.

"Why did you call me?" he asked.

His voice was cold, demanding her for a clear reason why she wasted his precious time.

"I made it clear last time."

"Everything between us is done."

Her breath hitched when she heard him.

I saw her fingers tighten around the ball.

She pressed her hands harder against it, like she was afraid the connection would break.

"Believe me, master," she said quickly.

"I have great news."

"Enough for you to forgive me."

The man was silent again.

Seconds dragged by.

Her breathing grew uneven. Afraid of the man's reaction

I wondered if the silence meant the connection had failed, or if he was deciding how to punish her.

The light inside the ball dimmed for a moment, then flared brighter.

When he spoke again, his tone had changed.

"Enough for me to forgive you?" he said.

"What is it?"

His eyes became visible under the hood.

They lit up with blue light, sharp and focused, staring straight at her.

She swallowed.

I could see her throat move.

Then her face brightened, excitement breaking through her fear.

"Do you know the emperor who took down the supreme empress?" she said.

"He is staying at my inn now."

The man froze.

For a second, everything was quiet.

Then he laughed.

"Hahah," he said.

His laughter echoed strangely through the ball.

"Is that so?"

His voice was filled with joy, but it didn't sound kind.

The image shifted slightly, like he was leaning closer.

Then his laughter stopped.

His face, what little I could see of it, went blank.

There was no warmth left in his voice when he spoke again.

"Do everything in your capacity to capture them," he said.

"Screw this up, and I will kill you myself."

She flinched despite herself.

For a moment, I thought she might beg.

Instead, she straightened, fear sealed tightly behind obedience.

Then nodded firmly.

"I understand master," she said.

"I won't fail this time."

The light in the crystal ball flickered once more.

The image of the hooded man vanished.

The white glow faded, leaving the ball dull and quiet again.

She stared at it for a moment.

Her own face was reflected on its surface.

She was smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes.

It was the smile of someone who had already decided how many people would suffer.

"Finally," she said softly.

"I will correct things and get master's grace again."

My heart dropped.

I stayed crouched, frozen in place, trying to make myself smaller.

My mind raced, but my body refused to move.

I didn't know how long she would stay there.

I didn't know if she would sense me.

I waited.

She didn't leave right away.

She carefully placed the crystal ball back into the cloth bag.

Then she stood up and brushed the dirt off her clothes.

She filled the hole back in with her foot, pressing the soil down like she didn't want any sign left behind.

I thought she would head back inside the inn.

Instead, she turned.

She started walking toward the outdoor bathroom.

Toward me.

Each step felt loud, even though she wasn't making much noise.

My leg was cramped, but I didn't dare shift my weight.

The wood behind me felt thin.

Too thin.

The gravel crunched softly under her shoes.

I counted the steps without meaning to.

One.

Two.

Three.

She was too close now.

The shadows shifted as she moved closer.

I pressed my back against the wooden wall, my breath shallow.

Her shadow stopped just outside the door.

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