To some, it was a key.

To others, it was junk.

To people who could see its power, it was a treasure.

To her, it was the holder of her friend’s soul.

And she vowed to never let anyone destroy it.

Which meant hiding their ancestry from her only daughter.

Did their bloodline matter more, or did her friend?

They were the last of their kind.

Withholding the information all the way to her death would mean the Tiro’s would be lost forever.

Was it worth it?

Two paths, both irresistible and tempting.

Both with rewards and consequences.

In the end, she decided that her friend was more important than their blood.