Despite Kia's optimism it seem fate had different plans for the pair. For one breakfast turned into many over the course of three months as the guild stayed eerily quiet. Not a single adventurer had returned from their jobs and no new members join either.
Doubts and misgivings began to brew deep within Elisie's mind but instead of dwelling on them Elisie shifted her focus on her training and the various monotonous errands assigned to her by Kia. The tasks under the guise of daily guild work mainly served to ease Elisie's mind for the accommodations and supplies given to her.
With time those dark thoughts drifted away as something began to bloom in its' place. The rough tedious training in the morning became a place of mutual respect and growth. The meals after filled the air with heartfelt laughter between the pair and playful conversations. The boring chores became moments of quiet acceptance and a studious dance as they worked together to reclaim the warmer moments of the day.
The pair slowly began to learn trough continually interactions the movements, tendencies and mannerism which formed the little quirks that made them tick. A collection of many private memories filled their mental libraries with warmth and acceptance.
As the warmth of summer drew to it close and the chills of autumn began to creep in so did those dark thoughts. For in the change in season had marked the end of this year's adventuring season. Also it seemed as though the cold winds had began to bring the chill to Elisie's and Kia's relationship.
Kia was occasionally missing out on training sessions then meals and then there were days when Elisie never even heard a whimper of Kia let alone see than wonderfully warm campfire smile. The coldness began to stifle the warmth of Elisie's heart cutting the flow of suppressants to her lizard brain.
Elisie's lizard brain was that primordial part of her that fed her instincts and distrusting nature. Like a dragon awoken from its' sleep Elisie's mind was filled with doubts of her and Kia's 'friendship'. Maybe Kia's friendliness was due to pity for this lonely undesirable dragon girl. Maybe her initial hopeful response filled her with a sense of responsibility.
One sleepy fall morning, a sleeping dragon was awoken by the most glorious of smells, freshly baked cinnamon rolls! Elisie opening her door enough so she could peek into the hallway noticed Kia standing centimeters from her with that wonderful campfire smile which always caused a small bit of rosy red hue to fill her cheeks.
"Hai hi flower. Get dress and meet me downstairs."
"Umm, okays Kia. Give me a moment."
After what can only be described as a flurry of explosive preparation Elisie found herself dressed and at the bar happily nomming on delicious cinnamon rolls. The warm icing and sugars mixing with the various wild nuts made Elisie swear she had somehow found herself in heaven or a dream.
"So Kia what's the special occasion?" quizzically muttered Elisie between her third and forth cinnamon roll.
"Oh nothing~" replied Kia with a chuckle as Elisie was already stuffing her face with the fifth roll.
The dark circles around Kia's amber eyes suggested otherwise. The bare minimum work had not picked up and no deadlines had to be made anytime soon so why were they burning the midnight oil. The rumor machine in Elisie's head began to crank up once again to her dismay.
"Well then what are the plans for today?" whimpered Elisie trying her best to quell the torrent of painful thoughts in her mind from her evil lizard brain.
"Nothing much. Just a bit of restocking of the potion supplies."
"Mind if I aid you Kia?"
"It would be my pleasure, flower! I can do the counts and you the recording. With both of us on the task we can get done before lunch. Maybe once we are finished we can visit the new cafe near the main market square?"
Elisie replied with a quick affirmative nod and a delighted smile while dabbing her mouth clean after securing the tenth roll in her tummy.