If Aaron had learned anything during his time in Nostoria, it was that chaos was a constant companion. No matter how hard he tried to keep things under control, the universe always seemed to have other plans for him. And now, as he stood in the middle of a busy market square, surrounded by shouting merchants, clattering carts, and the smell of grilled meat, he was starting to suspect that Nostoria's universe might hate him just as much as Earth's.
He'd come to the market to get some materials for the next performance—the stage needed reinforcing, and Tobias had insisted they needed "authentic Nostorian decorations." Aaron had no idea what that meant, but he'd gone along with it because Tobias had the kind of relentless enthusiasm that was impossible to argue with.
As Aaron navigated through the crowded stalls, he muttered to himself. "What even are authentic Nostorian decorations? Are we talking, like, medieval banners? Or are we going full Game of Thrones with skulls on pikes? Because if we are, I'm going to need a lot more therapy."
Just as he rounded the corner of a stall selling what looked like some kind of exotic fruit, he collided with someone. Hard.
"Whoa, easy there—" Aaron began, before stopping dead in his tracks.
The woman he had just nearly flattened was tall, with a muscular build that suggested she could probably throw him across the square if she felt like it. Her dark hair was pulled back into a loose braid, and she wore a sleeveless tunic that looked both functional and stylish. But it wasn't her imposing presence that had Aaron momentarily speechless—it was the fiery look in her eyes as she glared at him.
"Watch where you're going," she snapped, her voice sharp but not unkind. More like she was used to people bumping into her, and had long since stopped having patience for it.
Aaron blinked, taking a step back and raising his hands in a mock-surrender pose. "Hey, my bad. Didn't see you there. And trust me, I'm very aware that's a terrible excuse."
She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "What are you, blind?"
"Not blind," Aaron replied, trying to regain some semblance of his usual sarcastic confidence. "Just… spatially challenged."
The woman looked him up and down, clearly sizing him up. After what felt like an eternity, she smirked. "You've got a mouth on you. That'll get you in trouble around here."
Aaron couldn't help but grin, sensing a challenge in her tone. "Lady, my mouth's gotten me in more trouble than I can count. It's kind of my superpower."
She raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide her amusement now. "Superpower? You don't exactly look like the hero type."
Aaron shrugged. "I'm more of the 'reluctant hero who screws things up and somehow stumbles into saving the day' type. You know, like a really low-budget version of someone cool. I'd say Deadpool, but I'm pretty sure I don't have the abs for it."
The woman let out a short, sharp laugh. "I'll give you points for honesty. What's your name, 'reluctant hero'?"
"Aaron," he said, offering her a lopsided grin. "And you?"
"Kaelyn," she replied. "Blacksmith by trade. And judging by the way you were stumbling through the market, I'm guessing you're not from around here."
Aaron scratched the back of his neck. "You'd guess right. New in town. Still trying to figure out how this place works."
Kaelyn eyed him for a moment, then shook her head with a smile that was somewhere between pity and amusement. "Good luck with that. Nostoria's not exactly kind to newcomers. Especially ones with a mouth like yours."
Aaron chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I've noticed. But, hey, what's life without a little danger, right?"
Kaelyn tilted her head, studying him again. "Danger, huh? You really think you're cut out for that?"
"Not really," Aaron admitted, shrugging. "But it's not like I've got any other options. I've already failed at being a normal person back home, so might as well fail spectacularly here."
Kaelyn raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "You're an odd one, Aaron."
Aaron smiled. "I've been called worse."
Over the next hour, Aaron found himself wandering through the market with Kaelyn, who, despite her tough exterior, turned out to be surprisingly knowledgeable about just about everything. She pointed out the best stalls for finding materials, recommended a blacksmith for reinforcing the stage, and even threw in a few suggestions for making the next performance less of a fire hazard.
As they walked, Aaron found himself growing more comfortable around her. There was something refreshing about her straightforwardness—she didn't sugarcoat anything, didn't try to impress anyone. She just… was. And Aaron, who had spent most of his life feeling like he had to put on an act, found that incredibly appealing.
"So," Aaron said as they approached a stall selling handmade banners. "You ever think about, y'know, joining the world of showbiz? I could use someone with your skills. We're always one disaster away from needing a new stage."
Kaelyn gave him a sideways glance. "Showbiz? Please. I'm not the type to stand in front of a crowd and make a fool of myself."
Aaron grinned. "Neither am I, but here we are."
She smirked but shook her head. "I've got enough on my plate with the forge. Besides, from what I hear, your shows are more chaos than anything else. I'd rather not get caught in the middle of that."
Aaron sighed dramatically. "Oh, come on. Chaos is where the magic happens! I'm basically the king of controlled disasters."
"Controlled?" Kaelyn echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't your stage catch fire during the last performance?"
Aaron winced. "Yeah, well. Controlled chaos. The fire was just a… minor hiccup."
Kaelyn laughed, a sound that was surprisingly warm for someone who looked like they could break your arm without a second thought. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"
"I get that a lot," Aaron replied with a grin. "But I'm taking that as a compliment."
"Don't," Kaelyn shot back, but there was a spark of amusement in her eyes.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to browse the market. Aaron, usually quick to fill any quiet moment with a sarcastic remark, found that he didn't mind the silence this time. There was something about Kaelyn's presence that was grounding. She didn't expect him to be anyone other than who he was, and that was… new.
As they passed by a stall selling swords, Kaelyn suddenly stopped, picking up one of the blades and testing its balance with practiced ease. Aaron watched, fascinated.
"You really are a blacksmith, huh?" he asked, impressed.
Kaelyn shot him a look. "What, you thought I was lying?"
"No, it's just…" Aaron hesitated, trying to find the right words. "You don't really strike me as the 'forge-and-hammer' type. I mean, yeah, you're strong and all, but…"
Kaelyn raised an eyebrow. "But what? You think blacksmiths are all grumpy old men with beer bellies?"
"Well, when you put it like that, yeah. Kinda."
Kaelyn snorted, shaking her head. "You've got a lot to learn about this place, Aaron. And about me."
Aaron gave her a lopsided grin. "Hey, I'm a fast learner. And besides, I think I've figured out the basics. You're strong, no-nonsense, and you could probably break me in half if I say something stupid. Did I miss anything?"
Kaelyn laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh that made Aaron's heart skip a beat. "Yeah, you missed a lot, but that's a good start."
After picking up the materials he needed (with a lot of help from Kaelyn), Aaron found himself walking her back to her forge, which was located on the edge of town. The building itself was modest but well-maintained, with a large chimney that billowed smoke from the forge inside.
As they arrived, Aaron cleared his throat, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. "So, uh… thanks for the help today. I'd probably still be wandering around the market like an idiot if you hadn't stepped in."
Kaelyn shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. "Don't mention it. It was entertaining watching you try to navigate the market like a lost puppy."
Aaron smirked. "Hey, I'm more of a street-smart golden retriever. Loyal, eager to please, but also easily distracted by shiny objects."
Kaelyn rolled her eyes but smiled. "Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself."
There was a beat of silence, and Aaron, feeling the urge to fill it, blurted out, "So, you wanna grab dinner sometime?"
Kaelyn blinked, clearly taken off guard. "Dinner?"
Aaron felt his face heat up. "I mean, you don't have to—uh, I just thought—"
Kaelyn raised a hand to stop him, her expression amused. "Aaron, are you… asking me out?"
Aaron's brain short-circuited. Was he? He hadn't exactly meant to ask her out. It had just sort of… slipped out. And now, standing in front of her, he realized he had absolutely no idea how to backtrack without looking like a complete idiot.
"Well… yeah, I guess I am," Aaron said, trying to play it cool. "I mean, not like in a date way. Just, you know, as friends. Or… whatever."
Kaelyn tilted her head, clearly enjoying watching him squirm. "So, not a date?"
"Unless you want it to be?" Aaron immediately regretted saying that. Good job, Aaron. Smooth. Real smooth.
Kaelyn watched him for a moment, then shrugged casually. "Sure. Why not? Dinner sounds good."
Aaron blinked, caught off guard by her answer. "Wait, really?"
Kaelyn pushed off the doorframe, giving him a sly smile. "I don't say things I don't mean. How about tomorrow night? You can pick the place."
Aaron's heart was doing weird somersaults in his chest, and he wasn't entirely sure how to handle it. "Yeah. Tomorrow night. Sounds great."
Kaelyn nodded. "Good. I'll see you then, golden retriever."
And with that, she turned and disappeared into her forge, leaving Aaron standing there, wondering how the hell he had just managed to accidentally score a date with the toughest, most no-nonsense woman he'd ever met.
As he walked back to the theater, a dumb grin plastered on his face, he muttered to himself, "Well, this is going to be a disaster. But it might just be my favorite kind of disaster."