The dessert shop near the Administrative District's Aaverian Nova statue was bright and lively, its polished glass window reflecting Levi and Vera as they shared quiet laughs. Inside, the tables were small but elegantly arranged, each adorned with cakes, pastries, and silver forks that gleamed under the afternoon light. Around them, patrons sipped coffee and sampled treats, their low chatter and laughter adding to the cozy warmth.
Levi sat across from Vera, a faint smile tugging at his usually stoic face as he listened to her latest adventure. Vera's eyes lit up as she spoke, her fork held like a wand as she described the scene.
"There were these creatures from the Primordial Forest—massive spiders the size of bookshelves!" She stretched her arms out, nearly hitting the small vase on their table in her excitement. "And they had these weird, spiky legs and eyes all over. And did I mention," she added with an exaggerated shiver, "they spit acid?"
She leaned in closer to Levi, grinning as her fork hovered near his face. He chuckled, gently shaking his head. "They sound rather… unpleasant," he replied, his gaze dropping to his untouched strawberry shortcake as he nudged it around his plate, looking distracted.
The Primordial Forest, he thought. Soon, Darrow and I will be venturing in to make contact with the demi-humans. His hand tightened on the fork. That's probably why Captain Ariel enlisted Darrow's help—he knows the terrain better than anyone.
A faint sigh escaped him, and Vera, noticing the sudden change in his expression, pouted. Without a word, she speared a bite of her cake and offered it to him, her eyes teasing. "Here, eat this before you turn completely into stone."
Caught off guard, Levi glanced around, his cheeks tinged pink. "Vera," he mumbled, trying to keep his composure, "you already embarrassed me earlier with the statue…"
"Oh, stop being so uptight." She smiled and pushed the fork closer, her gaze softening. "You're not fooling anyone, Levi. I know you love this."
He gave in, taking the bite, his expression relaxing as the sweetness hit his taste buds. Vera watched him, an affectionate smile on her face. "See? Isn't it better when you're here?"
Just outside the shop, Môrthas leaned against the storefront, his gaze focused on the busy street. Darrow, sitting beside him at an outdoor table, was supposed to be keeping an eye out for any unusual activity. Instead, he was glued to the window, his face almost pressed to the glass as he watched Levi and Vera's lighthearted exchange.
Why am I even here, watching this? Darrow's fingers drummed against the table, frustration simmering under his casual exterior. He tried to tell himself it didn't bother him. It's just a relationship. It doesn't concern me at all.
But his eyes stayed locked on them, watching as Vera leaned closer, whispering something that made Levi's face soften in a way Darrow had never seen. Just then, a child, around seven or eight, noticed Môrthas's imposing figure and stopped in his tracks, gazing up in awe.
"Mister, are you really one of the Thal'vóryn knights?" he asked, his voice small but filled with admiration.
Môrthas looked down, nodding solemnly. "Yes, I am," he replied, a faint blue glow pulsing beneath his armor's dark plates, catching the child's wide-eyed attention.
The boy's jaw dropped as he inspected Môrthas, inching closer, his fingers brushing over the drill-head of the lance strapped to his back. He glanced over at Darrow, however, and his face twisted in distaste. Leaning closer to Môrthas, he whispered loudly, "He's kind of… creepy, don't you think?"
Môrthas held back a chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Quite the observation, young man," he replied, nodding gravely. "Be sure to tell your mother to watch out for folks like him next time you pass by."
Darrow, feeling the weight of Môrthas's amusement, clenched his jaw, annoyed. His fingers curled tightly against the table's edge, cracks beginning to form along the polished surface. He turned, meeting Môrthas's gaze.
"What exactly did I do to you, Môrthas?" he muttered, his voice taut. "I don't even know you, yet every time we're in the same room, you treat me like some kind of disgrace."
Môrthas's face remained impassive, his eyes narrowing. "Perhaps it's because you seem to lack focus," he replied evenly. "After all, Vice Captain Ariel didn't send you here to lurk outside a dessert shop." He tilted his head, his eyes flashing with a challenging glint. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
Darrow's face flushed with anger. He rose abruptly, the burst of energy from his movement drawing the attention of nearly everyone inside the shop. He stalked away, fists clenched as he forced his way through the crowd. It's always the same, he thought bitterly. They look down on me, and Levi has everything handed to him—Vera, status, a family of sorts. And I…
Fuming, he didn't stop until he reached a small, neglected square in the residential district. A run-down fountain sat in the middle, its once-clear water now a murky green. Children played nearby, some of them searching trash bins for scraps while others kicked a tattered ball against a chipped wall.
This is the reality they ignore, he thought, running a hand through his hair as he looked around, his heart heavy. No one cares about the ones who can't climb out of this place.
Electricity crackled along his arm, the current strong enough to leave faint scorch marks on his fingertips. But before he could steady himself, a stray whip of energy lashed out, latching onto the fountain's edge and yanking him into the water.
Darrow flailed for a moment, then pulled himself back to his feet, dripping and spluttering. As he wiped his face, he noticed a tall woman standing quietly by the fountain. She watched him with an amused smile, her icy blue eyes sharp and unwavering. She wore a woven gold veil over her mouth, her hair a pale, silken white that cascaded down her shoulders, and there was an aura about her that demanded attention.
She doesn't belong here, he thought, momentarily stunned. Her presence was magnetic, like the calm before a storm.
Forcing himself to regain his composure, he flashed her a confident smile. "Well, I suppose I'm lucky to have such an elegant witness," he said, taking a step forward. "What's your name, princess?"
The woman tilted her head, watching him with an intensity that was equal parts charming and unsettling. "Selene," she said, her voice light but with an edge that hinted at something deeper. "Some call me 'princess' when they wish to flatter or when they're desperate."
She paused, eyes drifting toward the sky, almost lost in thought. "But I didn't come here for titles. No… I crave something stronger. Coffee," she murmured, almost to herself, her fingers tracing patterns in the air. "Strong, rich coffee. Not the bland, bitter taste that taints so much of this world…" Her voice softened to a whisper, "…the kind of bitterness I'd rather… burn away."
Darrow's grin widened, charmed by her unusual intensity. "Then let me be your guide to the finest coffee," he offered, hoping his own confidence masked his slight discomfort. She had a strange aura, one that seemed both inviting and dangerous, but he found himself captivated nonetheless.
Selene turned, her stride slow and deliberate, with a graceful sway. As they walked, Darrow's thoughts raced. She's… different, he thought, feeling a strange thrill at the idea of getting to know her. He glanced back at a little girl who peeked out from an alley, watching them curiously. Darrow smiled at her, but her eyes went wide with fear as Selene's gaze snapped toward her, like a flash of lightning.
The girl squeaked, retreating quickly. But Darrow hardly noticed, too wrapped up in Selene's intriguing presence. He barely caught her murmuring to herself, her voice laced with a quiet, almost unhinged glee. "Oh, the possibilities… the plan… the pain."
Darrow, too absorbed in his own thoughts, dismissed the whispers as part of her allure. Could she be… the one? He felt a surge of excitement. A woman who approached me, even after I made a fool of myself… Môrthas can't say anything about that.
Ahead, Selene's eyes flicked to the golden ring on her finger, her lips curling into a knowing smile as she looked back at Darrow.
"Such a delightful catch," she murmured to herself, a gleam of something darker lurking behind her cool gaze.