After Thuraya and Galen settled down, Vera thought that there had been enough excitement for the day and helped the two get ready for bed. Vera's apartment only had two bedrooms, so Thuraya and Galen set up camp in the living room. Thuraya took the couch and Galen took the floor. While it was not the most comfortable accommodation, it was enough for one night.
Thuraya's feet hung over the end of the short couch. She laid down on her back and her hands rested on her lower stomach. This position coupled with her closed eyes and serene expression made her look like a body in a casket. Galen laid on his side with his knees cradled to his chest. His eyes were wide open despite sleep trying to weigh his eyelids down.
Without moving, Thuraya said, "Go to sleep. I can hear you thinking."
"Why do you like her?"
Thuraya peered over the edge of the couch. "Why do you want to know?"
"I'm your closest friend." Thuraya huffed. "We both know it's true. Apparently, you've had a crush for the last thirty years, and I didn't know. You're awkward and fond, and I want to know why."
"Vera is kind."
Galen waited for her to say more. "That's it? Nothing else besides kind."
"Be quiet. I don't know how to put this into words."
"Take your time. We have all night."
"I like her because she doesn't think I'm special," Thuraya swallowed, "I'm not Irkala, you know that."
"I am aware."
"Well, the other asteris aren't. They treat me like a god even though I'm weak. I can't even do any magic. Lalai, I might as well be human." Thuraya's fingers tightened into a fist, "They bend over backwards to please me and censor themselves in my presence. She doesn't do that."
"I don't do that."
"I know, and yet she doesn't feel the same as you. She helps me, she wants to spend time with me, she cooks me food, she listens to me complain, and she knows what to say when I'm in a bad mood. And she does it simply because she likes me; enjoys spending time with me."
"I see. And that makes you feel..."
"It makes me feel like I've done something to deserve it. Like I am worth it. Now every time she smiles, my stomach flutters. I think of her when I smell burning wood because she couldn’t get elemental spells right even if it killed her, so she's set the apartment on fire at least three times. I think of her bad jokes, and it makes me laugh even when I shouldn't."
Galen smiled to himself, "It sounds like you really like her. Why haven't you said anything? You're not one to let things go unsaid."
"I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"The future."
"What did you see?"
"Heartbreak. Devastating heartbreak," Thuraya sniffled. "But I can't help getting close to her. I can only think one thing: Is it worth it? The thought consumes me every time she smiles at me. It repeats over and over. I can't tell her until I'm sure."
"Until you're sure that you can risk it," Galen said in understanding.
Thuraya covered her eyes, "Let's go to sleep."
"Okay." Thuraya rolled over and faced the back of the couch. She pulled the blanket up to her chin. Galen stared at her back silently. Eventually, her steady breaths lulled him to sleep.
The early morning sun illuminated the room. Galen groaned, shielding his eyes from the light. Thuraya shifted on the couch. Vera's chipper voice greeted them, "Rise and shine! Nessa should wake up soon. I'm almost done with breakfast."
Galen sat up and popped his back. Thuraya rose from the couch and started to gather the bedding. She folded the sheets and the blanket, stacking them into a pile on the couch. Galen folded his own and piled them on top of the ones on the couch. As soon as he finished, the guest bedroom door opened. Nessa wandered out, rubbing her eyes. She walked past Thuraya and Galen to sit at the dining table.
"Miss Vera, I'm hungry," Nessa whined.
"I know you are, honey, but don't you want to meet the guests."
Nessa turned. Her whole demeanor brightened when she saw Thuraya. She shouted, "Miss Thuraya!"
The little girl ran over to Thuraya and jumped into her arms. Nessa wrapped her arms around her, giving her a big hug. Thuraya hugged back just as tightly. Thuraya said, "Little star, I've missed you."
"I missed you too. Take me with you next time." Nessa's voice was muffled as she had her face pressed into Thuraya's shoulder.
"Well, you're in luck. We're going to Zamsune, and you're coming with us."
Nessa lifted her head. Her smile was beaming, "Really! Yay!"
Vera coughed, "You're not going to miss me?"
"No!" Nessa wiggled out of Thuraya's arms. She ran into Vera's legs, hugging them. "I'll miss you too. I just want to go with Miss Thuraya."
"Don't worry, honey. I get it. I wish I was spending time with Miss Thuraya as well." Vera winked at Thuraya, who grew flustered.
"What about me?" Galen complained.
Nessa looked at Galen curiously. She asked, "Are you an asteris too?"
All the adults winced. Galen replied, "Yes, I am, but we shouldn't ask questions like that."
"Why not? I want to know."
Vera chimed in, "Because questions like that might hurt someone's feelings. You don't want to do that, do you?"
Nessa shook her head violently. She cried, "I don't wanna do that."
Vera gave Nessa a quick squeeze. "Of course, you don't."
"I'm Galen, and you must be Nessa," Galen said.
"Hello, Mister Galen." Nessa waved at him. Then, her stomach rumbled. She clutched it and looked at Vera pleadingly.
Galen laughed, "Looks like someone's hungry. Let's eat."
The four of them sat at the circular table. Vera served all of them eggs. Nessa scarfed down the breakfast before anyone else had the time to start theirs. Thuraya smiled, "You must have been hungry, little star."
"Yep," she licked the plate clean, "Where are we going?"
"Zamsune. I told you already."
"Is Zamsune near here?"
"No, it's far away. It's very different from here."
"Yeah," Galen agreed, "It's freezing and it snows all the time."
"What's snow?"
Vera answered, "Snow falls from the sky like rain, but it's white and fluffy."
"Snow is pretty. I can't wait to see it with you," Galen added.
Nessa titled her head, "Are you coming with us, Mister Galen."
"Uh-huh. You, Miss Thuraya, and I are going to Zamsune."
"Why can't Miss Vera come too?" Nessa frowned.
"I wish I could, but I have important work to do here."
Nessa frowned harder, "But I want Miss Vera to come."
"Honey," Vera rested a hand on Nessa's back, "You, Mister Galen, and Miss Thuraya are going to have so much fun you won't even remember to miss me."
"Yes, I will." Nessa crossed her arms and pouted. Vera laughed and pat her head. This appeased Nessa somewhat, but she was still a little sad.
"Little star, are you excited about riding a ship?" Thuraya tried to distract Nessa.
"A ship," Nessa's pout disappeared and her eyes brightened. "Ships are so fun."
"Mister Galen loves ships too," Thuraya teased.
"You do?" Nessa's head turned to Galen.
Galen grimaced, "Ships and I have a special relationship."
It seemed Galen flipped a switch for Nessa, who started babbling about ships. The adults watched her as she wound herself up, smiling. Nessa was an adorable little girl and Galen could see why Thuraya and Vera have already gotten attached. It was only a matter of time before he did too.
Vera asked, "How will you set up accommodations in Zamsune?"
Thuraya said, "I actually have a house in the countryside there. I'm glad Galen suggested going."
Galen laughed, "You have houses everywhere. It doesn't matter where we go."
"I don't have a house in Erasima," she grinned, "But, I digress. My house in Zamsune will be perfect. It won't even take long to get because they've got trains up that way."
"A train, really?" Vera asked, surprised. "All the way out there?"
"What's a train?" Nessa pipped up.
Galen mulled the question over, "A train is a giant box on wheels that transports people. It moves on things called tracks."
Galen's description only confused Nessa. Vera snorted, "What a terrible description."
Affronted, Galen said, "Well, how would you describe it?"
Thuraya interjected, "Let's just wait until we're at Zamsune, and Nessa will see it firsthand."
"Are trains scary?" Nessa asked.
Thuraya shook her head. "They aren't. They are loud, so that might startle you."
"Okay."
Galen sat back in his seat, having finished all his food. He was not looking forward to the ship ride to Zamsune, but he was excited for the train. He said, "I'll go to the docks and see what ships are taking off to Zamsune soon."
Thuraya nodded. "I'll leave you to that. I'll get Nessa ready."
"Got it," Galen replied.
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