Sweat dripped into his eyes and pooled over his lip. Some strands had escaped the high bun on his head and he could feel them sticking to his neck and back, itching with every movement. 

He felt gross and messy, and it fit the tumult of emotions inside. 

“Hey, Aik, give me your spear.” Mika clapped his shoulder, completely ignoring the sweat-soaked fabric.“I need to see Tarit anyway. We’ll go to the pub later. You’ll be there as well?”

Aik wiped his forehead, irritated and peered up at the other man. “Tarit? How come?”

Mika stood there and smiled shyly, which made the big guy look oddly soft. He was nearly Aik’s height but had more bulk on his body, and his appearance could be intimidating, especially in full ward gear.

“We talked a lot, and I really like him. I mean… Look at him. He's gorgeous. I feel like maybe we’d be a good match. Long term… I mean.” His eyes twinkled, and Aik didn't like it one bit. With every other guy or girl, he’d be stoked for Mika, cheering for him. But this stung. A lot.

“What about Guda?”

Mika eyed him quizzically. “What about her?”

Aik sighed and sat down, annoyance pooling in his gut. And the ugly feeling of jealousy.
“Won't she mind? And what if you pick him as your mate and something happens to them? How would you choose?”

Mika sighed. “Aik… Seriously? The odds something happens like that,” he gestured awkwardly to Aik, his eyes resting on the scar on his face, “You know… are slim to none. And I am just a simple Ward Mage. I am not special. Guda has her own life and respects my choices as much as I respect hers.”

He took the spears, the clattering sound almost inaudible to Aik’s heartbeat thundering in his ears. “It could hurt him.”

Mika stopped in his tracks, turned around and narrowed his eyes. “What are you implying? Wait… did you two fuck? Are you…”

Aik shot up, too close to the other Mage, chests nearly touching. He could shove him and tell him to keep his hands off Tarit. He badly wanted to stake a claim. But he had no right to do it, so he didn’t. “Don’t worry. It was nothing. I won’t be in your way,” he said.
It felt hard to do it, much harder than casting a complicated spell. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

He clapped Mika’s shoulder, the muscles of the other Mage visibly relaxing, and stomped off. 

“I’ll go to the bathhouse. See you later. Maybe.”