On the day of the market, Varek rose earlier than usual. His trouble with sleep worsened the night before, giving him very little time to rest. Most of the night, he busied himself with reconciling ledgers and reviewing training plans for the new recruits.

New recruits. Again. Some of them were far too young to be lured into the Arcanum. They didn’t know any better. Many of them might not have had a choice. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The plan was effective, each phase building on the previous.

He made groups of them, depending on the type of their magic. He assigned one enforcer per ten recruits in each group, who would guide them to use their spark. He set up smaller groups of different types of magic to test their strength against each other.

The more he looked over the charts, the less interest he had in it. He stared out of his small window at the clear sky, the first blush of dawn coloring the horizon. He sighed. He didn’t quite intend to go back to the market already. They were fully stocked and well equipped. They had collected all the taxes this month.

And yet. The herbalist’s receipt was still sitting on his desk on top of the filed pile. He filed it. Then took it out again, going over the neat handwriting more times he cared to count. He remembered her words. If you need anything else, you can find me at my stall on market days.

It was a market day. He didn’t quite need anything. But perhaps he did. He flung his cloak on his shoulders, and locked his door behind him as he made it across the corridor, until someone shouted after him.

“Varek!” He turned around to see the amber eyes of Riorin, the only man he somewhat trusted in the Arcanum. “You up early, my friend!”

“So are you, it seems,” he muttered back, keeping his voice low.

Riorin jogged up to him and kept pace, his cloak floating behind him as his footsteps echoed.

“I was on guard duty. Are you heading out?”

“Yeah, I…” Varek hesitated a heartbeat, “I just need something from the market. Do you want anything, Rin?” he asked his friend, who stopped mid-step.

“Eh, nah…” he said far too quickly, “Or maybe just one thing…” Varek turned to look at him, eyebrows raised.

“If that street vendor is there… I’d appreciate a bag of roasted nuts.” Rin’s voice lowered as he said it, as if his request was not worth asking for. Varek’s expression eased. He felt like Rin’s request gave him a real purpose to go to the market, and he was grateful for that.

He gave Rin a pat on the shoulder, and made his way out of the complex.

The town was full of life by the time he reached it. The market bustled with life despite the early hour. Several streets were packed with stalls and peddlers’ carts, selling all kinds of goods. Goods that the Arcanum hadn’t sanctioned.

His eyes skipped from stall to stall, his steps slow but his heartrate strangely fast. His fingers absently traced the edge of a displayed blade as he listened to buyers haggle hard, to the dismay of the merchants.

The scent of the roasted nuts carried him across the winding streets. It was best to get them before he forgot.

“Sir, good morning, sir,” the merchant greeted politely. “What may I get you?”

Varek asked for a bag of the roasted nuts, but his eyes scanned the market for a familiar face.

“Large, small?” the merchant asked, holding up two pouches for comparison.

“Euh… large,” Varek picked. “You know what, make it two. One small, one large.”

The man started filling them right away with a courteous smile.

“We offer a drink free with two purchases, sir,” the merchant went on, “which would you like?”

Varek looked through the offered drinks and picked a strong, herbal brew that he finished on the spot and left the cup, along with the payment. He walked on, tucking the pouches in his pockets, the tea momentarily easing the knot in his chest. What was he even doing here?

He was about to change his mind and turn back when he heard that familiar voice. Easy, carefree and friendly. A laughter that was too bright for this dusty town. A glint of gold caught his eyes as the bright sunlight illuminated the flecks in her eyes.

She caught his gaze and smiled from afar. She waved at him and mock-saluted. This woman is going to get herself in trouble, he thought, but couldn’t help a small smile. As he ambled closer, he heard her deflect any attempt of negotiation from her many buyers.

“It is not overpriced, sir, you’re welcome to look elsewhere.”

“I cannot give you a discount, it is already as cheap as it can be, madam.”

“I’m afraid I cannot meet your offer, but here’s a little extra for the young man” she said as she handed a candy to the lady’s toddler. The boy took it with a wide smile and a bubbly giggle. The lady smiled and paid her the full price.

Varek stood on the side, watching the customers come and go, waiting for a free moment. He watched her fingers work quickly while her eyes never left the customers. So precise, and she’s not even looking.

Syraa let out a loud sigh when the last one left with their wares. Her smile faltered momentarily before turning to him.