They walked the streets together, the market noise fading as they turned corners and slipped into quieter lanes. Syraa kept a light step, her movements natural, confident. Varek matched her pace, careful not to crowd, but not wanting to fall behind either.

Neither of them noticed the time passing as they walked on the winding streets, until the wind rose and made her tighten her cape on herself. He accompanied her back to her stall. She shifted her weight, her eyes fixed on the cobblestones under her feet.

She broke the silence first. “Well, then, have a good rest of the day.”

“You too, miss. Syraa,” he said, her name feeling strange on his lips. He nodded with a faint smile as he turned around. His fingers toyed with the little jar in his pocket, and the simple touch brought a smile he couldn’t quite suppress.

Syraa was home by sunset. Her mother was still in the fields. From the little kitchen window, Syraa watched her approach, arms full of seasonal herbs. By the time Elaina stepped inside, Syraa had tea ready for both of them.

“How was the market?” her mother asked, dropping the herbs onto the counter.

“It was all right,” Syraa replied quietly, filling a cup with steaming herbal tea. The scent was fresh and grounding, earthy from the spices she added.

“You seem content. Made good sales?” Her mother noticed the faint smile as she sat in front of her.

“You could say that.” Syraa kept her answers short and vague. Her mother didn’t need to know about Varek.

“Did the Arcanum bother you again?”

“No, mum, they weren’t in sight,” she lied. “Only that dumb Ogid showed up.” She sipped her tea, watching the last light of day fade over the fields. Her mind lingered on a quiet, fleeting thought that made her heart skip. Someone she couldn’t yet name aloud.

“Yet you seem like you had a good day,” her mother said with a knowing smile. Syraa shrugged, biting her lips to keep herself from smiling.

“I’ll take a bath, mum. I think I should sleep early too. I’ll see you in the morning,” she said, pressing a quick kiss to her mother’s cheek before slipping toward the bath.

Varek flipped through the pages of an old sigil book under the blinking light of an oil lamp. He’d been staring at the page for a while but couldn’t seem to grasp much of it. He rubbed his temples; his eyes burned from the strain. He wanted to finish, file his reports, and be done with the task, but his mind kept drifting back to the market.

He cursed himself for his own distraction. I cannot make a habit of this, he scolded himself. His fingertips tapped nervously on his desk; he steadied himself with a few deep breaths.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he realized he wouldn’t be able to rest tonight. Then, his gaze fell on the little package at the edge of his desk. The small glass jar, wrapped carefully in soft cloth, seemed to hum with a quiet presence.

Varek unwrapped it. The jar sat cold in his palm. He eyed the golden salve inside; it caught the lamplight like honey. Put it on the temples, he remembered her saying. He wondered if it would work. Desperately lacking sleep, he exhaled hard.

This was the last time I saw her, he promised himself, though he knew it was a lie. He rubbed the cream onto his temples. The scent, sweet and gentle, seeped into him like the warmth of a bonfire: soft, comforting, enveloping.

His eyelids were heavy by the time his head hit the small pillow. His breathing slowed and deepened; his mind grew heavy and yet light. He fell asleep before he could even think further.

His sleep was deep and restful, but not blank. He saw her in his dream: her markings glowing ever so slightly on her hand as she scribbled on a paper. He heard her laugh, so free and unburdened. He could almost feel her fingertips on his palm, her skin grazing his as she handed him the little package.

With the first rays of the sun, Varek woke rested, but rattled in ways he had never thought possible.

_______

Author's note:

Even tiny gestures can leave a lasting impact. How long do you think it will be before Varek returns to meet Syraa again? Share your guess in the comments!