Crossed Paths

[nyandereneko]

Word Count: 7,176

Summary: A chance encounter in a new city presents Nova with the opportunity, and the heart attack, of a lifetime.

*Author’s Note*: Bad summary I just hate writing them and putting character names in them it makes me feel bad. Like at this point I don’t even want people to know who the story’s about. Anyway, happy Octopath Traveler release day, I’m obsessed w/ this man and would die for him just like the other two. Also there’s some water/fish related puns that I had in here before I’d seen Tressa’s intro, and then it turned out ppl from her town do talk like that, so. Meant to be I guess lol. Also this turned out way longer than I planned/expected it to be but oh well. I hope you enjoy.

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“Welcome to Atlasdam, the great city of riches and royals!”

“Keep your voice down, you’ll offend the locals shouting stuff like that.”

“I get the feeling it wouldn’t take much to offend the people here.”

Disregarding her quips, Tressa spoke the truth: she and Nova had arrived at their next trip destination. Its atmosphere seemed to meet them at the docks, but it wasn’t enough to fully prepare them for what the interior of the city was really like. Altasdam was a completely new experience compared to Rippletide, their small, cozy coastal hometown, or the modest village lodgings they often took shelter in on the road. It was the region’s greatest and most sophisticated hub of information, be it the book or practical kind, which would no doubt prove indispensably useful to them for the remainder of their journey.

“Maybe you’ll even meet some rich young noble that wants to sweep you away with his wealth and charm.”

Nova shoved Tressa’s shoulder every time she made such comments. “What’s to stop one from sweeping you away?”

Nova was certainly interested in the people here, but not for those kinds of reasons. She wanted to see the city’s culture, its architecture, and all the pieces that had come together to form Atlasdam’s magnificent reputation. Neither she nor Tressa were particularly upset or dissatisfied with their hometown, but they couldn’t help looking forward to the world that existed beyond its quiet shores and charming townsfolk.

“Let’s find the place we’re staying tonight, then we can go explore.”

“Aw, you want to do the boring stuff first?” Tressa whined, lightly tugging on her friend’s arm. “We just got here, we should take everything in with the freshest eyes possible!”

The aspiring merchant had always been more eager to engage with the animate rather than inanimate. She was the type of person that continually raced a few paces ahead, whereas Nova tended to hang back, and usually ended up pulling Tressa back with her. But the mage also appreciated the merchant’s enthusiasm, because it kept her on her toes and reminded her to take a few more chances than she’d typically allow.

Nova had to admit, most of the time her childhood friend’s recommendations were beneficial; Tressa had a keen eye for goods and even keener charisma when it came to the people selling them. But the mage would never let her guard down completely. Someone had to watch their backs in the event that some unforeseen danger was lurking in the shadows. Here, in a city that was mostly industrialized and seemingly unassuming, she could probably loosen up just a little. But she was determined to keep at least part of her awareness alert to the unpredictable.

“Lodgings first, sightseeing second,” Nova replied firmly, dragging her friend by the arm she’d been grabbed with. There was little Tressa could do but sigh and concede; changing Nova’s mind was like trying to teach a fish to breathe air.

The city was easy and straightforward to navigate, and if the girls got lost they’d usually run into at least one kind bystander who would generously help them get back on track. They arrived at the inn just a bit before sunset, which meant they still had time to see the city shimmer in the pink, orange, and red hues that painted the evening sky. After they strolled the streets for a while they planned on dropping by the first tavern they came across, for both food and fellowship. It was a custom of theirs that they conducted in any city big enough to have one. Most of the time, taverns proved to be the perfect setting where one could observe the full spectrum of a city’s residents gathered together under the same roof.

Atlasdam really did look splendid accented by the sun’s fading light. Structures intricately crafted with brick and stone lined the streets; even the citizens were stunningly impressive at a glance, in both dress and demeanor. For a moment, Nova wondered if she and her friend had any right to be here, looking like paupers compared to the privileged nobles of society. She did her best to ignore such unnecessary thoughts that would only serve to dampen her mood.

The girls mostly stuck to the city’s main and central streets as they explored the immediate area near their inn. In what seemed like no time at all, streetlamps started being lit to replace the light of the absent sun. Now it was Tressa’s turn to lead, and Nova followed her to the first building they came across that was brimming with music, mayhem, and the scent of warm food.

The clientele of every tavern they’d ever visited was always varied and fairly indicative of the type of place they were in and the type of people they were certain to come across. But even in a causal setting like this, things still felt a little suffocating, a little pretentious. This place wasn’t hosting a ball or banquet by any means, but there was a sense of status that seemed to effortlessly emanate from the more high-profile customers.

Nova had tried to ignore the few odd looks and comments she received when she’d first arrived at the docks, but here they were only intensified. She’d forgotten to wear a hat, an accessory both she and Tressa owned that the latter was almost never seen without. Nova knew she should have picked up her friend’s habit of not leaving the house without it a long time ago, especially when they traveled, since there was more that stood out about her than her less than elegant attire.

She held Tressa’s hand tightly as they maneuvered through the crowd, signs and smells of inebriation only strengthening as they approached the bar. Fate smiled upon them as they came across two vacated seats, and side by side at that. The girls got themselves situated before taking a proper look around for a more accurate assessment of the atmosphere they were dealing with.

For the most part, things weren’t too rowdy. They may have been loud, or excitable, or very drunk, but this place didn’t feel like the type you’d need to worry about getting kidnapped or robbed or stabbed in. That didn’t mean those things couldn’t still happen, though, and the fact that they even had those worries was humorous to them and generally startling to others.

Regardless, being in the midst of company that was so vastly different from what they were used to was a nice change of pace. It was fascinating to listen in on the various conversations that mingled with the soft notes of music flitting through the air. Even that was considerably different from the kind they heard elsewhere in their travels. But they weren’t monotonous or dull songs, the kind that would bore you to sleep, otherwise a majority of the customers probably would have been blacked out. It was a little jarring to take everything in, but so far that’s how the whole city had been, so the two girls supposed all they could do was sit back and enjoy the ride.

They shared a meal and some drinks and got to chatting with the people on either side of them, learning a little bit about the individuals, the city, and even some tips about the surrounding area. They were planning on heading north from their present location, and they were grateful to receive some much-needed advice on what they should expect to encounter. Once they were outside the city’s boundary they’d begin their trek through the Frostlands. All of the pleasantries and amenities they were already becoming fond of here would be nothing but warm, distant memories. It’d be back to surviving on practical skill, crafty know how, and whatever else they could get their hands on.

But they were staying here for at least a night, so there was no point in getting caught up in the details of problems that hadn’t happened yet. Tonight was an opportunity to rest their minds and bodies, take in the magnificence of the city, and see what memories they could make while they were here. Despite the helpful chats and filling food, something else kept tugging at Nova’s focus.

She’d barely noticed it when they came in, only catching a glimpse amid the sea of bodies, but now she could look over her shoulder and see where the majority of the commotion was coming from. It happened to be the place that seemed to be the source of music, too, and that made a lot of sense. Music and the bards that made it received a lot of attention at most taverns—both good and bad. There was something about this crowd, though—or maybe it was the music—that continued to draw her attention. It was becoming almost impossible to ignore her curiosity, so after finishing what she’d decided would be her final drink, she made up her mind.

“I’m going to go see what all the excitement’s about.” She nudged Tressa’s shoulder, making sure her friend fully heard and processed her words. “Don’t go back to the inn without me. If you need to, come fish me out.”

“I’ll make sure to draw the line tight,” she teased, and Nova gave her an eyeroll with a smile before slipping off her stool and diving into the crowd.

It may not have been the wildest of places, but it was certainly still a tavern. Nova did her best to take advantage of any openings between the bodies she could find, slipping through like a stream through rocks. She thought she’d finally be able to breathe when she came out on the other side, but there were a few factors stacked against her: the crowd that had formed around the music was thicker and more enthusiastic than she’d anticipated, it was hard to find a place where she could get a clear view of the individual that seemed to be making up at least half of the attraction, and when she did finally succeed in squeezing through, her breath was taken away.

The pieces fell into place in an instant; why so many people were gathered around, why they were being so boisterous, and why it was pretty much impossible to find a place to join the frenzy. Well, frenzy was a bit of an exaggeration, since a majority of the crowd was just being…very loud, but not altogether physically disruptive. Perhaps it was because they didn’t want to make themselves look bad, or because of some unspoken rule of etiquette understood and enforced by the local patrons.

The citizens of this city really did conduct themselves in a more sophisticated manner than that of citizens in other regions, and it seemed that such influence was present even in casual affairs like this. The crowd strictly policed its own boundaries, which only made getting through harder for newcomers who wanted to investigate the situation. But Nova had stubbornly persevered, and now she found herself enchanted by the same spell that had claimed everyone else.

He was…very beautiful. That was her first thought. She couldn’t help it. She was sure she wasn’t the only person to ever have such a thought as a first impression. Now she felt that gaining enlightenment was worse than suffering from clawing curiosity. She was bound to the spot, thoughts transforming into feelings she attempted to process as her eyes finally started registering more of the scene.

A regal piano stood by a few of the tavern’s front facing windows. Their panes were pinned open, allowing both the music to flow out and more admirers to peer in. The cushioned seats set just below the sills were filled with even more of them. His performance drew a variety of people, but it was quite obvious that the majority of his audience was relatively youthful, and relatively interested in more than just his playing.

She knew she needed to leave, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to stand here and serve as just another face in the array of victims that had been charmed by his dazzling talent and appearance. But it was too suffocating, too overwhelming; her heartbeat and nerves simultaneously spiked. She became acutely aware of just how many people she’d shoved herself between, tearing her focus from the performance and burrowing her way back through the crowd. She’d go back in for Tressa after she’d calmed down, or just wait for the girl to come find her; she made sure to stay in view of the entrance.

Even the city’s streetlights were pretty, their design showcasing their illumination with a touch of elegance. Nova propped herself against a nearby post, rubbing her face and inhaling a few deep breaths of the calming night air. She could still hear the music pouring from the windows, and now that she could appreciate it away from all the chaos, she allowed its notes to soothe her. She would forget about the man and remember the music; that’s what she should have done, anyway. That was the wise decision.

But as she heard the keys continue to sing their soft, serene song, she couldn’t stop thinking of the hands that were playing them, or the radiance in the eyes that read the notes. It was as if he was in a separate reality, completely unaware (or maybe it was uninterested?) of the copious calls of flattery and praise surrounding him. He wasn’t playing for anyone but himself, and if other people enjoyed it, that was just a perk for them. But he was going to keep playing whatever he wanted, as long as he wanted, without any interruption from the outside world. So peaceful, and so graceful, and so content…she couldn’t tame her heart’s erratic beats.

A few more deep breaths and she started to feel like herself again. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the melody of that sweet song. When she opened them again she gazed up to take in the brilliance of the night sky. Her surroundings weren’t dark enough to allow her to see as much detail as she would have liked, but she could still make out the glimmer of the stars, and the moon’s demure glow. It was so beautiful, so comforting, the scene reinvigorated the excitement she felt when she’d first arrived.

She faintly recognized cries of disappointment from the tavern when the music ceased, finding herself a little relieved. If the end of the music marked the dispersal of that crowd, she’d have a much easier time making her way back to her friend after the group thinned out. The laments continued as more people idly filed out the front, but she didn’t get the chance to examine too many of them as she was startled by an unexpected voice.

“How did you get those?”

She wasn’t used to the question, or perhaps just not to hearing it delivered that way. The first observation that fully registered in her mind was that the voice was impressive. It had an accent and lilt that made it the most sophisticated voice she’d ever heard. Being scrutinized by any of the intimidatingly wealthy citizens of this city put her back on edge. She should have been more prepared, since she was likely to be confronted about the strange nature of her appearance sooner or later.

Most of the time, people either made rude comments or asked about it in a more fascinated manner, as if they were seeing some prized rarity for the first time. She wasn’t sure if she liked either approach, or if the straightforward nature of this one made it easier for her to gather her thoughts and give a straightforward answer in return. But doing so proved more difficult than she predicted, since she lost all the words she’d arranged for her answer when her eyes fell upon the inquirer.

“Are they functional or just for show? I know of a few mages that have tried accomplishing similar transformations, but they’ve all failed in one way or another.”

Now she was barely processing anything he said. He might as well have been talking at a wall, at least for the first few moments. She stuttered a bit, but her attempt to force something out was futile, since no words were going to come. If any did, they would most certainly be embarrassingly incoherent. She even forgot what she was supposed to be answering for, questions and thoughts of her own flooding her mind and washing his away.

“Aren’t you worried you’ll be seen?”

Now he was the one to be taken aback. “Seen by what?”

Acutely aware that they were standing in the light of a prominent streetlamp, she moved to a more discreet area beside the tavern and drug him with her. She shouldn’t have done that, she didn’t know why she did it (well, that was a bit of a lie) but she was concerned about his wellbeing. That was pretty stupid though, wasn’t it? He clearly hadn’t been bothered by his audience when they were inside.

Who was she to assume he’d be bothered by them if they descended on him out here? Not to mention he was a stranger, and there was always the possibility that he wanted to be found by them. Maybe that’s why he’d stuck around in the first place. She couldn’t ignore the voice in her head reminding her that she’d done it out of selfishness, and the truth of it just made her feel worse. She’d made a big mistake, an impulsive one, and now she was panicking because she wasn’t sure how to recover from her insensitive faux pas.

She released his arm, stuttering more frequently as she tried to find the right way to apologize. “I’m sorry. I really, truly, deeply apologize. I shouldn’t have…it was completely thoughtless of me, I really am sorry for my rudeness—”

“You seem quite out of sorts. Is that the result of a spell as well?”

It should have been a haughty, mean, offensive thing to say…but that’s not how he presented it at all. He didn’t mean it that way in any capacity. He was actually curious, going from one question to the next like a skipping stone. His manner confused her enough to give her a moment to collect herself. Although his passive disposition was an advantage to her now, it also made her feel bad.

Because if he was acting this casually with a stranger who seemed like they were lost in more ways than one, he probably wouldn’t have cared if his fans had noticed his presence. But Nova would have cared. She remembered how smothered she’d felt in the tavern, how perturbed she was that she couldn’t enjoy more of the festivities due to the thickness of the throng. She didn’t have anything to say to him, but she didn’t want him to be swept away from her, either. She was being more than selfish now, but the damage was already done.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m not really myself tonight.” That was definitely the truth, and she didn’t know if she was going to be able to calm down enough to accurately present herself. “Um, you asked me something earlier, and I was…distracted, so you’ll have to ask me again. As for your last question, no, my unease isn’t the result of any spell. It would be nice if it was, though, since it might be easier to get rid of that way.”

She hadn’t said it in a joking way, and he didn’t appear to take it as a joke, either. It was getting difficult for her to determine the kind of person she was dealing with. For a moment she considered the fact that she’d cornered herself in a shadowed alley with an unknown man that was probably much stronger than her and probably knew the city like the back of his hand. But she had her magic, weak as it may be, and he didn’t seem threatening, so she brushed such thoughts to the side.

“And are the nonhuman appendages the result of a spell?” he reiterated, acknowledging them with a small gesture. “If it’s something you did yourself, then that’s remarkable. And if you had it done by someone else, I’d love to hear more about them.”

She laughed a little at the irony of her condition, only because she knew he probably wasn’t going to like the answer she had to give. “It was something I did to myself. But it wasn’t on purpose, and I doubt I’ll ever be able to recreate the effect. I haven’t even managed to find a successful way to counter it. It was just an accident, a misuse of magic by someone that was too young to be tampering with it in the first place. All it took was one erroneous incantation and a botched potion, and I’ve been suffering the consequences ever since.”

“I don’t know if I’d call them consequences,” he remarked, and she was still stupefied by his ability to remain seemingly unaffected by the tone of a conversation. “At least not negative ones. I mean, of course they were the result of a mistaken action, but if you could answer the question of what happened to you that day, you’d have the magical discovery of a lifetime on your hands.”

She laughed again, this time because he seemed to sincerely believe what he was saying and may even be invested in it, too. “Well, that’s considerably wishful thinking, but I’ll keep it in mind. Chances are if I did make a discovery like that, it wouldn’t take long for someone else to catch wind of it and claim the discovery for themselves.”

His expression hardened a bit, and she wondered if she’d finally upset him. But it wasn’t so much a judgmental gaze as it was a sympathetic or concerned one. It also communicated that he was already thinking several steps ahead of whatever thoughts she may be having. Without the distraction of conversation, she could feel the weight of her nerves start to return. If she could cut this off now and slip away without him finding out anything more about her, she might be able to put all this behind her and ensure no one else (mainly Tressa) found out about this disastrous exchange.

“Where are you from?”

Oh no, she didn’t want to answer that. He would definitely be able to find her if he knew that, because she was the only resident of Rippletide—perhaps even in the entirety of the Coastlands—with such a unique appearance. But she couldn’t just…not say anything, or run off, because she’d already been discourteous enough. Well, lying it was then. No harm done to give him the wrong city and hope they never had to cross paths again for his sake.

“Well, actually—”

“Your attire is from the Coastlands, is it not?”

She just couldn’t seem to win with this guy! At least she could still lie about the city or say that her outfit was imported, which was believable enough. But something stilled her tongue, encouraged her to be honest—it was a stupid impulse. And she couldn’t listen to any more of those tonight. She couldn’t afford to.

“Ah, yes…I visit the area quite often.” Well, it would have been a good plan if she wasn’t such a terrible liar. That fact had apparently slipped her mind before she started…trying to lie. But he didn’t seem as curious about her specifically as he was her circumstances, so she could keep deflecting him with that, she knew she could do that much. Come Hells or high water she was going to do that much.

“I’ve visited lots of towns there. It’s a very pleasant area.” Her delivery was dreadfully wooden, but it didn’t matter. If she kept talking, eventually the conversation would end.

“Are you sure you’re not from there?” he asked with a raised brow. She was already preparing her next excuse, but he was quickly making this a losing battle. “Because your accent seems to denote you’ve spent enough time there to adopt the speech pattern characteristic of that region.”

Ah, she didn’t even stop to consider how her voice sounded, especially to someone like him! She tried to think of something, anything to get her out of this before she could make an even bigger fool of herself.

“I…well—”

“You don’t have to tell me, if it makes you that uncomfortable.” Everything about this situation was making her uncomfortable on a multitude of levels. “Will you at least tell me how long you’ve been studying magic?”

She was mentally exhausted enough to just answer him at this point. “At least a decade, probably longer. I don’t know the exact amount of time because I’ve had to learn on and off for a while. And I don’t have access to a lot of the more advanced texts. I was hoping to find at least a few of them during my visit.”

“Is it something you’re serious about?” She wasn’t following his line of questioning. “Or more of a hobby?”

“I’d say it’s one of the things I’m most serious about,” she explained. “I’ve always been interested in it, especially the healing disciplines. And I’ve been able to continue studying thanks to my personal disaster, even though magic was the cause. I could only get my hands on the materials if I promised to use them to find a ‘cure’ for it.”

Her tone turned a little sour. “So, that’s what I’ve been doing. Allegedly. I’ve made some progress with parts of an enchantment to counter the effects, but I’m nowhere near unravelling the mystery of this type of spell.”

She was quiet for a moment, but he seemed to sense that she had more to say and waited for her to continue. “I’m more interested in learning the practical applications of magic. If I end up finding a cure along the way, it’s an added bonus. But it’s not my top priority.”

He took a step towards her, and she was reminded of how tense she’d been when this conversation started, and why. “Well, I think it’s an incredibly valuable subject to pursue, especially since you’ve already manifested successful effects. Even if it happened by chance, there has to be a way to work backwards from the result and combine those findings with information from the event to put the pieces together.”

It seemed like he was mostly talking to himself now, and she was strongly considering making a break for it, but he returned his attention to her with even greater intensity. “How long will you be staying in the city?”

His question completely disarmed her, and before she could ask why he wanted to know, he gave her an answer. “I’m a professor at the Royal Academy here. Magic is one of the main subjects of my research, and I’d really hate to waste the opportunity to study the answer to a question mages have been asking themselves for centuries to no avail. I’ve never seen anyone achieve a transformation as stable as yours out of all the accounts I’ve been able to get my hands on.”

He stepped closer, trying to get a better view of them in the dimness of the shadows. Nova was at a loss for words. He extended a hand towards her, but stopped himself, seemingly remembering he was dealing with a living person and not a scientific specimen. “May I?”

She blushed, but she knew he couldn’t see it in the dark. “Uh…sure.” She didn’t know how to respond. But he wasn’t being malicious or predatory, he was just…curious. Insatiably so. And she was feeling just fond enough of him again to give him permission. Their exchange wouldn’t mean anything when they parted ways and she disappeared from his life forever.

He didn’t handle them invasively or roughly, mostly just testing to see if her words were true, that they were authentic and useable. That there really was a lead worth pursuing here, not just an eccentric young girl pulling an impressive prank. He didn’t get that impression from her, but he also knew she’d tried to lie to him earlier. Maybe he should have expected that, since they were both strangers, and he hadn’t explained his intentions. He had a bad habit of letting his mind get in the way of his manners.

“I’m sorry, I suspect this would be easier if we had a proper introduction. I am Professor Cyrus Albright of the Atlasdam Royal Academy. What I said about my research is true, although I apologize for getting carried away. The purpose of my questions is to assess your situation, because I think I could be of some use to you, and you to me in return.”

Her face was probably as red as a cherry by this point—it certainly felt that way—but she valiantly tried to keep paying attention. “I have some of the best resources and connections to magic related materials you could ever want, and the nature of your transformation is simply captivating. Whether you’re serious or not about determining its cause, or formula, or whatever you want to call it, I would be honored if you allowed me to do some research of my own.”

And she was back to spiraling, and spiraling fast. This was a lot to take in on its own, but the fact that it was coming from him made it even worse. She just wanted to be able to say something, or move a muscle, but she was momentarily out of order. Her heart was beating so hard she wondered if even he could hear it.

“I understand if you have other obligations or plans. I would be happy to work out a schedule that accounts for them during your stay. I can teach you some of what I know, and you can provide something I desperately want to know more about. I hope you’ll excuse my frankness, but I don’t want to take the fact that our paths have crossed for granted. This could lead to innovations in the field most of us had given up hoping for.”

“Uh…I…this is just—”

“You don’t have to make a decision right now.” Those were his words, but Nova could tell it was taking everything he had to hold himself back from trying to persuade her until she agreed. “I know it’s overwhelming. I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time. If possible, would you give my proposition some thought tonight? You can give me your answer tomorrow, or at least before you leave the city. I really think we could do some amazing work together.”

She was going to throw up…maybe. He was being so enthusiastic and kind and earnest; of course she didn’t want to say no. She wouldn’t want to say no even if he wasn’t offering her his magic experience and resources. She didn’t know who in their right mind would turn down anything someone like him was offering, and the thought just jumbled her mind more. She imagined what it would be like to continue listening to this voice, to follow directions from these hands, and to see more of the exuberance in these eyes—she was sure she felt and looked feverish. Maybe she would contract a real fever from her emotions by the time this was over.

“I…will think on it.” She managed to get the words out, but she knew her voice was trembling. She couldn’t help it, considering the shallow state of her breathing. “I will definitely give it some consideration. And thank you for…giving me the opportunity.”

“I should be saying the same to you.” Even in the shadows the excitement and motivation in his expression was unmistakable. His eyes shined with anticipation. It was adorable, and it kind of made her want to cry. “I really can’t believe how lucky I am to have run into someone like you.”

Nova felt like she’d kind of run into him, more than once, and now she was so tired of running she just wanted to pass out.

“Oh, that reminds me, would you mind telling me your name?” The interest in his tone stabbed her heart. Several times. “I didn’t really give you the chance with all my rambling, I do apologize for that.”

He’d apologized to her more than once now, even though she was the one who’d yanked him around so unceremoniously. She’d pulled him away so she wouldn’t have to compete with the crowd, but once she was alone with him she didn’t even know what she was planning to do. It didn’t really matter since things had turned out this way, and he was going to keep the trajectory going as long as he could. Maybe she was in over her head.

“I’m Nova. Nova Asteria. No titles.” She thought her voice sounded hollow, but if he noticed it didn’t faze him in the slightest.

“Ms. Asteria, then?”

“Oh please, no.” Her vehemence momentarily restored some strength to her voice. “I mean, I don’t know if that’s something you have to do, like a custom or whatever. But if possible, I’d really just prefer Nova.” It would be less overbearing that way, and she needed to make this as simple as possible.

He chuckled and all the strength his shock had stirred in her instantly melted away. “No, it isn’t a custom, just common courtesy. Although I understand it can be a bit overwhelming for someone who isn’t used to the manner of speech around here. Simplicity is just as useful, so don’t feel obligated to address me formally, either.”

So, it was going to be Cyrus instead of “Professor Albright.” Even his name sounded ostentatious. Everything about this city was, and now she was caught in the pit of it, helpless to dig herself out.

“Are you sure it doesn’t bother you, I really don’t mind—”

“It’s a nonissue, don’t give it a second thought.” It really was a nonissue to him, a detail that couldn’t have been further from his mind. “It would be my pleasure to escort you to where you’re staying for the night, if you’d like. I wouldn’t call this city dangerous, but you can never be too careful.”

Her lungs felt like they were on fire. Would it be a good idea to prolong this interaction, since it was kind of killing her? She knew she didn’t want Tressa to find out, oh no, Tressa could not under any circumstances find out anything about what happened tonight. She’d never hear the end of it. She recalled her friend’s playful taunt: Maybe you’ll even meet some rich young noble that wants to sweep you away with his wealth and charm.

If the ground could just open up and swallow her, she’d be grateful. She knew the context wasn’t exactly the same, or at least the underlying motivation, since it was clear he was only interested in her company for the educational benefits. That was good, though; the harder he made it to mistake their correspondence as something personally meaningful, the easier it would be for her to banish such thoughts from her mind. Plus, she didn’t know if she was even going to get the chance to answer him, depending on when she and Tressa moved on. They’d been planning to stay for a few days; maybe that would change tonight.

When she looked at him again, his expression was still so pure and passionate; she gave up trying to muster up the strength to tell him no, at least to his most recent request. “That would be fine. I mean, I appreciate it. The offer.” She cleared her throat. “I just need to stop by the tavern for a moment—”

“That’s not a problem, I happened to spend most of my evening there.” She knew, she really knew, she knew better than he did where he’d been and what he’d been doing. It was hammered into her brain like a bent nail. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

“No!” Another bout of strength, just enough to shout the response at a fervent tone and volume. “No, no, that’s alright, I won’t even be a minute. I’ll meet you out front.”

He still had questions about her behavior, but he let them lie. He wasn’t going to let anything ruin the wonderful mood he found himself in. It had been a while since he’d made any significant strides in his various fields of research, and finding himself in a situation where he might get to delve deeper into the mysteries of magic was beyond fortunate. The girl was small, and timid, and easily tongue tied, but maybe that would change with time. He knew he could be overly friendly when he got wrapped up in his passions, and after tonight he’d do his best to rein it in for her sake—or at least the sake of not scaring her off.

Luckily for Nova, her friend was currently involved with a cheerful group at the bar, laughing and singing the night away. They’d most likely stay here for part of the night that remained. Nova was relieved to find her attention occupied, because she asked almost no questions about the mage’s intention to turn in early. They just exchanged a quick hug and an agreement that Tressa’d be back at the inn before sunrise. This was the norm for her, after all, getting swept up by an impromptu group of hearty tavern patrons that set the bar for the rest of her stay in a new location. Nova would let her have her fun and delay the onslaught of teasing she was likely to face just a little bit longer.

She met Cyrus outside as promised, and they strolled off without a lot of conversation. The inn happened to be within sight of the tavern, so their journey didn’t last long, but a bizarre feeling hung in the silence between them. It enveloped them and brought on an unexpected melancholy as they arrived at the inn’s entrance.

Nova knew what her feelings were, and Cyrus assumed his were simply a pang of distress from knowing this crucial lead could still slip through his fingers. But he was glad that he’d be hearing from her again, interested in finding out more about her, perhaps to improve their rapport? Such feelings weren’t uncommon at the start of a new relationship, but they weren’t the only ones he felt.

“This should be all you need to contact me.” He placed a small note in her hand. “If you run into any trouble you can show them my signature, it should be recognized by most of the people you’ll encounter.”

“Thank you.” That was all she could think to say. Her heart was starting to hurt from more than just exertion now, but that was stupid. Everything about what had happened tonight was stupid, but she couldn’t help feeling a little giddy about it. Maybe she should have stayed at the bar with Tressa and drowned her mind in drink. “I’ll be sure to let you know. I promise I won’t leave without telling you.”

“Well, if you did, I’d understand.” He was being too accommodating again and his kindness twisted her heart. “And I apologize if I came off too forcefully back there. I don’t want you to feel like you’re backed into a corner. I get carried away with my eagerness sometimes, but it’s all for the sake of discovery. If you agree to my deal I sincerely promise to provide every benefit I can in return.”

She wanted him to stop talking. Boy, he was right about getting carried away. That might have been the most accurate thing he’d said to her all evening. “But I want it to be a mutual choice, so if you have any reservations or doubts, you can decline without explanation. It’s not something important enough to risk your wellbeing.”

If he just stopped talking, it would be wonderful. She could retreat to her room and cry for an hour and then pass out after downing a barrel of whatever she could get her hands on. But the truth was she loved hearing his voice. She loved having him look at her. She loved hearing him say so many things that meant so much to her but were nothing more than simple trivialities to him.

She really was getting swept up, and he was barely trying. Actually, she could tell that he really wasn’t trying at all. It was just…his aura. The untainted nature of his influence and honesty was like a lure for soft hearts like hers. After she got past her apprehension, she was sure being in his presence would be one of the most calming things in the world. Was it worth it to find out if her assumption was true?

“Thank you.” She knew she was starting to sound like a broken record, but she was too spent to come up with anything more sophisticated. “And thank you for your hospitality.”

He smiled, and more arrows assaulted her heart. He took the hand that wasn’t holding his note and lifted it to his lips. She knew he was just being polite, but this final act shredded her heart to pieces. She didn’t know how she was ever going to repair it. She didn’t know if she would be able to without him.

“It was my pleasure.” She was going to need two barrels now. “I look forward to hearing from you again.”

She thought about waiting to watch him go, which would have been the respectful thing to do, but she couldn’t look at him any longer. It didn’t matter, since his image was burned into her eyes, branded in her memory forever. Maybe visiting this city had been a mistake. How was she going to explain all of this to Tressa? How was she going to decide what to do about it? And how was she going to handle it if she did say yes? What was it going to be like? If it was anything like tonight, she knew she wouldn’t survive.

But he was just so…heartfelt. So earnest. So dedicated to his craft and the pursuit of what he loved. She wanted to help him pursue those passions. She wanted to see the brilliance of his expression with every success they made. She wanted him to be happy, and she couldn’t deny that she didn’t want him to be happy without her. Selfishness and greediness and jealousy over a man she didn’t even know. It was juvenile. But her juvenile mistakes were what made their encounter possible in the first place.