The path back to the city stretched long and winding, cutting through fields of golden grass that shimmered in the late afternoon sun. Trees lined the edges, their leaves rustling softly in the warm summer wind, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and distant streams. The quiet was profound, broken only by the soft crunch of boots on dirt and the occasional chirp of birds.
Rayan walked slightly ahead, his steps measured and deliberate, while Lina followed beside him, her posture straight, her pace steady. For a while, neither spoke. The engagement ceremony still lingered in the air, an invisible weight pressing against their shoulders. Every glance, every whispered word at the hall seemed to hover between them like dust, unspoken but tangible.
Finally, Rayan broke the silence, his voice low, hesitant but curious. "I heard… some things about your family. What really happened?"
Lina's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. Her hands, folded neatly in front of her, flexed slightly as if gripping at memories. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice soft, almost fragile.
"My parents used to run a small restaurant," she began, carefully choosing her words. "My mother… she was a wonderful cook. Everything she made tasted like it carried a piece of her heart. My father… he took care of the customers with a warm smile, always patient, always kind. We were never rich, but… we were happy."
Her lips trembled slightly, and she drew in a breath before continuing. "But one day, my mother fell ill. She passed away. The illness… it took her before we could prepare. Everything changed after that. Our regular customers stopped coming. My father tried to keep it going, but debts piled up faster than we could manage."
Her voice lowered to almost a whisper. "Eventually… he… took his own life. Left everything behind. And I… I became a maid."
The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp, slicing through the calm evening. Rayan remained silent for a long time, walking beside her, letting the wind sweep around them, carrying away any misplaced comfort. Inside, his thoughts churned, a storm of anger, sorrow, and understanding.
"Everyone has problems in this world," he said at last, his voice steady but firm. "But taking your own life… that's not the way. Instead of facing responsibility, he passed it to his daughter. Did he even think about what would happen to you?"
Lina flinched slightly at his words, but she did not turn away. Her eyes, distant and thoughtful, reflected a mixture of guilt and resignation.
"So… you became a maid because there was no choice left," Rayan continued, softer now, curiosity mixing with concern. "Tell me… do you have any goals? Any dream you're holding onto?"
For the first time, Lina allowed a small smile to touch her lips, fleeting but genuine. "At first, I thought I could reopen my parents' restaurant… but I'm not a good cook like my mother. Not by half. When I was a child, though… I wanted to be a mage."
"A mage?" Rayan raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Do you… have magic power?"
She nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Yes. I have a Water Magic Crest Level One."
Rayan paused, momentarily caught off guard. A spark of curiosity and respect flashed in his eyes. "Then why aren't you pursuing it?"
Lina looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers nervously. "I don't know. Maybe… I'm afraid. Afraid of failing again."
Rayan stopped walking and turned to face her. The trees rustled overhead, and the golden grass swayed, brushing against their legs as the wind carried the faint scent of earth and life. "Sometimes," he said, voice calm but filled with conviction, "if you wait too long, the opportunity will never come. You have to take the chance when it's there. Move forward, even if it's hard."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide, taken aback by the certainty in his voice. The sincerity in his expression seemed to ripple through her, warming something that had grown cold with years of fear and caution.
"So… how do I become a mage?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, yet eager.
Rayan smiled faintly, the kind of smile that carried reassurance without arrogance. "There's a place called Arkwyn Academy. They train gifted magic users. If you already have a crest, even Level One, you might be eligible. They test for potential, not just power."
He paused, letting his words settle. "Having Water Magic is more than enough to start. All you need now is courage… the courage to try."
For a long moment, Lina said nothing, absorbing his words. The wind seemed to still itself around them, carrying only the sound of their breathing and the soft rustling of leaves. Finally, she nodded, small but determined, a spark of hope igniting in her gaze.
The city gates appeared ahead, tall and imposing, marking the boundary between the quiet countryside and the bustling streets beyond. Merchants called out their wares, carts creaked on cobblestones, and travelers hurried along the roads. The soft chatter and clamor of city life felt almost jarring after the calm of the fields.
Rayan led her through winding streets, turning down a narrow alley until they reached a modest building tucked away from the main thoroughfares. Inside, it was quiet and simple. A single room held a bed, a small table, and a shelf half-filled with worn books.
"It's not much," Rayan said, shrugging, "but… this is home."
The sun dipped lower, painting the room in shades of gold and orange. Shadows stretched along the floorboards, and a faint scent of dust and old parchment lingered in the air.
As night fell, they prepared to rest. Rayan gestured toward the bed. "You sleep there. I'll take the couch."
She shook her head, gentle but firm. "No. I'll sleep on the couch. It's your room."
He insisted, his tone soft but unwavering, and eventually she relented. Lina settled onto the bed, curling herself under the thin blanket. She glanced over at him, curled on the small couch, already half-asleep.
Her lips curved into a soft, almost imperceptible smile. He's kind… even when the world hasn't been kind to him, she thought, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.
For a long moment, she just lay there, listening to the distant sounds of the city the occasional shout, the clatter of a cart, the hum of life beyond these walls. And for the first time in many months, she felt a fragile sense of peace.
Rayan, though exhausted, kept one hand tucked under his cheek, still alert enough to hear the quiet stirrings of the room. Sleep claimed him in gentle waves, pulling him away from the weight of the past, the burden of the engagement, and the uncertainty of the future. But he felt the presence of another beside him, steady and quiet, a reminder that he would not face the journey alone.
Outside, the night deepened, stars twinkling faintly in the velvet sky. The world seemed still, yet full of possibilities, waiting for those brave enough to take them. And inside that small room, two hearts one scarred by loss, the other weighed by duty rested side by side, preparing for the challenges that tomorrow would inevitably bring.
For Lina, it was the first night in years she could breathe without the shadow of despair pressing down. For Rayan, it was another step toward proving that even a crestless outcast could carve his own path, and perhaps, help another find hers along the way.
And so, under the quiet watch of the stars, the first chapter of their shared journey began soft, uncertain, and filled with the fragile hope that courage and determination could yet shape their destinies.