By the time Lloyd stepped outside, the world was swallowed in white, his breath forming misty clouds in the frozen air. The old, insulated cooler sat on the sled behind him, packed tightly with the butchered boar meat, jars of brined organs, and a few carefully wrapped cuts he'd kept pristine. Ice packs lined the sides to keep everything cold, though in this weather, it almost felt unnecessary.
Just as he was about to set off, a voice stopped him.
"Where are you going without me?"
Sylvara leaned casually on the doorframe, wearing an oversized coat that nearly drowned her figure. Her hair fell in loose waves, emerald eyes glimmering with defiance.
"To the market," Lloyd said without looking at her. "I'll sell the meat, buy what we need, and come back. You stay here."
"No."
Lloyd turned his head, brows furrowed. "No?"
"I want to come with you"
"It's too far. The snow hasn't gone down yet." Lloyd explained.
"A little snow won't hurt me" The woman puffed up her chest proudly.
"I don't want you to get sick or hurt." Lloyd tried to decline her once more.
"Lloyd," she said, stepping closer. "I'm not a fragile porcelain doll. Carrying all of that must be heavy. We agreed that you would rely on me, remember?"
He wanted to argue, but her stare was unwavering. It was the same look she had when she declared she'd take him seriously the other night. Stubborn, confident, impossible to shake.
"…Fine," Lloyd muttered. "Don't blame me when your legs give out."
"We'll see about that~"
Hmph, although she was weaker than before, she was still a goddess! She'll show this weak human a lesson.
___________________________________
The road stretched endlessly, a white trail through the forest. Snow crunched under their boots, each step sinking slightly. Lloyd trudged ahead, the sled dragging behind him, his muscles already straining under the weight of the loaded cooler.
Sylvara walked beside him, hands buried in her coat pockets, humming softly to herself as if the cold didn't bother her. Every now and then, she would glance at him with a teasing smile.
"You're sweating already," she said lightly.
"Shut up," he replied through clenched teeth.
"Do you need me to pull the sled?"
Lloyd shot her a look. "No."
The goddess smirked, clearly enjoying herself. Her steps were light, almost effortless. While his breath came out in heavy puffs, hers remained calm, controlled. By the halfway point, he couldn't deny it, her endurance was better than his.
He refused to admit it out loud though.
___________________________________
The market came into view as the sun hung low, staining the snow in soft shades of gold. The small town bustled with life despite the cold. Vendors shouting prices, people wrapped in scarves hurrying from one stall to another, the smell of roasted coffee beans and grilled skewers filling the air.
Lloyd headed straight for the butcher's shop. The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside, dragging the cooler.
The butcher, a burly man with a trimmed beard, glanced up from behind the counter. "Lloyd. Haven't seen you in a while. What have you got today?"
Lloyd unlatched the cooler and opened the lid. The man whistled when he saw the neatly packed cuts.
"Clean work. Damn fine cuts," the butcher said, inspecting a vacuum-sealed slab of meat. "Even the organs are prepped."
"Can you take all of it?" Lloyd asked.
The man nodded, weighing the meat and scribbling down notes. "I'll take everything you've got. Hunters bring in boars all the time, but not like this. It'll fetch a good price."
When the wad of cash hit his hands, Lloyd felt the satisfying weight of progress.
Sylvara wandered the shop, eyeing knives and other meats with a critical gaze. When she came back, she overheard the butcher's last words.
"Your pops sure taught you well kiddo. He would've been proud seeing you step up."
Lloyd's expression barely moved, but something tightened in his chest. "…Thanks."
"Let's go," he said quietly, pocketing the money.
As they walked toward the clothing shop, Sylvara glanced at him. "You knew the butcher?"
"Yeah. My dad and him were pretty good friends. My dad was a hunter. He would regularly come over to sell meat." Lloyd calmly explained.
"A farmer and a hunter? That must've been a lot of work." Sylvara exclaimed.
"Well." Lloyd paused. "My mom took care of the fields mostly while my dad hunted. But with them…both gone, I had to step up. Hunting was unreliable and I wasn't strong like my father." Lloyd's voice cracked slightly when he reminisced about his family life but still kept his stoic expression.
Sylvara patted his shoulder. "Sorry for prying." She muttered apologetically.
"It's fine."
The walked in awkward silence. They headed to the clothing shop. The bell jingled again as they entered, greeted by the smell of wool, detergent, and something faintly sweet. Warm air hit their faces, a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside.
Sylvara's eyes lit up instantly, darting to the racks of coats, scarves, and boots.
"So pretty~," she whispered, already pulling out a cream-colored coat.
Lloyd sighed but followed, picking out sturdy winter jackets and leggings for her. He also grabbed a soft pink coat for Nora, with matching mittens and boots that looked ridiculously warm. The thought of Nora's little face lighting up when she saw them softened his usually stoic expression.
Sylvara twirled in front of him, now wearing a snug white coat with fur lining and sleek black boots. "How do I look?" she asked, spinning slowly so he could see.
Lloyd blinked. "...Looks good on you."
"Only good? You're stingy with compliments, farmer." She smirked, clearly fishing for more.
"You'll live."
They picked out a few scarves, one of which Sylvara draped around his neck herself, claiming it "matched his eyes perfectly." He rolled his eyes but didn't take it off.
The clerk bagged everything neatly, and Lloyd paid without hesitation, ignoring the slight dent it made in his funds. For once, spending felt right.