New Companions

Training continued, and little by little, Lucius and Melissa began to show signs of progress.

At last, Melissa managed to catch Tagunel off guard. 

At just the right moment, she knocked the vial from his hand with a sharp kick of her hooves before he could cast his spell.

Meanwhile, Lucius landed a hit on Liviana’s arm with a sudden lunge, having spotted a pattern in her attacks and reacting in a split second.

Liviana regarded him with gleaming eyes.

“Not bad,” she purred, wiping a small scratch from her arm.

Before Lucius could even catch his breath, she was suddenly right up against him again, pressed her lithe body against his and toppled him into the sand.

“But you still have to learn how to use your advantage… instead of just standing there,” she murmured into his ear, her warm breath brushing against his skin.

Lucius blushed. 

Melissa burst in from the side, her voice blazing.

“Hey! Hands off him, you mouse-chasing wannabe tiger!”

Liviana laughed, released him, and instead plopped herself down on his hips, licking her paws with slow, exaggerated motions.

Melissa stamped her hoof. 

“Off of him, kitty! Or I’ll give you something to remember!”

“Try it, little goat!” Liviana shot back, her eyes suddenly cold as ice.

Before the two could lunge at each other, Marcthain’s booming voice cut through the air.

“That’s enough, you two!” he barked, and Liviana finally climbed off Lucius.

Once things had settled, Marcthain told them that training was finished for the day.

“You didn’t do too bad,” he grumbled eventually, pressing a small leather pouch into Lucius’ hand. 

“What’s this?“

“Your pay. Can’t have you getting too used to room service every day…”

Melissa instantly snatched the pouch away and weighed it in her palm. 

“How many bottles of wine do you think this’ll get us?”

She hooked her arm possessively through Lucius’ and shot Liviana a cheeky gaze.

“Come on. Let’s go have a little fun in Rivora tonight!”

He was just about to nod when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“Not you,” Marcthain said firmly.

Lucius turned slowly to face him, swallowing hard. 

“W-what?“

Marcthain fixed him with a stern stare. 

“Aelmir is waiting for you. You’ve got a lot to catch up on. We’ll see you back here first thing in the morning.”

Melissa looked at him, disappointed. 

“And what about me?”

But Liviana jumped in, giggling, eyes sparkling.

“Why don’t you come with us, Fawny? Tagunel and I were planning to check if that guy with the fried cheese skewers is back at the market.”

Melissa blinked, still a little angry, but her ears twitched.

“Fried… cheese skewers…?”

“Spicy, crispy, absolutely delicious,” purred Liviana. “And I heard there’s a new tavern nearby. I haven’t tried the ale yet, but they say it’s dark and smooth.”

Melissa hesitated, weighing whether she was still angry. 

But finally, she decided nothing was worth giving up food and beer.

“You speak my language, kitty,” she said with a grin.

She gave Lucius a pat on the chest. 

“Well then, have fun with your studying. See you later!”

Lucius let his shoulders sag. 

“Hey, wait a minute!” he called after her, but it was no use.

Soon he was back with the old shopkeeper, drilling spells for the rest of the day.

᯽᯽᯽

Meanwhile, Melissa, Liviana, and Tagunel wandered through the bustling village.

They tried grilled meat, ale, and all sorts of other treats while browsing the market stalls together.

At one stall, Liviana reflexively caught a glass that slipped from a merchant’s hand.

“Wow, you’re pretty quick for a waitress,” Melissa said, impressed.

Liviana shrugged. “I’m from a village in the south. Everyone there was quick.”

“Was?”

Liviana stopped walking, her gaze clouded over, and her ears drooped slightly.

“I’m the only one left…” Her voice dropped to a quiet murmur. “Yashari slave traders...”

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Then Liviana raised her head again, her eyes suddenly filled with fierce resolve.

“Mar' saved me. Since then… this is my home.” 

She looked straight at Melissa. 

“That’s why I think it’s amazing that you’re helping us. Lots of people hide from the threat coming out of Yashar. But you’re different. You’re fighting for the right thing!”

Melissa didn’t know what to say. 

After all, they were only involved because Marcthain had blackmailed them into it. And yet, something stirred inside her at her words.

Liviana clapped her lightly on the shoulder.

“We Selvarin have to stick together.”

“I’m not a...” Melissa started to protest, but the words died on her tongue.

In Liviana’s eyes, she saw determination and hope shining back at her, and felt something she’d never felt before.

She grinned and gave Liviana a firm nod. 

“Yeah. Let’s stick together.”

The catlike Selvarin smiled, before steering the conversation to something different.

“Look over there!” she called out, pointing to a stall where jewelry sparkled in every shape and color.

Rings, necklaces, brooches glittered under the lantern light. 

Liviana’s eyes shone as she gave her own earring a playful tap.

“I’ve been wanting to treat myself to something nice for ages!” she exclaimed, rummaging excitedly through the display. 

Finally, she picked out a slender silver bracelet.

“Looks great, doesn’t it?” she asked.

Even Tagunel, usually the quiet companion, perked up when his eyes fell on an intricately crafted green brooch shaped like a leaf.

“That looks exactly like the jewelry from my homeland…” he murmured softly.

But before he could say anything more, Liviana snatched up the brooch and started fussing with his cloak.

“Come on, let’s see how it looks on you!” she cried cheerfully.

And a moment later, when Tagunel was admiring himself with a pleased smile in the merchant’s mirror, the deal already done.

Only Melissa stood hesitantly in front of the stall, not touching a thing.

“Isn’t there anything you like?” Tagunel finally asked.

Melissa shrugged.

“I’m not really into jewelry… or fancy clothes…”

Liviana and Tagunel exchanged a questioning glance, but then Liviana noticed that Melissa kept glancing at a particular golden ring with a small blue gem set in the center.

“Do you like that ring?” Liviana asked curiously.

Melissa blinked, as if snapping out of some distant thought, her voice suddenly sounding unusually soft.

“…No promises, no vows…” she murmured, as though remembering something long forgotten.

“Try it on!” Liviana suggested.

But the merchant interrupted. 

“I’m sorry, my lady, but that’s a man’s ring. It’s likely far too big for you.”

Melissa stared at the ring for another moment.

Maybe it won’t fit me… but maybe…

Then she lifted her chin.

“I’ll take it!” she declared suddenly.

But as she counted her coins, she had to sigh in disappointment when she realized it wasn’t enough.

“So what did you even want with that ring?”, Liviana asked casually when they were already on the way back to the inn.

Melissa suddenly flashed a mischievous grin.

“Well, I thought it might’ve looked pretty good on my tail!”

Liviana stared at her for a second, then burst into laughter.

Later that evening, after they parted ways, Melissa returned to the room to find Lucius already fast asleep, gently snoring under the covers.

She carefully slipped under the blanket beside him and for a brief moment, she simply lay there, gazing at him.

“Husband…” she whispered so quietly it was barely audible.

Then her eyes fluttered shut, and she, too, drifted off to sleep.