Lanternlight & Ease

THEY HEADED upstairs to the dorms of the east wing, which were typically reserved for sisters of the Research Ward. But it was also the only area that had guestrooms available.

Henrietta had reserved two rooms for them. The first one on the top floor she arranged for Lucien and her, and Sirius was next door.

Aisling was the only one not accounted for, but that quickly changed.

Standing in front of the second door, Sirius’s heart beat rapidly as he calmly remarked, “I guess we’ll be sharing this one for the time being.”

Sheepishly grinning, Aisling responded, “I’m fine with it if you are.”

The dorm had a lampshade on the ceiling and two more on a wall, a hearth and a grandsovereign clock on the one right of the entrance, and a washroom was integrated into the left corner. Throughout, there was one bed, a small dining table with two chairs, a bookshelf opposite the entrance beside a clothing rack and a small dresser. It was the standard layout for all guestrooms.

Aisling stood in awe. “Looks cozy, mind if I go first?” she asked, pointing to the washroom.

“Not at all, I’ll, uh, wait over there.” Sirius made his way to the bookshelf, while she proceeded to take a bath.

But shortly after entering, she requested his help to operate the shower knobs.

He twisted a small red metal valve for hot water and then a small blue metal valve for cool water on the back of the wall.

They were attached to a simple system of pipes that released water from the sprinkler head above a tub that collected it and drained it.

“Just give it a minute to warm up,” he instructed, opening the cabinets beside the sink, which also had pipes connecting it. “And you can adjust the valves if you want it colder or warmer. Then dry yourself off with one of these towels.”

Aisling thanked him, and began undressing after he left. First stripping off the multiple layers of socks, her feet up to her knees felt grainy and cooler now that they were exposed to air. She wiggled her toes, sighing, “Much better, but hopefully I’ll get some shoes.” She then sniffed part of her dress, and it had a metallic scent. “Hopefully this’ll dry by morning,” she muttered, before realizing she wouldn’t have anything to wear. So she cracked the door open a bit to call Sirius over again. She spoke to him from behind the door, requesting a change of clothes.

Flushed, the young man listened, respectfully abiding to her request as he pulled a seal scroll from his belt to find that he only had one set of clothes left. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and he handed her a black kurta and trousers she could wear in the meantime. “There’s a drawstring on the pants too, so that’ll help hold it,” he said, slipping the outfit behind the door.

Aisling soon emerged after a soothing shower of lavender-scented soap, lukewarm water, and hanging herbs of eucalyptus, sage, and thyme.

Sirius’s eyes instinctively scanned her from head to toe a few times, captivated.

“It’s a little big on me,” she murmured, standing, then rotating in place. The kurta hung like a robe, its sleeves draping past her hands some and the hem nearly brushing her shins. She had folded the pant legs several times so her ankles showed, the fabric bunching awkwardly around them.

He hadn’t expected to see her dressed like that, swallowed in black linen, hair damp, and face pink from the warm lamplight. Sirius’s breath caught, and the back of his neck prickled with sudden heat. “I-It works for now,” he managed, then cleared his throat. “Temporarily.” He edged toward the washroom, trying, but failing, to keep his voice steady. “We’ll, uh… we’ll see if Henrietta might lend you one of her dresses tomorrow.” He slipped inside the washroom and closed the door a little too quickly.

Aisling smiled faintly at his flustered retreat.

He then emerged slightly to express, “You look good, by the way, Aisling.”

A gentle knock soon sounded at the door, and Aisling answered to find Henrietta with a cart of food.

“Thought you might be hungry,” she said with a soft grin, rolling the cart further into the room. “It is just a light vegetable soup and bread. And I brewed chamomile tea with warm milk. Be careful, they are hot.”

Aisling accepted it gratefully. “Looks good. Thank you!”

She glanced at the Pawn’s attire as she placed the tray on the table, and giggled.

Flustered, she defended, “Um, this is temporary!”

Henrietta shook her head, wearing an amused smile. “You do not need to tell me, cutie. I completely understand.”

“Ahh. D-Do you know if there’s a spare dress or something I could borrow? As backup perhaps. And, and shoes. I’d hate to leave a mess…”

“Oh? How considerate of you,” she teased. “But of course. I shall bring you one… later. It seems you are already committed to the fit.”

“T-Thanks.”

Henrietta glanced around the room and asked, “Anything else I could bring for you? Extra blankets, pillows… perhaps a cot? There is only one bed, you know.”

Aisling pursed her lips. “Yes, I’m aware,” she replied, her face turning a light pink. “And we’ll be fine, I don’t wanna trouble you.”

“No trouble at all, cutie. Just wanted to make sure you were both comfortable.”

Her face was now as red as her hair, and Henrietta playfully chuckled, but apologized if it was too much.

“Anyway,” she continued, “ please tell Sirius to visit Chisato soon. He knows why.” She then glimpsed Aisling’s eyebrows twitch, and quickly addressed with a grin, “She is a childhood friend of his and Lucien’s.”

“Ah.”

Henrietta felt impelled to tease her more, but didn’t want to drag things further. “And tomorrow, after the first bell tolls for morning prayers, meet Lucien in the sitting room from earlier. I shall join you after performing some sacred rites. We have been granted an audience with Master Rysa.”

“Okay, we’ll be there.”

She gave Aisling a quick wink with her right lavender eye. “Rest easy, then, cutie. I will see you in the morning.”

Sirius emerged several minutes later, hair damp, wearing a black sleeveless undershirt with his trousers this time. He paused when he saw the bowls. “Ooh, is that soup?” he remarked, taking in the notes of stewed carrots, potatoes, soft leeks, and a gentle blend of garden herbs.

“Yeah, Henrietta brought it up,” Aisling replied from her seat by the table. “But be careful! It’s still pretty hot.”

He sat across from her, and together they waited for the bowls to cool. Sirius poured the tea, the warm scent of chamomile drifting between them. “The flower used in this drink helps you sleep,” he explained. “And after the journey we’ve had so far, I don’t even think I need it. But I could eat.”

“Right. I wasn’t actually very hungry at first, but now that it’s sitting in front of me, I can’t wait to taste it.” Aisling pulled up the sleeves above her elbows, but they kept falling down.

“Allow me,” Sirius offered, rolling them up for her so they sat snug on her arm. “I usually wear my sleeves at this length too. It’s just more comfortable for me.”

“I like something where my arms are free to move too.” She lifted them to test out how the sleeves felt. “It’s lighter than the cloaks, that’s for sure.”

They soon ate quietly.

The enchanted stones set within the wall lamps glowed with a warm amber hue, steady and soothing.

It was nothing like the flicker of firelight they’d endured in the wild. It felt more cozy.

Aisling stole a glance at Sirius between spoonfuls.

Something pulled at his features: tension around the mouth, heaviness around the eyes, and thoughts churning under the surface.

Even though he’d likely dismiss it until they were in a better spot overall, she decided to try and ease his strain. “The soup’s really good,” she muttered. “How do you like it?”

“Pretty good,” he admitted, offering a small smile. “Just the right amount of salt and everything.”

She nodded. “Especially the sweet potatoes.”

He chuckled more than he did while traveling. “You and your potatoes, Aisling. Want some of mine?”

“Pretty please,” she said without hesitation, and held her bowl closer. “I love these so much. Thanks. Do you want the rest of my bread?”

“Sure.” He accepted it, then tore a piece off to dip in the broth. “The garlic butter they use on it is my favorite.”

“Mm, that gives me an idea for another potato dish—garlic butter potatoes!”

As they finished their meal, Aisling relayed Henrietta’s message to him.

He clenched his jaw and placed his hand on his upper back. “I knew it,” he whispered under his breath. “It’s the height of the pilgrimage.”

“What’s wrong?” Aisling gently asked.

The Bishop briefly told her about the crusade, and how he carried his friends to safety. Being young, he didn’t feel the effects it had on his back and legs, but it would sting around early autumn, like his body just wouldn’t forget. As he got older, even though the physical pain was tolerable, it started to knot his mana flow. And since he and Lucien were always traveling, he needed to be constantly sound of mind and body in order to proficiently harness mana with ease. But this practice slowly took its toll.

The skills of a Bishop-class versed more in the arts of healing magic were necessary to mitigate this ailment. Even better is when the process is administered by an apothecary sister.

“I should go now,” Sirius said, arranging the bowls and cups on the tray to carry away. “Best to get it over with.”

“Oh, okay then,” she replied, placing the napkin in the bowl, making sure it stayed balled up and not unfurl too much. “I was, uh, actually wondering if I could meet your friend.”

He nodded. “Sure, but you’ll probably have to wait somewhere. The treatment is kinda… private, if I’m being honest.”

She raised her eyebrows. “I-I won’t interrupt, promise!”