Lomont, the largest city in the territory of Laruth, where thousands lived, prospered, and died. Every day, people from towns not printed on any map, and people from the highest of royalty walked over the steel drawbridge and left in the same manner. In this city filled with thousands, what exactly were the chances of running into him again.

After leaving Giorgos and Selana, Ozias and Valery walked through the same muddled alleyways they came in through before reaching the streets of the city. Although the sun had lowered slightly, and night was on the horizon, many continued to travel around the city. Some began walking towards taverns to wash away the day’s struggles, while others sat in restaurants to feast on a hearty meal.

The duo walked past a bellow of people, pushing through crowds before spotting a restaurant nearby.

“How about there, Ozias.”

Valery pointed toward a small building. Chairs and tables were placed outside under a veranda. They were wooden but were painted peach, while the veranda was light red in color and protected the chairs and tables from the lowering sun.

“Alright.”

Many people walked past the building, yet none entered. They all continued without casting a single glance.

There was a small set of stairs leading into the restaurant, that kept the building slightly elevated from the ground. Up it, the door and windows near were covered, hiding all inside. The only way to ascertain was to enter.

The opened door revealed the coveted inside of the restaurant, where a middle-aged man greeted them.

Shock shot from his feet to his hands as he quickly stood up before greeting the two guests.

“Welcome in. How are you two doing this fine evening?”

Valery noticed the man before returning his greeting.

“we’re doing well.”

Candles sat on multiple corners of the cramped room full of chairs and round tables. On top of each was a red-dyed cloth that extended over, nearly hitting the floor. The only source of light that came into the room was the candles, giving the room a romantic yet eerie atmosphere.

The man who greeted them was unlike anything Ozias had seen before. He possessed heavy curls on the top of his head that folded in on themselves, while the smile he cast toward the two caused slight wrinkles on his cheeks. What shocked Ozias was not that though. Even the people who tilled the fields from day to night, essentially living under the blazing sun were not this dark. From all the people walking outside as well, he had not seen one that looked like him.

The man walked from the counter toward the two with thin animal skin. On it was a menu of items the two could choose from.

“My name is Kasim, and I will be your host this evening. Would you two like to eat inside or out?”

Valery thought for a moment before asking Ozias.

“What do you think?”

Ozias was quite shocked that she would ask for his opinion.

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“I’m fine with anything. Where do you want to eat?”

“Hmm, outside would be nice. It was quite stuffy in Ms. Selana’s shop.”

Hearing this, the man clapped his hands before pushing the two outside.

“Alright! Outside it is. What would you two like to order”

After speaking their orders, Kasim sat them outside, gave them cups of water, and laid out a pair of utensils for the two to use.

Under the veranda, they were kept cool while only a warm wind found itself bothering them. People several nons below paid them no mind as they continued walking to different restaurants. While where the two were, awkward silence permeated as Valery looked toward the various buildings and people. Ozias on the other hand watched Valery, noticing new details about her he had not noticed earlier. Minutes passed before Valery finally spoke.

“Say, what do you think were the things that were flying around us earlier.”

Ozias looked away from Valery at the same time she looked towards him.

“The old lady had called it the essence of garant.”

Valery looked closer at Ozias, silently analyzing him before responding.

“Really, did she say that?”

“Were you not paying attention?”

Valery scratched her head before admitting.

“No, not really. I was too busy playing with them.”

“…”

“Look, I even brought one of those things with me! Though, I guess it really isn’t a thing.”

From the inner of one of her pockets came a small bundle of light, bright orange in hue. It flew around Valery before wandering around the place they were in.

“It actually followed you here?”

Valery smiled at the tiny being as it flew everywhere.

“Yes, actually, she spoke to me as well.”

Ozias’s eyes widened slightly as he became curious. “It can speak?”

“Did they not speak to you earlier?”

“No, they just left.”

Valery looked everywhere in thought with the being before speaking to it.

“Could you come here please?”

The being instantly froze before turning to Valery. Then, in correspondence, it began to float over to her, landing on her curly head of hair.

“See! It followed what I did!”

She pointed up to her head with a bright smile planted on her face. Ozias saw her bright smile and chuckled lightly, surprising Valery.

“Hey!! That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile! I haven’t seen you laugh either!”

Ozias immediately stopped before feeling his face.

‘Huh…’

At that moment, the bundle of light dissipated as Kasim came out with two platters.

“Here you two go, our house special.”

Kasim placed the plates down before glancing towards Valery’s head.

“Where did she go…”

Valery scuffled through her hair, hoping to find any remains of the essence, before giving up.

Kasim looked back toward his masterpieces before speaking to the two

“Alright, well you two let me know if you need anything.”

Valery and Ozias said “Of course.” before Kasim went back inside.

The steaming plates of food were quite interesting to the two. When explaining the menu, Kasim stated that the dish was one he had many times in his country of origin. Of course, to the young children, they had never seen anything like this. On the plate was the meat of a two-headed goat lathered in a green sauce with a side of rice. Next to the plates were pieces of baked dough that would be used to pick up food and eat it, rather than the usual utensils. He had also mentioned using his hands as a way to eat this, which shocked the two.

“Well, let’s dig in.”

Valery picked up a portion of bread before using it to pull some meat off the head of the goat. Contrarily, Ozias used a spoon to pick pieces of meat off before eating it together with the goat.

This went on for several minutes as the two found themselves enjoying the food quite an amount. The sun lowered and lowered as the moons began to brighten in the dimming sky. Fewer and fewer people could be seen on the streets as time went on, as they deemed it a comfortable time to head home and rest away the day’s sorrows.

Later in their meal, Kasim came out and lit candles on the veranda while Ozias and Valery chatted. Yet, the time had come.

Toward the end of their meal, while Ozias was distracted talking with Valery, a girthy hand grabbed Ozias from behind and threw him off the Veranda into the sky above.

Moments before, Ozias had heard these words.

“I finally found ya you dirty slave!”