I squinted and shielded my eyes as we stepped into the bright sunlight. The streets of Everspring were already bustling with activity, and townsfolk were going about their daily business. The familiar sights and sounds of the town I'd come to call home washed over me and some of my shoulder tension eased.

Several passersby greeted us warmly. I shook a few hands, and called out greetings to others. Since I had arrived in Everspring, I'd worked hard to help the "green-skins" become more accepted. I'd also stood up to Baron Swiftwood, met the king, and had a private chat with him. King Alister had been drawn here thanks to Roland Hightown, the town steward who had sold me the The Shadow's Respite. Seraphina had called me a celebrity, but I felt like anything but a celebrity. I was just a tired tavern keeper right now.

"You know," I said as we walked, our hands still linked. "I never thought I'd be here, doing this—running a tavern, worrying about menu items and staff schedules. It's a far cry from... well, my old life. And you. I can't believe I met you, and…you know."

Seraphina squeezed my hand gently. "You've come a long way, Varix. We both have. I feel the same way, you know. I'm happy to be with you."

"Does this mean we're," I leaned over and whispered, "what is it called here if we're in a relationship?"

Seraphina stopped and said quietly, "So you think we're in a relationship? That's a bit forward of you. Here, I thought we were just casual."

My mouth dropped open.

Her lips quirked up in a grin.

"Oh. You're funny."

"I know." She laughed. "If you're asking me to be your girlfriend, I accept."

I don't know if it was how she phrased it or the fact that it was phrased at all, but impulsively, I grabbed her hand and gently tugged her toward an alley. She giggled as we dashed in, then turned to me, and we were in each other's arms. I didn't glance around to see if we were being observed. I just kissed her and was properly kissed back.

A breathless moment later, we returned to the street and strolled hand in hand. I found that most of my headache and body pain had lessened.

"I suddenly don't feel as bad as I did a few minutes ago."

"I wonder why?" Seraphina breezed.

I laughed, then asked her. "How's your day shaping up?"

"You know. Enchanting gems for fun and profit." Seraphina grinned. "I have an interesting job this afternoon that might take about an hour. When I get back to the shop I'll be researching the spell. A woman wants to chase away certain dreams, not all of them, but she thinks she's being haunted."

"What you do is so interesting. How hard was it to learn how to enchant gems?"

"It was extremely hard, at first." Seraphina paused. I knew what she meant. She had been tossed into the body of this half-elf with no knowledge of the craft. She'd had to learn as she went. Seraphina had told me she'd had to relearn from her host's notes and innate power.

"So you had to learn how to infuse them."

"Exactly. Some believe crystals can harness power simply by leaving them in the sun. I use a similar method, but I enchant certain gems with magic. For instance, if a farmer wanted to ensure his fields were fertile and free of pests, I would enchant gems like an Emerald of Growth to enhance soil fertility and accelerate plant growth. Also, a Citrine of Pest Repellence would create an invisible barrier that repels harmful insects and small pests."

"I needed help with pests, but my cat seems to have driven them off. I'd thank the little guy, but I almost never see him. I guess he's okay."

"That's a cat for you. You should leave food out for him. He'll figure out who's feeding him, and pretty soon he'll turn into a normal cat. Probably."

I laughed.

As Seraphina and I walked through town, she told me more about her work, which I found fascinating, and not just because it was Seraphina speaking. Magic in this world was something I did not pretend to understand. I also had innate abilities but was too frightened to attempt them. The minute I tried, I was worried I would lose myself in Morthisal and the dread he was capable of spreading. Whenever I took off the amulet, the voices of the dead and cursed were there and always calling to me.

We passed by Hammer & Hearth Blacksmith. The large doors were open, inviting us to peek inside. The interior was dimly lit, with sunlight streaming through the windows and the open doors. The air was thick with the scent of hot metal and coal. A large anvil sat on a workbench. Tools hung neatly on racks on the walls.

Ragna was inside, working on a piece of metal, creating what looked like a plow head. She looked up, spotted us, and greeted us with a wave. "Varix, Seraphina! Nice to see you both out for a stroll."

I smiled and waved back. Ragna might seem tough on the outside, but she was a sweetheart who had helped me out when I was trying to fund The Shadow's Respite.

She gestured for us to come inside. "Come in, come in. Varix, didn't you mention a project you had in mind?"

I nodded and stepped into the shop, Seraphina following close behind. "I did, actually. I wanted to commission your shop to build me a fryer."

Ragna raised an eyebrow. "A fryer? What exactly is that and what did you have in mind?"

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I described the fryer in detail —a large, deep metal container that could hold hot oil, with a basket that could be lowered and raised. I figured the basket would be the most challenging part unless they could somehow make metal strands that could be woven into a pattern and attached to the handle. More than likely, a big metal holder would need to be created, and holes would need to be drilled in the bottom and sides. I explained how it would be used for cooking various foods quickly.

Ragna listened intently, scratching her head. "Interesting idea. I'll have Doan stop by your place to go over the details and take some measurements in the kitchen. We'll need to figure out where it'll fit best."

"That would be great, thanks," I said. "Oh, and I have some money for you. I've been saving to pay back my investors."

Ragna's eyes widened slightly. "Well, that's mighty kind of you, Varix. Wasn't expecting it so soon. I'll give it to Doan when he stops by."

"Also," I added, "I've had the plaques created to display Hammer & Hearth as the only blacksmith I use. They're ready to be put up at The Shadow's Respite."

A broad smile spread across Ragna's face. "That's excellent news! I appreciate you holding up your end of the deal."

I'd managed to get a loan from Ragna by sponsoring her blacksmith.

We chatted for a few more minutes before Seraphina gently reminded me she needed to get back to work soon.

"We should get going," I said. "We're headed to the herbalist, next. Thanks again, Ragna."

"No problem at all," she replied. "Take care, you two. You make a nice couple. I mean to say, er, are you two…?"

I turned and looked at Seraphia. "It's okay. Seraphina is my girlfriend."

Seraphina squeezed my hand and grinned.

"Excellent, Varix!" Ragna exclaimed. "Excellent, Seraphina."

"Thank you, Ragna. I'm very happy," Seraphina told her.

"So am I," I said, but held Seraphina's gaze.

"Alright. You two go on before this place melts."

I laughed, and Seraphina tugged me away.

As we left the blacksmith, I couldn't help but be on cloud nine. Seraphina was my girlfriend, and I was starting to make good on my debts to those who had helped me get started. The Shadow's Respite had become a reality, and I was grateful for the support of people like Ragna.

"That was nice," Seraphina said as we walked. "Ragna seems pleased with how things are going."

"She was pretty tickled about our news."

"Oh, Varix. Everyone who looks at us knows we're an official couple."

"I guess I'm old-fashioned. I wanted to hear it."

She leaned over and whispered, "I'm your girlfriend."

I sighed happily as we continued on.

As we approached the herbalist's shop, the familiar scent of dried herbs and flowers floated through the air. The wooden sign above the door creaked gently in the breeze, its faded letters spelling "The Fragrant Leaf." I pushed open the door, and a small bell chimed, announcing our arrival.

Yarrow Bramblewick, the elderly herbalist, looked up from his work at the counter. His face was lined with age and wisdom. That might have come from his demeanor. I always felt like I was talking to a kindly grandfather when I came to Yarrow's shop. He broke into a warm smile as he recognized me. "Ah, Varix! Good to see you, my friend. And Miss Seraphina, always a pleasure."

"Hello, Yarrow," I greeted him with a nod. "How's business?"

The old man chuckled. "Oh, you know. People always need their remedies. Speaking of which, I suspect you're here for something specific?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "You've got me figured out, Yarrow. I've run out of restoratives, and my body's feeling the strain of long hours at the tavern. Last night was particularly rough. At one point, every table was full."

Yarrow's expression turned thoughtful. He reached beneath the counter and produced a small wooden box. "I've just finished brewing a fresh batch. They should do the trick." He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "But Varix, I feel I should warn you. If you keep using these regularly, their effectiveness will decrease over time. The body has a way of adapting, you see."

"I appreciate the warning, Yarrow. I'll keep that in mind and try to use them sparingly."

Seraphina put her hand on my shoulder and said, "He needs help, but he hasn't hired anyone yet. Once he has another employee, he won't need as many restoratives."

Old Man Yarrow scratched his head. "Jessara Swiftbrew was in here earlier. She needed, well…nevermind what she wanted. She mentioned she's looking for work."

"Oh?" I said.

Jessara was Milo's sister. She worked, or had worked, at The Green Griffin, a public house in the center of Everspring. I wondered what had happened. Maybe it had something to do with Milo's constant tardiness and his reluctance to tell me why he was always running late.

"Something to keep in mind," Yarrow said, his smile returning. "Now, how many would you like?"

"I'll take six, please," I replied, digging out some coins.

As Yarrow carefully wrapped the vials, Seraphina added. "I'd like to purchase two as well, if you don't mind. It's always good to have some on hand at the shop, just in case."

Yarrow nodded. "A wise decision, Miss Seraphina. One never knows when they might come in handy." He said, and his eyes drifted to me. "Especially if used in moderation."

I almost laughed. Okay, okay, I get the message.

After completing our purchases, we bid farewell to Yarrow and stepped back out into the bustling streets of Everspring. The sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the town. We strolled hand in hand, taking our time and enjoying each other's company.

"Good day, Varix!" called out Mrs. Thimbleton, the seamstress. "Lovely to see you, Seraphina."

We returned their greetings with smiles and waves, our joined hands swinging gently between us. The simple act of walking through town together filled me with a sense of belonging I'd rarely experienced.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Seraphina sighed softly. "I hate to say it, but I should return to the shop. There's that enchantment I need to research."

With a pang of disappointment, I nodded in understanding. "Duty calls, I suppose. I should get back to the tavern, as well. I'll ask Milo about his sister. She's a little surly, but at least she has serving experience."

"She might be a good fit, assuming she and Milo get along. What if they have sibling rivalry?"

"Good point. I guess I'll feel out Milo before I propose the idea."

We slowed to a stop and turned to face each other. Seraphina's violet eyes met mine. "I wish we could spend more time together," I admitted, gently squeezing her hand.

She smiled, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from my forehead. "So do I, Varix. But we both have responsibilities. And besides," her smile turned playful, "absence makes the heart grow fonder. That's what they say, right?"

I chuckled, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her cheek. "I'm not sure my heart could be any fonder of you."

Seraphina's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go. "I'll stop by the tavern later if I can. Good luck with your preparations."

"And good luck with your research," I replied.

We parted ways, each heading back to our respective businesses.