Chapter 38 – In which Saf already knows
Saffra looked around with shining eyes.
Around her, the bustling crowds of people moved like waves of a surging river.
The previous Saffra was here before, but this Saffra, who remembered how things were 300 years ago, was here for the first time.
Having the point of comparison, Saffra couldn’t help but marvel inside, even though what was around her was nothing extraordinary.
The buildings got taller and clustered closer together.
The materials they were built of gradually changed.
When she looked down, she could see the thin layers of stone foundation built 300 years ago. And upon them yet another, different layers from different times.
Knowing that those magnificent structures that protected the people of this century were built on the foundation of the buildings she she herself may have overseen a construction off made her heart tickle..
And upon the foundations she made were other layers added by the passing generations of architects.
Topal, the capital of Flavun, was a city of layers.
It was destroyed and burned down so many times there were little to none of the old structures that Saffra remembered from her past, but the layers of the passing centuries remained and people of Topal built upon them.
The yellow stones became a foundation for the crystal clear domes to raise and reflect sunlight like gems.
As if daring everyone who witnessed it to try and destroy it.
Go on, said this city, burn me to the ground. I’ll rise even more beautiful than before.
“I’ll buy you anything you want.”
“Huh?”
“Just choose.”
Saffra looked back at Mimosa with a confused expression.
She was so absorbed in examining how the city changed that she completely forgot what they came here for.
Today Saffra and Mimosa went shopping.
Only the two of them.
Saffra’s ladies-in-waiting stayed behind, and though Mimosa’s guards followed behind them, the distance was so big, Saffra almost forgot they were there.
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Saffra tilted her head and tapped her arm in thought.
There wasn’t anything she wanted to buy, not at the moment at least.
Her body was still too fragile to handle any heavier weapon than a knife, so she had no need for those.
She thought that she had more than enough clothes, and even if she were to buy some, she wasn’t sure if there were any that could match her 300 years old lady taste.
…
After thinking for a while, she decided to look for gifts for her three girls.
They seemed a bit down after the… incident and she also wanted to thank them for taking care of her.
She also wanted to buy a gift for Mimosa, but she would have to find a good moment to do that when Mimosa wasn’t looking.
Because surprise gifts are the best gifts!
“Okay. Let’s go!”
With a plan in her head, Saffra dived between stalls and shops to look for suitable gifts.
Thanks to the smell of familiar spices and the murmur of the market that didn’t seem to change, even though the language changed over the years, she was able to relax a bit.
Even the sun, which warmed her body to the uncomfortable temperature, didn’t seem so bad.
Mimosa was always beside her, and though she didn’t talk much, she seemed to enjoy herself too.
After a few hours, Saffra was humming happily, with her arms full of gifts, when Mimosa said:
“Let’s take a break. I know a place with good cold coffee.”
“Okay!”
Saffra readily agreed as her legs were getting tired from all the running.
Mimosa led her to a small cafe in the small corner of the street.
It was neat, but because it was heavily shadowed by the trees and most of the windows were covered, it didn’t grab much attention.
Saffra smirked when she saw the sign with a generic name ‘Flower Cafe’.
‘Not attention seeking, huh?’
The wind catcher sang when they entered.
There were a few patrons, but Mimosa paid them no mind and moved towards the stairs without a word.
No one questioned them when they entered the second floor which didn’t seem to be an open part of the cafe.
Saffra didn’t question that either, just followed Mimosa with a smile on her lips.
They finally arrived in a room that resembled a cafe, but had some strange points about it.
For example there was only one table with two chairs.
There was no barista counter.
And most noticeable of all, all the windows were covered, so no sunlight entered.
The room was fully illuminated by artificial lights.
Mimosa sat down on one of the chairs and after Saffra followed, she handed her a menu.
“Choose what you like.”
Though the room was strange, Saffra examined the menu items without any worry.
When she was ready, Mimosa used a small golden bell to summon a server and made their order.
“Roasted dark coffee, mousse coffee, strawberry and blueberry tart… Please also bring salt…?”
Mimosa quickly glanced at Saffra through her dark glasses to confirm that.
Saffra nodded with a smile. She was about to ask for that.
“... And for me, the same as always.”
Mimosa didn’t order anything besides ‘the same as always’.
A few minutes later, their order arrived.
Saffra received the coffee and sweets she wanted, and Mimosa received…
A glass of dark red liquid with ice cubes.
When everyone left, and it was only the two of them again, Mimosa opened her mouth first:
“This place is very secure. I sometimes use it as my secret office, or when I need to talk with someone in secret.”
“So it’s the second option today, huh?”
“... Yes.”
Mimosa made a bit apologetic expression.
“Don’t worry and say what is on your mind. Besides, that coffee indeed smells good.”
Saffra smiled encouragingly, as she probed the mousse coffee with a spoon.
“... I want to make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. I’ll tell you one secret about myself, and in exchange I’ll ask you to consider answering one of my questions.”
“Consider? I don’t have to answer?”
“The question I want to ask may be quite problematic, so it’s okay if you won’t answer.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Saffra nodded. She already expected something like that when she entered this cafe.
Seeing that Mimosa turned very serious, Saffra ceased toying with the spoon and crossed her hands on the table, ready to listen.
Mimosa hesitated for a moment and then quietly said:
“I’m a vampire.”
“...”
Saffra blinked and had to stop herself from asking:
‘Was that supposed to be a secret?’