As the sun dipped below the horizon, the golden hues of the sky faded into the soft blues and purples of twilight. Azter and Lucille reluctantly left their spot at the edge of the circus platform, the cool evening air nipping at their skin as they walked toward the mess area.
The aroma of their usual “meals” wafted in the air—bland and unappetizing, but just enough to keep them going. The other performers were already there, sitting in small groups and chatting amongst themselves.
Lucille's steps were light and measured, her demeanor soft and approachable. She smiled politely at anyone who glanced her way, though most ignored her. She seemed more mature at age eleven—at least by their calculations—than Azter, who was older by a year. Her politeness was a stark contrast to his, who trailed behind her with his usual air of brooding.
Azter’s sharp gaze swept the room, his body tense and on edge, as if daring someone to look at him the wrong way. At twelve, his wiry frame hid the strength he’d built over years of grueling performances, or as he would prefer to call torture. The faint sneer that curled his lips warned others to steer clear, though none of the performers saw him as a threat.
They moved through the line to receive their bowls of food, the server handing it over with the same disdainful glance they’d grown accustomed to.
“Watch it,” Azter muttered as the server deliberately let the bowl clatter hard against the counter in front of him.
Lucille placed a hand on his arm, her calming presence pulling him back from whatever retort he had brewing. “Azter,” she whispered, touching his arm lightly. “Not tonight. Just let it go.”
He sighed but relaxed, his sharp eyes glancing down at her. Despite her smaller frame, Lucille always seemed to hold the upper hand when it came to calming him. “You let too much slide,” he muttered.
“And you’d let nothing go if it were up to you,” she countered with a gentle smile. “And I don't want to see you get hurt more because of that.”
They settled down in a quiet spot, Lucille sitting with her legs tucked beneath her and Azter leaning against the wall. She stirred the unappealing mush in her bowl with a wooden spoon, humming softly to herself, while Azter shoveled his food down without much thought.
“Slow down, Azter,” she teased, her tone light. “You’ll choke.”
“Good,” he replied through a mouthful of food. “At least then I wouldn’t have to eat this garbage anymore.”
Lucille shook her head with a small laugh. “Always the optimist.”
As they ate, the faint murmurs of the other performers reached them, but they paid no mind. When they finished their meals, Lucille pulled something out from the folds of her worn dress—a small, crudely wrapped object. She handed it to Azter with a bright smile.
“Happy birthday. Again” she said.
Azter blinked, taken aback. “You... got me something?”
“Of course I did. Did you think I wouldn't?”
He took the package carefully, unwrapping it to reveal a simple pendant on a thin leather cord. The pendant was a smooth stone, polished to a faint shine, with a small, clumsy engraving on its surface: an intertwined “A” and “L.”
“You made this?” he asked, his voice unusually quiet.
Lucille nodded, her eyes shining with pride. “Found the stone a while back and had to gather some things to make it. It’s not perfect, but...”
“It’s perfect for me,” he interrupted, slipping it around his neck.
She beamed at him, her happiness infectious. But her smile faltered slightly when she noticed the look of guilt creeping into his expression.
“I... didn’t get you anything,” he admitted, looking down at the ground. “I didn’t even think—”
“Azter,” she cut him off, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I knew you'd forget. And knowing you, you would have done something stupid to get me a gift. Having you here is enough.”
He looked up at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “You mean that?”
“Of course I do,” she said with a soft laugh. “You’re the best and only thing I have. That’s more than enough for me.”
Azter frowned, still not entirely convinced, but he couldn’t argue with her earnestness. “Fine. But I’ll make it up to you someday. I promise.”
Lucille grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”
They sat there in comfortable silence for a while, the faint hum of the circus around them fading into the background. For all the cruelty and chaos of their lives, moments like this—just the two of them—made it all bearable.
As the quiet moments passed between them, the ambient noises of the circus began to fade into a peaceful lull. The distant creaks of the circus tent swaying in the night breeze and the occasional laughter of performers who still lingered near the mess area felt strangely far away in this little corner they’d carved for themselves.
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Azter leaned his head back against the wooden beam behind him, fiddling with the pendant Lucille had given him. It felt warm against his chest, not just from the heat of his skin but from something more.
Lucille shifted beside him, stretching out her legs and stifling a yawn. The moonlight filtering through the gaps in the makeshift walls caught her face, softening the lines of weariness that often marred it. For a moment, she seemed almost untouched by the horrors they endured daily.
“You know,” she said softly, breaking the silence, “I used to hate nights like this.”
Azter turned his head to look at her, curious. “Why?”
“Because they felt... endless. Back when we were little when everything hurt, and I thought I’d never see another sunrise...” Her voice wavered slightly before she steadied it. “But now, they’re not so bad. Nights like this—when it’s just us—it makes it easier somehow.”
Azter’s gaze lingered on her, the vulnerability in her voice striking a chord in him. He didn’t respond immediately, unsure of what to say. Instead, he reached out and gave her hand a light squeeze, a silent reassurance.
“You’re the reason I don’t give up, and just do something stupid,” he said after a moment, his voice low but firm.
Lucille blinked at him, startled before a small, warm smile graced her lips. She knew he didn't like to admit to these kinds of things. “Well, someone has to keep you in check,” she teased, her usual mischievous glint returning to her eyes.
Azter rolled his eyes but smirked. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Their quiet moment was interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps nearby. Azter tensed immediately, his hand wrapping around her shoulder with his body tensed. Lucille noticed and shook her head gently.
“It’s just the performers moving around,” she whispered.
He relaxed slightly but kept his eyes trained on the shadows beyond their little corner. The two of them remained still and silent until the footsteps faded into the distance.
Lucille yawned again, her eyelids drooping. “We should get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
Azter nodded. “I'll carry you to bed, don't worry.”
“Azter—”
“Just go to sleep, Lucille. I’ll wake you if anything happens.”
She looked at him for a long moment, her golden eyes—still betraying her true feelings—studying his face. Eventually, she relented, laying her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t take too long,” she mumbled, already halfway to sleep.
Azter waited until her breathing evened out, the soft rise and fall of her chest a calming rhythm in the otherwise still night. He shifted slightly, making sure she was comfortable on his shoulder.
As he stared out into the darkness, his mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming trip to the Human Royal Capital. He hated the thought of more people gawking at their suffering, but part of him couldn’t shake the faint spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, something would change.
He looked down at the pendant around his neck and clenched his fist around it. Whatever happened, he wouldn’t let anything separate him from Lucille. Not the ringmaster, not the guards, not anyone.
With that resolve burning in his chest, he slowly lifted Lucille in his arms. Beginning to carry her to their sleeping area.
Azter adjusted his grip on Lucille as he quietly crept through the dimly lit paths between the tents. Her small frame was light in his arms, and her steady breathing told him she was deep in sleep, oblivious to the world around her. He envied that sometimes—her ability to find peace even in their harsh reality.
As he passed by the ringmaster’s personal tent, he slowed his pace. A sharp, raised voice carried through the night, stopping him in his tracks. He darted behind a stack of crates, careful to shield both himself and Lucille from sight.
“You’re telling me now that we can’t perform in the royal capital?” the ringmaster’s voice hissed, his frustration palpable.
Azter strained to listen, his ears catching the faint but commanding voice on the other end of the conversation device.
“Circumstances have changed,” the voice replied smoothly. “The capital has issued restrictions. Your circus will not be allowed to set up within the city walls.”
“And what am I supposed to do? Tell my audience—who’ve already bought tickets, mind you—that they wasted their money? That they traveled for nothing?”
“We will compensate you for your losses,” the voice said, remaining calm in the face of the ringmaster’s outburst.
The ringmaster paused, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “Compensation, huh? And how am I supposed to keep my reputation intact? Do you think anyone will come back after this debacle?”
There was a brief silence before the voice returned, its tone shifting to something more persuasive.
“Or… would you prefer to turn this setback into an opportunity? A chance to create the most talked-about event in the history of Kelvaris?”
Azter’s brows furrowed as he listened. Something about the voice’s tone unsettled him.
“What are you talking about?” the ringmaster asked, suspicion lacing his words.
“Five million Aurels,” the voice said. “That’s how much we’re willing to pay you. All you have to do is move your performance to the Cavernous Maw.”
Azter’s heart skipped a beat. The Cavernous Maw? He’d heard whispers about it from travelers—an enormous, foreboding sinkhole said to stretch endlessly into the earth, with a reputation for being cursed.
“Are you insane?” the ringmaster barked. “You want me to risk my equipment—my business—by setting up in that death trap? And all for just Five million?!”
The voice remained unbothered. “We will provide you with the necessary materials to ensure the safety and success of your acts. In fact, we will provide enhancements for each performance, guaranteeing this show will be unlike anything your circus, or any circus for that matter, has ever performed. Think of the writings in the history books: ‘The Wondrous Spectacle Of Liverian Conquers the Cavernous Maw!’ It will be a spectacle for the ages.”
There was a long pause. Azter shifted slightly, trying to hear better, but Lucille stirred in his arms, mumbling something incoherent. He froze, waiting until she settled again before resuming his eavesdropping.
“What kind of enhancements?” the ringmaster finally asked, his tone cautious but intrigued.
The details of the voice’s response were too quiet for Azter to catch, but whatever was said made the ringmaster’s mood shift dramatically.
A booming laugh erupted from the tent. “Why didn’t you lead with that? Of course, we’ll do it! The Cavernous Maw, huh? Let’s see if we can make the greatest—and most dangerous—show this world has ever seen!”
The conversation ended with a click, and the ringmaster stepped out of the tent, a self-satisfied grin on his face as he sauntered off into the shadows.
Azter waited a moment before emerging from his hiding spot, his heart pounding. Something about this entire situation felt wrong. The Cavernous Maw wasn’t just a dangerous location—it was a death sentence for anyone foolish enough to venture too close.
He glanced down at Lucille, her peaceful expression oblivious to the storm brewing around them. Tightening his grip on her, he continued on his way, his mind racing with unease. Whatever the ringmaster was planning, it wouldn’t bode well for anyone in the circus—least of all him and Lucille.
As he reached their sleeping area and carefully laid her down, he resolved to stay vigilant. The Cavernous Maw may have been chosen as their next destination, but Azter silently vowed to protect Lucille no matter what awaited them in that abyss.