Chapter 1

I stroll the streets of Auquestria, keeping an eye out for attractive trinkets to bring home to my mother as a gift. Coins jingle in my pocket as I swing into a cafe to grab a little something to eat.

As I walk to the counter to order, the cashier gives a little gasp. "A-Aqua Ceros?! Oh my, I never thought someone like you would come to such a small store... um, I suppose you want to order?" She gives a little nervous laugh. "What'll it be, then? I-I can recommend the coffee cake, if you're just dropping in for a bite to eat."

I order the coffee cake, amused at the cashier's reaction. I'm well-known, being one of the most successful agent of the Queen, Aine, for my age, and I'm used to recognition.

As I take out money, the cashier hurriedly says, "Oh, no, I can't let you pay me... I-I don't know if you remember, b-but I was one of the kids you saved... you came and got me and my little brother in Serulie, on your third misson."

I blinked. Looking at her closely, I recognise her features and grin. "Gods, Julie. I should've recognised you sooner!" I lean across the counter and hug her. "It's been a long time, Jules! How's Evan?"

"Evan's doing great!" Julie smiles. "He recently got into the Agent Training Program! It would be awesome if you could drop into his dorm. He's at 187."

"That's incredible! He's an Ice Oddity, right?" When she nods, I continue, "I can give him some tips. Who's mentoring him?"

"Arcilus Francile. When Evan comes home for the summer, he always talks about how great a mentor Arcilus is and how much he learned from him."

"I trained with Arcilus. Charming man, but a bit too... cold... for my taste." The corner of my mouth tweaks upwards in a smile. "Anyway, what about that coffee cake?"

Julie turns and calls into the kitchen, "A coffee cake for Miss Ceros!"

A chorus of "okay"s meet her words and in record time a generous slice of fresh coffee cake was set in front of where I sat at a table. Julie grins and motions for me to try it.

I scoop cake -- a more accurate discription would be heaven -- into my mouth with a deep sigh of pleasure. "Wow, Julie, the hell do you put in this stuff to make it taste so wonderful?!"

Her grin becomes wider. "A magician never reveals her secrets! I'm glad you like it, though..." After a moment of hesitation, she adds, "If you could leave a positive review, I'm sure it would help business considerably... o-only if you want to, of course!"

I smile. "Sure I will. Vita herself would adore this cake."

Julie giggles.

"'Ay, Julie! Customer!" a male voice calls from the kitchens and Julie turns to see another person walk into the cafe.

"I'm sorry, I'd better go. See you around." Julie waved at me and jogs away.

I finish my cake and, licking crumbs from my lips, wrote a review. As I leave, I call, "Thanks for the cake, Jules! I'll go say hi to Evan in a bit."

Julie looks up and smiles at me. "Seeya, Aqua. Come again soon!"

I wave and walk out of the cafe, ready to continue my quest to find a gift for my mother. As I roam the stalls, I notice a beautiful ring. The stone set on the ring is greeny-blue, with swirls of silver all through it.

I pick it up and examine it, thinking how well it would match with my mother's similarly colored eyes.

The young man at the stall grins at me. "Hullo, ma'am. Something caught your eye?"

How did I know that voice...?

"M-Max?!" I exclaim after a moment.

"Congrats, you realised who I was," he rolls his eyes. "Been a long time, Aqua."

"Where's Flare?" I ask, unable to find the little girl with her bouncy black curls and fiery temper. Of course, she must not be a little girl anymore... it seems impossible that she has grown up...

"She's at her house. Did you hear, she and Trickle had a baby? Flare birthed it. Another girl. Looks like a little clone of Flare." Max grins. "Got Flare's temper, too. Last time I visited the little brute was screaming and trying to eat my hand whole."

"Eat your hand whole?" I smile. "Really? Why?"

"Eh, I wouldn't let her gnaw my fingers, and she bit me. Then she was chasing me about the place, trying hard to eat my hand." Max scowls at the memory. "I never want children. I'm better off as the fun uncle."

I chuckle. "When you find the right woman, you might think differently!" Then I realise what I'd just said and inwardly groan, attempting to restrain the blush creeping up my cheeks.

Max was wincing, as well. "Indeed. You gonna buy that?"

Grateful for the change of subject, I nod and take out the necessary amount of money, placing it in his outstretched hand. "There you are. I'll pop in at Flare and Trickle's on the way back and greet the new baby."

As I walk away, I call back, "Did'ja style your hair or something? 'Cos I notice it's less 'windswept' than usual."

"Don't even." Max scowls at the mention of his past discription of his hair. "Don't. Even."

I laugh and keep walking.