Chapter 31: Alaric’s Pursuit

Alaric had never been one to shy away from a challenge, and winning Lyra’s heart was proving to be the most challenging endeavor of his life. Since the day they met, he had been captivated by her strength, grace, and the quiet sadness that seemed to shadow her every move. Despite his persistent efforts, Lyra remained distant, her heart seemingly locked away.

*****

"Alaric dear, go fetch some bread from the market, will you?" his mother asked, with worry. She turned to his father, who was sitting at the small wooden table, counting the few coins they had.

"We can’t afford to go hungry, Garon," she said softly, her eyes pleading. "The children need to eat."

Garon sighed heavily, his rough hands trembling as he picked up the last coin. "I know, Celeste. I just need to be sure we have enough to get through the week." He carefully handed over a small, meagre handful of coins. "Make sure to get the best price, Alaric."