The First Night

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the first stars appeared in the night sky, Kael stretched his arms, letting out a yawn. "Well, princess, this is where I leave you."

Celeste, still holding the bouquet of daisies, looked up from the marketplace. "What do you mean?" she asked, her golden eyes curious.

Kael jerked his thumb toward the forest. "I'm heading back. Got a spot out there I call home. Don't like staying in crowded places like this."

Her lips parted in surprise. "You're not staying in the village? It's dark now, and it might be dangerous to wander the forest at night."

Kael smirked. "I'll take my chances. The forest's my home, remember? Besides," he added, his tone teasing, "you're the one who should worry about staying safe."

Celeste huffed, crossing her arms. "For the last time, I'm not weak. I can handle myself."

Kael chuckled. "Sure you can. Anyway, good luck with whatever fancy plans you have for the night."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and began walking toward the tree line. His confident strides made it clear he had no intention of staying in the village.

"Good riddance," Celeste muttered under her breath, though she couldn't deny a small pang of disappointment. As much as Kael's arrogance annoyed her, his presence had been strangely reassuring.

Shaking off the thought, she turned her attention back to the bustling village. Lanterns hung from stalls and buildings, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone streets. The marketplace had quieted down, but the air was still filled with the murmur of voices and the occasional burst of laughter.

---

Celeste wandered for a while before coming across an inn. It was a charming, two-story building with a wooden sign that read The Silver Sparrow. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open.

The interior was cozy and welcoming, with a crackling fireplace in the corner and a few patrons seated at wooden tables. The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and graying hair, looked up from the counter and smiled.

"Good evening, miss. Looking for a room?"

"Yes, please," Celeste replied, approaching the counter.

The innkeeper nodded. "We have a room available on the second floor. That'll be five silver coins for the night."

Celeste reached for her pouch, only to realize she didn't have any money. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh dear," she murmured. "I... I seem to have forgotten my coins."

The innkeeper's smile faltered, but before she could say anything, Celeste reached into her satchel and pulled out a small, glowing orb. It shimmered with a soft golden light, and the innkeeper's eyes widened in awe.

"Is that... a communication orb?"

"Yes," Celeste said, nodding. "It allows me to speak with my parents. If you don't mind, I can call them and have them send payment immediately."

The innkeeper hesitated, then nodded. "All right, miss. Go ahead."

---

Celeste found a quiet corner in the inn and held the orb in both hands. Closing her eyes, she focused her energy on activating it. The orb began to glow brighter, and within moments, an image of her mother appeared.

"Celeste, darling!" her mother exclaimed, her voice filled with joy. "How are you? Are you safe?"

"Yes, Mother," Celeste replied, smiling. "I'm fine. I just arrived at a village and wanted to call you."

Her mother's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Tell me everything! What did you see? What did you do?"

Celeste laughed softly. "It's been amazing. The village is so lively, and the people are kind. I even bought flowers."

"Flowers? How lovely!" her mother said, clapping her hands. "Did you make any friends?"

Celeste hesitated, thinking of Kael. "I... met someone," she said cautiously.

Her mother leaned closer to the orb, her expression eager. "Oh? Who is he? Tell me everything!"

"Mother, it's not like that," Celeste said quickly, her cheeks flushing. "He's just someone I met in the forest. He helped me with a wild beast, but he's... a bit rough around the edges."

Her mother tilted her head, her curiosity unabated. "Rough around the edges? What do you mean?"

Celeste sighed. "He's arrogant and infuriating, but..." She paused, searching for the right words. "He's also... capable. He seems to know his way around the forest."

Her mother smiled knowingly. "Well, darling, sometimes the most interesting people are the ones who challenge us."

Celeste rolled her eyes. "It's not like that, Mother. Anyway, I wanted to ask if you could send payment to the innkeeper here. I forgot to bring any coins."

"Of course, darling. I'll take care of it right away."

"Thank you," Celeste said, her voice softening. "I'll call you again tomorrow."

"Take care, my love," her mother said, blowing a kiss before the orb dimmed and went dark.

---

After settling the payment with the innkeeper, Celeste made her way to her room. It was small but cozy, with a single bed, a wooden desk, and a window overlooking the village square. She placed the bouquet of daisies on the desk and sat by the window, staring out at the starry sky.

Her thoughts drifted back to Kael. Despite his rough demeanor, there was something intriguing about him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt drawn to him in a way she didn't fully understand.

"Get a grip, Celeste," she muttered to herself. "You came here to experience the world, not to get distracted by some arrogant stranger."

She sighed, resting her chin on her hand. Tomorrow, she decided, she would explore more of the village and perhaps even venture beyond it. There was so much to see and do, and she wasn't going to let anyone or anything hold her back.

---

Meanwhile, in the forest, Kael sat on a fallen log near a small campfire. The flickering flames cast shadows on his face as he stared into the fire, lost in thought.

"Celeste," he muttered, the name rolling off his tongue. She was unlike anyone he'd ever met — bold, determined, and completely out of her element.

He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "She's going to get herself into trouble."

But despite his initial annoyance with her, he couldn't deny that there was something captivating about her. The way her golden eyes lit up when she talked about the world, the determination in her voice when she insisted she didn't need help... it was refreshing.

"Not my problem," he said aloud, tossing a stick into the fire.

Still, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder what she was doing now.

---

Back at the inn, Celeste lay in bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts of the day — the sights, the people, and, of course, Kael.

As sleep began to overtake her, she whispered to herself, "Tomorrow will be even better."

And with that, she drifted off, the stars outside her window twinkling like a promise of adventures yet to come.