Between Love and Duty

Lucian and Mara approached the leatherworker's shop. The town's recent devastation, caused in no small part by Lucian's presence, was still fresh in the minds of the townsfolk. Glares and whispered accusations followed him like shadows, though he could not control them at his whim. It was clear that many blamed him for the wrath that descended upon their town.

Before they could reach the shop, a heavy-set man with a stern expression stepped into their path. The mayor, his broad shoulders and well-worn cloak told them that he was one of the good ones. Despite the weight he had likely gained from his position, he did not put a lot of weight into regaling himself with fancy jewelry or trinkets, his outfit having survived many of the harsh seasons that beat down on the town. He approached and regarded Lucian with cold eyes.

"You," the mayor began, his voice firm, "are not welcome here."

Lucian sighed, his jaw tightening. "I came to settle my business with the leatherworker. After that, I'll be gone."

The mayor shook his head. "You've done enough damage. Half the town's still in shock from the attack, and the repairs will bleed us dry. I won't risk another catastrophe. Leave."

Mara stepped forward, her tone firm but measured. "We're not asking for charity. We'll pay for the trouble caused." She glanced at Lucian, who reluctantly reached into his pouch and produced ten gold coins.

"This should more than cover the damages," Lucian said, holding out the small but heavy pouch.

The mayor hesitated, eyeing the gold. It was a significant sum, enough to ease the town's burdens considerably, and likely to spread enough wealth around to put them into an even more favorable position before the paladins had arrived. Before he could respond, Mara placed a hand on Lucian's arm.

"We'll split it," she said, pulling out her own share of coins. "It's only fair."

[Total Wealth: 1 platinum, 21 gold, 11 silver, 24 copper]

The mayor's expression softened ever so slightly as he accepted the combined offering and witnessed their comradery. "It's a start," he muttered. "But gold won't fix everything. The paladins will return, and when they do, they'll want answers."

Lucian met the mayor's gaze, "Tell them exactly where I am. I'll be in the capital. There'll be guards, officials, and plenty of witnesses to verify my presence. You won't have to protect me or cover for me. Sell me out if you have to."

The mayor looked skeptical but didn't argue further. With a curt nod, he stepped aside, allowing them to continue.

Inside the leatherworker's shop, the atmosphere was no less frosty. The craftsman barely looked up as they entered, his hands busy stitching a piece of dark fabric.

"I've come for my order," Lucian said.

The leatherworker scowled. "Thought you'd be dead by now," he muttered, setting aside his work and retrieving a bundle. "Here. Your cloak, boots, and gloves. Don't come back."

Lucian took the items, inspecting the craftsmanship. They were just as he'd hoped, sturdy, practical, and imbued with subtle enhancements to aid his shadowy abilities. Despite the man's hostility, Lucian placed an additional gold coin on the counter.

"For your trouble."

[Total Wealth: 1 platinum, 20 gold, 11 silver, 24 copper]

The leatherworker glanced at the coin, then at Lucian, his scowl softening slightly. "You're still trouble," he grumbled, pocketing the gold, "But… Thank you.".

As they turned to leave, the mayor appeared again, his expression grave. "You're serious about going to the capital?"

Lucian nodded. "Dead serious."

The mayor shook his head. "I hope you're telling me the truth, for all our sakes."

Lucian and Mara left the shop and headed back to the main road.

The path to the capital stretched before us, winding through sparse woods that gradually gave way to sprawling fields. The shadow lynx cloak draped across my shoulders wafted slightly in the breeze, the very essence of it coated me in shadows regardless of where the sun was in the sky. It gave me unrestricted access to the shadow realm, which was more than worth the money I had spent.

 The material wasn't just rare, like I had thought, the shadow lynx must have been a legendary beast, despite its lack of overwhelming strength or lethality. I felt like the leatherworker gave me quite the deal as every minute passed and I grew more and more confident with my ability. The bloodstains were still lining my armor, having not had enough time to wash, but they were bathed in shadow which gave me the polished appearance of someone who had their life together, though anyone who knew me, knew better.

Mara walked beside me, her staff tapping against the ground with each step. She glanced my way, her expression softer than it had been earlier. The tension of the town was behind us, but I could feel the questions she refused to ask.

"You look different," she finally said, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"Cleaner?" I joked, tugging at the edge of the cloak.

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Not just that. It's the way you carry yourself now. Confident, but... also so distant…"

I frowned at her words, running a hand over the cloak. "This thing probably helps with that. Rare material, shadows practically stitched into it. It makes me look more dangerous than I feel."

"You are dangerous," she replied firmly. "You just don't see it the way I do."

We walked in silence for a moment, the hum of insects and the rustle of leaves filling the gap. I didn't know how to respond to her compliment—if it was even a compliment.

Eventually, Mara spoke again, her tone softer. "What happens when we get to the capital?"

I let out a long breath, not meeting her gaze. "You'll go to the Academy, start your classes, and probably become the best wizard in your dorm. I'll... figure out how to keep my head attached to my shoulders while the gods and their dogs keep sniffing after me."

She frowned, her grip on her staff tightening. "You make it sound like we're just going to drift apart."

"I don't want that," I admitted, stopping on the path to look at her. The faint breeze tugged at her hair, the sun catching the amber strands and making me fall for her all over again. "But I have to be realistic. You have your path, and I have mine. We can try to make it work, but... let's not pretend this will be easy."

Her eyes searched mine, and I could see the conflict in them. "You think I'm just going to walk away? That I'll forget about you once I'm surrounded by books and professors?"

"It's not about forgetting," I said. "You deserve a life, Mara. One that's not tied to my mess. The gods are after me, the paladins won't stop hunting me, and I'm one bad decision away from losing control of whatever this shadow power is. That's not a life I want for you."

Mara stepped closer, no longer the peppy girl I loved, but now the ferocious magical monster that I loved. I just wish I could tell her. "And what if I want it? What if I want to be there, to help you, to fight alongside you? You keep talking like I'm some fragile thing that'll break the moment life gets hard, but I'm not. You've seen what I can do."

The shadows around me stirred faintly in response to my frustration. "And you've seen what I can do. What I've already done. I'm not trying to push you away, Mara. I'm trying to protect you."

She took a deep breath, her anger fading into something more vulnerable. "I get that. I really do. But I'm not leaving, Lucian. I'll go to the Academy because I have to, because I want to, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving you. Once I'm done, I'll come back, and we'll figure it out. Together."

I loved her tenacity, but there was a tremor in her voice that betrayed her fear. She wanted to believe it would all work out, she wanted me to believe it, but we both knew that things would never be so simple.

"You're romanticizing this," I said softly, trying to keep my tone even. "But life isn't a storybook. It's messy, brutal, and it doesn't care about happy endings."

"Then we'll make one," she shot back, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

I didn't have a response to that, so I walked closer to her, taking her in my embrace, my hood falling back as I pressed my cheek against hers. "You're right sweetie, I'm sorry. We haven't been together long, but I can tell that we are destined to come together. I'll do what I can, I'll visit you, we will make this work."

Mara reciprocated my emotions, she showed the same affection I did, and it was all genuine, but she was hurt. She felt the threats that I did, and it became more real to her. I could tell that she really thought she would lose me. 

The sun hung low in the sky when we finally crested the last hill and saw the capital in the distance. Its massive walls rose like a fortress, the city sprawling within, a mix of towering spires and tightly packed rooftops. The gates were open, the road leading toward them bustling with merchants, travelers, and guards.

As we approached, I could feel the gravity of my task. Mara would get in with no problem, she had a letter that specifically requested she be admitted to the Academy. But I, I was a stranger, a random traveler that had no place here. Mara walked a little closer now, as though she felt the need to protect me, to guide me toward our next steps. 

"This is it," I said as we reached the gates.

"Yeah," she replied softly, her gaze fixed on the city ahead.