Hearts in the Hearth's Glow

The looming gates of the capital stood like a fortress, casting deep, sprawling shadows over the incoming traffic which almost made the place seem like home. The mass of last-call merchants, travelers, and city folk streamed toward the entrance, their voices mingling with the clatter of hooves and the creak of wagon wheels. Guards stood at their posts, as they casually passed various individuals though. Only when someone really stood out, did they take any time to check them.

Mara walked confidently, her letter of recognition tucked safely in her satchel. She glanced over at me, her brow furrowing slightly. "Just stay calm," she murmured. "I'll handle this."

I nodded, pulling the shadow lynx cloak tighter around me. Combined with the aura of shadow that danced around my force, it did well to mask the bloodied and worn form I held beneath. The scar on my cheek felt as if it burned as we pressed forward, eyes darting over my body, scrutinizing me as some kind of criminal, which I suppose to the church I was.

As we approached the gate, one of the guards, a man with an imposing figure and a deadly serious appearance stepped forward, blocking our path. "Papers?" he demanded, his voice gruff but bored.

Mara quickly produced her letter, handing it over with a polite smile. "Mara Velannis, here to study at the Academy."

The guard's eyes scanned the letter, his demeanor shifting as he read the official seal. He nodded curtly. "Welcome, Miss Velannis. You may enter."

The second guard, a wiry man with eyes that couldn't sit still as they darted too-and-fro, turned his attention to me. "And you?"

"I'm her bodyguard," I said, my voice steady. "Hired to ensure her safe passage to the capital."

The wiry guard raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to my cloak and the faint shadows it exuded. "Bodyguard, huh? Where are your papers?"

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying. "Didn't think I'd need them. Mercenaries don't usually carry much in the way of documentation."

The first guard, now curious, stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as they landed on my face. His expression faltered, and I caught the briefest flicker of unease as he stared at the scar that ran jaggedly down my cheek and jaw. "What happened to you?"

"The job comes with troubles and risks. Bandits, Direwovles, you name it," I said flatly, avoiding too many specifics.

The wiry guard snorted, crossing his arms. "Trouble that burned half your face off, by the looks of it. That doesn't scream 'trustworthy' to me."

I sighed, reaching into my pouch and pulling out a gold coin. "Does this scream trustworthy?" I held it up, letting it catch the light.

The guards exchanged glances. The first man hesitated, his hand twitching near the hilt of his sword. "You think a bribe's gonna make us look the other way?"

I met his gaze, my voice low and even. "I think you've got a long night ahead of you, and I'm just one man trying to make his way into the city. I'm not here to cause trouble. Just let me do my job and protect my charge."

The wiry guard's eyes flicked to the coin, then back to my face. His posture relaxed slightly. "Make it two," he said, holding out his hand.

I bit back a retort and pulled out another coin, placing both in his palm.

[Total Wealth: 1 platinum, 18 gold, 11 silver, 24 copper]

"Welcome to the capital," the wiry guard said dryly, stepping aside.

As we passed through the gates, I caught the faint murmur of the guards behind me. "Did you see that scar? Damn thing looked like it was carved by a demon."

Once inside, the capital unfolded before us. It was a maze of cobblestone streets, towering spires, and bustling markets. The air was nearly electric with energy, even this late into the evening. The scent of roasted meats and fresh bread mingling together made my stomach groan as we tread down the main road into the market.

Mara exhaled, her shoulders relaxing for the first time all day. "We made it."

"Barely," I muttered, glancing back at the gates. "Where to now?"

"There's an inn not far from here," she said, pointing toward a side street. "It's a little pricier, I was told to seek it out when I arrived. I have a voucher–only for myself–but it will cut our costs in half."

The inn was a step above anything I'd ever stayed in before–in this world or on earth. The walls were clean, the floors polished, and the air carried a faint scent of lavender instead of mildew or unwashed bodies. The innkeeper, a cheerful woman with graying hair, greeted us warmly, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Mara's letter and the gold we placed on the counter. It was a little concerning, that where one gold could have bought us a month in town, was likely to only buy me a few nights in this ritzy establishment.

[Total Wealth: 1 platinum, 17 gold, 11 silver, 24 copper]

Our room was on the second floor. Mara's voucher provided us with a discount, but to get a king-sized bed it cost extra. Where I came from, a king-sized bed could fit two, maybe three; but in this world, it seemed to literally be made for a king, taking up the entire west end of the room, easily fitting six or more bodies, not that we'd have the chance to fit so many people in there with us.

It was a cozy space with that giant bed, a small table, and a window that overlooked the street below, revealing the last light of the setting sun. It was a nice setup, and quite clever to place it on the west; we would never have to deal with the blinding light of the rising sun, merely the faint glows of the setting. Mara placed her pack down with a sigh, stretching her arms above her head. "This feels almost... normal," she said, a wistful smile on her lips.

I nodded, before I came to my senses, "Wait, normal? Are you loaded or something? This is practically a mansion compared to anything I saw," I chuckled before setting my own gear, holding off from throwing myself on the bed. The food in the air earlier still lingered in my nostrils. "Let's get some food," I said. "We'll need to plan our next steps."

The inn's common room was inviting, the low hum of conversation blended with the crackle of a roaring fireplace. Mara and I found a corner table, ordering a lavish meal of steak, honeyed bread, and ale, a lot of ale, though Mara insisted on trying their selection of wine.

[Total Wealth: 1 platinum, 17 gold, 3 silver, 24 copper]

As we ate, we talked about the path ahead, about her classes at the Academy, about everything and nothing. The conversation was light and refreshing. I almost couldn't believe how we made it this far, and how fortune shined upon us despite all the hardships. Even though I was enjoying her company, I had a hard time speaking.

"You're quiet," Mara said, her eyes searching mine.

"Just thinking," I replied, taking a long sip of ale. "Just the fact that we made it this far is unbelievable. I just have a hard time believing this is it. I know the paladins will be scouring the area for me, but even so, this is a massive city, and if I don't want to be found, I doubt there's any chance they would be able to locate me."

She reached across the table, her hand brushing mine. "Whatever comes, we'll face it together."

I wanted to believe her, to share in her optimism, but a part of me couldn't shake the sense of impending doom. Still, I forced a small smile and squeezed her hand. "Together."

The conversation began to shift as the plates emptied and the drinks flowed. There was little tension now, most of it dissolved with the warmth of food and the comforting haze of alcohol. Mara leaned back in her chair, a rosy tint coloring her cheeks. She was a lightweight, it had become abundantly clear after her second glass of wine, not to mention our previous time spent drinking together.

"You know," Mara said, swirling what was left in her goblet, "I don't think I've ever had steak this good. And I'm starting to think I deserve more meals like this in my life."

I chuckled, pushing my empty plate away and feeling like I needed to loosen my belt a few notches. "Maybe when you're the most respected wizard in the Academy, you'll have steak every day."

She giggled, her laughter lighter and less controlled than usual. "Respected wizard? Oh no, no, no. I'm going to be the most feared wizard. They'll tremble when they hear my name: Mara the Magnificent!"

Oh man, had all this killing and defending against the wicked really changed her so much, or was she always this wild? I raised an eyebrow. "Magnificent? Sounds more like you're about to put on a magic show for kids."

Her mouth fell open in mock offense. "I'll have you know, my magic is magnificent. You've seen me in action."

"Oh, I've seen you," Lucian teased, leaning back in his chair. "Stumbling through traps, throwing fireballs, and scaring wolves. Very impressive."

She huffed, crossing her arms and pouting, "You're impossible. If it weren't for me, you'd probably still be running from that paladin commander. Don't tell me you didn't see those blue flames or the way I LITERALLY melted his armor off of his chest. I could do the same to you, y'know?"

Lucian grinned. "True, true, you saved my ass multiple times. Let's see, there were the wolves that I would have run into alone without you. The paladins in the village likely would have taken me out if you didn't tend to me in my comatose state, and then of course the same paladins in the forest that would have easily overrun me without your runes and spells." It was wild just how much she did for me. I really wouldn't be alive if she hadn't seen a bloodied tramp wandering down the main road and decided to strike up a conversation with me. What started as friendly banter, quickly shifted my mood, but I had to stay positive for her.

As the night wore on, Mara's inhibitions began to slip further. She leaned across the table, her chin resting in her hand as she gazed at me with a dreamy expression. "You know," she said, her voice soft and slurring slightly, "You're not as scary as you think you are."

I plastered a fake expression of confusion as I took another sip of my ale. "Not scary, huh? What about the scar?" My fingers traced the scar as I held back the urge to wince. It wasn't tender anymore, but the reminder did cause me pain. 

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as if appraising me. "The scar… gives you character. It makes you look... mysterious. Like one of those brooding anti-heroes in all the stories."

I snorted, nearly spitting out my ale. "Brooding anti-hero? That's a stretch."

"No, really!" she insisted, reaching across the table to lightly tap my hand. "You've got the look down. The cloak, the shadowy aura, the tragic backstory. If I didn't know you, I'd probably be swooning right now."

"Oh, so you're not swooning?" I asked, smirking, my hand reaching down to hers as my fingers danced atop her knuckles and up to her wrist.

Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink. "Maybe a little," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she shuddered and I could feel the shaking in her hand as I played around with it.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Come on, lightweight. You're going to regret that last glass of wine in the morning."

Mara groaned dramatically, leaning against the table. "I'm not a lightweight," she protested, though her unsteady movements told a different story. "I'm just... relaxed."

"Uh-huh," he said, standing and walking around to her side. "Come on, let's get you to bed before you fall over."

"Mmm, but I don't want to go back yet," Mara whined playfully, her bottom lip jutting out in a pout. "I'm having too much fun with you." She stood up from her seat, nearly stumbling and falling to the ground. Placing her hands on the table she shimmied herself over to me and sat down beside me. 

Mara took another generous sip of her wine, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright. She leaned in closer to me, her hand resting on my thigh under the table. "You know, Lucian," she said, her words slightly slurred, "I have to say, this is the most fun I've had in ages. And the company's not so bad either."

I chuckled, taking a swig of ale. The warmth of the alcohol and Mara's proximity was making my head swim pleasantly. "Is that so?" I replied, my own inhibitions lowered. "I'm glad I could make your journey more... enjoyable."

Mara giggled, her fingers tracing small circles on my thigh. "Mmm, very enjoyable indeed," she purred, her gaze locked with mine. Around us, the tavern bustled with late-night patrons, but Mara and I were lost in our own little world.

As the night wore on, Mara's laughter grew louder and more frequent. She was a charming drunk, her eyes sparkling and her smile dazzling. I found myself drawn in, captivated by her carefree nature. The wine had lowered her guard. She was already an open book, but this was on another level.

Suddenly, Mara stood up, a bit unsteadily. She grabbed my hand, trying to pull me with her. "C'mon, let's dance!" she exclaimed, heading towards the small open space in front of the fireplace where a few other patrons swayed to the music of a lute player.

I hesitated briefly, this was my living nightmare, but the ale certainly helped. As long as I didn't have to bust a move or show off, I think I could give her this after everything she had given me. After what felt like an eternity, I let her lead me. Mara wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her soft curves against me as we began to move to the slow, sensual melody. I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her close as we circled the fireplace.

Mara rested her head on my chest, her eyes fluttering closed. "This is nice," she murmured, nuzzling into me. "You're a good dancer, Lucian."

I smiled down at her, chuckling to myself–I was far from a good dancer, simply moving with the sound and enjoying my hands on her body, my form pressed against hers. "You're not so bad yourself," I replied, steering us away from the growing crowd. "But maybe we should head upstairs. It's getting late."

Mara looked up at me, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Okay," she agreed, her voice a bit breathless. "But don't expect me to sleep with you or anything, I'm not that kind of girl," she hiccupped before giggling and sliding her hand to my ass as we rose.

As we ascended the creaky stairs, Mara leaned on me heavily, her steps unsteady from the wine. She giggled as she stumbled slightly, grabbing onto my arm to right herself. I held her close, one arm wrapped around her waist, feeling the curve of her hip beneath my hand.

"I don't usually drink this much," Mara confided, her words slightly slurred as we reached our room. "But tonight, with you, it just felt... nice. Freeing." She fumbled with the door handle, her coordination impaired by the alcohol.

"Mara, there are only two times I've seen you drink, you have drank this much." I laughed, helping her with the door, despite my own impairments.

Finally, the door swung open, revealing the dimly lit room with the massive bed dominating the space. Mara stepped inside, kicking off her shoes haphazardly, one of them even smashing against the nightstand and causing it to shake before settling. She turned to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of raw joy and something more, heated.

"I'm glad you're here, Lucian," she breathed, stepping closer to me. Her hands came up to rest on my chest, fingers fiddling with the laces of my shirt. "It's always easier going to sleep with you next to me," she hiccuped again, laughing at her own intoxication as she fumbled with my shirt.

Mara stood on her tiptoes, her face mere inches from mine. The scent of wine and her natural scent filled my nostrils. I breathed it in heavily, taking in every bit of her, it was so soothing, so comforting, it was the greatest thing I had ever taken in. Her eyes flicked down to my lips before meeting my gaze again. The air between us felt charged, heavy with a building tension.

"Kiss me, Lucian," Mara whispered, her voice low and filled with desire. "Please..."