[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Everyone got to know each other better, the party chatted during a meal and exchanged stories while having drinks. Hyacinth was just finishing telling the events of his and Pavaja's journey.

“...so the four of these bandits are after us. We have no other choice but to activate the sigil. After it teleported us, we found ourselves in a room with close to zero vision. Then there is that black, scythe-armed, blinking skeleton! It slays all of our pursuers, then goes after me. I cast turn undead on Pav's sword and skeleton just shatters from a single blow...” - The cantor became a bit downhearted. - “...was it a blessing or a cruel joke? Who knows... but we're alive by sheer luck. Since then, we had waited eight days for someone to arrive... it's hard to make it through just in two.”

Hyacinth moved in his seat, measuring Arath and Noemi. - “Now that I mention it, was your party always that small?”

Noemi's mood turned sour, but she got to know Pavaja and Hyacinth enough to answer. - “No. There were five of us... I don't want to speak about it.”

“My apologies, I didn't mean to...” - Hyacinth hastily apologized.

“No, it's fine. I understand. It's just... many people died... and I lost someone important to me. The wound is still fresh. Maybe I'll get it off my chest another day.” - Noemi got up. - “Sorry... I need time for myself.” - She told and left to drink alone, starting at the fish in the still waters.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Arath found Noemi sitting hidden behind weeds. The man could hear her silent crying.

“Are you alright?” - Arath asked, which to Noemi was weird.

Noemi stopped sobbing and wiped her tears, but she didn't turn to look at Arath, she didn't want him to see her in this state. She also wanted to just say 'yes' and be over it, but her integrity influenced her not to lie.

“No! Isn't it obvious!?” - She shouted, nearly angered.

“It is.”

“Is that all you have to say? Three of my friends have died! For your sake!” - The girl stood up, pointing at the boy.

Arath just listened.

“...and you didn't even pay attention or honor their deaths! You just moved on, like they had never existed! All their hopes and dreams! They're lost and gone! Don't you understand!?” - Noemi burst into tears and covered her face. - “...and Augmi... she... she... wanted to see the world... and...” - Noemi couldn't hold her sorrow no longer, she broke into a loud cry.

“No, I can't understand you.” - The man replied, half to himself.

Noemi wasn't responsive.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

It took Noemi a while to sit down and calmed.

“What is there to understand? I am the one who can't understand you.” - She responded in a trembling voice. - “You see a people dying and crying, and you're unbothered. It's not normal.”

“I've never seen a person cry before.”

“How so? You called your home a hell. How did your people react to sorrow?”

“They were used to it, but I've seen some...” - Arath paused, as If he recalled something uncomfortable. - “...who experienced more than a common man. Their expressions were blank and eyes were like dead.”

Noemi calmed and thought for a bit. - “There are some exceptions, but to put it simply, when a person dies, you're supposed to cry for them. When a person cries, you're supposed to give them a hug.”

Arath was silent for a moment, then responded. - “If it's not an issue, I would like to request something.”

“What?”

“Never ask me to give a hug.”

Noemi didn't know how to interpret it. - “What... what do you mean?”

“What I've just told.”

“But why?”

“I hate to touch.”

“I didn't know you're capable of such feelings.” - Noemi laughed mildly through her tears and smiled.

Arath was lost. He couldn't read the girl at all.

“Agreed. I will respect your boundaries.” - Noemi responded. - “We may talk about it later, for now, let's return to Hyacinth and Pavaja.”

Arath stuffed hands in his pocket and followed Noemi, who led the way.

“By the way, was it their idea for you to check If I'm alright?” - Noemi asked.

“Yes.”

Noemi was slightly proud of her guess. She really took unusually long to come back and Arath would never think of comforting her by himself. It was not like he immediately didn't fail at it either way.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Noemi waved to Hyacinth and Pavaja, who were just finishing packing their bags. They waved back, happy to see that the lizard is all okay.

“Are we setting off?” - Noemi asked.

“It's your call.” - Hyacinth responded. - “We two are ready to go.”

“Arath?” - Noemi wanted to confirm that her teammate is prepared.

“All packed already.”

“Let me get my stuff and we can move!” - Noemi moved the bag onto her back, then grabbed spear and shield hastily.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

The party has moved from peaceful outer areas to deeper waters, where the environment was full of wildlife. Many insects hovered over the surface of waters, where below the surface, dozens of silver fins navigated between the algae, reflecting the light of glowing plants.

Amphibians of aposematic coloration, like spotted salamanders or dart frogs, relaxed on the coasts. Hyacinth, who almost lost his life after contact with animals, warned not to touch their skin directly. Regardless, these animals were incredibly skittish and they weren’t active during nights, so it was hard to hurt oneself unless a person deliberately tried to capture them.

“There's not much to find, we checked the area earlier. It's just a long walk.” - Hyacinth explained. - “There are only some sulfur pools to the left, stacked on top of each other like terrace farms.”

“I would still like to see that!” - Noemi eagerly informed.

“Then we can make a small detour.” - Hyacinth replied as the party kept walking.

There was a period of silence until Noemi spoke - “I kind of wonder, these emblems on your armors, what do they symbolize.”

“Oh, it's a landmark of our home, dale of Thardor.” - Pavaja answered. - “Top of that mountain was home of our gods.”

“Tell me more about your land!” - Noemi excitedly requested.

“Hmm... where to start. Imagine living in a large cylinder placed on its side, that can hold an entire realm, then imagine rows of mountains and hills at the edges of the land. In the middle, a frozen river is running...”

“Frozen?” - Noemi asked.

“That's when the water turns solid due to low temperature.” - Pavaja explained. - “Crystal blue and hard like a brick. We call it ice.”

“Amazing!” - Noemi exclaimed. - “What was at the ends of that river?”

“On one end, a sea. On the other, the lone mountain.” - Pavaja tapped her emblem. - “...but hear me out, it's not everything. Imagine a white, really cold powder that melts into the water once it touches your skin We call it snow. Now, imagine entire land buried under meters of it and imagine strong winds that carried it over the land, concealing everything behind curtains of white...”

Pavaja looked at Noemi and seeing that the girl is all excited to hear, continued. - “At night, when the sky was clear, you could see a luminous meadow located at the ceiling of the structure. Billions of dazzling lights shimmered at the center, forming a curvy path like made out of milk. That path led to the top of the mountain...”

“It all sounds like a dream...” - Noemi imagined journey across the valley, she yearned to never stop and see all of these wonders. - “...I would love to hear more!”

“Sure, what would you like to hear?” - Pavaja responded.

“What was your city like? What is your story?” - Noemi asked.

Pavaja continued. - “I grew in a small wooden village called the Heart of Ithalis, in the dangerous wilderness, on the very edge of the mountains. At my birth, my parents promised me to the church, so at age of thirteen, I've traveled with a caravan to the capital, city of Asdor to become a crusader.

That's where I've met Hyacinth, he was serving the church at a very young age. It was his duty to prepare me a small, flower chaplet for the initiation ceremony. There were small white cerisals, beautiful azure equilas, mahogany beads, and a large deep-blue visiria... and I've never worn a whiter dress in my life.

Hyacinth was the lead member of a choir, I fell in love with his voice, so after the ceremony, I went to thank him for the flowers. He was sooo... charitable and open person. Hyacinth quickly accepted me as a new friend, but he was friends with everyone, so I secretly aimed to become his best friend... it wasn't an easy task, but I succeeded after many small and big woes... then we got separated, because I had to undergo my training. You would have to see him, crying and all in snots.” - Pavaja giggled.

“Hey, you did not have to mention this!” - Hyacinth laughed. - “Now that I recall it, it was truly embarrassing. By our laws, I could be already considered a grown man... haha... hah.”

“I think it was cute.” - Pavaja responded with a coy smirk.

“...how did you end up together again?” - Noemi asked, with a curiosity written all over her face.

“Every two months, two of most talented youth were selected to go on a crusade against undead that spawned across the realm. There was a big gate of light in the center plaza... people who crossed it never returned back, but it often prevented undead from appearing... I was fated to met Hyacinth right there.”

”A happy reunion!” - Noemi summed up.

“It was.” - Pavaja agreed.