Chapter 120: Time Together II

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Time Together II

"Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste." — Charlotte Bront?

The quiet pier café gradually filled with the gentle chatter of morning merchants and local townsfolk, but Riven and Elora remained anchored in their own secluded world.

The heavy atmosphere that had surrounded them earlier, filled with memories of past battles and unspoken fears, had finally lifted. In its place was something lighter. Something comfortable.

Neither of them had experienced much of that in recent years.

Elora broke off a small piece of her honey roll and dipped it into her plum tea. The pastry had barely cooled, and its sweet aroma mixed pleasantly with the faint fragrance of the tea. She took a bite, savoring it with a look of genuine satisfaction.

Riven watched her for a moment before taking another sip from his cup.

"I can’t remember the last time I sat down to eat like this"

He leaned back slightly in his chair. Beneath his cuff, Nyx stirred, apparently having noticed the pleasant smell coming from the plate between them. A small obsidian nose emerged from his sleeve, followed by a pair of curious violet eyes.

Riven glanced down.

"Not for you."

Nyx stared at him.

He stared back.

After a brief contest of wills, Riven quietly pinched off a tiny piece of bread and slipped it beneath his sleeve. Nyx accepted the offering immediately, her dark tongue flicking out before she disappeared into the shadows again.

Elora had witnessed the entire exchange.

A quiet chuckle escaped her.

"She’s spoiled. You know beasts are supposed to be terrifying creatures of dark mana, right? You’re turning her into a lap dog."

"She earns her keep," Riven replied smoothly.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

"And she was the only companion I had who didn’t complain about my cooking while we were looking for you."

Elora’s expression changed at once.

"I never complained about your cooking!"

She reached across the table and lightly swatted his gloved arm.

"I merely pointed out that charred rabbit isn’t a proper culinary technique."

"It was cooked through."

"It was blacker than your hair."

Riven looked at her.

"That seems like an exaggeration."

"It was practically charcoal."

"It was edible."

"That doesn’t mean it was good."

Her bright laughter carried over the small table, drawing a few curious glances from nearby customers.

Riven didn’t mind.

In fact, he found himself wishing the moment would last a little longer.

Hearing her laugh so freely, without the constant weight of survival hanging over them, sent a quiet warmth through his chest. He had grown accustomed to seeing her with a sword in hand, her expression focused and her attention divided between whatever danger lay ahead and the people she was trying to protect.

This was different.

She looked relaxed. Her shoulders were no longer tense, and the usual guardedness in her eyes had softened. She was simply enjoying her tea, the warm morning air, and the company of someone she cared about.

Riven found himself watching her more closely than he intended.

The morning light highlighted the sharp contours of her cheekbones and the gentle curve of her smile. A few loose strands of hair shifted in the breeze, brushing against her face.

He didn’t look away.

Elora eventually noticed his attention. Her laughter faded into a quieter smile, and a faint blush appeared across her cheeks.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"You’re staring."

"Am I?"

"Quite a bit."

Riven considered denying it, but decided there wasn’t much point.

Elora’s expression softened. Instead of turning away, she slipped her boots out from beneath her chair and gently nudged his ankle with hers.

"What is it?" she asked again, her voice dropping into an affectionate tease. "Is there honey on my face?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Riven reached across the table and took her hand. His fingers settled comfortably around hers, and his thumb traced a slow, gentle line across the back of her wrist.

"You just look happy."

Elora fell quiet.

For a moment, she simply looked at their joined hands. Then she squeezed his fingers in return.

"I am," she whispered.

Her eyes lifted to meet his.

"For a long time, I thought surviving was the only thing I was allowed to have. There was always something waiting around the next corner. Another responsibility, another enemy, another person who needed help."

She paused, searching for the right words.

"I got so used to thinking about what might happen tomorrow that I stopped considering whether I was happy today."

Riven listened without interrupting.

"Being here with you, like this..." Her smile grew a little. "It makes me realize how much more there is."

Riven gently brushed his thumb over her hand.

"Then we should do more of it."

Elora tilted her head.

"Sit around cafés and eat pastries?"

"That seems like a reasonable place to start."

She laughed softly.

"You’re making it sound like a training schedule."

"I could write one."

"Please don’t."

He gave her a small smile.

For a while, neither felt the need to say anything else.

They finished their tea slowly, taking their time with the remaining food. The café continued to grow busier around them, but the noise never seemed to intrude on their little corner. Occasionally, Elora pointed out something happening along the waterfront, and Riven followed her gaze.

When they finally stood, Riven paid for their meal before Elora could reach for her purse.

She gave him a mildly disapproving look.

"You didn’t have to do that."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Because I wanted to."

Elora studied him for a moment before shaking her head with an amused smile.

"Stubborn."

"You’ve mentioned that."

"And I’ll keep mentioning it."

Riven offered her his hand.

"Shall we?"

She accepted it without hesitation.

They left the café together, walking hand in hand along the wooden pier before making their way toward the waterfront markets.

The lower district had grown considerably busier since their arrival. Merchants called out to passing customers, fishermen unloaded baskets of their morning catch, and the narrow streets were lined with stalls selling everything from fresh produce to handmade jewelry.

The air carried a mixture of scents. Fresh bread, roasted fish, spices, and the faint smell of lake water drifting in from the docks.

Elora seemed particularly interested in the artisan stalls.

She stopped at one displaying several glass ornaments, carefully examining a small wind chime decorated with delicate blue and silver pieces. When she held it up against the sunlight, the glass caught the light and scattered small reflections across the wooden counter.

"That’s pretty," she said.

The merchant smiled.

"Made locally. The glass is shaped by hand, and the colors come from mineral pigments."

Elora gently turned it, listening as the pieces chimed together.

Riven watched her from beside the stall.

"Do you like it?"

"I do, but I don’t really need one."

She placed it back on the counter, though her eyes lingered on it for another moment.

Riven made a mental note.

They continued through the market, stopping occasionally to look at small trinkets and decorations. Elora seemed content simply wandering from stall to stall, occasionally pointing out something interesting or asking the merchants about their work.

Riven, meanwhile, found himself drawn toward a stall selling carved wooden accessories.

There were several combs arranged across a dark cloth, each one shaped by hand. Some were decorated with flowers, while others had small stones embedded into their handles.

One caught his attention.

It was a simple wooden comb, polished until its surface was smooth. A single deep blue stone had been set into the handle, adding a subtle touch of color without making it overly elaborate.

Riven picked it up and turned it over in his hand.

"Looking for a gift?" the merchant asked.

"Something like that."

The merchant smiled knowingly but didn’t press him.

Riven paid for the comb and slipped it into his pouch before Elora could notice.

Unfortunately, she noticed him doing it.

"What did you buy?"

"Nothing."

"Riven."

"Something useful."

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"That sounds suspicious."

"Probably."

Elora shook her head, but she was smiling again.

He didn’t reveal what he had purchased. There was no particular reason for it. He simply wanted to give it to her later, when the moment felt right.

For now, he was content to keep walking beside her.

Eventually, the two made their way away from the crowded harbor and toward the higher stone terraces overlooking the Crystal Basin.

The streets gradually became quieter as they climbed. The sounds of the market faded behind them, replaced by the gentle rustling of trees and the distant calls of birds.

A cool breeze moved through the terraces, carrying the crisp scent of pine and fresh water.

When they reached the upper walkway, the full view of the basin opened before them.

The lake stretched across the landscape like an enormous sheet of blue glass. Sunlight shimmered across its surface, and the surrounding mountains reflected faintly in the calmer sections of the water.

Several ferries crossed between the distant docks, leaving long trails of ripples behind them.

Elora approached the stone balustrade and rested her hands against its smooth surface.

"It’s beautiful," she murmured.

Riven stopped beside her.

"It is."

She glanced at him.

"You’re supposed to be looking at the lake."

"I am."

"Then why are you looking at me?"

"Because you’re standing in front of it."

Elora let out a quiet laugh and shook her head.

"You’re impossible."

"Apparently."

She leaned her side against his arm, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.

Riven adjusted his position to make her more comfortable. He slipped one arm around her waist and gently drew her closer.

The breeze had grown cooler, and he could feel the faint chill through their clothing. Elora didn’t seem bothered by it. She simply relaxed against him, letting her weight settle comfortably into his side.

For several minutes, they watched the ferries move across the lake.

There were no enemies to pursue. No urgent messages waiting for them. No battle looming over the horizon.

Just the water, the breeze, and the quiet presence of someone they had both spent far too long searching for.

Elora sighed softly.

"I could get used to this."

Riven rested his cheek lightly against the top of her head.

"Good."

"Good?"

"We have plenty of time to get used to it."

She lifted her head slightly.

"You’re assuming I’m going to keep you around."

"You’re holding my arm."

"That doesn’t prove anything."

"You’re also leaning on me."

Elora looked down at their position, then back at him.

"Perhaps I’m just tired."

"Then you should rest."

She smiled and settled against him again.

"Maybe I will."

Riven tightened his arm around her waist, just enough to reassure her that he was there.

The moment was simple, almost ordinary.

And that was what made it precious.

For so long, their lives had been shaped by danger, separation, and the constant need to keep moving. Even their happiest moments had often been brief pauses between hardships.

But today, there was no need to hurry.

They could walk wherever they wanted, eat whatever they pleased, and spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing important.

Riven looked out over the Crystal Basin.

He had once thought that becoming stronger would solve everything. If he had enough power, he could protect himself, overcome his enemies, and ensure that no one could take anything from him again.

He still wanted that strength.

But standing there with Elora resting against him, he understood that strength was only part of what he had been searching for.

There were things worth protecting that had nothing to do with power.

Elora shifted slightly, her fingers finding his free hand. She intertwined them with his and gave a gentle squeeze.

Riven returned it.

Neither said anything.

They didn’t need to.

The afternoon breeze passed over the terrace, carrying the distant sounds of the city below. Sunlight continued to dance across the lake, and the ferries kept moving along their familiar routes.

For once, the world seemed content to leave them alone.

And for once, Riven and Elora were more than happy to let it.