The Month of Decay rolls around painting the landscape of the fortress city with red and brown colors of fallen leaves. For Anton, the days moved in a familiar pattern—herding his sheep out at dawn, practicing his lessons from Master Blackwood while watching the woolly creatures munch on grass, and every third day, going to the Mages' Guild for lessons with the Master Blackwood.
The afternoon sunlight was piercing through the trees as Anton concentrated in manipulating his mana until his head hurt. Maria started to come over to watch him practice, and she didn't hold back on pointing out with usual uncaring remarks when he messed up. But he could see that she cared and after two weeks of practice, his mana control got good enough that Blackwood finally let him try some actual spells.
"The whole theory thing is pretty simple," Blackwood had told him during one lesson, waving his hands around to make his point. "Each spell has its own rune. You just draw the rune in your mindscape using mana, like you're drawing or writing with your thoughts using your mana as ink. See why I've been drilling mana control into you for the first two weeks."
The great mage had looked at him then, his voice going all serious. "Listen up, boy: the quicker you can picture and draw the rune, the faster your spells are. But mess it up, even a tiny bit, and the backlash can hurt your mind and brains. The greater the spell level, the greater the backlash. I've watched advanced mages turn into drooling messes from one sloppy cast."
Now Anton could handle four basic spells without totally embarrassing himself: ember for conjuring a little flame and magic missile, which was basically a magical darts thrown from a distance for offense; mage hand and candlelight, a floating ball of light for utility. Day by day, the runes were getting easier to picture, almost like they were becoming part of him.
Blackwood always praises how great Maria was with her mana control. "See how she moves the mana into the ink," he'd tell him. "Most of the senior apprentice mages can barely scratch out a couple of messy sentences, but Maria can write pages beautifully without breaking a sweat." You could see how great her talent was with her talent with mana control every time he saw her demonstrations for his lessons.
Ever since that day when Maria helped him home, things between them had changed. They weren't just fellow guild students anymore—they'd become really close to each other. Anton's mom, Orla always packed him up with homemade cheese and fresh milk before he headed to the guild. "Take this for Maria," she'd say with that look that made Anton want to disappear into the floor.
By the end of the second week, they'd gotten pretty close. Maria started showing up at his pasture out of nowhere, to boss him around with extra training exercises she made up and sometimes just to chat about what is happening in the guild.
Today, they were sprawled under this old oak tree that towered over the pasture. The training had been brutal—Maria had made him pick up dead leaves using nothing but partially-solidified mana.
"But I already know mage hand," Anton had whined when she first brought it up.
Maria just rolled her eyes. "Mage hand is too stiff and inflexible. Working directly with semi-solid mana gives you more options that regular spells don't. You do that you'll get much better at mana manipulation."
Anton got tired after Maria's mana training regiment and they sat with their backs against the tree's rough bark, catching their breath. Anton dug around in his leather bag and pulled out a wrapped bundle.
"Figured you might show up today," he said, unwrapping cloth to reveal fresh bread, smoky ham, and a chunk of his mother's tangy cheese. "Brought enough for two."
Maria's smile—something he didn't see often enough but always lit up her whole face—made his stomach do a weird flip that had absolutely nothing to do with mana.
The wind whispered through the pasture as they started to eat their lunch beneath the ancient oak. Golden-brown leaves danced in spirals around them, occasionally landing on their laps or in their hair as they enjoyed the sandwiches Orla had prepared with care. The golden crusts along with the cheese aroma, and the perfectly spiced meat combining to form a perfect sandwich.
"How is it? Am I getting better?" Anton asked, unable to keep the smugness from his expression. The last mana exercise had gone surprisingly well, and he couldn't help but feel a flutter of pride.
Maria gave him her usual uninterested look, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't look so smug. You're only three weeks into training, save your boasting for when you become a senior apprentice." With a delicate flick of her finger, a small finger made of blue mana extended from her fingertip, moving forward to deliver a sharp flick to Anton's forehead.
"Ouch!" Anton exclaimed, rubbing the spot that now bore a small red mark.
Her demonstration of skill wasn't lost on him. With this simple teasing gesture, Maria had not only put him in his place but also showcased the difference between their abilities. Her mana manipulation was refined to the point where she could create a construct, a solidified mana finger at a whim, while he struggled to lift a few leaves without dropping them.
They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, eating their food as the sheep grazed contentedly nearby. The flock seemed to know when Anton was distracted, taking the opportunity to wander a bit. Meeks was always on alert and kept leading the wandering sheep back to hear when they wander farther than they should.
"Is your family planning to have a stall at the End of Decay Festival Market?" Anton asked. "My father wanted to set up a stall, but Mother had to practically shout him down. She said it would be too much work for too little profit." A slight smile played on her lips at the memory of his parents' passionate disagreement. His normally masculine and rough looking father always backed down whenever his mother started shouting.
Maria shook her head, her expression growing more somber. "Not this year. Father usually spends months planning what kind of stall to make or what to sell, but he's still in Vinara." She absently picked at the crust of her sandwich. "I'm sure it won't happen in time for this year's festival. I just hope he's safe on the journey back."
"With all the reports from town criers about magical beasts growing restless across the realm..." Anton let his voice trail off, perhaps realizing this wasn't comforting. He quickly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, I heard you're going on an expedition soon?"
"Mmm," Maria nodded, swallowing a bite of food. "It's just the regular expedition, but this is the first time I'll be leading, so I'm a bit nervous."
Anton knew about these expeditions. The Mages Guild sent apprentices as part of the Kirkvalor expedition into Malor Forest periodically. Their task was two-fold: to cull the monster and beast population when necessary, and to mark the locations of particularly dangerous creatures and magical beasts so the Adventurers Guild could issue missions for their immortal members to handle. It was practical training, but not without risks.
"Being a leader in an expedition is difficult," Maria continued, her voice growing quieter. "I might have to make hard decisions, and I'll have to bear responsibility for my team members' lives."
Anton noticed how her expression changed, shadows crossing her features. He realized she must have participated in a previous expedition that encountered trouble, perhaps one with casualties. That thought made his chest tighten.
"But this time you're much stronger, right?" Anton said, leaning forward. "I know you've been training intensely. Even Master Blackwood acknowledges your hard work. I'm sure you'll be able to protect everyone."
He noticed Maria's hands trembling slightly as she held her half-eaten sandwich. Without thinking, Anton placed his hand atop hers, hoping to provide comfort and encouragement. Her skin was surprisingly soft—the hands of someone from a merchant family who had never known hard labor. They were also cold, despite the sunny day, so Anton moved his left hand to envelop her right one completely between his palms.
Maria looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, neither spoke. Then she offered him a gentle smile that conveyed her appreciation for his concern and gesture without needing words. Something stirred within Anton's chest—a warm, fizzy feeling that spread to his stomach and made his heart accelerate.
They remained like that for a while, time seemed to slow down for both of them. But it didn't matter as they were enjoying each other's company.
The setting sun shining behind the both of them as they walked back toward the village, their shadows stretched before them, occasionally merging into one long silhouette. The sheep followed obediently, perhaps sensing it was time to return to their pen. Neither spoke much, but the silence between them was comfortable, filled with unspoken understanding and the promise of time together in the future.
After securing the sheep in their pen, Anton accompanied Maria to the city on her way back home. The city was beginning to transform as dusk settled in as lamps flickered to life along the cobblestone streets with their warm yellow light pushing back against the gathering darkness. Without warning, Anton reached for Maria's hand, his calloused fingers entwining with her slender ones.
"Come with me," he said, tugging her gently in the opposite direction from her home.
Maria's brows furrowed as she realized they weren't taking the familiar path back to her family's house near the merchant quarter. "Hey, where are you going?" she asked, though she didn't resist his pull.
Anton simply offered a smile that dimpled his left cheek. "It's a surprise."
The night market was coming alive around them as they walked. Vendors called out their wares, the aroma of roasted meats and spiced wine filled the air, and villagers moved between stalls, examining goods by lamplight. Music drifted from the market's center, a violin, a flute and a small hand drum playing a lively folk tune that several children and couples were dancing to, their silhouettes spinning and jumping on the cobblestone street.
Anton moved through the crowd, still holding Maria's hand to ensure they wouldn't be separated. He finally stopped before a small shop tucked between a baker's stall and a seller of wooden toys.
As Anton pushed open the door, with Maria inside. The interior was warm and smelled of beeswax and something faintly floral. An elderly woman sat behind a polished counter, her silver hair tied back in a neat bun, as she worked with tiny pliers on some delicate ring.
She looked up as they entered, her weathered face breaking into a warm smile. "Well, good evening to you both," she said, setting aside her work. "How can I help you young folk tonight?"
Anton stepped forward, suddenly appearing slightly nervous. "Can you show us your bracelet collection? I want to buy one for my friend here."
The old woman's eyes twinkled as she glanced between them, clearly noting their still-joined hands. "Of course, of course. I have quite the selection." She bent down behind the counter and emerged with a velvet-lined tray displaying at least two dozen bracelets of varying designs.
Anton was acutely aware that these modest accessories might seem cheap to someone like Maria who came from a merchant family. But something in him had wanted—needed—to give her something before she left on her expedition.
"What do you think?" he asked Maria, gesturing to the display.
Maria leaned forward, her eyes scanning the collection with genuine interest. "They're lovely," she said, her voice soft with appreciation. "Let's try some on," Anton encouraged..
What followed was a playful accessory fitting that made both of them forget the time entirely. Anton would select a bracelet and carefully clasp it around Maria's wrist, both of them studying the effect before deciding. Each rejection came with commentary that made them laugh.
"This one looks too bland," Maria said of a simple silver chain.
"And this one," Anton chuckled, holding up an ornate piece with dangling charms that jingled with every movement, "is far too exotic. It would reflect and you'd alert every beast in Malor Forest before you even saw them."
The shopkeeper watched their interaction with the patient smile of someone who had witnessed many such heartwarming scenes over the years.
As the night slowly settled in, candles were lit within the shop, casting everything in a warm, intimate glow. It was under this light that Anton finally found it, a bracelet with a design of interwoven stems forming the bracelet, with lily blooms that wrapped halfway around. At its center rested a single larger lily crafted with remarkable detail.
Anton lifted it from the tray and motioned for Maria to extend her hand. With careful movements, he clasped it around her wrist, both of them falling silent as they observed how the bracelet looked against her skin.
"What do you think?" Anton asked, his voice having dropped to just above a whisper.
Maria rotated her wrist slowly, watching how the light caught on the metalwork. Her lips curved into a smile that reached her eyes, making them shine. "It's perfect," she breathed.
The shopkeeper named a price that made Anton wince internally, but he paid without hesitation. As they stepped back into the night, Maria studied her new bracelet once more before looking up at Anton with curiosity. "What's the occasion?" she asked. "You usually bring me food from your farm, but this is different."
Anton drew a breath, gathering his courage. He took both her hands in his, the bracelet cool against his palm where it touched her wrist. He looked directly into her eyes, noting how they reflected the nearby lantern light like twin stars.
"It's a protective charm," he said, his voice steady despite the rapid beating of his heart. "I want you to come back safely."