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The party stood in the square of Saintsbridge, watching as the boys marched off with their arms around one another, Derryl crowing about Emil’s bravery. Ophilia sighed in relief, and she turned to her friends. Her expression was so bright that Therion felt he literally couldn’t look directly at her. He never fancied himself a wordsmith, but he had to admit there was merit to poems comparing a woman to the sun. Still, he would never be caught dead writing one.
He sat upon a stone wall nearby as Ophilia, Tressa and Alfyn spoke amongst each other and he watched the forms of the boys grow smaller in the distance. He was suddenly reminded of how he and a young Darius would often walk in a similar fashion after a particularly successful theft. He was so lost in his own memories that he hadn’t noticed Tressa and Alfyn make their way to the shops for supplies and Ophilia had stopped next him, her face still fixed with her bright smile.
“You’re very quiet, Therion.”
He hummed in acknowledgement, though that’s all he offered. His eyes were still trained on where the boys disappeared from his eyeline.
Ophilia’s head tilted slightly in thought as she watched him, and he passively thought of how adorable she looked. Mentally he shook himself, surprised at the unbidden thought. Where did that come from?? Not a single sign of this showed on his face of course, master of expressions as he was.
Her face lit up again, “Are you thinking about how heartwarming it is, to see quarreling friends make good again?”
Therion chuckled at how easy it was to make her happy. Sometimes he was harshly reminded of just how naive she was, how much of a good girl she was. Very pure. “Not exactly. They just reminded me of something.”
“And what might that be?”
Therion almost didn’t say anything, but the more he traveled with his companions the more he realized how easy it was to open up about certain things. Especially where Ophilia was concerned. Despite how rocky of a start their friendship had, she had proven time and again that she truly would not judge him for his life, his past. His mistakes.
“My childhood. It wasn’t a particularly happy one though, so you’re probably better off not hearing the details.” He wasn’t quite ready to spill everything.
He saw the smile slide off of her face, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry…”
Therion shrugged. “No need to apologize. It was a long time ago. It’s nothing but a memory, now,” he said firmly. “And I know I’m not the only one with such an uplifting past,” he gestured to their companions milling around the square. Ophilia giggled, a sound that Therion very much wanted to hear again.
“You know, I admire your attitude, Therion. It’s very brave.”
Her voice had that sincerity in it that startled him every time, and as he looked at her he saw that wide, gentle smile that sent his heart beating as if he had run a marathon from Flamesgrace to Sunshade.
He cleared his throat and lifted his scarf over his nose, “Hardly…it’s nothing to write home about.” He felt his face grow hot, and he desperately looked anywhere but at her. She giggled again, and he swallowed his heart that had just jumped into his throat.