Rising Astra

3

The town was gorgeous, the pathways broad and long. Houses left and right, varying in size big, tall, small, long and short- different colours. everywhere bustling with towns people, the place was noisy yet oddly comforting. 

"Welcome back Bert-y boy." a man chuckled with a wide grin.

Albert locked eyes with the younger man who wore a friendly grin.

 "aye aye skipper." Albert replied back.

We got off the wagon, I followed Old Albert into a well lit building. The place smelt of food and ale, laughter and chatter filled the air. A community hot spot.

"Cass!" Albert shouted as he reached the counter.

"I'll be right out!" a woman's voice replied back loudly from an adjacent room.

I stood behind Old Albert, the hood of my cloak placed over my head. I could imagine I looked very ominous with my dark attire but no one seemed to care but I still felt anxious as I could feel some curious glances but people shook it off and went back to their conversations. 

"Cass your dad's back!" a man who looked to be in his thirties called a amused expression on his face.

It had been a whole minute before the woman named Cass appeared.

A woman around the height of 5'5, with an elegant face and bright auburn hair wore a dazzling smile as she made her way to us on the opposite side of the counter where all the ale and pint glasses were.

"Welcome back dad, your usual?" She asked with a happy tone. 

Cass cleaned some old pint glasses as she talked with Albert.

Albert nodded "Cass have a place for the little one here?" Albert questioned.

Cass raised her eyebrows, matched with a confused face before her eyes had now fallen on me... a smile once again formed on her face.

She slipped her father a full glass of what I assume is ale and pulled a plate of food out of nowhere.

"Hello there, I'm sorry I didn't see you. What's your name and how do you know my old da 'ere?" she asked with a friendly tone as she managed to hold both my hands.

"I'm Astra." I replied shyly.

"Welcome to Embercrest town, Astra. I'm Cassidy but everyone calls me Cass. I own this place with my husband. You can stay in one of the extra rooms upstairs darling, I'll show you round." She invited and not once did she question my hood.

She looked over to the man who wore the amused grin and he smiled and nodded towards her for reassurance.

I smiled "thank you Cass." 

She held my hand and  guided me "Let us rise Astra." she joked as we approached a hallway away from where we were, we waved bye at Albert who sat and sipped on his drink.

---
We stood in front of a clean wooden staircase, with white walls either side of it.

Cass smiled and walked up the stairs with me following behind like a duckling.

A glossy red door, with a short landing was what we were faced with.

Cassidy opened the door "welcome and come in Astra."