Grief

Chapter 13

"Good to see you two on this great morning. We have a new student today," Professor Andre says as he motions for Eden and Sozec to take their seats on the floor cushions.

Sozec takes a seat beside Zeala surprised to see her in the arithmetic class. Delia never attended, she was often in the kitchen with the maids learning to bake or around the castle doing a number of things Sozec couldn't quite understand.

"Why are you here?" Sozec whispers to Zeala as Professor Andre turns to the blackboard behind him.

"I didn't want to be left alone."

Zeala wears a beige gown with white ribbons. Her hair is tied back in a braid and the heels she was wearing sit to the side of her.

"Come with me to the theater today," Sozec whispers.

"Okay, there's potions that I want to buy in town. Will Vincent also be going?" Zeala asks.

"No," Sozec says.

"No? Why not?" Zeala asks.

"He has preparations he needs to make for the coronation. The Knights of Jentul will be there to safeguard us and make sure everything goes according to plan."

"Why is it important that he attends anyways?" Sozec mutters.

Zeala smiles at the annoyance building up just from the mention of Vincent's name.

"I want to see him, he is my husband to be after all," Zeala teases.

Sozec lets out a scoff before turning his attention back to the professor.

"To be clear, I'm only teasing you. I do not mean to cause trouble," Zeala says before turning her attention back to the dull lecture.

Sozec turns to the woman bewildered by her statement. Her aura radiates a calming gleam showing she's content. She'd made it clear to him, her intentions through words. It was rare that that anyone did this for him.

After the lesson ends, Sozec and Zeala make their way into town and to a potion shop disguised as an antique shop.

The man at the front counter wears a white tattered shirt with a brown vest over it. His eyes lock on Sozec as the two enter the shop.

Zeala shutters as the weird man lays eyes on him. It's as if he knows him even through the mask on him. The man turns his attention back to Zeala as she taps on the counter awaiting his attention.

"Zeala, my favorite customer. What is it you've came for today," he asks.

"Florence, I need sleeping powder and another barrier potion," she says pointing to the potions on the shelf behind him.

"That will be thirteen hundred reene," the man says chuckling.

"What do you mean thirteen hundred? It was only eight hundred last time. How has the price increased so much?" Zeala exclaims.

"There are other ways to pay, you know," the man suggests.

"No, thank you," Zeala says grabbing Sozec's hand.

"What about the one beside you. Miracle is it?" he asks amused by his presence.

"Don't you usually walk around town with a bodyguard? Where is he now?"

"What other way is there to pay?" Sozec asks ignoring the man's question. If he'd known things were this cheap he would have brought money with him but it was too late to go back now.

"Your body, of course," Florence says in amusement.

"What's he talking about?" Sozec asks unamused.

"Don't mind him, we are leaving. There are other places we can check," Zeala says angered by the entire conversation.