Through the Looking Glass

I Can't Live Without You

The days following Cale and Alver's dream adventure continued on like the journey never happened.

No time passed in their world while they were jumping around and it's not like they could just go, 'You know, we just went through our traumatic past together, luckily, without the traumatic part, and saw some of each other's deepest secrets, but you will never know cause we just dreamed that and no time passed in our world.'

Cale also filed the adventure under, 'It was nice and slightly less stressful than other instances, but do that again to me and I will set you on fire.'

Alver was just sad that the nice break ended and his alone time with Cale got compromised by about everyone. Every single time when he had a bit of free time from his sky-high official duties, an annoyance appeared and crashed his time with Cale. Could the spirits come back and kidnap them again?

While Cale was relaxing back home, enjoying the delicious food Vicross makes and watching the neutral chaotic state of his family members, Alver was drowning in work. Actually drowning. It had been some days since he last saw the wooden finish of his desk, instead of an endless sea of papers.

The days turned into a week and the upcoming spring festival got closer. Just a few days and Alver will get a break. He won't even try to get a piece of Cale during the festival as the kids already claimed their guardian and taken his attention hostage for the event.

The festival will consist of a three-day market with dozens of traveling merchants and local craftsmen displaying their goods, while a food court deals out enough nutrients for the visitors to go nuts on their purchasing spree. The last day will end with dozens of fireworks, courtesy of the overworked mage brigade.

'It would be nice to watch the fireworks with Cale', Alver mused. A depressed cloud hang low over his head. Teus and Chester could only exchange helpless looks.

Between work, work, annoying nobles, more work, complaining nobles, and a wayward assassination attempt, Alver safely made it through the week. The streets were buzzing with excited travelers and boisterous merchants. Loud screams- happy, not horrified- from the market area reached even Alver in his office.

Cale and his group, consisting of Rosalyn, Choi Han, the kids, a grumpy Eruhaben, and why-are-you-here-fuck-off Fredo, were in the capital as well. The kids stared with wide eyes at the food, tugging an exasperate Eruhaben with them to sample the goods. Fredo kept himself glued to Cale, asking him every two stalls if he wants to buy anything. Cale always said yes, and his special storage bag quickly filled itself while he didn't have to pay for anything.

Rosalyn and Choi Han got separated from Cale a while ago and were frantically searching for the cheerfully smiling Fredo and a deadpan Cale.

Cale passed a nondescriptive booth, manned by an elderly lady. She smiled at him invitingly, not showing any recognition when he got closer. The ancient dragon changed their color schemes earlier, which is why cloaks aren't needed to hide their identities. Magic makes everything easier.

The stall had some shiny jewelry, obviously handcrafted with a more northerner design. Cale shivered at the thought of the north. Clopeh's face popped up and Cale got scared of his own thoughts. Just when he was turning around, an object caught his attention.

The lady noticed his stare and lifted the object in question, showing it to Cale.

It was a golden brooch with a blue sapphire embedded into the top. The outer design resembled a rose while the blue highlights in the form of petals gently reflected the sunlight. The flower stem was made out of a warm topaz. Gold linings surrounded the stones in a fashionable but not too extravagant display of artistic craftsmanship.