The Heartstone Journey

Book 7 | Ch. 2 - A Dying Ember In The Dark

A few hours later..

"Veronica! Could you review all the quests posted for today?" Jessica called out from a distance.

<Veronica>

"On it, ensure every document on the table before you is in order." I kept to a rhythm in an attempt to not lose the momentum I gained.

I glanced around, not many people are coming in for today.

How strange..? It's also getting less and less livelier in here now~. Over half of the usual members are absent.

Especially.. Rogue.

He's closing in to two weeks since he left on that scouting mission~. When will he return? Just a day longer and I'll be forced to put out a MIA tag on his profile~. That begs another question.. who the hell is governing the fortress while dad is out on vacation?

Did dad find a suitable substitute and instructed the person to stay quiet? That sounds like something he'd do. But couldn't he have at least told his daughter~?

"Hey, Veronica are you alright, you're spacing out?" A sudden voice to my right startled me.

"W-wah~!? O-oh.. it's you Ace." I took a sigh and continued my work.

He continued to stare at me, he could tell I was acting strange.

"What's bothering you? I won't leave you be until you spit it out."

"Ace~, do you have to do this during work hours?" I let a bit of my frustrations out.

"Yes, now go on. If you can do the same thing why can't I?"

Ugh.. he's using my logic from a bit ago.

"F-fine. J-just-- Ugh.. Meet me outside the flower garden after my shift, now's really not the time."

"Gotcha." He got up from where he was sitting and scurried away, I turned back finding Jessica swarmed with people needing help.

"I-I'm coming to help, Jessica!" I hurried over taking some of the weight off her shoulders.

...

...

Night falls..

<Ace>

The night sky enveloped the world, the cold pushed against my heavy clothes.

A puff of air was visible from my mouth each time I exhaled.

I sat on a nearby bench observing the stars, the lights keeping the darkness at bay and the garden flourishing despite the weather.

From a small distance away I could hear the sound of feet stepping my way, I looked with anticipation, Veronica waved her hair back sending me in a daze for a moment.

I couldn't stop staring, how embarrassing.

"I-is there something wrong with my outfit?" She looked visibly worried, her face was flushed and I couldn't tell if it was the weather or another factor.

"N-no you look b-beautiful~." Blood rushed all over my face as we stood motionless in silence.

She wore a hazel coat that had multiple connecting buttons to keep it from flying off.

Her earrings looked expensive~, it had the shape of a gem with an emerald hue in the center.

I caught a whiff of citrus coming from her, is that.. perfume~?

"I like the perfume you have." I spoke what came to mind without thinking.

Her expressions froze before her face turned into a cherry.