Two Worlds Apart

CHAPTER X - ADRIAN

Adrian leads Cheverie through the winding streets of the Dark Slate, their steps quiet amid the soft hum of the city.

She moves cautiously, her eyes darting around, taking in the details of the neighborhood that feels worlds apart from her own. Every building is unique, patched and repaired with materials that don't quite match, but they're filled with light and life. Lanterns hang from strings above the street, casting warm glows over laughing faces and spirited conversations.

"Do you always have so many people outside?" Cheverie asks, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the lively scene unfolding around them.

"Pretty much," Adrian replies, grinning. "People here don't stay indoors much. Too many friends, too much music... always something happening."

Cheverie looks around, her expression a mixture of fascination and disbelief. Adrian watches her, captivated by the way her guarded composure starts to melt, her eyes lighting up as she takes it all in.

"Here," he says, steering her toward a small stall where an older woman is serving hot, steaming pastries dusted with cinnamon. "You have to try these."

She hesitates, glancing at the food with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, but Adrian's encouraging smile wins her over. She takes a small pastry from the woman with a polite nod and nibbles at it, her eyes widening as the warm, spiced flavor fills her mouth.

"It's... really good," she says, surprised.

Adrian chuckles. "I know. People here may not have fancy kitchens, but they know how to make food that makes you feel at home."

They wander through the square, and Adrian points out small, familiar details: the shop where his father buys supplies, the building where his friends perform makeshift plays, the tiny but busy market that's open even late into the night.

The sounds of a guitar drift through the air, the music soft but lively, and Cheverie pauses, her gaze drawn to the musicians gathered on the corner, their laughter mingling with the melody.

"Do they... perform like this every night?" she asks, her voice full of wonder.

"Most nights, yeah," Adrian replies. "People here just like to... share things. Music, stories, laughter."

Cheverie's eyes linger on the musicians, her expression wistful. "In the Upper Slate, everything is so controlled. There's never music in the streets like this, never laughter at night. It's all so... quiet."

Adrian watches her, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "Sounds lonely," he says quietly.

She nods, her gaze dropping to the ground, and he feels a pang of sympathy, a deep understanding that she's missing something important in her world. He's about to say something, to offer her a bit of comfort, when Poppy and Daniel appear, their faces bright with surprise.

"Well, well," Poppy says, crossing her arms, her gaze darting between Adrian and Cheverie with a mixture of curiosity and something darker. "So this is why you've been sneaking off lately."

Cheverie flushes, glancing down, but Adrian steps between them, his expression steady. "Poppy, Daniel - this is Cheverie. She's... visiting."

Poppy raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "From the Upper Slate?"

Cheverie nods, offering a shy, tentative smile. "Yes, I... wanted to see what it was like here."

Poppy's eyes narrow, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face, but she forces a smile. "Well, I hope you're enjoying the view," she says, her tone polite but tinged with bitterness.