Lavandula

Starry Night

"It's not safe to wander alone throw town in the dark, Miss."
The deep monotone voice made her turn in shock. The man behind her made no sound as he approached her - intentionally or not.

When Svetlana turned, Eskels eyes were calm as his expression hard to read. Her heartbeat stopped increasing its pace at the look on a face that wouldn't mean any harm to someone innocent. Right?

"I beg the differ. By taking this road I am able to reduce the time I spend outside by more than an hour." Svetlana wisher her answer would sound more sovereign.

"That's impressive..." Said the witcher with a little smile on his crocked lips "but this place is deserted, its a perfect hunting spot." The smirk disappeared as he wanted her to understand the seriousness of this situation. His eyes met hers and he knew his words got to her.

He was right, this street was not as crowded as the main road but that was one of the reasons she used this shortcut so often along with the time-saving reason. The night sky looked always more promising above streets like this one and Svetlana liked to wonder those sky paths, but maybe now wasn't the best time for that. Even tho every fibre in her body demanded it. She dropped her eyes to the ground and sighed. He is right. I should be more considerate.

Silence fell between them as they walked the street.

"How is the investigation going?"
This question was inevitable, yet Eskel wished she would not ask. He did not want to say to her that, he had nothing - but that was the truth.

"I am now a little stuck and I might be in need of your assistance."

"Really? With what, I will do anything to help." Svetlana kept her breathing as calm as she could, her expression relaxed and for some normal mortal, her self-control would be more than enough to trick that person but the man walking beside her was unfortunately far from that. He noticed the change in the rhythm of her heart, the moment her lungs took a break for a second, yet he kept it all to himself as a normal mortal would. Like nothing happened.

"Marcus mentioned a place that Viola visited often. It's supposed to be on the riverside, but it's hard to believe that a young girl like her would fancy spending time in a place littered with drowners."

Her answer did not come as quickly as the last one she did not hide her shock and unease. His question brought out memory and Eskel knew, he will get his lead given the time.

"It's quite hard to find that place on your own. It's also hard to describe the place to you, but I can take you there."

The flat tone of Svetlanas voice carried itself along with them on this abounded path, the night sky singing its unheard melody.

Eskel noticed how the light from one of the few open windows illuminated Svetlana's face - her eyes not sad, not happy either, nose with the tip a little bit up and the cheeks redder than rest of her face, lips pressed into a thin line.

The first time he saw Svetlana, she was filled with loss and grief - her face revealing it heavily. Now she seemed much calmer but still tense. Eskel watched shadow consume her features and wondered how her genuine smile looks like.

Svetlanas answer may seem a little bit odd. Not really in the meaning but in the way she inhaled sharply - like if the answer itself could get her into trouble. All this considered, Eskel was still happy for any new lead given.

"Thank you."

Silence environed them, just the cracks of soles crushing the sand beneath their feet.

Their steps fell into the same rhythm, sounding almost like one. That was the moment Svetlana felt the need to disturb this rhythm, to make some distraction so her mind would not wonder the forbidden path.
"And where are you heading, Master Witcher?"

"To the inn, I am staying at..." almost whispered the Witcher with his eyes searching in the dark. The Wolfs medallion still calmly spelt on his chest as he spotted Svetlana turning her heat at him so she could hear him better.

"... to get dinner." finished Eskel his sentence with more power to his voice.

"Oh... I see. Is it close?" Her eyes were kind, wandering his own, eager to know the answer.

" Yes, It is the one with trout, what I have heard." At the mention of the cooked fish, he spotted her lips forming an almost mischievous smile. What was that for?

"Why the look?" Eskel asked "jokily" hoping he read the situation right.

"Nothing..." Her eyes seemed occupied as she focused on puzzling the answer in her head first.

"... It's just... I didn't take you for someone who believes everything he hears. Isn't it important for someone of your profession to differentiate what's true and false? Just a myth from reality?"

"Are you suggesting that I should get something else?"

"I am not suggesting anything. I am just being curious."

The conversation flowed smoothly, like a touch of silk onto exposed skin. And then it ended as unexpectedly as it started, in front of the dorms main entrance.

"May I count with your assistance, then?" Eskel asked as they stood in the moonlight and the light from a few open windows.

"Of course, can we meet here tomorrow after the sunset?"

"Yes, but wouldn't it be more convenient to meet when its light outside?" Another odd little thing he noticed in the course of this quick conversation. There were many things that were hard to read, not just the educational texts and it looked like this young lady may be one of them.

"I am sorry, but I must insist. It will be much more simple for me to show you then." She was persistent in her demand and her eyes almost pleading him not to press harder.

So he let go - he will get his answers eventually.
"As you wish then. Good night, Miss."

"I am Svetlana."

She was quiet, not sure if he had heard her. But Eskel did and for a second he didn't know what this new information means, then it enlightened him as the morning sunshine. "Svetlana, like "the light"?"

"Yeah..." Why all the unease in just one small word?

"And your name, master witcher? It would not be polite of me to call you just by your profession title." Her eyes were lively again like just a few minutes ago while they were walking here. Wanting to know his name Svetlana laid her eyes on him to let him know she listens.

"My name is Eskel."

"Nice to meet you, Eskel. Tomorrow then?" A big cloud covered the starry sky but Eskels eyes, untouched by the sudden loss of light, watched the brown-hair girl stepping from one leg to another. As if she needed to shake off her nervousness.

"Yes, just after the sunset..." She cared about this factor so much it amazed him to some degree. But she looked more relaxed than just a moment before, which seemed like a good sign.

"Thank you. And good night."

"Good night."

Svetlana waved at him before the doos closed, Eskel just nodded. The sky cleared itself from the clouds, painting his way to the inn with more enjoyable colours.
The moon truly shines strongly tonight.

***

Behind the close door, inside her half-empty dorm room, Svetlana refused to let herself fall into despair again so she focused on the fact, that to get to the "Delicious trout" you need to turn left 20 minutes before reaching the dorms.