When the Universe Began [A Blackmadhi Fantasy AU]

Chapter Four

(POV: NAHYUTA)

Nahyuta awoke to a young girl shaking him. Confused as to why he'd been aroused from his slumber, he shoved her away, causing her to fall to the ground and bump her head on the corner of his desk.

"Ow! What was that for Big Brother?!" she yelped, holding her head where she'd hit it.

"Oh, sorry. I hadn't realized that it was you Rayfa. What do you need?" Nahyuta asked, staring at the crumpled form of his younger sister.

"Just a small favour. Please run down to an apothecary for me. I promise I won't go through your room while you're gone." Rayfa said, standing up and making her best attempt to look cute and innocent.

"Ugh... fine whatever..." he said, running a hand through the hair framing his face. He walked over to my wardrobe and dressed. He patted Rayfa on the head before heading out.

~~~

The bell on the door jingled as Nahyuta opened the door to a cleric's shop that he went to often. Strange. Thalassa wasn't out front. Whatever, he knew what he was looking for. He'd just find her when he needed to pay. He quickly gathered the things Rayfa had asked for and glanced around the shop for its owner again. Maybe she was in the back? Nahyuta poked his head in the small room and sure enough, there she was. She spotted him standing there and waved him over, patting the spot next to her in a gesture for him to sit. A strange woman sat before Thalassa, with a crystal ball between the two of them.

"Nahyuta, this is Mia Fey. She's a fortune teller." Thalassa said, gesturing at the woman. Nahyuta nodded to show his understanding. It's not as if it was an uncommon profession, every once in a while you'd meet someone who was talented, but most of them were fakes.

"I specialize in love fortunes in you're interested," Mia said, leaning across the table to get a better look at my face. He nodded again, it couldn't hurt. Thalassa laughed softly, surprised by his reaction.

"Great! Just sit still for a minute!" Mia exclaimed, placing her hands on his shoulders. After a literal minute, she withdrew her hands and placed them on the crystal ball. A swirl of colours mixed together and Nahyuta was so entranced by it that he almost didn't feel her poking a piece of paper into his arm.

"What's this?" he asked, grabbing it as he finally noticed.

"That piece of paper contains the name of the person I saw, the person who's destined to be your soulmate," she explained, folding her arms across her chest. Nahyuta tried to open it, but she grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Please don't do that here."

"Why not?"

"It displeases me to see painful reactions or confused ones. So I just don't allow my customers to look at the name written on the paper in front of me. Simple as that. If they need clarity, they'll come to see me again."

"Oh... alright then." He turned to Thalassa, pulling a few gold coins out of his pocket. She shook her head.

"No need to pay today sweetheart. That show was more than enough," she said, closing his fist around the coins. If that was what she wanted, okay then. He stood up to leave, grabbing a brown bag on his way out for Rayfa's stuff.

~~~

He returned to the palace, leaving Rayfa's stuff outside her door, seeing as there was a 'do not disturb' sign hung on it. He then headed back to his room, flopping back on the bed. Nahyuta glanced around, making sure there was no one watching. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the paper the fortune teller had given him. He unfolded it carefully, prepared for the contents whatever they might be. On the parchment was one simple word, someone's name: 'Simon'. Nahyuta stared at it, confused. What was that supposed to mean? He tossed it aside, burying his face in his pillow and falling fast asleep again.