Last Eve on Eole

Stories from the Rosepetal

“It’s been so refreshing to see something else than shellstone and murfir wood. Thanks for letting me come along.”
Her smile was as soft as the rosy sky at their backs. The last day at Odosfier, Papacalla, had gifted them a warm and pleasant evening. The two had decided to make the most of it with a walk down to Eole’s main harbor. It was one of many sleepy, seaside towns on the island. An ideal place for someone who longed for a quiet and simple life living off the sea.
Tybulus met her eyes but only managed to hold it for a moment. He smiled back but felt strangely awkward all of a sudden.
“Well, it was really the board’s decision-“
“What’s this, doctor? Modesty?” Setsuvah interrupted with dismay in her voice. “Outrageous.”
Caught off guard, Tybulus just looked at her. They paused and she took on a more serious tone. At first, his figurative heart skipped a beat.
“You might fool your audience, your crew, and maybe even the board. But me? Oh no, I know your ploys.”
… Then he caught on. She was quoting a certain someone, down to the last letter. Still, he hid an exhale of relief behind the light laugh.
“Oh, I forgot. Yes, true, I surely am not programmed for such things. Let me rephrase: You’re welcome.”
Her face shone up, and she leaned in to give him a light peck on the cheek.
“Come on, Ty, I want to watch the sea before the sun’s completely gone.”
Setsuvah trotted on ahead. Befuddled, Tybulus lingered with jumbled thoughts. And an unfamiliar fuzzy lightness in his chest.
A faint, shrill squeak brought him out of his daze. But nothing around the vacant street stood out as a possible source. He heard it again. It came from a narrow little alley. Without hesitating he went to investigate. A few feet in, curled up against the cold clay wall, laid a small and hairy bundle. As he came closer it weakly lifted its head, pawed at him, and meowled franticly.
“… Oh, you poor thing…”
Without any hesitation he took off his cravat while bending down on one knee, and gently picked up the ninene cub.
Meanwhile, Setsuvah had turned around to find her company missing.
“Ty?”
She backtracked to see where he’d gone. As soon as she spotted him in the alley she stopped calling out but was puzzled as to what he was doing. Until she also heard the noise, and noticed he was mumbling words of comfort to something in his arms.
Setsuvah canted her head and wore a bittersweet smile. Though she felt blessed, she wasn’t the one that needed to witness these moments.