Asra's Route

Introduction- The Hierophant

When she speaks, the word that escapes her sounds different. An unused voice from the depths of her heart, shaking and daringly hopeful.

"Ilya?"

Portia stumbles, then runs to the steps. I fall back into the wall as she throws herself at the doctor, tears streaming down her face.

"Ilya?! Is it really you?!"

Her shaking hands come to either side of his face, cupping his jaw as her eyes search every single one of his features. His own eye starts to shine with tears, disbelief and pain glistening in its depths.

"It's me." He whispers, voice hoarse.

"You-you-!" She stammers, falling over her own words before immediately resorting to anger. "You bastard! What are you doing here?! Out in the open?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Her fingers curl, tugging at his ears and drawing a shameful wince.

"You've grown up strong, Pasha." He mumbles, gaze dropping. "I'm... Sorry I wasn't there to see it."

Oh.

My heart lurches in my chest as I watch, frozen, unsure of what to do.

"Ohh, I'll show you sorry! You unbelievable...." She freezes, realization dawning on her features as she slowly turned to look over at me, as if seeing me for the first time, horror basking over her features. "Valen!"

She releases Julian's ears and seizes his collar, hurriedly tugging him off the stoop with one hand, the other furiously wiping at her tearstained face, leaving red angry marks in its wake. "I- I-I'll catch up with you later!"

Without further ado, Portia hauls the floundering doctor down a nearby alley, leaving me alone, trying to process what I'd just seen.

It was... Curious.

They knew each other..?

There was really only one explaination I could come up with, for it to really make sense.

They were family, weren't they?

I'm still left pondering as I enter my shop, heading straight for the back room. I linger over Asra's possessions. His clothing and his magical relics, comforted by his smokey scent. Even so, I know I can't stay long. I'm expected at the square.

I sigh, collecting the magical components I need. All except for the book.

It's nowhere to be found.

It's one of Asra's, one I'd only asked to borrow a handful of times. Did he take it with him when he left?

Pushing away my confusion, I finger through the books on the shelves once more. It's possible I've overlooked it. I tend to do that, sometimes. Even with things that are right in front of me.

So I look again.

And again.

And again.

Under beds and cushions and tables and chairs until I'm certain it's gone. Missing. A distant clock tolls the hour, shocking me to my feet and from the search, narrowly missing bumping my head on the table as I lift my head to look outside the window, panicked settling in as I find the sun high in the sky.

The announcement!

Biting my lip in vexation, I abandon my search upon the floor and close up shop, brushing the front of my clothes from any dust as I head for the city square.

It's densely packed as I arrive, smaller folks and latecomers circling the perimeter for a better view. A pleasant smell I can't place is wafting from nearby.