It all started with a notebook

The heat of the early Autumn sun burned into the back of (y/n)'s head as she practiced with her two swords on a wooden dummy as sweat dripped from her brow. Being too focused on the dummy (y/n) didn't hear the footsteps clinking on the pavement behind her "hey! (y/n) how long have you been out here?" stopping and turning around at the voice to see Howzer "Great Holy knight Howzer! G-good morning!" (y/n) said a bit out of breath "more like afternoon now! I actually came to release you for today. How long have you been out here?" noticing how drenched (y/n) is in sweat Howzer couldn't help but be a little concerned.

"uhh I want to say about six am? Around that time. Lord Gilthunder wanted me to stick around so we could talk about where I'll be heading for my next assignment" nodding Howzer and looked up at the sun which was well past noon. "That's actually why I came, Gilthunder got called in for an emergency meeting and he sent me to relieve you for the day as he's unable to himself. he wants to discuss the your next assignment tomorrow"

"That's great to hear, thank you for letting me know, Holy Knight Howzer."

"No problem, see you then" bowing in respect and packing up to leave, (y/n) walked down the busy street of Liones. Passing by overcrowded shops, easily missing how a person with short pink hair do a double take in her direction.

Walking down the tight streets to home at the edge of town (y/n) help but think that Howzer was right. It was really hot out and it feels hotter with each step to home, and to be honest it's perfect to go dip her feet and write a bit on her story. After arriving at an equally hot home (y/n) went to peel off her black romper that was drenched in sweat, heading to her closet to get her nice slip-on dress and writing utensils (y/n) walked out the door to the forest nearby. to where she liked to call her secret spot.

The water from the river was clear from the mountain runoff made a smile appear on (y/n)'s lips as the cold water engulfed her feet going to play in the water for a good few minutes (y/n) went to sit under a tree, enjoying the coolness of the air in the shade. relaxing to the sound of cicadas screaming and running water as she pulled out her little notepad and ink, taking notes on ideas for stories she wanted to write and even writing ideas for her current one. It went on like that for hours till it was interrupted by the rustle of bushes, standing up quickly at the sounds (y/n) watched carefully in the area the sound came from.

The bushes rustled again and a man with pink hair stumbled out with a few twigs in his hair. Startled by the sudden intrusion and tripping on a small rock, (y/n) yelped and fell back on her butt into the water from how close the man was when he stumbled out. The sound didn't go unnoticed by the pink haired man "I'm sorry I got lost and ended up tripping over a branch-" the man looked up at (y/n) and stopped in the middle of his sentence clearly taken back for what seemed like several minutes as the man slowly blinked out of his trance "I'm sorry I was caught off guard, you look like someone I know." looking a bit perplexed the man was clearly not in the right attire for a hike. Considering that this little spot was far off the beaten path...did he say someone he knows?

"I'm sorry that I'm not, are you looking for them?" standing up and lending a hand out to help the man out of the freezing water as he looked away embarrassed. "no, not anymore at least" looking at the man seemed to recollect himself pretty fast as he readjusted his glasses and rung out his clothes (y/n) raised a brow and eventually doing the same, wringing water out of her box braids and dress.

"What were you doing out here to begin with?" The pink haired man tilted his head a little looking at (y/n) up and down taking in more detail of her with a sad longing but went unnoticed by (y/n). "I was acting out a book I just finished, but it seems I've gotten too carried away" he said with a sad note in his voice as he noticed and picked up a soggy and ruined notepad "is this yours?" gasping (y/n) grabbed the notepad from him. "no-no-no" (y/n) said frantically looking to see if anything was salvageable but several hours of note taking was smudged and old notes torn and disintegrated by water.