Epilogue: The Bakery at the end of the street.
Torus was a decent sized frontier town in the old world. Built close to the edge of what was claimed as the wild lands it was a key site for explorers and adventure seekers. Those who wanted to test their mettle, explore the old world and strike it rich from the relics that laid scattered across the lands, they were the majority occupants of Torus. As such they tended to by a rowdy bunch. Far from the portal leading to the civilised world, or so they called it now, the price of land within the town was also quite cheap due to the danger. It was for that exact reason that a trio of hopeful young adults came to call it home.
It was a bit of an awkward spot at the end of a street just off the main road but not too far from the central hub. Surrounded by housing the small bakery was tended by three siblings and had been running for several months now. The bakery "The Sleepy Garden" was mildly successful considering where it was and was building a steady reputation for its delicious baked goods and unique owners. Three siblings each with black hair, one however with a streak of white, and another with a streak of flaxen.
"Phew," Arnold stretched his arms to the roof and breathed satisfied. "We sold pretty well today don't you think?" He took off his baker's hat and revealed the smooth black hair beneath, unconsciously twiddling the streak of flaxen hair that stood from the rest.
"Not bad," Stella replied as she looked at the remaining stock. "Those Aunties from the quarter really like paying you a visit."
"Oh you're one to talk," he huffed back. "I swear every second male who comes by here can't help but ogle you and now they're becoming regulars."
A patter and a pull on Stella's frock caused her to look down. Measuring half her size was a cheeky faced girl with sleek and an almost impossibly dark black hair. Her pupils were the same, unnervingly so as many people couldn't hold her gaze for more than a few second.
Stella patted the girl's head, "Yes El you have your own fans too and they also tend to spend the most."
"That's cause she plays the cute innocent child despite her actual age," Arnold rolled his eyes.
El frowned and jotted on a clipboard she wore at her waist, "Just because you can't, doesn't mean I can't."
"Cheeky as you are smart," Stella pinched El's cheek much to her annoyance. Leaving the girl alone she picked up the money box and took it to the back room to count. With no customers waiting Arnold and El soon joined her as they looked over the day's earnings.
"So that makes our profit just under 300 mid coins," Stella pursed her lips. "It's good especially compared to where we started but we're not going to get anything fancy any time soon."
"What did you expect?" Arnold scoffed. "We're bakers. If you want a big payoff go outside the wall."
Stella flicked him in the forehead, causing him to reel back, "Like you said we're bakers. We'd die out there within the hour. It was dangerous enough to get here." She sighed, "It was cheap though...."
El lifted up her sign, "I like it here. The people are interesting."
"That is true," Stella agreed. "Though Arnold you might need to learn how to fight. I've heard some bad rumours recently."
He laughed, "Let's switch, you'd clearly be better at it than me."
"And what are you insinuating?"
"That despite how you look you're kind of a br-."
Before he could finish Stella swung at him but missed as he managed to duck, "How dare you. I'm a delicate lady."
Even El sniggered at her comment forcing Stella to bear her frustrations as while Arnold was fair game she couldn't hurt El.
They continued their work organising their small business until the chime of the entrance rang causing all three to look up in unison. As one they leant their bodies to peek through the one way mirror of the back room. It was unusual for customers to come in so close to closing. The two arrivals were new and rather unique in their features. The most distinguishing part of them, their green and purple hair.
Stella's mouth gaped open and frozen she dropped her bag of coins to the table.
"Hey careful," Arnold snapped back only to see his sister's expression. "Umm are you okay?"
"She's beautiful," Stella spoke openly. "Oh my god, my heart! I've never felt this before."
"Wait what?" both Arnold and El looked at her shocked. Their sister had never shown interest in anyone before. With a push from El, Arnold was forced to question her, "Which one?"
"The one with the purple hair," Stella spoke as if mystified. "She's... I can't explain it. I'm just- like wow."
Arnold raised his brow, "I mean yeah she's pretty but I think the green head is nicer."
"No way!" Stella shot back only to realise where her priorities should have been. "Ah they might leave!" She slapped her hat back on and neatly tucked her whitening hair inside before neatly patting her dress. "H-how do I look?"
"Are you seriously trying this?" her brother was not impressed.
"Just answer me!"
El held up her board, "You look lovely." She put it down and scribbled again, "Make sure they buy lots."
"Will do!" Stella saluted her and taking a deep breath poised herself before leaving the back room. Though she seemed calm on the outside her heart was an anxious mess. The chatter of two customers prickled in her ear as she instinctively focused on it. The smooth voice of the purple haired girl sending a foreign tingle in her stomach.
"Himila stop sniffing, it's strange," the purple haired girl reprimanded her older looking friend.
"I can't help it, this smell is so familiar!" Himila aimed herself at the glass counter which blocked the few remaining pastries within.
"Umm can I help you?" Stella asked perturbed by the strange women. The green haired Himila seemed to be in her late twenties whereas the girl beside her on the opposite end. The dynamic between them however was clear with the younger one in charge.
"I'm sorry about he-," the purple haired girl turned to face her properly for the first time and upon seeing Stella froze.
The strength of her stare was more intense than Stella expected causing her to fidget self-consciously, "I-Is something wrong"
"S-sorry," she snapped back awake. "Nothing's wrong. I'm Lav, do you run this bakery?"
"Y-yes," Stella unconsciously smiled at having heard her name. "I'm Stella. My siblings and I own this place, though we're still paying off the last bits. From the looks of you two, you must be sweepers right?"
Lav laughed, "Something like that but not quite."
Himila gripped her arm, "Stop talking more buying. I'm starving!"
"Ah right," she turned her eyes to the bread and pastries on display. "Is it alright if we take all of it?"
"A-all of it?" Stella stammered.
"Sorry that's a bit selfish of us isn't it...."
"N-no, not at all. I'm just surprised that's all. We're almost closed for the day and it's not too much extra effort to make a bit more in the morning." She took out some boxes but soon realised she would take too long alone and decided to enlist for help, "Arnold, El, could you give me a hand please?"
The two quickly ushered themselves from the back room dressed in similar clothes, hats included. Together they made short work of the packaging process. El especially in a good mood with the sudden mass amount of sales despite the odd look the purple haired girl was giving her.
"That'll come to 334 mid coins," Stella said pulling Lav's attention back towards her.
"Here," Lav placed a hefty bag on the table. "Keep the change."
Stella opened the bag and was almost stunned by the amount. It was more than they had in the back room. "W-we can't accept this much!"
"I insist," she smiled brightly. "It'll help with your payments won't it?"
"Yes but this is way too much!" Stella stood her ground and refused to let the shiny opportunity to get the better of her morals. She quickly took a bit more than what was required and held the pouch back towards them.
Lav however simply smiled as Himila behind her was preoccupied with smelling the pastry in her hands. They already had their bundles and were heading for the door. A thud echoed in Stella's chest. It wasn't just the fact that they had vastly overpaid them but the fact she may never see the purpled haired girl called Lav again. With the decision made she leapt over the counter and moving much faster than anyone expected forced the bag of coins back into Lav's hand. The moment their skin touched however the two flinched.
A memory from another time leaked into Stella's mind. Standing by a river looking up into a grey tree as a purple haired girl smiled down at her. Then she was next to her and the brightest feeling of warmth lit her heart. It was like the dreams she had been having lately, but so much more intense.
"L-like I said, this is too much!" Stella snapped from the reverie and managed to stutter out her mind. "If-if you really care then you should just come by again... and again."
"You...," Lav however didn't pay any attention to the bag of money in her hand and let it slide to the floor. Her eyes were intently gazing into Stella's. She stepped forward forcing Stella to step back.
"Umm Ms Lav I- what are you doing?" again her heart was hammering but this time it was due to the sudden aggressive nature she was being pushed by.
With a sweep of her hand Lav took away the Stella's cap letting her hair fall neatly past her shoulders. The white strands against the black were revealed and seeing them only made Lav push towards her harder until she was pressed against the counter.
Arnold frowned and began to move towards them only to notice that his sister seemed to actually be enjoying the experience based on her flush cheeks and barely repressed grin. Beside him El was more concerned with the fallen bag of coin. If she had judged the situation to be peaceful then he had nothing to worry about.
"Oh my god these are amazing!" the shout suddenly came from Himila who had finally taken a bite of her pastry. "They taste like what Mr Kyle used to make us."
It was those final words that drove Lav to embrace the panicked girl in front of her, "I've finally found you."
"Oh umm, wow," Stella gasped as she was suddenly enveloped in the best hug of her life. Soft and filled with a tender love she couldn't explain, her instincts took over and she hugged her back. "I guess you did?"
After a rather long time Lav finally broke off her with tears in her eyes. Stella could only smile in a mirthful daze, stuck in the afterglow of the hug. She barely noticed as Lav's hand clung to hers and she was gently pulled towards Arnold.
With a flick Lav knocked off his hat as well, much to his displeasure, "Yep, there it is. Now I look at you properly you really do resemble him. Which means you must be-," her eyes turned to El who regarded her with her deep black eyes, "yep you're you."
"Umm do you know us?" Arnold asked after picking his cap back up.
Lav laughed, "You could definitely say that." She took Arvel's arm as well, "Come with me. We have a lot to talk about."
"Whoa hang on," he resisted. "I'm not going to let us be dragged off by honestly incredibly suspicious people. Stella say something!"
"Hmm what?" she finally woke but remained with her oddly serene smile. "What's wrong, let's just go with her. We're sold out and closing soon anyway."
"El?" he looked to his other sister for a rational decision only to see she had picked up the coin bag and was holding it rather tightly.
She pointed a board towards him, "I like the rich ladies."
Arnold sighed and shook his head wondering just where he went wrong with raising his sisters. Though really they were all the same age, he had always considered himself the oldest.
Lav smiled to him with a stunning reassurance, "I promise you we mean no harm. In fact it's the opposite. There are a lot of people who want to meet you."
"Oh because that's not suspicious," despite his words he gave in. "Let me lock up first."
As he locked the bakery and home Stella stood hand in hand with Lav outside. She couldn't help but feel a giddy warmth from being beside her.
"Umm excuse me," Stella began, "But I feel like I really know you."
Lav gazed towards her lovingly, "I don't want to overload your mind so I'll hold back for now but, yeah it's a little like that."
"Okay... so then would it be okay for me to go ahead?"
"Go ahead with what?" Lav asked curiously.
"This," with little more warning Stella took the girl's head in her hands and planted a kiss on her lips. Arnold who had just exited the store with El covered her eyes. Even Himila who had been enjoying her food couldn't help but blush from the sudden turn of events.
As they moved apart Lav's legs gave way, almost dragging Stella with her.
"I-I'm sorry," Stella immediately went to help her up. "I don't know what came over me."
Lav however was all smiles, her face flushed red, "I think I just swooned for you all over again." She stood up and held onto Stella's hand tightly, "This time I won't lose you. Now let's go, if we keep this up we'll never meet everyone else."
"S-sure," Stella replied still confused not at just the situation but also her own actions.
Arnold and El followed a few steps behind, "El promise me if you ever fall in love, take it slow. It's not good for your brother's heart."
El simply smiled back, a knowing glint echoing in the dark of her eyes.
The End: