I sat in mine and Ami’s tent, looking at the maps I had of Paesuna,
We weren’t far now, and the Forest of the Forgotten was behind us.
Ami walked with her golden eyes flashing in the light from the campfire outside.
“Dinner is ready.” She said, looking down at the maps.
“What is Paesuna like?” I asked, though she had already told me hundreds of times.
When we were kids, she would sneak into my room, and we would talk all night about her life in Paesuna and my time at the academy.
By candlelight, she would point to every place that mattered to her, and I have them memorized.
But I love hearing her talk about her home. I love hearing her talk about how she missed the heat, the sand, and her parents.
She began. “Well, first off, it's hot.” She plopped onto the bedroll.
“It's also so full of sand dunes that you can get lost without a proper guide.” She pointed to the map.
“There’s The Sands of Time.” She traced her finger along the map to a barren spot.
I grinned at her.
“There’s the Temple of Canthia.” She danced her fingers to the circled spot on the map.
She smiled at me then, How long has it been marked?
Since we were twelve. I marked it the first night you told me about the Temple of Canthia. I told her, grinning widely.
She met my smile as she slowly leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.
After a moment, she pulled away, “We need to eat dinner.”
She made her way out of the tent, and I watched after her. She already knew I loved her, but watching her go towards Paesuna felt different.
Something hummed around her like something was gathering for her.
Whatever it is that is gathering, I would be there if she needed it. Ready.