The sun had dipped low by the time Nova returned to the village. The light cast long shadows across the worn streets, painting everything in a tired orange hue.
Dust rose with every step he took, but the moment Anna spotted him, her face brightened.
"There you are! Took you long enough."
She called, jogging toward him with an eager grin.
Nova raised an eyebrow.
"You missed me that much?"
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead. Dinner's almost ready."
She said, but the way her eyes lingered on him betrayed the truth.
They walked together toward the food stalls, where a line of villagers was slowly gathering for the evening meal.
The scent of boiled grains and roasted vegetables filled the air. Despite the poverty on Callex, the people found small comforts—communal meals being one of them.
When they reached the table where their food was being served, the worker in charge gave them a once-over before smirking.
"Well, look at you two. What a lovely couple."
