As Abraham and Maria walked passed the academy gates they long left garden, the cobblestone road extended towards the town that connected to the academy. The murmur sounds of daily life in human mundane life became noticeable—merchants calling out for Business, bells ringing everywhere, and the aroma of roasted nuts mixing with the sweetness of baking bread making their hungry belly to growl.
Maria slowed her steps as soon as she place her foot outside the gate , her gaze wandering over the colors and motion that painted the street of this town, her reaction is like she never saw a town before. "I never thought it would feel like this," she said softly. "So alive… so full of warmth."
Abraham tilted his head a bit, his hands tucked deep into his coat pockets like it's freezing outside." Alive, indeed you can say that". "But everything that feels alive tends to be expensive."
She laughed softly hearing the comment from Abraham, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The fabric of her brownish-chocolate dress caught the light reflecting in it's own way, making it appear soft, as a sweet, familiar scent drifted by.
Abraham, he heard, his voice tinged with amusement.
"So, you really joined the academy, huh? Hard to believe. They don't just hand out entry slips mid-season."
Maria didn't look at him. Her voice came quiet, careful, as if trying not to sound proud.
"Well… I got in through a family recommendation."
A chuckle slipped out from him, making a weird face. "Yeah, figures. You and your mysterious connections." He paused, eyes half-narrowed in memory. "You know, I still remember the day you appeared out of nowhere in front of me and Jennifer—saying you were here for the Hollow Cry… or maybe for me. That part still makes my spine itch."
Maria's face turned pink, her hand shooting up to cover it. "Did I really say that? Gods, that's so embarrassing…"
"Pretty much," Abraham replied, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. "By the way, didn't see you yesterday. I was with Jennifer in the infirmary."
"Oh, I was… somewhere else," she said softly. "When I came back to check, you were gone."
He gave a faint hum, eyes turning toward her. "Hmm. 'Family recommendation,' huh? Should I take that to mean you're a noble too?"
Before she could get a word out to response, something caught her attention - a little shop sitting right next to the road where they standing. A sign hung over the shop that read Blue berry Ice cream in light blue, and inside, the ice cream looked so good. It was all lined up through the glass window those ice creams look like shiny jewels to Mira.
Her face glowed up the very moment she saw ice cream shop. "Ah! Ice cream!" "Wow" she said out loudly, squeezing her hands together.. "Abraham, let's get one!"
He blinked. "Ice… cream?"
"Yes, wait Don't tell me you have never had it."
"I have," he said after a beat, eyes squinting toward the sign. "Didn't like it much. Too cold. And I don't have coin."
Maria turned toward him with a small frown, her lips puffing slightly in that way she probably didn't even notice. "Hey don't be like that, you should spend money, stingy."
He lifted one shoulder slightly, as if saying what can you do. "I'm not tight-fisted most of the time but how could I spend money when, I'm just you see, broke."
She turned around sharply with sulky face , and started walking toward the door. "Fine, I'll buy it myself."
Abraham called after her, "Hey, grab one for me too!"
She froze in her mid-step like ice, spun on her heel, heading for the door. "Fine. I'll get it myself."
"Hey, grab me one too!" Abraham called out.
She stopped dead, turning back with a look that screamed, *are you serious*? "You literally just said you hated it."
"Oh sudden wind Changed my mind," he replied, all breezy innocence, like he was innocent of a crime he intended.
Maria stared at her with big egg shaped eyes, then laughed softly. "You're… not funny you know that?." than she shook her head and hurriedly went inside the shop like kids after school break.
She came back out a few minutes later, two cones in hand—one vanilla, the other a bright red berry.
Abraham took his lazily. "Thank you, my lady"
"You're welcome, my friend" she couldn't resist the smile, than she let out a beautiful smile on her gorgeous face.
Leaning against the store wooden fence, they felt the sun's warmth soak into the wood. The air smelled sweet, like sugar and sawdust, with kids laughing somewhere close by, few kids running to the ice cream shop with long smile on their face.
Abraham tried the ice cream. "...Not bad"
Maria laughed, hiding her face. "You sound like you're grading a battle move."
He breathed out softly, almost smiling. "If you look closely, Maria everything's a battle, In some way"
She glanced upwards rolling her eyes, but didn't say anything. She took another bite of her bright red berry cone, leaving a bit of red berry cream on her lip. Abraham glanced at it for a second, then quickly looked away, pretending to watch the passing carts go by.
"Hey, Abraham " her voice sounded softer and more calm now. "Thanks… for walking with me."
He gave her a sideway looks, his expression unreadable more like expressionless. "You say that like I had a choice."
Maria laughed lightly. "Hey.. hey, first you thought I asked you to spar with me now you framing me into a kidnapper what next?"
His mouth curved, into a smile, with spark on his eyes glowing like star "And miss free ice cream? I'm not that foolish."
That got her made the real laugh out, a bright smile sounded as if that cut through the quiet morning breeze. It wasn't a careful, contained chuckle like usual from her face Abraham saw. it was sound of someone who have nothing else too worry, a sound of peace.