The walk up the hill was quiet at first, with the rhythmic sound of Merry’s hooves and the gentle rattle of the wheelbarrow filling the silence. As they got closer to the top, the trees thinned out, showing a beautiful view of Solmyra below. The city lights sparkled like scattered jewels, far away and peaceful from this height.
“This is... beautiful,” Juliene slowed, looking out over everything. “You can see almost the whole city from here. Even the castle, standing over everything. It’s so quiet up here, too. Peaceful. Not like my place. Sometimes, I have drunk people stumbling by my house, even in the middle of the night, yelling and singing, waking me up from a deep sleep.”
Lily chuckled, a fond, distant memory surfacing. "Oh, I know that feeling. Once, Dad and I were on a job, stuck in some dirty inn in a noisy town. Drunk people were yelling outside our room until dawn. I finally had enough, stormed out, and... well, I yelled at them to be quiet. They ran off like mice. Never heard a sound from them for the rest of the night." She laughed, a real, hearty sound. "They were terrified."
Juliene laughed with her. “I believe it. You’ve got that kind of presence.”
When they reached the house, Lily untied Merry from the wheelbarrow. Juliene tried to lift one of the crates of apples. He managed it, just barely, but his arms shook from the effort.
"Here, let me help you with that," Lily offered, her hand already reaching for his crate.
Juliene, though clearly struggling, shook his head, his face a little red. "No, no! I've got it. It's fine. Wouldn't want to hurt my... pride," he joked. Although his arms wiggled like strained twigs, it was obviously hard for him.
Just as he managed to wrestle the second crate to the doorstep, a familiar clopping echoed from the path behind them. Samuel, riding his horse named Midnight, appeared over the crest of the hill, a sturdy, long-eared donkey tied to Midnight’s lead rope, plodding patiently behind.
"Dad!" Lily called out. "You're back! And right on time. I suppose you caught those bastards before the day ended, didn't you?"
Samuel slid off his horse, his eyes landing on Juliene, who was still red-faced and out of breath from the apples. His gaze traveled over the boy from head to toe in a slow, calculating sweep that left Juliene frozen in place. The warmth in Samuel's face vanished, replaced by protective edge of a father weighing a stranger's worth. He didn't just look, he scrutinized him. His silence demanding a reason for the young man’s presence.
“Good evening, sir. Um... Mr. Holloway?” Juliene blurted, trying to stand a little straighter.
Samuel raised an eyebrow at the greeting, giving a short grunt that could have meant anything, acknowledgment, dismissal, or simply weighing the lad’s manners. His look stayed on Juliene a beat longer before shifting back to Lily, a teasing glint breaking through his sternness.
“Well, Lily. Is this the fruit vendor ‘boyfriend’ you mentioned about?”
“Dad!” Lily’s face turned bright red. “He’s not—! He’s just a friend!” She turned to Juliene, horrified. “Sorry. He’s like this. Ignore him.” She pointed firmly toward the barn, throwing her father a commanding look. “Go and take Merry to the stalls out back. Now!"
Samuel was clearly amused by her reaction. "Alright, Lily-bug. Don't get your wings in a knot." He started to lead Merry away, the donkey meekly following.
"Wait! The donkey!” Lily stopped him. “Where did you get it?"
He turned back. "Oh, this one? A gift. From the farmers. A thank you for dealing with those raiders. Good strong animal. Why?"
"Just... leave it to me. Go on, get those two settled." She took the donkey’s lead from his hand before he could object.
Samuel, still very amused, just shrugged. "As you wish, my dear." He left, leading the two horses away.
As he disappeared around the corner of the house, Lily turned back to Juliene and exhaled. “I am so sorry, Juliene. He's a lot. And he likes to tease."
Juliene managed a nervous smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's... It's alright, Lily. I understand."
Lily reached into her coin pouch, pulling out a handful of silver. "Here," she pressed the coins into his hand. "For the apples. And thank you for coming with me when you didn’t have to."
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Juliene’s fingers closed over the coins, his smile widening. "I should thank you, Lily. This is more than generous. Truly, you saved me." He looked out at the path leading back to town. The last rays of the sun had vanished, and the road was quickly dissolving into shadow.
Lily saw the darkening road too, a sudden worry growing inside her. "It's getting late, Juliene. Too dark to walk back alone." She quickly untied the donkey, which Samuel had just brought home, leading it over to Juliene's wheelbarrow. She found a rope and tied the barrow to the donkey's harness.
Then, she pulled out a small, sturdy lantern from a hook by the door and lit it, handing it to him.
"Lily, what are you doing? I can't... I can't take your donkey."
“Yes, you can,” Lily insisted. “It’s already dark. You need to get home fast. Take the donkey with you. It can pull the barrow for you, and you'll be safe. No need to take it back."
Juliene tried to protest again, shaking his head. "But Lily, this is too much. A donkey... it costs far more than two crates of apples. I can't accept." He even tried to press the coins back into her hand.
“Don’t make me mad, Juliene,” she warned. “Just take the donkey. Your life is worth more than any donkey or any crates of apples. Go home safely."
Juliene, though a little surprised by her sudden change in mood, didn't really believe she was angry, but the strong look in her eyes convinced him. He looked from the sturdy donkey to the lit lamp in his hand, then back at Lily’s honest face.
"Lily... thank you," he stammered, his gratitude clear. "Thank you. I... I don't know what to say." His thumb rubbed his knuckles, showing his nerves even. "Will Mr. Holloway be angry? About his donkey?"
Lily offered a subtle grin although a bit of doubt crossed her eyes. "Don't worry about Dad. I've managed him this long, haven't I?" She nudged the donkey lightly. "Go on. Keep your eyes on the road."
Juliene waved before heading down the road, the empty wheelbarrow rattling behind him.
“Take care, Juliene!”
She waited until the small, bobbing light of the lantern disappeared into the night.
A calm ease settled over her. Around him, the worries of the guild seemed far away, and for a moment, she wished she could just stay by his side. She stayed a moment more, letting the stillness of the hill settle over her like a warm cloak.
As Lily turned to head back inside the house, Samuel was already waiting at the doorway, arms crossed and a knowing smirk. He’d clearly been watching her for a while, and from the look on his face, he’d seen everything.
“Should I expect my donkey not to come back?”
Lily rolled her eyes, though still smiling. “I’ll buy you a new one,” walked past him. “First thing I’ll do once I start earning from the guild. Maybe I’ll even get you a better one.”
Samuel let out a throaty grunt and stepped beside her. Together, they picked up the crates. The apples were cool and smooth under their fingers. They carried them inside and stacked them gently in the pantry.
“What exactly are we going to do with all these apples?” Samuel asked, raising a brow. “Open your own fruit stall?”
“So we don’t have to argue over the last one, like last time.”
Samuel laughed deeply and warmly, a kind that filled the kitchen. “You're getting pretty generous with that pale lad, aren’t you? At this rate, he’ll have your whole purse before you even get your first earnings.”
“It’s none of your business,” Lily shot back. “I can earn it back, and you know I can.”
Samuel’s expression softened, his teasing fading into something gentler. “You like this boy, don’t you?”
Lily didn’t answer right away. She turned her attention to arranging the apples on the shelf, but her silence and the way she avoided his question said enough.
Then his face grew more serious, the humor replaced by quiet concern. “Just… be careful with your heart. You seem pretty fond of this boy already.” He looked at her, heavy with unspoken memory. “Fire can burn. Anger, love, it doesn’t matter which spark starts it.”
From that, his words acted like a flint, striking a spark that ignited a memory she had tried to keep buried.
Cold rain soaked through her cloak, her ex standing a few steps away, the silence between them heavier than the storm. They had already said their last words, and all that was left was the pain of knowing it was over. She watched him turn and walk into the rain, each step taking away the life she thought they would have together. She stood still, rain stinging her skin, until she felt empty inside.
Samuel remained quiet, watching her closely. “I watched you once when it broke you. I don’t ever want to see that again.”
She turned away. “It’s not the same.” Her fingers fussed with the jars on the shelf.
“Isn’t it?” Samuel pressed. “All I’m saying is, be wise. I’ve watched you grow stronger every year, and I love you like my own. I just want you safe, in all ways.”
Despite her annoyance, her guard softened. She knew he only meant well. She turned slowly, moved closer to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head against his shoulder.
“I’m alright, Dad,” she said with conviction. “You don’t need to worry. I’m being careful this time.” She pulled back just enough to face him. “I think Juliene is different. But I know I still have to learn who he really is.”
Samuel studied her for a long moment, then gave a single nod. That was all the confirmation he needed.
He then leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a familiar, quiet pride. The tension from earlier faded, replaced by a new sense of understanding between them.
Tomorrow, she would meet Darian’s squad, her first step into the Guild, her first test as one of them. The thought sent a prickle of nerves and excitement through her.
For a fleeting moment, the old memory tried to surface again: rain, silence, a figure walking away into the storm. She pushed it back down. That part of her life was over. She would not waste another heartbeat on a ghost.
Tonight, she chose to remember something different. Juliene’s shy smile, the warmth in his eyes, and the quiet strength of his kindness. It felt almost magical how he stayed gentle, even after everything he’d been through, like he didn’t quite belong in her harsh world.
The Guild will test her strength, but Juliene has already begun to test her heart.
🔥 Which test you think is harder for Lily right now?
