✶✶✶
“AN old man, you say?” a gruff voice said.
“Yes,” Isadora nodded quickly. “He’s got a mustache like this, a strange hat like this, a cane with a snake coiled around it, and a big wooden crate and cloth bag slung over his back.”
As she spoke, she knelt down and drew a quick sketch in the sand. Sophie blinked—Isadora was surprisingly good.
“Hm…” the demi-human murmured, studying it. His soft black ears twitched slightly, poking through custom-made holes in his helmet.
“They let you have ear-holes, did they, Mr. Kuro?” Sophie said, smiling.
Kuro scratched at his head, a little sheepish. “Aye. Said they weren’t giving me a medal, but they could do ear-holes. Keeps me from steaming in the armor, and I can actually hear now.”
“I’m glad,” Sophie said with a giggle.
A tender moment passed between them. Then Kuro’s expression shifted, sharpening.
“Yes,” he said. “I know this man. He’s a traveling apothecary. Comes through town once a year, stays ten days, then moves on.”
“Wait, seriously?!” Isadora’s eyes went wide.
“That medicinal smell of his, that strange hat and snake cane—you don’t forget a fellow like that.” He turned to Sophie, his gaze steady. “Ms. Sophie. He passed through these gates three days ago. That gives you seven days to find him. You should hurry.”
✦ ✦ ✦
✶✶✶
“HURRY. When we have no idea where we’re going…” Isadora grumbled under her breath.
She and Sophie had come to the central plaza—a bustling crossroads right in the heart of town. To go anywhere in town, the man would’ve had to pass through here.
But there were way too many people.
Sophie paused, scanning for higher ground. That’s when she spotted a tall, tower-like building nearby—mainly because someone was waving at her from the top. A lanky man in a brown uniform, flanked by others dressed the same. He was the only one leaning so far over the edge that it made her stomach twist.
She hurriedly trotted toward the building. A moment later, someone came barreling down the long spiral staircase, practically sliding as he went. Pale skin, a head full of wild curls, and a pair of thick, thick glasses.
“Ms. Sophie! It’s been too long!” he called out.
“Kristoffer!” Sophie replied, beaming.
The boy who’d once come nervously into her salon skidded to a stop in front of her, breathless and dabbing sweat from his brow. He was nothing like the timid little thing she remembered. Now, he stood in a crisp brown uniform, with a healthy flush to his cheeks and a wide grin. He even looked more tanned than before. Seeing him doing so well made her heart ache a little, in the best way.
“My, you’ve grown,” she said.
“A little,” he laughed. “I’m always lugging heavy gear around, going here and there all day. I eat and eat, but I’m still starving!”
“Well,” Sophie said softly. “You’re doing well. I’m glad to see that.”
She would’ve liked to ruffle his hair, the way she used to—but he didn’t quite give off the vibe of a boy anymore. Her eyes drifted down, noticing something in his hands: a slim metal cylinder.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“It’s a tool that helps you look at the stars more closely. Oh no! I brought it with me!”
Just then, two other boys came hurrying down the stairs after him.
“Kris!” one of them called, sounding annoyed. “Where do you think you’re going with that?”
“We were still using it!” added the other.
“Sorry!” Kristoffer turned to face them. One was short, the other rather rotund. Both had curly hair—one red, one blond. Together with Kristoffer’s brown, that made three multicolored poofs. All three clutched pens, papers, and various versions of the same cylindrical device. Tiny marks covered their papers—headings, points, and connecting lines. Sophie suddenly understood.
“Are those…stars?” she asked.
“Yep,” Kristoffer replied proudly. “I got into the class I told you about. The one I always wanted?”
He was beaming. Sophie’s heart gave a quiet tug. Her eyes softened—but then, instinctively, she pulled herself back. She adjusted her veil and took a subtle step away so Kristoffer’s friends might not look at her too closely—she didn’t want to spoil this for him.
But when she glanced at them, they seemed entirely absorbed in their charts, none of them giving her a second look. Then Kristoffer met her gaze.
“We’re doing an assignment,” he said. “Observing the sky during daytime. I’ve only been in the class for three days, so I have no idea what I’m doing yet. Anyway, what are you doing here, Ms. Sophie? Out on an errand?”
“We’re looking for someone,” she replied. “Sorry to bother you all, but—have you seen this man?”
Isadora knelt and quickly sketched the old apothecary in the dirt. The boys gathered around, peering closely. A moment later, the rounder boy lit up.
“I think I saw him!”
“Huh?” Kristoffer said. “How? We were all looking upward the whole time.”
“Please,” said the tall one dryly. “He was probably looking for a pretty older lady down there.”
Rotund boy nonchalantly turned away, whistling an imaginary tune. “No idea what you’re talking about. It was a total coincidence. I just glanced down for one second, and this guy caught my eye. His cane is hard to miss. It was yesterday evening—he was heading toward the inns’ row to the south. Probably for the night.”
Sophie looked at Isadora. Isadora looked at Sophie. A nod passed between them.
“Thanks!” Isadora said. “You’re going to make a girl very happy one day!”
“Indeed,” Sophie added. “The most popular man there ever was. Thank you!”
“Gee, really?” the rotund boy said sheepishly.
But Sophie and Isadora were already flying off.