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twenty-seven

Morai

S he was beginning to regret her decision to move. At least when she was in Linden she had the opportunity to at least catch a glimpse of Luka. But now it’d been two years since she’d moved, and in those two years Luka had only visited once. Sure, they’d sent letters back and forth, but it wasn’t the same. Most of the letters Luka sent seemed to come while he was on a job—which was constantly. Morai groaned, slumping at the reception desk.

“Are you doing okay there, Morai?” Amelia, her sister and a receptionist at the guild, asked as she slammed a stack of papers down on the wooden table. Morai still couldn’t believe she pulled off starting her own thieving guild. It’d taken a lot of her savings and some ups and downs, but she was finally seeing some financial progress. It was smaller than the one back at home, but it was doing good.

“I’m fine, just…”

“Pining?” Amelia asked. Morai scowled at her, but Amelia only grinned. Amelia was one of the first people who’d wanted to come here with her, and Morai was grateful for it. If Amelia hadn’t been here, Morai would have caved to all the stress of starting a business. Thankfully, the guild had started strong, mostly because the people who’d joined had heard about their family guild, that and the rivalry between her family and Luka’s. Morai sighed at that, she couldn’t really fault them for it since it helped her business. Morai frowned at a building she could see through the windows that sat across the room. The building had been vacant until a year ago when she’d noticed construction going on there. She still didn't know what it was about.

“Do you know what that building is for?” she asked Amelia who shrugged, busy sorting through her papers.

“No, last I heard it was a guild, but I don’t know which kind.” Morai scrunched up her nose. She just hoped it wasn’t another thieving guild. Morai sighed again.

“Would you like to go see Neoni?” Amelia asked. After Morai had moved here, Neoni followed suit a year later. She’d gotten her dream job as a researcher at the research institute of Magic, thanks to Kirnon. Of course, they’ve both been busy, but they tried to spend as much time as they could together.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll be in my office if you need anything,” Morai said, trudging her way up the stairs. The guild wasn’t busy since most of her guild members were out doing assignments. What Morai hadn’t anticipated as the guild owner was how much paperwork she had to do. Her office was well lit because of the large window that let the sunlight in. Her desk sat next to the window with an open area of the entire office that had sofas facing a small table where she received guests. Most of her guests had been family, though. Morai sighed again as she sat in her chair pulling a stack of papers towards her. They were assignments she had to approve before Amelia posted them on the board in the reception hall. Cracking her knuckles she set to work. The sun had almost disappeared in the horizon, and the mana stones in her office cast an orange glow when a knock came at her door.

“Come in,” Morai said without looking up, the door opened and closed. Morai waited for Amelia to speak as she usually did when she entered her office, mostly about someone wanting to join the guild. Morai scowled when she didn’t say anything.

“Amelia, what…” Morai looked up and froze in her chair. Luka stood at the door with a grin on his face as he studied her.

“You look dashing behind that desk,” he said.

“Luka?” she asked just to be sure, the last time he’d sent her a message he hadn’t mentioned he’d be visiting. Noa, who’d sat obediently behind Luka, chirped and dashed towards Morai. She automatically got up as Noa bounded towards her. Crouching so she could give the jaguar a hug, he’d grown since the last time she saw him. Luka had told her in one of his letters that thanks to Kirnon the king had approved Luka to keep Noa. She stared down at the collar with the king's insignia that rested on Noa’s neck and smiled. She heard Luka approach her, and she straightened, studying him as he came to a stop in front of her. He’d cut his curly hair short, and his attire was what he usually wore, he had a new scar on his forehead. And his sliver gray eyes twinkled at her.

“Like what you see?” he asked. Morai scoffed.

“Shut it,” she said, throwing herself at him for a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her slightly as he returned her kiss.

“What took you so long to visit?” she asked when they broke apart.

“I had something to take care of,” he said, rubbing the back of her neck.

“What was so important that it took so long?”

“You’ll soon find out.” Morai wanted to argue, but with his hand still rubbing her neck she relented.

“I missed you,” she said. Luka grinned, pressing his forehead to hers.

“I did, too.”

“How long will you be staying?” Morai asked. Luka’s grin turned devilish as he stepped away from her and towards the window that overlooked the street and the new guild.

“I won’t be leaving anytime soon,” he said. Morai frowned, joining him at the window.

“What do you mean?” she asked. Luka pulled out a necklace that had a dove engraved in the center of the square pendant. Morai’s mouth dropped.

“I’m officially a healer.”

“Luka, that’s amazing,” she said.

“Yes, well. Only on a part-time basis. I had to speak with the high priest about not wanting to be tied to the temple and he agreed, but with the condition I relocate permanently to the capital.”

“Oh,” Morai said, trying to hide her glee at the news.

“You can live with me. My home is not that far from here.” Luka smirked, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her again.

“I’d love that,” he whispered. Morai didn’t respond, trying to get her bearings.

“If you’re working part time, how would you support yourself?” she asked then brightened.

“Oh, you can work with me?” she said.

“That won’t be necessary. I have my own guild,” he said, pointing towards the new guild.

“Don’t tell me…you didn’t.” Was this the thing that had been keeping him busy?

“I most definitely did. The rivalry continues, my Morai.”

THE END