Chapter 129: The lady returns
As they walked back into town, Hael told Ceremus there was somewhere he wanted to go and reassured him he would be back.
Ceremus watched the young man run off, catching the gaze of passerby as he did so.
Hael had been thinking of getting Ceremus a gift for a while now, and once they passed through the market, his eyes happened to land on something he believed would make a great gift for the king.
He knew that someone of Ceremus' status didn't want for anything. If there was something he desired, he could get it at the drop of a hand. So his best bet was getting him a small but significant token—a beautiful charm.
Hael's gaze lingered on the delicate charm displayed in the vendor's stall. It was a small pendant, shaped like a crescent moon with swirling engravings resembling rolling waves, its surface inlaid with a shimmering blue gemstone that seemed to capture the very essence of the sea.
It reminded him of Ceremus. The quiet depth in his gaze, the restrained power he carried, and the way his presence commanded attention without force. This charm, simple yet captivating, felt like the right choice.
After making the purchase, Hael tucked it securely within his sleeve and made his way back to where Ceremus waited. He found him standing beneath the shade of an ancient tree, its sprawling branches casting dappled shadows over the ground. The sounds of the town were distant here, leaving only the rustling of leaves and the occasional birdcall to fill the silence.
Hael hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Here," he said, pulling the charm from his sleeve and offering it to Ceremus. "I saw this in the market and thought you might like it."
Ceremus glanced down at the trinket, his expression unreadable at first. Then, with deliberate care, he took it from Hael's hand, his fingers brushing against his own. He turned it over in his palm, inspecting the intricate details. The way the light caught on the gemstone made it appear almost alive, as if the waves within it churned and moved.
Ceremus' mouth opened before closing. For the first time, he was at a loss for words. This was the first time he'd ever received a gift from someone before that he didn't know how to respond.
He thought back to the moments his father would gift his mother flowers as well as intricate ornaments he believed would suit her well. Despite being a goddess who could take the world itself if she wanted to, she would always gratefully accept the gift with a smile on her face.