As they walked through Juniper Leo watched from the corner of his eye on how she behaved. To his relief, she acted completely normal, like another citizen. She kept her hood up to hide the horns and shockingly it worked.
"I never caught your name,"Leo stated to her after some hours of exploring Juniper.
"Lucille Armaiya," She stated in a cheery tone.
Leo nodded. There was no reason to introduce himself considering she already knew his name.
"It's a pretty name," he replied.
She looked back to him and smiled, her cheeks taking up a rosy tone.
Just before entering the town, Leo had asked Lucille how she was going to seek shelter. She had said that she didn't need that. He kept his questions to himself.
He'd just have to see for himself what she would do.
As these thoughts were passing through his mind, Leo quickly let them melt away as he spotted Sateria outside of the tavern. She was tying a ribbon around what looked like a basket of wine bottles.
Usually it was custom in Juniper to do that when someone was getting married.
How come I don't know about this? The news should have spread throughout the town like a wildfire.
He stepped over toward her. She looked up from her work. When she saw him her face lit up.
"Hi, Leo!", she called in a cheery tone. She set the basket down and rushed over to him for a hug.
"How are you today?", Leo asked as they stood there for a moment.
"Oh you know, I've been busy prepping for a new marriage between Hirina and Yunek. They've been together for so long that I guess it finally hit them that they should get married. Isn't that lovely?"
Hirina and Yunek. A couple that lived in town for...well since Leo could remember. He would often help them with moving heavy things around their home because Hirina, a rather...easily flustered girl, was often cleaning. So Leo would move furniture for her. And he was surprised that Yunek wasn't driven crazy to the constant changes that took place within that house. But they were a couple meant to be for sure.
"That's great! I'm happy for them," He replied.
They broke the hug for a moment. As they talked, Leo was wondering why Sateria didn't keep looking at Lucille. He looked back at her when Sateria wasn't paying attention. She would stand there and wave back each time. His feelings for Sateria were especially strong. But he didn't want to say something lest it discomfort or scare her. So he decided he'd wait on that.
"So what are you planning to do for the rest of the day?", Sateria asked him.
Leo looked at the sun's position and then at the clock tower toward the center of town. It was just past 3 in the afternoon.
"I dunno," he stated. "I guess I'll figure it out as I go along."
Sateria picked up the basket in her arm.
"Well if you aren't busy tonight, you can come to my house for supper."
Leo smiled.
"I'd love that. Thanks a lot."
Sateria smiled brightly holding the basket in two hands.
"Okay! I'll be sure to let my papa know. I'll see you around!"
She started walking down the street in the opposite direction.
Leo walked back to Lucille.
"Sorry. I'm not sure why she didn't say hi,"
Lucille broke out into a laugh.
"That's because she couldn't see me."
"Heh?" Leo stared at her for a moment.
Oh my brain cells...
"You see," She started as they walked through Juniper, "I don't directly affect anyone else's life besides yours right now. So therefore they don't see me. Only you."
She scooted closer to Leo brushing up against him.
"If you think about it, you should call yourself one lucky guy. I could probably help you with some of that tension."
Leo broke a slight sweat and shook himself.
"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. "
She sighed in disappointment.
"Very well. But you're missing out."
Leo nodded.
"Gladly."
She giggled.
"How rude of you."
Then she remembered how he interacted with the other girl.
"You're in love with her aren't you?"
Leo stopped and turned around.
"Huh?"
Lucille caught up to him and grabbed his shoulders.
"I could tell! You looked at her so affectionately. It was adorable! My heart...or whatever is left of it melted."
"Okay? So why do you bring it up?"
She pulled back and put a finger to her chin.
"Well it's my way of assuring you that though I want to, I won't do anything...." she turned away and with a smirk she stated under her breath,"not yet anyway."
"WHAT?"
"NOTHING!"
Several hours passed by and she bid her fairwell.
Leo watched her spread her wings and fly upward.as she did so, a large pentagram appeared above her glowing in a deep red. She smiled at him before closing her eyes.
Then she dissipated almost as if she hadn't even existed in the first place.
Now he understood why she turned down his offers to find somewhere like the inn to stay for a night or so.
He realized that despite her uncomfortably pervish comments and actions toward him, he felt lonely having had her around for the day.
He started wondering if she would come back.
He shook his head and turned around. The sun was getting ready to set. He remembered Sateria's request for him to eat supper with her family.
He took off on a run toward the tavern to see if he could find her.
As he approached he bent over putting his hands on his knees to catch a breath after running all this way from the edge of town, Sateria came from around one of the corners. She waved to him as she came closer.
She walked up beside him.
"Hey are you ready?" She asked.
Leo stood up. He nodded.
"Of course. Now that I think of it, I've gotten pretty hungry."
She grabbed his hands and started pulling him down the street.
"Well let's go then! Me and mother cooked lots. You can eat to your heart's content!"