Chapter 35: Spark of Mystery
After their hearty dinner, Zoya stood up and bid farewell to both Noel and Zaara. The sky outside had already begun to dim, and the first hints of night crept across the windows. Before leaving, Zoya hesitantly returned the chimera toy to Zaara, disappointed that she hadn't been able to make it transform again. The waitress - Amna quietly cleaned their table, smiling as she passed.
Soon, night descended upon Antiarena City. The sky shimmered with swirling purple hues, pierced by floating lanterns and the flicker of candles hanging in the breeze. The vibrant hum of the city dimmed into a lull, like a great creature settling into slumber.
Inside the Few Spices Restaurant, Noel sat on a wide windowsill, her knees tucked to her chest, her chin resting gently on top. The tunic Zaara had lent her was a little big, sleeves slipping past her hands, but she didn't seem to care.
Zaara, across the room, watched her closely. There was something about the girl—something distant and quiet that made her hard to read. Maybe it was her silence, or maybe her presence just felt too still.
A voice pulled Zaara from her thoughts.
"She doesn't talk much, does she?"
She turned to see Teacher Zirak beside her, arms folded beneath his flowing white robes. His tone was calm, but there was a subtle weight to it.
"I'll take Noel to the administrative office shortly," he said. "We'll see if we can find any records or leads about her family. You should head home and rest, alright?"
Zaara nodded without protest. She stepped outside, a warm breeze brushing past her cheeks, carrying with it the scent of peppered meat and dried herbs from nearby vendors. Their home wasn't far—just two doors down from the restaurant. Zirak silently watched her retreat until he heard the soft click of the front door closing.
Then, he turned to Noel, who stood silently behind him, still not saying a word. With a gentle motion, he led her out of the restaurant.
Back home, Zaara entered her room and glanced at the time. She quickly made her way to the washbasin to perform ablution, then laid out her jainamaz and offered the Maghrib prayer. At the end, she made dua for Noel, saying that she may find her family soon.
Once she'd neatly folded her prayer mat, her thoughts drifted to the lessons from school that day—particularly the teacher's lecture on meditation and essence replenishment. Her essence reserves was quite low, so she decided to meditate.
Sitting cross-legged on the mat, Zaara closed her eyes and settled into calm. Meditation required stillness—of breath, and of body. Slowly, her awareness drew inward, and she could faintly sense the flow of her Icy Crystalline Neblina Essence. It was delicate, like frost on glass, yet strong like frozen steel.
Tiny particles of natural energy floated in the air, entering her body through each steady breath. As they passed through her heart and lungs, they were refined, merging into her nerves and replenishing her internal reserves of essence.
The process was slow—but stable, consistent, and deeply soothing.
After some time, Zaara stirred. Her mind felt clear, her body light. But as she opened her eyes, she flinched in surprise.
Teacher Zirak was sitting quietly across from her, hands resting calmly on his lap.
"Teacher! How come you're back so early?" she asked, startled.
Zirak chuckled beneath his white robe. "I'm not early. It's already late. You've truly begun to grasp meditation. Your comprehension is exceptional."
Zaara blushed with happiness. She always cherished his praise. But soon, her thoughts returned to the red-haired girl.
"Teacher ... Did Noel find her family?"
Zirak shook his head. "I brought her to the administrative office, but there were no matching records. I've also asked others to notify me if they find any trace of someone looking for a missing red-haired girl."
Zaara looked down, thoughtful. "So … what will happen to her now?"
Zirak tilted his head slightly. "What do you think we should do?"
She thought for a long moment, then replied with a hopeful smile. "Why don't we let her stay with us, Teacher?"
Zirak closed his eyes, lost in silent thought. He didn't respond right away. Instead, after a long pause, he simply said, "Let's eat first."
When they stepped into the living room, Zaara froze. Noel was already sitting at the dining table, hands folded neatly in her lap, her expression calm—docile.
Zaara's eyes widened slightly. She looked at Zirak, but he said nothing, his expression unreadable.
The table was already set. But even though Zirak had cooked more than usual, it still wasn't enough. Between Zaara and Noel's healthy appetites, every plate and cup was soon wiped clean—nothing remained but satisfied bellies and empty dishes.
Zaara shared her room with Noel. Within minutes, she had curled up quietly and fallen asleep, her red hair fanned across the pillow like fire on snow.
Meanwhile, Zaara offered the Isha prayer, then made dua once more for Noel, asking again that she would find her family and be happy.
Zaara, lying awake a little longer, stared at the ceiling, questions swirling in her mind. Something about this girl didn't make sense.
And yet ... she felt no fear.
Only a strange, growing curiosity.