Morning arrived quickly, and the group slipped back into their roles as caravan guards. According to Bram, they were close to the first city on their list of stops. Once there, the caravan would rest and resupply—a process that could take a day or two.

  Colin was ecstatic. Not only would he get the chance to rest, but he’d also be able to explore another new city.

  “So, what’s this place like?” he asked, sidling up next to Nectarine. Their shoulders brushed briefly as he nudged her for an answer.

  “Gravenport,” she said, flashing a small smile. “It sits on the shores of Lake Merideth—a lake so vast, the horizon bends to its immensity.” She nudged him back, a teasing glint in her eye. “It should be a nice break. Plenty to do there, too. The food’s incredible if you’re up for trying something exotic.”

  Colin stumbled slightly. Was Nectar asking him on a date?

  “You offering to come with me?” He nearly tripped over his words but managed to keep them steady—though he couldn’t stop the heat rising to his face.

  “Only if you’re paying.” She giggled. “A lady has needs, and those needs tend to be expensive.” There was a faint flush to her cheeks—just a shade darker than usual. Maybe he was imagining it. Maybe not.

  “Well then, it’s a date,” Colin said, standing just a little taller.

  The moment was promptly shattered.

  “OOOOOOOOH, Nectar found a boyfrieeeeend!”

  Lyra.

  Colin groaned and yanked his hood over his head, as if that could shield him from the mortifying callout. Nectar only let out an airy laugh and lobbed a pebble at Lyra, who yelped and ducked ahead of the caravan to avoid the retaliation.

  The rest of the journey was filled with idle chatter and plans hastily thrown together. By the time they reached the lakeshore, Colin had somehow committed to spending time with nearly everyone—Bram, Lyra, Nectar, even Kaelis.

  Sskarin, of course, had her own priorities.

  “I will spar with you again,” she declared with unwavering certainty. “Outside of that, I will rest and meditate alone.”

  Colin had no objections. Sskarin was perfectly fine company, but the Rex’lan people unsettled him. His instincts painted them as predators, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Sskarin, in particular, saw him as something closer to prey.

  A few more hours passed before they finally reached the outer walls of the city.

  Massive blue bricks stacked upon one another, towering over the trees as though they had grown from the ground itself. The construction abruptly stopped at the shoreline, where Gravenport spilled into the vast waters of Lake Merideth. Even from a distance, Colin could see the countless boats speckling the surface—some just leaving the long piers that jutted into the lake, others barely visible against the horizon.

  Fishing boats. Luxury charters. Sailboats. Warships.

  “Oh, wow…”

  As they neared the walls, Colin noticed the stone wasn’t just blue—it was iridescent, shifting from deep blues to rich greens depending on how the sunlight hit it. Closer still, he spotted carvings etched into the stone, telling stories of the lake’s history.

  Ships braving the open waters.

  Terrifying sea creatures dragging boats beneath the waves.

  Triumphant fishing vessels hauling in their catch.

  The images seemed to shift as they moved, almost alive. He was so engrossed that he didn’t notice Nectarine elbowing him gently in the ribs until she spoke.

  “I guess you didn’t hear my question?”

  Colin blinked, snapping out of his reverie. He shook his head, slightly embarrassed.

  “I asked what kind of food you wanted to try,” Nectarine repeated, amused. “You can find just about anything here—Dwarven, Elven, Frosk, Ryke, even Rex’lan. Lots of trade flows through Gravenport.”

  Colin thought for a moment. “What about Wudlin food? Do they have anything special?”

  Nectarine raised an eyebrow. “You got any poison resistances?”

  “…No?”

  She laughed. “Then let’s steer clear of Wudlin cuisine. We eat a lot of… interesting plants.”

  Colin chuckled. “Alright, what do you recommend?”

  “Frosk or Ryke food. More variety. Less risk of accidental death.”

  “Whatever you say. You’re the expert here.” He smirked. “I’m just paying for the meal.”

  The passage through the city gates was seamless. The guards had been expecting the caravan, and within the hour, the wagons were safely tucked inside the towering walls of Gravenport. Colin watched as Grayne discreetly slipped a few pouches of coin into the hands of the gatekeepers.

  “It’s t’ help keep e’erything safe o’ernight, boy.” Bram’s voice pulled Colin from his thoughts. “The guards’ll watch o’er it, so we don’t hafta.”

  Colin nodded. He wasn’t particularly worried about Grayne at this point. He had already discussed the man with Bram and Kaelis, and Bram had assured him that his god had granted him a vision early on—Grayne could be trusted, at least for the duration of this mission.

  “What about you, Bram? Got any plans?” Colin asked, stretching his arms. “I’m heading out with Nectar for dinner, then probably just relaxing.”

  “Oh, I’ll prolly grab some ‘bacco an’ dwarven whiskey,” the dwarf replied, stroking his beard. “Then head o’er to the shrine an’ pay my respects to Fennec.” His tone was casual, but Colin caught the hint of reverence beneath it.

  Bram then shot him a sideways glance, a smirk creeping onto his face. “Enjoy yer date, Colin. Nectar’s quite the catch. Ye’ll be makin’ a few of the men in the caravan more than a bit jealous.” With a hearty clap on the back, Bram walked off, laughing as Colin’s face turned a shade of red he wasn’t sure was humanly possible.

  Freshly cleaned from the magic of hot water and soap, Colin stepped out of his room feeling like a new man. He had taken the opportunity to buy a couple of changes of clothes, leaving his usual garb to be washed while he was out.

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  Descending the stairs into the inn’s common room, he immediately spotted Nectar standing by the bar, chatting with Sskarin and Lyra.

  And she looked stunning.

  She had traded her usual traveling attire for a muted orange dress that fell just above her ankles. Her hair had been neatly braided, cascading down the right side of her torso in a long, elegant plait. The usual deep purple around her eyes had been softened with smoky grey makeup, accentuating her gaze. When she turned to face him, she smiled.

  Colin forgot how to walk.

  His foot caught on the leg of a chair, sending him stumbling into a table. He barely managed to catch himself before straightening awkwardly, his face already burning as hushed giggles passed between the three women.

  “Well, look at that,” Sskarin mused, her toothy grin only adding to his embarrassment. “Didn’t think you’d take that long to get ready. Really know how to keep a lady waiting, huh?”

  Lyra smirked. “Yeah, for real. Nectar’s been waiting, like, twenty minutes for you. Come on, Colin—is that really how you wanna remember your first date, twenty years from now?”

  “Oh, stop it, you two,” Nectar said, rapping her knuckles lightly against their heads. “It’s barely been two minutes since we started talking, and you know it.”

  She turned back to Colin, her expression warm. “You look great. You ready to go?”

  Colin swallowed. “Yeah. Thanks, Nectar. You look… amazing.” He cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus. “Where are we heading?”

  “There’s a great Rykian place just a few minutes’ walk from here! Lyra recommended it—said it has some of the best Rykian cuisine this side of the continent.”

  From behind Nectar, Lyra shot Colin a wink.

  Colin gave her a quick, silent thanks before nodding. “Sounds good to me. I’m starving after all that walking.”

  Striding stiffly to the door, he pulled it open for Nectar.

  She giggled behind a hand before offering him a playful wink. “Oh dear, what a gentleman…”

  The heat in Colin’s face intensified.

  ____________________________________________________________________________

  Out into the hustle and bustle of Gravenport’s night, the duo went. Almost immediately, Colin was jostled by at least three passersby, none of whom so much as muttered an “excuse me.”

  He wasn’t particularly bothered. Having lived in cities before, he knew that was just how things were.

  Nectar looped her arm through his, gently steering him down the crowded street. The two soon found themselves passing through a lively night market, where stalls were illuminated by lantern light and filled with a dizzying array of goods.

  Exotic jewelry gleamed under the flickering glow. Fresh fish lay on beds of crushed ice, their scales shimmering like precious stones. The air carried the mingling scents of rare spices, sizzling meats, and pungent herbs.

  Colin’s attention was drawn to a few stalls selling survival gear, where he managed to pick up a compass, a watertight wooden tube, and a small neck knife.

  Meanwhile, Nectar lingered by a stand selling perfumes and fine jewelry, inspecting the delicate bottles and glimmering trinkets.

  Colin stepped beside her just as she handed a few coins to the vendor—a middle-aged Wudlin woman who snatched the payment and a slip of paper before pocketing both. In return, she handed Nectar an opaque glass bottle filled with a thick liquid.

  “Nectar of the Heart,” Nectarine said, turning to Colin with a bright smile. “That’s what my people call it. I haven’t seen it since I left my homeland! Smell it.”

  She cracked open the seal and held it under his nose.

  A mix of rich, familiar scents hit him at once—pine sap, smoky oak chips, cinnamon, and a hint of citrus.

  “Oh wow, that smells amazing,” he admitted, intrigued. “What’s it for?”

  “It keeps us Wudlin from drying out too much,” she explained, swishing the liquid inside the bottle. “There are a few different ways to manage that, but Nectar of the Heart is the best. It’s also rumored to be a potent aphrodisiac.”

  Colin’s face turned scarlet.

  Nectar burst into laughter at his reaction, then smoothly re-stoppered the bottle and slid it up her sleeve—into what Colin could only assume was a hidden pocket.

  “Don’t worry,” she teased, giving him a playful wink. “It’s not what I plan on using it for... yet.”

  Before he could recover, she grabbed his hand and twirled around, dragging him toward the market’s exit.

  Colin’s mind raced as he tried to decipher her words. He was absolutely useless when it came to women. He had only dated two girls in his entire life, and neither of those relationships could be considered “strong.”

  A few moments later, they arrived at their destination—a fancy-looking establishment nestled between the other buildings. Nectar was already chatting with the Ryke stationed at the entrance. The doorman gave them both a once-over before nodding and pulling the door open.

  Inside, the restaurant was warm and inviting. Leather seats lined the walls, burgundy cloth draped elegantly over polished wooden tables, and the air carried the rich scent of exotic spices. A faint haze clung to the ceiling, giving the space an intimate, almost otherworldly feel.

  Nectar led them to a table near a window, offering a clear view of the bustling street outside. Yet, as Colin studied the passersby, he realized none of them seemed to notice the restaurant at all.

  Wait. He hadn’t seen any windows from the outside.

  His eyes narrowed, and he rapped his knuckles against the glass. No sound.

  Yup. Definitely magic.

  “This place is so cozy!” Nectar beamed. “And we get to people-watch! That’s one of my favorite things to do in cities like this.”

  Colin chuckled. “Yeah, it kind of reminds me of smoking lounges back home. Except without all the cigar smoke…”

  Nectar shot him a puzzled look. “Smoking lounges? What a weird town you grew up in.”

  It was only then he realized his mistake. In this world, he was supposed to be from a small, unremarkable farming town.

  “Weird indeed,” he said quickly, steering the conversation away. “But what about you? What was your hometown like?”

  “Oh, me?” Nectar leaned back, propping her chin in her palm. “I was born in one of the major Wudlin settlements near the border of Rex-lan. We moved to Rykiel when I was young, and I grew up there. When I turned sixteen, I joined the Adventurer’s Guild and have been at it ever since.”

  They chatted for a while—Nectar sharing stories of her adventures, Colin telling her about his father and their relationship. He tried to be as honest as possible without slipping up about his true origins, but Nectar seemed more interested in the town itself, forcing him to deflect back to other topics.

  At last, a Ryke server approached their table, carrying two steaming plates of food. Without a word, he set them down before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

  Colin blinked. “But… we didn’t order anything.”

  “Nope!” Nectar grinned. “Lyra said the haze up top reads the customers and sends a message to the kitchen. The chef prepares a dish based on what the patrons feel. Isn’t that cool?”

  Colin looked down at his plate.

  The dish was simple yet elegant—some kind of meat alongside what looked like mashed potatoes and a vegetable resembling broccoli. He picked up his fork and took a bite.

  The meat was rich and gamey, with a flavor profile similar to venison but fattier. The sauce was tangy with a hint of spice. The mashed “potatoes” were smooth, creamy, and well-seasoned, while the vegetable—though it looked like broccoli—had a salty-sweet taste that reminded him of certain Asian dishes he’d had back home.

  It was delicious.

  He cleaned his plate.

  Throughout the meal, Nectar kept the conversation light, chatting about various topics while Colin indulged her. Both of them seemed to genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

  Eventually, the waiter returned, standing silently by the table before speaking. “One gold, please.”

  Colin slid a coin over without hesitation. The price was steep—more than their entire stay at the inn—but he didn’t regret it.

  It was the best meal he’d had since arriving in this world.

  And, quite possibly, the best meal he’d had in months.