Astra Fracta

Chapter 15: A Walk That Went Wrong.

For a few moments after Tiva threw her hands toward the sky and dramatically asked what kind of fate had cursed us with companions like Magnus and Vespera, the courtyard of Luneth Castle fell into a strange silence. The kind of silence that wasn’t truly empty, but rather full of unspoken reactions waiting to escape. The wind brushed softly across the stone floor, carrying the faint scent of dust and old iron from the training racks nearby, while the tall banners hanging from the castle walls swayed lazily above us.

I tried—honestly tried—not to laugh.

But Tiva’s expression made that almost impossible.

She stood there with her violet eyes narrowed at the sky like she expected the heavens themselves to apologize for the situation we were in. Her hands were planted firmly on her hips, her shoulders slightly slouched in exaggerated frustration, and the entire pose made her look like someone who had just discovered the universe had personally decided to annoy her.

I turned my head slightly away from her, covering part of my mouth with my hand as I forced the laugh back down my throat.

“You know,” I said finally, doing my best to keep my voice calm, “if someone walked in right now without context, they’d think you were personally betrayed by destiny itself.”

Tiva lowered her arms slowly and turned toward me, giving me a look that was somewhere between offense and disbelief.

“Oh I was betrayed,” she replied, gesturing vaguely toward the castle halls where Magnus had disappeared earlier. “First we’ve got one person who treats every conversation like it’s part of some sacred rulebook written a thousand years ago, and then the other one practically lives inside libraries and probably memorizes laws for entertainment. I mean honestly, Arin, look at the situation. One of them is allergic to bending rules, and the other one probably considers books a food group.”

I felt a quiet laugh escape despite myself.

Leora, who had been standing a few steps away from us with her usual calm posture, lifted her eyes from the courtyard floor and looked at Tiva thoughtfully. Unlike the rest of us, she didn’t seem amused or irritated by the outburst. If anything, she looked like she was quietly studying the logic behind it.

“Your description,” she said gently, “is somewhat dramatic.”

Tiva stared at her for a moment.

Then she groaned again and dropped down onto a low stone bench nearby, leaning back while throwing one arm over her eyes.

“See?” she muttered. “Even when she disagrees she sounds polite.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against one of the nearby pillars, still watching her with a small smile.

“You realize,” I said, “that you’re the only one here who’s actually upset.”

“I’m not upset,” she replied immediately, lowering her arm just enough to glare at me with one violet eye. “I’m disappointed in reality.”

Leora tilted her head slightly, as if considering that statement carefully.

For a moment none of us spoke.

Then she said quietly, “Perhaps we should focus on something more productive.”

Tiva lifted her arm off her face and looked at her suspiciously.

“That sentence,” she said slowly, “usually means you’re about to suggest work.”

Leora didn’t deny it.

Instead she clasped her hands lightly in front of her and looked between the two of us.

“The people of Luneth have begun to recognize us,” she said, her tone thoughtful but steady. “However recognition is not the same as trust. If our presence here becomes complicated… it would be wise if the citizens viewed us as allies rather than outsiders.”

I straightened slightly.

That actually made sense.

“What are you suggesting?” I asked.

Leora turned her gaze toward the distant rooftops visible beyond the castle walls.

“We should strengthen our relationships with the people of the city,” she explained. “Not the nobles. The merchants, the workers, the travelers. Those who influence the flow of daily life in Luneth.”

Tiva slowly sat upright on the bench, folding her arms while watching Leora carefully.

“So basically,” she said, “you want us to become likable.”

“In a practical sense,” Leora replied calmly, “yes.”

I rubbed the back of my neck thoughtfully.

“I mean… she’s not wrong,” I admitted. “If things ever go bad here, having the city on our side would help.”

Tiva sighed dramatically but nodded.

“Fine,” she said. “Smart plan.”

Leora gave a small nod of appreciation.

“I will begin by speaking with several merchants in the eastern district,” she continued. “Some of them have strong reputations within Luneth’s trade circles.”

Tiva lifted an eyebrow.

“You’re going straight for the influential ones.”

“Respect spreads quickly among merchants,” Leora replied. “If they trust us, others may follow.”

She turned toward the courtyard gate.

“I will return later this afternoon.”

And just like that, she left.

Her steps were quiet and steady as she disappeared through the archway leading toward the city streets.

For a few seconds after she was gone, the courtyard felt oddly empty.

Then Tiva slowly turned her head toward me.

The look on her face made my stomach sink immediately.

“Oh no,” I muttered.

She grinned.

“Well,” she said casually while standing up from the bench and stretching her arms above her head, “since the responsible one is gone...”

I already knew what was coming.

“…we should go outside.”

I blinked.

“Outside the castle?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Outside the city.”

I stared at her.

“You’re serious?”

Tiva spread her arms toward the open sky above the courtyard walls.

“Arin, we’ve been stuck in Luneth for days. I’m bored, the air in the castle smells like politics, and the nearest interesting thing is probably somewhere past those walls.”

I hesitated.

Part of me knew this was exactly the kind of idea that usually led to trouble.

But another part of me…

…was bored too.

I sighed.

“Fine,” I said. “But just a short walk.”

Her grin widened instantly.

“Oh this is going to be great.”

That should have been my warning.

The massive gates of Luneth creaked open as we stepped beyond the city walls, and the difference in atmosphere hit almost immediately. Inside the city everything felt structured and watched, but outside the walls the land stretched freely beneath the sky. Rolling hills covered in pale grass extended across the horizon, and a narrow stone road wound its way through the landscape like an old scar left by travelers long gone.

Tiva walked ahead with an easy stride, her hands resting loosely behind her head while she studied the open countryside with clear enjoyment.

I followed behind at a slower pace, scanning the surroundings out of habit.

After a while she glanced back at me and noticed the way my eyes kept moving from the road to the hills.

“You look like someone expecting an attack,” she said.

“I look like someone who prefers not being surprised.”

She laughed quietly.

“Well,” she replied, kicking a small stone off the road, “life clearly disagrees with that preference.”

We walked for several more minutes as the road gradually narrowed between two rising hills of dark rock. The wind that had been sweeping across the fields began to fade there, blocked by the stone ridges.

Something about the silence felt wrong.

I slowed down.

Then I stopped.

Tiva noticed after a few steps and turned back toward me.

“…Why did you stop?”

My eyes had already dropped toward the ground.

Footprints.

Fresh ones.

Too many.

I felt my instincts sharpen immediately.

“Tiva,” I said quietly.

She stepped closer and followed my gaze.

For a moment she said nothing.

Then she sighed.

“…Well that’s not comforting.”

The silence thickened around us.

Then—

Metal clicked.

The sound came from the rocks beside the road.

Then another.

Figures began rising from behind the stone ridges and tall grass surrounding the narrow path.

Crossbows appeared first.

Then the men holding them.

Seven of them.

Surrounding us.

One stepped forward with a crooked grin across his scarred face.

“Well now,” he said slowly, “looks like the road decided to deliver us something interesting today.”

Tiva stared at him.

Then she looked around at the others.

Then back at him.

“…You know,” she said thoughtfully, “I leave the city for one peaceful walk and suddenly we’re starring in a roadside robbery.”

The man blinked.

I cracked my knuckles slowly.

And sighed.

“…Yeah,” I muttered.

“This walk just got complicated.”

End of chapter 15.