The next day Elise woke early, as was her custom, and was surprised that she didn’t have a hangover. Unfortunately, she didn’t feel like she’d received a well rested buff; all things considered, she thought it was a fair trade. A hangover would not have been fun.
By the time she’d finished eating her breakfast, she’d grown accustomed to the tender ache in her chest. It wasn’t heartbreak - she didn’t know Astredian well enough for that - it was more like the regret that wells up when an opportunity passes you by. And it would pass; she just needed to keep her distance.
Which would be hard, since she was definitely going to be seeing more of him.
“See you later, Uncle Jorgen. Don’t work too hard,” Elise called over her shoulder to the old monk, who was at his customary station behind the
