Bound by Duty
873 Words
In Aetheria, (The Realm of the Guardians)
"Aarav, why are you here?" Caspian asked, his voice low and sharp.
"Nora can see me," Aarav replied
Caspian frowned "How?"
"When I protected her from the fall with those books," Aarav explained
Caspian sighed, shaking his head. "Ooh, it's normal for them to see us once when you protect them. It will fade."
"But," Aarav started.
"See, Aarav," Caspian interrupted, stepping closer. "You must carry out your responsibility properly. You only get what you want by fulfilling your duty. Do not lose your focus."
Nora finished her shift, waving goodbye to Leo and Luna before stepping out into the cool evening air. As she walked, she pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Hello, Magnus! I got the job," she said.
"Hey, yeah? That's great! How was the first day?" Magnus replied.
"It was good," Nora said
"Well, you definitely owe us a treat for landing the position," Magnus teased "Where are you now?"
"I'm actually heading home," Nora said. "I know you're at Elora's Cafe, and I really want to see you guys, but I'm just so tired today. Can we meet tomorrow instead?"
"Okay," Magnus agreed. "Go take a rest. See you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone, she continued her walk
Nora reached the bus stop, her eyes scanning the area as she waited. She spotted him-the man from the library-standing a few paces away. She offered a small smile, a silent acknowledgment of their earlier encounter.
Aarav was stunned, realizing she could still see him
When her stop finally arrived, Nora stepped out into the cool evening air. She started toward home, she noticed him following her, but she walked straight to her house.Nora walked into her house, completely exhausted. After a quick freshen-up she collapsed into bed for a nap
Nora woke up as night had fallen. Suddenly, she saw a shadow in the window and felt scared, but she soon convinced herself it was just a trick of her tired eyes. Shaking off the fear, she went downstairs to make a simple meal. After eating, she tried to read a book, but when she attempted to write, she found herself completely stuck.
Nora eventually drifted back to sleep, waking up early to get ready for her shift at the library. Upon arriving, she greeted everyone and settled into her tasks. While working, she struck up a conversation with Leo and Luna,
"It's nice to finally have a break," Nora said. "I moved here for my studies, and since my exams are over, I'm just waiting for my results."
Leo : "Oh, that's great! I'm actually studying physiology myself."
"That's interesting," Nora replied.
"How long have you been working here, Leo?"
"I've worked here for about six to seven months," Leo answered.
Luna : I've been working here for years
"Wow, years?" Nora said, genuinely impressed. "Is your family here with you, Luna?"
Luna smiled "Yes, we moved here for my husband's work, so we're all settled in."
"That's lovely," Nora said, nodding. "What about your children? Are they attending school here?"
"I have a daughter," Luna replied. "She's a student now, so she keeps me very busy when I'm not at the library."
"Oh, I see," Nora said, smiling back. "It sounds like you have a wonderful life here."
Luna smiled and nodded back. "Yeah, it's been a good move for us."
"Well, I should get back to the reference desk," Luna said with a smile. "Catch you later, Nora."
Nora : Okay
Then, Leo and Luna moved back to their own sections.
Nora suddenly saw Aarav again but she didn't give him much attention. She figured he was just here to borrow books or look for something, so she kept her focus on her own work.
After her shift ended, Nora said goodbye to everyone and headed out of the library. As she walked, she sent a message to Elora letting her know she was on her way to the cafe where Elora worked. When Nora finally arrived, she saw both Elora and Magnus waiting there.
Elora smiled as Nora walked in. "Hey Nora, how was your day?"
"Yeah, it was good," Nora replied.
"The coffee is ready," Elora said, sliding a cup over to her.
"Oh, thank you," Nora said with a grateful smile.
Magnus asked "How was your work?"
"It was good," Nora answered. "I made two friends, Luna and Leo."
"Oh, that's great!" Magnus said.
After a long conversation, it was time to head home. Elora and Nora said their goodbyes to Magnus and began their journey together. When the bus finally reached their stop they got off the bus, said goodbye, and walked home separately.
As Nora walked, she felt someone following her. She turned and saw Aarav. She walked straight up to him, their eyes meeting, and said, "Excuse me, . Who are you, and why are you following me?"
Aarav Pov,
I know we just met, but I feel like I've been waiting to cross paths with you for a long time."
- Writer
