*Ava*
My lungs burn as the chilled air fills them, each breath sharp and shallow. Luca’s hand slips from my arm, but I stay close, unsure where else to go.
A dull ache throbs in my head, blurring everything around me. The town is just waking. A few early risers pause and stare as we pass, our soaked cloaks dripping onto the stones, strange in this quiet dawn. Their eyes narrow, curiosity flickering alongside suspicion. I feel exposed, like a creature caught far from its home.
The language drifting around me sounds like the Castilian I studied with its flowery, older words and phrases. It’s as if the language has held onto its ancient form here, a living relic. Why would anyone still speak like this? The question tugs at me as we walk.
The scent of damp earth and river water clings to t
