The evening sun painted the horizon in shades of amber and crimson as Theo sat by the flickering campfire, the warmth of the flames doing little to ease the chill that had settled in his bones. Around him, the camp buzzed with quiet activity of the other soldiers. They each went about their various tasks, some mending torn uniforms, others sharpening their blades. A group of men laughed softly nearby, passing a flask of something strong enough to make their faces turn red and flushed. Theo’s fingers trembled slightly as he unfolded a fresh sheet of parchment, the edges crinkling as he fiddled with it.

  It had been two weeks since he left Mistveil, but it felt like a lifetime. The journey to the camp had been both exhilarating and overwhelming. The winding roads had taken him through forests so vast he couldn’t see their edges, past rivers that from untold origins, and into towns bustling with life. Theo had never seen so many people in one place before. The markets were alive with bright colors and sounds. The merchants shouted to advertise their wares, children darted through the crowd with sticky hands clutching sweets,a few were even caught pickpocketing before being chastised and run off. There were musicians playing melodies that were foreign yet captivating. He knew Nova would have loved every sight he was seeing.

  The world outside Mistveil was vast, vibrant, and just a bit intimidating. He’d grown up with the same familiar faces, the same simple routines all his life. Now, every day brought something new, something he couldn’t have imagined before. He’d marveled at how things were made first hand such as glassblower’s shop, where molten sand transformed into delicate sculptures and bobbles. He stood in awe before a towering clock tower that seemed to scrape the sky. It chimed on the hour, it's ring loud and resounding through the city.

  Though tonight, the initial thrill had worn off and he felt the weight of it all pressing down on him. He missed Mistveil already despite all the new sights. He missed his everyday routine, the roosters crowing in the morning. Theo even missed the insistent chatter of the younger children begging for him to play.

  But most of all, he missed Nova’s laugh, the way it always managed to chase away the darkest of his thoughts. He missed her more than he thought he would. They had never been apart for this long, almost at all even. He didn't like the feeling, as if a piece of him was missing.

  Theo’s gaze drifted to a small trinket lying beside him on his bedroll. It was a tiny glass pendant shaped like a flower, no larger than a coin. The merchant who sold it to him had claimed it was enchanted, though Theo doubted the truth of that. Still, it had reminded him of Nova and the orchids that used to grow wild near the orphanage. He’d spent half his week’s pay on it, but it had been worth it. For now, he kept it close, tucked away as a piece of home he could carry with him. A reminder that there was a place he would always need to go back to.

  Picking up the pen, Theo began to write, the words coming slowly at first but soon flowing as memories of home filled his mind.

  5th of Valora, 1518

  Nova,

  I hope this letter finds you well, though I'm not entirely sure where to begin. It's only been two weeks since I left Mistveil, but it feels like a lifetime. The road to the capital was long and tiring, but I found comfort in the thought that you are safe at home.

  The camp is not what I imagined. It's vast, with tents stretching as far as the eye can see, and soldiers from all corners of Nivaria and Arcadia. There's a strange sort of camaraderie here, though the reality of what we're about to face lingers over us like a dark cloud. I've made a few friends already. One in particular, Sirius, reminds me a bit of Ravi as he is also outgoing and talkative. I fear he will not last with the older soldiers or me for that matter. It is already hard to sleep at night without constant chatter.

  I want to tell you about everything, but there's so much I can't put into words. There's so much I want to tell you about this world outside Mistveil .The sights are beyond anything either of us could imagine. The capital is nothing like our quiet village, it's bustling with people, all hurrying to some place or another. There are tall buildings that seem to touch the sky with all sorts of designs you've seen in books. The markets are filled with goods from all over the continent and the smells and sounds are overwhelming. I've seen things I never knew existed, like fruits that glow in the dark and fabrics so fine they don't seem real. I wish I had money to be able to send some to you. One day, I will be able to once this is all over.

  How are things in Mistveil? The tips of the leaves are already turning a dark orange which I hadn't noticed when I left. The leaves back home tend to turn faster than anywhere else. Have Ravi and Lyra been keeping you busy? I imagine Luna is still full of questions and bothering you about what I could possibly see out of our small village. And Ravi, I hope he hasn't been too much of a handful and is doing his part. Don't take on too much than you already are. I wish I was still there to help you.

  I'll write again as soon as I can once we have gotten to our second camp. Let them know that I am with the 8th Legion and your letters will get to me. Stay safe, Nova, and remember that I keep you all in my thoughts.

  Yours always,

  Theo

  As Theo folded the letter, sealing it with a crude wax stamp, a sharp whistle echoed through the camp. The captain was making his rounds, inspecting the men before they turned in for the night. Theo quickly tucked the letter into his satchel, resolving to hand it off to the courier in the morning.

  “Dreaming of home already?” came a clear voice behind him. It was Sirius, one of the soldiers near his age in his unit, a man with a face that looked too young to be found in a place like this. He still had this boyish charm about him that reminded him a bit of Ravi.

  Theo nodded. “Yeah. Just trying to hold on to it, you know?”

  Sirius clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled cheekily at him. “That’s good. Make sure you send that letter. It's nice to have a place to go home to.”

  “I will,” Theo promised. And as the campfire’s glow dimmed, he found a small comfort in the thought of Nova reading his words, a thread of connection stretching across the miles that separated them.

  The crisp autumn air carried the faint scent of woodsmoke as Nova stepped out of the orphanage, a bundle of laundry balanced in her arms. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the cobbled streets of Mistveil. She paused for a moment, letting the cool breeze rustle through her hair, her gaze drifting to the familiar hills in the distance.

  The village was quieter these days. Fewer voices, fewer footsteps. The absence of the men who had marched off to war left an emptiness that even the cheerful laughter of the children couldn’t quite fill. She tried not to dwell on it, but the thought lingered, a dull ache in the back of her mind. There was a feeling of emptiness that gnawed at her gut.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  As she made her way to the line where the sheets would dry, Nova’s thoughts turned to Theo’s latest letter. She’d read it at least a dozen times, the paper already soft at the edges from her fingers. His words brought her comfort, but they also stirred something bittersweet in her heart. She could almost hear his voice as she read them, playful and full of wonder, describing things she could only dream of seeing. It was a world that they had promised to see together. Now, he was seeing them all on his own, without her. She felt an irrational pang of jealousy that she immediately squashed as it was unfair given the circumstances.

  The glade called to her, as it often did these days. It wasn’t far from the orphanage, just a small clearing surrounded by tall, ancient trees that towered over you, comfortingly so. She left the laundry to dry and grabbed a worn book from her room before heading out.

  The path to the glade was awash with sunlight filtering through the leaves, their robust hues painting the ground in shades of red and gold. She picked up a particularly vibrant leaf and pressed it into the pages of her book, a small keepsake to send back to Theo. He would laugh at her for it, she was sure, but she didn’t care. It was a little piece of home, something to remind him of the place waiting for him.

  When she finally reached the glade, she sank onto the soft grass and let the stillness envelop her. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of birds. It was peaceful, yet the peace felt fragile, like glass that could shatter with the slightest touch. This was her happy place that she had found long ago with Theo. Childhood exploration had drawn them to this place as if by design. It was just for the two of them. They would sneak out together to hide amongst these trees, avoiding detection from both the other children and the Sisters.

  Nova rolled over, propping herself up on the nearest willow tree and opened her book. It was her favorite story, a fairytale about a commoner who became a knight and the noble girl that he serves. About their love story that broke all rules and conventions in their society. She loved the happily ever after ending and how love triumphed over all. It was cliche, of course, but it was the first book she had read with Theo. That is when she knew he would be her knight, even though she wasn't a noble herself.

  However, she couldn't focus and the words blurred on the page. Her thoughts were elsewhere, with Theo. What was he doing at that moment? Was he safe? Was he thinking of her, too? Getting nowhere, she closed the book and leaned back against the willow tree, its branches swaying gently above her. The memories came back to her unbidden. The two of them, sitting here as children, dreaming of adventures beyond the hills, making promises they never thought they never wouldn't keep. At a time of innocence that wasn't that long ago but felt so far away.

  The ghost of a conversation came to her. She indulged in the memory.

  “You found me!” Nova squealed as she crouched behind a boulder that barely covered her.

  “I’ll always find you,” he had said once, during a game of hide-and-seek.

  “ Really?” She stood with her hands on her hips. A sharp look in her young eyes.

  “Did you ever doubt I would?” Theo responded resolutely and with a determined smile.

  Her lips curved into a soft smile as the memory faded, replaced by the ache of his absence. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her own piece of parchment. The pen felt heavy in her hand, but the words came easily.

  17th of Drusia, 1519

  My dear Theo,

  Your letter brought tears to my eyes, though I laughed at myself afterward, thinking how silly it was to cry over a letter when I should be grateful just to hear from you. Mistveil isn't the same without you. The days are quieter, and the nights feel longer. I admit that I am already a bit lonely. But knowing that you're safe, even in that faraway camp, makes me feel a little bit better.

  You're right about the leaves. The trees are already starting to turn the most beautiful shades of red and gold. They are already falling around the village with the kids starting to press them into bookmarks. I've been visiting the glade every day, sometimes bringing a book or just sitting there, letting the memories wash over me. It's strange, but even when I'm alone, I can still feel your presence there. Hopefully you will be here when the leaves fall once more and not a moment later.

  I will be looking forward to all the things that you will bring back to me and the others. I would love new books that explain more about the other countries and Eldora. It's hard to imagine any building being that tall outside of the storybooks. A glow in the dark fruit sounds nice but I wonder if it makes you glow as well. The children would love that. I will hold you to it that once you have the money you will buy it for me, no matter what.

  I've taken on more work around the orphanage to keep myself busy. The children have been restless, the older ones ask after you. There asking about the war, about why you and so many others had to leave. I try to keep their spirits up, but it's hard when I don't even know how long this will last. Still, we manage, and I find myself telling them stories to ease their worries as best I can. It makes them smile, and for a moment, I feel like everything is normal again. The Sisters are also doing their best to keep the calm and make sure the entire village doesn't become melancholic with the men gone. We are safe and out of harm's way as we are not near the borders but that doesn't stop the tension. It may seem wrong but I wished that Nivaria didn't have to get involved even if we shared borders.

  I miss you, Theo. More than words can express. But I'm holding onto your promise, just as you asked me to. I'll be here, waiting, for as long as it takes.

  Write again soon, and take care of yourself.

  With all my love,

  Nova

  Nova folded the letter carefully, pressing the edges down with trembling fingers. Her handwriting wasn’t perfect. The ink smudged slightly where she had lingered too long on a word, lost in thought. But it didn’t matter. She hoped her words would carry the warmth of home to Theo, even if they couldn’t reach him fast enough. It was the comfort she wanted to send to him.

  Placing the letter in the envelope, she sealed it with a dollop of wax from the small candle on her desk. The red wax reminded her of the falling leaves outside, another reminder of how much time will have passed since he’d gone. She placed the letter in the basket by the door, ready for the courier who would come by in the morning.

  As the candlelight flickered across the walls of her small room, Nova found herself hovering by the window, her hand pressed to the glass. She hugged herself against the chill creeping through the glass as it had seemed to transfer to her. The village looked so still in the waning light, as if holding its breath, waiting for something or someone.

  She thought about the children at the orphanage, how their laughter felt different these days. Ravi and Luna had been asking about Theo again. Their questions came as a barrage whenever they had the chance. Ravi had been trying to act older than his years, offering to help with chores he could barely manage. It would have been endearing if not for the reason he has to take on the responsibility. Luna, on the other hand, had grown quiet, retreating into herself in a way that Nova found both heartbreaking and familiar. She was the spark and her light was already dimming. It shouldn't have to be this way. Nova would do her best for Luna to not lose her smile.

  “I miss him, too,” Nova whispered, though no one was there to hear.

  Her gaze fell to the patch of earth near the edge of the path from the orphanage where Theo had helped her plant wildflowers last spring. The blooms were fading now, their petals curling in the cool air. The chill sapping them of the little life that they had left in them. She thought about how he’d teased her for insisting they plant them so close to the orphanage, saying they would never grow with the kids trampling around everywhere. But they had. They had grown strong and vibrant, just like Theo’s words in his letters. It was a small comfort for her.

  Her hand brushed the windowsill, and her fingers found the leaf she had picked earlier that she removed from her book to dry. She held it up to the light, its veins glowing like gold against the dim candlelight. A small, bittersweet smile tugged at her lips. She would send this leaf with her next letter, a little piece of Mistveil for Theo to carry with him.

  Nova turned away from the window and climbed into bed, the chill of the room following her beneath the blankets. As she closed her eyes, she imagined the sound of Theo’s voice reading her letter, laughing at her jokes and teasing her for her sentimental nature. She whispered the words they had always said to each other in games of hide-and-seek, letting them lull her to sleep.

  “I’ll always find you,” she murmured, her voice soft in the quiet night.

  The candle sputtered and went out, leaving only the faint glow of the moonlight and the quiet promise of her words lingering in the air.