Auggie-
I cast my gaze around the cafe, noting that it was abnormally empty. Only a small group of people sat across the room and perhaps one or two others. Usually it was nearly packed full of people, even at this time in the morning.
I drank my coffee, only half aware that I was burning my tongue in the process. It took me a moment before I realized Lucille had spoken.
"Pardon?"
"So where do you work?" she repeated, sipping her coffee a bit slower than I was.
I shrugged. "I get odd jobs here and there. I just moved to Phoenix a few days ago, so I'm still searching for a full-time job."
She nodded.
I noted, with some curiosity, that her eyes were the exact color as mine were. The same molten-gold color that I had rarely seen ever before. Now that I thought about it, the runaway girl earlier had had the same eyes as well...
Coincidence, I concluded, shoving the thought aside as I concentrated on drinking my coffee slower so as not to completely burn my mouth.
Sartharis-
The first rays of sun had inched over the horizon, followed closely by the first wave of heat. Phoenix was hot enough any other time of the year, but summer was the worst.
Pulling the black hood farther over my face, I made my way through the streets, stifling a yawn every five steps. Already, at this hour, the city was buzzing with life.
I directed my steps towards the library -- the old palace. Where my son had died all those years ago.
But the constellation was returning...which meant they were returning.
I made my way to the cafe in the west wing of the Library, ordering a small coffee and taking my place in the corner. There were few others here, no more than ten. A man and woman -- humans -- sat nearby, and another larger group on the other side of the room. A few others, all separate, sat at the other tables. All here human.
I couldn't help but sigh. I had been searching for the siblings for nearly twenty years now, ever since the first star had appeared in the sky. I had yet to even find a trace of them. Hope was becoming harder to hold onto.
