The soft hush of morning blanketed the Magic Tower in stillness.
A pale golden light spilled in through the arched windows, catching on the drifting motes of dust and warming the edges of the stone chamber. The enchantments woven into the room kept the chill at bay, wrapping the space in a gentle cocoon of comfort.
Delphia stirred beneath the covers, her fingers curling lightly against warm skin.
For a moment, she wasn't entirely sure where she was—only that she felt safe. The slow rise and fall of a familiar chest under her cheek anchored her, and then came the scent of him: cedar and teak, and something she couldn't name but always recognized.
Zypher.
She shifted, slightly sore, her leg brushing against his as she blinked open sleep-heavy eyes. The soft beat of his heart under her ear was steady, grounding.
"You're awake," he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.
"Mm," she mumbled. "Not all the way."
His arms tightened briefly around her, his thumb brushing gentle circles against the small of her back. "Should I let you drift off again?"
"Tempting." She tilted her head up just enough to meet his gaze, her voice still a rasp. "But I think I'm finally ready to wake up… What time is it?"
"Still early," he said. "Not that we're expected anywhere today."
She let her eyes close again for a beat, soaking in the quiet. Then, with a yawn, she muttered, "Tell me last night was real. I might've hallucinated an entire reception."
Zypher chuckled, the sound rumbling beneath her. "It was real. Every dance, every toast, and every noble who tried too hard to pretend they weren't watching us."
She cracked one eye open again. "Gods, I really did drink too much."
"You were charming," he said, dipping his head to press a kiss to her hair. "Giddy. Glowing."
"And you let me?" She teased, lifting her brow.
"You were happy. I'd let you drink the entire wine cellar if it made you laugh like that again."
She smiled, warmth rising in her chest.
They lay in comfortable silence for a moment, the newness of it all still quietly settling between them. Then Zypher shifted slightly, resting his chin atop her head.
"I've been thinking," he began.
"Dangerous," she whispered, smirking.
He let out a soft huff of amusement. "When you mentioned wanting to go somewhere after the wedding, before all the responsibilities kicked in—I looked into it."
Her eyes opened more fully now. "You did?"
"There's a property near the northeastern border," he said. "A small town tucked between Avalon and the neighboring kingdom Sylvaranthe. It's beautiful—secluded. And it just so happens their annual fair begins in a few days."
She blinked. "You're serious."
"I pulled a few strings through the Tower," he continued. "Arranged for the property to be ours for a handful of days. Long enough to vanish without anyone missing us too badly."
Delphia slowly sat up, still nestled in his arms as she turned enough to face him. "You… planned a honeymoon?"
Zypher shrugged, his smile soft. "Didn't call it that on the paperwork. But yes."
Delphia stared at him for a moment longer, then leaned in and kissed him—slow and grateful, her fingers curling gently into his hair.
"You're kind of amazing, you know that?" She whispered.
"I try."
"Let's disappear," she said. "Just us."
"Gladly."
*
Two days later, just before dawn broke over the capital, Delphia and Zypher stepped out of the Magic Tower.
The streets were quiet—only a few lamplighters and delivery carts moving beneath the soft blush of morning sky. The Tower's silhouette loomed behind them, an elegant monolith of magic and history, but Delphia barely glanced back. Her travel cloak flared gently behind her as she walked beside Zypher, fingers entwined with his.
A Tower-affiliated carriage waited near the east gate, fitted with quiet-run enchantments and a discreet sigil stamped into its side. Zypher had made the arrangements through his connections—no guard escort, no pageantry. Just the two of them and the open road.
As they settled inside, Delphia nestled against Zypher's shoulder, watching as the capital slowly faded behind rolling green fields and winding forest paths. She let herself breathe deeply for the first time in what felt like weeks.
"You're sure no one will miss us?" She asked lazily, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
"I made it sound like we were headed to a Tower-affiliated retreat for newly bonded casters," Zypher replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Technically not a lie."
She laughed softly, then turned her head to kiss his cheek. "I like this. Just the two of us."
The journey took the better part of the day.
The scenery changed as they drew farther northeast—gentle hills gave way to dramatic cliffs and sparkling rivers. The forests grew thicker, and the air crisper. By the time the sun began to dip low in the sky, their carriage crested a hill, revealing the town nestled in the valley below.
Delphia leaned forward, her breath catching slightly.
The town was painted in warm twilight hues, the slate roofs and wooden beams of its homes offset by vibrant banners fluttering between buildings. Soft music drifted on the wind—pipes and fiddles, the distant hum of a crowd. The annual fair had begun.
Zypher smiled at her reaction. "Welcome to Harthendale."
The carriage rolled down the cobbled path into town. They passed through a modest gate, the town guards offering polite nods to their Tower sigil, and continued toward a stone house set apart from the bustle. It was tucked at the edge of a wooded bluff, overlooking the winding river that marked the border with the neighboring kingdom.
Delphia stepped out of the carriage, her cloak catching the breeze as she took it all in—the scent of pine, the distant sound of laughter, the golden lights flickering through the trees.
The house was cozy and clean, clearly kept up by the Tower's staff, though unused recently. Ivy curled along the stone walls, and a flowering vine trailed up one corner, blooming in soft pinks that mirrored the last light of sunset.
"I love it," she breathed. "It's like something out of a dream."
Zypher stepped beside her, setting their small travel bags down on the porch. "Then I chose right."
They stood there for a moment, side by side in the fading light, before Delphia looked toward the distant lanterns of the fair below.
"So… when does it start?"
Zypher offered her his arm. "It already has."
By early evening, the streets of Harthendale were aglow with lanterns strung between eaves and trees, casting warm, flickering light onto cobblestone paths.
Delphia and Zypher walked side by side beneath colorful banners as the town fair unfolded around them in full swing.
Laughter rang out from every corner. Children darted past with spun-sugar sticks in hand, trailing ribbons and laughter. Market stalls brimmed with carved trinkets, crystal charms, and handwoven scarves dyed with natural pigments. The mingled aromas of roasting meats, sweet herbs, and honeyed pastries filled the air.
Delphia had pulled her hood back so her rose-gold hair shimmered in the glow, catching curious glances here and there, though no one lingered too long. Zypher walked with one hand casually resting against the small of her back, the other occupied with a paper cone filled with savory puffed pastries they'd been snacking on since the last food stall.
She popped the last one in her mouth before he could claim it.
"I was saving that," he said, mock-offended.
She licked her fingers slowly, eyes dancing with mischief. "You snooze, you lose."
Zypher laughed, the sound rare and unguarded. "You're dangerous when you're having fun."
Delphia grinned and grabbed his hand again, tugging him toward a game booth surrounded by floating lanterns and flickering runes. A set of wooden hoops hovered midair while glass jars with glowing contents bobbed lazily behind them.
"A game of precision," the booth attendant said, bowing slightly. "Three rings for a silver. Land one and win a prize. Land two and win the enchantment."
Zypher raised an eyebrow, but Delphia was already fishing a coin from her satchel.
"Care to show me your aim, Archmage?" She teased.
Zypher smirked. "You go first."
Delphia stepped up, took the first ring, and squinted at the floating jars. Her fingers flicked forward—clang—missed. She wrinkled her nose. "That was a warm-up."
The second throw flew wide. She scowled.
The third ring landed cleanly around a softly glowing jar, prompting a light chime and a polite round of applause from the attendant. "Well done, Lady!"
Zypher stepped forward with calm precision. He flicked his first ring—missed deliberately, judging by the look he shot her. The second landed squarely. The third clipped the rim and bounced off.
"One each," he said, offering her a hand as the boothkeeper retrieved a small, polished pendant charm in the shape of a star.
"Pick a color," the boothkeeper offered.
Delphia chose a soft lilac color for the both of them. It glowed faintly as she turned it in her hand, then looked up at Zypher with a pleased smile. "Our first prize together. We're practically a team now."
He leaned down slightly, his voice low and warm against her ear. "We've been a team since the moment we danced at the Gala."
"Mm. This is just more fun," she replied, slipping the charm into her pocket.
The path ahead beckoned with music, voices, and shimmering magic. Delphia caught sight of a stage where a bard strummed an enchanted lute while illusionary dancers made of light twirled around him. Somewhere farther down, the lights of a ferris wheel turned slowly above the treetops.
Delphia sighed with quiet satisfaction. "I could get used to this."
Zypher's hand tightened gently around hers. "Then let's take our time."
*
Later that night, long after the crowds had thinned and the last strains of music faded into the hills, Delphia and Zypher sat on the back porch of their borrowed cottage. The air had turned cool, kissed by the breath of the northern hills, and the sky above them stretched wide and velvet-dark, scattered with stars.
Zypher had draped a light wool blanket around their shoulders, pulling Delphia close so they could share its warmth. Her head rested against his chest, her legs curled beneath her as they sat on the wide wooden bench built into the railing.
The only sounds were the whisper of wind through nearby trees and the occasional rustle of some small night creature in the brush. From here, the lights of the town were only a faint glow in the distance, leaving the stars sharp and unfiltered above them.
Delphia tilted her head to look up. "I can't get over how beautiful it all is," she murmured. "The stars. It's like… someone spilled a basket of diamonds and forgot to sweep them up."
Zypher followed her gaze, his eyes soft. "You'd like the observatory on the eastern spire. We use enchantments to chart the constellations in real time—makes you feel like you're floating among them."
"That sounds incredible."
He shifted, just enough to press a kiss to her temple. "We'll go, when we're back."
A comfortable silence settled between them, the kind that needed no filling. Delphia let her eyes trace the constellations she didn't yet know the names of. The longer she stared, the more the shapes began to settle into patterns—one like a phoenix, another like an unfurled fan.
"When I was really little," she said quietly, "I used to make up stories for the stars. Pretend they were watching over me. Guiding me. I guess… maybe some part of me hoped they were listening."
Zypher's hand moved to gently brush hers beneath the blanket, fingers lacing.
"Maybe they were," he said, just as quietly. "Maybe that's how you ended up here."
Delphia didn't respond right away. She didn't need to. Instead, she turned her face to him and kissed him softly under the open sky, her heart full—not of longing, ache, or survival—but peace.
**
The sun was just beginning its climb above the eastern mountains when Delphia and Zypher returned to the bustling heart of the town for the last morning of the fair. The scent of sweet bread and warm cider filled the air, and shopkeepers were setting up their wares with practiced ease.
There was a gentle, unhurried rhythm to the town now, a kind of quiet magic found only in early morning hours before the crowds returned.
Delphia wore a light cloak against the breeze, her rose-gold hair tied loosely behind her. Zypher held her hand as they strolled between the stalls, sharing bites of fried pastry and admiring the colorful banners fluttering between buildings. She was mid-laugh at something he'd said when a voice called out nearby:
"Pardon me—miss?"
They both turned.
Two travelers—clearly not locals—stood by a nearby cart of glasswork trinkets. A young man and woman, perhaps in their late twenties, both dressed in the understated finery of upper nobility, with accents that marked them as not from Avalon. Their cloaks bore faint embroidery—delicate sigils of wind and silver flame.
The woman stepped forward slightly, eyes fixed on Delphia with a furrowed brow. "Forgive me, but… your hair. That color—are you from Eldira, by any chance?"
Delphia blinked. "Eldira?"
The name felt unfamiliar in her mouth as she was only really familiar with the Capital of Avalon.
"I'm from Avalon," she answered slowly. "I've lived there my whole life. This is my first time visiting this region."
The pair exchanged a glance—quick, but not suspicious. The man smiled, though it was tinged with something more cautious now. "Ah. I see. Sorry for the interruption. You just reminded us of someone. Must've been the light playing tricks."
The woman hesitated for a beat longer, then gave a polite nod. "Have a good morning."
Delphia offered a smile in return, though her fingers tightened slightly around Zypher's.
The two walked off, their conversation hushed. Delphia could only catch fragments.
"…she said she's from Avalon…"
"…but the daughter disappeared, didn't she? Two decades ago…"
"…Elowhar bloodline, it's rare enough to stand out…"
And then they were gone—swallowed by the early bustle of the square.
Delphia remained still, her thoughts clouded. She looked up at Zypher, who had clearly caught the same pieces she had. His brow was furrowed, maroon eyes thoughtful.
"You okay?" He asked gently.
She nodded, but her gaze lingered in the direction the strangers had gone. "Yeah. It's just… strange. I'm not fond of the timing happening with all of this right now. I just wanted to enjoy married life with you, but that sounds like other things are going to happen."
Zypher studied her for a long moment before squeezing his hand around hers tighter.
"Well, if there's trouble that comes knocking, we'll be ready for it."
As the sun rose higher over the border town, casting golden light over tiled rooftops and flowering hedges, Delphia walked beside Zypher through the quiet streets, her fingers still laced with his.
The days ahead promised peace, laughter, and the soft settling into a life they were building together—but beneath it all, a new current stirred.
She didn't know what waited beyond this corner of the world, only that her story wasn't over yet—and this time, she wouldn't be running from it. She would meet it head-on, hand in hand with the man she chose, and the magic she now called her own.