The sun just loves him ☀️💛

Then another.

By the time he reached the dirt path leading to the square his breath begun to steady, though his heart drummed with a rhythm he didn't fully recognise.

Hope, maybe. Or disbelief.

Voices drifted towards him before he reached the first cottage, children squealing, laughter. A sound he was familiar with.

Elyon stopped beneath a wooden arch, a scent hit him, sweet and warm spice, cinnamon.

As venchered on a woman passed him whistling a tune. "Morning" she said politely

"M-morning?" He stumbled over his words, he couldn't remember the last time someone spoke to him without fear or illness in their voice.

Peering into each open door like a curious child, a baker dusted flour from his hand's and slid golden loaves onto the counter, a Blacksmith teaching his apprentice how to hammer metal, people chatting in the relatively clean streets.

In the distance, a young boy tugged on his mother's sleeve, "Who's that?" He pointed

"Hush," she she whispered back, grabbing his hand "don't point, it's rude. Probably a traveler".

A traveller, all his life Elyon had been nothing more than the carpenters apprentice, it was nice, hopeful.

He moved towards the market stalls

"Fresh fruit! Best in the valley"

It had been months since he last had fruit, he wanted to try some but unfortunately he had no money, with a disappointed sigh he sat on a wall near by.

A girl walked by flashing a bright smile, "you're new," she questioned "I've lived in this village my whole life and I've never see you around here"

"I suppose I am" he huffed out with a laugh "I'm elyon", he held out his worn hands for her to shake, still covered in mud", she declined, elyons face dropped.

"You look like you've forgotten to sleep"

"It's been a long journey"

"Anyways, I better get going, mother will kill me if I'm late, welcome to sunmar"

The girl continued on her way.

A sudden warmth hit him, on his chest, right where serakha rested his hand, Elyon smiled at this, the feeling wasn't unwelcome.

Then it vanished, he looked around, no ine had noticed, no one else felt anything strange, maybe it was nerves. Maybe...

"Are you alright lad?"

He turned, an older man stood near by resting on his cane, carved with hypnotic swirls "don't stare too long," the man grumbled "you'll get lost" a strange smile crept onto his face.

"Yeah. Just adjusting I suppose" elyon chirped

"Take this advice," the old man tapped his cane onto the bridge. "dont spend your days wondering what came before. Start with what comes next, it's easier on the heart".

Elyons breath drew tight "is that what you did"?

"Every..soul," he started, then squinted at elyon, as if he was working something out "that passes through sunmar has a story trailing behind them. Some darker than others, your past into unwelcome, but it isn't required"

The man walked, elyon stayed rooted in the spot long after he'd limped away.

Sunmar

A haven

A healing place

A place serakha chose.

If he was to settle here, he wanted to know why the demons picked this place.

And what it meant that his heart no longer beat alone.