27 • LARICE

LARICE HAD NO IDEA why she was smiling, as it had been a very long time. A smile was like her mask she had long lost ever since she had been a child. It brightened up her dark world in just a slight, as to how a tiny candle burned amidst the darkest winter night.

Countless blinking stars fell closer as if she could already reach out to catch one. It was more than she could’ve ever dreamed of. It reminded her of the time when she’s still in Sunvar City. Once every fortnight, the five of them; Faran, her three children, and Larice … had always played and joked and gossiped, lying on a blanket upon the roof of the inn while gazing at the stars. The sweet memory made her smile, but then she frowned after recalling the incident she had caused.

“What’s wrong?” Raeherys asked when he seemed to notice the change in her expression.

“Nothing,” she said. “I just remembered something …” she trailed off, then she shook her head, “Forget it. Not that it matters now, anyway