Chapter Text
Hodari's Woman Audiobook (YouTube)
“Morning!”
You smile and wave to Auni as he trots off, laden with bug-catching equipment. Hail, fellow earlybird!
It's a glorious day. The grass glitters beneath the rising sun like emeralds. You jog past the fountain near City Hall, laughing quietly to yourself as you overhear Kenli debating with his wife about whether to hire a new personal chef, or to hold off until after the Watchers visit. The struggles of the rich amuse you.
You glance down at your work-hardened hands and grin. Chafs, cuts, bruises, and your calloused palms remind you of your efforts mining the hills of Bahari. Hunting and gathering is fun, too, but something about the sheer energy of crushing rocks gives you infinite satisfaction. Sometimes you even sing while you work.
You still have no idea how you arrived in Palia. Or where you're from. But that ceased to bother you since the first swing of your makeshift pickaxe. You smile at the memory of that poor, clobbered-together instrument; you twirl your exquisite flow-imbued pickaxe with a sigh of satisfaction. Life is good!
The crisp morning air is exhilarating. You pick up the pace and sprint through town. There's Tish. You stop for a quick word. By now, the two of you are firm friends. Her soothing, warm presence complements your passionate, brisk nature.
Her golden locks look particularly lovely in morning light. She smells like lavender. You can't help but wonder - not for the first time - if you two would have made a fire couple. If you were into girls, that is.
“Have a wonderful day!” Tish cheers as you sprint off again. Every morning you water and weed your garden, dash into town, chat with all your friends, and then run along the path to Bahari Bay in search of a certain someone. Usually with a humble gift or two in hand.
Today, the scarlet facets of a garnet - his starstone - flash confidently in your hand. You almost grabbed that box of chocolates instead… It's been staring at you from the pantry shelf for two days, the romantic heart shape of the case silently accusing you of cowardice… but Hodari is so shy - and at times a little off-putting, like suddenly slamming up against a wall - it’s impossible to know how he'll receive it.
You, on the other hand, haven't felt shy for more than two or three minutes total in your entire life. You're a go-getter, especially when it comes to romance. Going - going - gone!
Originally, the plan was to simply leave the chocolate on his dining room table with a short, sweet note. But that wasn't the Palian way. When you expressed romantic interest in someone, you did it in person. Period.
It's a good custom, you think. But you wince at the thought of rejection. Especially since you didn't “belong” in Palia, disgracing yourself in any social situation could push you to the fringes of society for years to come. All it would take was a sardonic little comment or two at the tavern, and word would spread across the land of the Infatuated Fool Human who pursued Hodari.
From a distance, you recognize Hodari’s chiseled physique and his easygoing saunter. You slow your pace a bit. Don't want to come on too strong. You adjust the brim of your hat and dust off your long infiltrator coat. Your new Miner’s Guild pin shines from the lapel. I wonder if he'll notice my new outfit? It’s the first really nice one you own. And that’s thanks to “Dari-sama’s” training and lessons in smelting copper, silver, and gold bars to sell.
As the distance between you closes, you remember the first time a subtle spark of attraction lit between you. He was showing you the proper way to swing your pickaxe, to pull strength from the entire body and avoid unnecessary strain. A little frustrated by your meager efforts, he finally stood behind you and grasped the handle as well. “No, you'll hurt yourself that way. Remember that you’ll be doin’ this for hours on end. Like this.”
To lean forward and take a swing, he had to lean into you. You suddenly notice his impressive arms and… well, impressive everything, pretty much. That strong yet angular face, that soft-spoken yet deep voice murmuring instructions and encouragement. It was… enticing.
You blush to the tips of your ears. He's absorbed in teaching you and doesn't notice. After a couple more swings he backs away, dusting off his hands. “You'll need to either make or buy a proper pickaxe soon as ya can. That one’s a miner’s nightmare.”
“I guess it has a proper name now,” you laugh, trying to act nonchalant. “The Nightmare of Pavel Mines.”
He glances at your heated face. “Sorry, you've been at it all afternoon. You must be clean wore out.”
“Not necessarily.” You clasp your hands behind your back and grin, tilting your head. “You're an excellent teacher.”
He grunts, but seems pleased. “Wish my daughter thought so.”
He tells you a little about his late wife, and how Najuma gets her stubbornness from her. There's a tender smile on his face as he briefly describes Leta. You wonder if their marriage was a happy one. You think it must have been; he's so sweet and such a careful, dedicated person. I bet he's super loving once he opens up.
You must be staring at him kind of wistfully or something, because suddenly he's quiet. He's blushing, too! A deep magenta flush stains his dark cheekbones. “Well, I… I suppose I'd better get goin’. Najuma can cook for herself, but I like to do it. Kind of a bonding thing for us.”
“Of course. That sounds lovely.” A great dad, too! Holy mackerel, this miner has a choke hold on your heart out of nowhere. I wish he had one on a few other places, too-
“Nice day, huh?”
You flinch out of your wayward thoughts. He's right in front of you, bulky arms crossed as he scans your expression. “Yes, it certainly is!” You quickly agree. “How'd you sleep?”
“Pretty well. Sometimes I get a nasty case of insomnia, but I wore myself out enough yesterday that passin’ out came easy.”
His smile sends little tingles through your body. You avert your eyes before you smile back at him too… infatuated-like. You offer the garnet. “Found this while mining last evening. I know you can get plenty yourself, but… This is a really nice one, and I'd like you to have it. If you want.”
“This is for me? Huh.”
You look back up at his face. He seems genuinely surprised, as if he didn't expect his apprentice to ever get him a token of sincere appreciation. You've been bringing him home-cooked meals and the like, but let's be honest; they weren't exactly restaurant quality! Not yet, anyway.
Somehow, his surprise is touching. You blush again. “You've taken me under your wing and taught me patiently, even though I knew absolutely nothing when I first arrived. I know giving gifts is important here, too. I just… want to thank you and properly observe Palian customs.”
His surprised expression melts into a warm, friendly look. “That's very kind of ya. Thanks. I… I usually sell everything I mine, so I don't have garnets lying around the house or anything. I'll keep this one. It'll remind me of ya and… how kind you've been,” he stammers a bit.
There’s definitely a certain static in the air, ricocheting to and fro between you. And his eyes are resting rather tenderly on yours. You nearly rush into his arms and kiss him right then and there, but you manage to restrain yourself. Keep a cool head, girl. He's not the type to jump into a romance. Take your time and court him properly. He's worth it.
Still… a look is just a look. You yearn for way more than looks.
That neglected box of chocolate is calling your name.