Sight seeing
The sleek walls of the hotel shimmer with a faint luminescence as I throw on my jacket, its synthetic fiber adjusting automatically to my body temperature. Leona is standing by the dresser, fiddling with a small holomap of Enerion's main district. The map flickers as she taps it, projecting a glowing 3D image of the cityscape.
"Ready?" I ask, watching as her fingers swipe effortlessly across the interface.
She glances up, her lips curving into a smile. "Almost. I'm trying to figure out the best route. This map is glitchy, though."
I stride over, leaning in to look at the projection. Our shoulders brush, and her scent—a mix of something floral and sharp—wraps around me. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, taking in how focused she looks, her brow furrowed as she studies the hologram.
"There," I point, my finger hovering over a glowing waypoint. "That's the marketplace. We can start there, then loop back through the observation dome."
"Perfect," she says, shutting off the device with a quick tap. She turns, and for a moment, we're face to face, closer than I intended. Her eyes meet mine, wide and warm, and I feel my chest tighten.
"Leona—"
She steps back suddenly, her movements almost too quick. "We should get going before the morning crowds hit."
I nod, stuffing my hands into my jacket pockets. "Yeah. Let's go."
---
The streets of Enerion buzz with life as we step out of the hotel. Hover vehicles glide silently above us on designated mag-lanes, their engines humming faintly. The air is crisp, carrying the faint scent of ionized metal and blooming alien flora. Buildings tower into the sky, their reflective surfaces catching the pale sunlight, while neon signs in multiple languages flicker against the steel-blue horizon.
Leona walks ahead, her boots clicking softly against the paved ground. Her outfit—simple yet flattering—draws a few admiring glances from passersby, though she seems oblivious. I follow closely, scanning the area for anything suspicious out of habit.
As we near the marketplace, she stumbles on a small crack in the pavement. My reflexes kick in, and I grab her arm before she can fall.
"Careful, siren," I say, steadying her.
She looks up at me, her cheeks flushed. "Thanks."
I don't let go right away, and neither does she. For a moment, we're frozen, the noise of the city fading into the background. My gaze drops to her lips, and I see her swallow hard, her own eyes flicking down to my mouth.
The world feels like it's tilting, pulling us closer.
But then she pulls back, breaking the spell. "We should, uh, keep moving," she says, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Right," I say, forcing a chuckle. "Wouldn't want to miss the sights."
---
The marketplace is a sensory overload. Rows of stalls line the streets, each one glowing with vibrant holographic displays advertising their wares. Vendors shout over one another, their voices amplified by small floating drones. Alien spices and delicacies fill the air with unfamiliar yet enticing aromas.
Leona stops at a stall selling intricate jewelry made from luminescent crystals. She picks up a necklace, the pendant glowing softly in her hand.
"This is beautiful," she says, turning to me.
"It suits you," I reply without thinking.
Her lips twitch into a half-smile as she puts it back. "You always know what to say, don't you?"
"Only when I mean it," I counter.
The merchant, a broad-shouldered Xarnian with shimmering blue skin, leans forward. "That piece is crafted from Sirethian lightstone," he explains in a deep, melodic voice. "Said to bring clarity of thought to the wearer."
"Clarity, huh?" Leona murmurs, glancing at me briefly.
"Would you like it?" I ask, already reaching for my credit chip.
"No, no," she says quickly, waving me off. "It's too much. Let's keep looking."
I watch as she moves to the next stall, her excitement contagious. She's like a burst of energy, lighting up everything around her.
---
As the day goes on, we visit the observation dome, where the entire city sprawls beneath us in stunning detail. The glass walls display a panoramic view of Enerion, with its glowing streets, floating parks, and distant starships taking off from the spaceport.
Leona presses her hands against the glass, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's incredible," she whispers.
I stand beside her, barely noticing the view. My focus is entirely on her, the way her face lights up, the way her voice softens when she's awestruck.
"You're incredible," I say under my breath, though I'm not sure if she hears me.
She turns to me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, it feels like the weight of everything unsaid between us might finally spill over.
But then she smiles, a soft, almost shy curve of her lips. "Thanks for coming with me today, Zane."
"Always," I reply, meaning it more than she knows.
As we leave the dome and head toward our next destination, I can't shake the feeling that today is the beginning of something I can't quite put into words. Something that scares me as much as it excites me.