52

Luca and Oshen were both tasked with accompanying King Kojo while he traveled to the city of Elyon to visit his daughter. 

Before Sawyer left, he pulled Luca aside and told him that Xavier had sent an urgent note and he was leaving to see what the problem was. Nico had decided to stay behind to ensure that his wife and King Kojo weren't attacked.

Luca thought this act of kindness to be strange given all that he's been through, but then again Nico naturally was a nice person, unless you got on his bad side and that's one thing you shouldn't do.

Oshen and Luca hadn't seen eye to eye since their brawl. Luca knew Oshen hadn't meant any harm with his rude comment but he wasn't wrong - not really - and that's what bothered him the most.

The sun was high up in the clear, cloudless sky beating down on them. Both of them were dripping in sweat and Luca was getting itchy under the thick clothing he wore.

As he tried to keep his gaze from wandering back to Oshen, he carefully studied his surroundings. The bustling scene unfolded before him - people drove by in their carts, their laughter mixing with the sounds of horse hooves against the cobblestone road.

Excited young children joyfully had their heads poked out, enthusiastically exchanging greetings with their friends. Meanwhile, the graceful elves were diligently setting up colorful booths to display their exquisite goods, adding a touch of enchantment to the vibrant marketplace.

In the midst of all this, groups of people stood around, their voices intermingling with the clinking of glasses as they enjoyed lively conversations and sipped on their drinks.

Luca found it surprising that despite the initial wariness between humans and elves, they were interacting as if they had been friends and neighbors for years. Despite this, some of the elves remained cautious in their interactions with humans.

They'd check their clothes for wrinkles, and be sure to avoid getting too close to others, and some would huddle up in groups and walk around that way. Luca spotted some elven children still wearing tattered clothes with matted hair and dirt-smeared cheeks. 

"Are you going to talk to me again?" Oshen whispered.

Luca hardly heard him over the bustle of the people around them. He averted his gaze to the dusty ground and swallowed. "Talk about what?"

"What have you found out about the Scavengers?"

"Besides the fact that they're a ruthless bunch, not much," Luca answered, still keeping his gaze on the ground. "And that they live on an island a few miles east."

"So..you're saying that Eli could be dead."

Luca frowned. "I didn't say that at all," he growled balling his hands into fists. His fingertips crackled with electricity. 

"What you said and what you meant are two entirely different things," Oshen said, taking a step away. "And you may be right."

Luca snapped his head up and the electricity vanished. He felt the blood drain from his face. "What?"

As Luca laid eyes on Oshen after several days, he couldn't help but notice the pallor of his skin, the hollowed cheeks, and the tired eyes. Even Oshen's once vibrant hair now looked dull and lifeless, sticking out in disarray. When their eyes met, Luca couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest as he observed the prominent dark circles beneath Oshen's eyes.

"I can't feel him."

Luca licked his lips. "I heard you...I just don't understand what I'm hearing. What exactly do you mean by 'feel' him?"

"You remember how he said that I was like a replicant of one of his personalities? Usually, I'd feel something here." Oshen tapped his chest. "But I feel empty. I think he said I was the wild crazy side of him. The one full of ideas."

Luca racked his mind to try and understand what Oshen was saying, but he hardly understood the concepts of dark magic - much less the side effects - but he was sure that this wasn't normal.

"It's like he's vanished," Oshen whispered.

When they arrived at the booth where Kojo and Kaya were supposed to meet the carriage stopped and Luca helped Kojo climb out. Once the King's feet were on the dusty road, he hurried over to the bar where a girl was sitting with a cloak over her head. 

When she turned she pulled the hood back and embraced her father, her eyes brimming with tears. Kaya placed a hand on her round middle and kissed Kojo on both cheeks. 

"I'm sorry Dad," Kaya whispered. "I'm sorry."

Kojo kissed his daughter on both cheeks and his gaze fell to her stomach. "What do you have to be sorry for, love? I'm just glad that you're alive and well." his gaze slid to Nico who climbed out of the carriage. "Your husband told me that he asked for your hand."

Kaya's eyes widened and it was clear that this was not something Kaya and Nico had discussed sharing with her father. "Dad-"

"Don't worry, dear. I'm not upset. not at all." Kojo smiled. "I approve. I give you my blessing."

Kaya gasped and wrapped her arms around her dad's neck wincing slightly at the sudden movement.

"Let's make it official, yes?" 

Oshen and Luca exchanged a glance Oshen wiggled his brows and Luca groaned, averting his gaze. Nico was grinning ear to ear.

Kojo chuckled. "The wedding will be two days from now."