Is That It?

Macha looked out from the deck. Across the Île des Rêves a thick blanket of snow covered the varied landscape. As her eyes scanned the scenery, she enjoyed spotting the tall trees jutting out of the blanket of snow, their pointed tips stretched up towards the sky.

She held Tyr's hand and gave it a squeeze, "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed.

The ship descended into a crescent-shaped strand that was carved out of the floating island. Since there was no water circling the island, the crew used large hooks and anchors to attach the ship to the rocky shore.

After the crew secured the surrounding area, Tyr disembarked from the ship so he could double check that the setup had been executed perfectly. Only after his inspection, did he call for Macha to join him.

For this trip, he purchased multiple onetime use wards which would last for the week. These repellents would deter smaller creatures and bugs from coming into the area. It was not as good as the permanent ones that Marseille and the Valois estate used, but it would still help their stay to be more comfortable.

Tyr brought out a small bag which contained tent parts. He found a rock to sit on and began pitching the dark green tent. There were many small pieces that came with this product and for the sake of convenience, he had thrown them all into a canvas bag.

He rarely used these sorts of things because he preferred sleeping under the stars at night. In his opinion, the fresh air and endless sky offered a breath of freedom that one did not have otherwise. He only purchased a tent for two reasons. The first reason was that it was winter, so he did not want Macha to catch a cold. The second reason was that he wanted them to have privacy during the nights.

As he worked on the tent, Macha practiced the spell that would allow her to keep warm without the use of blankets or coats. Every time she tried to concentrate her energy, she always felt it disperse into the air. Another problem she had, was the flow of power from her core felt disconnected from her hands.

After two hours, she needed to rest. The mental exercise left her light-headed and caused her body to sway as she walked to sit beside Tyr.

He drew his dark brows together and made a scowl as he tried to find the correct poles to connect. His beauty mark peaked out from behind his long bangs, but it did not help to soften the annoyance which was evident on his face.

"37A..." he muttered as he searched for the connecting piece.

The sound of metal clinking against one another sounded as he rifled through the canvas bag.

Since he looked frustrated, Macha sat down in the snow next to him. Her shoulder touched the dip of his waist and she leaned against him for warmth. The tips of her eyelashes were turning white as the cold frost collected on them.

When she settled next to him, Tyr dropped what he was doing and pulled her up by her arm. "The snow will seep through your clothes if you sit down," he said harshly.

The tent was frustrating him and he wondered if he should have bought a cheaper model. Since this had been the most expensive model, it came with many added features. Putting it together was a methodical task and if he twisted one piece incorrectly, the whole thing would not work.

His harsh tone irritated Macha and her lips turned down for a moment. She gave a light sigh and decided to let her annoyance go. They were on vacation and she did not want to get into an argument.

"Do you need help? It looks like you're having trouble with that."

The way she worded it made Tyr feel as if she challenged his intelligence. He pursed his lips for a moment to calm himself.

Pointedly, he replied, "No. I do not need help. This is a very complicated piece of equipment that I am working with. I need to be fastidious when putting it together. It will only take a moment."

Macha rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "If you say so," she sang.

After another hour, he finally finished putting the tent together. He stood back and admired his handiwork. After lifting the flap and inspecting the inside, he called Macha over.

"Done. Come and see." His chest puffed out and he had a broad smile on his face.

She stared at the small green tent and raised an eyebrow. It looked like it would barely fit him inside and she failed to see how they would both fit.

In a flat voice that held no amusement, she asked, "Is that it?"

Tyr's eyebrows shot up, "Is that it? Look at it. That's an SS grade Palatka tent. I special ordered it for this trip." As he circled around the tent, he chuckled, "Most people in Marseille don't even live in something as good as this."

This elicited a smile from Macha. The tent was new, but not impressive at all. In no way could she see how this small thing could possible be better than what most citizens in the city slept in.

His attitude would be embarrassing if it was not so funny. She pointed to the tent and shook her head, "Most people in Marseille can't even fit into a tent that small."

Now he understood why she was so unenthusiastic about his purchase. She did not realize the tent was more than it appeared.

Crossing his arms he nodded his head towards the entrance, "Go inside."

Moments like this always made him excited. He loved to observe her reaction when things differed from her original world. From everything she told him about where she used to live, her life had been mundane but very safe sounding.

Macha lifted the flap and stepped inside while looking behind her at Tyr. She rolled her eyes, but when she turned her head she gasped with surprise. As soon as she stepped into the tent she felt a wave of warmth envelop her. It was as if they were at home in the apartment with the fireplace on.

Her brown eyes darted around in confusion. Instead of being in the small tent, she found herself in a large room. The floor had been made of a dark hardwood and large silk cushions scattered the floor.

Tyr followed her inside and basked in her amazement. He had designed the room so it would have the same orange and reds as the hotel in Kochi. Although that trip did not turn out as expected, he still remembered how beautiful she had looked against the vibrant warm colors of the silk fabrics.

He stretched his arms into the air, "I guess it isn't roomy enough in here. What a pity... Perhaps you should sleep on the airship. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."

Macha ran to the other rooms that connected to the main room. The space had a full bathroom, a kitchenette, and a large room for them to train in.

"Tyr, how did you? No, how much..." this tent was not what she expected.

He sat down on the floor by the fireplace and leaned an elbow on one of the cushions. He propped himself up and ran his fingers along a fur throw.

"I told you I needed to put it together correctly. I'm not a simpleton. Come, I want to hold you."

Macha pounced on top of him. She rubbed her hands in circles on his cheeks, "You don't have to look so smug. Yes, you did a good job."

As a reward, she gave him a light kiss.

It was still morning, so Tyr did not want to waste the daylight away fooling around with her in bed. Although she looked beautiful and tempting, they would have ample time to explore their passions in the night.

There was an air plant that only thrived on floating islands and he wanted to see if it grew on this island too. This plant has hard to purchase, not because of its rarity, but because few people could afford to own an airship.

The extremely rich would not bother to sell it and the merchants had better ways to make money with an airship than collecting plants. This left the market starved and there was not enough supply for the demand.

This plant was known to help individuals who suffered from intense stuttering. It usually came in the form of candies or teas, which were easily consumable while entertaining or traveling. While they were here, he wanted to harvest a bunch to bring back to Marseille with them.