The next day, Kirsten led them out of the forest, and into a city. Nobody in the group knew the name, but they went straight to the nearest market, and stocked up on food. At one point, Faye caught Jyri holding Lavina's hand, and rolled her eyes. It hadn't even been a full day. When she pointed this out to him, he made a speech about how she'd understand when she'd fall in love. After observing his ludicrous behavior, she hoped she never would.
Faye later made the mistake of mentioning the possibility of Lavina being part-nymph. Jyri got offended, and gave her highly-detailed account of the effects nymphs have on men, none of which he felt towards Lavina, and how dare she compare her to such vile creatures.
And now, the group wandered aimlessly, looking for someone in need of help. According to Kirsten, they'd been getting most of their money that way. Jyri made a loud comment about how the homeless should try that, instead of panhandling and stealing. Faye resisted an urge to slap him.
"Maybe fugitives should stand up and fight, instead of running away like cowards," Faye said in response. Jyri shot her a dirty look, while the rest of the group gave blank expressions and furrowed brows.
"That's a great idea," Lavina said with a smile. "We should overthrow King Lyon, and let all the magicals free."
Kirsten shushed her. "Not so loud."
For once, Jyri didn't voice agreement with her. "Sounds dangerous."
"But exciting." Lavina grinned.
"Too risky," Corvin said. "Being here is bad enough."
"Yes, it is." Faye narrowed her eyes at Jyri. But he interlocked his fingers with Lavina's, and they continued walking through town. Corvin, Kirsten, and Lavina each walked on foot, leading their horses by their bridles. It wasn't long before they came across a large, white building. A sign that read "Grand Oak Library" hung above a pair of double doors. Gasping, Jyri released his hold from Lavina's hand, and pointed to it.
"A library!"
Kirsten's face lit up. "I haven't seen one in ages."
"Me neither," Jyri said. Without waiting for another word, he raced up the steps, and into the building, Kirsten right behind him. Nerds, Faye thought, but she smiled. Corvin led his horse to the corral, along with Kirsten's horse, and Lavina tied hers down as well.
"Are you coming too?" Corvin asked Faye and Lavina, as he made a move towards the door.
Grunting, Faye flopped down on a bench. "Maybe later." She had longed for a break from Jyri's sickening behavior towards Lavina. And she hadn't had time to herself in awhile. She wasn't used to being around so many people at a time. Corvin walked up the steps, and Faye waited for Lavina to follow. But instead, Lavina sat next to her.
Faye's stomach lurched. Of all the people to stay behind, it had to be the culprit behind Jyri's sudden personality change. The last person she wanted to speak with. She gritted her teeth. "Don't you want to go inside, and be with your new boyfriend?"
Lavina raised her eyebrows. "Boyfriend?"
"You know. Jyri."
Lavina turned pink. "No, he's not. I mean... I don't know."
That certainly wasn't the response Faye expected. She furrowed her brow. "You don't like him?"
"I do, he's nice," Lavina said. "But I don't think I like him like that."
"You let him hold your hand though," Faye said. "And last night..."
Lavina looked down at her feet, cheeks flushed. "He's a charming man, really. It's sweet. Nothing at all like the boys back home."
Faye didn't know whether to laugh or gag. So she waited for Lavina to continue on. Or leave. Hopefully leave.
Lavina's face was filled with disgust for a second. Probably from the thought of the "boys back home." She leaned forward, looking up at the sunny sky. "Jyri's also... so smart. Smarter than anyone I've ever met. I mean, to be searching for portals to enter parallel universes? It's amazing."
Faye blinked. "What?"
"Parallel universes. Other universes, like ours. But different." Lavina tilted her head, frowning. "That's what you two are looking for, isn't it? Before you started following us."
Faye frowned back at her. "We were going to Dorendi, to live a better life."
"That's not what I heard..." Biting her lip, Lavina looked away.
Parallel universes. Faye had never heard of such nonsense. She shook her head, amazed at the lengths Jyri had gone to impress this poor, naive woman. "I think he's making things up."
"I dunno. He seemed pretty serious." Lavina looked down at her hands, clasped on her knees.
Faye felt a stab in her chest. "He's never told me anything..." Her voice wavered, and she swallowed.
Lavina rubbed her neck. "Maybe I should go inside, and see what Kirsten is up to." She got up, and walked away, leaving Faye alone with her emotions. She stared at the street before her. At carriages rolling by, and children running. People walked past her, shouting and laughing. But she tuned it all out.
The lie about why he was dying, she could deal with. Maybe it was information he couldn't trust a stranger with, and the topic never came up again for him to admit he had lied. But stringing her along, throughout the country, in promise of a better life in Dorendi, only to be dragged to another universe? Faye clenched her jaw. This had gone on too long.
Sometime later, Jyri stepped out the library door, alone. Spotting Faye, he smiled, and rushed over to her. "Faye!"
A burst of energy filled her chest, and Faye gave him a deathly stare. "What do you want?"
Jyri's face fell, and he took a step back. "For you to join us."
"Like how you want me to join you in your search for a parallel universe?"
Jyri's mouth fell open, but he quickly turned it upright. "What's that?"
"I had a chat with Lavina."
"Oh?"
"Yes." Faye continued glaring at him, arms folded. She struggled to keep herself from shouting. "It's nice how you've been telling all your hopes and dreams to some maiden you've known for-"
"Some maiden?" Jyri's voice rose. "She is more than just some maiden."
"She must be, given you tell her everything, but have me following you around, thinking we're just leaving the country. But no. You plan on leaving this universe!"
"I can explain-"
Faye threw her hands up. "You've had weeks to explain! But everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie. I'm done with you." She turned to leave, but Jyri grabbed her arm.
"Listen." Faye pulled her arm away, but stayed. Jyri took a breath, and continued. "I wanted to tell you, but..." He ran his fingers through his hair, moving it out of his face. "I thought you'd laugh at me."
"What?"
"Everyone did. Nobody believed me. They all thought I was crazy." Jyri pounded his fist in his palm. "But I always wanted to prove them wrong. And it's a good way for me to escape for good. They can still find me in Dorendi, but in another universe?"
Truth be told, Faye thought he was crazy. But his sanity was the least of her concerns. She rubbed her hand over her face. "And you expected me to just follow you into another world?"
Jyri shook his head. "I planned on leaving you in Dorendi, unless you wanted to join me. But then I met Lavina and, I don't want to leave her behind. I asked if she'd come with me, but she won't."
"So you're giving up for a girl who doesn't even like you."
Jyri jerked his head up. "What?"
"She told me she doesn't like you that way," Faye said.
"No..." His voice shook. "You're lying."
I'm lying? Faye held back a laugh. Which wasn't difficult, when she noticed his wet eyes. She tore her gaze away. "I'm not. Go ask her."
Jyri gaped at her for a moment, then headed back inside, leaving her alone once more. After watching his heart break, Faye figured she'd stick around. Not that he deserved it. She clenched her jaw again. Parallel universes. She couldn't believe it. She loosened her jaw, wondering what to do if they did find one. Would she follow him? It wasn't like she had anything better to do with her life.
Faye pondered these thoughts until Jyri returned, shoulders drooped. "Well?" she asked.
"You were right," he mumbled, slumping next to her. "I've been making a fool of myself, thinking someone like her would ever love someone like me."
Faye wanted to tell him he was overreacting, but patted his shoulder awkwardly. "Aren't you still friends though?"
Jyri sniffled. "She said she wanted to be. But I don't know if she was just saying that to lighten the blow, or if she meant it."
Faye gave his shoulder another hesitant pat. Jyri let out a wail loud enough to earn looks from passerby.
Corvin appeared next to them, wringing his hands. "I'm... sorry," he said to Jyri. "Are you alright?"
Jyri wiped his eyes on his sleeve, and let out another sniffle. "No."
"I just came to tell you... it'll pass. I give it another hour. Maybe two."
Jyri frowned at him. "Give what another hour?"
"I, probably should have told you sooner. But I didn't want to raise alarm."
"What!" Jyri leapt to his feet, and clutched Corvin's shoulders. "What alarm? What did you do?"
Corvin nudged him away. "I did nothing, boy. It was the arrow."
"The arrow?"
Corvin nodded. "The one you were struck by yesterday wasn't any ordinary arrow." He stroked his beard, eyeing Jyri. "It was a heart arrow."
Jyri's eyes widened. "What!"
"One who is struck by a heart arrow, falls in love with the first person they see."
"Yes, I know what a heart arrow is," Jyri snapped.
"Why Lavina instead of me?" Faye asked. "I had to be the first person-"
"It takes time for it to kick in," Jyri said. "I must've been looking at Lavina when it did."
"The arrows are dipped in a potion," Corvin explained further. "Once the arrowhead breaks skin, it travels through your body, straight to your heart. And this," he gestured towards Jyri, "happens. The effects wear off after 24 hours."
"So it wasn't even true love. Just... a bloody heart arrow." Jyri flopped back down on the bench. Then, let out another wail. Corvin slapped his hands over his ears. But Faye didn't mind the noise. She was just grateful this nonsensical behavior would soon come to pass.
Kirsten and Lavina appeared. "Is everything alright?" Lavina asked, her voice soft. She sat next to Jyri, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Jyri rubbed his eyes, hiding his face behind his hair. "I'm fine."
Lavina withdrew her hand. "I'm really sorry."
"Don't be." Jyri stood back up, keeping his gaze lowered. "Faye and I were talking, and we're going to... part ways with you."
Kirsten looked more upset about the news than Lavina. Lavina smiled wistfully, and stood up. "It was nice meeting you."
Jyri gave her a half-smile. "You too." He made a move to give her a hug, but stopped, and held out his hand.
Ignoring it, Lavina wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight. "I'll miss you."
Jyri patted her back. "Me too. Maybe we'll run into each other again."
"Hopefully," Kirsten said
As they all said their final goodbyes, Faye and Jyri walked away. "What now?" Faye asked.
"We buy a map."
"Are the portals on maps?" Faye asked.
Jyri shook his head, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "I did some research though, and I think I know where we might find one."
"Where?"
Jyri looked at Faye. "The mountain between Dorendi and Vustaria."
"Wizard's Point?"
"The very one."
ns 18.68.41.179da2
