LLST #9 ~ Fragrance
#9 of Lost Legends Side Tales
[ Summary: ]
It's a nice day and Mela's out shopping, but there's something in the air...
[ ~300 words ]
Though not necessary, reading #3 in the folder before this would be helpful.
I haven't done a super short thing in a while, and with all my other ideas getting longer and more involved (by my standards), I really needed something quick and tiny.
Mela is mine
Fioans & Lost Legends setting are (C) Elray
(C)~Nivulus 2021
Far along Val'En's merchant street, Mela casually wandered the shops and stalls, glancing over the displays. A result of joining the Union, the street served wants more so than needs. That made it a great place for interesting and exotic finds. Gadgets, fashion, cuisine, books; it was a playground for the curious. She kept an eye open for that last one in particular, even if they weren't always that useful. Often they were "philosophy" texts, disingenuously labeled and amounting to little more than poor, thinly-veiled justifications for cruelty. Enlightening in their own way, certainly, but mostly an exercise in wasting ink. A surprisingly common pastime in the Great City, it seemed.
Every glorified paperweight was worth the effort, though, to find the hidden treasures. Those golden tomes of knowledge that opened for her a wider world. History, mythology, culture, magical academia and the like; all worth their volume in gold, and on the lucky days, costing only a little silver.
With a few very promising titles already tucked into her bag, she neared the most pleasant part of her routine; the food vendors. An infinite horizon of smells; meats, breads, pastries. The air was thick and warm like a cozy fire on a chill day. She took a deep breath, drawing it all in and wondering which scent to follow this time.
Hiding in the densely mixed aroma was something else. Something different. A faint floral hint that stopped her on the spot. Her ears drooped and she felt her body relax. It was so new, yet so familiar. Her skin tingled as something long at rest stirred deep within. Looking around, sniffing at the air, she tried to find the source, but it was gone. She didn't notice the tears in her eyes, even as they threatened to blur her vision. Like a lost child, she felt small and alone, still looking. In one sad, quiet word, she found the flower's name.
"...Mama?"