Markus
~~~~~~

It had been two years since Markus had set foot in Ramblum. His last visit had been a reward for his promotion within the Corps and he had convinced himself not to attend the year before. Looking back he wasn’t sure what his reasoning had been; holidays tended to revolve around Eden’s dispatches, as a way of resolving his need to keep up with her level of ability, but he wasn’t sure she had been his reason for staying. His decision to go this year hadn’t hinged on her. She had been distracted with family business and he had made the decision to take this time for himself. He had always enjoyed the fireworks before and, he guiltily admitted, Ramblum had a much freer market for magi-leaf than Alexandria.

He hadn’t expected to bump into Eden. Festivals had never struck him as the type of affair she had any interest in; so it came as no surprise that she had been encouraged there under the orders of her sister. Whilst a part of him was sad to see her go, the rest of him was torn by relief and determination. She knew nothing of his attachment to magi-leaf and he never would have been able to purchase a stash with the huntress hovering nearby; but it was not that which caused the greatest upheaval of his emotions. Over the years, the Parade of Lights had taken on another, more commercial aspect, one that was either embraced or discarded by its attendees. Men who attended the festival were expected to buy a gift for the lady of their affection and either reinforce those feelings or confess them. With Eden elsewhere, Markus would have had an excuse to avoid the consumerist tradition but now that she was here…

The soldier sighed and made his way towards the many booths centralised in a section of Ramblum. Here, wooden stalls stood draped in colourful cloths, their owners beckoning to the various couples that passed by them. Markus strolled through the rows, glancing at the various wares on display from the backs of crowds. Wherever he stepped people moved from his path and he felt the looks being thrown in his direction. It was the reason he chose to wear his uniform despite being off duty. So much less trouble for him to deal with.

But what the heck do I get her? In truth, he knew very little about Eden. Most of what he knew of her had been drawn from brief conversations between bouts and the little she had been willing to reveal about herself during their Academy years. She wasn’t the kind of person who talked about personal things; wants, desires, he had no idea what these would be and no idea what type of gift she would appreciate.

He wandered up and down the merchant stalls at least a dozen times before allowing himself to be drawn over to one vendor with a display of sparkling jewellery.

“Greetings good Sir, a happy Fol to you.”

Markus smirked at his use of the unpopular abbreviation. “And to you.”


“Looking for a gift for a special someone?”

“I suppose.”

“A bracelet for the lady?” He presented a tray of bracelets and Markus shook it his head.

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re right. Too inferior.” He put the tray aside and offered up a pillow of rings. Again, Markus shook his head. They continued this way for several minutes, the merchant presenting and Markus dismissing. He wasn’t trying to be rude, but nothing he saw seemed worthy of Eden. “A special woman this is indeed,” said the merchant, discarding an elaborately designed ring. “Perhaps this,” he pulled out a box and flicked open the lid, “will be what you’re looking for.”

Markus peered inside. In the box sat a necklace. A thin silver chain comprised of what appeared to be woven strands circled the centre of the box. From the chain hung a simple pendant, a twisting cocoon-like diamond of silver, and in its centre, like a butterfly breaking out from its slumber, was a ruby. The blood eye glinted once and Markus met the merchant’s gaze. “I’ll take it.”

The necklace was moved into a gift box and adorned with a bright ribbon. It took an exchange of a month’s of Markus’ wages but he had it at last, a gift worthy of Eden’s possession. A gift worthy of confession, the merchant had said, but Markus had no intention of taking such bold action. The gift was simply bought in order to keep with tradition. Sure, that sounded like an excuse Eden would accept.

He tucked the gift into his pocket and took off in search of one of the city’s many magi-leaf vendors. It didn’t take long. The vast crowds drawn by the festival often convinced dealers to abandon their otherwise secretive haunts and venture inside the boundaries of acceptable society. He scared the dealer into a discount and tucked his newly-acquired stash into one of his satchels before heading off in search of Eden.

But it wasn’t Eden he found. No, instead he found himself in the company of the lithe Alex. Man that he was, he couldn’t resist escorting her to the shoreline. She left him there, with only the cryptic message that she was performing.

“Well, that was different. Now I’ve just got to find -”

“Honestly, I haven’t done anything!”

He stopped. “I know that voice.” He turned and sure enough there was Nova, heels dug into the sand, desperately trying to resist the iron grip of his sister. “Convenient.” He wandered over.

“Sorry. You can blame me, if you want.”

Markus didn’t know the speaker but it was clear from the looks on both of the Myst’s faces that they did. “Hey.”

Nova looked at him and the boy’s eyes narrowed. “Traitor!”

“Sorry Nova, your sister just knows how to read me.”

“You probably told her because you hoped she would let you fu-” His sentence was cut off as Eden threw him back. He stumbled but managed to keep his footing.

“One drink. Then I’m taking you back home.”

Nova scurried off and the nameless woman followed, shooting a quick thanks in Eden’s direction.

Eden let out something that sounded like a cross between a grunt and a sigh and took a few steps inland.

Markus followed. “I’m guessing you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well observed Captain know-it-all.” She stopped and sighed. “I’m tense.”

It wasn’t an apology but he accepted it all the same. “You’re allowed to be.”

“Thanks for your permission.”

“I didn’t mean it-”

“I know, Markus. You don’t have to explain.”

He stood at her side and waited for her to speak again. As the silence dragged on he began to fiddle with the box in his pocket. He wanted to give it to her but it didn’t seem like the right time. In this state she was just as likely to smack it out his hands and call him an idiot for even thinking she would be interested in such a gift. He couldn’t take that. And yet, if he didn’t do it now…

“Eden?”

“What is it, Markus?” She wasn’t looking at him.

He took the gift from his pocket and stepped up beside her. “I uh…I got you a little something. Tradition and all.” He held the box out in front of her and tried not to focus too much on her expression, for fear that it might break his shaken resolve completely.

She took the box from him and unwrapped the gift. There was a moment of silence, one that caught his breath and held it so tightly he thought he would faint before she said anything.

“Markus…”

“I didn’t know what to get but it’s tradition so I just got you something and if you don’t like it then I understand and you can just throw it away or stick it in a drawer somewhere I just thought maybe it’d be nice to give you a gift so-”

“I like it.”

He looked at her and saw the smile on her face; that rare beautiful smile. He would shatter the heavens to keep that smile from fading. “Well…good. Like I said, it’s just for tradition’s sake. And it’s sort of an apology for not really getting you anything for you birthday. So don’t…um…don’t think too much into it.”

“Thank you, Markus.”

He looked away so she wouldn’t see the blush coming on to his face. “You’re welcome.”