The street pulled them deeper in.
Noise layered over noise—
voices, laughter, footsteps crossing without pattern.
"…Told you," Jude said, glancing back.
"…It gets better further in."
Lunivara didn't answer.
Her gaze had already shifted.
"…Wait."
Jude stopped.
"…What?"
She stepped closer to a smaller stall—
half-hidden between two larger ones.
Glass cases.
Dark velvet.
"…Is that—"
She leaned in slightly.
"…That's a grandidierite."
Jude blinked.
"…A what?"
"…Grandidierite."
Faster this time.
Clearer.
"…It's rare—very rare. You don't usually see one this clear…"
Her words trailed—
just a second too late.
Silence.
Jude stared—
then laughed.
"…You forgot we were here."
"…I did not."
A pause.
"…Maybe a little."
He grinned.
"…That's new."
Lunivara straightened.
Composure returning—
but not completely.
"…I'm buying it."
Leontius, quiet until now, spoke.
"…You're certain?"
"…Yes."
He looked at the stone—
then at her.
"…Then buy it."
Jude glanced at him.
"…That was quick."
No response.
But—
just slightly—
Jude froze.
"…Wait."
He leaned closer.
"…You smiled."
"…No."
"…You did."
"…You're mistaken."
"…I'm not."
A pause—
Lunivara turned away quickly.
"…I'll purchase it first."
"…Running away?" Jude muttered, amused.
Moments later—
she returned.
The stone secured.
Her expression was calm again.
But her eyes—
still a little brighter.
"…Done?" Jude asked.
"…Yes."
"…Good."
He turned without hesitation.
"…Now we eat."
"…Eat?"
"…You can't come out here and not eat."
He was already moving.
Lunivara followed.
After a moment—
Leontius did too.
The street shifted again.
From quiet displays—
to heat and smoke.
"Grill—!"
"Hot skewers—!"
Jude stopped instantly.
"…This one."
"…You didn't even look," Lunivara said.
"…I don't need to."
"…That sounds unreliable."
"…It's experience."
Food was handed over.
Warm.
Fresh.
"…Careful," Jude added.
"…It's hot."
Lunivara took a bite—
paused—
then blinked.
"…Oh."
Jude grinned immediately.
"…That 'oh' means you like it."
"…It exceeded expectations."
"…Same thing."
Leontius tried one.
Paused.
Then—
"…No."
Jude turned.
"…You just said no to food?"
"…The shrimp."
"…What about it?"
"…I don't eat it."
Silence—
then—
Jude laughed.
"…You're serious?"
"…Yes."
"…You're picky."
"…I have standards."
"…That's worse."
Lunivara spoke lightly—
almost without thinking.
"…It is a preference."
Jude looked at her.
"…You're defending him?"
"…I am correcting you."
"…You two sound the same sometimes."
"…We do not."
"…You just did it again."
A small pause—
Lunivara looked away slightly.
"…That is coincidence."
Jude laughed again.
"…Sure."
They kept walking.
Eating.
Talking—
more easily now.
Not quiet.
Not distant.
Alive.
The noise of the street softened—
not because it lessened—
but because it no longer pressed against them.
"…It's getting late," Jude said after a while.
Lunivara glanced at the sky.
"…It is."
"…We should head back."
No one disagreed.
The walk back felt different.
Quieter—
but not empty.
At the academy gates—
they slowed.
Then inside—
the hallway again.
Familiar.
"…That was good," Jude said.
"…It was," Lunivara replied.
Leontius gave a small nod.
"…Yes."
A brief pause.
"…Tomorrow?" Jude asked.
"…Tomorrow."
"…Tomorrow."
They separated.
Different paths.
But the distance between them—
felt less than before.
End of Chapter 16