The next day dawned bright and clear, the early morning sun casting a golden glow over the city park where Tom and Gregor had settled themselves. It was a quiet corner, shielded by towering oaks whose leaves whispered softly in the gentle breeze. The tranquil sounds of chirping birds and distant laughter from children playing lent a peaceful backdrop, but the two men were anything but relaxed.
Tom sat cross-legged on the soft grass, a sleek laptop resting on the ground just in front of him. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he dived deeper into his research on the elusive Emerald of Firan. The artifact was shrouded in mystery, legends spoke of its incredible power, but concrete information was scarce. Every fragment Tom uncovered was precious, a potential clue that might bring him closer to his goal: rescuing his father.
Beside him, Gregor was perched on a small foldable stool, equally engrossed in his own screen. He had a second laptop open, scanning through ancient maps, city layouts, and topographical diagrams in search of any location remotely linked to the emerald. His sharp eyes moved quickly over each detail, occasionally zooming in or cross-referencing with other sources.
The two worked in near silence, the only sounds the rhythmic tapping of keys and the occasional soft rustle of leaves overhead.
Time slipped away unnoticed until Gregor broke the quiet. "I need coffee," he said suddenly, stretching his arms above his head. "Want anything?"
Tom didn't pause in his research. "Tea, please. Black, no sugar."
Gregor nodded and stood, slinging his laptop bag over one shoulder. "Be right back."
As Gregor disappeared down the paved path toward the nearby café, Tom's eyes stayed glued to the screen, scrolling through a crumbling manuscript page describing ancient kingdoms rumored to have once guarded the emerald.
Minutes later, Tom felt a subtle shift in the air, a shadow falling over his screen. Without looking up, he called out, "Drop the tea." It was a habit, straight to the point, no-nonsense, expecting Gregor to appear with the warm cup in hand.
Instead, a soft female voice answered him, gentle yet clear. "Which tea?"
Startled, Tom finally looked up and found himself gazing into the eyes of a striking woman standing before him.
She was beautiful, with delicate features framed by soft waves of dark hair, and her expression was a mixture of innocence and curiosity, like someone who had wandered into the wrong place by accident.
Tom blinked, confused. "I thought that was Gregor."
She smiled lightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "No, I'm Selene. I couldn't help but notice you sitting here. You have quite the scowl."
Tom raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips despite himself. "Thank you, I suppose. What brings you here?"
Selene's gaze didn't waver. "I guess I was just curious. You seem… different. And honestly, I don't see many people who look so deeply troubled but still so determined."
Tom shifted uncomfortably but answered carefully, "I have some things I need to handle. Important things."
She cocked her head, her eyes softening. "Must be serious if you're frowning that much."
He nodded, his expression guarded. "Yeah. It's not something I can just brush off."
Selene smiled warmly, almost encouragingly. "Well, good luck with whatever it is. I hope you get through it soon."
Tom glanced down briefly, surprised by the kindness in her tone. "Thanks."
Just then, Gregor returned, a paper cup of coffee in one hand and a second cup balanced in the other. He took a sip from his own cup, scanning the scene with a curious glance as he approached. The moment he noticed the woman talking with Tom, Gregor's brow furrowed.
Before Gregor could say anything, Selene gave a small, polite nod and quickly excused herself, turning gracefully away and disappearing into the crowd of passersby.
Gregor narrowed his eyes. "Who was that? And why was she just standing there like she owned the place?"
Tom shrugged, a teasing glint appearing in his eyes. "That was Selene. She said she liked the merchandise."
Gregor scoffed loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Since when did you start having people walk up to you?"
Tom laughed softly, a little amused by his friend's reaction. "I have some sort of pull, I guess. It happens once in a while, usually to people like Selene."
Gregor's expression turned skeptical. "She seems fishy to me. I hope you didn't give her any kind of contact info."
Tom smirked, leaning back on his hands. "Too late. I gave her my Instagram handle. She'll probably be texting me anytime now."
Gregor groaned, running a hand through his hair. "You're hopeless."