I was always someone who liked to explore new things. When the idea of becoming a pharmacist popped into my head, I confess I wasn't thrilled. I never imagined myself on that path. But something in me, a curiosity that rarely arose, made me turn my gaze towards the unknown. It was a strange sensation, almost like an out-of-place impulse. I didn't know if it was the place or just the moment, but part of me was willing to see where it might lead.
While I was trying to decide what to do next, pondering my options, I heard a female voice next to me. It was soft, but striking, and it took me out of my own head. I almost rolled my eyes. I was already tired of being interrupted, but I forced myself to harden my heart. I knew that my first impression shouldn't be one of disregard. Then, as I turned to see who was talking, I saw an older girl with a broad smile and a penetrating gaze.
She was wearing merchant's clothes, but her presence seemed to go beyond that. Her skin was dark, which reflected the light in an almost supernatural way. Her hair, loose and curly, fell over her shoulders with a lightness that made me feel a twinge of something I couldn't name. Her lips, plump and perfectly outlined, were curved into a smile, and her eyes... her eyes were intelligent and challenging, as if they were always one step ahead. The contrast with Aline was obvious. Aline had a wild, warm beauty, but Joana... Joana exuded confidence. Something in me stirred when I saw her.
"Are you new here?" she asked, her voice somewhat direct but at the same time welcoming.
I stood still for a second, trying to process her words, and then, with a slight contraction in my chest, I answered.
"Yes, I'm starting today." My voice came out calmer than I expected, but something told me that she wouldn't be fooled by my imperturbable façade.
She looked at me, and her smile grew even wider.
"Do you know the buildings? Would you like me to introduce you?" She spoke with a disconcerting naturalness. Her smile, the way she spoke, had a magnetism that attracted me, even though I tried to remain calm.
I didn't know what was going on, but I knew that something there was worth exploring. As much as I knew how the buildings worked, there was something about that girl that made me want to be close to her, to know more, to understand what made her the way she was.
"Of course, I'd be happy to." I said, trying to disguise the smile that inevitably formed on my lips. It was a genuine smile, which I hadn't expected from myself. There was something about her presence that awakened a part of me that I rarely allowed to be seen.
She laughed, and the sound was like sweet music, but with a touch of mischief. Her laugh was light, almost playful.
"Hehe... look at you, all shy, it's unusual to see a pretty boy like you embarrassed like that."
I didn't know what to make of what she said. "Handsome?" I'd never thought of it like that. Ever since I was a child, I'd been told that my skin had a sickly hue, that my eyes had something... too distant, and that I looked rather... macabre. I saw myself as anything but attractive. So hearing that comment took me by surprise. I looked away, not knowing how to react.
But what happened next sent me completely over the edge. She, with almost annoying ease, wrapped me in a tight hug. The way she pulled me in, with that confidence as if she had done it many times before, left me speechless. Her touch was like an electric shock, and I felt the warmth of her body against mine, her breasts pressed against my chest. Her scent, sweet and fresh, mixed with a light floral fragrance, invaded my nostrils in an immersive way.
What was that? I felt my chest beating faster, a sudden acceleration that left me stunned. I didn't know if it was discomfort or if something else was going on, but somehow the warmth of that touch made me question everything I knew about myself.
(Maybe I'm handsome?) I thought, the doubt creeping up on me in an unsettling way. That smile of hers, the closeness, made something inside me open up, something I used to hide. Suddenly, what she was saying seemed more real, more possible. Maybe, just maybe, I was something she could see.
I smiled, without meaning to, but I did. A sincere smile, something I rarely let show. I saw myself with her, and for the first time in a long time, my mask of coldness fell away.
"What's your name?" I asked, feeling that my voice was softer, more open, than usual.
"Joana." she answered with that soft tone that made me want to hear more. "You can call me Joana. And you?"
"Zaatar Udrik." I said it, and the name seemed to come out more easily than usual. It wasn't as if I was trying to protect myself, and the feeling of it intrigued me more than I'd like to admit.
She looked at me with a curious expression, and then said, with a mischievous tone:
"Oh, young master, you're younger than me. That's a bit strange."
I laughed, the surprise gradually dissipating, but still with a slight feeling of warmth on my face. It was strange, yes, but in a way that I couldn't control. Something about the way she treated me, with this disconcerting closeness and endearing confidence, made me feel vulnerable, and at the same time, more... myself.
I didn't know what would come next, but one thing was certain: something was changing, and I wasn't so sure what to expect from myself, or from her.
"Really?" I asked, my voice betraying a little surprise, not knowing quite how to react. She looked at me with that mischievous smile, and I, with a slight blush appearing on my face, didn't know whether to laugh or get serious.
"Not much, look at your size after all." Joana retorted, her expression becoming more amused, as if she was really enjoying the exchange. I felt a little shy at that, which didn't happen very often. Normally, I kept my composure, but there, with her, something seemed to fall apart in me. I didn't know what to do, so I just gave a half-hearted smile and stared at the floor for a moment, looking for something to distract me.
The days passed, and although I was focused on my studies and business, something in me wanted to be with Joana. I knew I shouldn't let it affect me so much. After everything that had happened with Aline, I didn't want to become a doormat again, I didn't want to be the one who let myself be manipulated. Joana seemed to be different, she didn't use me to do her chores, like Aline used to. She treated me in a more direct way, more... human, so to speak.
She knew the commercial area of the city well, and when we started talking, I realized how much she understood the workings of Full Moon City. She talked about everything with such confidence, as if she were immersed in that world. It was a huge city, full of life and energy. I knew that many noble boys came to the city for their higher education, but Full Moon was even more special. It was one of the only cities in the Dawn Empire licensed to produce Imperial Elites. This meant that every graduation was a grand event, with students conquering new buildings and courses, and once they had graduated, they could apply to the most prestigious universities, depending on their performance.