Rad felt even more powerless than he had when they first arrived, and he realized that his magic wasn't working in the new world. At least then they had something to do, to learn about the new culture, to adjust, but now they were just sitting there putting their fates in the hands of a human.
What was worse for Rad, was the fact that they were putting the life of his loved one, of Andromeda, in the hands of humans.
He didn't have anything against humans, but they could be so unpredictable sometimes. One moment they are sweet and helpful, the next they are cruel and stupid.
He was hoping the Hermit guy was a decent man since he had no idea what else Faith and he could do if he turned them down.
As he kept pulling out blades of grass under his hand he couldn't help but peek at Faith.
After the small fright she got on the bus, she seemed eerily calm.
What would happen to her when they got back to the magic land was something he hadn't even contemplated before, but now he couldn't help but wonder.
It was impossible for him to understand her motives since he couldn't think of any reasons besides love that could compel one to undertake such a dangerous journey.
Coming to the conclusion that she had her own reasons, he started absentmindedly chewing on a blade of grass thinking about what the future might hold for them.
Faith couldn't understand why he was sneaking glances in her direction.
Did he think she would abandon him, do something stupid? She couldn't tell, but she kept up her facade of calmness. She couldn't allow him to see how weak and terrified she truly was.
After all, he only saw her as an all-knowing Seer, she couldn't allow him to see her vulnerable side, she couldn't show him how many times he had broken her heart.
She didn't want to show him how much she sacrificed for him knowing full well that he would never love her back. If she ever got back home, she knew she would be severely punished for breaking the rules. For doing something that has never been done before, for abandoning her post, her duties.
Rad would, of course, end up unscathed like he always did.
She didn't mind. She was happy that her loved one was a survivor, but it still stung that he couldn't see her as a woman. He could never feel for her what she felt for him her whole life, but she at least hoped he would find happiness.
Love was such a strange emotion, even while she was drowning in sorrow she couldn't help but worry about him and his well-being. What she wished more than anything else was to be able to stop the princess from breaking Rad's heart but that was an impossibility.
They were both startled from their musings by the loud shuffling of feet that was coming their way.
A huge sun-tanned man was approaching the store and by the rippling muscles that his whole body consisted of, they assumed that it was the Hermit.
They quickly jumped on their feet dusting off their clothes, doing their best to look presentable after hours they had spent on the bus and then waiting for the guy to arrive.
Lost in their thoughts only then did they notice that night had already started falling without them even realizing it. If they wanted a place to stay, the guy was definitely their last option.
Making a silent agreement with their eyes was all it took for Faith to realize she should be the one to approach the guy. Without any words exchanged between her and Rad, she started approaching the guy, Rad following close behind.
"We hear you are looking for workers?" Faith said trying to use the right, human words so as not to sound too foreign, too different.
He gave her a once over as well as Rad judging if they would be good enough for the work he had in mind.
"I am guessing you would like to do manual labor, boy?" he asked Rad.
Having no idea what the man said, but assuming it meant farm work, he nodded his head in agreement.
"Hm, very well and you, girl? Do you know how to cook?" he asked Faith.
"Yes, I used to cook for my family... back... home," she finished hesitantly.
The man gave them another cursory glance and finally murmured something in confirmation.
Then louder he said: "Okay, follow me."
They followed him although Rad wasn't too happy about the guy calling him 'boy'. Guessing it was a cultural thing he didn't say anything. Other than that the guy seemed decent enough, so he decided to let it go.
From the time spent with the other humans, he learned that the less you said the better it was for you.
The man led them to a sturdy looking contraption, and they realized it was yet another way of transportation, the 'car', he called it.
"By the way, my name is Jim," the guy said.
Surprised that his name wasn't Hermit they just quickly gave their names and entered the car settling in on the backseat, fully prepared for another uncomfortable ride.
They were pleasantly surprised the ride turned out much more comfortable, that was at least until the uncomfortable questions started.
"So, how long have you two been married?" Jim asked good-naturedly.
Faith and Rad had learned along the way that the first thing humans assumed when they saw a male and a female traveling together was that they were married, but they still struggled with the answer.
Sometimes it was better to say yes and avoid additional questions, but sometimes the affirmative answer only brought more questions so there was no right choice in Rad's mind.
Having in mind that they were both looking for a job from the same guy, he thought it better to say that they were married so Jim wouldn't think it strange.
Before Faith had the chance to say anything Rad started speaking.
"We just got married recently. Brand new to the married life you could say." Rad said trying to sound cheerful pulling Faith into a warm embrace.
Although she knew they were just pretending Faith could help but blush.
"You two are the most adorable couple I have ever seen," Jim said as he kept firm control of the car, unlike the guy who was in control of the bus they used earlier.
Rad felt the heat radiating from Faith, but he assumed she was just uncomfortable by the physical touch since Seers weren't really used to something like that.
That was how they reached Jim's house and their future home, in each other's warm embrace.
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