Market District

She raised her eyebrows, interested. "What kinds? And venomous ones are no problem, since my father can just charm them into liking me." She grinned.

Keith listed a few of the common varieties of the snakes in his backyard. "And I'm pretty sure I saw a cobra once."

"In your backyard" She gaped. "A cobra?" She whistled. "Do you think we could look tomorrow? I could take my father and he could help catch one..."

Keith grinned and nodded. "Yeah, we kinda live on the edge of town, so we get odd things. And that'd be great."

"Wow," she murmured. "And that would be so cool!" She grinned. "You'll have to tell me where you live."

Keith reached out and touched her forehead, directly relaying his address to her mind. "I wouldn't want you to get lost." He grinned.

Temepst widened her eyes when he reached toward her face, but when she realized what he was doing, she relaxed. "Oh, okay. Seems easy enough."

He grinned and finished his soup.

She seems rather like a kindred spirit. Perhaps the Academy isn't such a waste of time after all.

Tempest drained her soup and smiled at her new friend. "So. Now what? I have all day tomorrow and the day after to do homework. I'd rather not be forced to do it now."

Keith glanced out the window at the reddening sky. "Well, it'll be sunset in an hour or so. I know a great place to watch it from, and it'll take us a few minutes to get there."

Tempest nodded. "Alright, that sounds like fun. I don't know this part of town too well." She grinned sheepishly.

Keith grinned, then stood and held out his hand to her.

Tempest frowned, unsure of what to do. She stood, ignoring his proffered hand and pushed her chair back under the table. She didn't know Keith that well yet, and she didn't really feel comfortable getting too close to anyone yet.

Keith had figured she would, so he didn't let it bother him. He led her out of the restaurant and through the district, occasionally pointing out an interesting shop or landmark.

Tempest appreciated Keith's friendliness, and was surprised at her willingness to accept him. Usually, she felt that most people were a waste of her time. "So how do you know this area so well? Do you live closeby, or do you just come here often?"

"I enjoy coming here," Keith said. "I find that in this place, more than most, I don't have to delve into people's minds for the truth. The common people, the average shopowners, they don't lie like the nobility or the rich."

Tempest nodded. "I see. So you value sincerity. It's a good quality. Not many people actually care about that anymore. At least in my part of town."

Keith chuckled. "You should hang out in my part of town more often." He led her up a small hill in the middle of the Market District.

She smiled wryly. "I probably should. I don't get out enough." She followed him up the hill and gazed out over the city. "Nic view from here, that's for sure."

He climbed up onto a tall rock and offered his hand, just for assistance this time. "It's even better up here."

Tempest smirked at him and climbed up by herself. She stood up and looked around. "Wow."

"And there's the sunset." Keith pointed to the west, where the sun was setting, highlighting the buildings in a cascade of orange and red and yellow and purple.

Tempest smiled, enjoying the beauty of the last rays of sunlight washing over her city. "It's amazing."

"Yes," Keith agreed, smiling. "The last rays of light fade away, surrendering to the twilight, heralding the coming darkness."

Tempest raised her eyebrows. "I had no idea you were a poet too. Or did you get that from the mind of an unsuspecting passer-by?" she teased.