Chapter Text
“Tonight will be cold, once again..
.. but will it offer me the warmth I’ve once craved?
… Or will I be forever hated by everyone else?”
The evenings around the north have always been icy, cold and sometimes harsh, the pine cone trees would often be covered during this period, there would be no flowers, or sign of vegetation present, and yet, the warm street lights around the sidewalks will always stay warm and dim, blinking slowly, the paths are always covered in snow, but at least it never gets too thick that people can’t traverse through it..
What’s unusual however, is the children walking around with their families, carrying huge boxes of miscellaneous things during this hour, probably originating from the post office that's a few miles away. Rich families can get there in around 1 hour from here with their automobiles. Meanwhile, an average worker could travel by train, albeit it would be slower than usual. If one’s patience is present, a rough 3 hours would be worth the wait.
It is usually dead during this hour, that is what’s unusual, in fact, as the night progresses, the livelier it gets. There are people who gather inside their homes, some would go to the plaza to drink with their friends, maybe use the opportunity to find someone to court.
Couples would use this time to bond, and businessmen would always be out in the streets with their average-looking stalls, either selling tools, food or anything an average person would really need. Aristocrats would often use this opportunity to walk around and examine them, hoping to bring something home for personal use, or to “surprise” their children.
Honestly, all of this.. Is just the same-old, same-old thing that everyone does during a holiday, on a wondrous night of christmas eve.
And during this somber night, Anaxagoras Cerces is trading off sets of exquisite jewelry to some unsuspecting aristocrats, after all, his shop is the “centre” of this town, all rarities would be found, sold off or traded away for a generous amount, and somehow, this is enough for him to garner wealth quickly, and rise to the top of the social hemisphere.
So surely he would never have to complain ever again, right? Having that opportunity to live a lavish lifestyle is an option for him, and him alone, he could get whatever he wants with that money
But that’s not enough, in fact, the money is only a useless asset that could only be used the moment he .. goes home.
As the night’s sale ends, the snow continues to fall gently through the harsh breeze of the north, the street lamps slowly lose its warmth, fading gracefully through the ever night, the pavements are getting covered again, as per usual, while the snowmen made by the children earlier, slowly fade into obscurity.
In the back of the jeweler’s mind, he knows that his existence, is like those snowmen, slowly fading into obscurity, forever to be scorned and misunderstood by the people he swore to uplift, to him, he thinks that the only memory those close to him will only be of the bad ones, and just like bad omens, they will do anything to avoid it, or forever curse and scorn him for it.
It’s such a shame really, that the moment he was accused, he was never given that chance to explain himself, the sequence of events was too fast.
Just as his woeful glance towards his lover, Aglaea, stayed brief and sorrow, only being able to speak hushed, strained and jittery words instead of the warm and embracing comfort of reassurance she would usually give.
“I wish to get back to you, I can’t.. Afford to forget …”
Anaxa’s mind was dragged back to reality, back to where he was, in a foreign land, where is forced to live off the rest of his days in exile, where the only comfort that could ever bring him is the thought of bringing.. Inspiring change to the people of tomorrow
He still wants that change, he’s always fought for it, advocated for it, because behind that change is a promise he failed to fulfill, A happy life with the love of his life, where progress instills itself in the hearts of the poor, and empathy finally whips the rich into true change.
.. Would that change ever come through the hearts of his people? Is subtle progression the answer to his questions? He knows he has a heart, so being able to give that heart to just anyone… is the most logical thing to do.
But maybe he’s wrong, not that it bothers him, although, even if there is this seed of doubt that’s been planted at the back of Anaxa’s mind as of late, an idea that he opposed somehow, because it was too “rash”
Well, whatever the answer is, He hopes that it will rest easy in his mind, for the only thing he wishes in this very moment, as he’s counting the profit for today’s sale, is the imaginary comfort of his lover, reassuring him that that things will be okay
"Everything will be fine, Your pleas will eventually reach the world you dream of.’
And a dreamer will always aim higher than the heavens above.