The bell above the shop door clanged as Asra came through and Seiya looked up from the counter.
“The fever is spreading,” Asra announced, unwinding the scarf from his face. “It’s not just in the lower quarter any more.” Seiya’s hand’s stilled, half ground herbs settling to the bottom of the mortar. “There are reports all over the city now,” Asra continued. “There’s a strict quarantine of the lower quarter and the south district. They’ve officially declared a state of emergency for parts of the city and announced the hazards of this plague.”
“A plague?” Seiya frowned, dusting herb remnants absently off their hands onto their pants.
“This city is less and less safe every day, it’s definitely spreading. People are already leaving. We should consider leaving ourselves.” Asra hung up his jacket and walked to the counter.
“Asra, this is our home. Our livelihood. We can’t just jaunt merrily off at the drop of a hat.”
“Home is where your heart is,” Asra said with a teasing smile, reaching across the counter to take Seiya’s hand and lifting it to his lips to press gentle kisses to the fingertips. Seiya flushed but the frown didn’t drop.
“Asra, be serious.” Asra didn’t let go of their hand.
“I am serious Seiya. We can go anywhere. We’ll be fine as long as we’re together.” He interlaced his fingers through Seiya’s.
“And the shop?” Seiya gestured with their free hand to the room around them.
“Our lives are more valuable than a building. We can tell fortunes, or make charms. We have the skills to start over anywhere. Vesuvia is dying.” Seiya pulled away and a shadow crossed Asra’s face.
“No. Vesuvia’s people are dying, and we might be able to help them.” Asra sighed and leaned on the counter, running his now empty hand through his hair.
“Seiya, no. Not this again. We’ve been through this. We’re magicians, not miracle workers. We’re not doctors.” His gaze settled on the mortar between them. “Herbs and charms can only do so much.”
“Something is better than nothing. We have talents we aren’t using. Talents that could help people. Save people.” Asra looked pained at the determination in Seiya’s voice.
“They could, but they might not. We’d be at risk either way. We could die. This fever has no cure and it’s spreading like wildfire.” He didn’t voice it aloud, but ‘I don’t want to die’ was written clearly on his face.
“I’m not going to stand by and do nothing when we could be helping” Seiya said shortly, turning to the shelves and pulling more herbs down to spread them on the counter. “The doctors aren’t running. we can lend them our knowledge, and our magic.” Asra pushed himself back upright as Seiya began separating the herbs into bundles.
“I won’t go into the quarantined areas and neither should you. Just leave it to the professionals.” He watched unhappily as Seiya didn’t meet his eyes and continued to work.
“We don’t have to go into those areas then, but the doctors aren’t coming to us so we need to go to them.” Seiya’s tone was firm and final as they neatly tied the herb bundles and began to stack them in a small pile.
“I wish you would reconsider...” Asra said wistfully. he stepped away from the counter, moving toward the stairs. Seiya watched silently as he started to climb and he paused halfway up to look back at them. “Just...please think about it Seiya,” he said, expression troubled.
“I’ll see you tonight” Seiya answered, wrapping the herbs up into a travel package. They cast a silent protection spell and Asra watched the faint shimmer of the magic traveling over their body. Wrapping a scarf around their face, Seiya gave Asra one last disappointed glance and headed for the door. The bell chimed again as they left.
“...please be safe” Asra murmured softly at the closed door, then he turned and slowly continued his way up stairs.