Interrupted

But this wasn’t necessary, however: one of the nearby doors opened and before he could even see who it was, Lysia had disappeared without a trace. It was just one of the neighbors – they acknowledged each other briefly before Albus proceeded to his hut.

Before entering he searched his nearby surroundings for any possible signs of Lysia. There’s no way that she would have just left that easily after having finally met him. But this was to no avail. She couldn’t have gone farther than a few feet – possibly in the trees or thickets somewhere – if it was her intention to return to him shortly afterwards. It was dead quiet outside and no matter how much he looked, she was nowhere to be seen. Blasted! To think that he had gotten so close…

In resignation he dragged his feet back to his hut and finally lay down to sleep for the night (his bedding was a blanket and a few sheets spread over the ground). Sleep didn’t seem to come though despite all the walking he had done and excitement that he had gone through from the entire day. And of course it was only when it was time to sleep now that those uncertain thoughts from earlier assaulted his mind once more. This wasn’t the first time though, and he knew how to weather this ambush. He lay there for a long time in this way until his own thoughts had tired themselves out, and he could at last fall asleep.