Chapter 26: The Proposal

A Chapter by Jensen Roman

A small fleeting moment of romance is quickly turned into more doubts and fear due to the king's past.

“So, how did it go? I want all the juicy details,” Sid opened his eyes to look over at Basil who entered the room after a few minutes of going on their “walk” but the feline groaned and fell face first onto the bed. The hare tilted his head in confusion but sat up.

“…don’t tell me…you got rejected?”

Basil’s voice was muffled in the sheets.

“Can’t hear you,” Sid used his foot to push Basil onto his side roughly but his friend’s cheeks were blazing red and he looked as if he had walked in on a woman bathing. “Not good?”

“…I was so nervous…” He admitted and rubbed his cheek to try and die down the heat.

“Have you ever been around a female before? I’ve told you how they work.”

“Only at brothels,” Basil sat up nervously. “…but they only want money. Never slept with any but merely enjoying drinks and chit chat. This is Fey we’re talking about. She’s something completely different.”

“…alright, tell me what you did.” Sid sat up to give Basil his full attention while the feline left the bed to slowly pace in a circle.

“W-well…we went to his pavilion area which had a beautiful view and at first, I was just teasing her and making small talk about being a thief with me…but…when I saw her walking with that gown, she looked so…” He looked back to Sid, unable to find the right word.

“Pretty?” Sid asked with a raised eyebrow but Basil shook his head.

“Far more than. She was perfect…and I was so afraid to say anything. She was…like a snowflake that had just been formed…unaltered…but catching it will only melt it.”

“Never knew you were good with words,” Sid chuckled and leaned back on his hands.

“I’m not…I mean…I have things I want to say…so many…but…I’m not sure.”

“Well, what did you tell her?”

“I was just honest. I know she’s been going through a lot lately and I told her that no matter what people see her as, she’s still Fey to me.”

“That’s a bit cute. You didn’t say anything steamy?”

Basil sent the hare a look with his cheeks reddening again.

“I’m not trying to scare her away, Sid.”

“…what? No! Not that type of steamy!” Sid placed his hand over his face with a sigh and stood. “I meant romantic, you idiot.”

“I…told her that she could be a thief…since she stole something of mine.”

“Annnnnnddd did you tell her what it was?”

“…I didn’t tell her it was my heart,” Basil’s ears drooped and Sid groaned in annoyance while lowering his hand.

“You were so close! Honestly, all you had to say was that, seal it with a kiss and boom!”

“I don’t want to rush her, you know?” The feline blushed even more and folded his arms across his broad chest.

“You’re not but you’re circling her like some animal and not going in for the kill. My goodness, must I teach you everything? I’ll show you how it’s done when she comes back.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Basil growled and took a seat on the bed once more with a sigh but he stiffened when he heard the knob to their bedroom room turning.

“Watch and learn,” Sid whispered with a wink but Basil didn’t have time to stop him when the door opened and the center of their conversation walked into the room, her face still a bit flushed but only just.

Before she could even take a single step further in, Sid fell onto one knee before her and grasped her hand which made her pale in surprise.

“Oh, beautiful Fey, it has come to my attention that I can no longer hide these feelings any longer. I am completely infatuated with you that I cannot bear a single second away from you. I ask for your hand to become mine, to live on a farm together and have many offspring.”

Basil seriously wanted to just kick the hare’s head from his shoulders but he saw the look in Fey’s eyes and knew he wouldn’t have to.

The mender’s eyebrow twitched as the fur on her tail stood out of anger.

“…Sid…” She barely managed to say through gritted teeth.

“Yes, my lovely nectar?”

“…if you do not release my hand…in the next five seconds…I will kick you so hard in the face that you’ll think twice about children…and I won’t even bother to heal you.”

“Feisty,” he chuckled and backed away a few good steps with his hands held up innocently.

“One of these days I won’t give a warning,” she threatened and was about to go sit at the desk but Basil stood with a frown, offering her the comfortable bed.

“Don’t mind him. Come and sit. We’re still waiting on Saei.”

“He hasn’t shown yet?” She asked worriedly and looked back to the door. “Maybe I should go looking for him…”

“Nah, I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s an adult and can handle himself,” Sid suggested and took a seat at the desk instead. “If he’s talking with that…king...I doubt they would want you interfering.”

“Guess you’re right,” she sighed and took a seat on the bed, her tail curling behind her while Basil sat beside her but made sure to still give her a bit of space.

“Try not worry so much,” he advised while leaning back a bit on his hands. “You’re feeling better now so try not to overexert yourself mentally and make your body exhausted.”

“I can’t help but worry. I want everyone to be safe,” she frowned and looked over at him. “If you were in that situation I’d be worried too.”

“What about me?” Sid asked with a smirk and both felines growled over at him.

“Sid, I would leave this place in a heartbeat,” she stated, bringing out small laughs from each of them but the door opened without any of them noticing it until Fey looked up. The color drained her face and she stood quickly when Saei released the handle of the door from his hold. The guard behind him cautiously walked off after having escorted him back to the room they would now share and even Basil stood with worry to see his brother in such a state.

Sweat dripped down his face, making his scales glisten a bit and he just looked…worn. The skin on his arms had a few burns as did his cheeks but Fey’s heart couldn’t help from speeding up to see his thigh bleeding, soaking his robe.

“…what did he do to you?!” Basil exclaimed, his claws already turning into fists and ready to pummel the feral but Saei shook his head as if telling him to calm down.

“…we talked…” Even his voice sounded tired but Fey came over with her eyes beginning to glow slightly.

“Let me heal you,” she offered but when she raised her hand, he gently took it between his claws to keep it off his skin. A frown came upon her lips at being unable to but he managed a small smile for her.

“No…all I need is to rest.”

“You can have the bed,” Sid stood and walked over to offer the dragon his own weight to lean on to keep his leg from getting worse. Too tired to argue, Saei leaned against the hare until he sat on the bed and removed his sword from his belt to place it beside him tiredly.

“So, what happened?” Basil asked, coming over to stand before him.

“…a lot must be explained in hopes of you understanding,” Saei told him and lifted his silver eyes to stare at him.

“What do you mean?”

His brother parted his lips to answer but winced with gritted teeth when he pulled on the wound a bit.

“Though I am dying to know as well, I believe Saei needs to rest right now before he tells us anything,” Fey suggested with a concerned frown. If she couldn’t heal, that didn’t mean she would be useless. She passed by the other males to head for the washroom, grabbing soft towels and soaked one with water. Not too hot or cold and returned to them.

“You can tell me not to mend but you can’t tell me not to help,” she chastised Saei and he just sighed heavily with closed eyes.

“So stubborn…”

“Well, she is a female afterall,” Sid lightly teased to try and lighten the mood but looked over to see Basil…looking angry.

“…why would a mender…even do this to you?” He asked. Fey looked back to him with an understanding smile.

“I’ll go have a talk with him once I finish with Saei. If he wants us to be guests…I won’t have this,” she told him and turned her attention back to Saei. “Lay down for me.”

Wincing softly, the dragon obeyed and carefully laid back on the soft bedding. He softly exhaled at the feeling but left his legs dangling off. They were too weak to even lift.

“Sid, Basil, can you two go and find some nut oil?” She asked, frowning to see how terribly worn out Saei was and gently picked up his injured leg to set it on the bed followed by the other one.

“What for?” Sid asked, placing a hand on his hip.

“For the burns. It’ll help with the pain a bit and a few berries. Sorry if I’m asking this of you.”

“Just better hope we don’t cross him in the hall,” Sid huffed and opened the door to begin heading out but looked back to see Basil wanting to stay. Anger was still in his eyes but he finally managed to pull himself away to follow Sid with the door closing behind them.

With them gone, Fey sighed heavily with a frown.

“…Basil is suspecting something,” she admitted and shyly sat on the bed beside Saei who still had his eyes closed.

“Keeping it from him is not wise. When I can…I will tell him,” he whispered.

“No, I will. Might be easier coming from me.”

It really wasn’t how she wanted things to come about. Basil lived with Saei, not knowing of who he was and it never mattered at all. To him, he was just a brother to rough around with…so Fey was unsure how he would react if he knew that Saei was part of a group who killed menders. Probably wouldn’t go well if she put it like that. Frowning with worry, Fey took the wet cloth and gently smoothed it across the burns on his cheeks. He winced at first but quickly grew accustomed to it and opened his eyes to look up at her.

“You’re frowning…” he stated in a low tone.

“I’m just…I know I shouldn’t be worrying…but…I really can’t help to think I’m a big cause to all of this. I’ve just…been thinking a lot lately…of how I am affecting everyone…” Her white eyes shimmered with growing sadness as she made another slow pass with the cloth to brush against his scales. “…no one would be getting hurt…or dying…because o-“ She stopped when she spotted Saei bringing his arms back to help him sit up.

“Saei? You need to be laying down,” she instructed with her cheeks heating up slightly to have him even closer but her lips parted in a silent gasp when his warm cheek rested against hers.

“I s-still need to...care for your burns…” She whispered, trying to persuade him to lay back down and her hands even pressed against his chest but he didn’t budge as he kept his face to hers.

“…what would calm your worries?”

“H-huh?”

Fey managed to pull back only slightly to meet his eyes but only grew more nervous with how close their faces were. It was enough to feel his hot breath on her skin.

“What can I do…within my power…to help clear your mind of those thoughts?” He asked with a quiet voice.

Her heart could barely take anymore and told her body to pull away slightly. With her eyes lowered to find something more interesting, they landed on the towels that were still unused beside her for if she continued to look at him, she was unsure what would happen.

“I just n-need to think it over on my own,” she answered and did her best to try again to have him lay down for her but despite him still being injured, he had enough strength to stop her with his claws tipping her chin up to force her gaze to rise.

“…look at me,” he ordered and she felt her heart clenching with her bottled emotions wanting to burst forth from their prison but she refrained, remembering how he told them to wait until they reached Estyuin.

‘…I’m not sure how much more I can hold out…’ She told herself and shyly turned her eyes onto his, watching the subtle glow within his eyes as well as her own reflection.

“You need to hear words that will calm your heart…your mind…your spirit...” He began, his claws still holding onto her chin but had loosened a bit to merely be touching her skin. “There is no escaping what the truth is…you being a mender…I am a drysiohn…you being gifted by the sun…and I the moon…I was meant…to hunt you…to hunt your kind…” His voice grew softer with each break he took to slowly help put her at ease. It was clear in her eyes that the truth being brought back up only resurfaced pain but the gentle touch of his claw on her chin traveling up to her cheek drew her away from that.

“Stories can tell you who I am…gossip can tell you who I am…but only I can truly tell you who I am…and who you see before you…is who I am,” his eyes softened more as they left hers to watch his claws that could easily cut into her harmlessly brush against her cheek, and moved down to her upper lip. At the touch, Fey swallowed nervously and the flush grew. She had completely forgotten where she was…or that their friends could be returning any moment now…but…all she saw was Saei.

“At this moment…this small moment…take it as your own. Let the world you know slip away from you…and ask for whatever it is you want. What can this drysiohn provide that will cease your worrying?”

Her heart instantly threw out the answer she wanted but her mind was hesitant. What if Sid and Basil came back to see them this close? Inwardly, she felt terrible after Basil treated her so kindly and even though he made her heart feel light with his words…Saei knew how to make her lose her entire breath…but…she really couldn’t run from everything. If she was greedy, she’d go with her heart…but…wouldn’t she be hurting others with her choice? Her eyes slowly lowered, glistening over with tears as she frowned softly.

“…Saei…I…I can’t…”

“Why not?” He asked, his claws remaining on her upper lip but slid up to her hairline.

“I s-should be helping you heal…I can’t be thinking about what I want right now.”

“I know what you wish for…” he whispered and his fingers laced through her hair, tangling her locks around them. “I know what your mind is thinking…”

“I still can’t, Saei…” A tear slowly slid from her eye as her bottled up emotions finally started to overflow. “I’m so tired…I feel so alone…” Her eyes closed to hide the hurt she felt from him. “I’m trying so hard to stay strong…to keep everyone safe…but everyday…I feel more tired…even now, I feel like I can sleep for days…but I don’t want you all to worry about me so I hide it.” Her breath got caught in her throat with a soft audible gasp when his claws had made their way through her hair to find one of her ears to brush against it. It was…strange…when Basil had done it, it was ticklish…but…this felt more delightful and it was hard to hold back a small purr since she didn’t want to seem like some regular old housecat.

“Never hide from me…if you need rest…you come to me.” Her poor heart that had dealt with a lot today started to pound against her ribcage and her eyes opened to shyly look up at him. “You wish for me…to speak…do you not?” He whispered and she parted her lips to respond but was unable to form even a single word.

‘I do…’ She answered mentally and felt him direct her face upward toward his with his hand leaving her ear alone to hold the back of her head.

“…if you wish for me to speak…then I will…” He told her. Their faces were possibly only two inches from each other and she waited ever so patiently. “…Fey…you’ve been patient with me…waiting for so long…I apologize for not returning sooner…but as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder…except, I have come to l-“

The door swung open just in time for Saei’s ears to twitch at hearing the noise and he fell back onto the bed, suppressing an annoyed growl when Sid and Basil walked back in with a handful of the supplies.

“We have returned from our mission of retrieving your nut oil!” Sid proclaimed proudly but had no idea how many death threats were being made silently due to his interruption. Saei’s closed eyes clenched even more when he started to think of a cooked hare on a stick…roasting…

“This is what you needed, right?” He asked and came closer which snapped Fey out of the trance the dragon had put her under. Her cheeks were flushed at remembering how close he was to her but did her best to act normal once more.

“O-oh yes, thank you,” she nodded her head in appreciation and relieved him of the small vial of oil. “This will help with the burns to make it easier to sleep.”

“And the berries?” Basil came over, holding a few different varieties within his claws. “Wasn’t sure which kind you wanted so we got all of them.” Fey smiled softly at the job well done and scooped them up.

“It’ll help Saei sleep. Some are good for easing the mind and others for pain all around. Thank you both.” She placed the berries to the side for now and dabbed some of the oil onto the towel, shyly rubbing the burn on his cheek first. The gentle contact prompted his eyes to open to look up at her and their earlier interaction only resurfaced. For now, Fey had to put it out of her mind or else she was sure her cheeks would explode.

“We didn’t see his highness on the way to the kitchen. You did make sure to beat him up for us in return, right?” Sid took a seat at the nearby desk, looking over at Saei who was too annoyed at the hare to respond.

“I’m sure I’ll find out once I finish up here…I need to go speak with him,” Fey told him, taking the towel to rub at the spots on his arm. She took a quick glance up into his eyes and saw a flicker of concern for her. She was going to go see the king alone…the same feral who did this to him. Saei knew she wouldn’t be harmed…but the serpent would use a silver tongue just to try and get her to stay. Fey offered him a gentle smile in return and finished with his burns to hold out a few berries for him.

“Eat these so that way you can rest,” she instructed and dropped them into his palm. Saei gritted his teeth as he forced himself to sit back up since he had to look like he was resting when the nuisances came in and swallowed the berries whole before laying back down with a soft sigh. Fey stood from the bed to look over at her other companions.

“Do you mind if you two can mend his leg? Just wrap it up and I left some berries there for you two. It’s been a bit annoying today so you three should rest.”

“What about you?” Basil asked with a soft frown.

“I’ll rest once I’m done talking with the king. I shouldn’t be long,” she reassured them and straightened her gown out.

“If you need us, give us some sort of signal,” Sid told her and walked over to swallow some berries for himself, needing the rest.

“Like what? Scream?” She raised an eyebrow at the ridiculous idea since she was sure she’d be too far away for them to even hear.

“Nah, too typical,” the hare answered and yawned while stretching his arms above his head. “Make a bird call or something.”

“Sure thing,” she giggled and made her way to the door but saw Basil out of the corner of her eye as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Be safe, okay?”

“I will,” she smiled sweetly. “Go and rest.”

“If I can,” he rolled his eyes but left her side to go find a place for him to take a cat nap while Fey left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her and exhaled in relief to be by herself for a moment just to think.

A nearby guard spotted her curiously but she offered a kind smile and walked up to them.

“I’d like to speak with King Yuuin.”

“Splendid timing. His highness was waiting for you so if you would follow me,” he said and turned on a coin to make his way down the hall with Fey in tow. She had so many things she needed to ask…

The big one…was why was Saei attacked…or what had happened between them?

She still had a major hunch…but maybe it wasn’t that severe…and this would also give her time to learn more about menders in general.

Fey raised her white eyes to watch the windows passing by as they walked and finally felt her heart calming down after all the madness that had happened.

For starters, she wondered what had gotten into Basil. In her mind, he was still a big brother to her…except not so sometimes it did feel awkward when he’d tease her…but…the way he looked…

He wasn’t the little boy anymore…

The way his fiery eyes shimmered when he was holding her hands…

Did Basil hold something for her…that wasn’t just friendship? No friend would speak like that and it only made her heart twist a bit for…she saw him as a close friend and someone she would do anything for…but if it came to romance…

She couldn’t see herself there and IF he did hold something, she really didn’t want to upset him. It was the last thing she desired.

How much would it really hurt though…if she confessed what her heart truly felt?

She frowned with the memories resurfacing of when they had set up camp way before Saei even rejoined them…and he urged her…to start seeing him in a newer light. He didn’t want to be seen as the child anymore…

How would she be able to tell him?

She let out a sigh at her dilemma and clasped her hands before her only to stop when the guard did. Raising her eyes, she saw them standing before two elaborate doors with a snake symbol on each one.

Fey took a wild guess that this was his room…

The guard knocked three times on the door and waited for a response.

“Who knocks to disturb me?” His voice answered, sounding a lot less gentle than she remembered and she swallowed nervously that maybe he was in a foul mood. Even the guard beside her seemed to tense up a bit.

“P-pardon me, your grace, but the young maiden has come to see you…at your request.”

There was a moment of silence and she thought…maybe Yuuin was not in the best mood to see her, especially after dealing with Saei.

“Allow her entry,” she heard from the other side and wasn’t sure if she should be grateful or not. The guard grabbed the handle to pull the door open for her. Apparently, it was heavy since she saw him using a lot more strength than with a normal door. Fey bowed her head to him in thanks before stepping in so that he could close it and not exert himself…but once she had stepped into the room, she felt even more cautious.

It was definitely the king’s room…

It was huge, bigger than any room she had seen in her lifetime.

There was a long bookcase that took up nearly an entire wall to her right that had every corner filled with reading material and beside that was an open area to walk out into the woods.

It seemed he didn’t care if someone tried to sneak in to murder him…who would? With how strong she saw him, he could easily yawn and kill someone.

Growing more nervous, she spotted a large bed across from her with flowing curtains and more symbols of the feral he was...

Yuuin sat on the very edge…wrapping his arm with gauze with his sword by his side, unsheathed. His eyes seemed focused on the task at her and ignoring her completely.

So, Saei must had injured him afterall…

Once the king had finished, he lowered his long sleeve and stood, grasping his sword to sheathe it at his side before finally raising his eyes to her. Just like his voice, they were not as soft as they usually were when she was near. They seemed…distant…

“What all have you heard?” He asked.

“A-about?” She had no idea what he was inquiring but the sharpness was still there. Seeing the unease, Yuuin closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts and even removed his sword from his belt. It only resurfaced what had happened which he didn’t need right now.

“From the drysiohn…or did he not return to you?”

“Oh, Saei? No, he did. He’s resting right now…” she answered and recalled his previous question. “He didn’t tell us anything. He only said you two talked.”

Yuuin huffed at hearing that and slowly walked away from his bed to the open area, motioning her to follow. Nervously, she obeyed and felt the warm breeze from the outside filtering in.

“I am surprised he kept quiet.”

“I know it’s not my place to ask…but…why did you two fight? It’s obvious since you both have injuries…”

“Though I would much rather keep it to myself…my duties to a fellow mender outweigh that of a king,” he told her with a heavy sigh and looked up at the bright sky above. “Can you handle the truth?” He asked, his voice growing softer once more to how she was used to and glanced down at her. Frowning with worry, Fey could only nod.

“…very well…I attempted to kill him.”

She knew she wanted the truth…but…she had no idea…that it was to the point of possible murder. Her heart plummeted and only raised her sense of caution more.

“In your mind…I can assume you are questioning why,” he began and turned to face her fully. “I need no other reason…besides what he is.”

Fey felt her fingers trembling and her breath got caught in her throat when a flash of earlier came to mind blocking out everything Yuuin was telling her. Yuuin believed Saei was a true drysiohn…but he wasn’t. He had his claws on her skin…and did nothing. Her eyes narrowed a bit up at him with her claws balling into a fist.

“It doesn’t matter that he is a drysiohn. Saei hasn’t harmed me in any way and king or not, it was wrong of you to attack him,” Fey’s eyes hardened and she couldn’t believe she was chastising him but Yuuin didn’t seem altered by her words. He merely exhaled and turned back to look out across the land.

“…I am unsure what to believe. I showed him my blood…despite it being me and not you…he did not advance. I was perplexed…”

“So, Saei didn’t begin the fight?” She asked with a frown. “You did.”

“I did. I wanted to see if what I know was real. I needed to see if he would lose his mind…turn into some beast that I would have to put down…” He ceased talking and closed his eyes, his expression looking confused. “…but when he bested me in battle…he withdrew. He could had been at my throat…”

“But he didn’t. I have faith in Saei…I believe that no matter how angry or loss of control he gets…there’s still a part in there that has reason.”

Yuuin opened his eyes once again but this time, they were shining slightly with sadness.

“…you sound like my sister.”

“Sister? What do you mean I sound like her?” At hearing her question, the serpent walked a bit further toward the woods before taking a seat at the very edge of his personal quarters and gestured beside him.

“It is the main reason I am here…if you care to hear.”

“I do but only if you are comfortable,” she frowned and took a seat beside him, straightening out her gown.

“I have come to terms with it…but when I was a mere child, I lived in Estyuin…like you had. I remember our birthplace like I know myself. It truly was beautiful…the endless summers…with flowers blossoming even with the harsh winters outside the barrier trying to get in. Magnificent waterfalls that cascaded into pure water…anyone would call it paradise if they saw it.”

“I remember it slightly…” Fey added with her tail curling behind her. “I was usually at the shrine.”

“Having spirits near you is comforting, isn’t it?”

“It is…and I would hear singing,” she blushed nervously. “I could listen to it for hours.”

“It was the spirit of the sun singing,” Yuuin explained and when she peeked over at him, she saw his eyes returning to being gentle instead of sad. “The words she sung are meant to bring comfort.”

“You know what they meant?” She asked curiously and the king nodded.

“Yehl kuo rahei nobeio…to those who walk in my light...Ashtai mehi daclua ieyao…may your heart always be bright. I am not much for singing...” he guilty admitted but Fey softly smiled, feeling her heart warm with ease.

“It’s fine. I always made sure to sing when I was alone. If someone walked in, I’d instantly be quiet.”

“I am certain you have a pleasant singing voice,” Yuuin turned his eyes to her and the compliment only made the nervousness return. “When I was just a boy at Estyuin, you must have either been an infant at the time or not born yet.”

“Seems likely since I don’t remember you…even then I was never around the other kids much.”

“Why is that?”

“I was always the odd one out. I was a bit smaller than the others…and clumsy,” she shyly admitted. “I remember trying to keep up with them once but I ran into a fruit stall and made the entire thing collapse all because I hit it just right…or so they said. I believe it was already crumbling and I just helped it along.”

She heard soft laughter beside her and looked to see Yuuin hiding a smile behind his hand while looking the other way.

“It’s not funny! Do you know how many stall owners kept their eye on me after that? They were starting to think I was a hazard,” she pouted to hear him still laughing but he shook his head while looking back up at the sky with a soft exhale to calm himself.

“A mender who destroys…that is a first.”

“I was a child!”

Yuuin just chuckled softly. “You were innocent…without knowing of the horrors beyond our barrier,” he spoke, his smile turning bitter sweet.

“…what happened? It involved your sister…right?”

“My sister was older than me. When I was a boy, she was already a young adult…but she doted on me so much and I loved her with all my heart. She was beautiful…her voice was like the water itself…and I was proud to be called her little brother.”

Hearing the fondness in his voice made Fey smile a bit but she knew there was something coming around the corner…about to take it away from her.

“Traveling outside the barrier was forbidden…unless it was called for. My sister was one of them. She had been called to one of the villages not too far away but still a few hours. When she left, I didn’t know why. I was like you and didn’t know what being a mender meant but she told me that she was needed and would return…so…I waited. A week had passed when she finally returned…but she wasn’t alone.”

The tone of his voice slowly turned into pure bitterness and Fey felt her heart tightening to see the look of dread in his eyes.

“I waited at the barrier for her…but when I saw her approaching…she was with a man, a harmless human…or so I thought. At first, I thought nothing of it but just about the beginning of every week…she would leave and I would be left behind to wonder why. Each time she returned, I saw that man wishing her goodbye. The first few times, it was a simple wave of him dropping her off…but it turned into their hands being held…and lastly a parting kiss on the cheek.”

“So, he loved your sister?” Fey asked carefully.

“I thought he did. One day she had returned with him again but she entered and he didn’t leave like usual. Again, I thought nothing of it…but I followed my sister who went to the priest at the shrine. I hid to eavesdrop…and that was the first time I heard about drysiohns. My sister had told the priest she had fallen in love with a drysiohn and I have never seen the priest so infuriated.”

“Must had been really scary for you,” she frowned, trying to imagine a young Yuuin hiding and listening to bickering.

“It was. I heard them speaking about…how he would want her blood…tear her flesh…snap her bones…I was frightened for her…but do you know what my sister did?” He asked with a painful look in his eyes. “…she smiled. She didn’t say a single word…all she did…was smile…and walked out. I followed and was worried. I asked her what was going on…but she stopped to tell me I was too young to know. That day…I watched as my sister left the barrier…and our peaceful home of Estyuin. It would be some time since I would next see her…and she was pregnant.” Fey’s eyes widened a bit, filling with worry at where this could possibly lead.

“She returned with the man and pleaded with my parents if she could stay for a bit, along with him. My parents were skeptic…but it was their daughter…how could they shun her? So, they hid the man in their home…and thought nothing of it. He acted normal…spoke normal…and treated my sister like a queen, waiting on her hand and foot. I was beginning to think the priest was wrong and scared for no reason…but on the day my sister planned on leaving with the man, she went into labor.”

Yuuin softly sighed, his eyes closing and Fey could see the hurt written all over his face.

“…you don’t have to go on…”

“I must…that way you can see,” he told her and opened his eyes to look down at his palm. “My parents did their best to make her comfortable…and tried to keep her quiet so no other mender could hear. I was still young and had no idea about women and birthing so you can imagine myself worrying…but when my sister started to bleed…all I saw were the man’s eyes. He wasn’t himself. Despite being human…he now looked like a rabid beast…and before I knew it…he leapt at my sister to tear into her throat.”

Silence fell around them…

The impact of his past hit her and she was now seeing his small reasoning becoming a much larger picture. There was no way she could fault him for how he felt due to what happened…but all she could do was offer comfort. Fey cautiously reached out and touched the corner of his open palm. Yuuin turned his eyes down onto her at the touch and felt the warmth offered between two menders. It was a quiet understanding between each other and gave him enough strength to continue.

“…the man who so dearly loved my sister…had now killed her…and when her body birthed their child anyway…that too was his meal. My parents were horrified…and my father had to kill him. My beautiful sister…was taken from me…all because she trusted one of them. The event affected me to the point where when I reached my adolescent years…I fled. I wanted to distance myself from them…from the home where all I saw was blood…I traveled through snow…being chased just like you had, I’m sure…hiding…fending for myself…until I reached the Ipsial Woods. I made it my home and when I turned into a young adult, I started to hone my own powers and used it to help travelers who needed to fend off creatures.”

“How did you become a king here then?”

“I never wanted to be…but with so many bandits roaming and deadly creatures that could snack on the helpless, I saved all I could and started to form those who wished to give their lives to me. Soon after, I built this palace for any who needed my help and those I have helped became servants or guards. Of course, I’ve heard stories about my woods being painted red but that’s just to scare people who try and bring harm this way.”

“You don’t need threatening stories,” Fey smiled lightly. “The way you fought was already terrifying.”

“…you could also learn how to wield your energy like that. If anything, it’d be wise to learn so that you may defend yourself if the need arises.”

“How am I going to learn though?”

Yuuin raised an eyebrow but offered a kind smile.

“Who else is going to teach you but myself?”

“You would?!” Her eyes lit up a bit but the king stood, taking her hand to help her up as well with the warmth remaining.

“It would be my pleasure. In return, you must play the uiorl for me.”

“Oh gods…of all the things,” she looked away in embarrassment but he chuckled and led her back inside to grab his sword.

“I do not believe I am asking for much,” he stated, placing his sword through his belt and held out his hand for her. “We will go to my personal training grounds. You’ll need some room and I do like my bedroom intact. Wouldn’t want it damaged,” he lightly teased and Fey huffed, taking his hand.

“Think I’ll blow something up?”

“Yes,” he smiled and noticed the pout from the corner of his vision but he fought back his laughter as he led her out of his own personal chambers and down the hall which took her even further away from where her companions stayed.

“So, I have more questions,” she looked up at him with bright eyes and was glad to see him returning to his old self, forgetting the darkness that hung over them back in his room.

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve noticed…and it’s a bit embarrassing to say this…but even now with you holding my hand, it’s warm but not like…skin to skin warm…I don’t know how to put it.”

“A mender’s touch. When a mender is healing someone, they emit a warm holy glow…but when two menders have contact, it doesn’t even have to be with mending. The mere touch will do this.”

“Wow…” she whispered and looked down at his hand holding hers as they walked. “What other things can we do? Besides just mending.”

“Well, between two menders, a lot can happen. It’s common knowledge a mender can’t heal themselves but say if you were ill…having a headache…or anything of the sort, I could take it away from you. Even if you had worries on your mind, I can also ease those.”

“Really?”

“You are easily impressed I can see,” he chuckled and made a left turn at the end of the hall.

“Well I never knew I could do these things. So, it only works mender to mender.”

“Yes. All a mender can do to someone who isn’t is heal. If they are conflicted with something mentally, a mender cannot help with that.”

“That’s amazing!”

“Would you like to try?” He asked, stopping their stroll for a moment to face her.

“How?”

Yuuin released her hand and closed his eyes while facing her. “…I will make myself purposely worried…merely place your fingers on either side of my head and concentrate. Treat it like mending and your body should be able to do the rest.”

Though she was excited to try out something new that she never knew she could do, she was nervous.

“…I’ll try,” she told him and stepped closer. Fey kept her breathing calm, watching his facial expression to see him beginning to look uneasy. He was probably thinking back to his sister…seeing her blood splattered everywhere…and his fear turning into hatred for drysiohns. Now that hatred was being directed at Saei…

With a frown, Fey lifted her fingers to place them gently on either side of his head. His eyebrows twitched at the contact for a moment before relaxing once more and she closed her eyes to concentrate.

‘Yuuin…I’m sorry you had to go through so much…to be so frightened at a young age…to see more than any child should have to see. Your sister is in a better place…and I’m sure she wouldn’t want you to feel this way. She would want you to move on…to be happy…to feel loved…and not hold onto the past. Hold onto the happy memories of her…of when you grew up with her…that is what she would want.’ Fey could feel her claws warming and through the contact she had with him, a subtle surge of energy crossed over to sweep into her as well.

The unknown feeling she felt made her eyes open and she gasped softly to see Yuuin looking down at her, his own eyes glowing softly as was hers.

Quickly, she withdrew her hands and adverted her eyes.

“Did…I manage to do anything?”

“Slightly,” he admitted with a soft smile. “You must remember this is your first time attempting to use your powers on a mender and not someone who is not like us. It will be difficult but with more practice, I believe you will be able to get the hang of it,” he informed her and took her hand once more in his to lead her the rest of the way down the hall. Again, being in contact with him made the heat return within her palm but she ignored it when they came upon two more large doors. They weren’t as extravagant as his but were still intimidating.

“This is where I come to train or anyone who wishes to,” he informed her and opened the doors easily. The inside of the room looked like a normal training room, like the one she remembered at Basil’s castle. There were numerous weapons on the walls as well as training dummies stationed here and there. A few had past wounds but remained standing.

Yuuin released her hand to drift across the wood floor gracefully and turned to face her.

“As a start, to use your own energy as a weapon, you must first keep a calm composure. Being angered or having any other emotion spiking will only cause your attacks to be erratic. It could harm you or someone else who isn’t your target.”

“Alright…so how do I start?” She walked over to stand before him but Yuuin moved a bit to direct her to face one of the dummies.

“Feel the energy that you have inside you…the blessing of the sun herself…the gift bestowed upon you…harness it…” He told her, taking a step back to watch. Fey kept her breathing calm and did as she was told. Her mind was calm…her heart normal…and she thought about the energy that traveled through her veins. It was gentle…soothing…and she felt it pooling at her palms and fingers.

“O-okay…” she told him, keeping herself calm when he came around and pointed at the dummy.

“Raise your hand and expel the energy you have gathered with force. It might be hard to understand but will come naturally.”

Taking in a deep breath, Fey raised her right hand and pointed her palm at the helpless dummy. A subtle glow formed at the base of her fingers as if she was healing someone but when she tried to force it out, it went nowhere.

“Try again,” he instructed.

Fey softly exhaled and closed her eyes.

‘Come on…work with me here…’ She pleaded to her energy and opened her eyes to stare down her target. The glow became brighter but remained under her skin. With a sigh of defeat, her ears drooped and she lowered her hand.

“Maybe I’m not meant to fight.”

“Of course you can,” he smiled and stepped beside her to raise his own hand. The glow formed around his entire hand and without even flinching, the light shot forth to engulf the dummy in harmless burns. Seeing his attack up close made her gasp but he smiled wider at her amazed reaction. “Again, it will take time. Practice each day for around ten minutes. Never overdo it but now you have two lessons to learn. Attacking and easing a mender’s mind.”

“I’ll start practicing right away!” She smiled and looked determined with her tail flicked up cutely. The look alone made Yuuin shake his head with fondness but his eyes started to turn serious.

“…Fey…I have a proposition for you.”

“What’s that? Don’t tell me to take you on in a fight,” she looked up at him worriedly but he chuckled at her idea.

“It’d be an unfair one…but no. What I am about to propose is not from the king side of me…but the mender side,” he began. “…stay here.”

Fey tilted her head, confused. “…you mean…stay here for a few days?”

“No, I meant live here with me…under my protection,” he bluntly told her and within her eyes, he saw the shock. “I will continue to teach you as well as giving you a place to live. If you desire to go to a neighboring town just to travel, I will accompany you but as long as you cease your journey into the northern lands…and especially with the drysiohn.”

“Wait…you’d want me to stay and just cast my friends aside?” She asked, a bit of anger rising in her voice.

“The hare and feline do not concern me. They may do as they please…but the drysiohn would be banished.”

“Then I refuse,” she said without hesitation, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“I figured you would…” His eyes held hers in a slight challenge. “…you feel safer with a male who will kill you than your own kin?”

“Saei would never hurt me! I’m sorry for what happened to your sister but not all of them can be put under the fault of one.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow with his tail swaying. “Let me ask you this then…why do you believe he has yet to express himself to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“…that drysiohn is not following you just to protect you…or have you not noticed?”

Fey felt her cheeks flushing a bit but held her ground.

“If y-you’re talking about how he feels…I already know…”

“But yet he doesn’t admit to it…why do you think that is?” Yuuin’s eyes narrowed more. “For he fears if he speaks…you will be heart broken when he does turn into a blood thirsty beast. They are all the same.”

“S-Saei can tell me in his own time!” Her anger was boiling now but Yuuin closed his eyes and stepped past her with his long gown trailing behind him until he stopped. Fey turned to watch his back.

“…I am not your enemy, Fey…sometimes you have to listen more to your mind than your heart. I wouldn’t want to see someone else falling to the same fate…” he whispered calmly and turned to glance back at her. The anger was leaving her eyes to see the hurt in his. “You would be safe here to live out your life…and who knows what may come to pass. You are a spirited mender, strong and determined…if you became comfortable here… I know for certain after months have passed…you would be mending more than just my mind.”

Fey felt her heart stop at the silent suggestion but Yuuin gave her his back.

“My offer still stands…think it over…test him if you must…but you will see the truth one way or another. Meet me at my chambers before nightfall to keep your end of the bargain,” he ordered and slipped out from the room, leaving Fey alone with her heart weighing heavier and heavier by the second with even more burdens…and doubts.

prev chapter