Jinhai stares at me in silence but when I can no longer hold his intense stare, I quickly look away and say "It's getting late. I'm going to bed." Before he can say anything or stop me, I grab Mango's tail and slip into the rune.
Mango makes a weird squeak noise as we land back in the large house. I release Mango as he snaps "Warning! At least give me a heads-up!" I silently glance at him before turning away and walking over to the sink.
Mango blinks in confusion before watching me with concern. I fill the pitcher with water before slowly walking over to the small tree. It was growing so well, it was nearly twice its original size! I softly hum an ancient tune as I water the small tree. It was a tune my father taught my mother and in return, she taught me.
I just want to go home... was that wrong? Mango walks up next to me and stares up at me in concern. As I finish watering the tree, I turn around and head off to the bedroom. Mango watches me with wide eyes but he doesn't say a word.
I take a long bath before slipping into bed and sleeping. I toss and turn all night but as soon as the sun rises, I get up and get dressed. Mango meets me in the kitchen with a plate of food he made and says "I made you breakfast! It's pancakes!"
I look down at the blueberry pancakes and give him a small, warm smile. "Do you want to stay here or do you want to come out with me?" Mango looks to the pancakes with a frown before saying "I'll go with you."
I nod and lift my hand out to him. He looks to the pancakes once again before running and jumping off the counter. As soon as he lands in my hand, I shift out of the rune. Li Jun was drawing something in the dirt with a stick but I didn't see Jinhai.
I was silently grateful for that. The more I can avoid him, the better. As soon as I take a step, Li Jun's head snaps up. His eyes grow large as he jumps up and says "I didn't know if you were really coming back or not but that guy said you'd be back. Where did you go? I didn't even hear you!"
He looks behind me with a frown, trying to understand where I came from but I offer him no explanation as I walk past him and say "I need to get to the next town as soon as possible." Li Jun frowns but he nods his head and quickly follows after me.
Mango silently rides on my shoulder but after ten minutes of silence, I sigh and ask "What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Li Jun awkwardly clears his throat before saying "Sorry... I was just wondering if you were... you know... human."
I almost trip over my own feet before slowly turning to look at him with wide eyes. He awkwardly laughs and says "If you aren't, it's no big deal! I was just wondering because you seem so... different. Plus, the things you eat are..."
When he sees my look, he quickly says "Interesting. They seem interesting." I open my mouth and then close it before turning and walking away. After a few more minutes of silence, I sigh and say "I'm half-human, half-Fae."
He slows for a moment before quickly catching up and asking "What's Fae?" I keep walking as I think of the easiest way to explain it. I slow to a stop and turn to look at a tree with several buds. I silently walk over to the tree and place my hand on it before turning to look at Li Jun and saying "The Fae are... magic."
The tree buds all open within seconds, filling the air around us with the sweet scent from the bright pink flowers. Li Jun stares up at the tree with an open mouth and wide eyes. He looks down at me a few times but he really couldn't keep his eyes off the tree.
I pat the tree and walk away. Was it because I was only half-fae? Was that why I wasn't able to make a portal back home? I need to get to the hot springs quickly. I need to return home. Li Jun finally snaps out of it and quickly runs to catch up. He tries to say something but every time he starts to say something, he quickly snaps his mouth shut.
~~~~~~~
JINHAI
Jinhai slowly walks over to the tree with both hands behind his back. He watches them walk away before looking up to the tree with amazement. Fae... Half-human and half-Fae. She said the Fae was magic and he couldn't agree more.
He doesn't really know what the Fae are but he's certain about one thing. She was magical. He didn't believe the things she said in the beginning but he was now certain she was indeed from another world.
A world he cannot reach. The heavens somehow made it to where she fell into his world and was now stuck. He thought the heavens had long turned their backs on him but it seems they really haven't.
She's like a fairy that fell from the heavens. Should he steal her dress? Maybe if he steals her dress, she'll be stuck here like the fairies in those stories.
His handsome face remains blank as he turns and slowly follows behind them. He should be doing other things at the moment but here he is... following this woman and her odd little familiar. He can't help it.
He's drawn to her and he doesn't know if he likes it or not. It's like he's lost control over his own thoughts and emotions. When he thinks back to last night... all he can see are her beautiful eyes. Those eyes held nothing but the truth when she spoke to him. It was hypnotizing...
He slowly reaches up and rubs his chest. Those eyes held nothing but the truth as she spoke but they also held many secrets. He wants to unravel them, one by one. He wants to unravel her...