"First step, Giacomo!"
"I've never been in the South. Is it nice?" there was a glimpse of hope in Amara's eyes.
"Yeah... It's nice. The people there are very kind. They have fountains of crystal clear water that cures every illness! Their Gods are the moon and the stars and if my calculations are correct, we'll reach them in the middle of their feast celebrating the Full Moon!" he added excitedly, like a puppy who can't wait for his favourite treat to be served.
"How do you know so much about that place?" her head was now titled sideways.
"I-" he shook his head, like trying to get a fly away from him. "We don't have much time to talk about these things, we need to move faster if we want to watch the-"
"Fine, fine, keep your secrets!" Amara interrupted him.
"Will do. Now, can you please walk faster? Your magical power is also your physical strength, you gotta push your physical limits too."
"Yes sir yes!" she said mockingly. "So... How can we spend our time?" Amara questioned while jumping up to avoid a muddy puddle.
"We can sing! Do you know any songs?" it was Thuban's turn to tilt his head sideways.
"I do, but I have a terrible voice!" she laughed and looked towards Thuban while also keeping an eye out for more muddy puddles, a hard task.
"I could sing but I don't know if you'd like it..." he blushed, matching the colour of his bright red hair.
"I don't mind, I like any kind of music. My mother used to sing to me when I was young, she called it the ancient language of our people, I still don't know what that means, though..." she frowned, troubling thoughts crossing her mind.
"My father had lots of sheep and a ceonm. He used to play the softest of music and the sheep would just follow, trusting the sound! I always remember him telling us that the best thing in life is not money or fame but the moment you feel most natural, most yourself in. He claimed these are the moments dreams are based upon..." he said, looking out in the horizon, his eyes not fixating on anything.
"He sounds like a wise man."
"He is-" he said and as soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes fell. "He was..."
"What... Happened...?"
"Let's change the subject, shall we?" a fake smile spread across his face.
Amara's posture then changed from having her back bent to a perfectly still and straight one.
"Be careful you'll fa-" Thuban yelled at her but, before she could hear him, she had already fallen into a puddle. The roar of laughter which was then heard through the woods belonged to Thuban, a slim finger pointed at Amara as his other hand was over his belly, holding it in place like it would explode.
"Oh shut it!" she smiled softly at Thuban despite her tone, or the fact that her beautiful black dress was ruined.
"Here, let me help you." Thuban already had his freckled hand out in front of her while doing his best to fight off a smile that seemed to be creeping its way on his face.
"Thank you..." Amara took his hand and used it as a way of getting out of the sticky mud that was now clinging to her dress.
"Kinda thought you wouldn't accept my help."
"I know when to accept my defeat!" she added dramatically.
"Not defeat. Help. You need to learn how to work in a team." Thuban looked at her like a teacher looks a child.
"And exactly how do YOU know how to work in a team? Did you happen to play mithrad when you were a kid?"
"No!" he defended his honour. "No, I have seven brothers and one extremely competitive sister." he replied, not smiling this time.
"What happened?" Amara looked at him with wide eyes and the smile left her face too.
"My brother, Valor, died in the Great War, like the hero he was destined to be. My sister, Sappho, left our home when mom died... I don't like talking about the rest..." he looked down at his shoes, not daring to look up in fear of tears threatening his eyes.
"I had a sister too..." Amara said as she bent to avoid a low hanging branch. "She was beautiful, she had my father's green eyes and my mother's toothy smile...! Near our home, in Neamh, there was a magic well. The village believed that the water had healing powers and whenever we were sick, we drunk from the well. It shone so bright, like the moon during a starless night!" she was now playing with her fingers, due to awkwardness or excitement, no one could tell. "We were five when I got too sick... I went with her to the well so I could get cured."
Thuban's eyes widened, neither of them were now walking. A lake was spread out in front of them in all its glory, tiding its little waves on the rock shore and the leaves were not moving, probably respecting their conversation too much to interrupt it.
"She bent down to get me some water..." her voice was clogged and her eyes where on the verge of tears. "She fell in!" the weight of her words was too heavy, her knees not able to hold her anymore as she fell in front of Thuban. "Her head w-was open and she was b-bleeding and- I c-couldn't- I couldn't-" she wouldn't continue, Thuban knew that, he could see that, hear that, sense that. Her hands were hiding her face and her screams pierced even the deppest of places.
"It's not your fault..." he replied, knowing well this wouldn't ease her pain. He saw Amara couldn't reply so he approached her carefully and placed one hand on her shoulder. She didn't flicnh away so he continued. "It was an accident, Amara..." he added.
"I-if... If I have healing powers," she breathed heavily, "and I-i didn't help her-" a cold breeze passed through Thuban's veins, freezing them.
"You can't hurt yourself for that!" he protested warmly. Amara didn't reply. They stayed in silence for a while before Amara made the first move, standing up, her eyes blooded up.
"Now, we have to continue... I would like to watch that feast." the change in her character was nothing more than a cheap facade that Thuban could see through clearly, or so he thought. But it would be better that way, the would move faster that way, at least, that's what he said to himself.