She was admirable,
For the admiration had flourished thus releasing the projection onto anyone who saw it, and felt for it, and keened to it, and looked after it. Kindness. The affection she was willing to give even to sacrifice for it; habits, actions, and emotional responses... someone to look up for such a warm yet fragile bond, sometimes tied to blood, fortunately often the unconditional requirements were also being presented, because human beings were often self-possessing, self-governing, and self-determining, thus once they found their gem... the virtue of which they acknowledged in line with their norm - the self-orientated rules of morality - the virtue of which their gem ought to conduct, willingly even to throw herself into that pile of dirt, hence such dirt incapable of tainting thus polluting the hidden gem she instead wanted to protect.
Only a small village really, however so much gaiety in it really,
Becoming a pavane therefore, evoking the adagio of slow moving waltz mourning for a dead princess; the gem of theirs who did not lose her shine, passing her shine to this village instead... her own gem for which she was willing to die, and to die to protect she was already done so. The gem they had found, instead turned her back toward them; this gem who protected them, thus the prior threat became dormant and brought once again peaceful moments for them, albeit for a moment, therefore the contra was also apparent, because the happiness of many was intertwined and became tangled with one's sorrow.
Unutterably, she was admirable for someone,
A little boy who admired and recognized her not as a gem that was worthy of his protection, but simply as a figure he looked up to, simply as an older sister and nothing really special within their bound... only as an older sister who once cherished, giving him love that he wasn't meant to have in the first place - the maternal love he never meant to possess much less to feel. However, because often fate was cruel yet cared in its hard way; thus gladly providing such humble and warm ardor, his older sister was - his dead older sister was,
"I see. So, that's what happened. That's what changed in him."
Feeling glad to come up with such an inquiry, finding the concealed side of the another, because there were so many talks and praises regarding their savior; the heroic tale of her sacrifice for the sake of many often was found across the epitome of heroism; the selfless concern for the well-being of others... or as it seemed in the surface of reality, for such a selfless deed also offered quite a punch for those others. Solely acted as the convolution of what they must express which mainly was that sense of guilty for their inability, and later into more personal matter... sense of hatred for their incapacity.
'Essentially, two sides of the same coin huh, and in essence many humans do often approach two completely different matters as related to each other despite the contrast perspective on how the two sides saw, heard and felt... repeatedly accusing both sides were the same idea, as two closely related features of one idea; however in reality, no matter what, humans undeniably are just a simple-minded creature. They tend to be keen looking for an answer for the two, trying to understand both sides by treating them as one... simply because they are unable to. Everything about humans, all is exactly the same as she once said. But, in order to fully understand both of them, I suppose they must try to consider their metaphor of two sides of the same coin in its literal sense - as two completely different sides.'
Pale rosy lips which were unmoved but a simple gesture of murmur, letting out a voice of whispering words slowly pervaded inside the mind of this devil of a single horn whose white hair slightly moved from the little girl who had told the tale, as the yellow eyes of this devil slowly turned toward the little boy, the main role in this tale... the little boy who now seemed to be immersed within his busyness of performing his own daily activity, of running back and forth while carrying some firewoods on his little arms from the corner of the room, in order to prevent the flame from dying thus muffling the only meant of lighting inside this little cottage.
"But Maya, for five days he locked himself up inside this cottage that long. It's a surprise he survived... thinking of how fragile a human's body is, not to mention for a child's body."
"But that was really what happened, Erynew. That was... what we were all worrying about. He sometimes capable of doing something unexpected... even downright out of his mind without caring of his own, and without caring about the feelings of the others as well. He is... he's... he's so stubborn as a bogie!"
Burst out uttering a voice of hers that was supposed to be remained a whisper as an agreeable offering at the starting point of their little secret, retelling a past moment of somewhat an intriguing tale since the devil - Erynew - had been listened to this whole serene time, albeit only the partial for there was seemingly left a little room for more as the little girl would like to tell the rest of it... until coming back once again that the same unexpected; raising her tone, despite being subtly and seamlessly altering such an expression which spoke for the utter concern of hers at that time when this little tale took place,
Would most assuredly, surely become quite a surprise for the devil who since then had been listening to and expecting a whispering tale from the little girl, only then being welcomed by the sudden however subtle change in timbre. It was the first time no longer for the devil fortunately, as she grew adapting to this precise alteration of her young friend... therefore a comforting smile she showed to her,
"You did look worried at that time, don't you, Maya?"
"Of course I did, Erynew... as his friend I did. However, I... I kind of understand why he was so desperate to do such unreasonable things. There's no guarantee I wouldn't do the exact same thing when the only figure whom I could regard as a mother, was being taken from me, because of the courage we had at that time was lacking. I... I mean... his stubbornness was quite reasonable and could be justified for, and that happy face he seldom showed it... well, I'm sure the others as well, since that was quite a hard time for us all. Until you came here, Erynew, and changed not only the village but also its residents - myself and him especially. Because I... somehow didn't like it... I don't like it, to see him with that face."
And thus came to a simple closure of the seemingly undone story, for there was about the further prolongation of this bitter and sweet ode; in reality the devil found it compelling to hear more about. It was unfortunate however, for the dying flame eventually became undying as its red light became brighter to light the room which became darker as the stars starting to rise thus the moonrise transpired, and became warmer to comfy the room whose temperature supposedly plunged considerably as the night had fallen and had been seen outside the still-opened window... the gloomy starlit but serene skies. Having finished with his busyness, the little boy then approached the two of them, hoping to soon join the devil and his same-aged friend in their colloquial conversation he happened to overhear a little,
"What is it, what is it? What face? What face you don't like, Maya? What were you two talked about after all? Was it about me, wasn't it?"
"Gi-Gizado? F-face? W-what are you talking about? No. We weren't talking about you. W-what make you think so? W-well anyway, let's forget about that... how about your doing? Have you finished it?"
The joyful tone and a sudden one; the delightful voice of a little boy who suddenly intertwined himself into the occurring whisper between the two which surely startled only one of them however... specifically the little girl seemingly stuttering once she heard that cheerful call from him.
"Oh right, yeah... I've done replacing the old with the fresh as usual. The firewoods are almost running out though, because I've used all of it. Maybe it'd be enough for this night only."
Right away answering to his same-aged friend question as she successfully and seamlessly altered the subject matter thus overturning the prior state that may lead her into another colloquial conversation which she seemed to prefer to not into; despite having that stammering utterance of hers, cheeks and ears seemingly flushed with quite that reserved emotion of hers... maybe because she was very wary of his finding, discovering that she was talking about him in actuality, in such a way that she hadn't even dared to consider it as a necessary to be told,
"I guess I've got to go to the backwood tomorrow, chopping some trees and of course... trying out my new found power in action, ehehe."
The obscure dark marks, the faint mark of black ashes on his hands which resembled to a charcoal, might come from the scorched firewoods while replacing them with the fresh ones to keep the flame from dying... evincing the fulfillment of his little responsibility for today. Raising such a hand, he started weeping the slight sweat from his forehead and temple as he began to sinisterly giggle, seemingly planning to do something uncanny tomorrow as he blatantly claimed. However this little scheme he planned, would soon be quickly aborted by the little girl standing right before him, hence capable she was, of perceiving that typical plan of his, for its quite an obvious regardless,
"Gizado, you'd better give up on that silly idea of yours. Remember what Erynew said to you about self-control and self-defense situation? Also, that's not really your new found power. It's Erynew's and you just been entrusted with it."
"Hey, how did you know what I'm gonna do tomorrow? Did you... did you read my mind?! Are you... uhh, what it's called again, phesi--- psychic? Oh right... you really are a psychic, huh, aren't you, Maya?"
"Haaa... I'm wrong it seems. I'll just take my words back that you've changed, dummy Giza... when in reality you are still the exact same dummy Giza I know well."
The fuss typical of theirs, the goofy and silly commotion yet somehow, funnily enough, seemed to ensue that comfy feeling as it comforted and echoed throughout this simple room shining brightly amongst the gloomy outside; however remained unable to best the noise inside, even for the persistent noises of the crackling flame and the hissing firewoods as well were unable to. Seemingly undefeated the fuss typical of theirs was, surprisingly reverberating well with the surrounding dark wooden wall... thus only to make it well for the devil who had been since then watching this entire moment from behind, hiding the whispering chortle of hers without worried to be heard till she decided so,
"It's alright, Maya. He may use it for that. After all, it's my initial reason to introduce him and to create it in the first place for the benefit of the village." plain and simple confirmation from the devil herself, approving the use of her creation that the little boy seemed to call it his new found power; to be used for anything that brought benefit for the village as she had told, which quite a surprise for the little girl who heard such decisions, hence she should dissent it, for she saw already first hand what this devil's creation capable of, as she began to grow wary of,
"B-but, Erynew... to use it quite often, also for an unnecessary matter. I think that's... that's too wasteful to use it that way. Ah, I-I mean---"
"There is no such a word of wasteful, Maya, if it comes to help others. And of course, it's not the unnecessary things either. After all, it's not about which one is better to do and better not to do when what matter is the decision you make." abruptly cutting in the dissenting statement of the little girl as she tried to explain herself with her disagreement upon listening to the devil's consent, for the devil had a reason of her own as well, which surprisingly enough beyond the expectation of the little girl's, "It's because... you care for him, don't you, Maya? You do often, if not always, by his side almost all time. And even though only for a while I've been in this village, I have noticed it very well - your relation with him."
Followed by that light smile and later the whispering chortle, and fortunately it was all just another whisper along with that last statement the devil murmured... thus only she, Maya who could hear it better, and better she was therefore no words capable of coming out from her tiny mouth but gaping in surprise, hence there was no conforming words from her and neither there was the denying. She simply stood there, seemingly struggling to hide a flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks,
And another fortunate for Maya, her dummy friend seemed to take it no heed... either he didn't hear any of that last talking, or he too seemed to hide something beneath that giddily exuberant face of his, responding to the fact that the devil allowed him to use her creation in his way. "You heard that, Maya? Even Erynew said it's an okay to do it. And unfortunately for you, my silly idea won't give up that easy."
"Be quiet, Gizado. Erynew indeed said it's an okay, but on my watch as she just said. Therefore you must restrain your silliness at bay and do not act stupidly without my word."
"What?! Why's that? What's that mean? Never heard Erynew said something like that."
"It's part of self-control, Gizado, just like she said before." smiled, reassuring while explaining that seemingly absurd claim the little girl intentionally made up for, since no such claim had ever been said by the devil herself for it was implied instead. The devil confirmed such a claim true thereafter however, "I'll be honest with you, Gizado... at your current capability, I doubt actually that you can even do any physical activity other than lifting your own body. I only want to make sure you're not overdoing it, knowing how dangerous it can be. You already saw it, did you? How it was capable of crushing tens of those giant rats. Therefore with Maya at your side, and her understanding in arcane art, to give you better decision and direction... hoping you would not hurt yourself and others."
Her smile was still in there, charming her pale face while that pair of yellow eyes staring right into the little boy's - Gizado's brown eyes. However the intonation she uttered, briefly and seemingly inclined to the opposite of what a smile supposed to express. There was a daunting warning... pulling the little boy into a state of silence upon listening to every word the devil might utter. As if the tender side that one-horned devil, wasn't being expressed in her usual way; similar to their first time meeting instead, beneath that tree with those glowing yellow eyes staring down at him - only this time would jog his memory, reminding himself that there was still a devil standing before him.
"I... I understand. I... I will be careful, Erynew."
Responded the little boy afterward, slightly stuttered and it was quite understandable for the little girl to perceive it who heard it, because neither she could also speak a word as well upon listening to the devil's words and staring right into the same eyes glowing in yellow from behind - instantly catching the seriousness within it... no more playing around, for it was now indeed a serious matter, albeit only a brief moment before then, the usual way of smiling of the devil resurfaced over her pale face,
"I'm glad to hear that now you understand, Gizado. Well... I think that's all I want to say. Then with haste... Maya, Gizado... shall we continue searching for that demonic portrait? Uhh... you'll help me find it, right?"