Silas looks still, stiff. As if his thoughts were very far from reality. Mind riding a boat to a distant land.
It was impossible not to notice. Hanayo was sure something was bothering the crimson eyed fairy. Even though he was atop the trees, he could make out the small frown in his face, and the heavy feeling in his chest.
Hanayo felt confused for a while. Why would he look like that? Recently, they just got introduced to the Jinxis that would help with his quest.
It couldn't be the cause of his sudden sadness, would it? Just a moment ago, he was praising the army of Jinxis for being so...reliable and loyal. But somehow, he looks...gloomy.
Hanayo's staring too, didn't go unnoticed for the most part, because Silas then looked up to meet his gaze.
Hanayo looked flustered, caught in the act of staring at the fairy, and almost lost his grip on one of the branches.
HANAYO: I didn't mean to!
He stuttered, embarrassed that he found out.
SILAS: Yeah, but...why were you staring? I asked to be alone, why follow?
There was a sudden angry tone on his voice, at the same time confusion, and Hanayo thinks that perhaps losing an eye would give him the same effect somehow, so he did not dare to judge.
HANAYO: You were gone. I was curious.
SILAS: Curiousity...sometimes kills the cat.
HANAYO: Woah, I am a flower deity. It takes time to kill me.
SILAS: Yeah? Tsk. How long have you been staring, anyways?
HANAYO: I dunno. Like...10 minutes or something?
SILAS: Hmm. You shouldn't repeat that.
HANAYO: Why not?
Silas looks away from him. Back to the grassy fields. Staring at it, almost deaf to the world.
HANAYO: Oi, why not?
SILAS: I just wanted to be alone.
His eyes became gloomy again, and this time, Hanayo felt like he have seen it before. The all too familiar expression, he himself, had had.
He recalled the time he got rejected by many deities, and felt like symphatizing with the man. Maybe she rejected Silas for having one eye only? A story was already forming on the flower kami's head.
HANAYO: Pff, it's a girl, right?
That caught him off guard.
He turned to meet his gaze again, no longer curious, but playful pink eyes met him this time.
SILAS: How did you...?
HANAYO: As pretty and priviliged as I am, girls turned me down more than once. I can relate.
SILAS: Hmm..I..whatever, you should head back.
HANAYO: Oi, you can talk to me if you want.
Afterall, we're friends, right?
SILAS: Friends, huh?
HANAYO: Yeah. Friends. If she doesn't like you because you only have one eye, then we'll get her to understand!
Silas softly laughed to himself. How clueless Hanayo was, but he could give him credit for coming out with that story. It makes sense somehow, except that girl, or rather woman that had been haunting his thoughts, rejected her before he even lost one of his eyes.
SILAS: Right...
He felt uncomfortable.
Just having someone remind him that he got rejected makes his stomach wir and twist. It makes him more eager to avenge, because he felt played, fooled. Robbed of the love that was for him and meant for him only.
HANAYO: Oi, did I...said something wrong?
SILAS: No, no, what you said is all true.
HANAYO: Ah, I was afraid I may have...somehow...you know..
SILAS: It doesn't matter, go.
HANAYO: No, it matters. Who is this girl, huh? You look so hurt by the looks of it, and if I can convince her that looks doesn't matter, she'll change her mind!
SILAS: It doesn't matter.
Hanayo felt confused.
But Silas knew that it truly would be useless for Hanayo to keep saying those words. Carys...she's long gone.
SILAS: She will never come back to me.
HANAYO: Don't be a bummer, and think at the bright side! Anyways, on second thought, forget about her. If she won't accept you like this, then she's missing out.
SILAS: Hm, are you sure you don't want to leave?
HANAYO: Hey, I told you we can talk.
SILAS: I don't want to talk for the meantime, Hanayo.
HANAYO: She must have been so...pretty that you fell hard for her and...you still think about her, huh?
Hanayo didn't listen one bit, and continued to talk.
Silas wanted so bad to just come to the tree to grab him and cover his mouth but...he was right. She was truly beautiful.
But that is never the reason why he fell in love with her the first place.
No, it was because she was warm and kind and she...she made him feel loved.
Thinking about it, recalling what he loved about her, made him unknowingly form a smile on his face. Hanayo saw it. And it was so...beautiful to see him smile softly, so full of love in his eyes.
HANAYO: Yup. She might be a goddess, alright. Your smile says it all.
He climbs down the tree to get a better look, and he was not mistaken. He was smiling.
HANAYO: What does she look like?
Silas hesitates on whether to tell him or not. In the end, he gave up, and told her a description.
SILAS: Agate eyes with long lashes...long black hair, neat, showing her cute forehead...pink lips...tanned skin tone, she's...perfect.
HANAYO: And her personality?
SILAS: Caring, playful...smart.
HANAYO: She seems pretty good. And you don't seem to hold a grudge on her, why did she left?
Ah, wait...let's not go to that part yet. When was the time you were confident enough to say that you're in love with her for the first time? Yeah, that. That one's pretty good.
Silas was taken aback. He didn't notice that he was praising her. Although he meant every word he said about her. And yet...Hanayo was wrong, very wrong about the grudge part. He loved her so much, that once she turned him down, that love became a poisonous hate. He didn't bother to reply to his recent question. That was enough hint for Hanayo to suspect his emotions again.
HANAYO: You...you suddely don't look too happy.
SILAS: Just leave me for now. I need some space.
HANAYO: You sure? You sure you don't need a buddy, somehow?
SILAS: No, get lost, I mean...go with the others for now. I'm fine. Thank you for the concern.
HANAYO: Ah, no problem. You can always count on me!
Hanayo leaves, and Silas had never been this thankful for being alone. Although before...he so much despise the feeling, and even the thought of being alone.
Now that he was the only one there, he could delve unto his memories once more. He doesn't know why, but for some odd reason it helps, he guessed? It helps.
Then his thoughts...wandered back to Hanayo's question. When did he first realized his feelings for her?
He felt hot, just thinking about it. Flustered or angry? Maybe both. But...just clips of her laughing makes him warm all over.
He kicked a rock out of frustration. Then sat down, burrying his face on his knees. Feeling the grass on his hands.
That night, when he saw Carys sleeping peacefully, he felt his heart flutter at every breath she take. She looks so beautiful, more than the faeries he have seen before.
She looks like a piece of art, especially with all the flowers around her. It was love at first sight.
He tried to get a closer look, and saw her small hands. Tempted, he tried to touch it, and it was very soft.
And it smelled sweet too.
Carys shifted a bit, and he panicked for a second, thinking she might wake up.
But she never did.
She continued to sleep.
And he continued to watch, fascinated.
He even tried to touch her hand again, curious of why it felt so good when she patted his head.
But she held his hand unconciously while he was at it, and the young fairy almost fainted from the touch.
He even squeeked.
Good thing she was dead to the world sleeping.
He tried to sleep as well, feeling warm, new, his heart slamming in his chest. It was a beautiful feeling. He thought he was in love with her.
Day came and he carried her gently to the village's garden. He wished she would come back. For he longed so much to have a friend.
He walked out of the fence, looking at the girl. Then he heard her seemingly shifting, perhaps waking up? And he knew it was his time to go.
The cinnabar moth she was trying to catch from earlier, perched itself on the fae's shoulder. He looked surprise at first, but then did not bother to shoo it away.
Instead, the fairy smiled at it, and ordered it to fly around the young girl. Telling the creature to lull her once again to him once everything's settled.
The cinnabar moth agreed and flew on one of the trees. Guarding keenly the little girl from afar, as the fae ran to the depths of the forest. Doing nothing but hope she'd come back to meet him again.
And she did.