When Toren went to the otherworld during those desperate and lost times, she was utterly beautiful.
He did not think that any kind of jewelry would make her more sparkling than she is then.
Even the celestial bodies would fail to outshine her.
Maybe it was because of the hours he spent at the dark corner of someone else's world. Or maybe because of the cobwebs and dust that may have gotten into him. Or the looming despair that had been torturing him over and over again.
Maybe it was all of those things that made her prettier than she actually was.
The stark contrast between his reality and the dreamy scene that came washing through his eyes were completely different and new. As if the world had offered him paradise.
They drank some celestial fluids, stayed silent watching over the skies extending to the infinite horizon above, and relishing the moment they are spending.
Toren felt like he had been wasting a lot of time succumbing in that dark recess when there had always been a consoling place like this.
After a while, Airen began speaking sweetly about her days, but he did not quite catch everything.
He was too focused loving the voice she was exuding as if they were music.
She got his full attention when she snaked her fingers across his cheeks and turned his head towards him. Her lips curved up with a smile and he was completely entranced.
She asked how he had been doing at the new place he was in after running away and he answered with vague details.
"It was fine," or "I am doing alright there," and "You should not worry about me."
And before it was time to go, she finally spoke, offering a deal. "I can make your life better," She said. "You have been worrying about a lot of things, right? And you must be miserable of how the way things had turned out. I can help you with all of those."
"What do you mean by that, mother?"
"It means you can have all the luxuries you want in the world. You can paint with all your heart without having to worry about the great war occurring on the outside. And you can do whatever you want while relishing a fame that you have never felt before. I can do that for you, my dear Toren."
He stared at her for a while and would not believe she could deceive anyone.
Toren thought that he had no reason to refuse, but his heart was feeling conflicted for some reason unknown to him.
"I shall give you as much time as you need," Airen added. "I can wait until forever, but your time is only limited. You know about your capabilities and limitations. Run fast to me when you have decided to accept my deal."
"What will be the cost?"
Airen let out a tiny grin. "Everything in you, Toren. I get to have you at the expense of everything you desire. The wealth and fame and comfort that you have been seeking will be provided if you give me your soul. Is that not a fair deal? All for all."
Toren imagined whatever he understood from her words.
Looking at her, he could not think straight at all.
He was too madly in love to be intertwined with his sanity that he thought it must not be such a big deal after all. What was so bad in being Airen's possession?
What was so bad in letting go of your soul if it would belong to someone like her?
And with those thoughts and questions, he shrugged off all the gut instincts that were telling him to run away.
He drove away all the doubts lingering and sticking up to him.
The dreamy scene ended that night.