"Show me." His voice grumbled with the forming clouds.
My hands were doused in sweat as I stepped back, watching Himzavaick's eyes darken.
It triggered something within me. My hands trembled, and it was hard to catch my breath.
"W-what?" I couldn't keep my voice stable.
"Take me to where you claim you saw Daeva, now." He demanded, leaving no trace of the man who treated me kindly before.
"I-I can't. When I found her, I was running through the forest b-blindly. I don't even know where that area is." I tried to conceal this awkward feeling that stabbed at the space between my shoulders.
"Don't play the idiot now! You damned halfling!" He charged at me, shoving me to the ground.
My wrist crashed into the dirt as flashes of the red-robed men pushing me down onto that wooden platform flashed around me.
"S-stop. Please stop." I covered my eyes, but the images refused to fade.
"Where is she?!" He gripped my collar.
"P-please." I whimpered.
I could feel the end of the barrel rub up against the back of my head. The sounds of my dad gasping for air blended with my mom's as she begged for them to let me live.
"I-I'm sorry!" I covered my ears, wanting to block out the sounds.
His aura intimidated me, causing pressure to press down onto my shoulders. Just pushing to hear an answer from me.
I couldn't take it. There were too many voices yelling at once. They created a dense haze that washed over me with waves of nausea.
"I-if anything, O-Otilia was one of th-the trees that uh-um led me to her." I spoke unconsciously.
He took off past me, disappearing before I could even turn around. I never imagined a gnome could move like that. Even me running at full speed was nothing compared to his. And judging by the look on his face, I feared for Otilia's safety.
I didn't mean to point the finger at her, but I couldn't handle his intense aura. My senses are still raw from my experience with the twins. And on top of that, something weird was happening with my body. A sudden fight or flight mode activated within me. I wanted to run away, but it felt like I was trapped within a nightmare. All I could do was tremble in place and hope for it to end.
I just needed him to get away from me. I didn't want anything to happen to Otilia because of me. I have to find her, even though everything inside me was telling me to do the opposite.
I remembered the other souls called her to join them at the falls. The only problem was that I had no idea how to get there.
I clenched my trembling hands and rushed back to where we planted the girls' trees. I don't know how, but I'll figure out a way to track her down. I looked across the way, remembering the direction they were headed in.
"Otilia!" I searched through the crowd, gliding past each soul.
I spotted his pink dandelions, but something wasn't right with them. Their tips darkened with a dull grey, tainting their vibrant hue. I followed the trail, catching his scent closed in.
He had her knelt down in the dirt, with his hand firmly clenched onto her shirt.
"Otilia!" I called out.
Her head turned to me with an uncomfortable expression. The winds grew, erratically whipping against the trees. I can sense his anger swelling within him.
"Himazavaick, please don't be mad at her. She was only doing what Daeva told her to do." I ran between the two, placing myself in front of her.
I was scared of what of he might do to me, but I couldn't back down. What ever he had planned I can take it. I can handle it.
"I know." He groaned, rubbing his temples as he let her go.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell him." I turned, helping her stand.
Her face was paler than usual. Even though she wore a smile I knew she felt the same as I did, terrified.
"It's fine. It wasn't meant to be a secret." She patting my back.
"Then why won't you take me to her?!" He glared heavily at Otilia.
"It's not that I won't. I can't. The gates have already closed. She only had enough energy to hold it open for a little while."
"W-when did she-, how did she do it?" His gaze widened.
"Just recently. Today was her first successful attempt at opening the gates. I urged her to talk with you, but she stated it wasn't time yet. I hope you can understand." She bowed her head slightly to him.
"No, I can't. Daeva will see this halfling but not me. I'm the one who has spent centuries waiting for her!" He snapped at Otilia.
"How does that seem fair?" He bitterly scoffed.
She silently furrowed her brows.
"Leave my sight." He dismissed her with a wave.
"I'm sorry, Himzavaick. I truly am." She bowed lower, fading into the darkness.
"Damn it all!" His words caused the ground to tremor.
Silence washed over the chatter. Everyone froze, clearly terrified of Himzavaick. My breath quickened as I stepped back, feeling an unseen force intimidate me. I could see his chest rise and fall rapidly as he glared towards the ground.
The power he possesses radiated off him violently. Threatening us, warning us of what he could do to everyone here if he wanted to.
He collected himself, taking a few deep breaths as he closed his eyes.
"Calm it down, Himz. Calm it down." He smacked his fist against his chest like a frustrated old man.
"It's all good. Go on with your night." He sighed, opening his eyes, shooing away the frozen souls.
As soon as he spoke, the loud chatter started up again.
"I'm sorry you had to see that." He fixed his vest, clearing his throat.
"I-It's okay. You have your reasons. But do you mind if I ask why it is that you were so angry?"
"I don't feel much like sleeping anymore. Would you like to join me by the fire? If not, I understand." He turned away from me, walking towards the bonfire.
I stood in place, glancing back towards the tree. I peered down at my hands. They trembled only slightly now, and the feeling of impending doom had faded. I watched him sit near the fire that had stone stumps surrounding it.
There were many questions I had lingering around in my head. I wanted to satisfy this urging curiosity, but was it right to do so?
Daeva was obviously a sensitive subject for him. Maybe it would be best if I went back to Usynlig. But as I turned to get away, a wind blew passed me. It was warm and light as it whispered to me.
"Go to him." The airy voice urged me.
I looked around, but there were no souls nearby.
"Daeva?" I spoke lowly.
That same breeze blew past my face. Almost like it was cradling my cheeks. I knew it had to be her. As much as I didn't want to, I knew I had to. She wouldn't be wasting her energy uselessly. Like my dad always said, there's always a reason for something. Even if you can't see it at the moment, it's always there.
I really wish I could find the reason why the Gods took my parents and why everything ended up this way. But I don't think I'd like the answer either. It wouldn't bring me any more peace than the constant memories of that day.
If you can't help yourself, help someone else. Right, mom?
I glanced up towards the night sky with tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. With a quick sniffle and wipe, I walked over to Himzavaick.
Looks like I won't be resting today. I groaned, taking a seat next to him and watching as his solemn demeanor.
"I'll answer all your questions." He sighed, throwing a few snapped twigs into the fire.
"And I uh, I'm sorry for the whole uh, thing back there. I shouldn't have done that to you. Sorry." He scratched the back of his neck, shifting his gaze around.
"It's okay." I held my wrist that twinged with a slight pain.
I didn't pay it no mind. It should heal soon.
"No, it was not okay for me to treat like that. I let my anger get the better of me. It's just that when I heard you mention Daeva, I-" He combed back his hair.
"I lost all reason. I hope this didn't ruin the trust between us. Well, what little of it we had anyway."
"Really, it's okay. You're forgiven."
I hated to admit that he really scared me there. If he knew, it would've made him feel worse, just thicking this uncomfortable situation even further.
"So um, who exactly is Daeva?" I shifted in my seat.
"Daeva is a Goddess that gives life to this place. She is the reason why these souls have a second chance to right their wrongs and heal from trauma." He peered down at his hands as they fiddled around with one another.
So she was a Goddess? I could imagine my mom and dad's faces as I told them that I met an actual Goddess. The thought had me smiling uncontrollably.
Though I expected a higher being like herself would be more intimidating. But Daeva had a warm, nurturing aura that simply invited you in and made you feel at home.
"She is one of the many engineers who look after the machine we little screws hold together." His eyes softened as he fondly touched a golden rope tied around his wrist.
"So, she is the one who chooses which souls are sent to you?"
"Yes. The work we do goes unseen by many, but I like knowing that I'm doing something good."
"With how you reacted to Daeva's name, I thought you hated her." I sat away from the firepit, letting the heat graze my side instead.
"I could never." He smiled to himself.
"Halfling, tell me, how did she seem? Is she doing well?" He kept peering into the fire.
"Yeah, she looked perfectly healthy."
"Good. Good." His eyes glossed over as he cleared his throat, clapping his hands together.
Silence built up between us. Himzavaick seemed to be tucked away in a memory, slumped over, defeated by my answer.
"So, um, how did you end up becoming the guardian of this place?"
"Well, I hope you're comfortable because this one is quite a long tale."
I pulled my legs up to my chest, nodding for him to continue. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"A very long time ago, when gnomes first discovered this area, it was during the Senseless War."
"Was it really called senseless?"
"Yes, because it really was senseless. Each race, breed, and special being tried to rise above and prove that their kind was the superior one. Though many didn't partake in the war, we were all affected by it regardless. The story goes on to say that one day a gnome by the name of Sniesanglig, runs into the forest to escape an attack from nearby insurgents. She ran deep into the woodland area, bruised and bloodied. She believed that her end was near and fell to her knees in front of a cave, sobbing. She cried out why does it have to be like this? While only thinking of the poor souls that were lost in that senseless war. That's when a warm and caring hand rested upon her shoulder."
This war, what was the point? Even if one race did rise up to be the top, what were they going to do? Force the world to obey them while degrading everyone else in the process.
What madness.
"Daeva quickly pulled her into the cave. She bandaged her wounds and kept her safe within the den. Sniesanglig's family was slaughtered for not agreeing to join a side in the war. She was the sole survivor of her donsy." He gazed into the fire.
Donsy? Was that the name of her family?
Himzavaick glanced at my face before turning away.
"Donsy is what we call a group of gnomes. Like a community but much closer. We take our bonds seriously, but we also understand the sense of duty we must fulfill."
"Oh, but why would they do that? What does killing all of them even accomplish?"
"Back then, it was either join us or die. War held no leeway for sympathy or mercy." He shrugged.
"Daeva allowed her to stay in the cave. She taught Sniesanglig the ways of the forest. But because of the war, too many souls were left to fend for themselves. It was more than Daeva could handle. She was always in charge of looking after troubled souls and selecting those truly ready to be reborn. She hated how she was forced to leave some souls behind to save others. So when Sniesanglig came to her, she was grateful. She believed it was fated for the gnome kind to be part of such an important process. And from then on, we looked and cared for this place. Both Goddess and gnome working together to help bring about a better future." He smiled to himself, looking into the fire.
"But what happened to those left behind? The ones she couldn't save." I imagined the poor souls, suffering and begging for mercy.
"Some drift amongst the living becoming poltergeist who cause minor problems. But others that are unable to cope or overcome their traumas, slowly morph into something much more sinister. A dark soul is twisted with hate and despair, they pray on others weakened by sadness or anger and consume their energy until they can finally taken over their bodies. But that is the worst case scenario."
"Back at Usynlig's coven, I believed I encountered a dark soul. It had attached itself to Star through some kind of deal and together they wiped out the entire coven." I clutched my arms tightly around my legs.
"It appeared in the form of a snake and she seemed to called mother. I was terrified beyond belief. The things they had done were unforgivable, but I believed that Star didn't deserve to die pitiful and hated. I was the one who pushed Usynlig to save her. It's because of me that she will never be able to have a child of her own."
That's a burden I share with her.
"It is not your fault. She decided to walk that path, no one forced her. You heard her earlier, she said she chose to do it. As for the coven, I've heard the news. My condolences to you. I believe your grandmother was the High Priestess of that coven."
"Yes, she was." I blinked away the threatening tears.
To think, I finally found a place where I could experience what is was like to be raised as a witch, like my mother, just to watch it crumble away right in front of me.
I keep asking myself what if? What if they accepted me and let me join their coven? What if I found them sooner? Could I have saved them? Would they like me, knowing I was a half-breed?
What would it be like to spend time with my grandmother? I hated her because of how she abandoned my mother, leaving her to fend for herself. But now I know why she did it. Mom probably knew it too. Maybe that is why she never talked bad about her, or at all. My questions will never be answered. Somehow I feel like I've wronged a God in my past life and they punishing me for reasons unknown.
I may not know a lot of things, but one thing is certain, life can be cruel.
"I also heard about how you were able to break the curse that afflicted them and defeated a demon. Those are some pretty large feats." He spoke, breaking me out of my trance.
"It wasn't just me, Usynlig and the other also played a big part in it."
"Do you think, all of that could have been prevented?"
"What you described was a demonic deal. It promised her unimaginable power in exchange for her soul. They were never human. They couldn't be saved even if they wanted to because that sort of thing belongs to a whole another group of higher beings. But the fact that you, a juvenile hafling who has never performed such a massive spell ever in her life, did it successfully was something I've seen never done before. The Gods must have blessed you."
I highly doubt that.
"How did the war end?"
Let's change the subject.
"Well the short version is that the Red Cloaks stepped in and calmed the conflict between the groups."
"The Red Cloaks?" My heart sank at the mention of their name.
"They consist of a selected few, each one representing a different breed. Their identity is kept hidden and they make up the rules we are all forced to abide by. Back in the days, they symbolized peace and unity, but now they are nothing more than a cult, strict in their beliefs and afraid of their own shadow. Tsk!" He stewed his mouth.
Damn it, I just started calming down. I don't wanna know anything else about those damned bastards. I want to forget them entirely.
"C-can we um, change the subject please?" I wore a small smile, trying to hiding the tremble in my hands.
He glanced at me.
"Yeah, uh where was I? That's right. Daeva and Sniesanglig worked together because they strongly believed that damaged souls only create even more damaged individuals, which will only breed more corruption. It is because of them that we are here today. Though many played a hand in transforming this world, it wouldn't have been possible without them. Ever since then, my family has been in charge of taking care of this place. The first caretaker was the one who planted our family's tree. It's a symbol or our loyalty towards Daeva and the job we were entrusted to upkeep. It will keep growing as long as our bloodline continues." He stretched out his arms.
"So the first caretaker is the ancestor of your family. And I'm guessing, knock on wood, if your bloodline one day disappears, that tree with rot away with you, right?"
I tried to causally talk to him. I hope I didn't make him uncomfortable.
"That's what they say. Since it is directly linked to my family through a magical spell, if one day it no longer senses one of us, it will start to decay and cease to exist." He looked over towards the tree.
My body relaxed a bit more. I could feel the panicked sensation fade away.
"That is kind of sad to think about." I sighed, looking back with him.
"What? About the tree dying?"
"No. Something like that can always be replanted and replaced, but you can't be. You, your family, just the thought that one day you won't be here is sad." I rested my chin on my knee, hating the thought of that kind of future.
"No need to worry about a small matter like that. My end won't be for centuries to come. In all odds, I'll probably outlive you." He lightly laughed to himself.
"Who knows, maybe you will." I smiled, thinking about seeing an old, white-haired Himzavaick.
They say you can tell how you will look when you're older by looking at your parents. I wonder who he takes after the most?
Speaking of which, where are the other gnomes?
"I know I've only been here for a little while, but I haven't seen another gnome around. Does your family live in a different section of the woods?"
He heavily sighed.
"With great power comes great responsibility, meaning that the caretaker must always be at peace and is never allowed to feel uneasy or upset at any time. If they become a mess, so will the forest, as you saw earlier. So we are separated from our family to live in solitude. There are exceptions for spouses though."
"But you're still able to go and see them, right?"
"I could, but it would cause the energies of the forest to become unbalanced, leaving all these souls in a worse state than they came in. Others are allowed to visit from time to time. My family comes every once in a while, but they also have important jobs they must attend to, so it's hard to see one another." He shrugged, trying to convince me that he didn't mind being alone.
"I know that being the caretaker is passed down throughout your family, but how do they decide who will be the next one? Is it by age?"
"Age means nothing when choosing a caretaker. As the previous one is close to their end, they will call all members of the family to meet underneath the tree. And the spirit of Sniesanglig will choose which member of our family will inherit the honorable position."
He probably doesn't mind being alone, but not having a choice in the matter must feel like a burden.
"At the ripe age of thirteen, I was chosen. They prepared me for the job by having me shadow the previous caretaker, which was my grandmother." He spoke with a slight grumble, lowering his voice.
A chill ran down my spine, tickling the nape of my neck, urging me to look deeper into him. I glanced at the gnome, trying to focus my vision. I peered within him, but instead of seeing his story, I was met with a sturdy wooden wall that seemed to be several layers thick. No matter how hard I peered inward, I couldn't penetrate through the wall.
How could this be?
"I can feel you looking in." He threw a few balled-up leaves into the fire.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean-" I jumped slightly back.
"It's fine. But do you mind not looking any further? I'm not in the mood to be tested right now."
"Sorry. I shouldn't have done that without asking you first." I rubbed the back of my neck.
"I understand it can be hard keeping that kind of gift under wraps, but you must learn to control it. It belongs to you, not the other way around." He hopped down from his seat.
I think I made him angry again.
"Follow me." He walked off into the dark.
I stared at him, a bit confused about why he wanted me to go with him. If he's going to lecture me, can't he just do it here?
"Must you analyze everything? Just walk." He groaned in annoyance.
"Sorry." I quickly stood up, making my way behind him.
I let my curiosity get the best of me, and I crossed the line. I wanted to know more about him. I wanted to do something, anything to distract myself from feeling that creeping darkness within me. What ever those feelings were, I'm not ready to deal with them.
Not yet.
"How're your senses? Have they calmed down?" He spoke without turning around.
"They still feel kinda raw, you know. Like they're sensitive to the touch. Even the slightest breeze might be overwhelming. I honestly don't see how you can control this?" I nervously laughed it off.
"The trick is setting boundaries. Physically, mentally and spiritually. You have to put a wall between you and the stories. You have to believe that it is there and that it will protect you. You must push your energy into that wall with intention. Stating out loud that the story's pain does not belong to you. That you are only the reader, not the receiver." He stopped, peering back at me.
"It has multiple uses. As you noticed, it prevented you from looking in."
"It was the first time I've seen something like that."
"I know that you're trying to absorb as much as you can because you fear you don't have much time, which in reality, you don't."
That's comforting, thank you.
"But stop trying to do everything at once. Just focus on one thing at a time. A tree doesn't grow in a day. It takes months, even years of hard work and nurturing to even get it to sprout through the ground." He continued on, leading us to a small clearing in the forest.
He stopped in front of a collection of boulders. They piled high on top of one another, standing at least a foot above me. I stood next to him as he gazed at them with a sorrow in his eyes.
"These, they mean something to you, don't they?" My hand hovered above their rough edges. They seemed to pulsate with intense vibrations.
"More than I care to share." He smirked, hesitantly reaching out his hand.
He stopped himself and sighed deeply, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"This will serve as a teaching moment. Close your eyes."
I inhaled, moving my shoulders to crack my back. I exhaled with my diaphragm, closing my eyes to focus.
"The wall you create can be made of anything you believe will protect you. Concentrate and think about where it is that you feel the safest?" His words echoed in my head.
Where I'm safest?
Would my comfort zone be good enough?
Too many thoughts raced through my mind. I covered my ears and let the vibrations of my heartbeat fill the space around me. Each wave pushed away the thoughtless images until nothing was left but a vast space filled with crystal white snow. The cool wind brushed past me, and I could feel the warm air leaving my lungs, becoming a mist that clouded around me. I pressed my hand into the snow, smiling as the ice crunched against my palm. A small shabby wall appeared in front of me. It was about two feet high and looked like it would collapse at any moment. I sighed, letting it crumble to the ground.
That was pathetic.
I looked around, wondering how to make a stronger wall that would protect me. Because to be honest, I'm thankful for everyone's help, but I haven't felt a sense of comfort in a while. It's hard to feel safe when I know there are people out there who want me dead. Every day I live in fear, but I mask it with silence and a dull expression.
What could protect me?
A small smile cracked the corners of my lips. I already knew the answer. It was so obvious I almost overlooked it. The ground shook, and two massive ice monuments sprouted from beneath the snow, appearing as large as a mountain. My eyes watered, examining the wall. It was the perfect replica of my parents, standing side by side, with their hands out, ready to shield me from harm. They were the only ones I could ever trust with my life. I pressed my head against the monument with my hands on either side. Energy bubbled up inside me. I pushed it out down my arms and into my hands. I could feel it seep into the wall.
"The story's pain does not belong to me. I am only the reader, not the receiver." After a minute, I opened my eyes.
I could visibly see my breath cloud in front of me.
"Hm?" Himzavaick stewed, looking at me.
"I see why many are impressed by you. I did expect it to take you a bit longer. Things often come easy to you, don't they?" He furrowed his brows, raising his chin at me.
"Not everything, not all the time." I sighed.
"Good. Get used to it. This world will throw curves that will knock you off your feet and make you forget how to function. It's best you know that now than blindly run into it later."
"Understood." I nodded.
"Now, reading an item is the same as reading a live or deceased being, which we will cover another time. So, if you're ready, go ahead, and place your hand against the boulder." He stepped back.
I cautiously moved forward.
"Remember, believe in your wall." He spoke lowly.
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I placed my hand on the boulder.
I can do this. I won't be alone, this time they will be there to protect me.
A gust of warm air swirled around me, pulling me out of the night and into the dawn. I looked around, seeing that I was still standing in the forest in the same exact spot, but instead of the pile of rocks in front of me, a cave took its place. A statue of a deity was displayed at the entrance. Around it laid flowers and many other fruitful offerings. I stepped closer, examining the stone carving. It was amazing how they managed to etch Daeva's features so accurately. I heard a slight rustle next to me. I peeked over as a teen girl in Daeva's image was sitting behind the statue, munching on her snacks. Her form was translucent and seemed to drift in and out of the scene. I couldn't help but stare in awe. She looked adorable as she stuffed her face. I let out a small chuckle. She glanced at me, smiling widely in my direction.
I looked around but didn't see anyone. It was almost like she saw me. But how? This is a memory.
I looked back at her, and she waved at me before continuing to eat her snacks. I wanted to ask her how she could see me, but the crunching of leaves caught my attention. Behind me, a teenage boy with ginger hair and rosy cheeks walked up to the cave with a basket full of wrapped snacks and flowers.
"Bless it be, our Goddess, our deity." He bowed his head, clasping his palms together.
The teen girl's gauzy form became opaque.
"Our gracious Goddess of the Whispering Basin Grove Forest, the eternal life of the ever-blooming flower, we honor thee. I have prepared a small offering for you." He pushed the basket closer to the statue.
Seeing Himzavaick being so formal was cringe-worthy. I never could've imagined he had this kind of side to him. And by the looks of it, Daeva found it amusing.
She peeked around the corner, quietly giggling to herself.
Daeva slowly crept out from behind the statue, sliding the basket closer. Her eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of homemade pastries. Himzavaick laughed to himself as he walked to the other side. He chuckled, watching her chow down on the snacks.
"You like 'em?" He smiled.
She happily nodded.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, our Goddess. I'm Himzavaick Terrasheild, the next protector and caretaker of this land." He placed his hand over his heart and bowed to her, suppressing his smirk.
"You are?" She looked at him with wide eyes.
"Yes, I am."
"But you are so young." She crawled closer to him.
"Yeah, you're one to talk. You're the same age as me." He crossed his arms.
"Am I?" She pondered.
"Oh, that's right. I am." She quickly rose to her feet.
"Goddess?" He watched her, confused.
"Oh, I mirror the age of the current caretaker. I find that it helps us to bond easily. So there is no need to talk so formally to me. From this point on, we are partners of equal standing." She smiled warmly at him.
"I see. So, do you have a name you like to go by? The adults in the family always refer to you as the Goddess." His eyes raked over Daeva's glistening features.
"Yes, silly me. I go by Daeva, and please excuse my childish behavior. When I revert to a child, sometimes my mind follows suit. It always takes a good minute or two for it to go back to normal. Sorry if I seem to be everywhere." She shyly laughed.
"That's alright. There's no need to apologize." He looked down, scratching the back of his head.
"How old are you really?" He moved some nearby rocks aside.
"I've lost count after a while. But I do know it's at least four digits long." Daeva shrugged, examining her hands.
"Four?! Like as in a thousand?"
"Yeah, something like that." She casually nodded.
"How long have you been here?" His brows furrowed.
"Since I was created." She walked over to the basket, picking up the flowers that decorated the bottom.
"Isn't it lonely being stuck here?"
"Not really. The cave acts as a portal between your world and mine. I can always go home if I want to."
"Lucky." He sighed, kicking at the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot about your kind's rules." She covered her mouth.
"It's fine." He grunted.
"Do you not want to be here?" Her smile fell.
"It's not that. Helping all these souls makes me happy. I love what I do. I just don't agree with the terms in which I have to do it." He pouted out his bottom lip.
"I agree. You know, you beings take guidelines way too literal." She smiled at him, causing butterflies to flutter around in his chest.
He quickly turned around as his rosy cheeks grew darker. Then his eyes widened as he gasp.
"Wait, you said that you mirror the current caretaker." His face reverted to a serious scowl.
"Correct." She playfully placed the flowers in her hair.
"B-but the current guardian is my gran-, no!" He ran off, leaving Daeva at the cave.
"I'm sorry. May she rest in peace." She watched him run with a sullen face.
Three years echoed by.
Each day he came with the same purple flowers and new snacks. The boy even woke up earlier than usual to do his guardian duties so he'd have more time to spend with Daeva.
I sat on the ground near the cave, enjoying the story being painted right in front of me. Watching the face of a teenage Himzavaick light up with joy each time he saw Daeva was quite entertaining.
"I want to show you something." Daeva extended her hand out to him.
The teen boy gladly locked their hands together. I stood up to follow them as she led him to the edge of the forest, where a bush wall decorated with an assortment of fall colors stood firmly between two trees.
"This is just a dead end. There's nothing beyond the bush." Himzavaick raised his brow.
She just smiled, humming a soft melody that caused the bush to dance. She exhaled as the bush's leaves peeled back and formed a pathway.
"How the hell?" He excitedly scoffed.
"Let's go." She giggled, pulling him along.
His eyes widened, seeing the mist from the waterfall gently rise into the afternoon sky, becoming a collection of stars amongst the clouds. The tranquil scene was painted with pastel hues that lingered above the treetops. In the background, the natural sounds of the nearby animals blended into a beautiful song that brought about a sense of euphoria.
"This is my secret paradise. This is where I can go when things get a little too much, sometimes." She glanced up at the sky with a peaceful smile as the sunset's tangerine tint highlighted her features.
The love reflected off of Himzavaick's eyes like the golden shimmer of Daeva's flesh. Her beauty captivated him. He opened his mouth, stepping towards her, but he stopped. Simply smiling to himself as he folded his hands behind his back, standing happily next to her. She glanced at him, and the pair shared a fond gaze.
"May I?" He extended his hand.
She tried to hide her smile, but her lips refused to listen. Daeva laced her fingers with Himzavaick's.
"Now it's my turn." He gently led her out of the hideout.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see." He smirked.
I followed behind them, eagerly wanting to see what was next. For me, it was impossible to tell where anything was. Each tree looked the same. Some were older but still resembled the others. The number of trees thinned out until they reached a clearing, where a sea of long purple flowers created waves that ran along with the wind. He peered back at Daeva as he led her to the center of the field.
"I know how much you love the flowers I always bring. That's why I brought you here."
"Himz." She chuckled in awe, kneeling down to run her hand over the petals.
They seemed to gravitate towards her naturally.
"Your love for these flowers is nowhere near mine for you."
"W-what?" Her eyes widened.
"I know that in your eyes, I am just a child. But what I feel goes beyond comprehension. Every second with you brings me unimaginable happiness. You make my worse days golden." He pulled her in closer.
"Oh, Himz." She focused her gaze on the flowers below.
"I may only be sixteen, but I can't lie and say that I'm satisfied with being just friends with you. Daeva, I want all my stories to include you." His thumbs caressed the top of her palms.
"I'm over a thousand years old." She furrowed her brows.
"And I'm a dwarf who fell in love with a Goddess. Nothing goes as planned." He smirked.
"Daeva, you can't tell me you don't feel anything towards me. I can see it in your eyes. I know you feel it too." He stepped closer to her.
"Even if I do, this could never work." Her voice lowered.
"Why not?" He peered into her eyes.
"We run on different timelines. Your's will end decades before mine." Tears clouded her eyes as she sat on her knees.
"Even if it does, I want those decades to be spent with you." He pressed his temple against hers.
"You're cruel for asking me to go through that." Streams ran down her cheeks, falling off underneath her chin.
"I know. But it's who I am, and you know I tend to be a bit greedy." He smirked.
"Himz," Her glossy eyes glanced up at him, caressing his cheek.
"I don't want to watch you fade away. I c-can't." Her voice cracked.
"Stop trying to look over the hill for storms when the sun is right above us." He wiped her tears.
"Focus on our now. I would take a second of happiness with you over a lifetime of regret alone. I'm done wondering, what if. Aren't you?"
She held his face in her palms, peering into his eyes.
"How can I possibly say no to that?" She broke out into a smile.
Himzavaick pulled her in, pressing their lips against one another.
"So, how does this work? Do I carry you or-?" She giggled.
"Ha, ha, very funny." He snapped his fingers.
A vine sprang from the ground, cradling Daeva above the field with Himzavaick next to her.
I couldn't help but smile at them. Who knew that beneath Himzavaick's rough exterior was a soft boy longing for his one and only love. But still, none of this explains why they can't see each other. Maybe the answer is back at the cave.
I headed back through the forest, retracing the path he led us down. With each step, different versions of Himzavaick and Daeva ran past me. They grew older, laughing, crying, and sometimes even yelling at one another. Their story continued to play out around me until I reached the cave. There was a slight pause, like the connection stalled for a bit. Then the two of them came running past me, but this time they looked worried.
"Damn it! I don't understand how someone got past the barrier." Himzavaick entered the cave.
"Are you sure that they came here?" Daeva walked in behind him.
"Yes. I set out some crystals that would alarm me if some rando wondered in." He huffed, looking around.
I ran in after them, hearing their voices echo throughout the cave.
"When did you do that?" She smiled to herself.
"A while ago. It was a few days after we met. I wanted to do everything I could to protect this place because if anything were to happen to it, I wouldn't be able to see you again. Just the thought of that was enough to take my breath away."
"Stop it! You're making me fall for you even more." She cringed, smacking his shoulder.
"All according to the plan." He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes.
The light mood soon darkened as they spotted a figure in the back of the cave huddling near an engraved circle of symbols.
"HEY!" Himzavaick ran at them.
"S-stay back!" The thief's arms were draped in jewels and other treasures that were gifted to Daeva.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A rumble shook the ground.
"Himz, please calm down." Daeva softly spoke.
"D-don't come any closer." The guy held a small pistol at the engraved circle.
Himzavaik froze with a fearful expression. While Daeva, on the other hand, seemed to be a little too calm.
"Hey, don't be an idiot. Put those down and get out of here while you still can." He held his hands up towards the thief.
"I-I need these! I have to bring them back." The thief's hand trembled.
"Who are you to make demands? Do you even understand where you are?" He glared at the boy.
"I c-can't leave without t-these. I need them." He pointed the pistol at them.
"If you intend to keep that damn arm, I suggest you point that gun somewhere else." A strong wind grew around them.
Fear grew in the boy's eyes.
"You must remain calm. You can't let your emotions take over. You'll destroy the cave." She tugged at his arm.
"Stay behind me." He stood in front of her.
"He must be punished." Himzavaick raised his hand, sending thick wooden roots to fly out from the ground at the boy.
"Stay back!" The thief sank into a panic, blindly shooting at the roots.
"AARGH!" Red covered the ground as the boy's arm holding the gun lay limp in the corner.
"Y-You crazy bastard! What have you done?!" The thief scurried against the wall, gripping his shoulder.
"I warned you."
The roots wrapped around the boy, retraining him against the wall.
"H-Himz," Daeva's voice quivered as she lightly tapped his arm.
The cave became still, and even I couldn't believe what had happened.
Himzavaick eyes widened.
"DAEVA!"