From what she could tell there were only frogs, birds, and your occasional dragonfly, none of them there to greet her. Ksinya decided to travel upstream, against the current. The sun beat down on her but the water cooled her.
Nikolas watched the woman wade in his river. He was fascinated with her movements. He had never seen a Sorcerer other than his own Creator. His heart thumped in his chest and all he could hear was the blood pumping in his ears. Should he approach her? Would he be worthy of her time? Maybe he would just make himself known to her and see if she chose to acknowledge him. He liked that idea. He got ahead of her and positioned himself upstream, he feigned fishing movements and waited for her to arrive.
Ksinya was happy to see another humanoid figure in the distance. She picked up her pace. "Excuse me!" She called. At this point she realized she was missing her glasses, but she was still nearsighted. The figure in the water ahead was fuzzy and gave her a headache to try to focus on it. This made her walk even faster through the water. She picked her knees up high and splashed through the river.
Nikolas felt like his heart would swell and burst. He felt the hair on the back of his neck raise when she called out to him. She was actually running towards him. He dared to look up at her. Her face was scrunched up and she was kicking his water fiercely. She was angry at him. His breathing caught in his throat. Nikolas felt like draining his river dry to please her. He didn't know why he and his water angered her so. When she finally reached him his head hung so low his chin reached his chest. The first thing he said to her was "I am so sorry."
Ksinya was confused at his apology, then it clicked in her head that people would apologize when someone died. 'I'm sorry for your loss' was textbook funeral talk. She waved it off, "It's fine, I'm okay." His demeanor didn't change so she decided to change the subject. "I'm a little lost and confused, could you tell me where I am?" While she waited for his reply she observed him closely. He had curly black hair that framed his face that was scattered with beauty marks, the constellation of marks were on his chest, shoulders and torso as well. In her eyes he was a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream. He wore a linen skirt secured around his waist with a leather belt. He wore a silver chain around his neck with a metal plate attached. This reminded her of the chain that her fiance wore and she immediately felt closer to the man in front of her.
Nikolas dared to look up again, the curls on his forehead still shaded his eyes from her, but he could see the small form of the Sorcerer in front of him. It was just like the legends had taught him. The Sorcerers would arrive in this land and had to be retaught. "This is the Happi Tree Forest. You are in my river, Persona."
Ksinya blushed when he spoke, his hardened body was much different from his soft voice. "Oh, I'm sorry, should I leave…?"
The man shook his head vigorously. "No, you are more than welcome." He put his hand on his chest. "I am Nikolas, what may I call you?"
"Ksinya."
He bowed to her, his upper body parallel to the river. "I am at your service, Ksinya." He straightened, and waited for her to speak once more.
Usually she would build walls when bridges were more appropriate. She never dared to be vulnerable. This was before she opted to kill herself. In this life, she decided to be more open to new things and people. What was the worst that could happen? She had already died after all. "Could you help me get back on my feet?"
Nikolas looked down at her small brown feet submerged in his water and raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I understand." Did she have another pair somewhere?
To Ksinya, his confusion was tangible, she cringed. She would have to watch what she said closely. "I have forgotten a lot." She lied. "Can you stay with me until I remember?"
Nikolas couldn't remember a time where he was happier. He felt the blood rush to his cheeks and ears. His bare muscled chest swelled with pride. "Of course."
Ksinya smiled, she was happy to have stumbled upon such a willing guide. "First things first, how do I get food?" She wasn't hungry now but sustaining herself would be important if she were to stay here.
How tragic was it to be a Sorcerer, not knowing how to eat. Would she have starved had he not stumbled upon her? "What would you like to eat?"
Ksinya didn't know the right answer, and she surely didn't want to say anything wrong. "What's your favorite?" She asked.
"I can eat anything." He brushed off the question.
Ksinya bit her lip in thought. "I like sweet foods." She decided was a safe thing to say.
"I can show you the fruit in the forest, will that fill you? You are welcome to the fish in my river."
Ksinya nodded. "Fish is good too."