Knock knock!
It was creepy, and it was already dark outside. The part where Kai stayed was deep within the forest. The Black Castle was the stronghold of the Black Corps, hidden from plain sight to avoid alerting modern age security and government, and also to keep away from the prying eyes of humans without powers.
Kai wondered who would knock at his door at this time. Surely not his other teammates. The forest was thick and dark, with tall trees looming overhead like silent guardians. Their branches swayed gently in the cool night breeze, creating eerie shadows that danced on the castle walls. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, a reminder of the recent rainfall.
Slowly, carefully, Kai walked to the door. He picked up his sword on the way, the weight of it reassuring in his hand. The blade gleamed faintly in the dim light, a reminder of the many battles it had seen. At the door, he paused, listening. He couldn't hear anything except his own heart pounding. The silence of the forest seemed to press in on him, making every little sound seem louder than it should be.
Taking a deep breath, Kai opened the door, and then... something dived in on him. He almost lost his footing and could have fallen if not for his stamina, staying rooted like a tree on the doorpost. The smell of flowers assaulted his nose, a stark contrast to the earthy scents of the forest. He couldn't help but sniff once more, surprised by the sudden burst of fragrance in the night air.
He looked down at the lady in his embrace who refused to leave, and his smile widened. His earlier alertness left him like it was never there, replaced by a warm, comforting feeling that spread through his chest.
"What are you doing here?" His gaze softened as he stared at the lady in his embrace. Her head was buried in his chest, and her hands clung to him like she never wanted to let go. The moonlight filtering through the trees cast a soft glow on her silky hair, making it shimmer like strands of silver.
"I miss you," the lady replied, her voice muffled against his chest but filled with emotion.
Kai smiled once more. This was one of the things that could make him truly happy. He was mature now, around his twenties, no longer as naive as he used to be. This lady, though their love had started weirdly and she had approached him at first for political reasons, had become someone he relied on deeply. They had grown close over time, and he could tell she truly loved him as he did her.
"Evelyn, it's only been a week," Kai said as he rubbed his hand gently around her silk-like black hair. He wished they could stay there forever, enjoying such a blissful night, but wishes don't always come true. The forest around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little world.
"It was forever for me," Evelyn answered, her words carrying a hint of longing that tugged at Kai's heart.
"Can we leave here now? Let's get inside," Kai said as he wanted to pull out from the hug, but she held him firmly. The night air was getting cooler, and he could feel the slight chill through his clothes.
"Let's stay like this for a while," she pleaded, her voice soft and full of contentment.
"How long?" Kai asked, but he wasn't irritated. Evelyn was in a light gown, made with silk and very thin. He feared she might catch a cold. The breeze rustled the leaves around them, as if emphasizing his concern.
"Are you worried I will fall sick?" Evelyn asked. This time, she was looking at his face. She was among the few who could accurately read his facial expressions, seeing the concern hidden behind his calm exterior.
"Yes, let's go inside so I can stop worrying," he answered with a smile, still rubbing her silky hair with his hand. The texture was soothing, and he found himself relaxing despite his concerns.
Pulling off from his embrace, she giggled with a hand covering her mouth. The sound was light and playful, filling the night air with a spark of joy. Spinning around, she stared at him in the eye, then gave a smirk before using her fingers to play on his chest. Her touch was light, almost teasing, sending a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the cool night air.
"What do you think of my gown?" She asked. She had specifically worn it to see him, and the way it clung to her curves in the moonlight made Kai's breath catch in his throat.
"Your father, the king, would gouge my eyes out if he found out I stared at you like this," he answered with a smile, though there was a hint of genuine concern in his voice. The politics of their world were never far from his mind, even in moments like these.
"So you like it?" She asked as she went in for another hug. "I want to take you somewhere," she said as she waited for his response. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, reflecting the starlight above.
"Not looking like that. That should be your night gown, right?" He asked her, his tone a mixture of amusement and concern. The forest was no place for such delicate clothing, beautiful as it was.
"Mhmm," Evelyn nodded her head, not denying it. "I will race there," she said as her hair fluttered without wind, a sign of her magical abilities stirring.
"No, you don't," Kai wanted to stop her from running into the forest. He was already tired and needed rest, but here came his love asking him for a race. Despite his fatigue, he couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the challenge.
Will of wind!
Wind kicked up as Evelyn raced towards a certain direction, her spell propelling her at sonic speed. The sudden gust whipped through the trees, sending leaves swirling in her wake. She didn't look back or stop; she knew that Kai would catch up to her sooner. And truly, behind her was Kai covered in electric sparks, using the lightning will.
The forest became a blur around them as they raced through the night. Trees whizzed by, their trunks mere streaks in the darkness. The sound of their passage stirred nocturnal animals, sending birds fluttering from their perches and small creatures scurrying for cover.
"It's great how you use so many Wills," Evelyn said as she ran. Sometimes she would slide down to avoid a bent tree, other times she would clear her path with a wind spell, and other times she would just let the wind propel her forward again instead of running. Her laughter echoed through the forest, a joyous sound that seemed to infuse the very air with happiness.
"I am seeing everything. Your gown covers little," Kai reminded her to be gentle with the wind spell by saying that. Despite the seriousness of his words, there was a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Giggling softly, she used the wind even more and answered, "It's okay if you feast your eyes on me." Her words were carried back to him on the breeze, teasing and full of love.
They raced on through the night, the forest a dark tunnel around them, punctuated by glimpses of starry sky through the canopy above. The air grew cooler and damper as they ran, hinting at their approach to water.
Suddenly, Evelyn got to a place and stopped. Kai halted right after with the sound of lightning, electricity crackling around him for a moment before fading away. They both stood still, catching their breath and taking in the sight before them.
"By the gods, what is this place?" Kai wondered at such a location being in the forest. He didn't know how long they had run, but he was sure Evelyn had put much thought into finding this place. This was what he was supposed to do, he realized with a pang of guilt.
The clearing before them was nothing short of magical. A small meadow, perfectly circular, lay nestled in the heart of the forest. The ground was carpeted with soft, lush grass that seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight. Scattered throughout were flowers of every color imaginable, each one emitting a soft, ethereal light. The effect was like a living rainbow, pulsing gently in the night.
At the far end of the clearing, a waterfall cascaded down a cliff face, its waters sparkling as if filled with countless tiny stars. The pool at its base was crystal clear, reflecting the night sky above and creating the illusion of infinite depth. Surrounding the pool were rocks studded with glowing crystals, adding their own multicolored light to the scene.
Fireflies danced through the air, their gentle lights adding to the enchanted atmosphere. The sound of the waterfall provided a soothing backdrop, harmonizing with the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional soft hoot of an owl.
"You like it, right?" Evelyn smiled happily like a kid receiving a gift. The smile never left her face, her eyes shining with joy and a hint of nervousness as she watched Kai's reaction. Kai felt like a jerk. He knew he was supposed to bring her here, to have prepared something special for this day.
"It's our anniversary, remember? We confessed our love for each other today," she reminded him. Kai felt even more of a jerk, the weight of his forgetfulness settling heavily on his shoulders.
"I am sorry," he said after a slight silence. The beauty of the place only made him feel worse about forgetting such an important date.
"About what?" Evelyn asked, confused. She didn't know why he was apologizing, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to understand.
"For not remembering today," he answered, guilt evident on his face. He couldn't meet her eyes, instead looking out over the glowing meadow.
Evelyn waved her hand in dismissal, "It's okay, you were busy. Besides, the corps sent you on a mission for a week." She answered still with that smile, but Kai could see a flicker of something—disappointment, perhaps?—in her eyes.
Evelyn was always like that, filled with smiles and always looking okay when she wasn't. Kai could tell that something happened for her to bring him there, he just didn't know what and decided to wait patiently for her to spill it out. The air between them seemed to thicken with unspoken words.
"You can tell me when you are ready," he said, leaning in for a kiss. Evelyn wanted to step back, but instead, she leaned closer to him. The night was blissful, and their occupation didn't tell what might happen during the next mission. Every moment together was precious, a stolen bit of happiness in their dangerous lives.
As they kissed, the world seemed to fade away around them. The glow of the flowers intensified slightly, as if responding to their emotions. The waterfall's roar softened, and even the fireflies seemed to dance more slowly, giving the couple a moment of perfect peace.
Evelyn was a princess from the upper world; they both were from the upper world. He was the heir to The House of Thorne in the North, and she was the princess of the entire kingdom. She had a sister, but Kai decided not to remember that one. Their love was like a forbidden one, the north was part of the kingdom but hates the kingdom and wanted total autonomy. The king of Ariel kingdom, on the other hand, won't let the north break free from his kingdom.
But Kai still wanted that love, and he feared that what was on her mind could change things between them. The political tensions of their world seemed far away in this magical clearing, but they were never truly gone, always lurking at the edges of their happiness.
Pulling away from their passionate kiss, Evelyn prepared her mind to tell Kai what bothered her. The glow of the flowers seemed to dim slightly, as if sensing the shift in mood.
"I have something important to tell you, Kai," she said, not sure if she should. Her voice trembled slightly, and she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly looking vulnerable despite the ethereal beauty of her surroundings.
This was it. From how fearful Evelyn looked, he feared that something bad had happened, something really bad. The night air seemed to grow colder, and the sound of the waterfall felt more ominous than soothing.
Kai took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever news Evelyn had to share. He reached out and took her hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze of encouragement. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together," he said, his voice low and reassuring.
Evelyn looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The moonlight caught them, making them sparkle like the crystals around the pool. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, struggling to find the right words.
In that moment of silence, the forest seemed to hold its breath. The wind died down, leaving the leaves still. Even the waterfall seemed to quiet, as if nature itself was waiting to hear what Evelyn had to say.
Kai felt his heart racing, a contrast to the stillness around them. He wanted to pull Evelyn close, to shield her from whatever was causing her such distress, but he knew she needed to say this in her own time.
Finally, Evelyn took a shaky breath. "Kai, I..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper. But before she could continue, a loud crack echoed through the clearing. Both of them jumped, startled by the sudden noise.
A branch had fallen from one of the surrounding trees, landing with a splash in the pool. The sound shattered the tension, and Evelyn let out a nervous laugh. "Maybe the forest doesn't want me to say it," she joked weakly.
Kai smiled at her attempt at humor, but his eyes remained serious. "Evelyn, whatever it is, I'm here. I love you, and nothing you say will change that."
His words seemed to give her strength. She straightened her shoulders and looked him directly in the eyes. The fear was still there, but now there was determination too.