Kane slowly reached for his face, watching as his trembling hand moved slower and slower with each bit of distance it closed, until he eventually touched his cheek bone, watching as his hand in the mirror mimicked the motion.
It was his first time seeing himself, and yet, he still couldn't believe that he was looking at himself, though he knew that there was no denial it was him.
It's just impossible, he told himself as he touched his black hair, that they hated me because of how I looked... There's nothing wrong with me, other than looking like a ghost and being too thin. He took notice of his angular jaw and chin, rubbing them with his fingers.
Although she could not see it, Medeya smiled, knowing that Kane continued to stare at himself in awe and silence. She'd never met him before, yet she felt happy knowing that his tears stopped, marked by his silence.
"So?" she called out, looking at him. "Did I get the eye colour correct?"
Kane slowly turned his head, letting his dilated pupils stare as much as they wanted at Medeya, enjoying the sight of her smile. For once, someone other than Maleagant had earned his full respect—perhaps even a little more than Maleagant. "Yes," he replied, finding the strength to smile. "You are an amazing painter, Medeya."
Medeya let out a hum of satisfaction. "Of course I am! I've been painting for years now. Did you take me for a novice?"
Kane chuckled. "No, not at all. I just never expected it because..."
"So you've realized," said Medeya, her voice growing somber as she looked away. "Does that disturb you?"
Kane raised a brow. "Why would it?"
Medeya pursed her lips, looking down as she clasped her hands together. "Many see it as a curse; many have avoided me because of it. So," she paused, as though she were choking on her own words, struggling to speak, "so I choose to keep my eyes closed. I don't want to frighten others."
Kane stared at her, letting his raised brow return, feeling the air around them change. A wave of sadness had arrived, and this time it wasn't his, it was her sadness.
In the end, she hides her eyes just as I hide my face of our own reasons, so he thought, his heart racing as he could feel his next words on the tip of his tongue.
He took a deep breath, firming his resolve as he asked, "May I see your eyes?" This is so cringe.
What would've been Medeya's gaze darted in his direction, her brows raised as her pale pink lips parted, debating what was the right answer, but eventually she would allow it, slowly opening her eyes and letting Kane see.
Kane eyes widened as he stared at the finest jade, luminous and alive. It was like the entire range of shades of a forest could be found within them, and they looked perfectly normal, in fact, if he'd never interacted with her, he would've assumed she wasn't blind.
How is it possible that a blind person was given the most beautiful eyes? he wondered, staring deep into them, wondering just how it was that everything fit perfectly into place.
"What do they look like?" she asked.
Kane drew a deep breath, freezing as he wondered how to put it without sounding like an idiot. "They are... like jade gems. They're beautiful and carry every shade of green. They're lively, and..." he wondered how he was going to say this last part, until he came up with, "they match you well."
Medeya's eyes widened as she felt a surge of heat run up her face. "T-thank you, Nethyrus," she replied, finally revealing a flaw in her fortress of composure.
Kane's eyes squinted as he clenched his jaw. Being known as Nethyrus wasn't something he was really enjoying, at least, not with her. "Medeya," he said, staring more into her eyes as a fierce debate sparked in his mind over what he was going to say, "I'm sorry for lying. My name—my real name—is Kane."
"Ah, Kane? I like that name," she replied, smiling as she closed her eyes again. "Thank you, Kane." She paused for a moment, walking around her room in silence as she pictured every corner, every piece of furniture, and every item around, before she turned back and asked, "Kane, why have you come to the Starfall Manor?"
Kane nearly facepalmed, instead rubbing his forehead as he remembered why he was actually here. Fuck, if she never asked I would've completely forgotten. "I came in search of an artificer. I was told by a man, who goes by the Bear, to seek out this lone manor. When I arrive, Calus brought me to you."
She hummed as she slowly nodded. "So you must be a mage?"
"Yes... well, I've only been using magic for about two weeks now, but the city I come from allowed me to develop an affinity for it. Now, I find myself already looking for an artificer to appraise my wand."
"Oh, is that so?" she asked, wandering around as though she knew the room inside-out, which she certainly did prove. "Artificers are nigh impossible to find these days, but perhaps," she stood at a white desk, resting her hands against its top, "I may be of some help."
"Please, if you can."
Medeya looked in the direction of his voice and smiled, feeling some warmth gathering within, happy to be of some use to someone, in a world where she was other wise cast aside by society. "Of course," she said, walking over to him. She sighed. "You can open the door, Calus, I know you're listening."
"M-my lady! I was not listening. No, not at all," his muffled voice responded, slowly heaving the doors open, until he allowed enough room for both of them to step out. "I was simply passing by."
"Yes, I'm sure you were," replied Medeya, holding her chin high as she stepped out of the room.
"Where to, my lady?" he asked as he extended his open hand.
Medeya, knowing full-well that Calus asking where she wanted to go was a gesture for her to reach out for his hand, instead ended up reaching to her right, holding onto Kane's arm. "We are going to my father's study," she said with a tremulous voice that quickly regained its composure mid-speech, pointing towards one of the stairs going down. "Let's go, Kane."
All while she was mentioning where they were going, Kane looked as though he'd seen a ghost, staring back at Calus who wore a frown on top of his stern expression, clearly getting his message across.
"Very well, my lady," he replied, slowly retracting his hand as he glared at Kane. "Should you need anything," he raised two fingers to his eyes and then pointed at Kane, "call for me as you wish."
"Thank you," she replied, pointing forth before Kane started walking. "Now, let's make our way down."
Kane felt the butler's glare burning right through his skin; burrowing through his skull. He knew very well, especially having forgotten to put his mask and hood back on, that Calus knew what he looked like, so if he tried anything, he'd surely find himself entering the afterlife.
Not that I intend to do anything anyway, he told himself, his heart beat reverberating through his body, wondering if Medeya could tell with how unstable he felt. Though, it doesn't seem like that was meant to speak ill of me. He looked at Medeya, who wore a bright smile as she held onto his arm, letting the manor see her jade eyes for the first time.
Calus sighed as he stood atop the balcony, watching as they had begun their descent to the bottom level. He shook his head as he let go of his angry expression.
"Lord Starfall," he said to himself, staring at a large painting of his master hanging on the wall near the front doors, "Lady Medeya has grown up."