"After you" Calyx opened the door for Linthea who in turn acknowledged his gesture. The cafe was usually busy at the current hour with almost all the seats occupied but surprisingly a few people took the liberty to relax in the establishment. The two picked their usual seat: the farthest one beside the window where bystanders can be seen outside walking through the pavement and a small floral patch of the cafe decorated the rear.
A waitress inquired on their table for orders and left quietly.
"So what are you going to talk about Calyx?" Linthea eyed the flower arrangement on the center of their table, pressing the azure colored petals as she waited for her companion to speak.
Calyx was a bit taken aback, he closed his eyes and felt his deep blue hair in slight embarrassment. Finally, he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry"
Linthea looked at him with a confused smile, "Hah?, What for? Quite rare of you to say sorry....to me of all people"She laughed a bit but his expressions never changed; She considered shutting up.
"Because of me you were injured by an unknown foe" The man explained softly without looking at her in the eyes.
Linthea blinked twice before making an unladylike laugh that made some people in the establishment look at them, Calyx was confused at her sudden laughter.
"By Minala! HAHAHAHA Cal, why do you blame yourself for what happened?"She shed a lone tear of joy.
"Are you saying I shouldn't?" He raised his brow, still unsure of his words but he closed his eyes, "If I didn't let my guard down, I could save you from that attack"
A pair of milk teas arrived, both a house special blend coupled with two cake slices of varied flavor served on ceramic plates accented with floral designs.
"No, no.. It's my fault really, no need to take all the burden you idiot, I'm the one they're after" Linthea gave a close eyed smile before sipping her own drink. Calyx gave her an eye roll.
'You always try to fake your smile stupid moron'
"Rin, I'm going to apologize whatever you say..." His voice raspy but soft to a near whisper. He called her the nickname he coined himself when they first met. The first and last time Calyx saw her real self, where she boarded his carriage to Mylinggr to somehow return to her ruined kingdom. That nickname which marked the start of their rivalry.
Linthea chuckled, "I accept your apology" he smiled for a brief moment that she caught.
"I didn't know you could smile"
Calyx could only turn to the side to hide his face from the woman.
----Esgarde
Princess Cassandra is always fond of admiring the passing scenery of distant lands. Her fingers traced the frame of her carriage's window and pulled the curtains over the crystal clear waters surrounding Esgarde.
'This is madness' She sighed as she sort herself to look appropriate for the royal family. The sickening feeling she felt from her marine trip has not yet dissipated that made her nauseous and in need of air but all she can do was whisk her hand around for tiny wisps of her power to boost the princess up.
The brightness of the sun peeked through the curtains she pulled which made her more curious of the scenery outside. Cassandra's eyes widened as she was greeted by the soft caress of Esgarde wind with the soothing sounds of water flowing through its conjunctions. If not for the royal decree of marriage she'd wish her husband would take her around places as such, run along the fields of lavenders, gaze over deep basins of water, and talk about anything but politics.
Princess Cassandra was mesmerized. Esgarde can never compare to the beauty of her kingdom but this, this is another level of marvellous design. She'd thank the Goddess Thanilyen for her work....or is it disadvantageous to talk about a fallen Eidolon.
The carriage soon passed the entrance of the kingdom and the blue and green scenery faded from her sight. She'd expect the castle to be away from the central city but it seems it was built within.
Cassandra closed the curtains for a while, she did not want to see the populace nor gather attention. She's just a passenger...in this great new place.
-----
"Your Majesty, Queen Zindove Aoife Eireann O'Móráin of Esgarde....I present to you, Princess Cassandra Francesca Loreleiah von Frieden" She heard her envoy present and the handle clinked. Cassandra fixed herself a smile before standing up to greet her new family.
The princess was already praying for this entourage to end so that she could sleep it all and forget about it.
Cold ocean air greeted her the moment she opened the door of her carriage. In front of her was a woman of old age, the Queen Zindove who her mother is greatly acquainted with. Next to her was a young lady with her white hair up reassembling a demon's horn giving her a disdainful look or was she just imagining it. She then saw her soon-to-be husband, man of tall stature, hair blueish white like the clouds she saw in the sky, his gaze piercing and sharp with a chiseled jaw like that of a fine sculpture. His hair reminded her of a fae prince character she read in her book, she was almost caught in a daze until those icy pair of eyes soon landed on her as he went on his way to escort her down. Her breath hitched upon seeing him up close with that charming smile on his face.
"Princess Cassandra?" Prince Irith held out his hand for her to take and she did. Her gloved hands over his. The moment her feet landed on the ground, she felt a tinge of nervousness and paused on her tracks but he gave her hand a gentle squeeze that made the violet haired woman feel at ease.
Her envoy soon departed after she was introduced to the Queen and her court. Queen Zindove then ordered her maids to escort two of the Princess' handmaidens to their room with all their luggages carried by the court servants. The Queen gave a knowing look to the Prince before she and the princess left.
"Shall we?" Irith inquired. He placed his gloved hands over hers.
"We shall" Cassandra smiled softly back at him as he led her in the castle.
'Turns out he was kinder than she thought he would be... she was so wrong and upset to judge him'
-----
Cassandra eyed her betrothal, Prince Irith of Esgarde, "I beg your pardon?" she's sure she heard him right but that's simply not what she's expecting.
'Was all that a play? He looked sincere?!' She was beyond flabbergasted, embarrassment slowly creeps on how lovingly she looked at him before.
"You may be my fiance but you don't have my heart" Irith said coldly, not sparing her a glance. He definitely wasn't the Irith she was talking and laughing to minutes ago but where would he go? It appears her fiancé is shedding his false skin.
Cassandra's chest tightened upon hearing those words escape his mouth. The princess' heart shattered into pieces, it cannot be helped since all her life she dreamed of something she cannot possess.
"But-" Cassandra can't let this happen, she doesn't deserve this treatment. She did meet the prince on couple occasions, he seemed to behave well that she once took a liking to him but she never knew he was like this behind court especially after that introduction.
"I thought I made myself clear to you Princess Cassandra, you and I only exist as per conditioned by our parents. We mean nothing." She could feel tears trickling from her eyes as she looked down, unease to let him see her tear-stained face.
"Then" Cassandra started, indeed betrothals are those that chain the free but she has other ideas to roam like the wind. As a dreamer, she has to protect her dreams and live it as she lives with reality. She understood well that his show of affection was only an act for his mother to believe him and to uphold the relationship of both countries, she must do her part.
"I have a condition-" Prince Irith's head slightly turned to her, his eyes scrutinizing her every move. They were like playing chess and he laid the first move, now it's up to her to give him a good show.
----
Nighttime-Icycilis
(2:00 am)
Sound of swords and magic clashing, vines breaking out of the ground. A woman of braided gold hair dropped from the sky. From one's point of view, her horns shaped like a ram, wearing clothes that none of it was in familiarity, her eyes devoid of emotion as she raised her weapon: a blade of incomparable sharpness that shone against the dark sky and with a heave of her breath, she lunged forward.
"Mianhae"
Linthea suddenly lurched up from her mattress, beads of sweat rolling from her forehead to her cheek, teary eyes stared into the air, her fist gripping the sheets as if her life depends on it.
"Nightmares again..."She walked out of her room and climbed down the stairs to the living room. Everything was dark except for the light of the moon shining down ever so gracefully as if watching her every move. Night time seems peaceful just for once in the city where night bugs can be heard instead of raging vehicles. She went past her dog which is sleeping under the coffee table and opened the door, there she felt the breezy night air caress her face and fumbled a bit of her hair.
Vehicles cruising to and fro, people of various race wandering around looking for places to crash in while establishments continuing their operations with its staff enthusiastically gathering customers, Icycilis felt alive even after midnight. Blinding lights woke her up instantly to the fact that she was unconsciously evading individuals, they all cast their eyes on her with curiosity and disdain.
'It was like on the day her kingdom fell'
She wasn't worried. No one can recognize her in the dead of the night as long as her diadem is covered. Linthea hugged her body close as she ventured through the streets towards her master's apartment.
"Would you.." a soothing voice alerted her senses. She spun around to catch them. The speaker vanished from behind her leaving wisps of black smoke.
"Like to see the dead?" The mysterious voice returned, whispering to her ear, soothingly as the caressing ocean. Linthea felt lightheaded as if waves of water overcame her senses. Her vision glowered down and as if the smell of fresh roses filled her nose.
"Sleep child"Her mind went blank and as if that was the only thing resonating in her mind, her lashes fluttered close and succumbed under a deep ocean of dreams.
-------------------
"Seiju wake up!" An arrow darted in between Kale and the demon carrying Linthea's sleeping form. The latter turned to acknowledge Calyx with a sneer, "Why have you come here?" He withdrew and flapped his wings forcefully, sending a small barrage of sharp feathers.
"I'm already doing well"
The dark haired man only rolled his eyes at his statement.
"This is my job, chicken boy" The vestiges of his attire danced with the winds of midnight as he cast on his weapon before firing an arrow towards the woman of long hair and cyclic horns to which she easily deflected with her tail. The woman turned to Calyx and an instant he felt lightheaded with a couple of voices swirling around him.
'You should kill him' The man was returned to the afternoon he was first introduced to Kale after he took her to the café.
"See, this is why I don't want you here! Kallichore will only manipulate you"
'He stole her from you' A reenactment how Kale would call Linthea 'Lina' and how she'd respond to it with a fond smile made his blood boil.
"Don't let her control you, Von Vyrien!" He felt two strong hands grip his shoulders as he was snatched away from the demon, Kallichore's gaze.
'Pierce his wings' He watched as a hand snaked around her shoulder as Kale guides her back to her residence with a knowing smile flamed his indignation towards the gray haired man.
Calyx felt nothing. His mind became blank as foreign voices overwhelmed all his senses. His eyes darkened as he drew his bow, an arrow materializing within. He could not hear Kale's voice nor the protective wing that covered him from their perpetrator.
'Shot him' Kallichore danced him like a puppet in her hands while Kale held him back against her unknowing of the arrow that is about to pierce him; Calyx held a little reserve on letting the arrow go.
"Busy are we, my Kallichore~?" A strum of a stringed instrument instantly veiled over the perimeter. As if an ice was broken, Calyx's senses returned to him and withdrew his weapon against Kale who inquired for his well being. The bow user never felt so disgusted to himself until today for being weak towards a demon of higher ranking and only flicked his companion's feathered wing away without care.
"Suzuran..." Both male's attention shifted towards Kallichore's growl. A bubblegum pink haired humanoid butterfly donned in easterner clothing carrying a lacquered wooden zither with honey oozing from its corners.
"Ara~"Came a saccharine voice, her hands to her lips, "Never knew the day would come for me to finally see you out of your shabby den" As if they were friends, Kale and Calyx looked at each other, observing the two banter. Kallichore snapped and unleashed her puppet strings towards Suzuran who deflected it with a strum of her instrument.
The night went on to the common folk like it's nothing but the air atop of the building grew cold. Although Kallichore has only met Suzuran once, she knew that butterfly was her other half, her weakness, and her rival. She has met the others but they can never match her energy but that woman, she never knew Suzuran could go crazier than she imagined.
As if cue, she swiftly got behind the demon and pressed two of her fingers near her neck and licked her lips. The woman in front gulped as the moon basked them in her light, she could imagine the expression Suzuran's face is making and it was enough to run a chill down her spine.
"I wouldn't want to repeat what I said when I'm hungry" She whispered to Kallichore's pointed ears. The latter shoved her away, slashing a part of Suzuran's face and dropped Linthea in the process. She drew her stance and slowly turned into fragments, vanishing in the winds of the night.
"This won't be the last time, and next time...this bitch won't be here to save you"
----
"I'm sorry you have to witness that"Suzuran gracefully pressed her heels on the building with her zither levitating next to her while Calyx picked Linthea up in a bridal style before seeking her audience.
"My songs can't undo her spell against your friend but I can ameliorate them" Suzuran placed her floating instrument in front of Linthea as she played a short tune, she placed a hand over the woman's forehead and nods.
"She'll be fine, tomorrow she will not remember a thing" Her insect-like eyes familarize the individuals around her and spotted a familiar face.
"Who are you..? And why did you help us" Kale questioned. Suzuran turned to him with her lips contorting a sly smile.
"My real name is Koto..the common folk knows me as Suzuran, I happen to encounter this demon and her spell's weakness to soothing sounds of music, so I thought I should drop by and lend a hand" She leaned close before giving a wink, the honey on her instrument never sticking unto Kale's clothes which he wanted to shy away.
"Thank you Miss Koto for saving us... although I would be worried for your wounds" Calyx said ever kindly that Suzuran missed to cover her chuckle.
"Fret not, I will tend to it when I return" She swiped off the greenish blood oozing from her face leaving four shallow cuts.
"Dewa, I should be going" She flapped her soft petal-like wings of red over black as if marbled from afar that levitated her off the roof. With her zither close to her chest, the humanoid butterfly flew away as if she was a fleeting dream no one will believe in.
"May we meet again gentlemen, in the land of lavender and flames"
-----
"Take her home" Calyx hands over Linthea to Kale's waiting hands. The more he stays the more he'll get plagued by the scenarios in the past.
"And here I thought you'll be her knight and shining armor" Kale received her gently and flashed a smirk to the other male.
"I'm not." He praised himself for striking a nerve, "If that's the case...I should warn you of the demon we encountered" Kale's face turned serious while Calyx paused his steps and turned his head back.
"Kallichore...the demon of Control. With a weak mind and body connection she can control you with just a flick of her finger....we were lucky that Koto woman showed up"
Calyx narrowed his eyes at his words, "You sure know alot chicken boy" He snides and went on his way leaving Kale imitating his gestures before he walked off as well.
-----
"So warm..."Kale paused in mid-air to look at the woman he's carrying, still sleeping soundly as if it's the only thing that mattered 'If that woman was right.... she's in a good dream by now' he mentally sighed in relief and resumed flying towards her home.
He had never witnessed her so vulnerable and weak such as this and it slightly gave him satisfaction to view her so. The Linthea he knew always hides behind a smile and flattering words that'll work it's way like a caterpillar to a fruit. He held her close as if she's a dear friend to him, all of it was wrong except for the familiarity that lingered deep within his heart.
Was she someone he knew well?
Kale looked down at the woman who's snug to his hold, her lips drawing a thin smile, he shook his head and resumed flying back to the mansion
If only he could dream like that. He would trade everything in the world.
"Mama..."The sole mention of her mother alerted him. His eyes dilated as he spun to check on her, breaths tried to stabilize him before he breaks the calm waters of his being.
"Why...did you leave us?" Linthea whimpered as a tear escaped her closed lids. Kale finally exhaled as he regained his composure and twists the handle of her window open.
Kale gently laid her on the bed and observed the fair features of her serene face. By unreasonable whim, he pressed a palm on her face and lingered there for a bit as if basking in her warmth; he mentally slapped his face and turned to close the curtains.
A hand grabbed him by surprise. Her illuminated face contorts in fear and sadness. He'd blame the moon for giving the dark brown haired woman an ethereal glow.
"The dream must be ending now" he muttered to himself.
"Don't...go" The woman choked on her silent sobs. He pitied this cruel dream bestowed upon her and instead covered her hand with his. His expression softened as he calmed her sobs down with a soothing caress and a small humm he imitated from Suzuran's tune. Seeing that his efforts are paying off, Kale dipped down to place a kiss on her forehead.
"Sleep well, my dear"
Linthea's grip on him loosened, an indication that she finally succumbed to sleep, her cries died down and was replaced by the soft rise and fall of her chest.
The dream came to an end and it's time for him to take his rest. Ruby eyes observed for any changes before a hand brushed her tears away and covered her with a blanket. After ensuring that nothing can disturb her sleep, Kale slipped out of her room back to his.
His encounters today sure was fruitful.
----
Trivia: Koto is affiliated to the Keepers of Glade. There are atleast 7 of them within their own providence. Koto's mundane name is Suzuran and she carries a koto (Japanese zither) as her weapon.