The walk back to Silrae’s estate was nice and easy. The massive gate of Silrae’s home loomed overhead, a sentinel guarding a realm of uncertainties. Was I meant to embrace this sight with dread or happiness? Dread filled me though. This home was my place too but I felt guilty about entering it. Did I secretly wish for Silrae to do something that proved I should not trust him? The thought twisted my expression into a grimace. My fingers found the cold metal of the gate and pushed it open, a creaking protest against the lingering hesitations in my heart.

The path to his abode was a meticulous tapestry of nature's artistry, tenderly cared for by the gardeners. The butterfly garden bloomed with vibrant life, a kaleidoscope of colours dancing in the air. Pausing beside a rose bush climbing an ancient tree, I was drawn to the crimson blooms that adorned its branches. The tree itself stood as a testament to nature's resilience, proudly displaying magnificent red blossoms. My hand reached out instinctively to touch one.

“I wouldn't touch that if I were you,” his voice cautioned from behind. I turned, meeting Silrae’s gaze.

My hands moved, gesturing weakly, “Why not?”

“They're deadly to all but the golden deer,” he replied cautiously, hesitating to approach. So, I took the first step, embracing him, finding solace in the familiarity of his presence. His arms wrapped around me, each touch a reminder of the weeks spent together under the same roof. Every moment with him had been a buoy, lifting me, inspiring me to embrace life and its challenges. I felt his heart, a steady rhythm in his chest, a beat of life in sync with mine. The hug held a sense of eternity, yet, I knew it had to end. Reluctantly, I pulled away, the essence of the moment lingering in the air.

“I’d like to see these golden deer some time.” A smile creased my face.

“I’m happy to show you them.” He held out his hand for me to take. I accepted it, but a part of me wondered how I would communicate with him if I only had one hand. It didn’t matter. I’m just happy to be in his presence.

We walked past the path to the castle. Servants turned and whispered to each other excitedly as we walked by. Silrae smiled and would wave to them. His eyes were fierce though. It was strange compared to his relaxed demeanour. A lion lied underneath the mouse. He stopped on a wooden bridge above a stream.

"I missed you," he whispered, his words a gentle caress against the canvas of silence. "I wanted to look for you. I thought I did something wrong, that I was the problem. And then I remembered your letter. You said you were fine, and I knew you would be." His voice wavered, emotions carving cracks into his composure. "I've never felt this way before. I didn't know what to do, whether I was supposed to find you or stay here. Wren came by and talked to me. We spoke about you. She told me that no matter what happens, you'll always come back." He looked at me, his eyes pools of vulnerability. "Asara, I love you. I wanted it to be a grand display, to show you how much I loved you. I knew this was the way. Every moment spent with you has renewed my energy. Every moment has been worthwhile, even the most melancholic. I stay up late at night, wondering how I can help you. I want to spend time with you and travel the world." Tears streamed down his cheeks, raw and unreserved. I felt my eyes well up too, my heart playing a symphony of emotions in my chest. His confession held a weight that seemed to shift the very air around us.

"I..." I began the sentence with my hands, my fingers tracing the unspoken words in the air. Gently, I cupped his cheeks with them and pressed my forehead to his. "I need more time to think about my feelings towards you," my voice, a raspy whisper, revealed my vulnerability. He closed his eyes, accepting the truth in my words.

"I'll wait for you, however long it takes. I'll wait," he promised, his words delicate yet steadfast, hovering like a feather in the air. We stood in silence for a few moments, enveloped in the warmth of each other's presence. It made sense why we had shared that intimate moment weeks ago. We completed each other in a way that felt like destiny.

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"Can we dance?" I rasped out, seeking a communion of souls through movement.

"Yes," he replied softly, extending his hands towards me. The natural world became our orchestra—the birds sang, the river whispered, the wind hummed, and the trees swayed—a symphony of nature. Poised and ready, the dance began, each movement a poetry of fluidity as if we had practised this for endless hours. As we spun, I leaned back, my skirt flaring out in a captivating waltz, matching the rhythm of his coat tails. When the dance reached its conclusion, we stood there, beads of sweat tracing down our faces, a testament to the passion we had poured into this dance and the unspoken connection we shared.

“Did you enjoy the dance, m’lady?” he asked, clearly out of breath.

“It was better than the first time we danced together. Perhaps because you’re a lot less drunk.” He rolled his eyes at my statement.

“Thank you,” he said.

I smiled at him. My hand brushed against his, fingers interlocking. He held our hands up to the sun. It warmed, but didn’t sweat.

“Do you mind if I hold your hand the rest of the way to the Golden Deer?” he asked.

The dirt path turned into a grass path. We neared an enclosure. The deer that stood under the desert sun were glorious. They all had antlers, whether they were male or female. One of the bucks stood out to me. His antlers weaved around each other, with a nearly perfect circle in the centre of them. It reminded me of the sun.

“Do you like what you see?” Silrae asked.

“More than anything,” I responded. I slid my hand past the fence and opened it up so it was a flat. A younger doe walked by and sniffed it. The whiskers brushed against my palm. I had to hold back a soft laughter. I looked over to Silrae and smiled. “Thank you,” I mouthed.

The deer ran off and joined the others. They were some of the most amazing things I have ever seen. This lifeless desert was filled with so many wonders, and I wanted to uncover them all.

We walked back to the garden in silence. The smell of freshly cooked pork filled the air as we neared it.

“I hope you don’t mind eating outside,” Silrae whispered.

“I don’t.”

A beautiful picnic laid before me. A golden candle was lit in the centre of the pink plaid blanket. There was a whole pork roast near the candle, and there was corn off the cob. I’ve never seen corn that way. It was a thrilling and exciting moment.

“Sit.” Silrae gestured his arm to the blanket.

I smiled as I sat down. I don’t know how he thought of this, but it was everything I needed right now. Though it was much fancier than any of the times I camped out, it reminded me of all those times.

“Thank you,” I signed. “This means a lot.”

“I’m glad.” He sat down beside me. “Wren said you learned about magic and that you have a splendid fire trick. You should show me after we eat.”

The metallic butterflies weighed heavy in the pouch on my side. It felt weird, him setting this up and him hearing about my magic from Wren.

“I can show you now.” I blew out the candle. I summoned a small flame in my hand. It grew in strength and size. I directed the flame towards the candle and set it ablaze, nearly melting half of it. The flames continued to spread and they didn’t stop. They made a straight line for Silrae. The blaze reached him.

“Asara make it stop.” He scrambled to his feet.

I couldn’t stop it. I tried with all my might. They didn’t stop. Panic rose through me. Stop! Stop! Stop! His screams pierced my eardrums.

“I’m sorry,” I signed. My legs carried me through the castle as I ran. Further and further away from the scene. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing the fire die down the more I got away. Finally, I made it to the streets. I weaved my way through the barrier that the crowd gave. My hands were pressed tightly to my chest out of fear that others might be hurt like him. He’s surrounded by others. He’ll be fine.