I stepped out of carriage first, just to help Gisele doing same.
“Thanks,” she said “Those shoes are killing me! What kind of sadist even made them!”
“A male. It is harder for women to run wearing those and the best part of it is, that all you have to do is to convince a girl that wearing those shoes means that you belong to the higher class and voila! They are wearing them on their own.”
“… R-really? Wait! You are mocking me again.”
“Gis. You are taking everything far too seriously. Relax, have fun.” I said while we were following Archibald to the main building.
“Easier said than done! Look at me! I look… like not myself! Everyone will stare at me! Throughout my whole life, I was working on my name! When somebody said [Gisele Redwing] you heard reliable, hardworking, and proud.”
“And now you will add to those elegant, graceful and breathtaking. Come on. We will just fit in, blend in and quietly enjoy our time together. There is going to be so many nobles dressed in so many bizarre suits, that nobody will pay us any attenti…”
Archibald opened a huge door leading to the main chamber of the house. It lead to a very crowded main chamber room. The tables were put in a U shape, leaving more than enough space in the middle for dancing and other purposes. On the platform located in opposite side of the chamber a group of musician were playing fast, lively music. It was definitely not for dancing. It more like for lifting the mood of the guests. Apparently the time for dancing is yet to come. But, none of that was a problem. What was a problem? As soon as already mentioned Butler opened door for us. He grabbed a pole standing next to the door, raised it and hit thrice the floor below, making a loud sound echoed throughout the room. Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on us.
“Master Blackwood, the guest of honor Zariel Whiteraven together with Gisele Redwing, has arrived.”
A voice of an old man could be heard in the entire room. In same time dragoness’s grip on my shoulder tightened.
“You wanted to say that nobody will pay us any… any what, Zari? I wonder?”
Yet, at the same time, I noticed that old man’s eyes were shining joyfully.
“Enjoying yourself, Archi?” I hissed quietly.
“Sir, pardon me, but I have no idea what are you talking about.”
Yet his eyes told me that he knew perfectly.
“I trusted you, from all the people in this house, I was hoping only for your aid.”
“Ah! Finally!” The head of the house stood up and quickly walked across the room to greet us “My-my, I knew that you would look great in those robes, yet still I… Oh, but where are my manners, if my wife would see me now I would get quite a lecture. My greetings, Miss.”
He bowed with courtesy toward Gisele, and Gisele… Gisele completely panicked. In her whole life someone only bowed his head to her after being pulverized into the dirt, she simply didn’t know how to act. She tried to say something, but in the end, nothing escaped her mouth.
“If I may suggest…” I tried to save the situation “… We are among friends, and I am pretty sure, that if you would address Gisele in less formal manner...”
“Is that so?” Gisele only nodded shyly “Then why the hell you didn’t say that earlier?!HAHAHA. Let me correct myself. Hello, youngling, I am in charge of this mess and I can already see that neither you or Zari enjoy the idea of being involved in this chaos called [the noble ball], thus I am even more grateful that you came. If anything would be troubling you, just come straight to me, I will deal with it personally.”
“Sir, Senator Kirwirgl came…” Archibald only said quietly from the side.
“Already? Old fart, I hoped he wouldn’t come at all. What more do you want me to do Arc? Ah, to greet him. Great. Pardon me, lad, I have to put my fake smile on and talk for a moment to someone I definitely don’t want to talk to. Please, fell as if you are in your own home. Oh! Also! There are quite a few people that want to meet you Zari. Try staying away from them. Just in case.”
He gave me a pat on the shoulder and with a gesture of his hand he invited me further in the chamber, in same time door opened again and another Butler said the name of another guest that arrived.
“He was… quite…”
“Normal? Yes, but don’t get used to it. His wife is also pretty nice, but don’t think that she would be as direct in conversation as him.”
I only said walking with Gis further in trying to avoid as many people looking interested in us.
“Sooo… what are we going to do now?” my partner was looking in all directions with anxious.
“Told ya. Trying to have fun.”
“For me it is impossible! I feel so… weird! Zari, I don’t belong here!”
Still, as a male, I felt formally obligated to make a woman that I took as my companion to have fun.
“Gis, do you like quests?”
“You mean like those from the guild?” she looked at me uncertain what am I referring to.
“Very same.”
“Yes. I love them. You know what you have to do, when and how… and there is also that thrill of anticipation…”
“You usually are a party leader, tell me, would mind letting somebody else be in charge?”
“If I would find his experience in certain matter superior…”
“Gis, how do you think, which one of us better know this place and people?”
“You. I was told you already were here quite a few times. What do you want to do?”
I stopped, turned to the side so now I was facing dragoness and said.
“Listen, soldier, we are currently on enemy ground, try avoiding contact. We will also need supplies, so scout for all possible food sources, secure some and proceed to looking for isolated location which we would used as operation base.”
She looked at me for a moment as on some mad man, then she snickered turning her head in disbelief.
“So… basically, get some food and table in the corner? Consider it done captain!”
Chuckling we moved forward to the tables filled with food.
“Enemy spotted! 10 o’clock! Two rangers moving quickly in our direction!” Gisele said to me.
We kept our head looking directly forward, so we could always pretend that we have simply not noticed someone.
“Roger that. Prepare to evade. Wait for it… Waaaait for it…” At the edge of my vision, I indeed saw some (probably) married couple in older age approaching quickly “An opening! NOW!”
We moved slightly to the right. My luck has not abandoned me, for in same time quite few people moved from opposing direction creating literally a human wall separating us from our would-be conversation partners.
“Report!” I commanded quickly
“Sir, yes, sir! Situation under control, enemy forces were stuck behind obstacle, we got some time, b… Sir! 3 o’clock! A Juggernaut!”
I looked in already mentioned direction.
“Juggernaut? Woman! Where do you have your eyes!? Juggernauts are simply heavily armored frontliners, and that is simply a cave troll!” I heard a chuckle in response
For yes, the man that was approaching us from the side wasn’t skinny. He wasn’t chubby either. Bah! What we normally consider fat is inadequate right now!
“How do you think, how did he manage to look like a perfect barrel?” Gisele whispered in my ear
“I am far more concerned where did his neck go! Anyway, evasion maneuver will fail here, we have to pick another route!”
“But this one is shortest! Our first mission is to get supplies, commander!”
“Supplies won’t go anywhere! And I won’t risk the life of my soldier!”
We had to take other paths quite a few times, but in the end, food appeared on the horizon.
“Target in sight!”
“We did it, commander! We did i... Sir! Enemy forces on 12 o’clock!... and 8… and 4! Sir! We are surrounded!”
“Abort the mission! I repeat! Abort the mission! Flee for your life! We shall meet again in starting point, so…”
“Too late! All escapes routes were cut! We are trapped!”
Despite her concerned tone, her eyes were sparkling. Exactly what I wanted to achieve… For all creation… if you would see those playful sparkles in her eyes, dancing like most beautiful wisps in the darkest night, that charming boldness, that wonderful confidence… that
“..right? Zari? I asked if something is wrong with you?”
“Hm? Ah, yes. I am all right. Anyway, it was an honor to serve in the same unit as you, soldier.”
“Fret not, commander, they won’t take us without a fight!” and she grabbed a butter knife from the table
“Hey! Heyheyheyhey! Easy girl! Put that down!”
She burst into true laugh
“I wasn’t going to hurt them, silly!”
“A-ha, sure. Still, I would prefer you to not hold any sharp things. Wait here, soldier, I will try to negotiate our surrender.”
I turned around to face the couple that was approaching us, but as they were about to speak, a true fear appeared on their faces and they slowly turned around. And as I was guessing what could frighten them up to this point, I felt a tingly sensation of dark aura.
“ZAAAARI!”
And something hugged me from behind.
“GladToSeeYouBack!AreYouAllRight?YouWereOutForSoLong!WhyDidn’tYouWriteMeALetter?IsThatWhoIAmToYou?Ha?!YouJustUsedMe,Didn’tYou?YouBrute!”
I could barely understand half words spoken to me
“Hey, Daralon! I would say that it is nice to see you, but you are not letting my backs go!”
“And I won’t! Next moment I leave you, you go POOF and vanish for weeks or months on some stupid adventure!”
“Right now, I am not going anywhere!”
“Ya promise!?”
“Yes, I promise!”
Gisele chuckled one more time
“Looks like you have a new date!” Ho?! Did Gisele mock me right now?
“Yes, he has, so, as you are no longer needed…” Darlaon made a gesture with his hand, telling Gis that she can leave
“Appreciate your spirit, Dar, but still I would prefer keeping Gisele around. Just in case.”
“Oh? Keeping me around? Just in case? What am I? Your equipment?”
“Don’t be silly! You can have a knife as equipment, a bag as equipment. But you... You are more like a ling ring, so a trinket! Just to be shown around."
A punch appeared out of nowhere. Normally I could avoid it, but with dark mage attached to your back, it was a bit more difficult.
“Bastard!” dragoness said with feigned indignation
“Ok, you could have your quarrel later. I have a small table for three in the corner. I hoped that somebody would sit next to me, but up until now, I have spent this evening pretty lonely… I wonder why? So, will you come with me?”
Gis and I looked at each other and nodded at the same time. Darlaon in pretty much a friend of the guild, so we wouldn’t mind having a company of someone we already know. Adding the fact that his presence will keep pests away was just a nice side effect.
We followed him and had quite a pleasant conversation for an hour or so. We talked about everything – about our recent adventures, politics, magic, and guests that were crowded around. Daralon had this wonderful flow of talking, he also said all he wanted in this easy to understand manner, so even Gis (which is not a master of magic) understood everything we were talking about! She even had questions of her own! About magic! End of the world! We were enjoying our conversation till the door opened ONCE again, yet this time, the whole chamber became silent.
Herald that came first was dressed completely different than black and white butlers of Blackwood family before him. He was wearing a dark blue suit with red cuffs.
“Master Blackwood, guest of honor – Arthur Grey, called Wise, first of his name, Legal king of Neira has arrived.”
People already sitting by the table raised, those who were casually walking in the chamber have moved quickly to the sides letting the royal pass while bowing their heads with courtesy.
“Greetings, my lord, as the head of this house please allow me to show you your…”
“For goddesses sake! Blackwood! Stop that gibberish! Everyone knows that I will sit next to you! Come on! We are here to celebrate, just skip the boring part and proceed to the moment where you give me a wine!”
Him. I definitely like him.
“As you wish, my lord.” Blackwood smiled cheerfully “If you could just wait a moment longer, there is one more guest that is supposed to sit in the middle… yet somehow he decided to sit in the corner…”
“The lad that saved Cecilia? Yeah, I want to meet him, but he can wait for he is still young, you know what can’t wait any longer? That 11-year-old wine that you have been storing in your basement!” He looked around, gazing upon all nobles still waiting in the same spot “What are you waiting for?! I am not going to make any form of a speech if that is what you are waiting for! Our dear friend, Cecilia Blackwood, despite death threatening event, is still among us! There is nothing more important that needs to be said about this evening! Rejoice! Sing and laugh and dance, for thanks to the help of this young man, that desperately hides among you, the house of Blackwood will live in prosperity… at least for some time.”
He finished casually, turning around and following Blackwood to the part of table reserved for hosts and honor guests. In same time another butler came to us.
“Sir, excuse my interruption, but you are asked to sit with Mister Blackwood.”
“So, the terror of the night begins now? Gisele, may you?”
“Hm, may I do what? Oh, follow you… you know, actually, I am quite comfortable where I am right now… hahaha…” she laughed awkwardly “Nobility is one thing, but I won’t sit next to the king!”
“Solider, I am not asking! I am demanding!”
“This trick won't work this time.”
“… Dar, do you have some curse on occasion like this?” I averted my eyes from dragoness looking toward dark mage
“I call it a puppeteer! For certain period of time target will do as I please, of course, he or she can fight it back, but each time the command is rejected, cursed feels incredible pain…”
“If so, can I ask you for a favor?” I asked looking back on Gisele
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“Zari… No” Gisele seemed to be worried
“Zari-yes!” And Daralon enthusiastic
“Fine! I will go!” she said, but as she was walking past me she whispered in my ear “But I will have my revenge.”
King and both Blackwoods were discussing something quietly, yet cheerfully. As we came closer they stopped their conversation for a moment.
“Your majesty, that’s the kid. And together with him…”
“Gisele!” royal roared “Just look at you! By my beard, you sure grew well! Such a beauty, that old rat Jericho must be proud of you!”
“Y…You know me?... sir?” she added sir after very long break
“Don’t you remember me? My heart is broken! Well, you were little back then. I used to visit Jericho… You were such a lively kid! You simply couldn’t sit in same spot for a minute! I have been telling Jeremy that you will be one troublemaker!”
“Troublemaker? Ooooh yes.” I said quietly
He gazed upon me
“You are Zariel? In name of the whole country thank you. Cecilia is our national gem. The loss of such a brilliant mind would be a heavy blow for us all.”
“Thanking me is unnecessary. I already was paid.”
“You asked for nothing! Actually, I thought that you did that to get closer to noble houses… but after seeing you so desperately trying to avoid any form of contact, I have to say that I have absolutely no idea what you are up to. I have you being followed, yet each time my head hunters were somehow losing your track in the middle of the city.” After that I heard Daralon coughing hysterically. “Yet, I found nothing. Kid, what do you want?”
Can I allow myself for being blunt?
“From you? Nothing, sir.”
“Another student of Jericho? That stubborn spirit, that confidence! It had to be learned from this rat! Anyway, I have a favor to ask, kid, as you would get back to the guild, ask him when he is going to pay me? Somehow, as time pass, his debt is becoming bigger and bigger.”
“With all due respect… I doubt you will ever see your gold back.”
“Ha! I know that too! But I still love teasing him about that.”
“In that case, you can count on me.”
Somehow, from word to word, we moved from talking about Jericho to talking about guild itself, then about quests. The king was very eager to listen what happened in Agrah. As we were talking, a butler came to Blackwood as whispered something in his ear.
“Really? Now? Can’t she wait? For fuc… bloody hell. My lord…” he targeted his words to the king “Would you mind if Senator Mirana asks if she can join us…”
“Senator who? Wait, that annoying sow that leads alchemist guild? What does she want this time?!”
“I am pretty sure she want to talk more with our guest more than with you, your majesty. As far as I know, she already tried recruiting him to the guild?”
“And you refused? Kid, just because you annoyed her, I want to give you a hug! But if she isn’t going to ask me for anything… I don’t care.”
“In that case, ask her here,” Blackwood said to the butler
“Wait…” I stopped him “… if she wants to talk with me, maybe I am the one who should say something in that matter? For I surely don’t want to talk!”
“Sorry, but no.” host said with apologetic smile “Politics. I once asked for a favor someone who have asked for a favor someone who…”
“Asked for the favor of the alchemist guild?” He nodded
“Aw, something went not as you planned?” Gisele was more than just pleased hearing that
We didn’t have to wait too long for already mentioned senator.
A woman, looking as if she was in her middle thirties came to the table.
“Your majesty.” She bowed her head to the king “Hosts” She repeated her gesture toward Blackwoods. She hesitated for a moment looking at me as she didn’t know how to address me “Mister Zariel, after your permission …” she sat next to us.
“Before we start…” the king raised his head "You won’t ask me about tax reduction for your potions?"
“No, my lord, I have left those negotiations for another moment.”
Arthur sighed with relief. And corrected his position on chair relaxed.
“Mr. Zariel… we allowed ourselves to inspect the potion you made for Mrs. Blackwood…”
“I am sure you did.” I urged her in a rude way
“Please, such attitude is not necessary. We, as a guild, have to check if you are not poisoning people of Neira.”
“Or check how good I am and thus if I am worth recruiting or check if I am not selling potions of my own creation.”
“That is not a whole truth. Not even small part of it. Yet I have to ask you, the potion… was good. More than just good. Where did you learn it?”
“Self-studies.”
“Please, refrain from joking.”
“I am not joking. I started making them in the middle of the forest, yes, I had some guidance when I studied under Miss Hanna, but she mostly showed me a couple of formulas and a basic book about alchemy. After that I have been crafting potions for days and night, without sleeping, testing new formulas on myself. You want to be as good as me? Make a poison and drink it. And no, I am not kidding.”
“…Still, you have changed few ingredients. You replaced…”
“I am sure I did. To the point.”
“Why? Different herbs, despite having often similar effects to one another, combined in a different potion can act completely differently. Weren’t you afraid that you may do Mrs. Blackwood a harm?”
“No.”
“…That’s it?”
“What else should I say? I have answered your question. No. I wasn’t afraid. Apparently, unlike you, I know what I am doing.” The King snickered.
“Receipts were made to stick to the pattern! This is the very first thing we are teaching our students. The rule you violated!”
“But as you also noticed, I am not a member of your guild, and thus your rules does not apply to me.”
“How could you be sure that potion you made wasn’t lethal!?” she raised her voice
“How can you be sure that adding two and two results in four? Do you have to prove it? I simply know when I can replace which herb.”
“No! I won’t accept such explanations! Flower of Aurora, despite being a basic healing herb, creates a lesser poison when you add it to the moongrass!”
“No, if you would replace mandragora’s root with petals of azure lily beforehand. Making a potion is like an equation. Let’s say that the potion we want to make equals four. You can do it your regular way, adding two plus two. But now you are trying to tell me that adding one and one and two is wrong.”
“But you CAN’T do that with every herb you encounter!”
“I can't?”
“I won’t believe that you memorized what every plant on this world does! It is impossible! And as I was told you did that seconds after reading the receipt!”
Well, technically she is right. I didn’t memorize that. I have an appraisal for that.
“Can dogs fly?” I asked
“W…what a silly question? No!”
“And can an eagle fly? What I am trying to tell, you are like a dog trying to convince an eagle that flying is impossible. Don’t measure me the same way you measure your alchemists. You have merely scratched the surface of the art of alchemy. You don’t see its nature. All you see are coins that you earn after making a potion. While I… I…” not good, mad scientist kicks in “I am trying to understand the essence of creation!” I hit the table with my fists “You are looking, but you can’t see! Why do you even have ears if you can’t listen!? The process of changing! Turning aloe into deadly acid! Making the most venomous toxin into balm! The periodicity of changing, and changing the periodicity! Aira gave us life, but she also gave it to plants, animals. Each time you plug the flower, rip its petals, leafs, and root, have you even wonder that what you have in hands is not just a PLANT but… the tiniest part of creation!? Smallest for of living!? This is, what differ me and you, and never, just never imply that I can’t do something just because you are violating your own ART!”
I didn’t even notice when I started yelling. Quite a few people were looking at me. I cough few times.
“Pardon me. I simply can’t discuss such important matters with someone I purely hate.”
After a moment of silence, she raised her head.
“My I know how we earned your hate?”
“Monopoly of potion making. Don’t look at me like that! I am implying something different. If you would really want to improve, you would have destroyed your competition by your product quality and not by law and taxes. Because you have no competition, because you are the only source of potion in this country, you have lost your ability to improve. Do you know how life works? Adaptability. When you are a monster that lives in cold places you grow fur, if you are a monster living in hot places, some of your body parts are bigger to allow for better ventilation. But as you are existing in perfect conditions, without "predators" you simply lost your ability to adapt. Because to what you would have to adapt to?! When was the last time you created new potion? New receipt? If you would have equal competition you would make DOZENS of new potions each year, looking for new ways new technology. But, not only you are not improving yourself you are not letting improve anybody else! You know what am I talking about? Library! Why is the potion section closed?!”
“For saf…”
“Tell me that it’s safety reason and I will smack you. Accidents are BOUND to happen! Tell me that in your guild no pot ever exploded! I am waiting.” as she wasn’t going to break the silence I allowed myself to continue “Exactly. In your most secured rooms, under eyes of most skilled alchemists, done according to your receipts. Accidents happen. I will tell you why you are holding this knowledge for yourselves. To keep your monopoly. So don’t add any story about security, you simply want to have total control over the market.”
“I think you are overvaluing humans.” She finally said “Safety reasons are not considering only explosions of the pot. There are poisons in many shapes and forms. Not only liquids and gases. But now, imagine that somebody made a toxic gas which he shut in a mobile container. He can look like a merchant, enter a temple and release it. Drugs highly addictive potions that temporarily are letting you rest, stop thinking about worries but damages your body from inside. There are many, many people that would use those for their own gains. This is what we are trying to stop, Mr. Zariel. Weapons that no one can control and poisons that will bleed society from inside. I came here to judge if you are one of such persons that could use them. I am glad to say, that probably you are not such a man. You are rude, over proud, narcissistic, arrogant asshole, but at least you love Alchemy and see it as science. Thank you, I have gathered all information I wanted.”
She raised from her chair and left. I watched her for some more time before saying quietly, yet still loud enough for everyone sitting at the table to hear.
“Stupid cunt. Me narcissistic? At least I am not walking as if I somebody shoved a meter long pole in my ass.”
The king burst in laugh, Mr. Blackwood tried hiding a smile, Mrs. Blackwood looked to be shocked by my small speech and Gisele just kick me under the table.
“Narcissistic? Arrogant? She nailed your personality after five minutes of conversation.” Dragoness just said after a moment.
“I beg your pardon, but this is most certainly a bullshit! I am sweet! And cute! And hardworking and helpful! Also generous funny and so very handsome! I simply don’t have a need to be such a gentleman toward everybody I encounter, especially assholes.”
“You also forgot being handsome from time to time.. oh no, wait, you forget about that most of the time!” Gis teased me
“Only so you wouldn’t feel jealous.”
“Oh, fear not, I wouldn’t!”…that hurts you know?
“A..anyway, I think that it should already be time for the main dish…” Blackwood tried changing the topic, yet he failed horribly.
I allowed myself to rise from the table.
“Pardon me, I have to leave for a moment, to breath a fresh air.”
I moved quickly through the crowd, few people tried to talk to me, yet as soon as they saw expression they backed off. I moved on the higher floor just to walk outside – on the balcony.
I moved toward the edge resting on the balustrade and looked down.
Great. This night is just great. What did I learn? The King hired headhunters to spy on me. The alchemy guild was investigating my creation for goddesses only know what sake, and overall I am trapped in this snake pit filled with people that while faking their smiles would try getting closer to me or the Blackwoods.
And somehow, despite my efforts, I irritated Gisele. Just what did I do this time? Yes, I am teasing her all the time, but not today! What the hell am I doing wrong this time?
Where did I make a mistake?
~ Well, it all started in the day you were born.
Not helping Lust.
~ You want and advice?
~NOOOOOO
~NOOOOOOOOOOOO
~NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
~IT NEVER ENDS WELL! NEVER
Let’s give it a try.
~ Just stop playing around. Be bold. More. Grab her, hold her in your arms and don’t let go till she gives you an answer. There is a 50% chance that she would say yes!
And what if she would say no?
~ Chloroform and duct tape.
I am asking seriously!
~And why do you think that I am joking? Oh, take a consideration that she is half dragon, so you may need something stronger than chloroform and lots of duct tape. Then toss her into a cellar and wait for her to get Stockholm syndrome.
Nope. In the end, it solves nothing.
“Zari, are you ok? You weren’t back for quite some time so I decided to check on you and as this whole mansion is a bloody labyrinth I could have lost my way once or twice.”
I turned around to face the dragoness.
“I am completely fine! Sorry for worrying you, I am simply getting a bit fired up when I am talking about alchemy and needed to cool down.” I smiled
She came closer and rested next to me.
“Bo honest with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem troubled. More than usual. Normally, looking at you I can never tell what are you feeling, you always have this happy expression that you use to fool everyone around you. But now I see everything clearly. You didn’t even touch cake you took.”
A cake? What ca.. ah, yes. Chocolate cake dressed with some bizarre fruit I have never seen before. Yes, now as I recall that I indeed took one.
“I teased you too much?” she asked “By that table. I thought that I may show you how I fell when you mock me in the guild, but somehow you reacted differently than I…”
“So you were just joking?” Something dropped from my chest
“Y…yeah?”
“Never do that again. Never.”
“Sure thing, just promise me the same thing in return!”
“That’s something different! Don’t even compare those things!”
“Different?! How is that so! You mock me, I mock you!”
“No, you are joking from some silly reasons.”
“And you? Why are you making a fool out of me every single time?” I remained silent “I am still waiting.”
“To check how much it takes you to hate me.” I finally turned around “To check if those words you said to me mean anything. To check if you would finally find me disgusting. To find out what you truly think about me.”
“W…Wait, slow down, I think I lost the point of your speech in the middle so…”
“No, I won’t slow down. Do you remember how everyone acted when they found out I wasn’t a human? They were scared. They were not trusting me at the beginning, and in the end, they decided to act as they used to only because they saw how you behave near me. And you? What do you think about me as a monster?”
“You… I can’t think about you as about monster. You are you. Zari is Zari. So what that you can look like an ugly beast. The way you act stays the same?”
“See? SEE?! That’s what I mean! NO ONE viewed it like you. They either saw a threat or source of benefits. And you were just standing there seeing no problem! Why… WHY are you so pure? So plain honest!? So selfless and dedicated?!”
I came closer, which made Gisele took a step back.
“Zari, I still don’t know what you mean. But, you are slowly scaring me.”
“Tell me, Gis. What do you think about me? Just don’t repeat those craps about narcissism if you really don’t mind it.”
“Y…You are great warrior, elastic in fighting a..and…”
“NOT AS WARRIOR!”
“Then… I think that there is far more good in you that you want to admit. Whatever you are doing, you are trying your best and I can respect that, also, when we were in Tower and I was kidnapped by minotaurs, you rushed 50 floors just to rescue me. Even if it was against your nature. Normally it would take you weeks to get on the same floor, for you would check every corner thrice and moved carefully. I owe you a lot, and you are someone I can rely on. I really treasure you as my friend, so if you would ever wonder if I like you, I do!”
As a friend, hm? As friend. Great. I have a friend for life. Hey, there is no greater treasure than a friend, right? So why… why it hurts so much? Why does it feel as I am bleeding from my heart? Doesn’t matter now…
“Ok… fine. That was exactly what I wanted to know… let’s get back inside. In the end, we are guests of honors… it is impolite of us to make them wait…”
I moved back to the building and heard Gisele following behind me.
Great. Simply great. Damn it. Fuck. FUCK! FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE! FUUCK! I turned around
“Actually no. It is not fine. And I am not ok with that. Not at all.”
“Z..Zari?”
“You were intriguing me for a long, long time, then I started observing you trying to understand. Now I see. This purity of yours, your plain honorable behavior. Risking your own life for the sake of helping others. I thought that you are representing something I lost in the process of getting stronger. But I was wrong. I never had that wonderful innocence. I didn’t have your smile. A smile that made me lost my breath, I didn’t have your eyes. The eyes that I see in my every dream. All this time I had to be cautious! To look behind my back all the time, I could never truly trust anyone! But near you, all those fears are gone! Near you, I feel like I can do EVERYTHING. I used to think, that I deserve the whole world for myself! You are something that I lack from being whole! For all this time I haven’t noticed, that the whole world I desire was walking right next to me. And now I am going to do something that I definitely won’t regret. If you won’t like it, just hit me. In the end, you are still stronger than me.”
And I came closer.
“H..Hey, s.. slow down, Zari, what are you doing? Zari, sto…”
But it was already too late, at least for her. I grabbed her in her waist, pulled to me and kissed her lips. I didn’t force it, I tried being as slow and delicate as possible, savoring the moment.
Do you know what a true bliss is? It is a tingling sensation that crawls down your spine. It is warmness of another person on your chest. It is that strange, weird feeling when all your senses are both numb and sharp.
I felt her lips on mine, it was like tasting her very essence. Her breath was shaking, and heart was pounding… or maybe it was me?
I didn’t know how long we stood like that, all I know that when our lips finally parted, all I could say was:
“You didn’t fight back…” my sentence was followed by a weak chuckle.
“Of course not! Y…You took me by surprise!”
“Very well, then I shall repeat it once again, this time you have been warned.”
She looked as she wanted to say something, but for heaven and hell, I doubt that right now I would even understand a thing that she would say. My previous kiss was slow and gently… and left me so very unsatisfied. My heart wanted to jump off my chest!
One of my hands moved from her waist to embrace her head. I parted her lips with mine allowing myself for more. Funny, her lips are so soft, and her body is so wonderfully warm. Every place I touch or brush, as if in response were instantaneously turning hot. Slowly I noticed that her hands started to shyly hug me, her tensed body relaxed, as if slowly accepting same heat that I felt. We were melting in each other embrace.
Once again our lips parted.
“Why you didn’t stop me this time?”
“D..Don’t get me wrong. This is simply… a…a new form of attack. I simply don’t know how to counter it… yet.”
I looked in her eyes. My palms gently grasped her cheeks. In her eyes, those beautiful green, gentle eyes was something new. These wonderful playful sparkles were gone, something new replaced them, I almost felt as if she wasn’t looking at me but IN ME. as if she started directly at my soul, in the core of my existence, I have never felt so… so exposed… so naked before! For a moment I wanted to hide, to run. Yet in her gaze was no hate, no disgust. Weird. If she has seen my soul. How can she not be… how can she… she…
Gods, she is so wonderful.
“I love you, Gisele,” I said.
I said it. Finally.
Up until now, I wasn’t certain my own feelings. I was afraid that what I think is love may be nothing more but passion – the flame that will burn for a moment and leave nothing but embers. But now I know, I found it in those eyes. In those beautiful, gentle eyes. Eyes that accepted me.
“I…” she started, but I put my finger on her lips.
“Not yet, darling…”
And I kissed her again. This time I couldn’t keep the fire in my chest. It burst with all might. Exploded with all feelings I kept until now and slowly devoured both of us. We lost to the passion. Her hot lips on mine, her ragged breath…
I closed my eyes. I simply could no longer comprehend how… perfect she is.
All thought were gone, all worries disappeared together with the whole world. There was no country of Neira, no capital, no mansion. Even a balcony slowly began to vanish. All that existed was me, Gisele and a certain fact – that I don’t want to ever let her go.
Our lips parted once again, only because as we lost ourselves in a moment we forgot to breathe. I once again looked at her, her beautiful, catching breath self. The fact that I was responsible for her being unable to catch a breath make me happy in the silliest way.
She smiles shyly. She averted her eyes, her beautiful face was covered in alluring blush, but in the end she manages to say words, that I have been waiting for my whole current and previous life. Words that made me melt, my whole body weak and my eyes drop few tears of joy.
“I… love you too, silly.”
We stood there for a moment longer, with my existence whole and embracing my whole world in the gentlest hug I savored her warmness. Warmness that spread through my body just to finish in my heart.