Peace in the Oasis

He could tell that you weren’t getting a job. When it comes to nen and jobs it’s crucial. He could also tell you knew you weren’t getting it either. As you got up and walked past him he could see tears streaming down those pretty eyes. Honestly for the first in a while Shalnark felt bad for someone.

Honestly it made sense why you didn’t get the job, and you didn’t even have a hunter’s license. Shalnark wasn’t the type of person just to go out of his way to just help someone out when they’re in need. He was always the “it’s probably their fault type of person.” But you made him think. What if he did help you? And what would he want in return?

As he saw you walk out the building he followed you. You were crying. Very loudly. It was the type of loudness that made people turn their heads on the street, and just stare. After following you for some time he saw you enter an apartment complex. It was nice. it looked like you lived on the second floor apparently.

Shalnark let the time fly by, and when night fell he snuck into your apartment. There you were. Sleeping all nice and warm. Soft snores coming from you. Shalnark’s never seen someone so peaceful. As he looked around your room he could tell you were a college student.

Books and papers everywhere. To be honest your room looked a mess, so Shalnark took his time to reorganize your books, sort out the papers that look important and the ones that didn’t, and he carefully folded the blankets on the floor and put them neatly one the edge of your bed, and lastly he took one final look at your restful state and tucked you even further inside the blanket.

The next day Shalnark knew exactly when you’d wake up since he took a picture of your schedule. He waited until you came out your residence, and followed you to every single one of your classes. You were a very smart girl though this didn’t surprise Shalnark since you did get interviewed for a Hunter’s associations job. As he observed you through the day you lived a really boring college life. He thought a pretty girl like you would be partying, and living in your youth, but no. After classes you went straight home, and got back in bed? Not only was Shalnark confused, but he also questioned whether you knew he was there or not. You randomly started to talk to yourself through the day. It went from complaining about all of your class to asking yourself about what you’re going to eat for dinner. Shalnark usually isn’t around people if it isn’t the troupe. Yeah, granted he gets out once in a while, but enough for him to really go out and enjoy people presence? No.

After a long day of watching you with a close eye. Shalnark made up his mind, he needs to have you. The next morning Shalnark was now in the open where you could see him. He put on his best smile, and the nicest clothes. Your favorite color. Of course he knows that too!

Half asleep and only running on a piece of toast you had for breakfast you barely saw him. As you saw him you, put a smile on your face. You always wore this big smile, and even when things happened to you, you never ever ruined someone else’s day. That was kinda your motto.

“Well. Hi! How are you?”

Shalnark was surprised by your enthusiasm, and perked up to match your energy.

“Hello! I just wanted to walk to school with you I noticed that you go to the same college as I do, and I’m pretty new so I wouldn’t know my way around.”

You might not think so, but Shalnark is a great lier. You couldn’t tell if he was lying, or not plus you’ve never seen his face before so he had to be new.

“Why of course I can! What’s your name?”

“Shalnark. Yours?” Shalnark asked obviously sounding curious even though he already knew it.

“Y/n, L/n”

Shalnark nodded and motioned for you to start walking in front of him. As you were walking Shalnark took in your presence it was warm. Almost too welcoming. You made conversation, and Shalnark answered them in order to keep up his agenda. Then when it came to Shalnark’s questions you started to wonder why his was kind of more on the personal side, but you always would shake it off, answer them how he pleased. As you two reached the college you looked behind your back, and he was gone.

You look around in confusion, and call out his name. Something in Shalnark’s gut loved the way you said his name. It was soft and comforting. You spent a couple more minutes looking for him, then you went on to you classes before you would’ve been late.

Shalnark went home and you two’s interaction played over and over in his head. Your smile when you first saw him had him in a chokehold. He wanted more of it, more of you.

The next day Shalnark appeared in front of your complex again.

“Hey Shalnark! Where did you go the other day?”

“Oh I had something important to do.”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.” You smiled and sat down on the bench and patted the area next to you motioning him to sit beside you. Shalnark sat down, and sucked in a deep breath.

“Do you want to learn Nen?”

“Yes-! I-I mean I just need the basic’s in order to get this job I really really want, but how did you know-.”

“That doesn’t matter. Do you want me to teach you?”

“Well- that would be really great, but do I have to pay you or?”

“That’s not important right now is it?”

“No I suppose not, but-.”

“Okay. Are you ready now?”

“I have classes, but uh. Okay?”

He takes your hand and leads you to a car. The whole car ride is silence until you see the sign that tells you that you’re headed out of the city.

“Hey uh Shalnark? Where are we going exactly?”

“Woods.”

Shalnark didn’t have the friendly and welcoming smile on his face that he had earlier when you two were talking or even when you first met. His tone was serious, and stern. Making it difficult to draw out his emotions.

After sometime Shalnark pulls into a very forestry area. He grabs a cup, and gets out the car. You stumble to catch up to him. He then sits down, and put the cup on the forest floor. The cup is filled with water, and a leaf is on the top floating around.

“Concentrate, and try to move the leaf.”

You sit down beside him, and lean towards the cup. You close your eyes and try to imaging the leaf moving. After a couple of moments the leaf begin to dissolve. The leaf then turns into a powdery substance, and soon after the water does too.

Shalnark cocks his brow in confusion, and he puts his finger in the cup, and a fragment of the powder gets on his finger. He puts the powder up to his nose, and it has no smell. You watch closely as he examines the substance. He then puts it up to his mouth and tastes it.

“It’s sugar..”

You then cock a big smile on your face.

“Let’s do it again!” Your giggles fill Shalnark’s ears, and he can’t help but smile. Shit, you were adorable.

“Wait this must mean you’re a specialist.” You look a little confused at Shalnark and blink while still looking at the cup.

“Is that a good thing?”

“It could be, though we just have to find out don’t we?