Melanistic fallow deer filmed by Jakub Wencek in the forests of Barycz Valley.

“Mister- No, Sir Nikita, please let me marry your son!! ”

The old man nearly dropped the drink in his hands before whipping his head around to meet your bright eyed gaze. “Pardon me- what!? "

The confusion written all over Nikita’s face doesn’t deter you one bit. If anything, all it does is make you repeat what you said earlier with an even more fervent determination. “Sir Nikita!! Please give me your blessings to marry Illuga!! I promise I’ll make him happy, I swear!!”

Nikita blinked once, closed his eyes and tried to convince himself that this is nothing more than a dream. That he hadn’t just heard one of his fellow lightkeepers asking for his blessings to marry the next Starshyna, his adoptive son, the Lightkeeper's pride and joy. Just yesterday he was “having a talk with” (read: threatening) Varka not to poach Illuga into the Knights of Favonius— now he has to worry about his own people trying to poach his son off of him!?

When he opened his eyes again, he’s met with your starry gaze that hadn't dimmed one bit. Oh, long has it been since someone’s eyes have shone so brightly in Piramida? How was he going to turn you down now??

Thankfully, the awkward silence was finally broken by an amused chuckle behind Nikita, followed by a smooth voice that could only belong to the enigmatic lightkeeper that stayed in the lighthouse.

“Oh my, such a bold proposal, my liege.” Flins muses, “Out of curiosity, may I know how did the young master respond when you proposed the same question to him?”

You raised your head to meet Flins’ gaze and smiled. “He ran away!”

“He WHAT?” Nikita nearly choked over his own words. What do you mean the promising young man he raised ran away from your confession? He ought to teach him some manners– Wait no, did you confess to Illuga or straight up ask for the young man’s hand in marriage, just like you did when asking for Nikita’s blessing? What was going on???

While Nikita was having an existential crisis, Flins on the other hand was smiling from ear to ear, looking like the very image of the cat that got the cream. The way he sways his lantern in one hand is more than an obvious sign of his good mood, his voice dancing a singsong tone as he follows up with another question. “Oh? Is that why the young master left Piramida in such a rush?”

“Yes Sir!” You answer truthfully, not a single hint of guilt in your voice as you continue to speak happily. “I couldn’t catch up to him so I came straight to Sir Nikita to ask for his blessings first! Do I have permission to marry your son, sir!?”

In Nikita’s mind, his head was being held in his hands. Nikita doesn’t know what is going on. Nikita wants to disappear. Nikita is gone.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the Starshyna finally coughed into his fists and steeled his nerves to speak somewhat formally.

“Young lightkeeper, I cannot make this decision for Illuga. He is a bright young person just like you, capable of making his own decisions. Regarding your… concerns about his future status, it is normal for a young man like him to feel lost on an answer when proposed with such a bold question. Therefore, you should give him time to think it over. Let him decide what he wants for his future.”

(Aka: Please go directly to Illuga. Ask him for his hand in marriage again. Don’t ask me, not for this time being. This old man is going to have a heart attack)

Thankfully, you seemed to get his message and nod thoughtfully, soaking in the leader’s words like a sponge. Once he finished speaking, you gave another solemn nod and cheerfully spoke up again. “I understand, sir! I will continue to find other ways to make your son happy! Please do not worry, I will take good care of him and place his safety as my utmost priority!!”

“Wait, that’s not–”

The Starshyna can barely get another word out before you’re called by your squad leader for patrol. Without turning around, you wave enthusiastically towards Flins and Nikita before disappearing out of sight as swift as the wind.

Once you were out of sight, Flins turned slowly towards the man beside him. “You look as pale as a ghost, Sir Nikita,” he sings merrily. “If it was anyone other than me, they may have assumed that you just came back from the Final Night Cemetery."

“... Sir Flins, please… let me gather my thoughts first before you decide to tease me…”

"Mephie, move."

He blinked.

"That's my spot," you whispered, attempting to shoo him away, "Go back to your perch or wherever the hell you sleep."

The little shit snuggled closer.

You had half a mind to grab him and chuck him out of the bed, but you took a deep breath, closed your eyes, and did your best to calm yourself down. You were not about to get jealous over a bird, a mechanical bird at that. You were better than this. However, when you opened your eyes, you quickly decided that you were, in fact, not better than this. Mephisto was staring straight at you, and you swore to god his dumb little beak was curled into a smirk.

You shoved your finger in the direction of Sylus' sleeping figure and then towards yourself, "Mine."

The crow let out a small coo and closed his eyes, remaining nestled up against your boyfriend. You huffed, glaring daggers at the bird. Fine, if that's how it's gonna be. You squirmed your way through the sheets until you were in an optimal position and flopped down right on top of Sylus, the figure below you letting out a muffled grunt as you landed. You slipped your arms between the mattress and his waist, securing your hold on him, then turned your head towards Mephisto. He was watching you from his spot, seemingly doing his best to mimic your prior glare. You smiled and closed your eyes, pleased with your obvious victory.

It wasn't more than five minutes later that you heard the familiar rustling of feathers. You glanced up and found—much to your dismay—Mephisto cuddled up on Sylus' head.

You were so going to dismantle that bird.