"You're doing it again."
The sound of his voice cut through the air like a blade, making you jolt in the grass. Birds gently flew above you as their flight caused some nearby leaves to scatter, one nearly hitting you square in the face.
That scene made the dark haired man chuckle just a bit.
Winter was edging closer, you could feel it - your fingertips were chilly, the forest was much more silent than it typically was. Most of the hunters even started to cut down the trees in preparation for the colder months, your family included.
Sometimes, you'd catch your friend grumbling something underneath his breath, those pale lips of his twisted into a deep frown as he made himself scarce, as if the sunlight itself terrified him.
Speaking of your friend...
It had been a few months since your paths crossed. The day was still fresh in your memory - spring was in full swing, the fresh blooms scattered all over the dewy grass as you happily plucked them from the ground, carefully weaving them into the small wooden basket which lay on your side.
You could still remember how badly your lungs ached, how desperately you wished to cough so hard that blood would taint the ground but alas, it was the smarter choice not to do so.
He came to you like a shadow, suddenly and almost fearfully. The darkness provided ample cover for him, his eyes going back and forth between your form and the basket.
In your eyes, he looked so silly. A fully grown man acting so bashful... How adorable, you pondered to yourself.
A thought occurred to you in that moment - why is a strange man so neck deep into the woods? He looked young, perhaps somewhere around your age, it was difficult to tell from the distance. His clothing looked fine, almost regal even, to your eyes at least. He stuck out like a sore thumb against all of the different shades of green and pink, the brown bark of the trees making him look almost like an onyx of sorts.
Dare it be said, he looked handsome. Like a fairytale character straight out of a children's book. He had the face of a sweet prince, and the aura of a mysterious character you could not quite put your finger on.
Perhaps he was like you, seeking shelter from the cruel outside world. Ever since you were born, a strange illness has plagued your entire being, tampering with not just your life but with your magic as well.
It has always been your greatest dream to join a guild, but your family simply never allowed it. Even when they were smiling or trying to be kind, the fear in their eyes was palpable - something was just wrong with you.
The neighborhood kids fancied calling you a cursed being, someone who was doomed to die alone. Your poor magic did not help, for one moment it could cause an entire garden to sprout out fresh new buds, only for them to immediately wither away with the flicker of your wrist.
This misery never went away. It was better this way for you, to hide in the forest when you could. The whole town definitely seemed to agree, so...
You could still feel how his eyes bore deep into your own, as if he wished to say something but fear had stopped him. A sudden wave of bravery washed over your soul and without hesitation, you called out to the stranger.
And nothing has been the same ever since.
He never told you his name. Whenever that topic would come into the conversation, he'd just give you a polite smile, his fingers gently clutching the bottom part of his robe as he changed the subject. You decided to play a game, and that game was to call him every name you could possibly think of until you got it right.
So far, no dice. Not even the most obscure, ancient name could shake him.
He liked to tell you stories, those dark eyes of his widening with emotions so strong that you wondered just what sort of darkness this man was carrying. Your pain felt like nothing compared to his, but he never talked about himself, not ever. He seemed to be very fascinated with your day to day life though, for he'd always ask you the simplest questions - when did you wake up, what did you eat, tell him about the people in your life, tell him anything.
Well, he never actually said that last part out loud. But that look he'd give you, it told you everything you needed to know.
Just how long was this strange man stuck here, all alone? When was the last time he had a proper conversation with another human being? Small hoards of animals would sometimes trail after him, but that was it. He showed no signs of having any friends or relatives.
It really did seem as though you became a huge piece of his world.
He would always listen to your stories with such intent, as if he was living vicariously through you. A flicker of genuine anger would glimmer in his eye whenever you'd say how the townspeople called you cursed, but he never commented on that much.
That anger of his... It didn't suit him. He was always so kind and thoughtful, even if he was incredibly strange. The man just loved his personal space, even if he did look as if he wanted nothing more but to bear hug you some days.
"You're daydreaming again." Said the black haired man, his eyes still glued onto the darkening sky above him. His posture was relaxed, one leg crossed against the other as his hands rested at the back of his head. You couldn't help but to flush at that, the embarrassment of being called out too much to handle. His chuckle soothed your nerves though, the sound sweet as it spilled out of his lips, almost like wine.
From the corner of your eye, you could see how the forest was dying. The grass was grey, the trees were barren, as if a phantom carelessly walked through the place. Although, it was beyond strange how... Outright perfect the decay was, so to say. Everything was contained in without a circle, as if the damage was done by magic instead of human hands. Humanity's marks were always much more messy and clunky, while this... It seemed almost refined.
Too perfect in its withering.
You always wondered if this was his doing. Your magic was shabby at best, but even a novice such as yourself could tell that this person was strong. His intelligence did not match his pretty face, which made him more terrifying somehow.
Sometimes when the sun dips and the moon rises, you would daydream about him. Would he kill you? Was he actually your friend?
What was he hiding?
If he didn't like you, surely he already would have been on his merry way...? He was impossible to read and when you called him out on that, all he did was chuckle.
Rude. Even so...
Turning away the only real company you've had in years was out of the question. He could keep his secrets close to his chest, just as long as he didn't leave.
That was all you really wanted.
And you were pretty sure that he knew that. Even with the distance, you could tell that there was a certain softness deep within his heart.
Would he ever allow you to grasp it?
Only time would tell...
