
Chapter 14 : Aéphyra
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- NITH-HAIAH - The Angel of Divine Magic
***
Before me, a creature with translucent wings flutters, its shadow barely grazing the ground. Capturing the moment of its graceful flight that fills the air with magic, time seems to have come to a halt.
In a delicate gown, like a lace veil gently draped over her pale skin, she appears to float with elegance. This ethereal and refined attire highlights her slender figure. Her green eyes, reminiscent of spring grass, add a touch of nature and freshness to her beauty.
She steps barefoot onto the cold grass and moves closer to me, observing me closely and sniffing me all over.
- What are you doing? And who are you?, I asked, taking a step back.
She straightens and then bows before me with majestic poise.
- I am Aéphyra, queen and mother of the Selphies.
She looks deeply into my eyes.
- I sense something in you... A divine power.
- That's probably because I'm an angel. It feels strange to say that about myself.
- A pure angel, how strange; it's been far too long since I've sensed a pure angel in this world.
As I observe her, I notice she hasn't blinked even once.
- What's your name, little pure angel?
- My name is Marie Gaby, I replied, bowing to her in the same manner.
Small sparks emerge from behind a tree trunk and drift toward us. They hover near the Selphie's ear. I don't hear their voices as I do with Aéphyra, but rather the soft chirps of tiny birds, reminiscent of those I'd hear every morning upon waking in my world.
- My children just told me they've seen you near a garden with another figure. Are you an ally of those creatures?
- Who, Hayden? He has his quirks but is a kind person. Why?
- You must be careful, angel. What you think is, may not be, and what you cannot see is real.
- What does that mean? And why can't I hear your children?
- Because I am the wind's guardian mother. I possess enough power to speak to those who have little.
She moves closer again, scrutinizing my irises so intensely that she seems to dive deep into them, brushing against my soul.
- I sense a forthcoming evolution in the air, little angel. Do not mix with other creatures and, above all, avoid demons who would use you. For if they ever do, it will be the end of worlds.
I remain silent, absorbed by the softness of her voice, unwilling for her to stop speaking. Suddenly, a crackling sound from afar in the woods makes me abruptly turn around. My back is now facing Aéphyra when the sparkling lights vanish. I quickly check, confirming they've disappeared. On edge, I carefully scan the surroundings, searching for what might have frightened the magical forest creatures.
- Who's there?, I shouted.
Taking the initiative, I start to search for something to defend myself, just in case. My eyes settle on a hefty piece of wood, perfect for use as an improvised baseball bat. I grasp it tightly, ready to face whatever is causing this unease.
- It's just me.
- Hayden?
The shadow approaches slowly, revealing an increasingly distinct silhouette, and I clearly discern a blond glint that makes me realize who it is. My heart begins to calm, and I notice the exact moment it had started racing.
Hadrien, I said, still holding the stick, squinting to make sure I'm not mistaken.
- Yes, it's me. What are you doing alone in the forest, in the dark, without anyone to accompany you?
- I... I got lost. Don't come any closer.
I can make out his familiar features, the blond of his hair, and the expression on his face. Memories flood back, and I feel a mix of wariness and curiosity.
Standing about five meters away from me, I don't want him to come any closer, especially after what happened during our first encounter.
- Alright, I won't move. Are you afraid of me?
- Afraid? Pff, no.
- Then why are you still clutching that stick?
I glance down, realizing my fist is indeed still tightly gripping the wood without me noticing.
- Aren't you supposed to be resting after your injuries?
- Oh, I see the little angel is worried about me, he said with a sly smile.
- No, not at all.
- You wound me, he said, feigning mock pain and placing a hand on his chest as if catching an arrow piercing his heart.
The thought crosses my mind, and I decide to retrace his path. I immediately set off, brushing past him as our shoulders almost touch.
I hope to find that blasted trail that will lead me back to the dormitory.
- Where are you going, little angel?
- I'm heading back.
- That's not the way!
I keep walking silently, ignoring his words, hearing only the crunch of branches beneath my feet and his, still trailing five meters behind me.
After a while, I feel like my mind is trapped in a maze, realizing I'm going in circles, unable to find the right path.
Suddenly, I stop and perceive his smirk at my hesitation. I cast him a frosty glare, refusing to let him claim the victory of being right. His smug smile baffles me, realizing he's been quietly enjoying watching me struggle for some time.
- Why are you smiling? Does it amuse you to see me fail?, I asked, frowning.
- Yes, it's quite amusing, I must say, he replied, grinning broadly.
- By the way, why are you following me? You have wings; you can fly and easily return.
- Yes, I could normally, but during the demon invasion, I was stripped of all my feathers. Did you forget ?
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth, once turned up, gradually drooped and are now parallel to their initial position.
It must weigh heavily on him.
- Does that mean you'll never fly again?, I asked delicately.
Despite his impassive façade, I detect a flicker of sorrow in his dark eyes, hidden behind his mask of indifference.
- No !
Why do I feel pity for him right now?
- I'm sorry for you, I said sincerely.
In a flash, he grabs my arm, pulling me behind him and leading us in another direction. His strength surprises me, and I find myself being dragged along, unable to resist.
- Ouch, you're hurting me. Let go of me.
With a swift motion, I raise my right arm, still holding the stick, and try to strike him to make him release me, but it's futile. He snatches it from my hands before I can use it and, with a powerful gesture, throws it far away, breaking several branches violently in its path.
- Stay calm!, he shouts as he continues walking, still gripping me.
I don't want to follow him. I mustn't follow him. My inner voice repeats this phrase over and over since he grabbed my wrist.
I try to slow us down by dragging my feet, but the effort is useless. Tears of pain begin to well up as I see my fingers turning purple.
- STOP!, I finally screamed.
He stops abruptly, and as he turns around, he takes a deep breath to start speaking. However, when he sees my pained expression and the tears still streaming down my cheeks, he immediately softens, and the anger vanishes from his face.
He observes our hands for a moment before realizing what he's done to put me in this state, and he quickly lets go.
As soon as my hand is free, I pull it close to me, exhaling in relief and keeping it pressed to my chest, waiting for the color to return to normal. When it does, I notice the imprint of his hand, which, in contrast, doesn't seem to fade. Raising my head, ready to scold him for this, I find myself unable to... he's disappeared.
- Hadrien?
I whisper imperceptibly, the branches of the trees seeming to hold their breath, suspended in an almost frozen moment. The shadows timidly dance, capturing the glow of a complicit moon. The silence envelops each shiver, leaving a world without life.
- I'm here.
He reappears without a sound behind me, like a thief tiptoeing to avoid getting caught.
- You scared me, I shouted, startled, my heart pounding.
- Don't exaggerate. I went to get you this.
He shows me a plant, handing it to me, and I take it with my uninjured hand.
- What is this? A clover?
- A clover? No, it's a Felse.
It really looks like a four-leaf clover.
- A Felse? Why are you giving me this flower? Or rather, this green plant.
Hadrien bursts out laughing as if my words had inadvertently triggered a comical reaction.
- But you're... what's the word again for people who can't see the same colors as others? he asks, cutting off his laughter.
- You mean colorblind?
- Yes, that's it, he confirms, resuming his laughter.
- Is that thought what makes you laugh?
- No, little fool, it's you who makes me laugh, the colorblind one. This plant is yellow.
- Yellow?
I bring the plant closer to my eyes, examining it from different angles, and finally, I notice its yellow hue. Timidly, I admit this discovery to him.
- Oh, right, it's not my fault. It's the contrast of the bluish moonlight under the trees and the color of the plant that gave me the illusion it was green, I said defensively.
- Sure, colorblind one, he replies, clearly not believing my excuse for a second. Now eat it!
- What do you mean, eat it? I repeated, perplexed by his request.
- Are you colorblind and deaf too?
I resume examining the plant in front of my eyes, holding it delicately between my thumb and index finger. My gaze then falls on him, trying to decipher the seriousness of his demand. I start to sniff it and discover a particularly sweet smell, reminiscent of honey.
Losing patience, Hadrien snatches the plant from my hands before holding my jaw to place it inside my mouth.
- What...
- Chew and swallow, it'll help.
Eyes closed, I'm surprised by the taste, which is nothing like sweet honey but more like a spoonful of salt. I try to swallow it with difficulty, resisting the urge to spit it out.
- It's so bitter, ugh.
- The best remedies are bitter.
- So it's a remedy, but why?
I keep swallowing, trying to get used to the taste lingering in my mouth.
- For... your arm, he replies, lowering his eyes to my wrist, still curled up and motionless against my chest.
After this disastrous encounter and everything that followed, I didn't expect him to have a sympathetic side.
He's not just a pervert; I misjudged him.
- Come on, move now. It's super late, and I'm exhausted.
- Oh, okay.
***
Arriving in the room, I notice all the girls are already deeply asleep, except for one.
Elise's bed is empty and neatly made; she probably hasn't come back yet.
In the dim light of the bathroom, as cold water flows over my skin to soothe the pain, I see more clearly the marks of his grip under the harsh light of the bulb. The yellow and purple hues signal the beginning of a bruise, reviving memories of that intense pain when I feared my wrist might break under the pressure.
It still hurts, but less than before, probably thanks to the yellow plant, the Felse.
After my shower, as I put on my pajamas, I notice the colors on my skin have disappeared. Gently moving my wrist, I also realize there's no longer any pain, as if the suffering had dissolved in the water.
That plant is truly magical; I should take some with me when I return to my world. That is, if I ever... go back.
Lying under the blanket, my eyelids close, and I let myself be enveloped by the arms of sleep, plunging into the elusive depths of the unconscious.
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