The night painted the sky in silken layers. It was bathed by numerous shining stars that surrounded the massive moon. Lustrous light washed over the lands and the form of a young man. Lyriel sat by the fireplace, the side of the shrine as he tended to his injury. He dabbed a torn cloth over his waist. Kar watching silently.
"Ugh. Fuck!" There was irritation in his silver eyes as he winced. The fabric dropped into the stone pot out of annoyance, hot water splashing onto the ground.
Lyriel wasn't the type to treat injuries, especially with light injuries like this. He would always leave them to heal on their own—A drug lord bound to never show weakness. The deep scars that marred across his chest during a drug trading ambush healed naturally. The thigh bruise he'd gotten from a security fence? Healed. Painless. So were the others he'd gotten all through the hassle.
But this. The cut wasn't deep, how was it he would barely make a twist and pain would erupt like volcano. It was a miracle while making it back.
The last time Lyriel had felt this harrowing pain; He was eleven. The Brokers, slave traders that imported orphans for the purpose of drug smuggling, struck at his feet and snapped his ankle because he made a mild repulsion before an operation. He would remember the tears he shed as they struck him continuously, their laughters akin to death notes, the scent of alcohol, the clammy grounds. They shaped him into something miserable. Living became a burden, even after the wound healed.
Thus, Lyriel was grateful for another life given to him. But not this kind that wasn't pain tolerant.
"I'll miss that old man" He lifted his gaze with a sad smile tugged on his lips. "He was broken... But perfect. Somehow." Nostalgia crawled up his chest. Deep breaths.
Lyriel could not go back to that life again.
This current life, he had to make good use of it. That said; He wasn't invincible. He could be injured, or worse—Killed. This vessel was green. Brimming with hopeful things. He only had to monitor how he involved himself with other people. In summary, he wasn't saviour material.
Kar whined and floated over as he noticed the still look on his master's face, glaring into an unknown direction above him. He appeared lost in his thoughts, speaking to himself. The beast assumed Lyriel to be troubled from the pain of being injured so he flew closer with moist teary eyes to console him.
Purr...
Lyriel snapped back to reality. The sad look on Kar's face almost caused a chuckle. The man waved his hand.
"Hey, hey, what's with that mom to son's look? Nobody's dying yet!" With a scoff, Lyriel resumed dapping the injured area gently, facing elsewhere." ...Unless you want me to."
Kar returned to his position, chuffing. His tails moved around him and he curled into a small furry cocoon. He huffed when Lyriel slid him a fleeting look.
From within, Kar peeked with beady eyes. "you're insufferable and unbearable but still, go on."
The wound was tended until the bleeding stopped and the water colour in the stone bowl before Lyriel had turned a dark shade of red. Brows furrowing, Lyriel glanced down. Silver gaze observed it expressionlessly. For a small cut, he'd seriously lost a ton of blood. What magic he had not passed out from blood loss yet.
He stretched the dry piece of cloth and tied around his waist after he padded it. There, that should help.
"See!" He weaved onto Kar's direction. "Guess who's not dying tonight. At least, not from blood loss. Now, you can quit mourning me before some death god starts hunting for a new soul."
Whatever. I don't care. Kar tucked deeper into the warmth of his tails in straight ignorance; Growling tiredly. A feminine voice interrupted the conversation from behind Lyriel.
"Mâlki already has much to bother hunting."
It was light and soothing, and perhaps the only voice Lyriel had heard in this new life asides from his since he transmigrated. Languid steps followed suite as Lyriel whirled on the incoming person. Black-purple eyes found his face after which the intriguing woman briskly surveyed the environment. Lyriel monitored her line of stride and watched as she sat on the stone mounted opposite of the fireplace. Then her gaze where on his.
"..."
"...?"
"You're healed?" Lyriel first choked out, he studied the purple flecks of her eyes closely. The healing potion must've had a quick effect?
The length of her midnight hair danced dashingly with the winds. The other figure smiled, returning the close gaze. Eyes clashing in silent combat. It held bemusement rather than apprehension that made Lyriel's heart flutter. Honestly she was just too beautiful.
"I should be asking you why you healed me when you needed it also." As she spoke, she rested her chin above her palm to face Lyriel better. The beautiful lady was silently trying to figure out Lyriel's intentions.
Lyriel sighed."A gentleman has to do what he must do."
"Even to strangers?" Attention growing, the arch of her thin brows raised in questioned.
The men she'd crossed path with were all shrewd, self-centered ingots. The silver haired man repeated, nodding as if it were the least of his worries.
"Even to strangers..."
Impressive...
Neither of them spoke as she nodded.
At the dead of the night, only the crinkling of burning wood disturbed. The faint gleams of the wood embers illuminated the area with fire sparks coming off the flames. Kar had already dozed off. Lyriel's brows creased. She was staring into the fire again. A grave expression etched her face —one Lyriel had seen, and sometimes, experienced. He knew that look. Something related to betrayal, or could he just try finding out.
"So. How long have you been around..." He started, voice low. "Mine's been one week, searching for my sister's cure... She is really ill."
"Your sister?" That seemed to pique her interest, because her attention drifted back to Lyriel. A look of concern masked her demeanor thoroughly. "From what?"
"Mana deficiency. But I managed a cure." Lyriel answered, watching as her concern morphed into curiosity.
"What type of cure."
"Curious? Let's just keep that aside, for now." Lyriel managed a grin. "What about you, what brought you here? Surely, I wouldn't believe you live where such thing as those lurk around?" He arched his jaw on the direction between two trees. Where they had emerged from not long ago. No one in their sane mind would live here. She wouldn't either. What brought her here?...
Suddenly, her gaze turned ferocious. Like a predator who had just been threatened, her eyes turned sharp and deadly. She leaned back and hostility emanated from where she sat. It was almost like she wanted to kill him, unless that she hadn't made any attempt.
"How sure are you I don't have a cottage few yards down? Or, I'm not just a tree nomad roaming freely in it's territory?" Narrowed eyes dug at Lyriel. Every sentence felt like a threat, but to Lyriel, he found himself even more amused. Knowing he was being nosy was one thing. The audacity, another.
Lips curled into a smile. Her spitefulness was just as magnificent as her beauty. His silver eyes flickered with the wood lights.
"You jest, but I do not believe that should be the case. Is it?" His smile didn't falter as he stared her down where leather boots met ground.
"Then what should be the case, sir Lyriel" She focused on Lyriel's handsome smiling face. "Trying to manipulate me into opening to you..."
A visible stun leaked from Lyriel's otherwise calm expression.
"What? I would never—" Lyriel's pair of remarkable silver eyes widened into saucer. She cut him off.
"We've only just met." She cocked an eyebrow. "You don't expect acquaintance from a girl just because you saved her life. Although, It might've worked for other girls. Those smooth tongue..." She paused and her lips twitched. "I am not other girls."
Damn. If ever Lyriel had a chance of getting to her, it was long gone now. The young woman before him was really pissed. Admittedly, he was trying to manipulate her. That was kind of his thing. And everyone, every girl— just as she said— had always fallen for it. None could resist it. Except somehow, she'd seen through him. She even challenged his intentions. Something about her confidence puzzled Lyriel also attracted him.
"You misjudge me" The youth chuckled, feeling a sudden lightness smother his chest. He failed to notice the effect as the woman scoffed.
"Tell that to those eyes of yours that wouldn't stop staring like they want to have me whole." She reeled stray black hair behind the curves of pink ears.
"I can't say I don't want to" He didn't deny it. "I've always had a taste for exquisite things. But, not now. Not here." He glanced at the entrance of the shrine. "I'd never take advantage of a beautiful lady."
Out of the blues, the scowl on the woman's face straightened. A thought popped into her head and the whitened knuckles above her wrist relaxed. Seems he wasn't like other shrewd men. A soft laughter ringed through the night and it must have been the most pleasant sound for Lyriel. There was less of that bothering sadistic look replaced by an undeniable elegance. Lyriel was totally hooked.
Her legs crossed each other as she smirked. The moon blessed her sylph figure. "That gladdens me. You're different. I wonder what other options of settlements do we have?"
Lyriel puzzled over the question until a realization struck. A blink. Another blink. She just fucking played him! "She's sly."
"She's just cautious."
"Then, we'll just go for your name."
"Melwyn Sardonyx."