Hiding away in a corner, I tried hopelessly to wipe my tears.
The throbbing pain within my chest was heavy.
So, it was a relief to know that the attending guests were distracted by the people dancing in the middle of the hall. They held onto their partners or wives and gently swayed back and forth.
I raised my arms and held onto my shoulders, trying to hide my cries. The horrible feeling was drowning and depriving. I kept speaking to myself as I just wanted to hide from the rest of the world.
I was a lonely child growing up in our Kingdom Duldat; I was free to explore the woods without a single care in the world. I found solace in the wildlife and trees of my birthplace. So, I knew how lonely he was, to the extent that I was informed he was similar to me. However, I didn’t realize that his pain bore deeper and more infectious…
*
Several days ago, when my father and I had spent a few nights in the manor, I walked in on Lord Valum speaking to my father about Caleb and his situation.
“I can assure you, old friend, that your son will be treated with respect and won’t be ignored by anyone; none of my people or the people who live in our Kingdom will look upon him with malice.” My father was drinking from a cup of wine.
“That is why I agreed to this in the first place. It’s not a good place for Caleb to be here anymore; he needs to live a better life, and I cannot provide that anymore. When Dunick left with his wife, he lost the only best friend and brother he had here. Sad to say, Caleb finally showed some emotion when Dunick rode off.”
“I didn’t know any of your children were close with young Caleb.”
“They weren’t, but Dunick, my son, is a good person; I am proud to be his father, both of their fathers.”
“Dunick became a Commander just a few years ago, didn’t he? And now he is married to the beautiful Yuno. It must be difficult to leave such a studious home as yours.”
“Dunick knew his responsibilities. However, he never lost his mother’s kindness.”
“Lady Morwen was a fantastic woman. May her memory live on for as long as the world turns.”
“Yes, very much so. She was amazing. She was taken far too soon, but she did give me Dunick and Tara, such wonderful children of hers.”
“I’m jealous that you have such proud children. I’m afraid that my sons are so busy with their pilgrimage that I never had time to raise them.”
“You can with Caleb.”
“Surely you jest, you are his father-“
“I am his father, but I was never a dad to him. I never paid much attention to him, only keeping him hidden. And I am paying for it.”
“Valum?”
“Never mind me, just speaking out loud. You can treat him as your son; he will be soon either way. Are you sure Tia is comfortable with the arrangement?”
“She seems to be a bit ignorant about the proposal, but she is still very young, so the concept of marriage hasn’t been one she gives much thought to. Hopefully, she will be more aware of her role by the time the engagement occurs.”
“You were more than willing to part with her and Caleb together; what made you decide so easily?”
“Tia is very much like Caleb; she keeps to herself, only allowing me and a select few to get close. I am hoping that having a boy around her age and someone she must interact with will help her out of her little social problem.”
I had been listening to them for a moment. The door I had my ear against started to creak and move. I was startled and tripped over my own feet as I tried to pull it back. Hitting the floor, I quickly stood to my feet to face the eyes of the two men.
“Tia? What are you doing?” My father asks while trying to conceal his laugh.
“Oh, um! I just! I… Well… I heard you talking…” I was stuttering and a nervous mess.
“It’s quite alright, dear; you can join us here.”
“If you say so, father…” I approach cautiously.
“I can tell you are curious about him, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Caleb is a good boy. He isn’t very talkative, but from what Celia and Milia have told me the past few years, he likes reading many books and researching history.” Valum speaks proudly like a father who knows his child is already better than he had hoped.
“He likes to read?”
“Oh? Are you an avid reader yourself?”
“Mhm! I read all sorts of books! Mainly adventure and grand stories with dragons and tales of heroes!” I was a bookworm who would explore the forest and find an excellent tree to lay in, only to read and sleep.
“What a wonderful past time. You and Caleb have things in common; this is a great time to be young again.”
“My friend, you are still a young lad yourself.”
“Speak for yourself, Soldat; you have barely lived out your life.”
“Was he really close with his siblings? I see them often outside playing, but he is never around when they are.” I ask curiously.
“That is… Well, as you know, he has white hair.”
“Yeah, isn’t that a bad thing?”
“Well, to some, they think it’s bad; to many others, they don’t see it bad unless they know they have done something bad. My boy Caleb hasn’t done anything bad in his life. He is just lonely.”
“What about his brother? What was different with him?”
“Dunick? Well… Dunick took a liking to his younger brother quite quickly. He would read him bedtime stories, play with him, everything an older brother would do.”
“My brothers never did that for me…”
“Tia, darling, your brothers were so busy with their own lives that they never meant to leave you out.”
“It’s okay, father; I knew they wanted to leave for a while. Just I wished they could have spoken to me…”
“Well, just between you and me, I’ll tell you all about Caleb if you like. Then, hopefully, you two can bond together.”
I nodded to the man, and he told me about Caleb’s life and that he took him in when he was barely four years old. Telling me the times that Dunick gave his love to his brother despite the ire of his other siblings; he didn’t care and would leave a lasting impression on him. Caleb was soon alone just a few years later as Dunick had become a Scarlet Knight and a recommended Obsidian title as well. Maybe that was what helped me feel attracted to Caleb. He lived in a different world than I did, but we also shared similar outlooks on our environment. That night, when he used his magic, the blue streaks of lightning he produced were something I never thought possible.
*
Which is why it hurts so much when Caleb reacts like that. What he said and the throbbing pain in my chest. I couldn’t think of anything but how I felt like I screwed up, how maybe if I understood him better, I could have said the right thing to someone suffering more than I could imagine.
I didn’t know how it could work now… I had planned things to go differently, not like this. Thoughts of giving up on everything and going to my father in my current state were an option. Until his voice pierced my ears…
“My lady, would you like to have this dance,” Caleb spoke confidently.
“C-Caleb?” My voice was trembling; I didn’t know how to respond except to stare. His hand spread toward me with the ease of invitation.
“Would you allow me to make it up to you? Fix the mistake earlier, please.” He spoke with such vigor and determination; it was almost soothing.
“But I… I can’t go out like this-“
“You look fine, Tia. Come on, take my hand.” His alluring eyes drew me in, and without much doubt or thought, I felt his fingers overlap mine, and before I could blink, we were in the middle of the party. I began to feel self-conscious about everyone. Knowing that I had been crying, my eyes were red.
“I never told you; you look quite beautiful.”
“H-Huh?” My face grew red in embarrassment; his hands soon clasped mine, and our feet began moving.
“Just like that, don’t need to rush.” He whispered gently, trying to calm me down.
“I-I don’t know how to dance, everyone is looking at me, this isn’t what I-“
“Want to know a secret?”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know either.”
“What do you mean?”
“I never needed to learn… But that shouldn’t matter.”
“It does; we are going to mess up and-“
“Just keep looking at me. Everything else is just a background. Let’s just be ourselves if we are in the spotlight.”
A wave of warmth washed over me. For the first time, I felt safe to stop caring. Stop worrying about those around me—the eyes that looked at our lack of experience, everything.
“That’s it, just follow my lead, just stay with me, and we can lead each other.”
The music rang in the hall like a melody, guiding our steps back and forth. A bright smile curled across my lips.
I was enjoying the spotlight.
*
The dance was nothing short of two children going back and forth. It wasn’t special, it wasn’t memorable, but the display of innocence and carefree of will was moving to the masses that when they began to slow and stop, light applause had brought waves of respect, even slight, enough to acknowledge that these two children were destined for each other regardless of condition…
The boy’s father stared with a bright smile and a small tear shed; he could never be happier to see his child grow this much in such a short time. He could only wish that his son would continue to become even more significant in the future.
The girl’s father also observed with joy, a never-ending look of happiness of a parent watching two children sharing a moment together. With a confident look, he mutters to himself his overwhelming joy and claps along with the mass.
After their basic yet powerful display, the two young souls decide to leave the hall for a private talk. The tension between Caleb and Tia was something that still needed to be mended.
Slipping into a private quarter, they sat close to one another. The awkward silence kept their lips sealed.
Until the young elf broke through that silence.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Tia smiles with a sly grin.
“You know you act more mature than you give off, then you go back to being childish for no reason.”
“I know; I think it’s okay to be expressive in the moment.”
Their hands drew closer to one another; Caleb, deep down, had a regret and wanted to remove it from his heart.
“I am sorry.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“Did you dislike it?”
“Quite the opposite, I loved it. Doesn’t mean I forgive you entirely.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“You did, but I feel I’ll cry again with you.”
A looming sigh escapes Caleb’s lips. A deep bitterness swelled in his stomach. Until her fingers lay on him, perking his head, he spots the young elf staring at him. Her emerald eyes keep him frozen still.
“I want to know more about you, Caleb, so please let me in behind this veil you cloak yourself.”
“I want to, but I don’t know how.”
“Didn’t you open up with your brother? I am sure you can do so again.”
“Dunick approached me, and I felt inclined to since he was my brother and all.”
“Well, I am approaching you now, aren’t I? Why am I different?”
“It’s harder to explain…”
“Why don’t you just tell me.”
She begins to draw closer. Caleb feels the tension and begins to draw closer as well. His mind filled with nothing but this young, beautiful elf. The thought never really hit him until now, but she is meant to be his wife in just under five years. A sudden feeling of joy filled his heart, and the thought of hurting her like he did brought shame to his soul, and a silent pact was written upon his heart.
Their faces were closer, their breath tingling their cheeks. Tia fully accepted this coupling, and Caleb was willing to open up to her if she had accepted him and what he meant.
Creek…
Just before they could accept one another, the sound of the wood slowly cracking under a weight caught them off guard. However, the sudden figure in the room with them was nothing but a cold fright that chilled their skin.
Caleb held his breath when the cold steel of a short blade reflected the moonlight hitting the room. The hooded figure looked at the two children and raised the short sword lustfully.
“Well, what do we have here, the cursed child within my reach? Just my luck.”
