What?
The young figure’s dark eyes narrowed like needles and she instinctively turned her face, though she didn’t really need to to check that no one was behind.
Turning her gaze she could see that Quin had cocked her head to the side, also peering behind her with curiosity, and then tilted her head looking at her with a questioning face.
– Hmm?
– ………!
It was difficult to describe the shock that her expression was conveying at that moment, as if her mind could not assimilate the reality of being watched by a simple girl.
– Quin… were you saying something? – Airy asked, concentrating on her work.
– No … I’m talking to the dark lady …
– Miss Dark? – lifting her head.
– She…
When they both turned their gaze to where the figure should be, only Quin’s hand remained extended forward.
– Who?
– Emmmmmm … – rubbing her chin while looking at her empty palm – … strange …
Knowing Quin, Airy easily dismissed the matter. However, a figure watching them from the top of a building would take a long time to come out of its daze.
–
–
The hours passed and the sunlight was hiding on the horizon. After saying goodbye to Airy, Bran went upstairs with a sleepy little girl on his back. He placed her on his bed and closed the large window that faced outside. The day still had rest, as well as he had a lot of work to attend to.
After 6 months in the capital, things were finally becoming normal and without unexpected shocks. Thanks to this peace, the time of its second foundation was finally around the corner.
Giving one last look at Quin he left the room in the direction of the workshop, and thus finally the room fell silent with only sporadic murmurs from Sleeping Beauty.
– ………
But it wasn’t just silence that accompanied Quin in that room. There was someone who was not sleeping, nor was she producing any noise or vision, but was standing static next to the bed watching her strange target.
She did not hesitate to follow them and invade the property, although now she did not seem to know exactly what to do there.
There was nothing strange in that house, nor in that room. After a long silence, she began to observe the decorated environment full of children’s things. Indecisive in her actions, she finally sat down on a small bench in front of a mirror which gave her an empty image.
Little by little that emptiness was distorted and gave way to a jovial face, perhaps smaller than Airy, but that could not look more different. With black hair tied in a simple ponytail, added to a cold expression etched in her eyes. Her tight dark-hued dress didn’t help the comparison either.
When was the last time someone else had seen her face? Without realizing it, her mind wandered between empty memories and her eyelids began to feel heavy, until at some point they closed and she was thus sitting in front of the mirror … for silent hours.
– Mmmña …
– ………!
The activity quickly awakened her senses and she disappeared as she rolled onto the bed.
There was Quin with her head raised and her eyes half closed, who after a long yawn stretched her arms and looked towards the window. After seeing the moon overhead, she lowered her arms and her body fell embracing the pillow, letting peaceful silence reign in the room again.
– ………
That had been a false alarm.
Now awake, she walked around the room again and ended up taking a curious green book with gold letters resting on a piece of furniture: “The basics for little girls.”
~ Swish
Having nothing to do, she opened it with little interest to read a few words. Then she read a sentence … then several paragraphs … and in the next few minutes she found herself turning page after page completely absorbed by its content. Her concentrated face was showing more signs of bewilderment with each step, but it was when she turned one of the last pages that her hands trembled to the point that the book fell loudly.
~ Knock!
– ……… !!
Impossible.
She looked at her open hands as if the book was still there and she couldn’t accept what she had just seen.
– Hmm?
A sleepy voice could be heard behind, and then she came out of her stupor realizing the mistake. She turned slowly only to see that two vivid sapphire eyes were intercepting her from the bed.
………!
How was this possible? Could she see her so easily? Would she start screaming? What should she do? Silence it? Backing out? She had no orders about it.
– Emm … dark lady … What are you doing around here?
– ………………?
Silence.
All her questions abruptly stopped at that face bent in genuine curiosity, lacking any hint of the reaction she would expect.
What?
Quin sat up and moved her legs to sit on the edge of the bed.
– Are you going to leave again? That is not right…
Silence.
– Really … can you see me …
– Hehe … you’re strange. That’s what the eyes are for … Why can’t I …? Oh no…! My treasure…
Her body was thrown from the bed when she saw her open book on the floor.
~ Tap Tap Tap
Facing the stunned gaze of the young woman, Quin stepped straight toward her carelessly and picked up the book with gentle strokes before placing it back on the furniture.
– ………!
After giving some kind of reprimand to the inanimate object, she turned towards her smiling with total naturalness and then they were face to face.
A time of genuine bewilderment had to pass before she could speak again.
– You … Aren’t you … afraid of me?
– Fear? Bad guys give … – trying a brave pose – … a little scary. You are a good lady, and that is not scary … nothing at all …
– Good? You don’t know that …
– Of course I do … – she nodded convinced – … teacher said it.
– As you say?
To her amazement, Quin brought her fingers together and began tapping them gently, her smile diminishing a bit.
– Well … sometimes … I woke up looking for brother … thinking that the bad guys would take him again. But then teacher said it. Kuhum … – recovering her spirits, she put her hands on her back and tried to imitate a mature voice – “My dear and best super disciple … rest in peace, evil has no place in this house.” Or something like that…
Then she nodded as if everything was fine in the world by now and she had given an excellent explanation.
– That’s it? – not believing such a level of credulity – This teacher you speak of, was only comforting you …
– Mmmmmm … – rubbing her chin with visible disapproval – Master is not someone who comforts …
– So … he was just lying …
– Master is not someone who lies! … – Putting her hands on her waist with an even more stubborn expression.
Faced with this attitude, the young woman raised her hand as a sign of threat.
– Maybe I should attack you and try it? …
– Weeee…? – hugging and looking at her with the eyes of a defenseless lamb – Are you going to go to the dark side?
– ……….
Although she tried to hold an aggressive gesture, she couldn’t meet that innocent gaze for more than a few seconds before lowering her hand and looking away with an uncomfortable expression.
Seeing this, Quin quickly formed a cunning smile, and put her hands on her waist while lifting her nose proudly.
– Ahem … as you can see, you don’t know a teacher. This little girl studies hard because a great gift is a great gift. By the way … dark lady … What’s your name?
– ……… Anyway… – she avoided answering, while her gaze had fallen on the book again – Do you study all that?
– Yes! All everything … nothing can be missing. Teacher is … a stingy teacher … – pursing his lips – But, I’m going to beat him soon and claim my princess …
– ……?
Quin took the book and opened it to a certain memory section. It seemed to be a gesture repeated countless times.
– I have already defeated several enemies of the princess … – pressing her finger on a title – But there are still some left, like the final big boss …
As she followed her finger, she couldn’t help but notice that it was the same page she had dropped the book on.
– That’s … Does your teacher know about that?
– Oh yeah … teacher knows about aaaall. – she boasted.
She was quickly caught up in the text that she hadn’t finished before, and she ran her finger over the lines with a thoughtful expression.
– Mhm… – She nodded involuntarily.
– Eh? Tania … Do you know about that? …
– Well … I … a little …
Who is Tania?
Then she began to feel a strange sensation, as if little stars were hitting her face. She soon discovered that they came from Quin’s bright gaze, who was watching her as if she were an oasis in the desert.
– Teach me!
– Yes?
Quin immediately grabbed the edge of her clothing, tugging gently.
– You cannot refuse … you have accepted my bracelet … you should definitely explain. Yes? … say yes … – blinking pretty.
– This…
Even without answering, a slight expression of doubt was enough to make Quin smile and start asking questions like an endless tide.
Although at first she found herself vaguely dismissing her crazy questions, they gradually began to unexpectedly become brighter, to the point where they made her raise her eyebrow from time to time and forced her to elaborate more on her answers.
She herself had not noticed, but for a while she had fallen into some kind of strange spell and was immersed in the rhythm of the little girl, like prey to a whirlwind from which she could not escape in the next half hour … probably the longest that she had never spoken to anyone.
– That’s … pretty close …
– Yey! The final boss is not so bad after all. Just wait for the master to come back … hee … – raising her fist with encouragement.
Teacher?
Suddenly she seemed to come back from a long slumber and remembered what she was doing there in the first place.
– Did you say that the princess spoke with your teacher? …
– Oh yes … it was very tasty …
– ……… You know what about?
– They talked about being a false princess and stuff …
– False princess?
– Well … a princess is not really a princess at all. – She smiled with a satisfied expression.
– What do you mean? – frowning.
– It’s clear … she doesn’t have wings … – shrugging as if commenting on the obvious.
– ……………… ??
– Wings is what a good princess has … – she murmured nodding to herself.
– Princesses don’t have wings …
– My princess has wings!
– Who?
– Well … the princess is … mmmmmm …
Looking out the window at the moon, she thoughtfully rubbing her chin, until she vaguely began to elaborate a description of her “ideal princess.” Tania did not seem to understand how her mind worked yet, but at one point she interrupted her to correct her opinion about this fantasy character. Strangely, she was not rejected, and instead Quin’s eyes went wide like someone who just received an unexpected and exciting revelation.
– Wooooah… I have to talk to teacher! Oh, dear teacher … come back soon, yes? … – looking at the moon with her hands together.
– ……… – silence – Whatever… the princess, do you know what she wants from your teacher?
– I don’t know, but teacher is lazy, he’s not good at doing the work thing. He only has time for his beloved disciple … – she assured patting her chest.
Tania raised an eyebrow and looked at the book again. Although Quin was not the most reliable source of information, she seemed to have formed some idea about the mystery behind these events.
Regaining some of her cold demeanor, she began to slowly open the window.
– It’s time for me to go …
– Ehhh? … Are you leaving …?
– Yes. I can’t stay any longer t- ……… !!
Her words were abruptly interrupted and her body stiffened as stone as she was surrounded by a warm hug.
– Bye … you must come back soon. Yes?
– I-I… I-I’ll think about it… – she stammered with difficulty.
– Next time you can use the door … You know? Just tell brother that you are my new friend … – separating and lifting her little thumb.
– ………
Friend?
Had she ever used that word? Since that moment in the square, Quin had not ceased to amaze her not only for her mysterious gift, but for her cheerful way of being. She couldn’t understand either one.
– You’re … so lively … – she murmured to herself.
– Always! – raising her arms – After all … mother said so …
– ……?
Quin turned to the cabinet and reached out to caress the image there. For the first time that night she was silent, staring at the woman in the portrait with an expression that took Tania by surprise.
– “Anywhere … I’ll be happy if you are.” – Then her lips slowly curved to regain a sweet smile – So … no matter where she went, I will not let her be sad again …
– ………!
Faced with that innocent smile, she suddenly felt a pang and for some unknown reason she stretched her hand towards Quin.
– You should smile more too … – turning towards her again – … you’re very pretty …
Silence.
Little Quin pursed her lips and bowed her head in dissatisfaction. Only her left in the room … and an open window.
