[30.5] Everyone Has a Wish, but Not All Get Answered

After we made it out, we continued to sprint down the busy road. I ignored everyone's curious looks as I held his hand. I didn't stop running until I grew so out of breath, I couldn't breathe any longer.

Despite breathing deeply, my heart still raced. I couldn't get that terrifying darkness out of my mind.

I tugged on his sleeve.

He looked at me with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I will feel better if you let me smell you."

"Smell me? Uh… Okay?"

I leaned my head against his chest and took a deep breath. I watched as magnificent colors danced around him. The string connecting us was still just as red and just as obvious as it was when I first saw it.

I let out a sigh of relief, "Much better."

I stood there not wanting to withdraw my head, almost as if I was afraid the darkness would come back to devour me.

Cyrus was obviously embarrassed by our close proximity, but he tried to not think about it, "I… I don't understand. What happened back there? Did she try hurting you?"

I eventually caught my breath, "That lady… She didn't do anything to me, but…"

"But what?"

I felt a bit ashamed, "She gave me a really uneasy feeling and wouldn't let go of my hand when I asked her to."

"She made you uneasy? You never feel uneasy." He looked around before whispering to me, "Do you think she was a demon?"

I took a deep breath, "She wasn't a demon… I can tell you that much. She was something far scarier."

"Did she know who we were though? She shouted at us like she knew our past experiences. Do you think she was involved when my Aunt and Uncle-" He cut himself off and changed his words, "Was she the one responsible for the moment we met?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, but I don't think so. She spoke pretty vaguely to me before I tried to leave. She's sketchy, but I don't think she was directly involved. I would have remembered her by her smell."

There's only one other person who made me feel the way she did…

And that was Hazel.

I'm still traumatized from smelling Hazel as a child! I would have definitely remembered smelling that strange hag.

He ran his fingers through his hair, "But why… Why did she call me-"

He shut his mouth, unable to finish his sentence.

I looked at him with a twinge of sympathy, "Don't listen to her. She was just some crazy hag."

He let out a sigh, "Sure… You're right."

Seeing his downcast expression, I nudged him. "Ignore it. Okay?"

He looked away, "I think… I think I'd like to go home now."

I bit down on my lip.

I can't let the night end like this.

I looked around nervously, trying to figure out what to say to him. My eyes lit up once I saw a stall selling lanterns. I pulled him to one, "Let's buy a lantern and decorate it together!"

His somber look was replaced by pure shock, "W-What?!"

I didn't allow him to decline and dragged him to the stall. I looked over the lanterns, "Which one do you like?"

He stared at me completely speechless.

Ah. I guess he still hasn't recovered from that crazy lady.

I picked one out and grabbed the ink from the owner. She grinned at us, "Aren't you two an adorable couple?"

I stared at her in confusion.

Ah! There must be a discount for couples at this stall.

I grinned, "That's right! I'm such a lucky girl."

She laughed, "I'd say you are. It's not often you find a man as handsome as him."

I winked at her, "You should see how he looks naked. It's super nice."

Cyrus turned bright red, "R-Reika?!"

She forced a smile, "I-Is that so?"

I took the lantern and ink and walked to where everyone else was decorating it. I handed him a brush, "What should we draw?"

He took it while still looking at me with a faint blush, "I-I don't know. You're the artist."

I looked around, "What does everyone else put on it?"

"T-They usually write each other's names and a wish when they decorate it with someone…"

I nodded, "Sounds simple enough."

I wrote out Cyrus's name, but paused, "What's your last name?"

He gave me a look, "You don't remember?"

I shook my head.

He sighed, "It's Ophelio."

"How would I remember that?!"

"I remember your last name."

"That doesn't count."

I wrote down his name on one side, as he wrote on the other. I thought for a moment and wrote a wish and drew a quick scene.

I leaned over to look at his writing, "What did you wish for?"

He panicked and attempted to block my view, "N-Nothing! Nothing at all!"

I forced his hand away, "No! Show me! I will show you mine!"

I finally succeeded in pushing him away enough to read it. It read: "Reika Marlow. I hope she will never change who she is. I wish her everlasting happiness… Even if that means she will abandon me."

Next to the writing was a crude drawing of a cat.

I looked at him in surprise to see him struggling to maintain a calm expression.

This kid… He really has abandonment issues, doesn't he?

Ah. Well, I guess that makes sense.

His parents died when he was young and his Aunt and Uncle, who were his guardians, tried to murder him.

He grew irritated by his own embarrassment and moved to see what I wrote, "And what about you? You wrote-"

I said it for him, "I wish that Cyrus Ophelio would become King-"

"-And remain safe and happy for the rest of his days." He finished for me and looked at me with the same look I was staring at him with. He averted his eyes awkwardly, "W-Why did you draw a rabbit?"

I suddenly felt shy and looked down at the rabbit plush I had tied to my waist, "Because you look like a fluffy bunny."

"Huh!?"

I started walking as I tried to hide my embarrassment, "Shall we let it go? I can see the stars and the moon now."

Cyrus followed after me holding the lantern in his hands. He was careful holding it as if it was the most precious object in the world. As people finished their lanterns and gathered together, we all waited until a bell rang announcing it was time to release the lanterns.

Cyrus turned to me, "W-We need a flame…"

I grinned and held out my finger. A tiny flame erupted, covering the bottom of the lantern.

Together, Cyrus and I let the lantern go.

We both watched in awe as it floated beside the others in a magnificent display of beauty.

I turned my head and watched as the lanterns reflected in Cyrus's clear blue eyes. I took in a deep breath and watched as golden lights drifted around his body, dancing in the moonlight.

His lights far outshined any lantern in the sky.

I grabbed his hand, overcome by a strange emotion. I squeezed his hand causing him to look down at me in surprise. I stared up at him, "I won't abandon you."

He flushed red, "H-Huh?"

I looked up at our lantern, "But if you dare hurt me, I will drop you off a cliff and laugh as you plummet to your death."

His face paled.

___...___

Hazel watched cheerfully as Zephyr sat with a large grin while children painted his face. Hazel's smile was sweet as she admired his wagging tail.

Watching him play with the children made her wonder how he managed to still have a childlike heart despite all the years he spent growing up.

Then, she felt a presence beside her which immediately ruined the pleasant feeling growing in her chest.

Hazel's smile fell as her eyes turned dull, "Why did you come back?"

A woman in a cloak showing nothing but her pale hands stood beside her. She spoke in a soothing voice, "When chaos infiltrates this land, I must answer the call to rid the world of it."

Hazel's dull and piercing eyes bore into her, "We made a deal. I did what you wanted, so now you have to hold up your end of the bargain."

The woman was unfazed by this, "I already held up my end. Aren't you here now?"

Hazel glared, "Just stay away from Zephyr and Reika. They belong to me."

She turned to leave, "The Holy Light will always purify Chaos. Fate cannot be escaped and trespassers must be erased."

Hazel bit down on her lip and watched as the woman disappeared into the night.

Zephyr ran over to Hazel, "Oi! I'm hungry." His footsteps paused, "Uh… Is everything okay?"

She turned to him with an affectionate smile, "Of course! Why do you think it's not?"

He looked at her critically, "You looked… Different."

She ignored him and wrapped her arm around his, "Come on! The lanterns are being released soon. Let's get some snacks and head over to the main square. I bet we can also find Reika there."

She started dragging Zephyr along with her, never once looking back.