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>>Amber
"I am not going anywhere with you," I said in an aggressive tone.
Hael put his hand on his chest, right at the place where I placed mine and pushed him away. He stared at that place for a second in what looked like disbelief but I couldn't be sure since his expressions were blank.
He then raised his head to look at me.
And while I glared at him, Hael's expression softened as he noticed the fear in my eyes, a hint of concern flickering across his features. Stepping further back into the room, he made more space between us which made me relax a little for some reason.
I didn't say anything and continued to stare at him.
He presented his hand to me, "Come to me," He said, his voice was soft.
"No," I replied, "I'm not coming to yo-"
"I'll take you back," He said and I paused.
"You will?" I blinked at him in shock. I wasn't expecting him to agree so easily.
"I will," He nodded as he kept his hand there for me to take, "But first, come to me."
"..." I frowned, "Why?" I was skeptical.
"I'll heal your feet," He said, "And then I'll take you back," His words carried an undeniable sincerity, which I found odd yet there was a comfort that I found myself longing for despite my lingering apprehension.
He wants to heal my feet? I glanced down at them. I completely forgot about them for a few minutes.
I looked up at him again, he hadn't moved, nor did he retreat his hand away, and his action softened my heart a bit.
He did keep healing me when I was dying...
Wait,
How long did that take?
"..." Slowly, tentatively, I took a step forward. Letting the railing go, I stepped into the room, closing the distance between us as I kept staring at him with eyes of suspicion
He made no sudden movement and waited for me to go to him.
As I reached him, I stopped and stared at his hand.
...
Then I placed my hand on his palm, his touch was gentle as he closed his hand.
"Come," He guided me towards the bed and made me sit down there. I took a seat and raised my head to look at him. His hand came toward me, startling me.
I closed my eyes as soon as his finger barely touched my skin. But then there was nothing. He simply brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen across my face. I opened my eyes again and looked at him. His silver-gray eyes met mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine, yet there was warmth there too, a flicker of something I didn't understand.
"Let me see your injury," He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. With a sense of resignation, I nodded and he knelt down to touch my feet.
It felt awkward but neither of us said anything. I gulped, and kept my eyes on him. He didn't look back at me as he examined the injury. His touch was surprisingly gentle, his hands moving with a grace that belied their strength.
"How long was I asleep for?" I asked wanting to get rid of the awkward silence
"Both of us slept for four days." He replied, "And that's after I had made sure you were okay."
"Excuse me!! What!!?" I was baffled, "Then, for how many days have I been here?"
"A week,"
...
I couldn't say anything after that. I could only blink as the reality set in.
He placed his hand below my feet and something glowed out of his palms. A light green color magic wrapped around my feet that had a soothing feeling attached to it.
Woah!
It was done within a few seconds.
Hael got up and looked at me again, "I'll take you back now," He presented me with his hand.
"Ohkay..." I took it and he pulled me up. It was a little sudden and I stumbled towards him. But he didn't catch me or anything. I stopped on my own when I hit the side of his body.
A magic circle glowed below us
!!!
He's already started the spell!!? I just caught the sight of the magic, and then the flash erupted making me close my eyes in surprise.
***
The glow subsided and I slowly opened my eyes to see. The magical breeze that came along with it calmed down and I looked at familiar faces.
Oh!
We had landed right in the middle of my cafe. A hush fell over the bustling atmosphere, and all eyes turned towards me. I could sense the shock and concern radiating from the faces of the patrons, but it was the reaction of my employees that truly caught me off guard.
"Boss!!!" Aira was the first one to speak
"Oh My God!" Mozart, and Mizkin, the masculine chef twins, ran out of the kitchen, "It's you!"
I let out a forced chuckle, "Yea," I waved at them, "I'm back,"
Their expressions ranged from disbelief to relief as they took in my appearance, and I could see the questions forming in their eyes. But before I could even begin to explain, they were upon me, surrounding me in a whirlwind of hugs and murmured inquiries.
"Where have you been?"
"Are you okay?"
"We were so worried about you!"
My regular customers along with my employees bombarded me with questions and amidst that I didn't even notice when was it that Hael let my hand go and moved away from me.
Their voices blended together in a chorus of concern, their hands gentle as they checked me over for any signs of lingering illness. I felt a lump form in my throat as I realized the depth of their care and compassion.
"I'm okay," I reassured them, my voice wavering with emotion. "I had a fever, but I'm feeling much better now." There was no better way of saying it.
"Really?" Cory came running to me, "Was it only a fever!" She jumped towards me and pulled me into a hug, "It looked like much more than that!!"
I patted her head as she clung to me, "I'm fine, it was only a fever and I probably ate something bad, that's why my stomach hurt." I looked at all of them, "I'm fine now," I said, "I really am,"
Relief washed over their faces as they absorbed my words, their expressions softening with a mixture of gratitude and affection. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth and support of my people, I felt like I had made the right decision.
This is my happy place.
This is where my peace is.
And I'm so glad I chose to come here and build a life for myself
As they ushered me into the heart of the café, I couldn't help but smile, my heart overflowing with gratitude for the family I had found in this bustling little corner of the world.
Amidst the whole dramatic reunion I remember Hael.
I raised my head and looked around, only to spot him in the corner. He was standing there like an abandoned child.
Usually he had a poker face on but this time as he was watching me, he looked somewhat sad.
His expressions tugged at the strings of my heart
Why does he look so lost?
He slowly blinked, his gaze meeting mine for a second. He looked like a sculpture. A lonely beautiful sculpture made by an exceptional artist. But without a word, Hael turned and left.
He stepped outside the cafe and teleported out of there, leaving me with questions, and a strange hollow feeling in my chest
***
I kept thinking about Hael
I didn't think he would comply with my demands so easily. He healed my scratched feet and didn't even say much after that. But why did he look so sorrowful? It keeps making me feel weird. The way he was looking at me, my chest felt constricted, it was something I couldn't quite put my finger on.
He seemed a little disturbed.
Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I don't think anyone would be able to tell that he was looking sad since he had a poker face on, but I found his eyes rather distant.
And somewhat lonely...
I sighed,
I shouldn't bother with him. I should be glad that he let me go easily and I'm back here but I can't seem to get him off my mind.
"Boss," The chef, Mozart, popped his head out the kitchen window, "I think we should close for today." He glanced towards the entrance windows, "We're out of a lot of materials." It was five in the evening but I guess since I've been gone, no one went grocery shopping. That's something I do myself.
I'm just glad they kept the place running.
"Alright," I nodded, "Aira!!" I called her while she was serving a few guests on the second floor, "We're closing."
"Okay!" She replied and I looked back at Mozart
"Give me a list of things we need. I'll drop the list at the market." We have a dealer. He brings all the materials to us early in the morning or late at night.
"Okay," Mozart nodded and went back to write the things we needed.
"Cory," I called out to her while she was cleaning a table, "Let's go to the market."
"Okay!"
Come to think of it, I haven't seen Ahin yet either. I've been back for two days now but he didn't come to visit. Normally he was here almost every other day. Shouldn't he have come back from the capital now? The tournament only takes a week.
"Ahin isn't back yet?" I got out of the counter as I kept looking at the entrance door.
Cory got the basket from Mizkin who had put the list in it and then she came to join me.
"Oh," Cory looked at me with an understanding gaze, "You wouldn't know since you were sick and bedridden but it was delayed."
"Delayed? Why?" I thought the competition would be over now but it got delayed?
We began to make our way out of the cafe, "The princess made a fuss about it." She rolled her eyes,
"The princess made a fuss?"
"Yea," She opened the door for me and I stepped outside, "Apparently the Master of the magic tower was supposed to start the opening ceremony but he suddenly went Awol for a week." She followed and we walked towards the market.
!!!
My eyes went wide in shock
A week
Shit, that's the time he passed out after spending all of his mana and magic to heal me! But he never mentioned anything about him opening the ceremony!
"So, anyone else could have done it, the archmages could have gone," I walk slowly because of my limp, but Cory doesn't mind, she simply matches my pace.
Cory scoffed as she shook her head, "That's the thing, the princess has serious hots for Master Hael, she wanted it to be him no matter what."
...
"What?" The news fell on me heavily, "The princess likes Hael?" It made me feel bad.