You Are My Poison, You Are My Cure

Celphi swiped the mushroom away from his face and off my hand but it still remained tied to me. His movements eventually changed from swift and suave to a bit staggering.

‘Sigh. When and where did you pick that up?’ He said with huge resignation.

He stopped and placed me down on the ground. I sat on an elevated mound and he sat below me, facing away.

’Did the poison affect you? Sorry! The fairies warned me but it doesn’t seem to affect me. I just assumed you would be fine as well. Sorry. Please be alright! Will you be alright?’ I frantically asked. More breathless than when he gripped me.

My apologies fall on his back, where brown rashes started to spread. From his face, neck and shoulders.

‘No way! No! I am ever so sorry! I have done this,’ I almost threw myself at him.

He turned to face me. His demeanor not angry whatsoever. Maybe exasperated? The extent of the rash appeared tender and unsightly in contrast to his pale skin. His fingers rubbed through his face gently.

How can I solve this? Is there an antidote? Isn’t he a reptile? Maybe he has some sort of resistance to poison?

‘Celphi, tell me what I can do to heal you? I will do anything. I will find you the cure.’ I desperately said.

’Did any of the insects contact anyone?’ Celphi turned and looked at me seriously as he asked.

Huh? What! Please. Is he delirious now?

’I don’t think so. The bee one, Magnus, was taking charge and kept me company the whole time. The butterfly one, Tincy, used her wings to heal my foot a little bit. But the moth one disappeared, I think he is called Nams.’ I explained. I noticed him studying my body. His gaze landing on my healed foot.

’Ah. So from now on, it will be an endless battle of trying to keep you.’ He said very solemnly and seriously.

‘Keep me from what? Answer at least that.’ I inserted.

Celphi ignored my statement. ’Very well. Stay put while I take the cure from you. We don’t have time.’

Something about him ordering me to settle down did not sit right with me. Celphi had been keeping me to himself, yes, but he had been a gentleman as well. He has never been forceful.

He knelt on the ground, eyes examining my legs. Holding himself up against the mound I was on, he leaned in closer. Close enough to kiss my foot. One look up and our eyes met. His serious gaze asking for permission.

Permission for what?

I found myself unable to unable to look away. He must’ve taken this as motion of acceptance.

Celphi had suppressed whatever was going on inside his head and had a good control over his actions and facial reactions. He has spoiled me and has given me a pleasant forest life for the past days. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what he did next.

’Celphi?’

I thought of just backing up, but my pride was bigger.

Why would I retreat when he’s the one being weird.

I kicked him. Well I intended to. Lightly so. Yet he easily caught my foot. I shivered at his touch. Gentle touch replaced with feverish caress. I tried to speak but no voice came out. Words of nagging all got tangled in my throat.

‘Sorry Ina. I will make it quick and without pain’, he said as he leaned fully. He started

*whoosh*

’I knew you were a pest the first time I saw you.’ An unknown voice claimed.

Celphi and I looked at the source and it was another human.

‘Yey! Another human!’ My relief palpable.

Or creature?

He kindly spared me one look, a full body up and down then that’s it.

Oh? Is he fuming? Like actually? There is smoke coming out of his nose. Mouth. Hair too? And some from his palm?

‘Are you here to take me?’ I enquired and directed our attention to the newcomer, which gave me the chance to break free of Celphi’s grasp and kick myself away from that misleading position at least.

‘…’

Did he just ignore me?

‘Oh! Woah!’ I said as I slid off the mound trying to get a better look of this stranger. Nobody asked me if I was fine.

So that’s how you treat your princess around these parts huh? Can it be that he can't understand the language that Celphi passed to me? The fairies understood me just fine though?

‘You can’t take Ina from me. You’d have to kill me first.’ Celphi claimed as he put himself in front of me, obstructing my view of the other man.

’Yes. That’s what’s going to happen.’ The man with reddish pink permed hair, and white uniform said.

’Um, who are you?’ I tried addressing the newcomer again by skipping over Celphi’s back with my better foot.

There’s no way Celphi would be defeated by anyone.

I looked at his back and noticed the rash that had the same color as the mushroom earlier, now a few shades lighter.

Well, except by me it seems.

‘Who are you? Please?’ I tried once more. Peeking from Celphi’s side. Every attempt I try to be more cuter. No response. It was like I did not exist.

Well I am not coming with you then.

’Celphi, is he deaf? Why doesn’t he respond?’ I reached out to Celphi’s arm to tap him. He doesnt turn back to look at me. He remained alert and returned the angry stare of the stranger. I tapped him again and he remained unmoving. The rash seemed to almost completely disappear now. Relief.

‘I don’t know you. Don’t bother taking me. I am not coming with you.’ I let the strange man know.

With the biggest amount of exasperation I have ever seen in my life, the unfamiliar man responded. ‘I am Mede, the head of reconnaissance for the Noble Elysium, and I am personally tasked by his royal highness King Arye to take his daughter, Princess Raiona, back to the kingdom.’

I wonder if he doesn't like his job? He sounds absolutely ticked off trying to explain just that.

‘I am not going with you. I don’t know you. Plus, I am not even Raiona. Also I don’t know anyone who can defeat Celphi. Just go back and say you can’t find her.’ I shooed him with my hands.

That appeared to have touched a nerve as fire started to come out of his nose. Erase that. His whole body was on fire. Celphi carried me and started to make a run for it. Or slither for it.

‘Very good job making him angry.’ He said plainly.

’What? I thought you were strong?’ I held on to his shoulders and looked behind us and looked at where we came from. The clearing just appeared as a small source of light as we sped off into the thick part of the forest that hasn’t been moved by earlier disaster.

Uh-oh. He had flown off, like a meteor rock that was blasted from earth to the skies.

’I am, but I am still recovering from your fantastic idea of poisoning me.’

’I am really sorry. Are you feeling any better now?’

‘I need a bit more of the antidote. Put your right cheek on my lips.’

‘Excuse me? Just how much are you going to take from me?’

’All if possible.’

Unbelievable. He says this with a soft face. While escaping at the fastest speed I’ve ever felt us move.

‘Ok.’ I leaned my face closer to him and on the side of my eyes, I can see glee in his face as he lands a kiss on my face. A kiss that he doesn’t remove.

I could hear vigorous flapping of wings from a distance, and it's getting closer.

‘What was wrong with that creature by the way? What’s his name again? Mayday?’ I tried to recall.

’Mede. He was brought up in the same castle as you.’ Celphi hesitated and took his time before finally removing his lips on my face and answering.

Oh yeah! Is he the angry fire bird Raiona mentioned in the journal? Surely he would know that I am not the real deal then?

I took this freedom as opportunity to move my head around and inspect my surroundings. We are deep within the forest. Foliage zooming passed by us. If we were on earth, we probably broke all the speed restrictions ever applied on roads, even on formula 1 grounds. If they had a limit.

Only pin prick opening between the leaves allowed for the light to get through. When there was enough more light, I inspected Celphi’s poisoning symptoms.

’Oh look, your rashes are almost gone. Whew.’ I inspected his shoulders and neck.

’Yeah. You bring with you poison and cure. In every sense.’ He nonchalantly said.

Cunning as ever, Celphi. And the one I know.

I looked down and saw that the poor mushroom was still attached to my foot.

‘Don’t tease me, I still have my weapon.’ I beamed.

‘So you do. You better keep it close then. If it worked on me then it would work on others as well.’ Celphi said.

‘Why am I not poisoned by this?’

’It is toxic to most creatures. It does affect the stronger magical creatures but the effects vary.’ He explained.

‘Maybe it doesn't have a bad effect on creatures without magic, or creatures not of this realm.’ He continued.

’Is that how you knew that I would be the cure?’ I enquired.

Celphi gave me the most puzzled look with small angle of head tilt. Followed by a look of realization and then a smug smirk.

’So, you would’ve given yourself up as the cure if I asked for it?’ He asked boldly.

I swear this man’s audacity is getting bigger and bigger everyday.

‘Not a chance.’ I retracted the arms I had wrapped around him and crossed my arms on my chest.

There we go. Eyes closed, lips thinly spread on his face, and a demure chuckle. The normal Celphi laugh. One I have grown to adore.

’You were full of healing essence from the butterfly, that’s what I was taking from your recently injured foot. The pink powder’, he explained and watched as my face distorted in horror.

‘Ah. I’m…”

I kept digging my grave, getting us into romantically charged situations. But Celphi’s always managed to make me feel comfortable by changing the topic or not furthering the talk.

‘Unless you were expecting me to do something else? You know I will give you everything.’ He said in a teasing tone but paired with an affectionate knowing gaze.

At that time, I know he doesn’t intend on backing off anymore.