Chapter 9

The first thing Naro saw when he awoke was darkness, his eyes were opened but only shadows met stare, he found himself floating in an abyss, barely able to feel his body. He closed his eyes, wondering if he was sleeping, or if this was some manner of dream. When he opened them again, a familiar pair of red eyes were staring at him, no body was attached to them, but he’d never forget the eyes his killer.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak her name, darkness overtook his vision.

His silent screams melted into the abyss as the eyes themselves closed, vanishing with the shadows.

Naro’s eyes shot opened and he quicky sat up, a yell escaping from him as his eyes tried to take in the light. He breathed heavily, clutching at the covers as he tried to calm down.

It was only after a few breaths he realized that his covers were softer than usual, and also that he wasn’t surrounded by wood but white brick.

Looking around he realized he was in what seemed to be a simple room, there was a single wooden desk sitting nearby with a piece of bread sitting on it, the windows in front of him were covered with old brown curtains which barely filtered the light. From what he could tell it seemed to be early afternoon.

He was lying on what seemed to be a cot made of straw, and the blanket over him made the one in his shack seem like tissue paper.

“Where…am I?”

Hearing footsteps he noticed a door against the far wall, when it opened Nefi walked through, his eyes focused on Naro, and he said nothing observing him with a half-lidded gaze.

“...Nefi? Do you know where I am?”

“...you’re back to normal,” Nefi said closing the door behind him. “Good.”

Walking fully into the room the boy grabbed a chair, spinning it he sat nearby resting his arms on the top of the chair. Grabbing the piece of bread he tossed it Naro.

“Eat…you’ve been out for a full day,” Nefi said.

“A full day?!”

Naro looked outside then back at Nefi who nodded.

“You let out a bunch of magical power then passed out. I guess you Perceived.”

“Per..cieved.”

“Eat first, I’ll explain what I know, along with where you are.”

Naro’s stomach growled now that the scent of the bread was tickling his nose, he started to offer half of it to Nefi but the boy’s glare seemed to make it clear that wasn't a choice.”

The explanation that followed was a brief one, with Nefi explaining that after he passed out Nefi had carried him to his and his sister’s home. Since it was more secure, and a place Beso didn’t know about. He had visited Venilis as well, and while the initial encounter was ‘awkward’ when he mentioned Naro the old elf almost came down to the old District himself. Due to that Nefi had to explain the whole thing to Venilis to keep him from approaching.

“He said to visit when you feel better so you can talk again,” Nefi said. “He gave me the bread to give to you…and a second one to me for telling him.”

“I see…thank you Nefi, it seems I owe you one.”

“You owe me more than one…that said as much as I dislike it come with me. You need to meet with someone who knows more about magic then I do.”

Nefi stood up and waited for Naro to both finish his food and follow before leading him out of the room.

Leading him through a small hallway, he opened the door at the end of the hall into an open area, what seemed to be the living room area due to it’s open space. He could see the tarp to the opening a few feet away past a stone archway. The house was a small one and seemed to be a mix of a home and a cave, as if the house had been built have into a cave. Once one passed the archway it was just a normal home, Naro admitted he was a bit surprised.

“In here,” Nefi said stopping in front of a red tarp.

He seemed to hesitate before moving it aside motioning for Naro to enter.

Passing through he found himself in a small room, there were an assortment of soft items all around him, cushions, blankets, and looking around it was clearly the most well kept room. Everything was organized, there wasn’t a speck of dust that he could see on any of the shelves on the walls, and there was a single room with white billowing curtains on the far side of the room.

In front of that window was a single solitary figure, and someone that caused Naro to freeze in place.

Violet hair fluttered thanks to the breeze that flew in through the window, dainty fingers raised brushing strands behind an ear. There was a warm undertone to her fair skin that glistened with dew. A pair of cyan eyes met Naro’s amber ones, and a pair of thin lips parted slightly though no words came from them. Those lips soon curved, forming a gentle smile, kindness was all he found in her eyes unable to look away.

Dressed in a simple white tunic her more ample aspects were on full display against the simple cloth, realizing he was staring his eyes moved down past part of her rounded hips. The lower half of her body was hidden under the blankets and her hands which she calmly in her lap was where his focus went. She moved a bit away from the wall she was leaning against once she shifted.

“You must be Sir Naro. My name is Aelia but you may call me Aeli. I am Nefi’s older sister.”

Her voice was a summer breeze, a sweet birdsong, it posses a tenderness that made all his tension seem to melt away.

It however immediately returned catching the wide eyed stare from Nefi.

Being pulled back to reality he looked up only to notice a pair of blue horns rising out of the woman’s head like small tree branches.

“Ah I’m a Dragon Beastkin as well.”

Naro immediately looked back into Aeili’s eyes realizing he was staring at them.

“I-I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to stare, I’m not a creep I swear.”

“You know that has the opposite effect right,” Nefi said narrowing her eyes at him.

A light laugh escaped from Aeli and raising her hand she waved it at him.

“You needn’t worry, curiosity is natural. While I would love to talk a bit more casually…I’m sure you have questions. Especially about magic.”