Chapter 19: Chapter 19

For a moment he sat, waiting, lips pressed together.

Kavan couldn't help but wonder if he had heard Fyn correctly. Surely not, because then that would mean that Fyn was a bigger fool than he was. Had he imagined the mortal saying but a few weeks ago that he wanted freedom above everything else? Had he imagined Havu telling him about how Fyn couldn't let a day miss without reminiscing about his old tent back in the village of Gashea?

And yet, Fyn's eyes were unwavering, staring straight at his. Brown ones staring at red ones.

Fyn was serious.

Kavan inhaled sharply. Something in his chest was pounding and he can't help but tighten his arms around Fyn. A breeze gusted along with them, making loose strands of Fyn's hair fly and cover half of his face. Softly, and ever so gentle, Kavan retracts his claws back into his skin. Something that he rarely does anymore. He brushes the loose strands away, his touch lingering.

He noticed Fyn's pupils dilating.

Even though it was close to dark, Kavan noticed just how much Fyn seemed to shine. His brown locks gleamed like polished amber. His eyes, a pool of deep liquid gold. Kavan knew that if it had been something he could swim in, he would risk his life swimming in his eyes for eternity.

Kavan’s expression hardened. In spite of everything, his heart began to pound.

"It is my goal to protect everything inside the forest," He muttered, his grip around Fyn tightening. "To protect you."

It was his duty. It was the sworn oath he had given the forest. He should feel nothing but gratitude over Fyn's confession. That was all there is to it. Kavan knew that. In fact, he knows he wasn't even doing the greatest job out there. Surely, Fyn just wanted to be thankful that he has offered him a safe space, away from the horrible villagers, away from the sadness, away from the hurt.

Yes, Kavan decided in his head, that was all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less-

"You're not understanding me," Fyn spoke, his eyes unwavering. "The only place I'm safe is with you."

Fyn exhaled slowly... carefully.

"What I'm trying to say is-"

Kavan cut him off, "You should rest."

"Kavan-"

Kavan shook his head, not wanting to hear anything else from Fyn's mouth. One more word from the mortal and he would surely misunderstand everything. Fyn wanted freedom, and that was what he would be getting. Kavan would rather die than have Fyn imprisoned in the forest forever.

Often Kavan would help a being within the forest that had a hard life. They acted like Fyn. Saw Kavan in a new light and wanted to be beside him for as long as they could. Soon enough, they would get tired of it. That was how it always was. Kavan didn't care when it had been with the others. They didn't matter to him enough. He didn't know them well enough for him to care if they left.

If it was Fyn who would leave... Kavan didn't even want to think about it.

It would happen eventually, but he didn't want to think about it. Especially now that Fyn had just returned by his side. He would think about it, sooner or later. After all, it's an ending that would arrive whether or not he wanted it.

Kavan pulled away from Fyn, as hard as it was.

"Rest."

Fyn's eyes had disappointment written all over them. Kavan couldn't take back his words. He didn't want to.

Today was a prime example of why he shouldn't continue whatever was between both of them.

Fyn had freedom. He was already out the gates. He could always take a boat and leave the village. The forest liked him enough that he was sure the ocean would too. Fyn was just that type of person. Someone who you cannot hate. He had all of that, and Kavan can't even fathom why the foolish mortal bothered to return, just for him.

It made no sense.

But it made his heart beat rapidly so.

"Just rest," Kavan repeated when all Fyn did was stare at him, disappointment brewing in his eyes. Brushing his knuckles along the mortal's cheeks, Kavan felt something jump inside of him when Fyn leaned into his touch, closing his eyes. Relaxed. "You look exhausted, rest."

With a sigh, Fyn nods. Something cool climbs up Kavan's ankle, and it didn't surprise him anymore when Havu's head popped in between both of them. The snake slid off him to curl itself around Fyn's shoulders, making the mortal laugh.

"Hey," Fyn muttered. "I have the herbs now. What should we do with it?"

Kavan felt the side of his lips lift as he reached for it. The herb felt cool in his hands. Slowly, he felt his skin absorbing the herb. Disappearing in his hand as his skin engulfed and digested it. Automatically, his eyes closed as he let the herb do wonders inside of him. Giving him more energy than he had moments ago.

A sudden gasp from Fyn and warm hands grabbing his own made Kavan open his eyes.

"Wow!" Fyn's voice was pure joy, and it made Kavan feel lighthearted. The look Kavan cast him was amused. He had the same face he once had when he helped the Næps. "It disappeared. That's amazing, Kavan."

"Fyn," Havu's voice echoed between them, making Fyn drop Kavan's hand. "What happened?"

Kavan felt cool when Fyn let him go.

He didn't let it bother him.

"Time must be different in the forest," Fyn muttered, his shoulders slumping. Kavan fought the urge to pull the mortal by his side again. "When I got out, everything was different. Even the chief who threw me here... he was already gone. Dead. And they told me that I was the catalyst. That things were happening because of me."

Kavan sighed, turning his head sideways to look at the forest that took care of him and he took care of.

It's not surprising anymore, the lengths they would do to make sure that Fyn stays. Especially now that they have decided Fyn must stay with Kavan. The demon could never tell time anymore, it always felt different every other day.

There was a time where he stayed by the edge of the forest, watching an old couple pick herbs. He had been a young demon, no older than a few centuries. When night arrived, Kavan returned to his cave to take a nap. When he returned to the edge of the forest, to watch the couple again, they had been gone. They were dead.

He could tell, because that night, on his way back to his cave, he passed by spirits.

The couple.

Fyn’s eyes skimmed the stretch of trees along the horizon, following Kavan's stare. With a soft voice, he continued, "I don't know what happened, but all I knew was that I was mad, I was angry. And-"

Fyn stopped speaking as if he couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Thunder and rain," Kavan stated matter-of-factly. "When you got angry, there was thunder and rain."

Fyn's face was enough for Kavan to know that what he said happened. However, he wasn't surprised anymore. When something angered Kavan, there was also thunder and rain. The sky would mimic the emotions running through his body and Kavan clenched his jaw, his fist tightening.

The forest had given Fyn what they had given Kavan.

Whether or not Fyn wanted it, he was one with the forest too.

That was how it started.

One would find themselves connected with nature. Fyn never even questioned how he could understand the Næps when their language was not something a simple human could decipher. Kavan knew that was just the start. He just didn't know that the forest would continue what they were planning. If another villager from Gashea met a Næp, spoke to it, they would never understand.

The gift of language was just one of the gifts.

Kavan lifted his hand, the one that just digested the magical herb that gave him abundant energy.

Another gift was the gift of sight.

Næps, the branches, the weather, the spirits, no normal mortal could see it. Yet Fyn could.

The herb.

No mortal could see it.

Fyn could.

The last of the gifts would come from Kavan.

The gift of life.

This gift is abundant and can be given to anyone Kavan wanted to. Currently, the gift is with Havu. Kavan didn't want to give it to anyone else. He didn't want Fyn to need it. But he knew that if push comes to shove, Havu will never bat an eyelid and tell Kavan to give it to Fyn. And Kavan knew that he would give it to Fyn, whether or not he wanted to.

But when a being receives three of those gifts, they could never go back to how they once were.

If Fyn wanted freedom, he should never get the last gift.

Kavan will make sure he gets what he wanted.

To get what he needed.

"Havu," Kavan muttered, still staring at the forest. Slowly, he let his wings out of his skin, the familiar feeling tingled on his back. "Tell Fyn what he needs to know."

Kavan didn't need to say anything else.

With one last look at Fyn, he placed his hand behind the mortal's neck to pull him closer.

Kavan kissed his forehead.

He couldn't stop himself.

He didn't want to.

"Rest," Kavan muttered when Fyn only stared at him. Deep red tinting the mortal's cheeks. His mouth opens into a small o. "I have something I must do."

Without waiting for a reply, Kavan flew straight into the sky.