Chapter 103
Fire Which Doesnt Burn
It snowed still, even what felt like just a few weeks before the beginning of the spring for Sylas. Deep in the forest, surrounded by the countless trees, their green canopy had been replaced by white, building floating igloos where so life seed to reside. Every so often, hed see a few different species of birds dig into the bustling roofs of white, hiding in there. This was especially true just before an onset of violent winds or snowstorms that ripped even through him at tis, despite the protections.
Beyond that, the deeper they went into the forest, the more creatures they ended up encountering. Most were mild, pacifistic in nature, minding their own business. Rather, only one ended up attacking them--a wolf-like beast that instead of fur had its skin on full display, covered in ashen-gray spots. The strange woman who still refused to na herself explained that the only reason it attacked was that it was starving.
At the mont, the two, according to her, at least, were just a week out from leaving the forest--sothing Sylas looked forward to montously. After all, being stuck for months in the forest was... tiring. Aside from the dips and the occasional strange rock, there was little to see--it was a forest like any other with, admittedly, so thriving (though currently mostly dead) flora.
Whats your plan for when you get to the village? she asked. Will you just bust in like a big villain and demand answers?
... is that how you see ? he asked, stirring the stew. The woman seed allergic to cooking, altogether, though she was at least decent when it ca to cutting vegetables.
Like a brute? she mused, fingering her lips lightly. Well, you did try to do everything by just bashing your head against the wall.
Thats true, he nodded. I suppose I should have you take the lead, then.
Wait-wh--
Since you seem so experienced with proper and civil communication, he glanced at her. Thank you upfront for your help.
... you are an ass.
What?
Oh, please. Do you think that young, beautiful, white-haired won are sothing you see every day in the outside world?!
First off, Sylas said. Young? Please. Beautiful? Eh. Subjective.
Youre just bitter.
I am bitter.
So, you dont think Im beautiful?
"You're eerie, if anything," Sylas said, sitting down and leaning against the tree. "Beauty is found in commonality. You? You stand out like a pimple on otherwise perfect skin."
Isnt that what makes so beautiful, though? she grinned. Sylas had long since realized quite a few peculiarities about her--naly that she cloaked her deep-seated insecurities by cheekily fishing for teasing complints.
No, thats what makes you a liability when walking into a village, he fired back. Theyll all think Im bringing a witch with or sothing. Besides, just because sothing is unique doesnt an its beautiful. Bloody shit, for instance, is pretty unique. But nobody will say its beautiful.
Did you just compare with bloody shit?
No.
You did, she said, her tone flat and dead, just as her eyes were for a mont. I understand not kneeling in praise of my beauty.
I dont think you do.
But comparing with bloody shit? I want to kill you.
Im sure you do. Besides, I didnt compare you with bloody shit. Just used it to make my argunt.
That Im uniquely beautiful, like bloody shit?
Stop saying bloody shit, he said. It doesnt fit your face.
"Since, apparently, my face is just as beautiful as bloody shit, it does."
Wow, damn. I really cut deep with that one, huh? Wasnt even wanting to.
Haah, she sighed, walking up to the stew and stirring it herself. For soone in desperate need of my help, you really do treat horribly.
... have you been coddled so much for so long that youve forgotten what any kind of treatnt besides worship feels like?
And yet all that boundless wit of yours wouldnt have gotten you through this forest without .
Fair enough, he nodded. But on a more serious note--
--I was being serious.
--do you have any way of dyeing your hair or sothing? I would like to chatter and mingle, for however much. And with you next to , I feel I might just get strapped with leather strips to a stake and burned.
... I do, she said. As long as you say Im beautiful.
Youre beautiful.
... your praise is really cheap, huh?
Affordable by the masses, really.
If its so cheap, why arent you dolling it out?
Because it still aint cheap enough for you.
I will kill you one of these days," she said. "With a clear conscience."
Sure, he nodded. When I want to reset, Ill invite you and hand you the knife and bend my head forward to give you the best view of my neck.
That has to be the most bizarre thing anyone has ever said to , she said. And I was once told by a man that he wanted to choke him with my feet.
...
...
Thats fucked.
It really is.
Well, Sylas said, stretching out. At least I can promise you Ill never utter anything remotely as disgusting.
"You just swing in the other direction of the an."
Youre a grown-ass woman, he said. Stop saying an.
Boo.
And boo.
Well, you are a grown-ass man who hasnt jumped a beautiful woman even after months of traveling with her! Sothing is very wrong with you!
Sothing is very wrong with you to assu itd be more normal if I had jumped you, he said.
Do you prefer n, perhaps?
No.
Beasts?
No.
T-trees?
No.
C-c-chil--
Shut the fuck up.
... wow. Did I just hit a cord?
Yes, but not the one you were aiming for, he said, pouring each a bowl of rabbit stew. You have a very warped view of the world. Just because sothing is beautiful doesnt an it deserves to be loved or adored or worshiped. The sa way that just because sothing might be seen as ugly doesnt an it deserves to be disparaged, mocked, and belittled. And just because there is a man whod rather stick a sword up through your eyeballs rather than a cock down your thighs doesnt an hes insane. Well, a bit insane. But not too insane.
...
Huh. So you do have blood in your veins, Sylas chuckled lightly when he saw her cheeks faintly flush.
Of course I have blood! What did you think I had?!
I dunno, he shrugged. Ice?
Ugh, she rolled her eyes, blowing at the spoon of stew before eating. You are entirely unmannerly.
... yeah, he nodded. Sorry.
... Im sorry too, she said suddenly, surprising him.
H-huh?
Dont look so shocked! she harrumphed. I can apologize!
Coulda fooled . What are you sorry for, anyway?
I... for judging you, she said. Based off of my previous experiences.
Yeah, that aint sothing worth apologizing for. How else were you gonna judge ? Based off of your dreams?
That--thats not what I an!
I know what you an, he smiled lightly. And its still fine. Always assu the worst of people and let them prove you wrong over ti. Thats a good mantra.
No, thats an awful way to see the world, she sighed. Wait--did you assu the worst of from the start?!!
Huh? Well, yeah. Of course.
WHAT?!
Oh, co on--look at it from my perspective, he shrugged at her explosion. You appeared out of fucking nowhere, claid you were a Prophet and that you were gonna help . I didnt know you were just a clumsy, naive, slightly narcissistic girl back then. For all I knew, you were a wailing ghost of a jaded, scorned woman on a prowl for young, handso n and you were planning on gutting and skinning and doing stuff to my body even hell deed immoral. Sylas quickly moved his head to the side as a bowl ca flying at him. She was panting aggressively, looking at him angrily. Though he was half-joking, he also wanted to see how far he could push. Thats an awful waste of food, you know?
Fuck you.
Ah, finally, he said, continuing to eat. We cut to the core. Now, we can start befriending each other.
Start?!!
"I never befriend people who think they can't ever be angry enough to kick in the balls while with ," he said. "It ans they're hiding sothing or want sothing from ."
...
...
Thats literally the stupidest thing Ive ever heard uttered by anyone, she said bluntly.
Even the feet stuff?
Even the feet stuff.
Damn. I guess I did open your eyes to the greater horizons well before you did the sa for .
... you know, Im glad Ill forget all of this ever happened, she said.
Why? I can just replay my actions and have you join once again and torture you all over again, but this ti knowing all of your weaknesses.
... you wouldnt.
Probably, he said. But would you really gamble on it?
Im glad Ill rember all of this so I can stay as far away from you from now on as possible!
Oh? You want to rember ?
Dont make it weird, you bastard.
Youre a Prophet, young lady, Sylas said. Mind yourself.
Mind your mother!
... pfft, ha ha ha ha, even Sylas was unable to hold on any longer, bursting out into laughter. Mind your mother, she said, pfft, ha ha ha ha, goddamn, ha ha ha...
... huh. So you can laugh?" she mumbled, softening up when she saw him roll in the snow like a small child. On the other hand, Sylas began to question his brain, having laughed at sothing a nine-year-old would have used as a retort. There was simply sothing about the way she said it, he mused, that broke him in a sense. He couldn't rember the last ti he laughed this freely and openly, seemingly void of all worries and restrictions. At least, the strange woman who refused to share her na as though it was the most sacred thing in the world knew to start the fire which doesnt burn.
Reviews
All reviews (0)