-128- Everyone Changed
Chapter 128
Everyone Changed
Ryne humd a low beat while slowly going through everything Sylas and Agnes brought forward in the preparation period for the creation of talismans. Even though Sylas wasnt shabby either, it has been quite so ti, years even for him, since he last crafted a talisman. He was rusty and decided to just observe for the ti being before jumping in himself. Agnes, on the other hand, sat on the nearby chair and drank slowly, observing the both of them.
This should be everything, Ryne said. Alright, why dont you start preparing the papers, she added, tossing a pile toward Sylas.
Right, I know how to do that, he mumbled, jerking his stagnant mory.
Ill slowly prepare potential rune combinations and then you can inscribe them later.
Why ? Sylas asked.
Uh, hello? she waved her hand in front of her eyes. My failure rate is too high as it is. I need more ti to get accustod to working like this.
Pretty sure its still higher than mine, Sylas comnted, slowly working through the parchnts. Its been a while since I last crafted.
Its been just over a month, Ryne glanced at him. Do you have a mory of a gobhopper?
Gobhopper?
Two-headed rabbits, she said. Sleep practically erases their mories. They kind of recall scent, but thats about it.
Man, youre just a library of knowledge, huh? he joked.
Are we really not going to talk about it?
Talk about what?
That woman boring her eyes through , Ryne pointed behind her. Who you claim is your wife.
Im not his wife!
Then stop staring at as though Im stealing your husband! Ryne fired back.
Wait--what is happening now? Sylas mumbled.
I am not!! Agnes fired back as well.
Oh, please, Ryne scoffed. I may be young, but I am not an idiot.
You may as well be, Agnes said, walking up to Ryne. Do you know why I am staring at you?
Why?
Because I admire you.
... what?
It wont make sense to you, Agnes said with a sigh. But you and I exist practically on opposites of a line. And here I am... crying woes. And here you are... championing. Of course Im going to stare at you. You are everything I aspire to be... yet fail to beco, ti and again.
... okay, seriously, where did you pick her up? Ryne asked Sylas. Shes already trying to posture herself as my mother.
...
Wow, Sylas exclaid in awe. You know, Ryne, youve really got a tongue on you. Youve grown. Youve actually made a grown woman cry. Im so proud of you!
"Wait--she's crying? No, no, I'm sorry," Ryne seed to recoil and backtrack heavily at that mont. "I--I... the last month has been hell, dealing with others. It feels like all of them are walking on the shards of glass around . Softening their voices, ignoring my wants, babying as though I am one. So... I..."
I was joking, you know? Sylas suddenly said, an awkward expression on his face. Shes actually barely holding herself back from laughter.
... Sylas! Hush!! Agnes growled at him.
Ah. Youre still an ass, Ryne suddenly smiled widely. Sohow... its warm.
Besides, I dont think she wants to be your mom, Sylas said. Sister, maybe. And do forgive her dancing around you like youre a bonfire--shes mightily awkward. Social skills of a twelve-year-old in the body of a thirty-sothing woman.
He thinks his Im an ass act is charming, Agnes said. Its getting old, though.
... no, its cute, Ryne chuckled. Always has been. Hes an ass, but he knows when to stop. No wonder you fell in love with him.
Ah, thats why you two get along so well, Agnes rolled her eyes and retreated, taking a sip of wine. Youre both assholes.
Ha ha ha, Ryne burst out into laughter, surprising Sylas who paused his task for a mont to look. For a mont there, the briefest of seconds, she looked like an ordinary, teenage girl. She wasnt a blind, heartbroken, insecure girl full of demons, both old and new, but an ordinary girl with a belly full of beautiful laughter. I suppose we are, arent we?
Kindred souls, if you will, Sylas said. Im glad.
Hm?
That you can still laugh like that.
... you wouldnt be able to, in my shoes? she asked, though her hands never stopped moving.
Gods no, Sylas scoffed. Id be wallowing in my bed for at least three years and four months. Im a big crybaby, you know?
Hah, both Agnes and Ryne exclaid at the sa ti, as though theyd practiced it hundreds of tis before. As if, they added, further enhancing the weirdness of the situation. He cant ever be honest, huh?
It would kill him, I think, Agnes replied. He thinks that his grief doesnt swell up and that nobody sees it, you know?
He thinks plenty yet so little, Ryne said while Sylas smiled faintly, similarly never having stopped preparing the parchnts.
He thinks plenty only when it cos to coming up with new stuff to make fun of with, Agnes said.
"Ah, look at the two of you; as a mother, so the daughter!"
...
...
Did you two learn your lesson?
A-a bit of embarrassnt isnt enough to shut us up, you know? Agnes spoke through gnashed teeth.
Here is the thing, though, Sylas said. Do you really want to compete with the guy whose gland for embarrassnt is literally dead? cause I can, and I will, take this thing further.
Why are you so allergic to honest conversations? Ryne asked, tinkering a bit with her quill, dribbling it between her fingers. You havent spoken to , eye to eye, as it were, since that day, Sylas. Even blind, I can see the hesitation each ti you face .
Put yourself in my shoes, Sylas replied. Imagine youre a fully-ass grown man with one foot in the tombstone... and you had to watch a girl with a whole life ahead of her lose her sight. Would you be able to rrily chat with her as though everything was normal?
...
No, haah, he sighed. Even thats not fair to you. Youll co to realize it even more eventually, but adults are morons, Ryne. A good chunk of us are emotionally stunted children who would sell our mothers if we are told so by soone we think is cleverer than us. Instead of just owning up to the fact that I feel guilt akin to the burnin balls each ti I face you, I try to wiggle out of it by sayin eyy girl, it hasnt been easy for either.
But it hasnt, she said.
Be that as it may, he quickly added. We are all too often very keen on not owning up to our own fuck-ups. Im sorry. You wanted to talk.
I did want to talk.
So, lets talk.
Will you leave behind? she asked.
Not even if the Gods themselves ca down and ordered to, he replied instantaneously.
What if they threatened to kill you?
Would be mighty ironic, he chuckled. But I wouldnt care.
So, why are you leaving behind? You didnt ask once if I wanted to co west.
Because youre blind, Sylas replied. And youd hold us back.
...
Sylas--
No, its fine, Ryne interrupted Agnes who held a shocked expression for a mont. Was that so hard?
Youre a morbid little girl, Sylas sighed.
"Just because I'm now blind doesn't an I can't see, Sylas," she said suddenly. "I'm the sa 'girl' as I was before. The sa. And yet... everyone around is different. It was as though I woke up in so sort of a morbid world similar to the one I knew... but different. People's voices were softer. Their footsteps loud on purpose, as though to announce themselves. Suddenly, everyone thinks I've forgotten how to walk, how to talk, how to eat, drink, and even bathe. Sa with Valen. We talk, you know. Among the two of us. And it's different. Derrek got hurt too. He lost his arm. Many others were hurt as well. And yet... why, why is it that the world is so much different for Valen and ?
...
We are still the sa people we were before--its not us who changed... its others.
Then go and pour so wine, Sylas suddenly said, causing Agnes to stand up rapidly but before she could call him out, he looked at her--his eyes full of clarity.
W-what?
You heard , he repeated, putting down the parchnts. Go pour so wine. Im a guest here, and you didnt even pour any wine. Since youre the sa person and all.
...
You are different now Ryne, whether youre ready to admit it or not. Is it fair that others will treat you differently? I suppose not. But its very naive of you to believe things would just resu as-is. Furthermore, why Valen and you? Because ones a Prince and the others an Exorcist. And a kid at that. Dont tell you havent realized youve been treated differently even before. Or were you so blind back then as to believe that the castle treated you and an ordinary maid the sa?
...
I love you, and I love how brave youve been. And if I were in your shoes, I would have long since crumbled and surrendered. Youre inspiring in more ways than you realize. But you are different. Of course you are. Fuck, even Im different. That day changed everyone, Ryne. Everyone. And thats fine. Give them ti. Let them dance and announce their footsteps and speak down to you. Instead, focus on doing what you love. Prove to them that it doesnt matter--blind or not, this world is yours to push beneath your boots.
He walked up to her, loudly, and stopped. Silence fell between the two, with Ryne hanging her head now, the bangs of her hair covering her face. Agnes remained standing, slack-jawed, though silent too.
Youve been hurt, he added, reaching over and pulling her chin up. Broken. Changed for the rest of your life. And, in ti, youll learn to live and beco stronger than you ever knew. I know you will--you are more than strong enough for it. But until then... fuck, why not let others baby you? It aint all bad, you know. Order maids around, have them do things for you, let the whole of the world spoil you before they grow tired of your shit.
Pfft... her cheeks were flushed and her eyes covered by a cloth. But her eyebrows danced still, as expressive as the smile upon the lips.
"And, in the end, you'll always have . For as long as I breathe and walk this plane of reality, I'll look for ways to give you what you deserve back. If it needs be, I'll burn the whole of the Kingdom to give it to you. That sliver of hope is the only thing keeping from gouging my eyes and stuffing them where yours used to be."
Eww, who would want those ugly-looking eyes of yours?
...
...
Pfft, ha ha ha, the two burst out into laughter as Ryne launched herself forward and tossed her arms around his waist, cradling her head into his chest. Sylas replied in kind, hugging her back tightly, while Agnes sat down, tears coalescing in the corners of her eyes, the way she looked at him... shifting ever so slightly.
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