17. The Shadow Mage #2
Flora gazed out at the fiery hues of the sunset clouds, rolling beneath the lavender sky.
The brilliance of the Emyrian skyline, its colors dancing across the canopy of leaves, brought her a fleeting sense of peace.
The despair that gripped the Shrouded Village weighed heavily on her heart, yet somehow, Flora thought, she could make it through this if only she could think a little more like he would.
So, looking up, Flora searched for a whisper of healing in the beautiful sunset.
Apricity. That was Noec—the warmth of the sun in the still of winter.
No word could hold him better: a creature of contradictions, stitched together by grace and grief.
He would sooner ferry a spider to safety than see it crushed, yet he’d fought the scythe in the village with unflinching ferocity.
He was too adventurous, yet far too careful, and though he took shape from a childhood of tragedy, he remained—against all odds—the most hopeful soul Flora had ever known.
But Flora was cut from a different cloth, and slow tears were welling in her eyes.
She gasped and cupped her hand to her mouth, startled by her own misery.
Closing her eyes, she tried to draw a deep, steadying breath.
As the minutes passed, the calming lullaby of the waterfall began to slowly wash over her, dulling the poison of grief that pulsed in her veins.
But Flora opened her eyes, and again, her heart stopped.
His jade stare came into focus, the narrow darks of his eyes dilating sharply, just as they had that morning. Leaning over her, his hand was hovering near her cheek, hesitant, as if unsure whether to bridge the distance between them.
“Jesus, fuck, what the—” Flora gasped, hand instinctively reaching for the weapon at her side.
“Please don’t shoot me,” Noec said quickly, drawing his hand back.
Flora scrambled awkwardly to sit up, and Noec swallowed as he sat back on his feet and watched. She locked eyes with him, blinking back in disbelief.
“Forgive me,” he said quietly. “I… I heard you call for me, and I thought...” He met her eyes, and he struggled to speak. “I’m sorry. I was just making sure you’re okay.” He cleared his throat, adding, “Are you… are you okay?”
Stunned, Flora could only blink back. She touched her cheek, and she looked down at the tear on the back of her hand. “It was you,” she said, a barely audible accusation as her eyes rose to his. “This morning—that was you, wasn’t it?”
Wide-eyed and startled, Noec stared back, speechless.
“I…” he stammered. Fearful or ashamed, his brow furrowed, and he looked away like it suddenly hurt to meet her eyes.
“Flora, please…” he said, panic growing in each breath.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you… I was frightened, and I thought...
” He swallowed and continued, “I thought if I could just see you, everything would be okay.”
“Noec,” Flora muttered. Noec exhaled a slow, burdened sigh, then cautiously allowed his eyes to meet hers, and the moment she saw that emerald and gold, a bubbling feeling began to build in Flora’s chest.
Noec bit his lip and clasped his hands nervously. “But everything’s still wrong,” he confessed quietly. “I’m… still wrong. Pixie…” he strained, low and unsure. “Something happened, and I don’t know why. I know that I’ve failed you, but please?—”
“Noec,” Flora squealed, high but restrained. Grinning wide, she tackled her arms around his waist. Burying her face in his chest, she swayed happily as Noec remained stiff. “You’re back,” she murmured into his shirt. “I was so worried about you.”
Noec’s breath caught in his throat, but slowly, his cautious arms curled over her shoulders. “Hey, Pixie,” he said softly. He pulled her tight with a cold inhale, then exhaled a warm sigh against her hair. “I missed you,” he whispered. “Too much.”
Flora squeezed him tighter, and after a moment, her unrelenting embrace began to knock them both off balance.
But Flora wouldn’t yield, and Noec’s gentle chuckle ignited as they tipped over in slow motion.
Together, they fell into the sand, and as his laughter bubbled over, Flora pinned him down and tried to stiffen her glare.
“You bitch,” she grumbled. “I almost shot you.”
Noec caught his breath and grinned. And at the sight, there was nothing Flora could do to fight the rush of blood that reddened her cheeks. She huffed and looked away, and Noec’s grin sank to a frown as he watched her climb to her feet.
“Sorry,” he said urgently, reaching after her hand as he stood. “I’m sorry.”
Flora paused, crossing her arms as she looked back at him. “For what?” she asked.
“For…” Noec hesitated, his posture sinking timidly as he hugged his arms. “For coming to you in that state.” Flora watched him for a long moment, confused.
To Noec, though, her confusion must have read like disdain.
“I came to you searching for a friend,” he explained, “for someone who might be able to make sense of me.” He stepped back just a bit.
“It was selfish,” he admitted. “Maybe coming here now was selfish, too. I’m… I’m sorry.”
“That’s enough,” Flora said sternly, and Noec froze, wide-eyed.
“You,” she said, pulling him in by the collar.
“You are going to stop apologizing, because you didn’t do a damn thing wrong.
” Her stern expression broke with a smirk, and the more she looked at him, the more the masked excitement glowed in her eyes.
“Except die,” she added. “That was awkward for everyone.”
Noec snorted a laugh, and Flora reveled proudly in the sight of him. She placed a hand on the frame of his face, and a relieved smile brushed across her lips as Noec smiled back.
“You’re safe now,” she whispered lightly. “I don’t care what you are, you’ll always be safe with me.”
He leaned into her hand and closed his eyes. “I know,” he said, with his brow furrowing just slightly. Gently, he pulled her hand away, then smiled down as he held it between his. He sniffed, chuckling softly as he added, “I should’ve never doubted it.”
Flora squeezed just briefly, then slowly slipped her fingers away. “Are you feeling better now?” she asked tentatively. “Well enough to go home?”
Noec’s expression sank, and he slid a step back. He looked down at his hands, steady now. “I’m… better,” he answered. “The fire is gone, I think.” But Noec’s jaw tightened, and his fists clenched shut. “But, still…” Noec sighed, and dreadfully, his eyes rose to hers. “I can’t go home.”
“Why… why not?”