Mikleo 2

4

Tears are warmth go both ways,

Fracturing reality.

Your wings might be broken,

But let me be your guide to light.

Chapter 4 ~ Legacy

Nayla is still trapped in her dreams.

Making friends? Such silly things to say. She does not need anyone else, as long as she has her mother right beside her.

But her dream soon turns nightmare, just like everything else.

The warm evening sky turns dark in a heartbeat, along with the shed and bedroom. Everything is gone in an instant. She turns to her mother in a desperate search, only to watch as the figure also disappears, breaking into pieces of fragments that makes her think that this is all not real.

She does not want to leave, but her subconscious can not take it anymore. Something — no, someone — is calling to her, waking her out, carrying her from the darkness and out into the light—

The first thing she sees is the blinding light.

Nayla lifts her arm in an attempt to block it, but her body feels heavy. She flinches in response, the jolt causing voices to raise around her. So loud. Why can’t they just be quiet?

When she opens her eyes again, she already knows who to expect. The sight of Mikleo sitting in her room has become somewhat of a usual sight, as strange as it sounds in her mind. She doesn’t understand why, but she is not so opposed to the idea anymore.

“Mikleo.” She does not understand why, but her lips twitch themselves into a smile.

“You’re up.” He is beside her in an instant.

The seraph boy is no longer transparent, but hard solid in her eyes. So it seems like she finally has ‘the sight’. Does this mean she can see the others now as well?

There is so much things she wants to say, but all is lost when she meets those pair of lavender eyes she knows so well.

She launches herself at him, kicking herself off the bed.

Mikleo's eyes widen in surprise, but his arms are already open out of instinct, ready to catch her.

Great, is she going to throw a tantrum again?

But instead of attacking him, she wraps her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face to the crook of his neck. His breath is caught in his throat, not expecting her to embrace him, let alone being in such a close proximity. His heart starts beating fast before he even realize it, hammering against his ribcage.

“W— what are you doing?” he asks in jitters.

Nayla pulls away just slightly, presenting him with a blazing smile as bright as the sun. He does not know why, but it makes something inside him aches. Not the dreadful kind that befell him when he found her almost dead just a week ago. This one is much more pleasant, somehow.

“Mikleo, don’t you remember me? We used to play together,” she chirps.

“What do you mean? Play together? I don’t remember having a human such as you in our village.”

“Yes we did. Me and you and Sorey. The three of us used to play in the water when we were small, while watching the adults fish with their water bending.”

His eyes lid up. “How do you know that?”

“Because I was there, of course. But maybe you don’t remember. We were just toddlers back then, after all. But I remember it now.”

Mikleo studies the girl’s features closely, trying to imagine her in her much younger years. Dark walnut curls with caramel highlights and Tuscanian sun gold. Nope. Doesn’t ring any bells.

“Sorry, but you must have mistaken me for someone else,” he pushes her away urgently.

Having her being so close to him causes all kinds of reactions he is not ready for. He does not know what is wrong with him. Usually, he can just tease and ridicule her with ease, even going as far as making her blush like crazy. He likes watching her cheeks blossom to a rosey color, but now it is his turn to react. Though this time, having her approaching him so eagerly makes him feel uneasy. He sweats fast, and his body does all kinds of things that betrays his coolness.

“Where’s Sorey? Maybe I can ask him instead,” Nayla suggests.

Mikleo does not know why, but the sound of his name’s best friend coming from her lips annoys her. She has just woken up. One minute she was throwing herself at him, and the next she is already looking for another male? Talk about no principals.

“Well, since it seems like you are already up and about just fine, I’ll let the others know so that they don’t have to worry about you so much,” he can not control the irritation that seeps through his tone while he speaks.

He turns away from her, not even bothering to spare a look when he closes the door behind him all too fast. Nayla, now left alone, can not help but feel flabbergasted by this treatment. He is already usually this cold, but this time his reaction feels different to her, especially since the little Mikleo she knew always smile at her at all times. He used to be so adorable 

Why? Is he upset that she just suddenly hugged him? But they give embraces to each other all the times. She even often kissed him on the cheeks. Maybe he is just shy? But it is Mikleo she is thinking about here. There is no way an arrogant boy like him feels embarrassed, right? How did such a cute and sincere boy like him turned into this version that she knows, though?

Nayla can recall his face clearly in her mind, despite the slight glitches and darkness. Her erased memories have slowly cleared out now.

He had huge, expressive purplish eyes. She can still remember the soft texture of his long stands, so delicate and compliant. Even when she ruffled his hair in a mess, he could easily tidy it up with a couple of shakes. He used to be so small and a winner when when he has just a kid, but now he is so tall and reliable.

The girl can not help but smile at the thought. If she does not know any better, she would not be able to put two and two together.

His hair also used to be white, like snow and daisy. The blue highlights must have appeared over the years he grew up. Though she can not help but feel envious for his light ivory skin. Unlike her, whose skin got a bit dark and rough over the years thanks to her field works.

Moments later, the open doors again, revealing Sorey.

“I heard from Mikleo,” he starts out, offering a smile. “I’m glad that you’re finally feeling better.”

“Ah yeah, sorry about that. I must have caused quite the inconvenience,” she scratches the back of her neck nervously.

“Don’t mention it. We’re all friends here, after all. Though I must admit, you caused quite the uproar. If Mikleo hadn’t had his suspicions, we might not have arrived in time.”

“But you guys did, right?”

“Barely. Mikleo was struggling to heal you. You lost a lot of blood. We didn’t know what happened until we heard the screeching screams and the dead hellion.”

“I wasn’t able to save him,” Nayla confesses in regret. If it had been any of the guys, they would have been able to purify the hellion, instead of killing it like what she did to the poor creature. It was not his fault. He is just unlucky enough to have encountered her.

“Don’t be like that, Nayla. You only did what you had to do,” he consoles her.

“Anyway, thank you for taking care of me while I was out.”

“You don’t have to. But if you must, it is Mikleo you should be thanking. He spent the most time monitoring your condition. When we discovered you, your body had fallen into a critical condition. It took a lot of effort, but he was finally able to stop the bleeding. You were hurt quite bad though, and there are a few wounds that needed to be tend to. He ended up looking out for you for the rest of the week.”

“Wait, that’s how long I’ve been out?”

“Yep, about a week or so.”

“A week?” Her eyes widen at the announcement.

“Yeah, you were out for some time. Even though your wounds have all almost disappear.” Nayla takes a look down herself, finally realizing that there are bandages wrapped around herself. Especially around her midsection.

She got hurt during the attack, though some of them are cuts made due to avoid the hellion’s charges through the forest.

“I didn’t realize that I made him worry,” she admits in embarrassment. What had she done to herself. How did she get so many wounds on herself? She did not know the severity of the damages her body has taken until she counts just how many white rolls are wrapped around her.

“We took turns guarding you, but Mikleo insisted to take most of the shifts.”

“Where is he now?” She needs to tell him something.

“Back to his room. Or at least, that’s what I expect to be. He has not been out of this room almost an entire day, so he just be taking care of his hingene right about now. Don’t want to stay stink, of course.”

“Thanks for helping as well,” she smiles back at him. Though this is not the real reason why she calls for him though.

“You’re welcome. I’ll bring down some brunch for you later. You should get some rest until you fully recover. Will that be all?”

“I was wondering, if you still remember me,” she starts out.

“Remember you? What do you mean? Of course I know you. You’re our friend.”

“No, I mean from back then. Back when we were little. We used to play together . . . in Elysia.”

“We did?” he echoes in confusion.

Just before she can say anything, Mikleo is already back, carrying a tray full of food.

“Mikleo! What are you doing? You’re supposed to get some rest.” Sorey heads to his friend, helping him by taking the tray off his hands and placing it on Nayla’s bed.

“I’m just bringing this to her, and then I’ll retreat to my room,” he says.

“Well, it’s here now, so you better head back and catch some sleep. You haven’t got any properly sleep since the past week, haven’t you?”

“I got enough,” the white-blue haired boy says persistently.

“Wait, um, Mikleo.” He shifts his gaze to her when she calls his name. “Just want to say . . .” she fumbles at the fabric of her nightgown nervously. “Thank you! For everything.”

“Hmm,” he huffs.

“—Also, I want you to think about what I said. If you want remember—”

“I still think you misremember things. There is no way we could have met before,” the water seraph claims.

“But—”

“Come to think of it, I vaguely recalls having used to play with a brunette girl before. Was that you?” Sorey interjects.

“Yes! You remember?”

“We used to play at the river, right? The three of us?”

“Yay, so you do remember!”

Nayla can not contain her happiness, the feeling bubbling inside her so much that she just has to pull him into a hug. Sorey yelps in surprise but is polite enough to let her take reside against him. She is just hugging him elatedly out of friendship, when she suddenly feel Mikleo pulling her back by the fabric of her skirt.

“What do you think you are doing?” He gives her a lecturing scowl. 

“What? I’m just giving him a friendly hug?” She says sheepishly, but retrieves her arms back so that she will not do anything so recklessly again.

The brunette girl hugs herself, the action manages to trap her breasts together with her upper arms in the process, causing the bosoms on her chest to be thrusted forward. She might be imagining it, but she thinks she sees something like a flighting fright in his eyes. Though it all happens so fast that it flashes by before she can put a finger to it.

“While still in your nightgown? Who is the hypocrite over here now?” He refuses to even look at her in the eyes.

Though now that he points it out, Nayla jolts on the spot. Letting out a surprised yelp, she ducks into the bed, using the bed sheets to cover herself up. Her face is blushing like a tomato once she manages to be brave enough to lift her gaze.

Sorey is usually slow-witted when it comes down to this kind of thing, but seeing her face burning in red causes him to turn red also. He does not know why exactly, but he has a feeling that there is something inappropriate at play.

“Alright, let’s talk some other time once you are properly dressed.” Mikleo circles an arm around Sorey’s shoulders and leads him out of the room with him, a little bit of disdain in his tone.

Inside his mind, Mikleo is trying hard to calm himself. How could the girl be so reckless and parade herself around in her nightgown still. He had thought that she would have the decency to cover herself up by the time he is away. But no. He knows that she has just woken up from a brief coma, but did she really forgot? Or was it because of something else?

He watched Sorey’s facial expression as the girl blushes ever so shamelessly, and he can not help but feel this nasty tingle in his chest.

The hell?

. . . . .

It stings when Nayla tries to soak herself in the bathtub full of water. Her movements are clumsy, and she has to be careful when she tries to move, else she will pull something that is not completely healed yet. The girl winces throughout the process, almost slipping in the tub three times and accidentally spilling soap into her eye once, but she considers herself to be bidding quite well despite the circumstances. Nayla almost exhales in relief from the accident-free ordeal when she is finished bathing herself, until she tries to step out and manages to step on some spilled soap water.

The girl loses her balance, spilling down.

One foot is already out, when the other is still in.

She fails to grab hold as she falls, and something hard hits her at where her legs meet.

Nayla tries to bite back a cry, and ends up cursing through the sudden throbbing pain.

The girl tries to pull herself off the edge of the bathtub, tentatively lifting the leg at the back upwards. Stepping into a matt, she eventually gets over the pain and dries herself up. Once she is dressed properly, she peaks from outside her bedroom doors, only to find Mikleo already waiting for her, his back leaning against the wall.

“God, do you always have to be everywhere?” Nayla can not help but react in her usual self, her heart pounding fast in her chest because of the surprise.

The girl is still holding onto her chest when the male seraph turns towards her, eyes sharp and calculating. It makes Nayla inhales a long intake of breathe when he looks at her so 

“Your hair’s still wet,” is his first comment.

“Well, yeah,” she brushes it off quickly, but Mikleo makes a quick wave of his hand, banishing the water from the hair. Her chocolate brown strands fall to her shoulders dry and l**t, and Nayla can not help but stare in awe.

“Wow, that was fast. Thanks!”

The boy musters a respond she can not hear under his breath.

Silence.

“I’ve been wanting to ask this, but what’s with that thing?” He points at the accessory on her forehead.

“What? My circlet? My mother gave it to me.”

“It keeps on glowing whenever you fall asleep.”

“Glowing? For real? Like how?” she asks in disbelief.

“A bright light keeps reflecting from the middle, and this is not the first time either. It glowed whenever I saw you sleep.”

“Do you think it has something to do with your presence?”

“We can test it out,” he suggests.

“Sure, that sounds like— Wait a minute, you’re not using this chance to take advantage of me, are you?” She instinctively throws her arms around her body protectively, not getting it past him to behave.

Annoyed by her words, he counters by responding, “Relax. Who wants to feel up that flat chest of yours, anyway.”

“Well, I didn’t feel you complaining the last time!” she shouts out, before realizing what she has done. His purple eyes bulge wide shock, before redness starts to creep to his face. He averts his gaze, and Nayla can not help but feel shy about herself also.

She can still picture the outline of his hardness nestled against her butt from the last time.

Why did she admit to having learned that? Something about being near him makes her lose all control of herself.

“Anyway, let’s just get this over with,” he says, clearing this throat after a while.

“Wait, I’m not ready—” Nayla wants to stop him, but it is already too late. He places his hand on her shoulder. The reaction of the gesture is immediate.

Emerald light shines through, enveloping them in a flash.

In that instant, she can feel something electrifying powerful surging through her body. She can feel it in her veins as her arms moves up in reflex, attempting to push him.

What comes out is not just her sheer muscle strength, but also something liquid and whipping.

They both watch in surprise as a mass of water suddenly appears, flinging itself towards Mikleo.

The boy lifts his arm, but too late to block the attack as he can sense himself being abruptly pushed back with a shocking collision.

He senses the coldness seeping through his clothes before be is behind pushed back a couple of feet from where he stands.

They both blink. Mikleo stares at Nayla, and she returns the look.

No way. Don’t tell them—