The Sight Beyond The Haze

Chapter 16: First Class With Deo and the Butterflies

I watched as Deo checked the butterflies one by one.

It had not yet been a day since we last saw each other when I went inside the place that the butterfly once led me into. For now, since I was not aware of what it was formally called, I would refer to it as a garden. Though the sun was bright and high outside the glass dome of the garden, the shades provided by the trees planted inside the garden mercifully shielded the field of the inside.

It was scorching hot outside, but when I went inside, the dew of the plants and vines that I encountered on my way here were completely dried and no more, a gentle wind was blowing from around. I was not certain if it were the butterflies that was making the wind soft and gentle, but when I looked further on the middle of the garden, Deo was standing.

They were not exactly waiting for me, rather Deo looked busy as of the moment that though I knew that they sensed my presence, they did not acknowledge or greet me first.

"What are you doing?" I asked curiously while I walked closer to where they resting.

Deo was sitting in the middle of the grassy ground of the floor, the butterflies were mindlessly flying around of the garden. Some have already flocked towards me, their wings flapping soundlessly and animatedly. Their lights were dimmed to compliment the already bright surroundings, but there were still traces of glitters all around the air that was left when they play around the air.

The flowers, just like the first time I was here, were abundant and colorful as ever. Different types were planted that I was not certain if it was Deo themselves who planted those flowers. Violet wisteria was also abundant when I looked up. The combination of the flowers were intoxicating, but also a bit dizzying when I inhaled too much.

Silently, Deo was still sitting in the middle of the garden. I was not certain if they just ignored me or if they were too focused on meditating to care of the second presence of company beside them.

Some butterflies, a two or three, descended on their shoulders when they sensed that I was talking to Deo, rousing the person from their deep concentration. I heard a deep inhalation from them before they looked up to me, their mask was a porcelain white with both of the ending of the crescent shape that represented their mouth pointing upwards.

I continued to watched Deo.

With great elegance, Deo stood from where they were sitting on, not a speck of dust, grime, or even mud clung to his all white ensemble. Deo did not even struggle or was in the slightest out of balance.

"You are here," Deo said, stating the obvious.

"I do not have anything better to do," I reasoned with them.

I tossed to them a plastic mineral bottle that was filled with water on the lower half and some black suspicious semi-liquid on the upper half. Both of the substances were seperated neatly as though a barrier was in between them, but that was just not the case.

Deo's arm caught the bottle that I threw at them without any warning with ease, fitting it perfectly in between of their fingers. They raised the bottle in front of their mask, examining it more closely.

"What is it about—?" Deo asked at me in confusion, their masked face went back and forth between the bottle and me.

"You said back then, the first time you saved me, to be careful, did you not?" I asked Deo in return.

"What does that got to do with this?"

I walked closer towards him with a stride full of determination. I pursed my lips and also stared at the bottle plastic on Deo's hand that was half-filled with mudtrap.

"I want to learn more," I finally divulged, "not only to stop myself from depending on you, but also to grow up. Maybe once I am stronger, once I can get up on both of my feet, maybe I do not have to depend on you for answers."

"I do not mind being depended on," Deo answered me in a soft voice, "you can stay ignorant as long as you would like and I will be here to guide you. Step by step."

"I would like you to know," I stated slowly, "that I can do a lot of things too. Ignorance is nothing but a falsity that instead of protecting me, only blinded me more. If I went out on a tightrope, your wish of me being ignorant would only put a cloth on my eyes to prevent myself from seeing where I am going."

"But you can trust me to hold your hand every step of the way," Deo contradicted.

How one of Deo's mask's mouth turned downwards the second I directed my gaze at them, I do not know how. The only thing I noticed was that Deo was upset, and that much was true if I only look at them.

"If I do not consent—" Deo finally spoke up after a few seconds of silence where the only things that could be heard were the wind and the fluttering pairs of wings of the butterflies around us. "—what will you do?"

"Ask Zachriel Legrand," I responded with a yet determined tone, "he already revealed as much. It would not hurt to teach me how to use more of my power when we both know I have the ability."

Deo raised their right hand. For a moment, I could only see the expansive sleeve of their white robes, waving and dancing with the rhythm of the air. A cluster of butterfly flew in between us, the next was Haziel Imbert's countenance. She was small and precious. Like a delicate fairy, she stood in the middle of the blooming flowers, a few of the golden butterflies were perching itself on her shoulders and her bright pink hair.

"Would I be able to do that?" I asked Deo standing in Haziel Imbert's face.

"Creating skin takes more power than a simple sealing ritual," Deo said to me also using Haziel Imbert's voice. It was kind if hoarse in a way that she sounded like she just woke up, but also had that touch of enigma and ferocity. "If you are powerful enough and have already amassed experience, then there might be a chance. It is also incredibly useless, unless pretending to be someone or stealing an identity is extremely necessary. It is draining on your mind and your power."

"And you are able to change skins effortlessly," I commented.

There was a hanging statement in between our spaces that I was not able to utter in fear of offending Deo. I think Deo also have the same notion or felt that too, but they never acknowledged the fact that I was not able to say.

That maybe the reason why Deo could change skins effortlessly, though it was a laborious act to do, was due to the fact that they were not human at all.

"But while you can't," Deo continued, ignoring my previous comment, "you could practice on other things. There are three classifications on the magicians. One is for the Mage that performs rituals as you did. Two is for the Weavers that have the ability to manipulate the mind. And third is for the Warrior class who could fight offensive and in combat. A good magician kid would study the basics of the three classifications, and would only choose the class they would excel more."

"Where do I belong in those classifications?" I questioned as soon as Deo paused. "Am I a Mage now?"

Deo shook their pink-haired head or rather Haziel's pink head.

"No," they answered still though the small gesture was enough to deny my claim, "you could control the light butterflies, which you could take as a Mage and even as a Warrior magician class. You have the delicacy of being a Mage, and the strength to be a Warrior."

"Then the basics," I said, "you said I should learn about the basics. What should I then?"

"Hhmm," Deo hummed lowly, putting their hand to support one of their cheek. With Haziel's face, it looked adorable and cute that I felt my cheeks warming up. "I should get books that you could read about magic the next time we meet up. Right now, we could make you aware of the magical energy flowing around your body. It would be a good start for someone who has."

I nodded, with that motion I was also trying to shake off the warm feeling I have had on both of my cheeks.

"Seraphim," Deo called out to me. They were already walking towards the enormous roots of the tallest tree in here. "Come," Deo ordered me.

When we both reached the tree roots, Deo was the first one to sit down like it was the most natural thing to do. I followed suit and also sat down beside them.

"In front of me," Deo instructed me, "you should sit in front of me."

I did as I was told, but what they wanted me to do the next, I was not entirely prepared to do. Deo held out both of their hands to me and close their eyes with their legs crossed. It seemed like they were waiting for me to also follow because when I did not, Deo abruptly opened their eyes. Haziel's green eyes looked into me, an askance expression hanging on them.

So I also sat down across from Deo and held out my hands to their outstretched ones.

The first thing that I noticed was not the surge of the energy to me nor the wall seemingly blacking the gust of wind in my face, but the feel of Deo's hands. They weren't as calloused as I thought they would be, but of course, they were wearing a skin and the skin in which they transfromed probably also took the real texture of their skin.

But their skin was cool in the touch.

"Concentrate," Deo scolded me when they noticed that I was not paying attention to what we were supposed to be doing.

"Do I have to close my eyes like what you are doing?" I asked, turning away from Deo's scolding casually which, I guess with the way their eyes opened slightly, they noticed almost as soon as I did.

"It is your choice," Deo answered patiently, calm and collected within the meditation.

"I feel odd closing my eyes," I blurted out to them because of an inexplicable reason.

I winced internally.

I was speaking nonsense and Deo could also notice it too, but they never remarked on it.

"Do not close your eyes then," Deo responded, eyes were still slightly opened and their voice was steady and calm just as before. "Now, concentrate, Seraphim."

My head nodded once, my eyes were nailed to Haziel Imbert's face. I could not concentrate at all. In an act of desperation, I renewed my poise. I tried holding my breath, but it was futile when I realized that I could not still focus.

I looked at our joined hands, thinking that it could alleviate my lack of concentration. Surprisingly, it did nothing to help me. I still felt odd and uncertain of an inexplicable thing that I could not exactly point out on my brain.

I pursed my lips, my eyes turning into slits in the process. I caught a glimpse of the butterflies flying around, glitters spreading in the air, and it distracted me.

"If you do not concentrate this instant," Deo abruptly spoke, a sense of warning tainted their calm voice which sent signals on my mind. They rather sounded serious too. "Then I will change my mind on teaching you. Will that be a better reason for you to try harder?"

I straightened my back on that threat and finally closed my eyes. Be it closed or opened, I still feel rather odd. I raised my head a bit and with the light my eyes were bathed on, I knew that one of the butterflies heeded my call for help.

The flow of energy between us was as gentle as the gust of wind in a summer's day with only ripples of nothingness from the lack of it then surging from my hands to theirs anew. It was flowing back and forth between us, and I found it rather curious how it could make me feel comfort and mellow.

On the smallest crevice between our hands, I could sense the mild breeze.

When I went out of the garden, Deo said that I should go out alone and the they would meditate still. The golden butterflies tried to follow me when I opened the creaking door, but Deo was adamant on keeping all of them inside the garden. They let out another gust of breeze that swept off the butterflies inside the garden.

I left Deo inside, their eyes were still tightly closed, their hands were either sides of their crossed legs. Even when I went out, I never saw them turned back into their own form.

When I went to the dining hall, Bianca was already there. She was waiting on one of the tables with her friends, lively chatting with them. When she saw me entered the hall, she waved her hand to signaled me to come.

"Where have you been?" she asked exasperatedly.

I sat down on the only seat available in the table, which was just across from her.

"Studying," I answered and then proceeded on greeting the people on the table.

Night has fallen when I went out of the garden, the butterflies were the only source of illumination inside the garden. I wonder what would Deo be doing, where would they get any food, or even the place they would be sleeping on?

Such insignificant thoughts and questions about a mysterious person like Deo.

If Deo was not a human being, then would trival and banal things such as eating and sleeping be a bother to them at all?

When the darkness has truly invaded the sky and the artificial lights became illuminated, I lie on my bed; the mudtrap plastic bottle was safely hidden away to some crook of one of my drawers. I was still thinking about the passing of the energy between the two of us.

After that, I somehow felt lighter as though I could jump straight to the clouds in the sky. As though I could reach the highest peak of the skies, but of course, that was just an exageration.

There was not a speck of presence of any butterflies anywhere I look. I suppose that was a way of Deo's to give me some time to think or reflect about what I should be thinking. Learning and studying magic, Deo probably thought it was too much but they stiol taught me nonetheless. Deo still taught me despite being against the notion of it.

Maybe because I slept in such a good tone, the dreams never came this time.

"Good morning!" Bianca greeted me when she rose up from her bed. She knitted her brows at me as I finished grooming myself to prepare for the class.

I greeted her back, though not as enthusiastically as she did, but the thought seemed to have cheered Bianca up.

"You're sleeping nicely now," she commented vaguely.

"What do you mean by nicely?" I asked her, looking at the mirror to see her stand behind me, observing me.

"Back then, when you're new around here," she stated and furrowed her brows further, "there would always be circles under your eyes. Like you can't sleep, you know? You look like—" Bianca gestured with her hands around, as though she could not find the right term for it "—there was just something," she finally gave in, "but you seemed to have been sleeping okay lately."

"Do I?" I whispered to myself, but only smiled slightly at Bianca.

At the way to the classroom with some of Bianca's friends, we met the same teacher that we met back then at the common room. It was Bianca's crush.

"Good morning, Sir Apollo!" we said in a chorus.

"Move along people," he answered in an amiable tone and shooed us away, "you are all going to be late on your classes."

Bianca and some more girls giggled, even I smiled despite myself. Now, I remember that particular teacher. He was the one who has the sweet voice, the one Deo impersonated when they first visited me when I was confined at the infirmary.

We bid our farewell to the teacher, but as I was passing by on his side, I suddenly felt a fatigue of some sorts. I gripped on the person next to me.

"Are you okay, Seraphim?" she said to me nicely using the same voice as yesterday.

When I looked up, it was Haziel Imbert whose arm I was holding on to. Like yesterday, Deo's hands were cool to the touch, but gave off a sense of comfort and warmth.

"I feel..." my voice faded away as I tried to shook off the vertigo that have gripped me.

"Faint," Deo, who was disguised as Haziel, continued for me.

"Miss Griyego?" I heard Sir Apollyon asked, his voice was rising above all the noise in the hallway. "What's happening?

"Oh my gawd!" Bianca exclaimed loudly. "What happened to you, Sera?" she asked.

"She feels faint," Deo answered for me, they put my arm around Haziel's petite shoulder and tried to carry me off, "I'll guide her to the infirmary."

Bianca nodded vigorously, looking at Deo, who was still pretending to be Haziel, with amazement with their concern.

But it was Zachriel who went in and swoop me up to guide me as per instructions of Deo, who was still using Haziel Imbert's face. Even I, whom have only met the real Haziel Imbert only once, was convinced of Deo's superb acting.

"If you'll excuse us, Sir," Deo said in Haziel's tone.

Though I know that Deo's strength was enough to carry me all the way to the infirmary, they still let Zachriel carried me. It was quite embarrassing, even more so when I thought of Bianca snickering with her friends. Not in the bad way though, but it was still rather shameful for me.

Zachriel never did spoke to me, but then again, it has only been a week since the mudtrap sealing ritual. He, with Deo, unceremoniously guided me all the way. He only guided me since I was too stubborn to just let myself be carried like some sort of a princess or a damsel.

"You may leave us," Haziel, or Deo rather, told Zachriel right after.

"I thought you are going?" Zachriel asked Deo. "How come you are here after all?"

I gave Deo a sideway glance, bur they just smiled languidly at Zachriel which made him straightened his back's posture.

"Was it not nice that I am here after all?" Deo asked with ferocity. "Now, go, Zachriel, and let me take care of Seraphim."

Deo did not give Zachriel any explanations which I found rather odd, I guess Haziel has a more authoritative power than Zachriel.

I was sitting on a white bed, not the same one as yesterday. It was not even a private room, but then I was only here for temporary. Zachriel seemed to want to protest, but with only a glance from Deo full of ferocity, he finally left.

"I am okay," I suddenly told Deo when I was certain that Zachriel was way out of the area he could hear our words.

"We will meet later," Deo stated, it was an undoubtedly order from them, "we will rid off your body of any of the other's energy."

I know that he hated being asked, so I kept quiet. Maybe in time, Deo would tell me the answers themselves. I would just wait for them to do so.

I was lulled to sleep and when I woke up, we were both already on the garden. I closed my eyes agains, feeling the breeze on my face and the presence of the person next to me.

"You are awake," Deo told me on their calm voice.

I sat up and looked at him. I did not know what went on my head but I found myself holding their hand on mine.

We were both sitting there for quite a long time, but I opened one of my eyes, making the light of the butterfly that was perched on the tip of my nose almost made me crossed eyed. Just behind the butterfly's brilliance was Haziel's dark green eyes, they were already looking at me and waiting for the exact moment that I would pull this off.

I blinked and breathed, but something caught on my nose, maybe a dust or a stray pollen grain. I sneezed, what I had not anticipated was the impact of that little move and the energy that was being conserved between our hands. With a swish of wind, I was flying away from Deo who was looking at me, trying hard to suppress that one smile on Haziel's face.

Before I made an incredibly impactful contact with any thing inside the garden, the golden butterflies flew towards my back. As fast as light, hundreds of them at once cushioned my back. With them carrying me, instead of speeding up, I slowly came to a halt until I was suspending in the air. It was not in the least awkward, with them as my wings behind me, I have never felt freer.

I attempted to walk in the air and their wings followed what I wanted to do, reading my mind before I even uttered a word.

"Are you done playing with them?" Haziel's voice rang throughout the glass dome.

I stared down to Deo. They were looking at me, indulgent and tolerating. They were still in Haziel's guise, their face as small as one can be; beautiful but with a certain mystery and elegance. Only when I have reached the highest peak that the glass dome of the garden could allow me that I let the butterflies let go of my back.

Wind whistled on my ears, ringing loudly, before I felt a pair of hands reaching to me— preventing me to fall harshly on the ground.

In the middle of the air, Deo caught me.

When I faced them, their mask was already in place of their face. The expansive sleeves of their robes almost engulfed the both of us as Deo embraced my whole body in a giant hug that consisted of more cloth than our actual bodies.

"What are you doing, Seraphim?" Deo asked incredulously.

We stayed mid-air for a couple of seconds, my eyes gazing at the flower beds from below us, marveling at how youthful and blooming they were. Incredibly beautiful in a hidden place such as this.

"You said that you do not mind being depended on," I whispered to them.

Finally, the white booted leg of Deo's touched the grass of the earth. They did not set me down at first, and I also did not complain. On Deo's arms, I found out that they were as comfortable as a bed. Both cool and warm, and delicate and even soft despite the calloused hands.