Tranquility engulfed the misty forest.
The forest was so still that a crack of a twig would have sounded like a thunder. The night was imbued with silence which cast an illusion that everything under the tall evergreens was dead. As the stars moved, the silence continued until it was maddeningly loud. One wrong step would cause a ruckus, and that would be her end. If the moon stretched its rays to where it could sense the culprit who destroyed the stillness, shewould be busted.
Shadows dwelled beneath the tall trees, shielding the earth from the moonlight. And she was there, waltzing stealthily into the shadows as though the rays of the moonlight would burn her. She only needed to get in that place, if only the moon would not interfere. She wished this place to be untouched by the moonlight – but who was she against omnipotent moon seated on its throne in the sky.
As she dived through the air like a graceful butterfly, her trail of pink dust disappeared as soon as it appeared, outmaneuvering the vigilant eyes up above. She knew the boundaries of her duties, and stepping beyond these boundaries would definitely put her in peril. But she had a compelling reason why break the rules – that was why she was here, dodging the moonlight. It was that voice, that faint voice desperate of help. How could she ever refuse a voice that was calling for help? After all, it was still a part of her duty.
The foliage rustled as it watched her fly past. Her pink trail lit the dark forest grounds momentarily, however it vanished in a blink of an eye. And just like that, everything was dark and still again as if she had never passed by. She was walking through the air — or running, that was also possible — for her bare feet never touched the forest floor. Her every step in the air tinkled like the faintest wind chimes. The evening felt serene as it fell upon her unclad visage, but something along that serenity pricked her senses. Something strange was going on.
Her hand reached out for the trunk standing mighty before her. When her hand touched the bark, the vambrace extending to her middle finger emitted faint red light, and she was reminded that she was this forest's steward — that everything was connected to her. She was its heartwood. Leaning towards the tree, she warned the tree that to keep their encounter a secret. When the leaves rustled, she knew that this tree would help to cover up for her. Luka peeked over the bush, making sure that the path she would take was uncharted by the moonlight. But as soon as she popped her head out from the shadows, the eerie feeling in the evening air coiled around. It was stronger than before, and stranger, since she could hear faint voices of many humans.
She was already at her destination in the human grounds. There was only one voice that stood out among all other whispered wishes, which persuaded the pink fairy to climb down from her nest and hide in the shadows, just to silence this compelling voice. As she tiptoed towards the wooden cabin which stood a stone's throw away, the lush green vines that wrapped on her milky legs uncoiled and hid under her knee-length skirt. Her vambraces made out of roses glowed and then faded as she closed the distance between her and the cabin. She scampered towards it in haste, wary of the eyes that keenly looked in all directions.
If those eyes ever caught her, she would be in trouble. If a human laid his eyes on her, it would be even bigger trouble. So she moved stealthily, trying to be more careful. This wandering was against their rules, and contrary to her flawless reputation, she was now considered an outlaw. Stepping out of her safe zone was risky but this voice, the vague stolen dreams, and her duties weighed her heart down. She had never heard such strong desire, so whatever it would take she must find solutions.
Her pristine hand, bare from its usual vambrace, circled the knob and pushed the door open. It surprised her that it was so easy to sneak inside this human shack – even the wind slipped into the house without difficulty. But unbeknownst to her, there was a person pulling the door on the other side.
The evening air showered the inquisitive fairy with a queer sensation. Twisted, grim, random – she could not fathom it very well.
Tonight marked his second sleepless night.
His restlessness was considered unfortunate, but it wasn't that bad. It wasn't that bad especially now that he was locking gazes with a beautiful maiden in the middle of the night. Her face was enticing; her beauty was bewitching enough to make him stare all night. Round blue eyes stared back at him, they seemed to glow but that might be just a trick of the eye.
As he stood there, intoxicated with beauty he had never seen before, his wish echoed and repeated, 'let me sleep, let me sleep,' — but again, he wasn't sure if he'd still wish for that while this lady stood astonished in front him. Nevertheless, the dark rings hanging from his eyes showed that this wish was never granted. Spending the whole evening outside his shop seemed a better way to spend his time.
"I can't sleep," he said those words in a whisper. "Are you a village girl?" he saw her withdraw her hands from the other knob.
She nodded, unsure whether she should tell the truth or not. After all, she was as bewildered as he was — like the two of them both saw a weird creature. But that was probably the real reason. "I am . . . sleepless, too." Lies, her soul was cringing with what she was doing.
She had never encountered a human first hand, and surely this one's beauty was unsurpassed. But it was the queer aura he had around him, more like he was tired and . . . well, exhausted. It meant the same. His eyes did not show any vigor, his smile was crooked in the most saddening way she had ever seen, and his shoulders sagged as if he would crash on the ground anytime.
Before she could study his sleeplessness, he averted his gaze from her, looking up to the sky instead. "I would like it better if the moon wasn't out like that. For some reason, it hinders my work."
"I like it that way too," she mumbled. "Then she will not pester me," though she whispered this, he still heard it.
"She?" He blinked, closing the door behind him. There was a wooden bench a few steps away, empty and inviting. Gesturing for her to come to the bench, they sat side by side.
"She . . . my sister," nervousness laced her words, making her tremble and stammer with such three words. "Well, can I ask why the moon impedes your work?"
His shoulders sagged again, as he leaned against the backrest. "You see, whenever I stare at the moon, I can't continue my work. It's like it's calling me, its beauty is enticing." At that moment she realized whose voice it was, the one which the strange breeze had brought to her from some disturbing source. "Oh, anyway, my name is Gakupo, a town mechanist. However, they all call me 'Tinker'. You can tell why, that is my job. Well, and what might be your name?" He tucked purple tresses behind his ears, his lips tugging into a weak smile. His hair reminded her of the lavenders which adorned her treasured garden.
"My name?" She looked upon him with pity. He looked so frail. His eyes shone with exhaustion, eyelids drooping but he was never granted a good sleep. "I am Luka. You deserve some sleep." With the flick of a hand, she granted his wish and he dropped into a deep slumber. Besides, she could not withstand lying to him just to keep her identity a secret.
The sun climbed up the sky, showering the small town with ample radiance. Roosters cried their morning call, signalling the start of the day. The townspeople dusted off their shacks and huts, opened their windows to let the sunlight in, and engaged themselves with their daily routine. Horse shoes clattered against the rough track as farmers drove their carts to deliver milk. The day was beginning for everyone—and by everyone, Gakupo was included.
He extended his limbs, joints clicking as he stretched his muscles out. It felt like he had the best sleep in his entire life; it was filled with good dreams he forgot as soon as his eyes opened. And so he realized, he wasn't in his room. The warmth drenching him was directly from the king sun as he lay down on his wooden bench.
"It seems like you had a good night's rest, Mr. Tinker," the newspaper boy greeted Gakupo, walking to him while holding a pile of gray sheets of papers he had to distribute today. His wide grin flashed to the tinker, white straight pearls of teeth shining against his sun-kissed skin.
"Precisely so. I haven't slept for two nights and I am grateful to finally have some rest. Well, I can now greet you with all honesty – good morning, Bruno." Gakupo stood and ruffled the brunet's hair, before walking inside his cabin.
"You probably had a good dream," Bruno said, trailing behind the older man. It was rare to see the tinker smile in the morning, and it must be because of some good dream. However, the tinker remained quiet, his face crinkled as he poured himself a glass of water.
Whatever dream it was, he had forgotten it. That was the usual case anyway; few could recall their dreams as vivid as a teardrop. The common scenario was that dreams were buried and forgotten. But as Gakupo thought, he remembered a hazy picture of last night–perhaps, this wandering newspaper boy could enlighten him.
"Bruno? Have you, by any chance, met a lady with hair dyed like the carnations?" Gakupo's brows went upwards in contemplation.
"No, I have never seen anyone with such fancy hair. Our town is so small, I can tell you instantly if I see someone." Bruno tapped his chin while he thought about it again, "I definitely didn't anyone. Neither on the streets nor in homes where I deliver these newspapers. Why? You saw someone?"
Gakupo paced across his little shop, settling himself down on the tattered couch. Bruno followed him, leaning against a stool as he patiently listened to the older man. "I met this lady last night. She opened my shop's door, but I think she was far from being a burglar. I happened to have slept on the bench for a few moments after we sat." His memories were vague but he knew he had company last night –he wasn't sure if that company was real or a delusion, but he was curious to find out.
Strangers come and go, especially in this line of business. He shouldn't fuss over a sole lady— but then she was pretty.
"What a rude man," Bruno snickered but eventually stopped when a thought popped in his mind. "She must be the pink fairy! My grandfather used to tell stories about a pink fairy. She must be that person. Wow, master you are so lucky!"
Gakupo shot him a questioning look as he gulped down the cool water. Pink fairy? Lucky? Master?
As if he understood what Gakupo meant when he cocked his eye brow, the brunet continued his tale. "It is said that the pink fairy can grant wishes."
The tinker leaned his chin onto his palm, eyes narrowing at Bruno's dirty boots. He had heard the urban tales about fairies, but there weren't fairies anymore. Or probably, there were none at all. Somehow, it wouldn't hurt to believe it. The rumor wouldn't start if someone hadn't seen one or mistaken to be one. Either these immortal beings existed or they did not; it wouldn't hurt to presume this all true.
"If that's so, then she might be the reason why I fell asleep. I must repay her. Am I right?" Convinced, Gakupo smiled at the young man. However, the brunet was in awe as he stared agape at the grandfather clock—ticking close to seven in the morning.
"True that, master!"
"Stop calling me that." Gakupo is a well-known mechanist. Even though his name is known and trusted by the duke, he chose to stay with his simple living. For that sole reason, Bruno admired him like an older brother, since Gakupo is ten years older. "Leave now before the neighbourhood misses its daily dose of fresh news."
Bruno's admiration of the well-known tinker brought him to the shop as his apprentice, helping Gakupo in his works. After Bruno's newspaper deliveries, he would spend the rest of his learning from the tinker himself.
"Alas! I almost forgot. Goodbye, Mr. Tinker. I'll be of help after I deliver these!" then he dashed towards his bicycle leaning by the bench outside, and tilted his hat to the tinker before exiting his house.
"Tut, this kid is easily distracted. Now I better get going. The gears won't fix themselves." With those words, he stood and strode towards the window to open it, revitalized by the sleep the suspected fairy gave him. "Thank you, Luka." He whispered before pulling the window blinds open.
The grumpy Luka flew to the sanctuary, gesturing the vines that obstructed her way to undone themselves. The moonflowers were shut inside their buds as she made her way in. It was still morning and their glory wouldn't shine until dusk. And then she saw a glimpse of white amid the greenness of this maze garden Haku created.
"Haku!" Luka's voice thundered through her sister's nook, interrupting the singing cicadas and chirruping birds. The white roses, as if truly frightened by the pink fairy's voice, lost their glow and turned to be dull pale flowers.
"Hey, sister! What's up? I saw you last night sneaking into the human village." Haku was hanging from a tree branch, her legs wrapped around it. Her long hair hung flatly, its whiteness reminded Luka of the moon watching her last night. "Ever heard of the saying? The Moon is following you everywhere. You thought I wouldn't see you, aye? My, when you're up there, there's no such thing as a secret."
The sly smile painting her face continued as she uncoiled her legs, dropping from the tree and turning in midair. Her fall stopped suddenly – she was floating level to her sister. "You have been told a thousand times and more that it is forbidden to enter their grounds—especially to talk to them." The moon fairy said icily, her smirk began to unnerve Luka. "If I tell mother what you did, you will be in a big trouble, dear sister . . . Luka."
"Don't you dare, Haku." Luka snapped, locks of her carnation hair levitating as her eyes were filled with rage. "Let's see who will be in trouble if mother learns that you are stealing human dreams!"
But Haku looked unaffected; she even flipped her hair back and smiled. "I did not steal anything." Her voice made Luka cringe, it was unpleasant and annoying. She brought the back of her hand against her cheek and stifled laugh. "Why would I do such a horrible deed? It is forbidden, isn't it?" Sarcasm could be heard in her voice.
"Stop acting innocent!" Luka snapped, dashing towards Haku and sprinkling pink dust through the air. Several seconds after, an image of the tinker appeared. There flashed before them the dreams stolen from Gakupo, and Haku was there – draining them all. Haku's sly smile faltered and she blew the dust away. The images vanished.
"I'm just fooling around," Haku flew near her sister, trapping the enraged maiden's hands in between her dead white hands. "Please don't tell mother, she may take my ability to fly. I can't live without flying." But Luka remained unconvinced.
Luka and Haku are just two of the fairy sisters born on earth. Haku is a moon fairy, born at the bosom of the moonflowers, ruling the night – including dreams. Luka, on the other hand, is a pink fairy born on the forest floor, responsible for granting wishes just like her mother. Since Luka possesses the same power as her mother, she is next in line to the throne. The only thing obstructing her from the throne is that she has to teach herself how to rule and abide their laws—and this includes refraining from human contact.
"Like I'll believe you, Haku." Luka had a victorious smile on her face. "Maybe I will let mother decide about this matter—"
"Please sister, I beg you! I'll do whatever you want. Just don't tell mother. I was just borrowing his dreams; I'm going to return them anyway." Haku clasped her hands together, kneeling in the air.
"You will do whatever I want? When you bargain with me, there is no turning back." Haku gulped in terrible fear. Luka's evil grin suggested all sorts of bizarre, dreadful things. However, before Haku could take back her words, Luka spoke. "By the way, what do you mean by his dreams? Is he the only one you're after?"
"Well yes, I never touched anyone's dreams except for that guy, I swear. You know, he has a lot of interesting things in his mind." The moon fairy watched her sister nod in assent, as if she proved her words true.
"After all he is a mechanist." Luka added, fluttering her hands through the air.
"—and don't deny it, he is quite cute don't you think, Luka?" Luka blushed. "I saw that!" Haku taunted her sister, pointing out the obvious. When she was watching the two last night, she did not miss how Luka's concentration switched from his "wish" to his "attractiveness". The tinker's toothsome features sometimes caused the moon fairy to desire humans, even though humans lived no more than a second compared to the thousands of hours they had to live.
The pink fairy glared at her sister, "stop that or I'll tell mother."
Laughing, Haku refrained saying another thing about the tinker, and she flew back to the branch where she hung like a sleeping bat.
"I won't tell mother but you have to do me a favour." The moon fairy's ears twitched as she looked down to her sister standing in midair, noting Luka's narrowed eyes while cupping her chin. However, the pondering look Luka had shattered as she looked around.
Suddenly, Luka heard a faint voice. "Thank you Luka," it said. That same voice again.
Gakupo, she thought and smiled. That very sound made her feel butterflies in her stomach. Right then, she realized what she wanted Haku to do for her.
"I am going back in the village tonight. Since you are a moon fairy, you can easily manipulate things at night. That won't be any problem."
"And?" Haku found it strange to hear Luka suggesting something defying their rules. Watching the human town up there in the night sky, the moon fairy viewed mortal life as a dull repetitive series of routines that would begin at birth and end with death. They would away with the breaking dawn and sleep at dusk. The only thing entertaining from them was their dreams and desires, their unconscious wants resurfacing in the dark of the night.
"No more questions. Is it a deal or no?"
Left without a choice, Haku flew back to Luka. They started chanting.
"In every letter, in every word, we wish but truth be heard. In every breath, in every sigh, we promise to tell no lie. With these hands we will hold, and in this deal we are sold. By the laws we will abide, we are allies side by side. No harm we will let and by the ancient rules the contract is set."
When the last words flew from their mouths and their hands tied together like a knot, a deal between two fairies was settled. An ancient tradition they used to do.
Whatever the fairy was up to, the moon fairy was forced to do what she was told — with her complaints ignored. That night, Haku was on the lookout. She had to keep Luka away from fairies that could possibly see her sneaking out of the sanctuary for the second time.
To defy the fairy rules, Luka must have a valid reason. If she went out last night because that voice begging for sleep was her reason, she must have a good reason why she snuck out tonight, too. Or at least Haku was praying her sister had a good reason. But no luck, Luka was only after fun. A dangerous sort of fun, note that.
"Luka, are you sure about this? This mission is so dangerous, do you realize that? This is clearly violation of fairy laws and your duty too! Luka!" Haku might be a mischievous fairy but she also had her fears—and what she feared the most was being caught violating their laws. She was caught once and she had been banned from using her powers for a whole century. Now, seeing her sister Luka – a successor to the throne, an ever pure fay – the one who implemented laws violating her own orders she was even more terrified. , Haku would also be punished. For abandoning Luka would mean breaking the contract they set and she would suffer the same consequence anyway.
If one analyzed their personalities, Haku should have been the one carrying out this act of rebellion. But Luka had never looked this adventurous, and it scared every cell in Haku's dead white body.
"Yes, I am sure Haku. If you do your job right, there won't be any problems." Luka walked ahead of her, her footsteps in the air tinkling like the faintest bells.
"Why, out of all your possible favours, choose this? If you are curious about him, I can lend you his dreams. I can do that. Just stop this absurd idea. This is even worse than telling mother our secrets." Haku trailed behind her sister, shoulders low as she followed her like a shadow.
"I can never learn a thing from dreams. Those things you fed yourself are not even real. How can I know why I can hear his voice . . . when in fact he isn't wishing. He isn't wishing, but I heard his voice!"
All things are interconnected, Luka believed. Things stand as if they are fine being alone, like tall trees in a forest — cold and competing with each other for the sun. But there are connections one cannot see with their naked eyes, that beneath the earth, roots tangle with each other. Nobody is fine alone. Fairies do not loathe humans, so there must be a reason why they are forbidden to show up before them. Why they can't speak to them.
With a racing heart, she inhaled a bountiful amount of air. Luka left the sanctuary in hopes of not getting busted and discovering the truth she was seeking. Without any cues, she leaped towards the canvas of orange skies.
He pushed his spectacles up to the top of his nose bridge. His concentration was evident on his face as he put all the parts together in a perfect fit. A bead of sweat trailed down from his scalp to his chin, tickling his warm skin. Sighing as he placed the last gear, he completed the first mechanical project. Gakupo wasn't bothered even when he spent half the day working on a single mechanism. He had so much patience and discipline with his work. He believe that artistic beauty was achieved not from impatient work, but rather from paying attention to the minor details and allowing them to form a perfect whole picture.
The knock on the shop's door followed the same rhythm — tok-tok-toktok— announcing the familiar visitor. Bruno went in, his wide looking even wider when he saw the tinker rising from his stool. Usually Gakupo would not even look his way if he came to his shop.
"Good to see you again, master! Here, I have your favorite chocolate stuffed curled bread." He presented a bag full of the mouth-watering treat. The aroma of the bread instantly caught Gakupo's attention.
"Hello Bruno, look, my art." A few inches behind was a marvel made of iron standing straight and firm.
"What is that?" Bruno looked at the metal object, perplexed. Gakupo took the bread from him, occupying a tall stool as he watched the brunet studying his latest work.
"This is a mechanical alert guard. I made this so I have someone to look aftermy shop once I'm gone."
"What, you're moving?"
"No, Bruno. I just decided to take jobs from afar and at the same time explore some small portion of the world so I could gather more inspiration. Inspiration gives birth to art — and art is what I live for." The tinker explained.
"But I could look out for you. I am your assistant, right?" Somehow, it saddened the brunet to hear those words from his mentor. It was as if Gakupo had no faith in him.
"Bruno, you still have your delivery job. Besides, you aren't cut out to be a mechanist yet. You still have more to learn. Aappreciate your surroundings even more. Being a mechanist is not just putting together pieces to make a larger object that moves. It means giving life to new wonders. It is making art, not just inventions and repairing things." Just as expected from a man who worked hard to be a mechanist. Bruno didn't have the same thinking yet.
"Does that mean I'm a waste of space?" Bruno could only think of his failures — from attempting to fix things to breaking them again.
"Why would you say that? I said you aren't a cut out to become a mechanist yet— yet!"
The discouraged lad's spirit lifted after hearing such words from a person he idolized more than anyone else in the world.
Gakupo always had faith in the young man's hardworking attitude however his abilities proved futile on that level to be like him.
"Well then let's share the bread you brought."
The two sat and devoured the pastries. Bruno had with him, and they talked about a lot of things the paperboy had seen during his travels. After a few moments of chatting, Gakupo began teaching Bruno the things he should remember if he really was persistent in following Gakupo's profession. The two enjoyed the conversation so much that, it was already dark when they noticed how much time had passed. Since the young man had a lot of things to do in his own household, Bruno bid adieu to his mentor.
When the night fell it felt as though their world plunged into an unfathomable silence. The air brought a chilling touch as the moon dripped its rays on— again —a sleepless Gakupo.
"Hey there, Mr. Tinker, can't sleep again?"
Long hair dyed like pink carnations, eyes as blue as the midnight sky . . . Gakupo pushed his windows wide open as he saw a glimpse of such features from his backyard. And there she stood skirt ruffling against the breeze.
"Luka?"
Authors' note:
This is Fingra and Riortus' first fanfiction together. We like to thank allechantfor beta-reading this. (R: I know we troubled you with this. I'm so sorry . . . please forgive me, omg.)