Ban's P.O.V.-
"Talk about a close call. So she's the royal fairy who guards the Fountain of Youth, huh?" Lucky for me, a branch caught me stopping my fall. Well, unlucky for her, I had just walking for three months straight to reach this bloody forest and there's no way I'm leaving here empty-handed. After reaching the big tree again- two hours later- I climbed its trunk for a second time, singing to myself to occupy the time. But the moment I was up top, I found her there waiting for me. She didn't hesitate to send me flying off, again.
This time some mushroom men broke my fall. Groaning slightly, I got up, brushed myself off and headed back towards the tree once more. Man, I don't remember her being this violent back at the castle. Just like clockwork, the moment I reached the top, off I went flying into the air. The third time around, I decided to run up the tree trunk; I was losing my patience with this chick. If she blasts me off one more time, so help me….
Of course she did. Angrier and determined than ever, I climbed that trunk for what felt like the millionth time that day. And again, I went flying. Now I was downright livid. "Dammit! Would you just stop!?" I yelled the next time I got to the top. "Stop coming after the elixir; then I will stop." "Yeah, well I….!" She cut me off by bursting out into a coughing fit. Her hand grasped at her chest as the other covered her mouth. It looked like she was in pain. But this did give me an opportunity to get to my feet and come inward. After a few deep breaths, she blinked up at me; her eyes much softer this time.
"Man, what kind of guardian are you?" I smirked, placing a hand on my hip. "I never asked for this," she shot me a glare. "Oh please, like I care. But now it's my turn to get serious." Her eyes grew at the sight of me pulling out a steel nunchaku. After showing them off, I was expecting her to cry or go running or something. But to my surprise she just stood there, looking a little at war with herself. Her blue eyes moved from me to the elixir as if she was contemplating her next move. Then she gazed into nowhere, muddling to herself thoughtfully. "Poison won't work on me anymore, not with the hemlock in my system…." She said to herself. "And I don't have any weapons. All my magic now is to guard the potion and keep me alive…. but you," I flinched as her considerate eyes returned to me. "You can kill me."
The was she said this was… disturbing. This didn't frighten her; she sounded actually relieved. "Listen, whoever you are," her head suddenly shot in my direction. "You can have the potion on one condition." "Oh yeah? What's that?" I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear the answer. Her blue eyes narrowed onto mine. "Kill me first." "What?!" This literally made my jaw drop. Yeah, I was ready to fight her, but I wasn't planning on killing her. She isn't even armed! "Just do it!" She demanded. "No one will ever know; you'll suffer no consequences! You want the elixir, right? Well this is what you need to do to get it."
"Are you insane?! I'm not going to kill you! Why would you even ask me that? Wait, don't tell me; I don't want to know." Using my nunchaku, I was able to get the goblet before she could intervene. A wave of terror washed over her face as I sniffed the liquid. "Not bad; doesn't smell like booze though." "No!" "Well, bottoms up," I was about to put the cup to my mouth. "No, no! You can't!" It was her voice to echo through the forest this time.
Sinensis's P.O.V.-
My body took on a life of its own. No, every cell began to shake. No! It can't be this way! I'd rather die than be forced into an arranged marriage! Magic came off of me in an invisible wave, flowing off into the tree. "When I cheers to my health, I mean it." That was all he managed to get in before a bunch of vines all wrapped around him. He blinked in obvious alarm. "W-what the hell's going on here?!" One of the vines took the goblet away, causing me to give a little sigh in relief. Then I turned back to the struggling man.
"You better get these things off me right now!" "I gave you a choice; kill me and take the elixir or leave without it." "Why?! Why would you want that?" "Because I'll be forced to marry if you don't!" I loudly retorted. This caught his immediate attention as he stared at me dumbfounded. "You're not the only one with choices. I have two options myself; either guard the Fountain of Youth until I die or marry the prince my Grandfather sells me to. I refuse the latter, even if death is the only way out. I tried once, and it didn't work; now it has to be someone else who does it," I explained while gazing away. "So, now it's time for you to choose. Either leave empty-handed or become immortal once I'm dead."
The man didn't say anything right away, just kept watching me with wide eyes. Eventually he let out a sigh. "Huh, alright." "Alright what?" "I choose the former. You live; I'll leave emptyhanded." This made me turn to him in shock. "R-really?!" With a chuckle, his soulful red eyes shut. "Honest. This was such a bust but… that's the way it is." He… he's really being honest, isn't he? Reassured slightly, I pulled back the branches to release him. He glanced around and then looked back over at me. "Who are you?" I ventured to ask.
"Me? I'm a bandit; you really couldn't tell? And Bandit Ban is my handle around here. How about you, kid?" "My name… is Sinensis." "Sinensis? You mean like the tea plant?" "Yes, that's me." "And what's with the get up? Are you only wearing flowers?" I nodded. "I don't have anything else. They took everything when they brought me here." "They did? Why?" "I'm…. being punished." "Huh? For what?" "It's… a long story." "Well, I got nothin' but time," I looked to see Ban hop up onto a tree trunk; his hands rested behind his head and he flashed me a smirk. "You're going to stay?" This caught me off guard as I stood up. "Took me three months to walk here. It'll take a long time to get home. Might as well rest up while I'm here." "Three months…." My voice trailed off. "Well then, rest up. You can take your time here." "Boy, you're being understanding." "Maybe," my eyes rolled off into the distance as a warm breeze flowed over us. "But I'm not sure when I'll see anyone again."
