"So… you're being strangely cryptic as you wrap your magic hair around my injured hand." Istvan muttered slightly, a bit wary of the girl in front of him. He let out a soft cry of pain when her hand slipped.
"I'm sorry! Just… just don't freak out, okay?" Sayori said, gave him a slightly worried look. Istvan nodded gingerly, and Sayori began to sing.
Sayori:Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
Istvan watched as her hair began to glow the same bright white color it had in the cave. Suddenly, Suni pointed at her hand, telling him to bring his attention back to his hand.
Heal what has been hurt
Change the fates' design
Save what once was lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine
As the hair slowly lost its glow, Istvan was at first loss for words as he looked at his now healed hand; the cut was gone. As he was about to scream, Sayori shouted,
"Don't freak out!" she begged. Istvan sucked in air and then let it out in one long burst of a sentence.
"I'm-not-freaking-out-are-you-freaking-out-who's-freaking-out-I'm-just-very-interested-in-your-hair-and-the-magical-qualities-it-posseses…" he paused. "And how long has it been doing that exactly?"
"Uh, forever, I guess." Sayori twirled her hair slightly, avoiding Istvan's gaze. "Mother said when I was a baby, people tried to cut it. They wanted to take it for themselves… But, once you cut it, it turns brown and loses its power." She showed Istvan the same strand of hair that Amnelis cut off when she was a baby. "A gift like that has to be protected… that's why Mother never let me…" She sighed. "That's why I never left the…"
"That's why you never left the tower…" Istvan gave her a sympathetic look. "And you're still gonna go back…?"
"No! Yes. Well… ugh, it's complicated…" Sayori buried her face in her hands, and Istvan pat her back lightly. Sayori looked up at him.
"Heh… so, marry the Princess of Light, huh?"
"Uh, yeah. I'll spare you the story of poor Istvan… it's a bit of snore fess."
Sayori leaned in slightly, as if to say, "I want to know more".
"Well… when I was born… I held a jewel in my hand. I predicted that I would one day rule a kingdom and marry the Princess of Light. I was nicknamed The Crimson Mercenary as I grew up and also because of my father." Istvan sighed.
"And was he a thief too?" Sayori gave him a quizzical look.
"Well, no. Actually, he had enough money to do what he pleased, go wherever he wanted. And… and for a kid with nothing… I don't know. It just sounded like the better option."
"Hmm."
"You can't tell anyone about this. It would… kinda ruin my reputation." Istvan said with chuckled.
"Ah, we wouldn't want that." Sayori mused, grinning.
"A reputation is all a man has."
"Of course."
"Well, I-I'm gonna go get more firewood, ok?" As he stood, Istvan's voice quivered slightly.
"Hey." Sayori called out quietly, stopping him. "For the record, I like Istvan much better than The Crimson Mercenary."
"Well then, you'd be the first..." Feliciano sighed. "But thank you." As he began to walk off, Sayori smiled lightly, but was abruptly startled out of her thoughts by a voice thickly accented behind her.
"Well! I thought he'd never leave!" Amnelis sighed, stepping forward. Sayori whipped around to face 'Mother'. Suni hid up on the tree before Amnelis could see her.
"Mother!"
"Hello dear."
"But, I- I- I don't… how did you find me?"
"Oh, it was easy, really. I just followed the sound of complete and utter betrayal." She said such painful words with such a sound of joy in her voice that it was… well, it was sickening.
"Mother…" Sayori let out a guilty sigh.
"Sayori, we're going home. Now." As she turned for the forest again, her cloak swished slightly.
"N-No, you don't understand. MOther, I've been on this… incredible adventure, and I've seen and learned so much! I've even met someone!"
"Yes, the wanted thief. I'm so proud." The sarcasm in her voice was bitter and spiteful.
"No, mother, you don't understand. I think… I think he likes me…!"
Amnelis stopped.
"Likes you? Please, Sayori, that's demented!" She let out a sharp, singular chuckle.
"But Mother, I…"
Amnelis: This is why you never should have left!
Dear, this whole romance you've fashioned up?
Just proves you're too naïve to be here!
Why would he like you? Oh, come now, really!
A sharp glare came to Sayori's face.
Look at you
You think that he's impressed?
Don't be dumb
Come with mummy
Mother-
"NO!" It was a sharp, commanding tone that the girl took on now, and that angered Amnelis.
"No? Oh. I see how it is."
Sayori knows best
Sayori's so mature now
Such clever little grown up miss
Sayori knows best
Fine, if you're so sure
Amnelis pulled the satchel out of her cloak.
Go ahead, then give him this
"How did you…?"
This is why he's here!
Don't let him deceive you!
Give it to him, watch, you'll see!
Amnelis threw the satchel at Sayori. "I will."
Trust me, my dear
That's how fast he'll leave you
I won't say I told you so
No, Sayori knows best
So if he's such a dreamboat
Go and put him to the test
"Mother, wait!"
If he's lying
Don't come crying
Mother knows best
With a quick tug of her cloak, Amnelis disappeared into the forest and Sayori clutched the satchel, quivering.
"So…" Sayori heard Istvan's voice, she gasped and hid the satchel behind the tree Suni was hiding in.
"Is there any chance that I'm gonna get super strength in my hand, because I'm not lie. That would be great." He said as he carried an arm full of wood. He noticed Sayori had her back turned to him.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked.
"Oh!" Sayori turned around to him as Suni got down from the tree. "Sorry, yes. Just…lost in thought, I guess."
Istvan stared at her before he shrugged his shoulders and put the wood down. "Okay…I mean cause here's the thing. Super good looks, I've already got, but super strength? Can you imagine the possibilities of this?"
As they were talking, Amnelis and the Stabbington Brothers were watching them from bushes. The Stabbington Brothers were about to go towards them, but Amnelis held her arm out and blocked their way.
"Patience, boys. All good things happen to those who wait."