Chapter 11: In your eyes
"Well....I never imagined..."
"Malene...your eyes..."
Helios was shocked, and actually a bit frightened by the color of the huntress's eyes. His fear was obvious in his voice. Tears began to spring up in her ivory orbs, for she didn't know that the young mage was not afraid of her, but rather afraid for her.
"Now then...dry your tears. That sure is a nasty scar you have. Here, you can borrow this."
The priest took off the phantom of the opera mask that he was wearing and secured it on the blind girl's face. While Helios had never seen a blind person in his young life, the priest was quite accustomed to it.
"Well, since Helios here hasn't been polite enough to introduce us, I'll take the liberty myself. My name is Garnet. Please forgive the fact that I don't have a proper surname. And you?"
"Malene Surculus. Thank you so much..."
"No problem, especially since Helios here can be such a goofball at times."
"So you two know each other?"
"For most of our lives. We grew up together in...hey, Heli, ya still alive in there??"
The mage was still staring into space, as he was still not over the shock of discovering that his friend lacked the ability to see. He was snapped back to reality by a certain priest nudging him.
"Huh? Oh...yeah..."
"Helios, what's wrong? Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?"
"Nothing..."
"It's my eyes, isn't it?"
"What? No! Well..."
"I thought that you weren't like the others, but I guess I was wrong."
"Malene..."
"Garnet, would it be too much trouble to ask for a warp to Glast Heim? Maybe I can still find my classmates. Don't worry, I have a blue gemstone with me."
The huntress stood and turned her back to the two, determined not to let them see the tear which seeped through and trickled down her cheek.
"I was just there. I think most of them went home already. I could give you a warp back to Payon if you want."
"Fine...here's the gem..."
"Nah, forget it. It's on me."
He focused on the gem, crushing it when it started to glow. A second later a warp portal appeared in front of the huntress. She quickly stepped inside and was warped back to her hometown.
Garnet, however, took this fine opportunity to slap his friend upside the head.
"Ow! What in the name of Hel was that for?"
"That, my friend, was your reward for making such an ass of yourself."
Upon arriving home, Malene ran to her room and flung herself on her bed. She hugged her stuffed smokie and cried, just like she did when she was younger.
"I guess this is my fate."
She sobbed softly until she heard a faint knocking on her door. She smiled when she heard the friendly and reassuring voice of her beloved brother. Though she never had the fortune of ever seeing his face, she knew when he smiled. She could feel the laughter in his aura.
"Hey sis, guess what."