Schmendrick stared in stunned silence at Lady Amalthea. He felt heated and his heart was beating a mile a minute. His thoughts raced as he tried to string together an adequate response. After about a minute, he cleared his throat.
"W…what is it, exactly, that you wish to know?"
"Well, I find it interesting how certain…intense moods can affect one's body so." Amalthea looked down at her wrist.
"Like, when I am angry or frustrated, I feel tense and heated, or when I am sad and lonely and I feel as if I should curl up in a corner away from the world, or…" she stopped.
"Or…?" Schmendrick prompted.
"Or when I am around…certain people and I…I feel my chest tighten and my stomach turn. But not in a bad way, I…I am just so confused."
Schmendrick took in each word with awe. She has never expressed herself like this.
"Well…that is what makes human beings different from magical creatures. Our feelings are intense, and they have an effect on our whole being." Schmendrick contemplated.
"At this point…I suppose my advise would be…follow your instincts and do as you feel."
Amalthea seemed calmed by his words.
"Okay…" she closed her eyes to meditate on what he said. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes to look directly into Schmendrick's.
"Do as I feel…" She gazed at him.
"Feel…"
She hesitantly brought her hand up to the magician's face and he gasped as her hand made contact. She experimentally traced his cheek and jaw, curious of the stubble there. Her touch brought life to his skin and left goosebumps in its wake. He should tell her to stop, but he could only stare transfixed into her violet eyes. Amalthea carded her hand through his messy hair, intrigued by the difference from her own.
As Schmendrick felt delicate fingers against his sensitive ears, he started to feel a powerful feeling surge up through the heat. His vision became clouded with a bluish glow.
Magic…? He realized. But it's never felt this way before…
Amalthea saw the occurrence and slowly pulled back her hand from where it was grazing his neck. She took a step back and watched as the swirling light slowly ebbed.
"How did you…?" the man started.
Amalthea pondered. Now that she wasn't touching him, Schmendrick seized control of himself. He cleared his throat.
"It is getting late, Lady Amalthea. Go back to your chambers."
"Yes…of course."
She brushed past him. As she was leaving, she turned in the door way.
"I will come back tomorrow." Then she was gone.
The magician stood there in contemplative silence.
Did any of that really happen? I really am going insane! There's no way Amalthea talked to me…touched me…told me those things…
"And promised to come back tomorrow." Schmendrick's heart raced. It couldn't be real, and yet…
This is the realest I've felt in a very long time…God, I need sleep.
These thoughts replayed in his mind even as he laid down to sleep. Yet even though these thoughts kept him up and made him anxious, he thought of Amalthea's face. He thought again of the damage he'd done. After everything that has happened, how could he say no? Something about Amalthea…reassured him. Remembering her face brought much comfort to him. He fell asleep thinking about that serene face and had only one thought:
What have I gotten myself into?