- Chapter 15 –

"A beautiful sunset that was mistaken for a dawn."
~ Claude Debussy

Half of the plates were almost done, and perhaps there would be more time for rest. Somehow the solitude with the silence gave quite a feeling of content and peace. Though it wouldn't last for long, after hearing those approaching sounds of boots, and company would have to appear. And the instincts were right, since the company that came was the one expected.

He came up from behind, and Balthazar only listened, waiting for his best friend to speak first.

"What's this?"

The surprise, no matter how small, in Maxim's voice was also expected. Balthazar didn't want to look at his friend, and he kept his head down, focused on where he was currently washing another new greasy plate from the pile on his left. "Can't you tell?" he said.

Maxim reached over to tilt Balthazar's head up, pinching the thirteen-year-old's chin between his thumb and index finger. There was nothing Balthazar could do, and he knew he couldn't hide it either way, so he still kept his gaze off his colleague's face.

"You got into a fight?" asked Maxim, taking note of the bruise on Balthazar's face.

"First fight I got into without you," the blond replied with a small smile, as his colleague let go of his chin.

"You got beat up into a pulp?"

Wincing just a little, Balthazar knew where it will all lead the moment his colleague caught sight of his bruise. "Yes, you could say that."

"How many?"

Once again, Balthazar winced.

"Only a few," he said. "About four, if memory serves."

"You know them?" asked Maxim, "Either by name or by face?"

Balthazar nodded. "Yes. Both."

"Good."

Looking up, Balthazar finally got the courage to gaze up into his colleague's eyes. That was when he caught sight of Maxim punching his clenched right fist into his left palm.

"Tell me their names and where they live," said the older apprentice. In which, the blond's only answer was a shake of the head.

"No need," said Balthazar, another small smile appearing in his features, as he returned to his work.

"What do you mean?" asked Maxim. Apparently he wanted to avenge what happened to his best friend.

"Exactly what I said," replied Balthazar, getting another greasy plate. "Merlin already took care of it, and as for this," he titled his head to indicate at what he was doing, "A simple punishment for what I've done. It still isn't right to get into a brawl, you know."

When Maxim fell silent for a few moments, Balthazar thought that perhaps his friend had given up on the idea. But after that, said friend spoke again, asking another different question, but still concerning the matter.

"Where were you exactly when it happened?"

Balthazar shrugged. "You know the places where I usually go. By the way, Merlin's out and he won't be here till..."

The moment Balthazar made off to look up to his friend, whom he thought was still standing there beside him, he found that Maxim had walked off and was making his way for the open door. Balthazar didn't even say a word to stop his colleague, and only sighed, having in mind on what exactly Maxim was thinking and where was headed to.

Once again, Balthazar went back to his work. He never was so successful in stopping Maxim from what the older apprentice wanted to do. Getting a little bit of revenge was one of those things. Again, Balthazar gave out a sigh.

Minutes later, as Maxim was out to town, he went straight for the book store that he knew Balthazar goes to once and a while when the blond had time. Both of them went there together for about three times only, but it was enough for him to remember the location. The number of blocks, the turns, and finally the street of where the store was to be found. So there he was, standing right in front of the said store, as he drew out his sword from its scabbard, the blue jewel on the tip of the hilt glowing.

He raised his sword and slammed the tip of the blade on the ground, casting a spell that he learned a year ago. The spell allows the caster to have a peek on a particular event that happened in the place he was in. It was as if you were watching a replay of events, and in Maxim's case, he wanted to find out what exactly happened when Balthazar was beaten up into pulp and how it all happened.

The spell relies more on the caster himself, so Maxim focused on the event he wanted to see. Within a few moments, he saw Balthazar walking out of the store earlier that day. The blond was had in his hands a book at least an inch thick, then four lads came in the picture. Balthazar and the new comers seemed to know each other since one of the four lads greeted Balthazar.

There were a few small talks about Balthazar's apprenticeship, how it was like, and also a few questions about his brothers, then they said their goodbyes, but somehow, Maxim noticed just how Balthazar was the one who wanted to part more earlier. He took note of that till he heard the lads talked about him. Talked about things that he didn't like, but he stayed on where he stood, since he knew he couldn't possibly interfere with what was happening before his eyes since it already happened. He was only there to watch.

Moments later, he watched Balthazar turning around and walking back towards the four lads. Maxim's eyes slightly narrowed, as though he looked sleepy, as he opened his mouth, saying and echoing Balthazar's words.

"Pardon but, don't talk about Horvath like that. You don't know him."

There were a few spats that followed later, then some shoving, until Balthazar finally lunged to one of the boys and made the first punch. All the rest joined in where the poor Balthazar was outnumbered. Maxim made off to help his colleague but he stopped himself midway, reminding himself that he couldn't do anything, because it already happened, he couldn't change it, he was just there to watch.

A few moments later, Merlin did came, and 'took care of it' just as what Balthazar said. And on that, the spell was done.

Maxim stood there, head bowed, a sad expression on his face.

He should have known that Balthazar was right; there was no need. But the fact that the blond got into a fight because of him, in a way, it was a lot harder for him to just settle with that. Still, again, there was no need.

When Maxim finally turned to leave, he made a turn on the nearest alley, his thoughts were of trying to find out how was he to spend the day. He did hear Balthazar say that Merlin went out when he was on his way to leave the kitchen. And if he knew his master any better, Merlin won't be back till tonight.

Moments later, Maxim saw a blond girl from afar running towards his direction. He had seen the girl before but he couldn't remember where and when, until the girl got close enough for him to have a better look on her face.

She stopped within two feet from him and smiled, an expression of realization slowly appeared on her face.

"Maxim!" she exclaimed. "That is you, isn't it?"

Narrowing his eyes a little, Maxim struggled to remember the girl's name.

"Um..F..Fi..Fiona?" he said, tentatively.

"No, silly," giggled the girl. "It's Fauna. Remember? In the town square?"

"Oh, right. Fauna." Maxim looked a little sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Apologies if I forgot your name."

Suddenly, a shouting, manly voice was heard, with Fauna turning around with widened eyes.

"Hey you!" shouted the man, coming in close with an angry expression on his face. "Time to pay, blondie." Apparently he was referring to Fauna.

The blond girl stepped aside behind Maxim, as she whispered in his ear, "Just go along with me, alright?"

To that, Maxim only raised a brow, but didn't say a word on it, as he faced the approaching man.

"No more running away, blondie. Your payment," demanded the man.

"I'll pay you, and I wasn't running away," said Fauna from over Maxim's shoulders. "It's just that, I have to find this friend of mine first." She slightly pushed Maxim forward, but not letting go of her hold on his shoulders. "He has my money. I mean, your money."

Maxim looked over his shoulders to Fauna, and the look on his face seem to ask as to what she was getting him into.

"You have it, right?" Fauna said, the look on his face told Maxim enough, as he faced the man again.

"How much does she owe you?" the lad asked, reaching for his small money-bag.

The man asked for a great amount of money, that Maxim almost complied to the idea of using a spell to vanish and leave Fauna. But there was nothing in him strong enough to urge him to do so. In the end, he gave the man all he had, and watched with a heavy heart as the man counted the money from the money-bag.

"That was sweet of you," teased Fauna, still standing behind Maxim. The lad turned to her with a half-hearted glare.

"That was half of my entire allowance for a whole month."

After having a good look on Maxim's face, Fauna only bit on her lower lip, not certain what to say.

Maxim let it go and sighed. "Are you always in debt with people?" He wasn't expecting to see the sad look that Fauna made.

"People say I got it from my father," she said, then turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. "But it doesn't matter now that he's dead."

Taken aback from how easily the blond girl blurted out such an information, Maxim walked over to her and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm deeply sorry," he tried to tell her. "It must be hard for you and your mother."

For a moment there, he thought he could relate himself to her. But he was mistaken to think that they were in the same situation.

"For me and my mother?" she said, turning around to once again face him. "Oh, no. My mother died in giving birth to me."

Again, Maxim was taken aback, and he felt a little foolish of his mistake. "Oh... Sorry."

There was a moment of silence between them until Fauna broke it with a flash of a warm smile.

"Let's not talk about sad things," she said, taking Maxim's hand in hers. "You have anything important to do today?"

"Uh, I was wondering what I can do today," the lad answered truthfully.

"Good."

Before Maxim knew it, he was being dragged along by Fauna to the part of the alley where he just came from.

"Let's take a stroll all over town so we can know each other a lot better."

Maxim wasn't able to complain or comment as they went along the street and suddenly found themselves squeezing their way through a crowd.

For more than twice for the rest of the day, Maxim thought of how lovely Fauna looked like when she smiles, and found that he likes how she would laugh. She was rather very lively and almost like a child, but in a good way. And he might have even told himself that he was somehow attracted to her, although he had only known her for a day.

"...at me running around with his trousers on," Fauna was saying as she laughed. When she realized that she was the only one laughing, she turned her head to the lad sitting next to her on the grassy ground. She noticed he was staring at her with a smile on his face.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" she asked.

Maxim blinked a few times as though he had just realized so himself. "I was smiling?" was the only thing he said. Fauna quirked a brow at him.

"Can I be honest with you?" she asked.

The question made Maxim chuckle to himself, thinking what the blond might have in mind this time, but he nodded either way for an answer.

"You see," Fauna spoke again, scooting a little towards Maxim, "although it could be quite improper, but still, I wanted to tell you." She leaned over to the lad, seeing as how taller he was to her even when in a sitting position. "I...You see, Maxim, from that day I saw you back in the town square, in swordplay with Sir Lancelot, I..." She bit her lower lip, a gesture that Maxim saw for the first time from her, and found it rather cute. "What I'm trying to say," she tried again, "is that...well, I like you."

When she leaned over as though making off to kiss him, he stopped her midway by taking hold of her shoulders. She stared up to him, a little confused, as he took away his hands on her and looked away, mixed emotions shown on his face, making his eyes unreadable. After a few moments of waiting, when he said nothing, she looked away herself, saying, "If you don't feel the same, it's alright."

Looking up, Maxim replied quickly. "No! It's not that. It's just...It's..." Somehow, he couldn't find the words to explain it.

He sighed heavily and took his moment before trying it again. "In truth, I don't know myself. I don't really know how to explain it to you, because it's rather complex. Forgive me, but, it's not that I.."

"Oh no!"

Surprised, Maxim looked up again to see what was it that Fauna was shouting for, only to see the blond girl hauling herself to her feet.

"What time is it?" she asked him.

"I don't know," he replied, getting up to his feet himself. "It's nearly the end of the day, I suppose. It'll be dark after a few moments."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Fauna. She then took hold of her ribbon on her hair and took it off. "Let's go, or we'll miss it!"

"Miss what?" he tried to ask, but Fauna turned him around and blindfolded him with her ribbon.

"No questions. Just come along with me," she heard her say from behind him. Moments later, he felt himself being turned around again roughly, and felt a hand took hold of his wrist. It became apparent to him that Fauna was leading him somewhere, and to where, he most certainly couldn't tell and he most certainly didn't know.

They've been going about anywhere in particular and when they finally sat down on the fields, he thought that perhaps that was their final destination for the day. But it didn't surprised him either way, because Fauna hadn't tell him anything about where they would go all day. He had come to the conclusion that perhaps the blond girl was only going along wherever their feet would take them.

After blindly following her for a couple of minutes, he felt that somehow they had come to a stop. He waited for her to take off the blindfold but she didn't, until she heard her spoke, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

For a moment there, he was somehow annoyed by her. "Oh, well I would have agreed with you, if only I can see it."

"Oh. Sorry. I forgot," he heard her say, and felt her hands on the ribbon around his eyes. When she finally took it off, he had to squint a little by the orange and yellow light that suddenly welcomed his view. He raised his hand to his eyes and squinted more until he got a better view. Little by little he realized what he was looking at, as his eyes widened by the view.

"So? Do you agree?" Fauna asked from behind him.

Maxim didn't say a word. He then felt Fauna walked over to his side. "I come here when I have time. It's the best place to watch the sunset."

"I never got to see the sunset this way for a long time."

Maxim's words caught Fauna by surprise.

"So, you have watched the sunset before?" she asked, and she almost regretted asking after Maxim made that sad look on his face.

"Years ago," he said. "I used to watch it years ago." When he looked up to the sunset again, his face lighted a little, a subtle smile on his face. "I almost forgot how beautiful it is." Then, turning to Fauna, he took her hand in his. The blush that appeared on her cheeks didn't go unnoticed by him, but he didn't comment on it. "Thank you...For this."

She only smiled to him shyly and said, "I didn't know, but you're welcome."

They stayed there until it was finally dark, where Maxim insisted to accompany Fauna back to her home. Along the way, he found out that ever since her father died, she was living with her aunt in the old family cottage that was inherited from her grandfather. In reaching there, both were rather hesitant to say their good bye's.

"Um, so, good night," said Fauna.

"Uh, yes. Good night," replied Maxim.

Still none of them moved from their places, until suddenly, Fauna grabbed Maxim by the shirt with both hands, leaning over to kiss him on the lips. Before it got to somewhere, Maxim pulled away, pushing Fauna away from her in the process. Fauna looked up to him with a puzzled look.

"Have you ever kissed a girl before?" she asked him.

"Y-yes, but..." he trailed off.

"But you don't know how?" she finished for him, so it wasn't entirely a question.

Maxim didn't say a word and only made a hesitant nod, earning him a sweet smile from her. He could have sworn he felt himself blush red.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you," she said, leaning over to him again, this time, more slowly.

Though not certain what to do, he stood still, and when she finally took his lips, he closed his eyes as so did she. After a moment, when Fauna parted her lips and sucked on his lower lip, Maxim was in the process of learning from her. It took a whole lot of minute before he was able to respond in a way that he at least thought was much the same as what Fauna was doing. When she pulled back, he was the rather reluctant one. In opening his eyes again, he found her smiling at him.

"You know where I live," she said. "Come by some time again, then perhaps I could teach you more."

With that, she left and went for the house. Maxim stood there until she disappeared inside, a goofy smile on his face, as he then decided to turn and leave. It was about time for him to be at home as well.

Right outside the boys' room Merlin was waiting patiently for Maxim to arrive along with Balthazar. He had come home with someone, and he wasn't about to explain who it was and why he brought the child there not until both his apprentices are present.

Moments later, sounds of boots climbing the stairs were heard. Out came from one corner, Maxim emerged, looking a little surprised.

"Balthazar said you were out all day," said Merlin. "And where were you?"

Maxim bowed his head slightly. "Sorry. I was just with a friend who..."

"Never mind," Merlin cut off the lad midway with a hand. He waited for Maxim to take his stand beside Balthazar. "Someone would have to live with us," he started, gesturing a hand towards the open door of the room.

Looking towards the general direction, Maxim saw a dark haired girl sleeping on Balthazar's bed.

He looked back to his master. "Who is she?"

"She's going to be our new colleague," said Balthazar, from where he was leaning against the wall, his arms across his chest.

"What?"

"You heard me."

Merlin sighed and gently closed the door. He then faced his apprentices again.

"Yes, Balthazar is right," he said to them. "Her name is Veronica. She will be my third apprentice. Now, if both of you are willing to listen, I'll tell you her story..."

The boys were more than just ready to listen.