Waylinn's instincts screamed that something was wrong. He moved swiftly toward Heka. He grabbed his hand with a grip so fierce his nails pierced into the soft skin. Blood drew out. The sharp sting was a physical manifestation of his desperation and confusion.
"What have you done?" Waylinn demanded. His voice was low but edged with urgency and accusation. His eyes searched Heka's face for answers, for any sign of betrayal or hidden power.
Heka winced, the pain from the bleeding hand evident in his expression. He replied quietly, his voice strained. "I didn't do anything. I also don't know why they stay away from me."
His words were laced with genuine confusion and fear. He struggled against Waylinn's grip. He pleaded softly. "Can you let go of your hand?"
But Waylinn's suspicion was too strong to relent. Instead of easing his hold, he slammed Heka's hand down roughly.
The sudden force made Heka stumble backward, his eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and hurt. Without a word, Heka turned and walked away. He retreated into the safety of the building's shadowed interior.
As Heka disappeared, Waylinn stood alone. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on his mind.
To Heka, Waylinn must have seemed cold, even sinister. An unyielding figure whose loyalty bordered on cruelty.
Yet, beneath that harsh exterior was a storm of conflicting emotions: fear for Heka's safety. There was confusion over the strange behavior of the Fayfiends.
A gnawing suspicion that something far more dangerous was unfolding. Something that neither of them fully understood.
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken questions and fragile trust. It hung in the air like a fragile thread ready to snap.
***
Heka carefully wrapped his injured hand with a strip of cloth. The faint sting of pain still lingered beneath the bandage. Meanwhile, Waylinn's gaze roamed around Heka's house, which resembled more of a chaotic zoo than a home.
Cages and enclosures of various sizes lined the walls. It was filled with wild animals, some small and timid, others wild and restless. The air was thick with the mingled scents of fur, feathers, and earth, a testament to the many beings
Heka kept him under his care.
"I've got everything that Marchio wants." Heka said quietly. His voice carried a hint of exhaustion and relief.
Waylinn didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached into one of the cages and gently lifted out a small rabbit, its soft fur warm beneath his fingers. He settled down by the window. The pale light cast long shadows across the room, and he began stroking the rabbit absentmindedly.
"Tell me, what happened while I wasn't around!!!" Waylinn said. His tone was sharp and insistent.
His eyes locked onto Heka's, demanding answers. The urgency in his voice was unmistakable. Waylinn needed to know everything, every detail, every danger, every secret. His duty was clear: to protect Heka at all costs.
But Heka's response was frustratingly vague. His brows furrowed in confusion. He replied. "I don't get it."
Waylinn's patience snapped. He warned coldly. "Okay, if you don't want to tell me. I can make you say it."
Without hesitation, he threw the rabbit across the room. The small creature landed with a startled squeak. Before it could react, Waylinn drew the fiery sword Marchio had given him.
With a swift, merciless slash, the rabbit was cut cleanly in half. Then it turned into ashes.
Waylinn's eyes burned with determination. He had to know what had happened. His responsibility was not just a duty; it was a calling. It was a matter of life and death. If anything were to happen to Heka, the consequences would fall squarely on his shoulders.
Marchio had never once harmed Waylinn, and that was because Waylinn had never made a fatal mistake.
Apperently it was not yet. If this mission was fail, Waylinn would get punishment. Even he would the worst his life end.
But instead of fear or anger, Waylinn saw only pain and confusion in Heka's eyes. The harshness of his actions had only made Heka more afraid, more distant.
"Waylinn I'm not lying. I really don't know what happened." Heka whispered. His voice trembled.
For a long moment, Waylinn's grip on the sword loosened. He sighed, the weight of his role pressing down on him. Maybe something had happened without Heka's knowledge. Humans were fragile, easily manipulated, and confused.
Finally, Waylinn surrendered to the silence between them. He set the sword aside and reached out, tentatively placing a hand on Heka's shoulder.
If Waylinn could uncover what had truly happened during his absence, he believed he could take the right course of action. Perhaps, once he understood the full picture.
It might even be unnecessary to intervene at all. Sometimes, the best course of action was to let events unfold naturally. But until then, he could not afford to ignore the mystery that hung heavily over them.
With a steady resolve, Waylinn approached Heka and gave him the Soul Delivery. A sacred act he carried out with unwavering obedience to Marchio's commands.
It was more than a duty. It was a lifeline that sustained Heka, binding his fate to the fragile balance of their world.
Heka looked up at Waylinn with a mixture of curiosity and longing. He asked, his voice tinged with hope. "Waylinn, when are you going to give it to Marchio? Can I come along?"
Waylinn's lips curled into a faint, teasing smile. He replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "It seems like you're so obsessed with my Lord."
"I haven't visited him in a long time. So I want to meet him. Can you help me?" Heka admitted quietly. His eyes softened and nervously.
Waylinn fell silent. What Heka wanted was a matter beyond his concern, or so he told himself. The complexities of their relationship with Marchio were tangled and often dangerous. Waylinn had learned long ago to keep his distance from such matters.
But Heka's plea came again, more urgent this time. He said. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I beg you, probably this is the last time I can meet Marchio."
The sincerity in Heka's words broke through Waylinn's reserve. He softened, the hard edges of his resolve giving way to compassion.
He said finally, nodding. "Okay. I'll take you to Kiervant Sky."
The decision marked a turning point. An acknowledgment that some things were worth risking, especially when it came to Heka's wishes.
Before they departed for Kiervant Sky, Heka prepared himself carefully. He pulled on a thick sweater and wrapped a heavy winter coat around his shoulders, bracing against the chill that awaited him.
The cold was not just physical. It was a reminder of the different vibe between their worlds. The fragile line they walked between power and vulnerability.
As they stepped out into the fading light, Waylinn felt a quiet determination settle over him. Whatever awaited them at Kiervant Sky, he would face it head-on. For Heka's sake and for the fragile hope that still flickered in the shadows of their uncertain future.