Chapter 10

Rayth sat down where he stood and rubbed his head furiously. The overwhelming feeling in his chest that felt for Crystal was starting to get a little out of control.

Why did he feel so much for Crystal? Why did hearing that she couldn't feel hurt him like a spear to the heart?

Rayth stayed away from the feast and celebration, but watched from afar. Crystal was getting hugged and cried over, while she gave a fake smile that once fooled him to be real.

"Her smile is quite pretty... Even if it's fake." Rayth said softly out loud, that's when a footstep cracked a twig behind him.

"Talking about Crystallina?" The old woman's voice resounded, calming Rayth's fear.

"Yeah." Rayth said softly, "Why did the world curse her of all half demons that cause so much mayhem? I am a demon slayer, I have met and killed many worse than her."

"My son would come to me crying every day that he couldn't get her to say 'i love you' without it sounding rehearsed. He tried for years until he died."

"But why her?"

"You see, her mother was a full demon. A royal one, in fact. She had possession of something known as the Heart Sapphire. The story went that she made the wrong wish with the Heart Sapphire, and so it disappeared. She and my son both believed that when the Heart Sapphire disappeared, it took Crystallina's heart with it. Since Omose ended up pregnant with her 2 years after it happened."

"So now that the Heart Sapphire is back-"

"The Heart Sapphire is back?" Lia looked at him with widened eyes.

"Yes. That's why we're here, why Crystal left her village. I have no idea why Crystal herself is hunting down the shards, but she is."

"Shards? Is it broken?"

"Supposedly, yes," Rayth said softly, as the soft glow of the torches accentuated Crystal as she was dancing with the gentlemen of the village.

"Omose must be hunting her daughter down then if she has any shards."

"We have two, but we're unsure about how to go about finding the others," Rayth sighed, looking over at Lia, "I don't suppose you know a way?"

"Sadly, I don't. I am just an ordinary old woman, I wasn't born with any magic."

"I see..."

"Anyways, you should join the fun before Crystallina starts to worry."

"Crystallina..." Rayth said softly, "It's such a pretty name." He smiled subconsciously, and stood up, "Thank you."

Rayth made his way down towards the feast, only to find Crystal being 'attacked' by two young children. They tugged on her hair and her pointy ears, although she seemed to have the utmost patience with them.

"I see you have your hands full?" "Not in the slightest, they're all fleas."

"WE'RE NOT FLEAS!!" The children cried out and yanked on Crystal's hair. Making Crystal seem a little more annoyed as she grabbed the two of them by the back of their shirts, lifted them, and tossed them gently away from her.

"Just like I said, annoying Fleas." The children huffed with their cheeks puffed out and stuck their tongue out at Crystal before running off.

"You're otherwise great with kids," Rayth chuckled, "An uncommon trait amongst half-demons."

"I couldn't exactly kill them or eat them out in the open like this, even if I wanted to." Crystal looks at him for a moment. But huffed softly, "I'm going to get a little fresh air." Walking off, Rayth took this chance to ask the villagers what they remember of Crystal.

He craved to know more.

"So you helped her mother with the labor?" Rayth said as he approached the old man from before.

"Ah." The man smiles at him, "Yes I did. Her mother was having quite the hard time, even though Crystallina was her second child."

"Second child?"

"Oh yes. Omose had 3 children overall, 1 full demon and 2 half demons. Or at least I heard that she had another after Crystallina."

"How is it she's alive without a beating heart?"

"I think that where her heart should be, is something that functions like a heart, if that makes any sense."

"I see..."

"But all the things associated with having a heart, is lost on her. She's never experienced laughter, she's never experienced happiness or love, she's never even experienced what it truly feels like to cry when you're hurt."

"So.. if she made a wish to have a heart, what would happen?"

"To be honest. I think after living these harsh years of her life, I think having a heart so suddenly would kill her." The old man said sternly, "She could die from the pain."

Rayth looks at his eyes, hoping to find more answers without asking. He knew the answer right away. It wasn't a good idea to finish the Heart Sapphire, it could destroy Crystal.

Why though? Would remembering pains of the past really hurt her so much?

"For example. The initial pain of her father's passing, will be hurtful enough as it is. Then Guilt will probably settle in, the pain of how she didn't react in the moment. That will make her break."

Rayth's heart hurt for Crystal. She would never be happy, because even if she got a heart, she'd die a painful and harrowing death.

"So should she just.. not get one?"

"No. I think she could potentially pull through, but she would need friends there. Companions."

"I'll be there when it happens." Rayth says in a determined voice. But the old man sighs softly in response. They both knew, that it was a slim possibility that it'd work out that way.

Both of them sealed their mouths shut when they notice Crystal walking back towards them. "You two talk much?"

"Oh yes. We were talking about my polearm." Rayth smiles at her softly.

"Oh. It could use some work." Crystal looks at the weapon, it's blade was chipped in various places, but the blade itself had many designs on it. A sign of his royalty.

"Alright. Well, it's getting late you two. There's a room prepared in the lord's hut."

"Thank you." Rayth bowed slightly, and Crystal just stares at the man, earning a glare from Rayth.

"Just as clueless as always, Crystallina. You two have a good night." The man walked off to go to his Hut, and Crystal was left to just stare at him blankly.

It looked like she was truly devoid of all feelings. Rayth felt a sorrow overwhelm him.

"Crystal...?"

"Yes?"

"Does it bother you at all that you don't have any feelings?"

"I wouldn't say it does, no. I'm simply curious as to what makes them so special."

"Curiosity huh?"

"Yeah. My father taught me to be curious about everything until I learn what it is. But to also be cautious."

"So he seriously taught you how to... How to act like you know what you feel."

"Everything I would need to survive, yes."

Rayth's heart shattered for her father, "Tell me... Did he ever get you to say 'I love you'?"

"He told me that it was normal to say it whenever I woke up and whenever I fell asleep. So I tried to remember to say it, but I didn't understand what it meant. I just thought it was a greeting."

Rayth sighs softly, "I'm tired. I think I'm going to go sleep."

"Alright. The demons aren't going to be bothering us tonight." Crystal assured.

Rayth nods as he leaves, walking to the lord's hut. Crystal wondered what got into him, he was acting differently.

"So," Lia says softly, "Do you plan on returning ever in the future...?"

"Maybe grandma." Crystal says softly, looking at the old woman, "I think I will once my mission is complete."

"I'm glad." Lia smiles sweetly at her granddaughter. Crystal just walks off, going to the room that was promised to her.

As she fell asleep, a voice called to her.

Called her name. Told her to wake up, but she slept. Who was it?