4 First Meeting

Interest flickered through his emerald eyes till the smoke dissipated. Then as his gaze fell, he flinched.

Deep chocolate irises pierced his soul as if reading it aloud, making his heart skip a beat uneasily. They then broke eye-contact when she turned to the side, away from the surrounding sentries. This drew his attention to the large, blackened wings protruding from her backside.

Clenching his pickaxe, Kalani grimly tried to shake off the momentary fear. Yet as he looked back, the winged girl had vanished from sight, as though a forgotten memory.

'It was just coincidence… It has to be.'

...

As the day drew to a close, the tired patrols finally announced today's work was over. Even though not one cheer resounded, the slaves' relieved expressions were enough to tell.

Back in their prison, some slowly crawled forward into the corners, hunched against the rocky walls. Others hoped— prayed— that time would have mercy on them, so their weary bodies could rest for a while longer.

In the meantime, Kalani dragged his numbed self through the dense crowd of slaves into his abode without garnering much attention. Once inside, he then peered out with narrowed eyes, ensuring the coast was clear before reaching into the pile of sharp rocks beside him.

His back turned toward the entrance, blocking the view of the ivory blade in his smudged fingers. Satisfied with the jagged edge, he shut his lids.

His lips silently mouthed a brief incantation. Though a few seconds later, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But on closer inspection, one could see the air around the dagger contort, tearing at the previously calm space with gusty protests.

Kalani's brow furrowed as he clenched the trembling dagger threatening to leave his grasp, yet in one second, a small snap made his lids crack open.

Ivory pieces— remnants of the fully shattered blade— rested in his palm quietly.

'I can't keep wasting my daggers like this...' his eyes narrowed in contemplation before he tossed away the remains into the dusty pile. 'Perhaps I should have taken the kid's bone from this morning.'

A prickling soreness then interrupted Kalani's thoughts, and a light sigh escaped his chapped lips as he laid down. For now, he needed sleep.

...

At the other side of the cavern, a pair of black wings could be seen weaving to and fro throughout the hunched, waiting crowds with surprisingly agility. Finally, a small, calloused foot stepped out from the squeezing crowd to reveal the petite stature of a young, winged girl.

Disappointment painted her chocolate irises a darker hue as her steps slowed.

'Is he even here?' she mulled, her wings drooping along with her mood. Then a gasp left her lips as she felt a hand press on her shoulder.

She hastily scuttled backward, shielding herself with her blackened wings.

However, those cold-blue irises of the young man before her made her suck in her breath further.

"Ah, I didn't mean to frighten you," the young man blurted out, evidently startled himself as he raised his hands instinctively in goodwill.

Then as she felt her body scream for air, she coughed lightly with a reddening face— in part due to the fact she forgot to breathe and the embarrassment at the realization.

Wearing a flustered grin, she then composed herself enough to reply, "It's all right. My heart hasn't leapt out of my chest just yet." While speaking, she had raised her charcoal-smudged face to meet his, which then likewise broke into a grin.

"Heh, you can call me Nelson. It's nice to meet you," the young man let out chuckle and stretched out his calloused hand in greeting.

Taking a quick glance at his hand, the girl then shook it without hesitation, remarking, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, name is Nyx." But once she retracted her handshake, they stood frozen in place without another word.

After another minute of awkward staring, the young man then broke the strange atmosphere with a few suppressed laughs.

"My bad, I was trying to formulate a way to promote my group," the young man eked out a comment whilst chuckling some more.

His laughter felt contagious, and Nyx unknowingly loosened up— feathers and all.

"We're a community of sorts…" Nelson gestured somewhat vaguely before pointing toward a rag-tag group at a distance, "We have several winged members like you. I can assure you that we treat each other with respect regardless of what 'humans' we are.

And… I am sure I can help you find the person you're looking for." His last words made her widen her chocolate eyes in shock.

'Well, I have been running around. It must have been obvious by now,' she reasoned inwardly, casting aside her momentary anxiety. 'Still, he must have been watching me for a while.' Wondering, she then glanced up to meet his ice-blue eyes curving happily before making her decision.

"The boy is about your height with dark brown or jet-black hair and green eyes," she described slowly from this morning's memory. Though, she kept from Nelson how soulless the boy's emerald eyes appeared and something else. The less people knew about it, the safer she would be.

With this information, Nelson scratched his neck for a moment as he appeared to ponder with a pursed mouth, "Hm, that is a little difficult to pinpoint. Anything else stick out to you? Like more of his features or even his name?"

But Nyx shook her head quickly, "I've only met him recently…" Then she snapped her fingers with a brightened gaze at an epiphany and added, "He stood near a ledge while carrying a worn pickaxe with him today."

Although brief, Nyx caught onto the flicker of astonishment cross Nelson's expression. Without hesitation, she pressed further, "Do you happen to know him?"

Nelson's lips twisted uneasily before the young man uttered, "Well… I do have one in mind, but he isn't the friendly type, especially with strangers."

"Could you still point him to me though?" she blurted out, unable to contain her excitement as she leaned closer with expectation towards Nelson. Whether taken aback or not, the young man then heaved a sigh and aimed a finger toward something looming behind him in the obscuring darkness— Kalani's abode.

"Be careful," he warned with deep concern in his gaze as she inched several steps into that direction.

Hearing this, Nyx immediately turned around to face him once more and flashed a bright smile, "Thanks, but I'll be fine. Oh and, I'll also definitely consider joining your group later!" Then with that, she rushed off into the darkness before giving Nelson the chance to say another word.

While her winged figure gradually blended into the blackness, the worry in Nelson's eyes vanished, leaving behind an unknown emotion brewing within his gaze.

Meanwhile, the unforgiving chill from the cavernous floor bit into the bones of the crumpled boy. After several attempts to stave off his thoughts about the cold, Kalani let out a low groan.

'Why can't I sleep?' the thought seemed to rush through his sluggish mind. But then, the chattering outside crept into his ear, making him frown.

'Ah, it's the others and their stupid social groups,' he mocked inwardly, unable to help himself as he continued, 'Maybe if they hadn't babbled like last time, I would have been…' His nails dug into his clenching hand before he could think of it. It felt foolish really. He was foolish back then.

Then with a shift in position, he used one arm as a headrest in an attempt to doze off, which would have worked in the end if it weren't for the faint patter of approaching footsteps. He bit back the curse words with twisted lips. However, he remained concentrated, gaging inside on how close the person was when the footsteps abruptly ceased.

Then his limbs tensed— ready for a fight— once the footsteps suddenly hurried towards him.

"Are you awake?" a lyrical whisper tickled his ear.

Relaxing his tensed body, Kalani mused as if scoffing, 'Another troubled maiden in distress? She'll not be the last it seems.' His expression betrayed no sign of wakefulness however. 'Hopefully she'll leave if I continue to ignore her.'

But her next comment shook his mind awake.

"You can wield the wind, righ— mmp!" his calloused hand harshly clamped onto her mouth as his emerald eyes glared up towards her in his laying position. Then a flicker of shock crossed his expression as he recognized her as the winged girl from this morning.

But, out of the corner of his vision, he noticed a few eyes train their eyes on them. He wrinkled his nose at their piercing gazes. The lack of privacy disgusted him.

Impulsively, he then twisted his upper torso into a sitting position and clasped one arm around her waist before dragging her in— wings and all. Strangely enough, she didn't struggle and allowed him to keep his tight grip on her lower chin and waist without a fuss.

Once he glared menacingly back at the unsightly gazes, the onlookers shrunk back and dispersed into the crowd. He then fixated his glare on her, but unlike the others, she stared back at him fearlessly with those chocolate-filled irises.

"Speak, who sent you here?" he interrogated hoarsely. His grip on her chin tightened when one of her black wings unfurled. Though contrary to his expectations, it merely covered the abode's entrance, hiding their figures from outsiders.

Her eyes winced, evidently in pain from his grip. Once realizing this, he quickly slid his hand from her chin to her throat. This time, he took care not to squeeze too tightly.

"Speak," his voice deepened, his eyes mere inches from hers due to the overwhelming darkness clouding his sight.

After a moment, her warm exhale grazed his neck as she whispered in a secretive tone, "No one sent me… because…" The winged girl tapped a slender fingertip on the ground, to which a refreshing breeze swept past the boy's startled gaze. It was definitely not a natural draft; they were too far underground for it to be possible.

Then, Kalani frowned when he glanced down at her ankle, which had a thin, silver cuff attached to it. "How can you command the wind if you're wearing that? Isn't it supposed to cut off the connection to the elements?" he asked, suspicion thick in his voice.

She glanced down at her shackled ankle before explaining, "I have a stronger affinity to the wind, so while it does hold me back a bit, I can push myself beyond its limit." The look of wariness still on Kalani's expression prodded the girl to continue with a purse of her lips, "If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so by now instead of explaining. Plus, aren't we even now since we know each other's secrets?"

"Then why did you approach me?" Kalani muttered. A meaningless question thrown at her, considering that the answer was obvious.

"A deal. I'll teach you how to wield the wind, and in return, you'll help me escape." Her hand stretched toward him as a smile graced her lips.

The scraggly boy studied the winged girl before him from her tangled locks of hair to her skinny forearms and knees. Unsurprisingly, she looked weak; however, a secret seemed to hide under those piercing eyes.

Still, he let out a murmur of approval. 'This offer is more advantageous to me than her. No hurt in observing first,' he mused.

She pumped her fists in a silent cheer before outstretching an open palm toward him, earning a raised brow from Kalani.

"For starters, my name is Nyx. What's yours?"

"Kal," he mumbled, brushing away her outstretched palm while his gaze darkened.

"Then can we sleep together?" she remarked as she studied the area, unaware of how the boy stiffened considerably. "We can practice together more often if we live in the same space." Then when he didn't respond, her almond-shaped eyes practically turned toward him, pleading with unshed tears, "Please...?"

With another twitch on his face, he replied while stuttering, "S-sure…" Then quickly chirping a thanks, Nyx curled up inside her wings on the rocky floor, ending the conversation as swiftly as it started.

'How queer,' he could only think speechlessly. It felt weird to see another living being this close to him. It felt… unnatural.

'Only for tonight,' he then concluded, keeping his gaze trained on her winged back. Yet as the hour dragged by, Kalani sunk into a deep sleep.

On the other hand, Nyx couldn't sleep so easily. How could she? Her face burned with embarrassment.

For once, she really regretted taking her elder brother's advice to the fullest and hugged her legs closer. 'What cuteness?! I can still feel the goosebumps on my skin!'

The cute look she had tried to mimic really made her look… desperate. Her stance to be domineering and mysterious has flown out the nest now.

"The nest…" she then murmured slowly as her eyelids fluttered closed. A familiar voice from her memories then began to fill her ears, chuckling all the while.

["Pfft, Nyx, you're more adorable than any other kids."

"Oh?" she could recall replying smugly, "Even more adorable than Merle?"

"Certainly—" her elder brother was in the midst of replying before a short figure jumped in between them from the supplies they were sitting on and interjected with a childish bellow, "NOT!"

A jesting flicker of mirth in her elder brother's eyes didn't escape Nyx's sight before she turned to her younger brother's pursed lips and accusing eyes, which silently screamed betrayal at both of them.]

Their ensuing laughter ringed in her ears like yesterday while a lonely tear landed on the ground.

'Please come find me… I miss you all.'

…