Savior (Part 2)

The rest of the day, Svel and I talked about our lives. He was rich and his name was known all around the world as a lord. The reason why he was here in Artirias was to get away from all that. He only had one living relative and was offered arranged marriages many times to keep the family name, but he didn't want that. He wanted to live peacefully, felt like he would've liked to be alone, at least until he found me lying around. Then he said something that sounded bizarre to me.

"What?!" I gasped. "You're actually a merman?!"

"Well, yes…" Svel said. "I think you might've met my cousin, Ufret."

"Oh yeah, the creep." I almost gagged at the thought. "Well, no wonder you're so good looking."

"What- How can you say that so calmly?!" Svel covered his mouth. "But it is true as he may be my cousin, he despises me, as I do him."

"The moment I popped up out of nowhere, he happened to be right next to me." I clenched my fist. "Then randomly starts telling me I would have his kids, just a jerk!"

"That would mean you were running away from him…" Svel said. "In his place I apologize for his rudeness."

"No need, you're an angel compared to him." I smiled. "Also, I wouldn't have notice you were a merman since you have shorter hair…"

"I like it short, better to work with." Svel touched his hair. "Does it look bad?"

"No, it looks great!" I said. "Also, I'm sorry for trying to touch it without asking earlier…"

"It's alright, you're allowed to touch it anytime." Svel softly smiled.

"So… like this?" I quickly moved my hands, ruffling his hair.

"Hey!" Svel laughed and lightly grabbed my hands. "You're a funny little one."

"Your hair is so soft." I smiled. "Bummer that it's shorter, but oh well, not like it's all gone."

"Oh." Svel looked away. "I could grow it out, if you want…"

"You should keep it short." I smiled. "Like you said, it's better for work."

For once in a lifetime, I felt genuinely happy for some reason. This man, in particular, helped me understand what it means to feel like I was finally free. Svelte Difoue, such a wonderful person to have met. It's always better to get to know someone before you make assumptions about them. I honestly thought he was mostly cold towards people, but I got him to warm up to me.

"I should go back to my room." Svel stood up, letting go of my hands. "I'm making you a gift, I'll be out for dinner, see you later."

"Oh, okay." I waved. "Later then, I'll be waiting!"

Later that day I was bored, staring at the ceiling, fidgeting with my fingers. I even played with the ring on my staff a bit, there was just nothing to do. Then, I got up with my staff, heading outside. The sun was going down and the air was still. I heard rustling coming from a bush, and I saw a light blue slime droop itself out. 'Well, that's weird, what's a slime doing here?' I stared at it from far away, but it started to move my direction. 'Wait, why is it getting closer to me?!' I start backing into the outside of the shack.

"Blurble bloo!" The slime quickly began to jump and plop itself continuously towards me.

"AH!" I held my staff and ran away as far as I could from there. "Is it gone…?"

I looked around and the slime was nowhere to be seen, but what surprised me was that I didn't even know where I was. In slight panic I walked around with the staff and still didn't know where to go. 'Oh no… I'm lost…' I started to cry; I was scared to be alone. My greatest fear just randomly happened.

"Blurble blurple blouie?" A high-pitched noise comes from behind.

I turn around to see a much smaller slime. I flinch, but then I looked at it closely. 'Wait a minute, that's the same color as the last one, and way smaller… They might be family!' I think about why I ran and plopped myself to the ground.

"But I still don't know where I am…" I sniff and cry.

I then feel light pushes on my leg, to see the little blue slime next to me. It felt warm, I'd expected it to feel cold or something, but it was nicer than I thought. It made me feel a lot better after that, it was nice to have company.

"Thanks, little buddy." I smile and pet the slime.

Then, after a few seconds, letters popped up in my face. It said, "Will you be my master, miss?", I looked at the slime and looked back at the words. It wasn't too clear to me, but I felt like in my heart I said yes. 'Slime + Lixlore, contract has been made.' The little blue slime started glowing rainbow around it and popped. It reforms into a rainbow glittering slime, shining in the dim light.

"Woah…" I said.

Then it quickly moved to the top of the staff, over the ring. I watched as it seemed to have crystalized itself like jewelry. Then, it started glowing as a source of light in the growing darkness. I sat there on the grass, feeling this warm, comforting light. Out of nowhere, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. 'It sounds like Svel, wait he's looking for me!' I stood up and tightly gripped my staff, walking around to follow the voice.

"Svel!" I yell back.

After a few more attempts, I kept walking, and was able to view someone walking around. Following the sound of Svel's voice, I see him from a distance. Moving quicker, I use my staff as the light from the slime grows.

"Svel!" I call out to him, stopping to wave my staff. "I'm over here!"

I see him come running to me and stopping to breathe. Walking slowly with my staff, I get closer as my heart began beating hard. 'I bet he's mad that I wandered off…' I gripped my staff, waiting for a form of punishment.

"Svel I-" I start.

Instead of punishment, I was surprised with a tight warm hug that lasted a few seconds. Then he stops, looking me up and down.

"You're not hurt, are you?" Svel asks.

"No, but aren't you mad at me?" I ask.

"What would I be mad at you for?" Svel slightly tilts his head in question.

"Well, I wandered off…" I say.

"I'm just glad that you're unharmed, Lix." He sighed in relief, patting my head. "Let's head back, shall we?"

"Okay." I smiled as we walk back.

Usually, I was scolded for trying to leave the house because of my sickness. "No, Lydia, you're too sick to be running around!" or "You should be resting in bed so then you can get all better." They thought that doing nothing would fix everything, they were so wrong about it. All I wanted was freedom, and now I have it, thanks to Svel. His first concern was if I got hurt, not even bothered about my inability to walk properly. I might like this world, it's a little bit peaceful… or so I thought.

"Next sunrise, we will be off to Soltica. The journey will take about 3 days, since you want to see Al Krelin, we will go as soon as possible." Svel spoke while packing his things, "You need as much rest as you can get tonight, so head to bed after your bathe."

"Oh, do you know if we'll be making any stops along the way?" I asked.

"Many." Svel looked at me. "For now, worry about your rest, we will leave early."

"And you?" I saw him stop. "Won't you need rest too?"

He looked away, "Apologies if this may offend you, Lix, but that is none of your concern."

I looked at him, slowly continuing his packing, then glancing back at me. It was a little awkward, but he walked away into the other room and stayed there for the night. I went to the bathroom and took my quick bath; it was weird that my tail didn't transform while in the water, but it was better than having all that extra weight. The bath felt refreshing, it was warm and nice. Once done, I dried off and put my clothes on, grabbed my staff and slowly walked to the bed in the main room.

Laying down, I stared at the ceiling. 'I'm not sure what would be going on with him but it's starting to make me worry… Svel please be okay…' My mind -and my thoughts- drift off to sleep as my eyes flutter and close. I dreamt about Svel again, and this time he was crying in front of me, but he didn't know I was there. I tried to talk to him, but he kept bawling his eyes out. All I did at that point was hug him, even though I knew it wouldn't change anything, but that somehow made him stop and turn to me. I see his face, expression blank, dripping with tears, and then I woke up. I saw Svel walking around and putting food on the table to eat.

"Good morning, Lix." Svel looks over, noticing that I'm awake, "Come, I just finished making breakfast."

"Okay," I yawned and got up.

With my staff, I got to the table and sat down. The food was delicious of course, and I ate it all a little quickly. Svel looked at me, surprised, with a half plate of food.

"Is my cooking that good to you…?" Svel asks.

"It's delicious, much better than anything I've eaten before." I smile.

He smiled and continued eating, soon finishing after. Svel stands up taking both our plates and eating utensils, washing them quickly.

"Get your staff and wait outside." Svel dried his hands. "I will gather our baggage and we can start heading out."

"Oh, okay." I take my staff and go outside.

I waited for a couple of minutes and Svel finally walked out, putting things down. He locked the door before we left and picks everything back up.

"How will we get there?" I asked.

"Walking, riding on land, and by sea." Svel started walking.

I follow him, "Riding on land and sea?"

"Yes, it is what you may know as a unicorn." He said. "I let someone take care of it not too far from here."

"Oh, wait- a what?!" I was excited.

Svel slightly laughed at me and continued. I followed, going a little faster than I was before. Not too long of walking, in our view there came a big farm. There was a gate in the front and a person in what looked like a suit waiting there. As we got closer, they walked up to us both.

"Your carriage and Fleit is waiting right this way, my lord." They said.

Walking, others took the bags from him and quickly went on ahead of us to the carriage. I stared in awe once we came up to it, the unicorn.

"You can pet him, he won't bite." Svel pet him.

"Oh, okay." I slowly reach out and lightly touch him.

"His name is Fleit, he is of the last few of his kind." Svel says, "They had been hunted and sold in the black market, I saved him from their tortures."

The unicorn, Fleit, looked at me. Such a beautiful unicorn, I stared at its wonderful features. It had beautiful eyes, like staring into a glittering rainbow. Svel comes to my side and quickly picked me up.

"I do hope you don't mind my assistance, Lix." He said.

I flustered in his arms as I stared into his eyes, his soft smile, and how handsome he looked. To be held by a handsome, kind, and caring man was a dream come true. Then, his head slightly turns to me, I didn't fully notice, but he knew I was staring for a little while.

"Does my face amuse you…?" Svel asked, looking at me.

My brows rose and my face felt a little warmer, "I… wouldn't say it doesn't…" I slowly looked away.

"Oh…" Svel's cheeks looked a little pinker.

I smile a little as I peeked at his odd, embarrassed expression. Svel got me into the carriage and gently placed me down to sit. I watch as he adjusted curtains that were inside for the windows, it was fancier than expected. The outside was white, with a porcelain-like texture, engraved with gold designs. The interior was a soft pastel red color, and the seats were egg white, filled with similar designs from the outside.

"I will be back;" Svel opened the door, "I need to speak with my butlers and maids before departure."

"Okay." I stayed and waited.

After a few minutes passed, he still wasn't back, so I looked out the windows. Svel was out there talking to them, lined up in two sections. I sat back and looked around inside the carriage and something came to realization. 'How is this so big on the inside?' I then heard the door click, Svel was coming back inside and sat across from me. I felt a small sudden force pull me back into the soft, cushioned seat.

"We are now headed out to reach the borderline of Artirias Vastlands." Svel spoke.

"How long is this going to take again…?" I ask.

"3 days minimum." Svel smiles.

"So, you're saying, this could take longer than 3 days…" I drop my head. "Oh no…"

"If you are unable to sustain your composer inside the carriage, we can take more stops along the way if-" Svel starts.

"Nope!" I stop him. "It's fine, I'll be fine…"

"Well, I will be here with you just in case anything happens." Svel looks out a window. "Just make sure you do not fall asleep if I step out."

"Wait, what, why?" I ask.

Svel looks at me and clears his throat, "No important reason, I just want to keep you safe as we travel to meet with the Immortal Moon Elf."

"Oh, I guess that's understandable…" I sigh.

I close my eyes for a bit and try to breathe. In my mind, riding in anything is a little scary, that makes my stomach turn so I'm not good with this carriage. To my sense, if I close my eyes and think that I'm not riding anything, I'll feel fine, or just eventually fall asleep. This time I fell asleep; I knew it because I had a vivid dream that moment. It was a field of flowers and Svel was laying down in front of me, asleep. I could feel the soft brushes of the petals tapping my ankles. My feet were bare, but the ground was so soft it didn't matter. Svel turned over, still asleep, and I notice tears running down across his face. Such a sad look on him, it had me concerned and confused. I didn't know exactly why I was having so many dreams about Svel, but it made me wonder if it could've been because they had a purpose behind them. It all flashed in black and white, and I woke up. I looked up, Svel's face was over me, as I felt my hair being pet.

"Svel…?" I realize what was happening. "Svel!?"

"Apologies for not asking before, Lix." Svel looks away, a little flustered.

I was probably as red as a tomato, but I sat up and scooted a little to the opposite side. 'Why was he… When did he… What just happened?!' I think to myself as I look away towards the window. It was already getting dark, and I ended up seeing a lot of people going past us. It looked like we stopped in a public area.

"Hey, Svel." I ask. "Where are we?"

"Oh, this is a town around the edge of the Artirias lands." Svel says. "I had suggested we stopped to let all rest."

"In a public area?" I look at him.

"Well, this is more of a small town, not too big for a ruckus…" Svel nervously laughs. "If you're hungry we can get something to eat."

"Is it cooked by you?" I ask.

"No, but-" Svel says.

"If it's not your food then I'm not eating anything." I pout.

"You must eat eventually, Lix…" Svel sighs.