[83.4] The Year of Love

I stood up, placing Astra down on the ground. Seeing them all obediently sit and stare up at me with anticipation. I started stretching my muscles and slapped my face to focus myself.

"Once upon a time, there was a prince who was cursed."

Rose silently approached the fire, being careful to stay in the shadows. My lips curved up in a smile when I saw her and continued with my story. I created an ice sculpture that took the shape of Cyrus. My forehead broke out into a sweat as I focused.

"Even though his own people despised him, this Prince wanted nothing more than to help his kingdom thrive. He worked hard to become a strong fighter, a powerful magician, and a strategian that no one else could ever hope to compete with."

I checked to make sure they were all enjoying the story before continuing.

"He worked endlessly until he was the very ideal of perfection. However, it wasn't enough." I paused for dramatic effect, "The people thought his curse would affect them so they tossed him out into the dark forest."

I grimaced as I saw that mark on the ice sculpture's chest.

I cleared my throat, "As he struggled to understand what just happened, he found himself staring into the eyes of a monstrous beast!"

Lene shouted, "Did he die!?"

I shook my head and created an ice dragon under my feet. It was small and barely staying together as I rose in the air. 

"Just when things looked over, a magician appeared from the sky!"

I flew down with the dragon, circling all of them by the fire as they laughed. I felt the dragon melting and hopped off of it as it disappeared. I landed next to the ice sculpture, feeling an odd sense of comfort beside it.

It's almost as if he's here…

Although it's much colder than I remember.

My eyes reopened as I took a step back, "The magician helped the Prince, not knowing who he was. He had been injured so she took him back to her house and nursed him back to full health. Over time, the two bonded and shared many beautiful memories."

Astra shouted, "Like what?!"

I paused and took the sculpture's hand, "Like dancing under the moonlight."

As I moved the sculpture to dance with me, I stared at its faceless head trying to remember something so long ago. A bittersweet smile appeared on my face, "He was so enthralled by her mystique and beauty that he declared his love to her."

Rose stepped out of the shadows in anticipation, "Did she love him back?"

I glanced at Rose, then slowly took my hand away from the sculpture.

"No. She was too scared by the idea and ran away."

Astra shouted in frustration, "BUT WHY!?"

I laughed and shrugged, "Because the heart is fickle and the magician's was worse than others."

Atta wrote on her chalkboard: 'So the prince gave up?'

I shook my head, "There was no way the Prince would admit defeat. He didn't get to where he was by rolling over. He chased after the magician, pestering her until she started to look his way. She didn't agree to be with him, but she did see the potential in him as King."

I glanced at the sculpture fondly, "For the magician who never cared for the world, she started caring a little bit more, day by day the more she spent with him."

Feeling that the story was getting a bit too real, I stepped away and held out my palm. A flame person suddenly appeared and started dancing around, "Suddenly, the kingdom was shocked by the emergence of a new villain who brought fire to their land."

The flame person jumped into a fire, attacking other buildings in the fire's flames.

Everyone leaned in, their mouths open as they watched.

"The Prince knew he had to help his people, even if they never valued him. He rushed into the flames and-"

The ice sculpture suddenly jumped into the flames, but instead of putting it out, the flames raged around it.

"-he realized he was only one person. What could he do against a sea of flames?"

Zephyr squeaked, "He died?!"

I shook my head, "No. The Magician saw his pointless struggle and decided she could no longer stand by. She jumped into the flames beside him and-"

I took a deep breath and hopped forward, extinguishing the flames. As I did, I shot fireworks into the sky, decorating the night sky with flashing lights to compliment the stars.

"She managed to overcome the fire with him by her side."

They all watched with sparkling eyes, watching as each one exploded and took a different shape.

As the fireworks were exploding in the sky, Rose whispered to me, "So? Did the magician fall in love with the Prince?"

As I smiled, my eyes were stuck on those flashing lights, "She realized she had been in love with him all along."

I pulled my eyes away, "...Although she realized it a little too late."

Rose looked up to the stars and whispered, "...I miss Koale."

I pulled her into a hug, "I know."

She hugged me back and for a while, we were both silent as we listened to the explosions. She finally pulled away and wiped her eyes, "It's a beautiful story, Master."

I gave her cheek a pinch, "That's love for you. No matter how short, it's always so beautiful. If you didn't mourn it, would it have been worth it?"

Rose gave me a forced smile and let out a heavy sigh, "But I wonder if it would have been better to have never known."

She pulled away from me and turned into a snake. She slithered to a bush and watched the sky from an opening in the leaves.

Asmonious suddenly appeared beside me, "Was it a true story, Master?"

"Unfortunately, it's not true."

"Oh? But you seemed so passionate about it… I thought… I thought maybe it was someone you knew personally."

"Hmmm." I looked up at the sky, "Not quite."

"Then does that mean Master doesn't think about love?"

I scowled, "How can I think about love when I'm constantly chasing around two horny teenagers?!"

Asmonious broke out into coughs.

I crossed my arms in irritation, "I know they had a child young together, but this young-"

Wait.

They had a child together.

A child under the Great Fairy's roof.

MY roof.

Without me knowing!?

"Master?"

How could I forget!? They got pregnant at a young age!!!

But how young was it!?

I don't remember them saying…

I rubbed my head as I thought back, "Urgggg. Just when exactly did they say they slept together?"

I remember in the future they were arguing about it at the party…

Zephyr got really drunk and confronted Hazel…

"ARRRRGH!" I smacked my head, "What did Hazel say that night?!? She was so offended that he thought the baby was someone else's!!! How could I have forgotten such juicy gossip?!"

Asmonious tilted his head, "Master? Is everything okay?"

"I'm trying to remember something…"

"Oh? Maybe talking it out will help."

"Hmm." I gave him a glance and continued, "Well, it happened at a party. There were unlimited drinks and everyone took advantage of it. Zep-Er. My friend was angry and fueled by the unlimited liquor, he went to accuse his ex of who her child's father was."

Asmonious flinched, a slight blush coming across his face.

I tapped my chin, "Then she got really mad and said it was his, to which he was shocked into silence."

Astra hopped over, her sparkling red eyes were on me as she listened intently.

"He said there was no way." I closed my eyes and laughed, "Then she said what about the New Year celebration when the Great Fairy had a firework-"

My words abruptly ceased.

Asmonious stared at me, blinking with curiosity, "Master?"

My face turned stiff, "...Where's Alora and Zephyr?"

Astra smiled at me with an innocent look, "They snuck away after you finished your story."

"They did… WHAT!?"

I sprinted off in the direction of the courtyard.

Astra innocently looked up at Asmonious, "Moni, do you know what's happening?"

Asmonious had a rare blush come over his face and averted his gaze, "I don't know."

Astra nudged him on, "You know! Come on!!! Tell us what they are doing!! Spy on them for us!"

The other sisters gathered around, curiously awaiting an explanation.

Asmonious turned a darker shade of red, "...I'm not going to watch that."

Before Astra could ask what he meant, an explosion of snow and ice filled the courtyard.

Astra pursed her lips, "They were f*cking weren't they."

Asmonious burst out into a series of uncontrollable coughs, "A-Astra!? H-How do you know that- that word!?!"

She smiled at him with an ominous grin then tilted her head to feign innocence, "What word?"