The Magician: Gin

As the moon turned back to its original color, Kaeden returned to his human form. He laid unconscious on my laps while I watched his sleeping face. I brushed his hair away from his eyes and gently poked his eyebrows as he frowned.

His body flinched. I got startled and slowly retrieved my hand away from his face. I watched his eyes open, and he sat up, surprised. 

"How long did I pass out?" Kaeden asked me as he rubbed his eye. 

"Around for three hours," I answered while he sighed and nodded his head to thank me. "What's wrong?"

Kaeden turned to look at me from top to bottom. He stood up in a hurry and placed his coat around me. "You should go back to your room," He said, offering his hand to me, which I accepted and stood up. 

Our hands parted which made me wonder why I didn't want to let go of it. But it wouldn't be right if I forced him to hold my hands all the way back to my room. When Kaeden opened the door, the lights were back up. 

There were some servants awake. Some swept the carpet after the mess Kaeden made. There were claw marks on the ground, but they looked smaller than a monster's.

"Master? And Miss Flora? Why are you both together?" Asked Alice as she walked in front of us. 

"That I can explain. It's my fault for walking out of my room. I thought it was safe to go out, so I did and sneaked into the kitchen," I lowered my head, unable to meet her eyes. 

"You've learned your lesson now. All I can say is you're lucky to still be alive," said Alice looking at her checkerboard then back to me. 

"I apologize."

"You're lucky that Master regained his sanity back when he caught you," said Alice, who looks at Kaeden. "And I wonder how it happened." She walked away from us and went back to monitor the maids, cleaning the mess. 

I looked at Kaeden's face, and unlucky me, our eyes met. "Don't bother asking," he coldly said to me. "Go back to your room and take some proper rest."

His words were sharp as a blade that pierced my heart deeply. At first, he treated me warmly, then now he's back to his cold state. 

"Will you do the same thing?" I asked.

"No, I've slept enough," He answered. 

I watched his back as he faded from my sight. I went back to my own room with thoughts loaded in my head. That night I couldn't fall asleep, and I forgot to ask Kaeden if I could go out to visit the city. I guess that'll be for another time. 

I sat by the balcony, reading a book I picked up in the library earlier. I asked for Kaeden's location, and to my luck, he wasn't in the palace. 

"It seems like I've found a lonely bird, reading a book as she enjoys the sun," said a mysterious voice. "Though she's upside down, or is it just me?" He asked himself. 

I looked in front to see no one, then looked back at my room to see no one again. But as I turned, facing the balcony, I froze on the spot, seeing a man with long silver hair and blue eyes hanging from the tree upside down. 

"Uhm…are you alright?" I asked while he burst into laughter.

"Usually, humans would ask who are you and why are you trespassing?" The man spun back up, sitting on the trunk, then landed in front of me. "You're the first human I've seen in how many years."

He gazed down at me, tilting his head to the side slowly. His eyes glistened, and he said, "Not really the first. But first after a hundred years of slumber."

"And you are?" I asked.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Gin. It's nice to meet you!" He said enthusiastically, and I accepted his hand that had been out, asking for a handshake. 

When our hands met, I felt a spark or a static that ran across my body. Then our hands began to light in silver and gold. When our eyes met, his eyes widened, dazed by this sudden interaction. The light faded, and when everything ended, I saw tears falling from his eyes. 

"So this is where you are? How did I not notice your presence?" Gin asked himself, not letting go of our hands. 

The light felt warm, and it didn't sting my eyes. It felt nostalgic as if I've felt it in my dreams before. Gin leaned closer to me and rested his head on my shoulder. 

"Now that I've found you. I'm not going to let anymore hurt you," Gin said while I stood speechless, unable to say a word by his sudden action.

"I'm sorry, but it's my first time meeting you, and I don't think it's appropriate to do this," I said, and he took a step back with a saddened smile on his face. 

"You're right. That was rude of me. I apologize," Gin lowered his head which confused me all the more. 

"Don't need to bow to me. I'm just a human who doesn't have a title," I insisted, but he shook his head. 

"No, it's not alright. After a hundred years, I found you, Master."

Master? This is making me confused all the more. I confronted Gin, telling him I had no clue what he was talking about. "I really don't have any idea what you are talking about, Gin."

Gin stopped chattering and frowned. "I apologize. I got a bit excited since it has been a while, and I can feel my magic has become stronger." I shook my head and said it was alright. I understand his side. "But do you really not remember anything?" He asked for the last time. 

"Unfortunately, I don't remember anything but do have pieces of memories of Floriana," I said.

"I see…but," Gin hesitated and sighed. "Nothing, don't mind it. All I can say is welcome back, Master," Gin kneeled onto a knee and bowed his head. "This time, I swear to protect you."