“You do not mean that.”
“I do.”
“Milady?”
“Aniya,” she corrected him.
“Milady.” Surprise was still evident in his eyes, a glimmer of doubt too, like he just couldn't believe this was happening, like he felt that his eyes and mind were playing a trick on him.
“Aniya,” she pointed to herself, then to him, “Syon. It is that simple. Friends.”
He stared blankly at her for a moment, then finally, he smiled, nodding enthusiastically. “I like it. I like it very much.” He interlocked his fingers, letting them go the next second. “By the Moon, I don't know what to do now. How must I behave now?”
She chuckled, understanding how he felt. She had been nervous like this when Zesika extended a hand of friendship to her.
“We are friends. Just act the way you've been acting. I like you the way you are.”
“I don't know why it is suddenly so hard.”
“I’ll make it easy. Tell me more about this festival.” It seemed to be something he enjoyed talking about. That would help him forget how nervous he was. “What are we supposed to do on the day of this festival?”
“You can sing.”
“I don't know any songs about this festival. Will you teach me?”
“I will!” He declared, excited but he caught himself quickly. “I will, Milady.”
“Aniya.”
He nodded, but he didn't say her name. She soon realized he was deliberately avoiding calling her by her name. It must feel too strange to him. One day, he would get used to it.
“But tell me first, do you have festivals where you come from?”
“Of course,” she nodded, listing off as many festivals as she could.
He asked her if singing was something they had to do at any of these festivals, and she said it was. Then he asked her to sing one of those festival songs.
“My voice will kill you.”
His brows raised in concern. “Your voice is spelled?”
“No! I meant to say I have no singing voice.”
“Sing still. I will be the judge of that.”
So she sang and when she was done, she asked him.
“So what do you think?”
His hand snaked up his chest and he dramatically clutched there, pretending like he was dying.
She slapped her hand against his shoulder, playfully. “How dare you?!”
“My greatest apologies but your voice is indeed horrible.”
“You should be killed for that.”
“Killed? Milady, I’m already dying.”
This time, she couldn't even correct him, they were too caught up with laughter.
The laughter died slowly and he spoke again.
“But I enjoyed listening. Please, sing more.”
“You asked for this torture and lucky for you, I’m a free giver.”
She sang again, moving from one song to another till she felt a gentle thud on her shoulder.
Syon had fallen asleep on her shoulder. Wait, her veil. She had taken off her veil before when she was about to retire for the night, and she had forgotten to put it back on after Syon had stepped in to rescue her from the tricks of her sleep-deprived mind.
She hadn't even noticed until now that it wasn't on her face anymore.
He made her feel so comfortable. The thought of that brought a warm smile to her lips.
He was, indeed, a good friend.
Hopefully, they would be closer. There was a lot she wanted to learn about him. Something about him felt very intruding to her.
He looked so peaceful in his sleep, it was heartwarming.
Aniya looked at the open at that moment, only to catch sight of something almost blindingly bright falling from the sky.
She gasped in shock and Syon startled awake immediately.
He jumped to his feet and she ran to the window, pointing like a child stunned at the existence of something she had been told about but previously didn't believe.
“Look at that! What is that?”
“The Moon’s Gift.” He said, maintaining a respectful distance between them so that when she jumped slightly in surprise as a result of not expecting him to be that close so soon, she didn't crash into him.
She smiled, watching the brightness of the object dim as he fell a far distance away from them.
The Moon’s Gift.
Aniya smiled in realization.
The Hunt; it was finally here! By Ignas, she could almost feel her freedom with her fingertips. She honestly could not wait to leave this Realm.
She had waited so long for this gift. Now all that had to happen was for Eldrick to win and do things according to plan.
It was a simple plan. What could go wrong?