Maruka had thought that the fairy had nothing to be grateful for. He was born into the most hated family on Yharos and seemed to be cursed to be the only one born with a conscience. His life was saved when he was six only for him to be locked away for twelve years in a tiny room, and lastly, he had been freed only to be locked up again for showing kindness to Pollyanna. Nonetheless, Maruka had thought that the fairy’s love of life was infectious, and he had kissed his forehead. “I wish I could see things the way you do, E-Eory. I’m a husk of a man, just waiting to die; I can no longer see the good points of life or living. I-I can only enjoy them through your wide, unspoiled eyes. No… it’s not just that you’re unspoiled. There’s something innate inside you—something I could never hope to have—that keeps your courage and love of life in-tact.”
Eory had stared into the selkie’s black eyes in surprise. While he loved the fact that he could offer the man a window into the way he saw the world, he wished he could help him through it, so he could experience it too. Eory had hugged him, wishing he could help him find peace.
Eory remembered that Maruka had hugged him back tighter than he ever had before. The memory of it made him feel warmer than the hot bath water he was submerged in. After bathing, Eory hauled himself out of the water and headed to the mess hall.
Eory liked routines, which was why he had grown more comfortable and happier over the past few years; life had become predictable, and its predictability allowed him to put time aside for things he liked to do. First, he would get up and take a bath. Next, he would eat breakfast. After that, he would take his shift on the battlefield. After that, he would eat dinner, and spend his last few hours in the day doing whatever he wanted to do.
Those few hours of freedom were utter bliss to him, and allowed him to do things that the fairy had never experienced before. He was able to try his hand at activities that he would have never experienced back in his tower; he tried making pottery, cutlery, charcoal paintings, statues, and wasn’t particularly good at any of them, but he was absolutely grateful that he had the chance to try them.
Eory sat down next to Terran and Eliita. Them had been acting strangely, and had been choosing to sit with Pollyanna instead.
Eory was intensely jealous of him. Try as he might, he still couldn’t get the woman out of his head. He glared at the pair with a pouty expression on his face as Them managed to get a laugh out of her. It just made him miss Maruka more, as Eory was able to get a laugh out of the man where no one else could. Terran said, “You ready for practice tonight, Eory?”
Eory nodded eagerly, glad to be distracted from his jealousy of Them. “Of course. I think I’m bored of all of my art projects, so I’m ready to start practicing again.” Before Maruka had disappeared, he had been the one to teach Eory further techniques with multiple weapons, including Eory’s favorite, the bow. Eory loved learning from Maruka; he was patient, yet honest, blunt, but somehow soft-spoken and always kind. He understood Eory’s nerves and knew how to help him overcome them. He gave him encouragement with words, kisses, and hugs.
Terran was a fantastic teacher as well, but it was an entirely different kind of relationship. When Eory did a poor job with Maruka, Maruka would generally coddle him and tell him that he was proud of the fairy for trying his best.
Terran, on the other hand, took a tough love type approach. He reserved praise for when Eory performed well, and gave no praise when he didn’t. Eory had a rough time of it at first, and he went to bed for a few nights crying after a tough lesson with Terran, but it just made him want the elf’s approval more. He tried harder, improved, and earned the elf’s praise, and he ended up being enormously glad that the elf did not coddle him. Eory knew he would now cry less in the future at difficult situations, after all.
But part of him missed Maruka’s doting, gentle hand as well.
“Good. I missed training you, Eory. What should we practice tonight?” Terran asked him.
Eory gave it some thought as he sipped his orange juice. Eventually he said, “Let’s continue practicing the sword.”
Eliita chimed in, “You two be careful. I still haven’t forgiven you for giving Eory a black eye, Terran.”
Terran snorted. “I was off my game and he nearly won; I had to get aggressive. There was no way I was going to let a toothpick fairy half-my-size beat me. No offense, Eory.”
Eory shrugged. “None taken. If I could actually pack some extra meat and muscle onto these ropy twigs, I would.”
Terran laughed until he snorted like a pig, and then he covered his mouth in embarrassment. He sat up straight, clearing his throat. Eory didn’t know why, but Terran thought that laughing too much was undignified.
Maybe it’s an elf thing? Eory thought to himself.
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