Celena's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell me more, Silfie. I'm curious to know what those reactions are."
Silfie settled herself, perching on Celena's head, and began to explain, "The first reaction is adoration," Silfie began, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "When someone sees the image of their true love, they instantly fall in love at first sight and embark on a quest to find them. It's as if their entire world revolves around that one person, even though they haven't met yet."
Celena listened intently, her curiosity growing with each word. Silfie continued, "The second reaction is happiness. It's a feeling of pure joy and relief because they realize that the person they already hold affection for is indeed their true love. It's like hitting the jackpot, a confirmation that they are meant to be together. This was how the first king of the Kelvistein Empire realized his love."
Celena nodded, absorbing the information. Silfie went on, "'The third one is like the one you saw—disbelief...' At first, they struggle to trust what they see or feel. It's a mixture of doubt and confusion. But eventually, they come to realize that the connection they felt with the person in the image is undeniable. They discover that they are, in fact, destined for each other."
Curiosity danced in Celena's eyes as she absorbed Silfie's words. She couldn't help but wonder about the other possible reactions. Silfie sensed her eagerness and continued, "The fourth reaction is rejection. It's the opposite of the second one. The person believes that the feelings they thought were meant for their true love were, in fact, misplaced. They come to the harsh realization that the person in the image is not their destined partner. It can lead to heartbreak and even madness in some cases, though not everyone reacts this way."
Celena's expression turned thoughtful, contemplating the complexities of love and fate. Silfie concluded, "Lastly, the fifth reaction is indifference. Some people simply remain stoic and unaffected upon seeing the image of their supposed true love. They don't feel any strong emotions or attachments. It's as if the revelation holds no significance for them."
Celena smiled, her mind buzzing with possibilities. "Silfie, you truly have a wealth of knowledge. It's fascinating to think about the various reactions people might have when confronted with the image of their true love. This is getting even more exciting as we've encountered our first 'victim.'"
Silfie playfully rolled her eyes, hovering near Celena's face. "It amuses us, but really, Celena, I didn't give you that necklace so you could use it like this. It was meant to protect you, not manipulate people into thinking you're their love interest. Besides, fairies can't use that necklace. It's practically useless for us. Why are you doing this? I'm just curious about what's going on in your head."
Celena's smile remained unchanged as she looked up at the stars. A gust of strong wind swept by, causing her to shield her face with her arm and Silfie to cling to her hair for support.
"I'm just finding something to pass the time, Silfie. And since I have this necklace, why not play Matchmaker and help people find love? After all, there are already enough broken hearts in the world. I thought, why not bring a little happiness instead of leaving them broken?"
Silfie observed Celena closely, her eyes searching for deeper meaning.
"And you don't consider yourself a broken person?" she questioned, floating closer to Celena's face.
Celena's gaze met Silfie's, her eyes gleaming with a sense of contentment. "My heart is perfectly beating fine, isn't it?" she replied, her smile genuine as she knelt and picked a delicate purple flower.
"Okay then... how about this? Since you have been a good guide in the human world, how about I'll take you where I'm from?" Silfie spoke excitedly as she leaned back from Celena's face.
Celena simply replied with a nod and smile.
As Celena and Silfie bid each other farewell, they went their separate ways, knowing it was time to return home. Celena sauntered along the dimly lit street, humming a cheerful tune. The street lamps and the moon cast a soft glow, illuminating her figure. She felt safe in the stillness of the night, with people tucked away in their beds, peacefully asleep. Unbeknownst to her, however, a figure lurked in the shadows of an alley, watching her intently since she entered and waited patiently for her to exit the forest.
The mysterious person, blond eyes filled with mischievous sparkle, observed Celena with playful curiosity. A sly smirk graced their face as they adjusted the blond ponytail securing their hair by the shoulder. Swiftly, he turned and quietly retreated, their presence unnoticed by Celena. Lost in her thoughts, she continued her stroll, the gentle sound of her footsteps barely audible. Her shadow faithfully trailed behind her as she relished the joy of the moment.
Celena couldn't help but revel in the world she had been transported to—it was the life she had always desired. Peaceful yet full of adventures waiting to unfold. She cherished the tranquility of these days and fervently hoped that they would continue even as the main plot of the story advanced two years into the future.
When she returned home, Celena changed into her nightgown. She went to bed in a rush and pretended to be asleep, just in time for Kale to barge into her room quietly. She always knew at this time of night Kale would show up. She was uneasy at first, beginning to question her brother's sanity. Celena was ready to smack her brother on the head the first time she saw him snooping around. Shaking the thought out of her head, she opened one eye and peeked at Kale, promptly closing it after he was done thoroughly inspecting the room inch by inch. Finally, Kale turned to her, his soft footsteps hushed by the carpet. Kale stopped and leaned, properly tucking her in. A head pat graced her while an unreadable expression was set on his visage. Not noticing a bead of sweat roll from the side of her face, he shook his head and went out.
Sighing in relief, Celena sat in her bed, she reached for her head with a hand and sighed once again.
'I'll never understand him...' She thought looking at the door and lying back.
"I surmise that I shall forever remain perplexed by her enigmatic nature, don't you agree, dear mother?" Kale spoke, closing the door his gaze shifting towards Grace, gracefully draped in her ethereal nightgown, her eyes locked upon the floor.
"She embodies the enigmatic allure, perpetually keeping me entangled in a web of uncertainty," he continued, his voice quivering ever so slightly.
"Kale... it's not your fault. Whatever you're thinking right now, it wasn't your fault. And even if it was, it's all in the past," Grace gently reassured, taking a step forward. She placed a comforting hand on his tense shoulder.
At the tender touch of his mother's hand, a horrifying memory surfaced within Kale, one that should forever remain locked within the depths of his mind—an image of a young, unconscious, bloodied Celena in his trembling arms.
In response, he slapped away his mother's hand, unable to bear the hurtful look of guilt and pity in her eyes. He looked away, unable to face the weight of his actions.
Grace cleared her throat and placed her hand on the side, asking, "Have you finished checking for any sharp objects in her room? Did you find anything that could harm her?" She glanced outside through the window as Kale nodded subtly.
"You know, Celena is growing up. She's slowly learning and exploring her environment. She's curious, just like a cat. You can't protect her forever, Kale," Grace said, her gaze filled with empathy for his trembling shoulder and clenched fingers at his side.
"It's time for you to rest, Kale. Have a good night. You're dismissed," she spoke, giving him a small smile before leaving him to his thoughts.
As he gazed back at the door one last time, Kale sighed and made his way toward his chamber. The intricately decorated walls were softly lit by bulbs, accompanied by the gentle moonlight seeping through the windows.
Upon reaching his room, he removed his coat and hung it by the side. He approached his study table and sat his hand promptly passing through scattered documents for a scissor, the very same scissor that was once embedded in Celena. Kale's brows furrowed as he gazed intently at the scissors, leaning back in his chair, memories from the distant past flooding his mind.
In his younger days, Kale had invited his friends over for a study session at his house. At that time, his relationship with Celena was strained he considered her odd, unable to form words or communicate with them despite being four years old. At some point, Kale had thought Celena was mute, and he had tried to help her. But no matter how hard he tried, balancing his education and allocating time for her, he couldn't understand. All his hard work seemed to go to waste, and eventually, he stopped trying, minimizing his interactions with Celena.
In his mind;
if all that effort won't bear any fruit it wasn't worth trying
it was not his responsibility to shoulder Celena's education, it was his parents' job
His sibling wasn't his obligation, Celena wasn't his responsibility.
Recalling the painful memory, Kale remembered dragging Celena by her fragile hand, looking up at him with sparkling curious pink orbs, leading her to her chamber and locking her inside. It had become a norm for him whenever guests or his friends visited their manor—they would confine her.
Everything seemed to be going well when Kale's trusted friends entered his humble abode to spend time with productivity that usually yielded results. However, that day turned into his worst nightmare.
Unaware that Celena had managed to escape from her room and ignorant of his friend's true nature, Kale had been away from his companions. When he returned, it was already late, and he heard faint whispers of his friends telling lies and saying awful things to Celena.
"You're an embarrassment to your family."
"If you want forgiveness from your big brother, stick this scissor into your chest. Maybe then he'd spend some time with you," one of his friends had jeered, followed by a burst of boisterous laughter from the group.
Kale walked into the room slowly, as if possessed by something dark and sinister. His own body betrayed his heart, his mind urging him to do something. Peeking through the small opening of the door, he observed his friends cornering Celena, treating her like prey. One of his "friends" approached her, handing her the scissors.
Chaos ensued from that moment on. Kale witnessed the gruesome act, his comrades chanting "Do it" while Celena's small form trembled, clutching the scissors as if they were a lifeline. Terrified, her eyes closed, Celena raised the scissors, aiming for her chest. Kale opened the door and ran towards her, his hand desperately outstretched.
"Don't do it, Celena!"
he cried out, but it was too late. She struck, and a deafening silence filled the room, broken only by Celena coughing up blood. Everyone in the room scrambled, screaming. They had believed she wouldn't do it, taking it as a joke. Kale believed in it too, he, rushed to her side kneeling.
"Don't worry, Celena. Big Brother is here. I'll make everything okay. Just trust me, okay?" Kale assured her, his voice quivering, tears streaming down his cheeks. He gathered his strength, lifted her, and carried her, her weight burning his feeble arms.
"Brother... I... Celena is... I'm sorry... please forgive Celena," Celena spoke, her eyes glassy.
"Hush... you don't need to apologize for anything," Kale replied, his tears flowing freely. He composed himself, cradled her in his arms, and ran off into the distance.
As he watched his younger self running past him, Kale sighed, it was a night for another nightmare, Guilt ate away at his heart. He turned around and was shocked to see a younger Celena, covered in blood, reaching out her arms towards him, seemingly longing for a hug. He would have reciprocated the gesture if it weren't for the dark, hate-filled look on her face.
''I hAtE yOu''
A gasp resonated in the sunlit room, interrupting the early morning tranquility. Kale found himself sprawled over the wooden study table, having fallen asleep there while still clutching the scissors. again... Slapping himself awake, he jolted upright, stretched his tired muscles, and prepared himself for the day. After attending to his daily necessities, he made his way to Celena's room.
Kale knocked on the door, once, twice, and just as he was about to knock for the third time, the door swung open, revealing Celena. She greeted him with a look that said, "It's too early for this."
"It seems like you slept well, dear sister," Kale said, wiggling his eyebrows and leaning against the door frame with a smile.
"And it seems like YOU didn't. Sucks to be you. I got my beauty sleep," Celena retorted, her lips curving up mischievously as she eyed Kale.
"Yes, yes, I get your point. Now get ready, get dressed, and do your damn girl rituals. I don't want to have to carry you like a sack of potatoes just to have breakfast with the whole family," Kale replied, rolling his eyes and earning a playful smack from Celena.
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