“Listen to reason, Mattheus! This is really getting out of hand!”

“We need to stop this madness before more people die!” sounds the shrieking voice of two panicking fairies throughout the forest.

It alarms all the other creatures that live in this hidden haven. But it’s not something that surprises the neighboring people. The same argument has been happening every day for a while now.

“Sigh...“ and it doesn’t seem like it will end today... or anytime soon. That’s proven when Mattheus sighs and glares at his friends stubbornly.

“And what... should I just let you kill a defenseless child? Or abandon her god knows where...?”

“You know I would never be able to do that!”

His friends stutter and tremble as they are unable to comprehend the man’s actions. It may even feel like they can’t recognize the person that they have known for so long.

“Urghhh! You know that’s not a child! I can’t fathom how you can even think of it as defenseless!!!” one of them finally breaks the sudden silence as he bursts out. His hands are clenched and shaking all along.

“Calm down... both of you.” the other friend interrupts, putting her hands on their shoulders.

“But I do agree with him... to a certain extent... Mattheus.”

“I also have trouble staying calm when I know that a witch is staying near our home... even if you keep a close watch on her.”

“It hasn’t been long since our home got almost destroyed by that witch group. And she was one of them, even if she didn't fight...”

“I’m sure you remember how many people we have lost... or how you got hurt during the fights.”

“......” Mattheus stays silent for a minute, answering only after a deep sigh. And it's the same reply as usual. “Yeah,  I remember our friends dying... but it was the same for Est’s parents.”

“And we have also realized that they weren’t trying to hurt us.”

“Those witches were just fleeing from another battle, trying to save their last children.”

“The conflict broke out of a misunderstanding.”

“And even if we had losses, they were smaller.” Mattheus finishes while unconsciously rubbing his injured wings.

Silence falls on them once again. But it’s much more tense this time. Everyone seems close to running out of patience.

“Even if that’s the case... you have already saved her life..." Even the calmer friend grits her teeth at this point, looking more frustrated than angry.

Meanwhile, their other friend becomes so agitated that he huffs and leaves with loud stomps.

“You know that you are putting your... all of our lives at risk, right?” the other continues as Mattheus glances sadly at his leaving friend.

“You must be feeling it too... The tremendous black magic inside that child. She is no simple kid... she is a witch through and through.”

“And, as a fairy, you may get hurt only by staying close.”

“Don’t forget that it would only take a small touch for the remainder of your life to be drained...” she finishes while turning away and leaving.

And Mattheus can’t utter a word. His hands are shaking as he watches the leaving figures.

After that, he also turns away, hoping that his body will stop shaking soon. It’s not like he doesn’t understand their worries and frustration.

After all, Mattheus can feel it too.

He could never forget the sensation of black magic as it hurt him more than anything ever.

And the fairy knows he hasn’t only become weaker after that recent conflict with the witches... he also probably has a short life ahead of him. Fairies rarely heal fully after an injury caused by black magic...

Those feelings are really intense inside him as he walks away, leaving the safe haven and heading towards a small shack on the borders.

His frustration is so intense that Mattheus is unable to open the door, looking at his shaking hands instead.

In the silence, he can feel the invisible scars so intensely that he can't deny them any longer.

He knows he has to face these things sooner or later. Things can’t go on like this forever.

Yet, all the darkness is suddenly gone when he finally gathers the strength to open the door.

A smile appears on his face before he knows it when the small girl in the shack peers up and runs to him.

Though she has strange hair - black on one side and white on the other - and magic is practically beaming from her little body, Mattheus only sees her sparkling eyes and sweet smile.

The girl’s happiness fills him with joy that he hasn’t felt recently.

These are the moments when he feels that he is in the right place again, even if the hopelessness of life is still in the back of his mind.

“Let’s have dinner, Est. I have brought some delicious fruits and cakes this time! I hope you will like them.” Mattheus says as he guides the girl back inside, closing the door behind them.

“I will love it! Everything is amazing when Mattheus is here!”