The two girls danced the night away as Zarvan stood there, trying to tear them apart with his mind. Faris however, never knew how graceful Fiore could be, it looked like she could do anything she put her mind to. He turned to the prince and remembered he never introduced himself. Zarvan noticed the fidgeting youth and turned to him and saw a clumsy bow, "Hello Your Highness, I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Faris the Herbalist, I've heard so much about you from Fiore". Zarvan felt a twinge in his heart, "What did you call her?", he said with resentment in his voice.

     "Fiore?".

     "Are you sure you're not acting too familiar with a rare Celestial, young herbalist?".

     "I wouldn't think so Your Highness, we have been traveling for a year", Faris said innocently.

     Zarvan's eyes widened at the revelation, but kept his composure, "So your her servant is what you meant", he said fitting his teeth. Faris chuckled, "I wouldn't say that's correct, she asked me to be her guide to the outside and I also suggested that I would hire her as a bodyguard. It was a jest of course, but we've been eating together, and camping out, and she has saved me from danger countless times", Faris looked back fondly at the memories, but he took notice of the prince. His demeanor felt heavy as if he was trying to crush him, he could even feel Zarvans heart thumping. Faris became worried and without thinking placed his hand on Zarvans forehead, "Are you okay Your Highness, your temperature feels like it's going up, maybe it would be best to rest a bit?",

     Zarvan forgot how to speak as a mere human touched him, the confusion was enough to make him feel dizzy at the infraction. He took Faris's hand away, controlled his breath, and was finally able to get a word out "It's funny...normal people tend to avoid looking at me, some even shudder at the thought of touching me, they think it would be instant death. Is this what makes you so special,". Faris felt his heart in his ears and the Prince's grip tightening, he only had one thought in his mind,  "I made a mistake".

     Fiore danced with the princess, their movements complementing each other as they glided through, and in the midst, Amina asked directly, "You are quite close with Prince Zarvan, am I correct, My lady?".

     "We are friends, yes".

     "Would you say there is something more between you", Amina said, concerned about the answer. Fiore smiled as she responded, "No, nothing of the sort, Your Highness".The princess blushed due to Fiore's aura, It felt like the Prince himself was speaking to her. Amina felt like her heart was being squeezed, seeing as the one she loved, did not shun her, "Lady Fiore I feel like you have heard this a thousand times over but you are indeed beautiful, but it hurts when you speak given the appearance I see". Fiore wiped the tear escaping her eyes, "Forgive me, Your Highness, I can't help it. Can you tell me what you see". Amina hesitated, but she felt it would be nice to say it out loud, "I see the prince, and I feel he is confirming that I still might be able to be close to him,".

     Fiore felt pity for the young girl, believing there was more to her grief, "I see. He is a good Prince, but I assume he harbors feelings for someone else". Amina looked directly at Fiore, "Did you never notice his gaze toward you, My lady". Fiore thought about it and felt shame, "I think I was ignoring it, you see, I've never had a friend who was not affected by my appearance, but it seems... even he was affected". Amina then brought Faris into the conversation, "What about the young man you brought along with you?". Fiore could feel herself turning red, "Him", she looked away her eyes in a frenzy, " I-", she trailed off as she saw Zarvan holding Faris's wrist. She felt her body turn cold as she curtsied, "Excuse me your Highness", she sped and walked to Faris.

     Faris saw Fiore speeding toward them, relaxed by her appearance, he immediately explained about the Prince's condition. Fiore placed her forehead on his and Zarvan immediately calmed down. Fiore realized what she was doing, her body becoming cold as she tried to move back but Zarvan moved with her. He attempted to intertwine his hands with hers but she grabbed his wrist and held it over his chest, "It might have just been a slight flare, you look fine now, how do you feel", she said as she stood by Faris.

      Zarvan looked at Fiore and Faris next to each other and Amina coming closer to them, he felt rage bubbling up. He held out his hand for Amina to grab, Amina looked away as she took his hand. As she somberly looked at him he only looked at Fiore, "I hope to talk to you more after this ordeal", his face looked stoic, but Fiore could feel the pressure he was sending. She matched the pressure as she held her head up high, "Of course Your Highness, I will be ready when you call'.

     Zarvan took Amina to the dance floor, her hands shaking. "Bear it. I know you are forcing yourself,". Amina felt her heartbeat in a frenzy, her voice stuttering as the words were caught in her throat, "Y-your wrong... I-", she couldn't take it anymore and stopped the dance, she quickly stepped away, curtsied and walked over to the Emporer, "Please excuse me I must rest". The emperor excused her, he then glared at Zarvan. Zarvan did not have any guilt on his face, he only bowed and excused himself as well.

     The night ended awkwardly and Fiore apologized, "I didn't mean to cause trouble, whatever I can do to remedy this, please just ask", she lowered her head, but the emperor and the newly engaged couple denied any fault, "Please raise your head, but if you could talk with Zarvan...We would appreciate it". Fiore nodded and all parties went their separate ways.

     The night overtook the castle and Fiore exited her room, the candles were all extinguished, but she could still make her way through the maze-like corridors and to the garden. She breathed in the air and sat on a familiar bench. It felt like such a long time since she met Zarvan, at first she felt like they were very close, but that anger he held was not something she could help him with..in that aspect he reminded her of Faris when they first met. She didn't think he knew, but he saved her the night they met, but that was now a very distant memory.

     "Fiore, I hope you can explain yourself". Fiore was startled by the sudden appearance, but faced her dear friend, "Good evening Your Highness", she curtsied. 

     "You can drop the formalities, when were you going to tell me you were keeping a human pet". Fiore was taken aback by this outburst and was even appalled at what he called Faris. Was she excusing such behavior...when did he start talking like this? She felt extreme disappointment at her next realization, "You never read my letters, or at least never paid attention to them, did you?". He looked surprised, "Of course I did. Every single one."

     "No, you didn't, I told you about my excursion, of course, I hesitated at first, but I decided to let you know. But, in hindsight, I should have known...your letters never showed you were there. Zarvan what's been going on, have always been like this?" 

     Zarvan didn't know how to answer, "I'm not sure what you mean".

     "The way you look at Faris and how you treated Amina, you treat them like they are less than like they are not worthy of your effort. Why is that?". Zarvan felt his world was crumbling as she asked the question, "...they... cannot comprehend what we have been through Fiore, they would kill us at a moment's notice. Those monsters cheered when my mother died, after all she did for them. One of them even threw you off a cliff!", he shook as he gritted his teeth. 

     Fiore was at a loss for words, but as he began to cry, against her better judgment, Fiore embraced Zarvan. Zarvan accepted and returned her embrace, her mere touch comforting him. Fiore, however, felt she needed to do something more to ease the situation, "My dearest friend, you are carrying so much, but I need you to look more clearly. Yes, I was harmed and even my mother couldn't escape it. I will not deny that there are deplorable people in this world, but I have interacted with those who are kind and want to lead happy lives. And in the end, I want that as well. Zarvan, I need you to look deeper into this, I know you won't change your mind overnight, but the way you view things has to at least be challenged. I still want to walk beside you for a long time my dearest friend, I don't want to lose you".

     Zarvan buried his face into her neck, her warmth on his skin, "Fiore, do you mean what you say".

     "Of course".

     "Do you really want to have me at your side".

     "I do"

     "Then please, marry me".

     Fiore held her breath, she slowly backed away from Zarvan, holding his hands at arm's length. She looked at his beautiful sullen face, but she refused to be swayed on such an important decision, "Zarvan, I can't do that".

      "Why, you've told me you like me, we are the same. If I have you near me, I know I can change", he pleaded.

     "If it's not for yourself I don't think you'll ever see what I mean. My friend, I do have love for you, but not in the way you want. This is not the correct way to get a marriage agreement from me". 

     She began to walk away, but Zarvan had someone else in his mind, " Is it him, Faris? Is that who you are choosing? I remember seeing him in the village alone so let me guess. No home, no parents, no background, just a lone nobody that is. What do you think will happen when someone decides to decimate your village and the only thing by your side is a useless-",  he stopped as he felt a million eyes on him, as he looked up, he saw the thorned vines aimed at him.

      Fiore looked malicious, a face he had never seen before, it was terrifying yet beautiful, "You have insulted my friend and by proxy also my father, he was an orphan who had to work with his hands to get by. How dare you speak like you know anything about them. I don't want to see you right now, Prince Zarvan. If you ever want to salvage whatever amiability is left between us, I expect an apology to Faris and my father". 

      Zarvan felt the pressure crush him and she was not backing down with her demands, "Fiore, wait. You can't expect me to-".

     "I already said my demands it will not change and I will not repeat myself", she walked away, leaving Zarvan alone in that garden. Countless times he had walked into that garden with no one non the wiser, but it felt emptier now as he saw her leave. It was like she was taking his heart with her. He stood to try and grab her, but the roots dragged him down, he broke free, but more came after him and before he knew it, she was gone.

     Fiore re-entered the palace, her face slowly breaking down, her tears beautifully decorated her face as she muffled her cries in her hands. She tried to sneak back to her room, but she heard something in the dance hall as she walked by. She decided to peak and saw a peculiar sight, Faris stood in the middle with an invisible partner, he stepped side to side and front to back, but always ended up tripping over his own feet. He tried once more but felt someone looking at him, he quickly turned and saw Fiore standing at the door. "Oh Fiore, the bed felt too soft so I couldn't sleep, so dancing looked like fun so I..., as Fiore walked over she could see his face slowly overcome with worry as she got closer. She was crying.

      Faris pulled a handkerchief and handed it to her, but she refused by smiling and turning away. Faris then began to gently dab away the tears, "Don't try to look like nothing happened, I have eyes ya know". She accepted the kind gesture and smiled, she took a bow and extended her hand, "Sir Faris, would you honor me with this dance". Faris was surprised but took her hand. He held on to Fiore as she glided them across the dance floor. She gripped his hand, he gripped back, she brought his body closer, and he caught his breath. Faris felt like he was going to fall, but with each misstep, Fiore was there to support him. Fiore felt the roughness of his hands, the beating of his heart, he could probably feel hers too. 

     After that horrible ordeal, just by touching Faris, she felt all her worries melt away. Never in her life had someone tried to understand her as he did or seen her for more than just a Celestial. She looked into those amber eyes smiling at her and she couldn't help but inch closer. Faris saw as her rainbow eyes looked at him differently, her heart beating so fast it felt like it would come out of her chest, but he didn't want to be parted from her, he saw as she leaned closer, eyes closing, but stopped before she reached his lips. Fiore stopped her dance, "Forgive me, I must go", she stepped away, but Faris grabbed her sleeve. Fiore stopped and saw him shaking.

      Faris felt his heart was going to jump out of his chest, but felt this was an opportune time, "Fiore, when I first saw you I was terrified by the pressure you exuded, but when you looked at me...it was so much more different than anyone else. I felt like others viewed me as something to be used, you saw me as a person. Of course, I also thought you were a bit of a know at all and self-righteous at times," Fiore laughed, "But that was also part of your charm. But, when I spoke to you more and heard about all the horrible things you have been through, you shouldered it like you had to take it all by yourself. It reminded me of myself, but when you complained about it, I was so happy to listen. Being called a friend by you was something that made me burst with joy, but along the road, I felt like I needed to protect you. Even though you are stronger than I will ever be, I was never sure why I was so worried when you placed yourself in harm's way. I then realized what I've been feeling...Fiore, I love you, and it's fine if you don't feel the same, I just want you to be happy and safe, and if I can stand by your side while you achieve that, even as a friend, that would bring me the most joy".

     Fiore felt her heart thumping at the confession, she inched closer holding Faris in her arms. Faris then felt himself be lifted and spun around, Fiore laughing in circles before she brought him down. She then leaned in, her lips landing on his. Roses began to sprout in the dance hall to commemorate the confession. Faris never felt happier as he held Fiore and Fiore felt like her body was surging with power. As they parted Fiore smiled, "Would you like to continue this Journey with me?". Faris replied with hearts in his eyes, "If it's with you, I'd go anywhere".