Genesis (Illustrated Story)

The Green Gallows (ACT 1, SCENE 14)

Guilt pooled in my stomach as our conversation dragged on, making it very evident that it was one-sided. No matter how many compliments he gave me, charming smiles, and gentle nudges - my heart did not give, not even an inch. In time, he had grown silent as well and soon all we could hear were the sounds of our own footsteps, the howl of the wind, and the chirping birds who were chasing after the sunset.

We had last stopped at the top of a hill, where the view overlooked the entirety of Jude's domain, the Green Gallows. The moon hung overhead, bathing everything in silver light as the great lakes reflected the miscellany of stars above. Beyond his domain, I could see the faint outlines of a grand castle. The city lights littered across the horizon. It truly was something you'd only see out of a dream.

So caught up was I in the sight that I had forgotten Raguna was even with me for a moment.

"Are you tired?" he asked, gesturing for me to come sit with him on a marble bench.

"Oh, no." I said, "My feet are just a bit sore."

"Ah," he smiled. "Don't worry, we'll be by your new home soon."

I blinked at him.

"New home?"

"Your living arrangements, which we had agreed would be temporarily placed in each of our respective areas as kings. But this one I give to you, just in case."

"Just in case of what?"

"Just in case you do not wish to work for any of us." he said, eyes fixed on the image before us. The golden streets and silver starlight. "It's a heavy job to be who you are, isn't it? Suddenly all eyes are on you, people are trying their best to please you - smiling, walking you to places, all of that. All at the same time you must be feeling like some imposter, asking yourself what on Earth you've done to deserve this."

The more he talked, the more it sounded like he was describing his life. On Earth, I belonged to a country that had a queen. I never held any love for her but I knew how exhausting it was to have a job like that. For Raguna too, as a king and, by the looks of it, the one person all the other kings trusted the most. He recognised something in me that was like him.

As much as I agreed with what he said, it was strangely hypocritical of him to say these things and use me as a mirror to look at himself. But then again, who was I to talk? I was worse, I'd always be worse.

"Yet here you are," I said, "Smiling, walking me to places, all of that. That's a bit backwards, wouldn't you say?"

"Oh, I'm not doing that because you're the first person to have come to Sunglint in the past hundreds of years. Not at all, at least not mainly." he paused before he turned to me, grinning, "Lavy, if you have not noticed I am a man who called you beautiful earlier. Is it so wrong of me to want to accompany someone beautiful?"

I just stared at him, still trying to process what he said and still not feeling anything.

"Oh."

"Also because I heard news from Theodore on how uncomfortable you were during everything, my brother's desire to be your instant friend just confirmed my suspicions it seemed." he sighed, "Imagine if I had not taken you up this hill to your next destination and you were to go through town, everyone's in such an uproar about you. I worry if you would have another fainting spell, truthfully."

"And what is my next destination?" I asked.

He smiled enigmatically as his handsome features caught the golden light, "I'm giving you a house."

----

While I was unable to say one more word, Raguna had led me to a clearing within a forest in a clearing that bordered all the domains of Sun-glint.