Heartbeats Amid Fire

9 - His Departure

Alysa pov:

"Would you mind going over to give this to Arran, Mr. Luther and Lyle, Rayner?"

"What is this?" he asked, taking the small bag I was holding out to him.

"They're sugar cookies that I just baked!" I answered with a smile. "After you're back, let's eat some too with tea together."

"Of course, Lady Alysa," Rayner agreed, returning my smile. His smiles seemed more natural now as against how forced they had seemed two weeks ago. I suppose it was alright to say that he had become comfortable enough around me.

When Rayner left, I prepared a fresh pot of milk tea and brought it out onto one of the tables of the café. Upon his return, I had him lock the doors and take a seat opposite to me. I served us tea and he comfortably indulged in one of the cookies I had just baked.

"These are good. I didn't know you could bake desserts as well," Rayner spoke.

"I like baking so I learnt how to make several desserts," I answered and reached for my second cookie. "Have some more."

"Thank you, but I'm fine with just having one."

"I thought you would have become comfortable around me enough to eat many snacks," I said in mild amuse, just in a sort of teasing manner. However, my smile faltered at the sudden dark expression that came upon Rayner's features. Fearing that I had spoken a bit too freely in my assumption that we had become friends, I apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be offending in any way. I hopeI wasn't being too forward."

"You weren't, Lady Alysa." His answer was immediate. The darkness in his eyes did not diminish though and his body only tensed slightly, the most visible seen in his hands that gripped the tea mug tightly. I was sure that if he put the slightest more pressure, the cup would break. "It is just that I do not like sweets. It reminds me of the nobility that I served, both as a knight and as a pleasure slave."

"I'm sorry. It looks like I made you uncomfortable, bringing back unpleasant memories. Should I get you something else to eat?" I asked, getting up from my seat.

"There's no need for that, Lady Alysa," he answered, taking a hold of my wrist before I could leave. "Thank you for your consideration. Though I do have unpleasant memories, I do not feel that way when with you. You have, in a way, healed me a little."

"I didn't really do anything," I mumbled, feeling a little flustered by the rather gentle gaze he had towards me now.

"You're very modest, Lady Alysa. Your kindness and concern towards Zeros without any ulterior motives has made me feel much better after what I've had to put up with since I was a child."

"I'm happy that I was able to help, but I've not done much at all. I mean, I can only do what I can for Zeros while avoiding watchful eyes. There are times when I wish that I could do more but I'm also afraid of becoming an outcast or, in worst cases, end up becoming a target for abuse for others," I confessed sheepishly while sitting down.

He let go of my wrist when I was seated and asked, "Do you mean to say that you would help other Zeros if you had the chance to? If you would not be persecuted for it?"

His question caught me off guard but it was not really surprising to hear. I was sure he was not the only Zero who would be curious and hopeful about what I had said. It was my intention to be kind to Zeros when I could and heal them when I could but I was sure that I would not be able to do either without being persecuted for it. Besides, helping more Zeros would mean my skills becoming known to the world and I didn't really want that kind of attention. I had never liked being in the spotlight and I had avoided it as much as I could until now, even in my world. Having healing mana and it becoming known to me and the people of Amzell had given me more fame than I wanted - which I was uncomfortable with in the beginning when everyone was all hyped about it but had mellowed down now - and I didn't want more.