Lost

Chapter 20 : Partings

Louise stared out into the horizon and studied the atmosphere carefully. The time now is just exactly like when he left. A wondrous gradient of a soft pink hue to orange and dotted with cotton candy like clouds. Though the atmosphere matches those when he arrives, days have passed since then. Without him realizing, time flies by faster than the albatross. As if time is an expert seamstress, weaving memory by memory onto our mind like buttons to clothes. Her hands worked tirelessly through sleepless nights and horrid days. Her work was so well done that the buttons rarely falls apart and her nimble hands wasted no time in getting the work done. And it seems like her work has reached an end for it's time to switch to a different project like maybe a scarf perhaps? For today is the day that Louise bid his goodbyes to the magic realm once and for all...or maybe for now. 

"Hiya, Louise. What'cha doing?" Cyane asks randomly before taking a seat beside him.

"Nothing, really. How's your leg, Cyane?" Louise asks back as he eyed the gauze wrapped leg.

"Well, what can I say? I can't really walk with one leg so...yeah. You get the point. At least I'm no longer bleeding."

"Well that's an improvement." Louise responded bluntly.

"You alright? You're unusually dull today." 

"How can I not?! I know I'm finally going back to my family and friends and finally being where I belong but...I just can't help it. I mean I've made so many great memories here with you two and it feels like such a waste and pity to end it so soon...." Louise ranted as he flicked a pebble into the creek.

Cyane responded with a blunt sigh. "Well it's not like there can be anything done about it."

"But there is! Don't you see? If we convinced the king that not all humans are bad, then maybe I can travel between these two realms without losing any precious memories!"

"Yeah, right. As if that'll work. The king's not that easily persuaded. He have had his troubles with humans far too many times. His recent meddling with a human before you left him a hella lot of scar. He nearly lost his realm and in order to save it, he must lose a wife of his. And you know, I feel like the king still had feelings for the queen no matter how corrupted she is. But the souvenir he left his husband with is far too great to be healed completely."

"Poor guy. Having his trust broken and betrayed him in the end."

"But I suppose out of all the family members, Lycia must've taken it pretty hard. She's really, really close to her mom, see? When we first met, nearly half the class dissed her just because she preferred her mother more than her dad. The class suspected her being a budding evil like her mother. But she stays strong by her beliefs and said aloud: 'No matter how evil my mom is, no matter how twisted and corrupted she is, she's still my mom and I will love her with every part of my body."

"Aww...." Louise gushed.

"Fun fact: today's actually her mother's birthday." Cyane piped up.

"Really?"

"Yep." Lycia suddenly joined in. "Which is why I planned something... unexpected for today."

Louise nearly tripped and fell into the creek when he laid eyes on her. Her hair is tied in a perfect knot bun and she had changed her usual attire into a sleek and beautiful wrap dress. The dress is mix of black and purple with golden accents. There's even a golden leaf crown on her head to top off her looks.

"Ehm," Lycia cleared her throat. "So, how do I look?"

"You look...amazing." Louise replied, breathless.

"Thanks. It's Cyane's idea." Lycia said bashfully.

"Told you it'll look good." 

"By the way, what's the dress for?" Louise asks.