Branley And The Land Of Cors

Chapter 15

"I love you."

"I- I love you too."Kyne replied and patted Branley's shoulder. 

"No. Not like that."

"Like what then?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you, you idiot. I meant that I love love you."

"What?"

"Oh come on now I don't think I've been that subtle about it."

"S-since when?"

"What d'you mean since when, since forever. Since I first laid eyes on you."

"Are you pulling my leg?"

"Why would I do that? Honestly if I could spare myself the emotional turmoil of this I'd be delighted."

Kyne took a step back slowly and studied the boy.

"I'm-I'm sorry-"he tried to say.

"Oh shut up you, I'm not expecting an answer. I'm not expecting anything actually. I just felt like lifting some of the weight from my own shoulders. Don't think too much on it."

"Okay..but, I do have a question."Kyne said. "Why do you like me?"

"You would think it's because of how well I know you, or how much we've been through together but that's not it really."Branley replied and looked towards the sky above. "I loved you a little everyday because of who you were becoming on your own. I love the way you see the world, I love how calm you can be, how funny, how smart and how gentle. I also love how your hair looks when you've just dried it and the way your voice cracks a little when you're angry. I love the color of your eyes and the calluses you have on your knuckles from all the training you used to do with your dad, and-"

"Okay that's enough, I think I understand, so stop."

"Am I making you feel weird?"

"Weird is not the right word.."

"Which is it then?"

"I don't know. Confused I guess, and I'm also a little taken aback."

"Well I'm sorry about that." Branley said and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Don't be, really everything is fine."

"Okay then."

But it wasn't okay was it? Because somewhere deep inside he had wanted Kyne to tell him that he also loved him that way, that he wasn't alone in his feelings. That night Branley didn't really sleep, he woke up earlier than usual and took a trip to the market stalls before starting work.He bought some fresh herbs and some vegetables, that was all he could buy for now.

And then there it was again, the same tingling sensation he had that day, the first day he had set foot on this land. Magic. And now he was sure whose magic that was.

He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath in, inside his mind he asked the land for help. To show him where  Metis was, to guide him to the other warlock. And from underground the earth complied. He could see it now, in his head, a clear path towards the boy. And he took it. 

He thanked the earth it was so early, not many people were around except for some merchants in the market and some farmers that had woken even earlier than him, bless them.

He followed the flow of magic and ended up behind the castle, near an old well in which water was the last thing one could find. 

"Metis!"he yelled when he recognized the boy's white hair from afar.

Metis turned around, and looked at him dead in the eyes, and all the pent up emotion and frustration came up and got stuck in his throat like a well sharpened spear. If he laid his hands on the other boy, he would kill him for sure. He would probably regret it later, but he would still go through with it regardless.

He got closer, growing angrier with every little step, but Metis was suddenly in front of him, close to him, maybe more close than need be. 

"I have been calling to you Branley."

"Have you?" asked Branley, half ironic, half curious,

"But of course I have."

Metis had a doll-ish smile plastered on his face, and it made Branley manic. He grabbed the boy by the collar of his white tunic, and he thought he heard a button snap underneath his hand.

"It was you wasn't it?"

"I do not understand your question."

"The one responsible for the death of Adelram, it was you right?"

"No. It was not."

"Then why did you leave with your tail between your legs?"

"They summoned me back."

"Who did?"

"That I cannot say."

"Okay then I guess I can just kill you now that you've told me all that you can."

"If that is what you think will make you feel better."

He hated the man, his arrogance, the way his expression never cracked, how his words were so calculated and well thought. It was almost inhuman.

"Branley!" A voice came from behind, and it was none other than the half wit Branley had chosen to confess his feelings to just yesterday. Great, just great.

"Branley let him go."Kyne said and he stood beside him.

"Oh not to worry, I am unharmed." Metis said.

"I'm not worried about you."Kyne replied.

"What if he's actually the one that did all this? How can I just let him go?"Branley asked Kyne without looking at him. He was looking at Metis, and then he dropped him on the ground with force. Metis tried to stand up,but Branley whispered, Imala, his eyes turned dark red, and Metis was pinned to the ground.

"Branley stop!"Kyne yelled at him.

And then he did stop, and it felt like he had just come out of a storm.

"I will see you again Branley."Metis said and disappeared into the forest.

"What happened are you alright?"Kyne asked him, and searched his body for potential injuries.

"I'm fine, let go." he replied and pulled his hand away from Kyne exhausted. 

"What happened?"

"Nothing really. Everything was alright until you showed up."

"If I hadn't you would have killed him."

"And so what?"

"This is not who you are."

"What do YOU know about who I am?"

And then came no answer because deep down Kyne knew that last night's revelation was enough evidence that he had yet to learn a lot about Branley.

"Let's go back."he said instead.

"I can't go back, I have work."

"Right. Okay then, let me walk you."

"I don't need you to walk me anywhere. I don't need you to pamper me just because you rejected my affection for you. Leave me alone please."

"I can't leave you alone."

"Will you please, just once, so I can put my thoughts in order?"Branley asked calmly. He had truly meant it. He just needed time. Time to accept the situation, and time for his anger towards Metis to subside.

"Okay. But make sure you're in time for dinner."

"I will."