Fly Until You See The Light

Valley (2) - Chapter 10

Some Children of Light wave at Sentinekka while she and Ojtaro walk through the streets of the Village of Dreams. They don't speak after what happened in the Prairie. They just stare at each other, sometimes, but not for much.

Finally, the boy says:«I can see that people like you, here». His tone sounds proud and calm.

She smiles, happy that he had the courage to change the topic of the discussion. «Let's just say that they find me helpful».

«Helpful?».

She shrugs. «I guess».

«They find you just helpful? They don't think that you are interesting? Or kind? Nothing?! They just say that you are "helpful"?!». Okay, he is starting to get angry. How come?

«What? T...They do, don't worry! I'm sure that there is a mistake here, Oj'!» she tries to calm him down. Why did he react like that? Her friends always told her that she is amazing and else, he doesn't have to be so protective!

«I hope so» he stops his anger, trying to keep it in. «Because you are a rare person to find. I really hope the people of this Village know this».

She chuckles. «You are too kind». For real, Ojtaro is turning out to be a fair and serious guy, but also nice. «Symphony will be happy to see you like this, I'm sure. Maybe we can all sit together at the show».

He lets out a not convinced noise. «We hate each other, Sen'. We always will. You can stay in the middle and sit with both of us if you want to».

«You are just not capable to see how much you are similar to her, Ojtaro. What if...?».

«I'm not going to try to be nice to her; I'm really sorry, but it sounds innatural to me».

«It's fine, don't worry about it. It takes time to get used to someone... Right?».

«Right».

Actually, Ojtaro changed. Not only for his behavior: his hair is a little messier than they used to be, and he is wearing a beige sweater with black pants. He also has got an orange and transparent cape from the Season of the Children's favorite Goddess and singer, Aurora. She can change the subject of their talk.

«Someone liked Aurora's concert, didn't he?» she asks him, smiling. «Where did you get that cape? It's almost impossible to have it».

Ojtaro looks at his accessory and cuts short:«I'll tell you one day, I can't do it here».

«It's okay».

Silence falls between the two friends, but it disappears when the boy asks:«Do people know about your voice? You are talented».

She thinks for a while. «Not too many, not too few... And what about you?». He stares at her with a curious face. «Your voice sounded so beautiful in the Vault! I'd love to hear you sing again!».

«I'm not gonna do that».

«Oh, why?».

He shakes his head and answers:«I don't like singing. I did it only... Only to find you».

«You know me pretty well, huh?» Sentinekka asks him, as she puts on a softened face.

He returns the expression and admits:«I think I do... Can I confess you a thing?».

«Go ahead, what is it?».

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«Do you remember the day you relived the memory of the Tearful Light Miner? That time we played hide and seek together and you ended up crying in that Spirit's arms...» he asks her. Sentinekka laughs, nervous.

«I didn't know much about this world». She looks embarassed. «Why?».

«While you were gone, I had a small argument with the Forest Elder; she wanted to distance ourselves from each other with some kind of spell» he tells her. He was waiting for the right moment to say this to her. He hates lies, but he needs them in his life sometimes. «But I talked to her, and she changed her mind when she saw you at her temple...».

«Why... Why are you saying this to me? And why did Teth try to separate us?» Sentinekka's eyes express concern. She's not understanding...

«She didn't like you, she wanted to "protect me"». Ojtaro makes quotation marks with his fingers as he says those words, then continues speaking:«But that's not what I'm trying to say».

«And what did you want to say?».

«I'm happy that Teth gave you a chance... You deserved it and you never disappointed her».

The boy would like to add something else, but finds himself in the middle of a warm hug from his friend. Sentinekka smiles and lets him caress her head like he did a year ago, when she was a Moth and he was already an expert.