Under the Wings of the Crow // ENG // Love and Deepspace // Sylus ff

○ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀ ɢᴜᴇꜱᴛ○

After Sylus showed her around the mansion, they stopped in the room that was supposed to belong to Lunami. ,,Wow, you have gained a lot in his lifetime," she said, then looked at him. ,,I guess you're happy," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Sylus smiled faintly, watching her look around the extravagant room. But he saw the way she wrapped her arms around herself, and could sense the uncertainty and insecurity in her. ,,Am I happy...?" He repeated the question softly, before walking closer to her. He took her hands in his, gently coaxing her arms away from her body. ,, ...I have everything one could ask for. A successful business, wealth, power... But no, I wasn't happy. Not until now."

The girl blushed and lowered her gaze. ,,Are you telling me that... That you were waiting for me? Oh Sylus, don't get your hopes up. I mean... Who am I? I don't think I'm someone who'll make your life happier. I'm nothing... "She whispered, after all she lived for this. Mostly everyone just told her she was useless or a nuisance.

Sylus felt a pang in his heart as he heard her words, and her belief that she was nothing, that she couldn't make his life happier. He gently lifted her chin with his fingers, making her look up at him. ,,You're wrong. You're not nothing. You could never be nothing to me, Lunami... You're everything." He paused, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. ,,You're the one person in this world that I always thought about. Always longed for. Always wanted."

She looked into his eyes, clearly confused. ,,I... I don't understand. I mean, we were just little kids, you must have met a lot of other people in that time, a lot of other friends, why me?" She whispered.

Sylus felt his heart skip a beat as he looked into her eyes, her confusion clear in her gaze. He chuckled softly, a bittersweet smile on his lips. ,,I met a lot of people, yes. I made friends, formed connections, built this life that everyone envies... But in all those years, Lunami, there was never anyone who could fill the hole that you left when you disappeared. No one could replace you in my heart, no matter how hard I tried to move on."

Lunami suddenly felt guilty. Guilty for not looking for him. ,,I haven't forgotten you, and I'm sorry I didn't try to look for you. I couldn't. My father... He kept me locked up and brought me up to be loaned out to other people as a cleaner, a cook and later as a... as a male companion. I didn't have my freedom or the opportunity to live, and then he sold me. He got rid of me and I lost the place I could call home. I couldn't, I couldn't look for you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... " the girl sobbed.

Sylus felt a wave of anger and disgust towards Lunami's father, who had robbed her of her freedom and dignity. But his focus was on her, the girl in front of him who had suffered so much. ,,Hush. You have nothing to apologize for, Lunami. None of that was your fault. You were a victim, trapped and manipulated by your father's greed and cruelty." He gently caressed her hair, trying to soothe her tears. ,,I never blamed you for not looking for me. I never thought you forgot about me."

Lunami pressed herself into his arms and hugged him with trembling hands. ,,I'm so sorry about all this," she whimpered softly.

Sylus immediately returned the embrace, holding her close and comforting her the best he could. He whispered softly in her ear, his voice filled with reassurance. ,,Shh... it's not your fault, Lunami. You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing." He gently stroked her back in a soothing manner, his other hand resting on the back of her head. He held her in his arms, wanting nothing more than to shield her from all the pain and suffering she had endured.

She hugged him for a moment longer before the sound of her stomach growling with hunger came. She immediately put her hand on it and just bawled her eyes out. ,,Uh, oh..."

Sylus chuckled softly as he heard her stomach growl. He pulled away slightly to look at her, a smile on his face. ,,Hungry, are we?" He gently wiped away the tears from her eyes, his touch tender and affectionate. ,,It's been a while since you've had a proper meal, hasn't it?"

Lunami swallowed dry. ,,I don't even know when I've eaten properly. Mostly I took something from the kitchen, they fed me properly until I passed out from exhaustion," the girl admitted in a low voice.

Sylus' heart ached as he heard her words, the extent of her mistreatment becoming even more apparent. He gently cupped her face in his hands, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and compassion. ,,From now on, you won't go hungry anymore. You'll have proper meals, three times a day, I'll make sure of it." He paused, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. ,,And you won't be working yourself to exhaustion. You're not a slave here, you're a guest."

The girl swallowed dryly. ,,Thank you, I don't even know if I can afford to accept it," she said, but before she could say anything more, her stomach growled again. Now, she even slightly laughed above it.

Sylus chuckled softly and gently pinched her cheek. ,,There's no need to thank me, Lunami. It's the least I can do for you. And as for affording my hospitality, I insist. You're my guest, and I won't take no for an answer." He winked at her, his eyes sparkling with warmth. ,,Now, if your stomach's growling that much, we should probably get you something to eat, don't you think?"

,,Thank you, I'd love to eat, but... could I... could I have a bath first and maybe change into something else?" she said, gently wrapping her arms around herself. ,,I'm cold and I feel like I need a bath," she whispered softly.

Sylus smiled understandingly, noticing her arms around herself and how cold she felt. ,,Of course, Lunami. You can take a bath and change into something comfortable. I'll show you where the bathroom is and where you can find something to wear." He took her hand gently in his, leading her towards the bathroom. ,,I'll have some clothes brought up for you. Take as much time as you need in the bath. Don't worry about anything."

Lunami readily took Sylus's hand and followed him to the door in her room, which led to the bathroom. As soon as the door opened and she saw what lay beyond, a huge bathtub and a large shower stall, she raised her eyebrows. ,,This whole... this is mine?" she whispered incredulously. She never had anything like that. She walked over to the tub and ran her fingers lightly over its smooth, glossy surface. ,,This is amazing," she whispered.

Sylus watched as she explored the bathroom with wide, disbelieving eyes. He smiled, seeing the wonder on her face. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a mixture of affection and pride. ,,Yes, it's yours, Lunami. This whole room is yours. Feel free to use anything you need." He pointed to a basket of scented bath salts and oils on a nearby shelf. ,,Use whatever you want. Take a nice, long bath and relax."

Lunami smiled at him. ,,Thank you. When I'm done, I'll... I'll find you somewhere," she whispered softly, then watched Sylus walk out of teh room. She then undressed herself, drew a bath and climbed into the hot water. She just sat there for a moment before she started to cry. But this time with happiness and relief.

Sylus closed the door behind him as he left, giving her privacy. He waited for a moment in the hallway, listening to the sound of the water running and imagining her relaxing in the bathtub. He silently hoped that the hot water would not only soothe her body, but also her weary soul. He stood there for a few minutes, his mind filled with thoughts of her and the years they had been apart. But he wanted to give her space and time to unwind. He decided to wait for her in the living room, patiently.