Follow the Arrow

Chater 14 - Another Dialogue

"Psst, Zane? Zane? Are you awake?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you awake?"

"Haha, I am now."

"Oh… sorry for waking you up."

"It's no matter. I can fall back asleep easily. But I'm assuming you wanted me for something though? Is something wrong?"

"No… I mean, yes… I mean, yes and no."

"Which is it?"

"Yes, I came here for something, but there's nothing wrong… with me."

"Is it one of the others? Is there anything I can do to help?… Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm looking at you like this because you're so… not what they imagined a wizard would be. Yet they treat as if you were worse than what they imagined. And despite that, you're still willing to help one of them if they need it?"

"Well, yes. Why shouldn't I?"

"I'm not saying you shouldn't. You don't have to, but you would and that's so nice and thoughtful and someone as nice and thoughtful as you doesn't deserve to be treated like you're worth any less than us.

"My ancestors believed that about you."

"That was ages ago! We've been through this, Zane! What our ancestors did has nothing to do with the present… Okay it does a little! But that's all in the past, and everyone that existed then doesn't exist now, so who cares? You did nothing harmful to anyone. Don't feel guilty for something you had nothing to do with. You want equality too. You put your life on the line to prove that. But all they see is a wizard. And they only see that because I told them, otherwise, no one would even know!"

"And I wouldn't have known you were a non-wizard if you hadn't told me."

"You would've found out."

"Oh yes. Those ears of yours. Those would give you away."

"Hey, don't make fun of my ears."

"I'm not making fun of them. Don't cover them up. I find them… cute."

"Did you just call me ears cute?"

"Well-well, I meant that-that there's nothing wrong with your ears. They're perfectly fine. The-the fact that they're slightly pointed makes them, um… "

"Hahaha, this is exactly what I'm talking about, Blue."

"Excuse me?"

"Can I sit next to you?"

"Yes, of course you can."

"Thank you. But like I was saying, that's exactly what I'm talking about. That was so… sweet of you to say. You're the sweetest thing, Zane, and I feel horrible."

"No, I'm not really- And you shouldn't-"

"You are. And I do."

"Wait, didn't you say you came here for something? Why don't we focus on that, shall we?"

"Fine… "

"… "

"… "

"Umm… what is it?"

"I came here to find you."

"I know. For what, may I ask? You said something about someone else needing my help. I said I'd do it. Now what is it?"

"I never said anyone needed your help."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't. I said something was wrong, but not with me."

"Precisely, so who-?"

"Ugh, it's you. Zane, it's you."

"There's nothing wrong with me. I'm perfectly fine. Where would you get the idea that something's wrong? I'm not complaining."

"You're right. Nothing is wrong with you, but there is something wrong going on. Everyone else is sleeping by the fire, where we can all watch over each other. Everyone except you. You're out here in the shadows, alone."

"I wanted to sleep out here. The, um, light from the fire was keeping me awake."

"It's unsafe to be all alone."

"I think I know how to protect myself, thank you."

"I never said you need protection. You saved me after all. I just… wanted to ease my mind."

"Well, you've checked on me. I'm alive. In the dark, but alive nonetheless. Go back with your friends and get some sleep. We have to wake up early and we have no idea how much longer we'll be walking. We've only just begun this journey a couple of hours ago. And they’re not letting us use our brooms. You'll need all the rest you can get."

"I'm going to sleep, but you're not going to stay here in your solitude."

"I am not going over there. I said the fire kept me-"

"I figured you'd say that. So I'm not making you go. I'm staying. Right. Here. With you."

"R-really? I-I don't know if-"

"You know, it would make me feel so much better. Because, if I go back with my other friends, I'll be worrying about you. So I'd be wide awake, going back and forth to check on you. I wouldn't get much sleep like that, would I?"

"… Okay, okay. You can stay. Though I doubt you were asking."

"I wasn't. Sleep tight, Zane."

"Sweet dreams, Orchid."