A FAIRY'S DESPAIR → harlequin ✔

four

CHAPTER FOUR
not like her.

...

"I almost didn't recognize you, Forsythia. You look a little different." The human mocked her, revealing a sword that resembled a leaf. It was a fairy sword. King's eyes flew wide.

Helbram.

"Do not speak her name you foul beast!" Whatever was in control of Syth's body yelled, the layered voice with Syth's making a chill run up and down King's spine. "You will answer to me now, I do not wish to waste her time in dealing with you."

A dark look crossed the human's face. "And here I just wished to be civil."

"Syth-- er, whoever you are, I'm with you." King called. Syth looked at him and, for a second, he thought he saw her eyes. The second passed and the eyes changed again. Black as night.

"I was going to continue with the old lady charade, trick the girl into trusting me until I stabbed her in the back." Helbram spun the sword gracefully, then sighed. "But I can see she is not home, and I'm rather bored of charades. So instead I'll just kill you."

He charged at Syth's body, but the being controlling it was fast and dodged away effortlessly. King lifted his hand and his Sacred Treasure floated up beside him. The Spirit Spear Chastiefol glimmered in the sunlight.

"You're up against me, too, Holy Knight. Don't think I'll go easy."

...

Syth opened her eyes and she was surrounded by darkness.

"Hello?" She called, sitting up. Nothing answered. "Where am I?" She now whispered to herself. Syth rose to her feet and hugged her arms close to herself, fighting off the shivers.

For as long as Syth could remember, she had been cold. Her skin resembled ice in temperature and she hadn't felt the warmth of sunlight or fire or contact with the skin of another. Wherever her memories were stored knew what warmth felt like, but she had never felt it.

She guessed that the cold had the same cause as her missing memories.

"Hey... other fairy boy? Are you here?" She asked the darkness, turning in a circle as she began to walk forward.

"You're finally awake." A familiar voice observed, but the sudden noise made Syth jump. She spun on him, glaring daggers.

"You're so lucky you're still alive right now, scare me again and I'll kill you." She grumbled, though seeing the familiar nameless fairy boy made her smile. He crossed his arms and floated a few inches over her.

He was grinning. "Aw, come on Syth. I didn't mean to, I'm a humble and innocent man--"

"Yeah, sure." She waved him off, laughing, then looked around them and gestured to the endless darkness. "So what's with the change in scenery?" She asked, now eyeing him. The fairy shrugged.

"You tell me, this is your mind so wherever we end up is by your choosing."

"So... I chose the forest before?" She tilted her head to the side. He nodded, distracted by also looking around. "How do I get those memories back? I keep seeing things, things that I'm guessing are my lost memories but... it's weird. I don't know how I survived."