I Cannot Bear To Lose You

“You know, I’m still surprised you offered to come with me all this way so often, Leif.”

Dainsleif trailed behind the dark-haired healer as she spoke, her voice soft as ever. She’d mention it every time they would go to the surface world, leaving Khaenri’ah behind for a little while, so that the two of them could see the stars. For some reason, being among the stars made Mystra happiest. Perhaps it was because of her being shunned by others, as she was a Khaenrian that — somehow — was given a Vision by an Archon. She always acted as if it didn’t bother her, but he’d begun to notice the micro-expressions that would come across her face briefly before they were masked again.

“It’s not as if it’s a chore.” he answered simply, and she glanced back over her shoulder towards him. Though she grinned, she didn’t say anything, and so he continued on. “Besides, with how much you do to ensure the other knights make a full recovery, it’s the least I can do.”

“You really are nicer than people say you are.” Mystra’s smile remained, as far as he knew, as she turned her head back in the direction ahead of them. The field of lilies she used as a marker was just a few meters away now, but her pace would soon slow to a stop. “What… was that? Did you see it?”

Before the knight could answer, Mystra had already darted ahead. A hushed curse escaped under his breath as he followed; she had just asked him to accompany her in the first place because this area was getting too dangerous. Running off like this wasn’t exactly helping him keep the promise as he intended. Yet, when he saw the healer fall to her knees as if to catch something, only a perplexed look was left in his starred eyes. He slowed once he approached the edge of the ring of lilies; was there no monster? He knelt down to her, seeing as though she was making no move to rise to her feet.

“Leif! Leif, look!” Mystra was beaming when she looked back at him, her legs shifting around on the grass so that she was facing him, her gloved hands cupped in front of her. “I think we may have found another stargazer!”

Lifting one hand off the other revealed just what she’d seen; an ethereal creature that almost looked incorporeal. It glowed with a faint yellow light as wisps of energy fluttered from it, a single ocular structure looking from himself, to Mystra, and back again. Despite its ghostly form, it didn’t seem to phase through her hand like one would think. Mystra’s eyes closed as her smile grew, tilting her head as she spoke again.

“It’s a Seelie, it has to be!” she went on, “They were in a book I read before I began serving the royal family, they’re normally not found near Khaenri’ah since they’re often associated with Archons. I wonder what the poor thing is doing all the way out here…?”

Though Mystra seemed perfectly content, the tips of two fingers gently petting the Seelie’s head — or what appeared to be a head, at least — he still remained cautious. Indeed, what would cause a Seelie to come so close to entering Khaenri’ah…? There wasn’t anything for the creature even here, let alone any further where they came from. Though, it did seem rather small, and she seemed to know more about them than he did…

The knight’s thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly noticed the same golden glow dart in front of his face, and just as quickly vanished out of his sight. He jerked back slightly, an involuntary reaction, before glancing around. The Seelie was no longer in Mystra’s hands, though now her fingers were held up to her face, covering her mouth. Her eyes kept darting from his own to above him, and… Was she trying not to laugh?

“Where did it go?”

“W-Well… It flew on top of your head, Leif. I think it likes you!” A bit of laughter escaped with her words, a hand leaving her face to point up at him. She summoned her catalyst ring — the same one he had made for her — and let it hover in front of her. His reflection looked back at him in the metal, and she was right; the Seelie was resting on his head, though barely visible thanks to his blonde hair. He didn’t even feel anything, it was like mist had gathered above his head and refused to dissipate. It didn’t seem to want to leave despite the attempt to shoo it away from his head.

“It doesn’t seem it’ll be leaving any time soon. I’ve heard they don’t like leaving once they’re bonded to someone, and it looks like that just happened.” Mystra continued on, smiling sweetly at the scene as she allowed the catalyst to dissipate and reappear behind her. Dainsleif sighed, seeing the ghostly wisp flutter down to his shoulder from the corner of his eye. It would be troublesome, if such a creature were to follow him around while giving orders to the knights he commanded. Still, he looked over to Mystra without her noticing; she looked happy about this little development. For some reason, seeing her so excited about something so small warmed his heart.

“Very well, I suppose the Seelie can stay for now.”