"Just hear what I said" said Aeren. "There's nothing. There's nothing inside me. I'm not so different from you. I might get scared and, and even cry, but I really don't feel them. I used to feel so many things: anger, sadness, fear, love. But after not talking with anyone, everything inside me is just... faded. I lost them all while counting down for my last day in this life."
"Will you at least come outside?" said the girl, leaning to the inside of the fireplace. "I'll hear everything you say, so, can you?"
Aeren really wanted her to give up. So, he could stay here forever, not ever seeing the sight of a disappointed face.
He got out of the fireplace. The girl cleared the ashes on his face with her handkerchief and said "Now talk. I'll hear you out."
After the girl lowered her hand, Aeren holds her hand put it on his face. "What is that feeling? Why is it... calming that much?" thought he and tears came out from his eyes.
"Want me to hold you a little longer like that?"
"Yeah"
"Oh, I know. I should do it like that" said the girl and wiped his tears on his face gently. Her second hand was on his head and slightly stroking his messy hair. But Aeren was nearly not feeling these touches. Because the most beautiful smile he had ever seen was looking at her, like a sun filling the cave with its light. Aeren mind was fully turning into flowers instead of elf flesh. Had that heart ever been that warm and... happy? Even if he burned himself with witch's fire, his heart would not feel the warm that smile was giving. Aeren was now destined to see only ugly smiles except hers. Maybe he would never be able to a smile in his life never until she smiles at her. Because even the princesses of all kingdoms smile at him, his heart would not let his eyes to see them.
"Why did you show me that smile, idiot? Now I will never see the beautiful moon at nights. I only see your smile at that place every time" thought Aeren and giggled while still sobbing like a lost baby who found his mom at last. "So, you can force yourself to smile. Why did it have to feel so real?"
"You're sharp. You know, my mom taught me what feelings really are. Due to that I can tell what is happening with you know and give you what need. She used to say one thing when he talked about dad: "Woman's kindness is the end of man's desires. There's no more disastrous fate for a man than dying without getting one touch on his head by a woman he loves."
"So, you know about my beloved woman?"
"It's not a right time to me to say yes."
"Yeah, I know. I'll go. I'll go with you and defeat that witch". He stopped crying and looked at her eyes with shining eyes. "I cannot remember what I was feeling minutes ago which was pulling me down, but your acts saved me. Now I will do anything to the real smile of yours."
"Don't rush like that. You might regret your words."
Aeren wasn't listening to her and would never listen to her anymore. From that moment, Aeren started to act only by his feelings that he even didn't know what they are and never listened to her.
You cannot expect more from unseen and thrown away soul than that. Even his parents had not touched hair was being touched. The face that had seen nothing except bruises was being hold by hands that does not mean any harm. She might disappear completely tomorrow, but from now on, nobody will earn her place in his heart. It was obviously pure love in Aeren's eye. He thought he empty heart was full of love at that moment. Little did he know, his heart was more than full of things he didn't know.
"I won't. I'm sure that smile will be something I don't regret to fight for." Aeren didn't release her hand on his face, even after she stopped smiling and stroking his hair. After that, nobody said anything. Aeren could not sleep that night, but the girl did. Without a care.
Tomorrow morning, they started to pack up the thing they would need during the adventure. The girl took very big pack of food and ingredients. Whereas there was only two unread book in Aeren's bag.
"Why are you taking so much food?" asked Aeren
"You found me fainted because of starvation, remember?"
Aeren laughed. "Oh yeah. I will never forget about that day. We can take them" He carried both bags. "But you shouldn't worry that much. We can make a food from the thing we could find in the wilderness."
"Let me carry one of the bags," said the girl.
"No, I can't let a girl carry a heavy bag."
Yeah. From that moment, Aeren didn't care what the girl was thinking, nor what was bothering her. He only cared about her health and existence. If she was like him, Aeren would only keep her safe, not caring about her wish to die.