Casimir gently nudged Epione's arm pointing at her empty glass before taking it from her and placing it on an empty table that was nearby, "Isn't it too cold for you out here?" He suggested for she to return back inside the tavern so that she wouldn't return back home with a cold, "It's much warmer in there." He stood up and he offered his hand to Epione. However, she remained seated on the tavern balcony shaking her head wanting to stay on the balcony for a while longer. So, Casimir decided to keep her company pulling up a chair so that he could sit on it.
Epione leaned her head back on the railing so that she can ease her feelings, "I'm okay with staying here." She then turned her face towards looking at Casimir face staring at that scar, "I heard that old wounds in cold temperatures will hurt, doesn't it hurt for you?" Epione turned her body to face Casimir as she leaned forward to examine his scar before placing her hand on his face. There was slight relief in Casimir expression when Epione placed her hand on his face
Casimir was startled by the physical contact but felt that her hands pressing against his face was nice since they were warm, "The heat is the best thing for old wounds." It was true that old wounds don't do well in cold temperatures but it wasn't too bad that it would disturb him that much, "It feels nice." Casimir settled in Epione's hands though small bear a warmth that was comforting almost soothing in a way. Her hand was only able to cover the massive scar that covered a third of Casimir's face.
His scars only reminded her of the scars on her back, "A warm compress is best after a cold day." She released a sigh as the scar on her back would never disappear as the flesh and skin had been haphazardly cut to the point that her back healed back in an un-uniform shape, "Warm baths are always the best for my back." It would forever be uncomfortable to Epione. She would never feel comfortable in her own skin. Though her wording was a bit strange, Casimir understood that Epione also had scars of her own.
Casimir held Epione's hand trying to gently squeeze her hand but also trying to avoid using too much strength, "Scars are just a reminder to us that we survive whatever situation we were placed in." Those words struck a chord within Epione that was slowly unwinding like a metal string of a piano, "But, those situations are never the fault of anyone besides the people who inflict the pain on you whether it be visible on your body on not." That wire that had been holding on for so long. Long past its limit, weathered by time. It snapped so violently that it echoed in Epione's entire being. Tears began pouring from her eye. Epione instantly pulled away from Casimir so that she wipe her tears away.
Epione wiped away the tears with her arms but the tears would continue to pour as they slipped past her arms, "I'm sorry I don't know why I'm crying." Casimir took off from the tavern's balcony to run back inside the tavern before quickly returning back to Epione draping his jacket onto her head. He also gave her the sleeves of the jacket so that she could wrap herself. A pair of arms engulf her body filling her nose with the faint scent of a milky rich wood that made her so comforted that she began releasing all the emotions in her body.
Years of suppressed anguish, fear, loneliness as well as being robbed of a childhood. Epione would have never thought that escaped from such a hellish prison unless she died. After being released from a conditioned lifestyle where she would be subservient forever as well to the future generations. Epione was scared for the future. She didn't even think about what she would do in her future. She had never been given a choice before in her life. She didn't even know what to do now that she was free. She had nothing to strive for. She was completely and utterly lost.
Casimir held onto Epione who was releasing a heart-wrenching cry. Her cries instantly gave him a sense of dread over what she had to experience to cry like this, "Epione? Do you want to go back home?" It wasn't akin to sadness but more of mourning like she had lost something that would never come back, "Do you want to eat some baked pears? They are always good after a night out." Epione face peeked out from underneath the jacket as she slowly nodded. Anything sweet was guaranteed to uplift the mood of the saddened girl. Casimir went to princess carry Epione who nuzzled up against his chest and he went to lift the jacket so that she could hide underneath.
As Casimir went back into the loud tavern to catch one of the waiters to give a message to the group that was still enjoying themselves. In between a crack of the jacket, Epione saw everyone in the tavern cheering, dancing, and singing themselves silly. She wondered to herself whether she would reach a point in her life where she would find a purpose in life. Casimir continued to carry her through the tavern before going out on the streets, "I'm sorry." Each step he took began to become rhythmical to Epione who began to breathe according to each of his footsteps, trying to ground herself.
Soon he came to stop in front of a door to a house where he kicked the door to replace knocking since his hands were full, "Why are you saying sorry?" The door opened with three children gasping at the body that Casimir holding not knowing if it was conscious or not, "There is nothing to be sorry about." He gently whispered to Epione. But, as soon as the jacket came falling down revealing Epione to Casimir's siblings. A beautiful fairy was in their brother's arms but she was crying so they glared at the brother who was probably the culprit. The three children were stunned silent after witnessing Epione.
Epione pulled at his shirt so that she could be let down where she tried to clean herself as much as possible, "Was that Casimir at the door?" A woman's voice shouted across the room as the smell of sweetly baked pears wafted through the house, "I just finished a batch of pears and made some extra so you can give some to your co-workers." A fairly short woman with a medium brown skin tone came from the kitchen to the doorway where Casimir stood beside a beautiful fairy-like girl who was being stared at by her three youngest children.
Casimir shooed away from siblings from the doorway so that they could get inside the house before he took Epione's hand gently guiding her through the hallway to the living room to where his mother is, "Epione, this is my mom." He then turned to his mother who was staring at the girl when she noticed swollen eyes that were probably painful for the girl, "Mother, this is Epione." Then that was when he was beaten by his mother. It was a shock to see such a pretty girl that her son was able to bring home but she had been crying.
This brought on an onslaught of slaps from Casimir's mother though the woman was small she was fierce with her attacks on her son, "I know I want you to bring girls home!" She began slapping at the helpless Casimir who could only allow his mother to hit him relentlessly, "You dare bring a crying girl home!" Casimir took his mother's hand so that she wouldn't hit him anymore before explaining the situation.
On the other hand, Epione was whisked away by the children who guided her to the kitchen giving her a seat. One of them took out a handkerchief so that Epione could wipe the remaining tears on her face while another began to prepare a plate of baked pears for Epione and the younger siblings, handing her a fork so that she could eat with it. The youngest of the bunch went to pat her head which was something unexpected for Epione who usually was the one to comfort other people. Despite this, before being comforted by these children she let out a gentle smile to show her gratitude. She began slicing a bit of the baked pear began eating a piece of it, savouring the flavours.
The baked pears that were freshly baked and spiced with cinnamon were incredibly warm. It filled Epione with a sense of coziness which was accompanied by the sweetness of a syrup that Epione had never had before along with vanilla that was incredibly fragrant. It was the perfect plate of baked pears which were soft and juicy. It was absolutely divine. The dessert had managed to ease away all her pain and sorrows, "Good, right?" Casimir sat down at the table with his own plate. Epione nodded excitedly as she continued to eat her own plate.
Casimir's mother was thrilled to see that Epione thoroughly enjoyed the dessert, "It good even when chilled." Placing the remaining baked pears in separate containers before placing one in front of Epione, "For your folks when you get back home and I packed a little extra if you want anymore." Chuckling as she sees Epione happily finishing off the plate that she was given and her mood much better than when she came into this house. Epione continued to stay at the house for a while longer until she noticed how late it was. Epione felt like she was overstaying her welcome for far too long when she went to take the small box of delicious baked pears.
Casimir's family very much enjoyed her company and didn't mind if she stayed the night but Epione felt that she would be imposing, "No, it's already too late for you to find any accommodation at this time." It was already very late so Casimir insisted that Epione stay the night at their place. Epione relented as she decided to stay with the family for the night and the children cheered so Casimir's mother took the small container from Epione's hand and into cooling storage. Casimir had prepared the guest room for Epione to sleep in for the night but it was also close to his own room. On the other hand, Casimir's mother prepared a bath as well as some spare clothes of her own for Epione so that she could be refreshed and cleaned from tonight's events.
Epione cleaned herself up before dressing herself in the nightdress that Casimir's mother let her borrow for the night. As soon as she was out of the bath the children took her to her room which was a nice small room that was cozy, "Are you a fairy?" One of them blurted out as they hopped next to her in the bed. Epione nodded since she was one though she was only a half-blooded one, "Where are your wings?" All three of them went to look at her back to see if there would be wings that could sprout out.
But, there was nothing there, "Well, a very bad magician took my wings," Epione gulped as she tried to avert the topic as much as possible, "Now I can't fly anymore" It was definitely a sensitive topic for Epione since it brought terrible memories that made her shudder in terror. Casimir came in seeing that his siblings were there as well as a paled-out Epione so he quickly make his siblings go back to their own rooms for the night and not disturb their guest for the rest of the night. Casimir could instantly tell that his siblings had asked questions that were sensitive for Epione so he sat on the bed with his back facing her. The two were silent and Epione leaned her head on his back.
Casimir could feel Epione head on his back whilst the bed sunk underneath their weight as they shifted to get more comfortable, "I'm sorry about my younger siblings," He went to apologise on their behalf since they were children and did not realise that they had touched on a sensitive topic, "My sibling and I aren't the brightest of the bunch so we might touch on topics which are sensitive but an accident." Though Casimir was curious about what his siblings were talking about with Epione he didn't go poking around unless she was comfortable with sharing. Epione rubbed her face on his back which amused Casimir who was surprised by her cat-like behaviour from her.
Epione was finally satisfied with her face rubbing and soon went under the covers to sleep, "Thank you for tonight." Hiding in the covers since she had just realised that she had rubbed her face on his back. Casimir smiled as he got up from the bed before checking on Epione and then gently closing the door so that she could rest. As Epione was resting in her bed there was a dwindled pale light shaking at the window of the room she was resting before it was ensnarled by a familiar pale green light. The poor pale lighted creature faded away from existence, consumed by the green light. That same green light soon hovered over Epione's sleeping body who was snuggling the pillows to her chest.
Epione could feel it. Stalking her. It was her magic that was coming to haunt her again.