Chapter 7 "After the whisper of your departure"

The days passed slowly once again, Nauge again entertained his days with the classes his father seemed to want him to have, the hundreds of books he would once again explore (he should tell his father to get more, he saw a very interesting book the last time he went out) and the soft breaks in front of his parents' garden.

Although doubts were always popping up in his head, how will the little plant fare? Will it have survived or would it be dead? Will it have a good amount of light and water? Those and many doubts danced in his head these days, but he couldn't go out to contemplate them himself because his father still couldn't find anything that could help him with his condition; it had been a miracle that the last outing in the middle of the morning.

Nauge had reveled in the beautiful blue skies, the bustle of the magical people, the warm weather, and the gorgeous animals and grasses at their peak. Certainly, it was an opportunity that would probably not come around again for a long, long time; he was certainly not complaining it was more than any could have asked for. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but be selfish and wish he had more freedom.

Now confined again to these four walls, forced to stay inside until the sun was replaced by the moon, he couldn't help but wonder if that young man he knew would still be taking care of the poor flower.

●●●

The wind howled strong and furious, with its force it threw the leaves and dust from the streets, if they were not careful the small animals would also be carried away by it.

Everyone was hiding in their homes, spending this harsh weather with their families or safe, however certainly for some, it was more complicated than others. Like the two figures in the midst of such a storm.

The inhabitants of the lowlands, magical and other marginal races or without enough goods to afford a better place lived in these places, which thanks to pollution and proximity to humans began to lose their magical aura, being replaced by a fetid and nauseating aura where life became almost miraculous if survived.

As time went by these areas were reclaimed by the nameless and transformed into their 'home' many creepy things happened in this kind of place, even though the King denied this kind of environment in his 'perfect world' was that a way to avoid paying attention to the cries for help or the thousands of demonstrations and delinquency that happened day after day, the opponents would say it was so, but certainly, they could not blame only one individual for the misfortunes around them.

In the midst of all this bad weather both had to say goodbye. The older one with all his might tried to stop the younger one from moving forward, however, both his spirit and his strength had vanished.

" Was I a speck blown away by a light wind, a mere drop in the midst of a sea of misfortune and oblivion? " Tears ran violently down the thin face of the paler-skinned one, mingling until they disappeared with the large raindrops that crashed violently on his face.

The other young man did not change his hard expression, did not return a measly glance. Instead, he continued to walk lightly and when he found himself at a relatively far distance he spoke.

" Go home, boy, your father will be angry if you are not safe inside. A boy like you shouldn't be out at times like this" With a harsh and completely indifferent voice he addressed Nauge.

However the other could stand no more and as if an immense pain shot through his limbs he let out a groan of pain and fell to his knees, straining his thin light clothes with mud and grass. More tears filled his eyes and trembling he claimed to him.

" You were the one who encouraged me to reveal myself, to not let my life be wasted in four walls! Yet now you say that someone in my condition shouldn't go out? " He shouted to the four winds, the claim clear in his voice " Were all your words written in sand perchance? I am worthless to you " With pain in his heart he blurted out the last words.

For a few horrible moments, nothing but the violent raindrops and the fierce wind was perceived in the wide place. Nauge's quick and costly breaths echoed loudly in the ears of the other who sighed.

" This ¨friendship¨ was nothing but a chance for me to get out of this filthy dump, and you were so naive to think this was something sincere, don't make me laugh " With a wry sneer in his voice he threw a smile showing his sharp fangs at the other.

" Go home, kid " With nothing else he walked on, but while his exterior was unperturbed something deep down in his soul had died, shattered by the incessant screaming and wailing mingling with the storm.

Yet this was for the best.

The best thing.

●●●

Once upon a time, hundreds of years ago if Nauge remembers correctly.

His father once again declined his pleas to be able to leave the house ¨Something will happen to you, I won't be able to protect you¨ angry, but once again resigned he headed to his room. Maybe being in this house was how he had lived his whole life, however, a soul will always yearn for what can hurt the most, and Nauge's soul cried out for freedom he knew would never come.

However, although his body could not escape, his mind could certainly travel to hundreds of places thanks to books; his best and closest friends (his only friends). As time went by they were his greatest comfort, his father despite all his work always found time to spend together.

They made food, read, danced, and watched shows together; it was a comfort to have someone with him since most of the time he was alone (more during holidays than anything else, when not even his tutors arrived) of course he appreciated the gestures of his father or grandparents and the few family outings, but even so, he could not stop longing to meet someone else. Someone who didn't have an obligation to him, his family, or by his family.

It was hard this kind of life, yet it was even harder when he lost himself in the fantastic stories he found among the bookshelves in the house. However, longing will not magically make your fantasies come true, which is why his surprise was so great that magnificent (tragic) day.

At first glance it was a day like any other, the sun so colossal, yet deadly did not touch his windows, it reflected in the distance peacefully caressing all the unruly plants in his garden, again Nauge was awakened by the sound of chimes from his alarm clock which were silenced with a bit of magic and a tired sigh from his chest.

Wearily rising from his soft comfortable bed filled with fluffy pillows, Nauge blew them little goodbye kisses, promising he wouldn't be gone for long. Before he could leave for the bathroom a flurry of white butterflies tangled in her long white hair and frolicked on her chubby cheeks drawing laughter from deep in his chest.

" Alright, it's time to go out and I won't be able to do it if you guys are playing " With giggles caused by the soft paper wings of the butterflies Nauge gently pushed them away from her face and the clever ones flew off back towards the branches on the walls.

Humming a random song into the air he entered the bathroom. After 15 minutes of bathing and another 10 minutes of primping, he finally went downstairs for breakfast.

He slid down the wooden railing and gracefully hopped into the kitchen. The delicious smell of freshly cooked food made his stomach rumble and his spirit jump for joy. The sight in front of him made him even happier, his father had an apron that said 'I love pancakes' he gracefully and quickly prepared the food, moving his hands to make the utensils do what he wanted; when he noticed Nauge was at the table quickly plates and pots were placed on the table.

" Good morning Nau " Her father greeted with a firm nod coming over to pat her head.

Nauge greeted him with a smile and eyes like a half-moon and waited for the time to finally eat.

Neither spoke, there was no need for that when they were so in tune with each other; instead, they quietly broke into singing popular songs of the kingdom to pass the time while the vegetables were finished cooking.

Nauge thought this day would not be much different than any other, but when at dusk he made out the figure who had helped him some time ago with a small plant he knew nothing would be the same.

There was more joy and love.

But also a sea of sadness that would apply however he would never forget.

Much less on the day of his death.