Your Hand Is Soft

He waved her over and she stood beside him.

"See here," he pointed to a symbol that she recognized as her brother's, "This is the Sun God's symbol and this," Charles pointed to another, "Is the Moon Goddess's symbol. I was thinking if their symbol meant anything and I think I figured it out."

"Oh?" She couldn't help smiling.

"Yes! From what you said, a chosen alpha, marked by the Moon Goddess would have her mark. So, I was wondering why the Moon Goddess was the only one who were the protector of this land. Did the Sun God not also have protectors he marked as well?"

Moon was impressed with Charles Anthony. He really had a zest for knowledge and was so passionate in figuring out things, it made her envious.

"So here is what I think," Charles looked straight at her, "The Sun God does not have the powers the Moon Goddess have. He is only given the power of light and fertility. If he were to create protectors. It would take the powers from elsewhere, like it would pull from the power of light and that can't happen. So, the Moon Goddess had to create alphas, Werewolves is what is said, to protect us."

She nodded and he rubbed his chin.

"Yet, if the Moon Goddess was able to mark people to become one of her chosen, why did she only mark one? Why was she sleeping as you mentioned and why now? Yes, yes, you said because the world had changed not the way the Moon Goddess had wanted, but what if this way is the best?"

"No. It isn't," she stated and Charles touched her arm gently.

"What if the Moon Goddess and the Sun God let the people of Nevrisea take care of themselves. Yes, some cities are not doing well and some cities have stolen resources, used people to work with little pay and food, but! What if they just watch over us and not get involved? The fault won't be theirs. It would be ours."

Charles sighed deeply and looked at what he read.

"If they are real, being a God and Goddess must be hard. There is no logical way to care for all of us."

"There is," Moon stated and stared at the symbols, "If people are unable to get along and help one another as it once was, there would only be anger and war. You are right. The Moon Goddess should have marked more as she should, but she was naïve. She loves her people and thought it would be fine while she recovered."

She looked at Charles and touched his arm.

"Charles, do you really think there is no need for them… The Sun God and The Moon Goddess? Have all their work not… Should they be forgotten?"

He saw the shine in her eyes and her voice was soft and quiet. The fingers around his bicep were twitching and she looked away. Going over what she asked, he flipped it and dissected it. After a moment, he placed his hand on hers. Pulling her fingers away, he ran his fingers over her milky skin.

"Your hand is soft."

"…"

"I felt hands from women who had never worked a day in their life, but never had it been as soft as yours."

"My… hands?"

"Yes," he nodded still staring at her hand, "You are strange. Like a book, I want to learn more about you. You have many knowledge in you and I want to know them. Everything, if possible."

"… Are you saying this to avoid my question earlier?" Moon whispered and Charles laughed, smiling to crinkle his grey eyes, "Is it working?"

"No," she shook her head and placed her free hand on his face, "If they are forgotten, then so will this world. You do not know how strongly influenced the land of Nevrisea is by them, Sir Charles Anthony. I wished you'd understand the world away from your books. You are intelligent, but you only seek them in literature and words. Do you not wish to experience the world as yourself?"

Like before, Charles dissected the meanings behind her words. Was she making fun of him? Was she saying he was a loner, a book worm, a nerd like everyone else? Could she be that cruel to him?

'No… That isn't what she is saying,' he calmed his insecure mind and searched her sad eyes.

Truth was, Charles Anthony only ever wanted to leave to travel if he had to. The first and only time he did, was to travel to Winterhallow. It was the first time he met another boy his age named Ryton Yu. Unfortunately for him, the toothless grin and big hazel eyes were lies. The boy only wanted to be his friend so he could take his favorite bracelet.

He never left Oxharbor since then. However… Maybe… Maybe now was a good time to travel once more. He was older and he couldn't let one incident of his childhood stop him from gaining knowledge. It was best to learn firsthand instead of reading through his array of books.

"Uh… Miss Moon?"

The Moon Goddess looked over to find Benjamin staring at them. Smiling, she removed herself from Charles and bowed.

"Thank you for showing me what you learned, Sir Charles. I'll be leaving with Benjamin now. Enjoy your day."

He watched the female reach his younger brother and Benjamin had looked at him with a look that was confused, yet surprised. When they left, he still stood where he was. His palm touched over where the soft hand had been.

Outside, Benjamin showed the different shops Oxharbor had offered. He bought Moon a pastry and he waited to see if she would reveal the rest of her face, but the female only thanked him and kept the food in the bag. Next, he bought her a flower bow that all the girls seemed to love. She laughed and thanked him, clipping it to her braided bun.

After, he wanted to show her the fountain, but a few women had ran up to him.

"Benny! What are you doing? You said it would be me you are going to be with from now on," one of the females huffed.

"No, that isn't true. Benjamin said we would be together."

"Ugh, Benjamin! You are terrible! How dare you cheat on us."

"W... Wait!" He glanced at Moon who was watching him, "Look. We already broke up," he explained to the females, "I mean, you never really like me. Also, you were the one who cheated on me, you were the one who said you don't like me anymore, and you just wanted…"

The females' cheeks were burning and the were huffing. Slap rang thrice across his face and he winced from the pain. The clicking and clacketing of their shoes sounded further away from him. He dropped his shoulders and sighed with relief. Looking over to the raven haired female, Benjamin saw the bag with the pastry flat and empty.

'Huh?! Did she ate it already? Wait… She ate it watching me get slapped?!'