Chapter XVI: Late Night Visitor

As the heavy wooden door thudded shut with a finality that echoed in the hallway, Medea couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction ripple through her. Did he dare to tempt the Devil? That man certainly had the guts. With a small shake of her head, she turned her attention back to her book, eager to lose herself in its pages once more.But her peace was short-lived.A soft rustle from the balcony caught her attention, drawing her gaze away from the printed words. Her ears perked up, attuned to the faintest of sounds, and she turned her head to peer through the gauzy veil of her white curtains. There, amidst the gentle sway of fabric in the night breeze, stood a silhouette. Familiar yet unexpected.A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she carefully closed her book, setting it aside with gentle reverence. Rising from her bed, she moved with silent grace across the room, her bare feet making a sound against the cool floor. With a deliberate motion, she reached out and unlatched the window, the hinges protesting softly as she pushed it open.And there he was.He seemed almost ethereal in the moonlight, his silver hair catching the faint glow and shimmering like spun silk in the night breeze. His features, so achingly beautiful, could have belonged to a creature of myth or legend. And yet, here he stood before her, real and tangible.His amethyst eyes met hers, filled with a hint of hesitation and surprise, and her heart fluttered softly in response. With a voice that was barely more than a whisper, she spoke."What are you doing here in the middle of the night, Cael?"Caelus's gaze, light and searching, met Medea's as he spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper in the dimness of her chamber. "I wanted to see you."Medea blinked in response, momentarily unsure of how to react. But instead of dwelling on her uncertainty, she took action. Without a word, she reached out and grasped his wrist, pulling him into the cold darkness of her room. The window closed with a thud behind them, casting their figures in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the glass."You wanted to see me? At this hour?" Medea's disbelief echoed in the stillness of the room. Despite a part of her secretly longing for his presence, she couldn't help but question the suddenness of his visit. Why had he sought her out? Was there some pressing matter he needed to discuss? She mulled over the possibilities, contemplating whether his motives were purely business-like. Nothing more, nothing less."I haven't seen you in days. I began to wonder if something had happened... if you had returned to your own world," his words were delivered without hesitation, causing Medea to stare at him, her thoughts momentarily arrested by the sincerity in his tone.For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric and the faint hum of the night outside.Finally, Medea cleared her throat, averting her gaze awkwardly. "So, you came to ensure I hadn't vanished?" The question hung between them, laden with unspoken implications. Caelus nodded solemnly, his expression unwavering."Yes, I did."A slight pause lingered in the air after Medea's inquiry and Caelus's answer, the silence thick with unspoken tension. Finally, she broke it, her voice cutting through the awkwardness like a knife through butter. "Now that you've seen me, are you going to leave?" she asked, her tone tinged with a hint of resignation.Caelus met her gaze before responding, his words measured. "No, not yet," he replied, his voice carrying a weight that mirrored the gravity of the moment.Her surprise was evident as she turned her head to regard him, eyebrows raised in silent query. "Not yet?" she echoed, seeking confirmation.Crossing her arms defensively, she pressed further. "Why?" The question hung in the air, pregnant with anticipation, as she awaited his response.Caelus hesitated, his gaze flickering momentarily towards the door as if contemplating his next move. Returning his attention to her, he offered a vague explanation. "Just because."Medea furrowed her brows in frustration, a slight tilt of her head betraying her confusion. Is he that stubborn? Why won't he give me a straight answer? The thought churned in her mind, aggravation simmering beneath the surface as she struggled to decipher his motives. His elusive responses and enigmatic gestures only served to further cloud her understanding, leaving her feeling adrift in a sea of uncertainty.Fed up with the cryptic dance of words, she let out a sigh of exasperation. "Fine, if you don't want to leave, let's have a drink together," she declared, her voice tinged with both seriousness and annoyance as she turned away, intent on carrying out her offer.But before she could take another step, Caelus's hand closed around her arm, halting her in her tracks. "Wait a minute," he interjected softly, his grip firm yet gentle.Medea shot him a sidelong glance, her impatience evident in the quirk of her eyebrow. "What now?" she queried, her tone tinged with a hint of irritation.Caelus's gaze lingered on his hand wrapped around her arm before releasing her, his eyes momentarily avoiding hers. "Don't go outside," he murmured, his voice laced with a note of urgency.She blinked, momentarily dumbfounded by his unexpected request. She regarded him with a perplexed expression, her lips parting as if to speak, but her words faltering before they could find a voice. "Do you not want to drink?" she finally managed, her tone tinged with confusion. "I can call my maid and---"Before she could finish her sentence, Caelus interjected his words cutting through the air with quiet finality. "I'm fine. I won't stay long."Medea shifted uncomfortably, her gaze wandering, around the room as she sought to dispel the awkwardness that hung between them like a heavy shroud. "If you say so," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper.As Caelus released her arm, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, the tension in her muscles easing slightly. Yet, the silence that followed was deafening, each passing moment stretching out like an eternity until it became unbearable.Finally, Caelus spoke, his voice breaking the silence like a crack in fragile glass. "By the way, do you often invite men into your room?" His question hung in the air, heavy with implications, and Medea turned to look at him with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.Baffled by the accusation implicit in his words, she scoffed slightly before vehemently denying his insinuation. "Of course not. Who do you take me for?" Her mind raced, scrambling to make sense of his inquiry. Had he witnessed the encounter with the butler earlier? If so, how long had he been waiting, observing in silence?Their eyes met, and she detected an unfamiliar expression in his gaze, one she couldn't quite decipher. Frustration welled within her, and she felt compelled to clarify her stance. "Listen," she began, her voice firm with conviction, "I may be a devil who revels in exploiting human weaknesses, but I draw the line at claiming them as my own. It's not my style. I seek only their souls, not their bodies." Her words hung in the air, a declaration of her principles and a challenge to his assumptions.Medea bristled inwardly at the notion of having to justify herself to Caelus. Who did he think he was, questioning her actions? The thought left a sour taste in her mouth, and she couldn't help but frown in frustration.Meanwhile, Caelus let out a resigned sigh and lightly flicked her forehead, drawing her attention back to him. "I was merely asking a question. Why the sudden defensiveness?" His tone was calm, almost disinterested, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he regarded her.Glaring at him in response, Medea crossed her arms defensively. "Your words carried implications," she retorted, her voice tinged with irritation.Caelus met her gaze with an indifferent expression. "But I never made any such insinuations. Please, don't jump to conclusions," he replied evenly, his tone tinged with exasperation.Medea dismissed his words with a wave of her hand, unwilling to entertain his attempts at deflection. "Your actions speak louder than your words," she countered, her voice laced with a hint of triumph. "How do you explain that?"Caelus fell silent, his brows furrowing in irritation as he averted his gaze. After a tense moment, he lowered his hand, using it to tuck a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "You're quite observant," he conceded, his tone tinged with annoyance.A smirk played at the corners of Medea's lips as she watched his facade crack, satisfaction bubbling within her. She had struck a nerve, and she relished in the realization. But as she observed Caelus's frustrated expression, a pang of confusion gnawed at her. What was he hiding behind that mask of indifference? Why did he make that face?Sensing the need to redirect the conversation, Medea shifted gears, her voice taking on a lighter tone. "Anyway, how's life been treating you as the head magician of your tower?" she inquired, genuine curiosity lacing her words as she awaited his response.Caelus let out a heavy sigh, his fingers reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose in a gesture of weariness. "It's been challenging, to say the least," he admitted, his frustration evident in the furrow of his brow. "Teaching inexperienced students to harness their magical abilities on their own... it's enough to make me want to freeze my heart and never wake up again. They're a constant headache."Observing the tension etched upon his handsome features, Medea couldn't help but somehow sympathize with his plight. She knew all too well the trials and tribulations that came with guiding others along the path of magic. With a shake of her head, she offered a wordless acknowledgment of his struggles."And what about that girl who practices black magic?" she queried, curiosity piqued as she recalled their previous discussions on the subject.Caelus crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression settling upon his features as he considered her question. "Her name is Alice," he began, his voice tinged with a note of admiration. "It's rather remarkable how proficient she is at wielding magic, especially considering her age. I dare say she surpasses many of my novice students."Medea huffed in response, her head tilting slightly to the side as she processed his words. "So, she possesses natural magical abilities like any other magician?" she clarified, seeking confirmation.Caelus nodded in affirmation. "Indeed. Her proficiency with magic is what sets her apart and makes her truly special," he concluded, a hint of awe coloring his tone.He regarded Medea with a curious expression, his gaze lingering on her before he posed his own question. "And what about you? How's life treating you as Medea Falaguerra?"Medea chuckled softly, a wry smile playing at the corners of her lips as she uncrossed her arms, seemingly considering his question. "Well, it's been surprisingly bearable," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I've managed to navigate this human existence without too much difficulty. No major distractions to speak of..." Her words trailed off as a realization dawned upon her, causing her to falter mid-sentence.Wait. What was she saying? There was a distraction, a persistent presence that had occupied her thoughts for the past few days. And that distraction was standing right before her, with those penetrating purple eyes that seemed to see straight through her facade.She blinked, her gaze meeting his as she acknowledged the truth she had been trying to deny. "Well, I suppose there is one distraction," she admitted, her voice softening as she looked away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze.Turning away, she cleared her throat, a faint flush creeping into her cheeks as she felt an unfamiliar tightness constricting her chest. She despised the sensation, the way it threatened to engulf her in its suffocating embrace. And yet, despite her instinctual desire to cast it aside, she found herself hesitating, tentatively embracing the discomfort instead.In that moment, Medea felt a sense of recklessness wash over her. A willingness to embrace the chaos of her emotions and revel in the madness of it all? Was she losing her mind? Perhaps. Or maybe, just maybe, this human existence was reshaping her in ways she never thought possible.