Chapter Text
When you were told of the mythical beings that were meant to live past the outskirts of the kingdom, you had been unaware of just how truly majestic these beings would turn out to be.
It was late in the evening, and while you should have been heading home already--as it was past your village’s curfew--you had grown distracted as you trailed through a daisy field. The flowers had bloomed beautifully today and as you leaned down to inspect some of the white petals, you had spotted a single red feather hiding away by the patch of the flowers.
When you had looked ahead, you noticed there was actually a little trail of feathers.
Today, you had been looking for a plant. One that you had heard would provide sleep like qualities to those who steeped it with boiling water and consumed it as tea.
And since you had some time left to spare after your studies this evening, you found that you indulge yourself by gathering your supplies from home and making a trip outside the kingdom walls. You had been inclined to venture off like this after you had heard some civilians mention how there was a rampant amount of vegetation where the walls of your kingdom did not allow inside to keep its modern appearance.
So, you had picked one of the large fields of grass surrounding the kingdom walls and began to explore with your bag of belongings. This field of green was a bit farther from the actual walls, and even made a distance close to the forest, noted to be both forbidden and dangerous.
You could see the way the trees began to clutter at the forest’s perimeters, so large that you could not see around the mass of the tall trunks and canopies.
In any case, you stuck to remaining outside its perimeters and drew out your observations in your pocket book while you squatted down in the wild flowers.
But of course, you had seen a feather, bright red and soft to the touch, settled by a little mound of dirt where the daisies were growing by the hundreds. You picked up the feather to examine, but then were quickly alarmed by the sound of footsteps and rustling leaves ahead of you.
You looked up in surprise, eyes scanning around the area to try and calculate the origins of the noise. Perhaps it had simply been an animal. This was, after all, a bird’s feather.
You wrapped a cloth around the flower you had found--not exactly the one you were looking for but this one seemed interesting to study as well-- then bound your leather notebook with its strings to also hide it away in your bag.
You twisted at the leather strap around your body, letting yourself venture closer to the grove of trees where the forest began to see where the feathers began to lead.
The thing was, this forest was forbidden, for the simple reason that it was known to be occupied by creatures unfamiliar to your kingdom. And the citizens of Insan were far more defensive than curious, preferring to drown out ang risk of danger by steering clear of the unexplored land.
While you knew it was in your best interest to heed the warnings of straying away from the forest, you were also fascinated by the red color of these feathers. You tried to rack your brain for the sort of species of birds that would grow such vibrant wings, but couldn’t think of any.
So you decided, why not see for yourself? Perhaps the bird would be in these woods and you’d be able to quell your curiosity. Besides, you promised yourself only to briefly enter the expanse of trees, and if it deemed to be too far of a trip, you’d head back before you got yourself into any sort of mess.
The sun was low in the sky, just about to be hidden away past the hills and it had begun to grow cold. You had not worn something suited for the weather as you planned, prior to your trip, to head back before the sunset started to set. You just couldn’t help your wondrous spirit from delving deeper into the woods though.
Your corset had been loosened and your trousers protected your legs from the scratch of wild berry bushes around you. You had unbuttoned the top metal clasps of your blouse for more mobility, and brought your sleeves down your arms as a barrier from the breeze. You had a brown sack around your waist resting atop your corset so you could swiftly pull out your tools if needed.
While following the same path as the dropping of the feathers, you kept your eyes peeled for any creatures and for any signs of hazard. The vegetation grew wilder, along with the vines that fell from the trees, and you had to squeeze past some bushes to continue following on the dirt.
You chose to pick up one of the feathers, wanting to feel its weight in your hand and give it proper inspection.
The sound of rustling made you look to your right. It was odd that you weren’t as fearful as you should have probably been, sauntering off into unknown territory where no one would know to find you. It may have been a good idea to have at least informed someone of your whereabouts, but it hadn’t exactly crossed your mind until now.
Though you had promised otherwise, you ended up walking through the woods for quite a while, turning around every few moments to ensure you hadn’t lost your bearings and would be able to leave if time dictated for you to do so.
You continued collecting the feathers as if they were one of your precious flowers, that was, until you spotted it.
It?
Him, more like.
The feathers dropped from your arms, fluttering around you before they landed onto the floor and the leather belt around your waist suddenly felt too tight.
He was alone, meters away and perched on a log. Though you couldn’t see his face, how could possibly miss that large expanse of wings on his back, tucked neatly behind him and dragging along the grassy floor.
You realized immediately in that moment, he was one of the creatures that were speculated to live beyond your kingdom. It was rather obvious too because no human--no human from your village especially--had such appendages.
Ahead of him, you could see a large pond surrounded by a bit of a clearing, thin but tall trees creating a canopy over half the lake while the other side glistened from the sunsetting ahead in the sky.
You hid behind a large tree, your hand tightened around your cotton weaved bag as you moved the leaves aside to spectate the strange creature before you. Maybe it was unfavorable for you to be watching this creature’s movements without their awareness, but something inside you was telling you to stay.
There were rumors about the creatures you were told to be lurking around in these woods.
They were said to be magical.
Magical beings were not exactly limited to dwelling in this forest. In fact, they were said to roam the entirety of the lands on earth and waters of the seas.
Some of which—but not limited to—creatures like...
Fairies with transparent wings. They were told to be small, almost the size of your fist.
Merfolk that were half fish and human, able to breath under the ocean’s surface with glittering scales and opalescent hair.
Elves that hid away in meadows with pointy ears and known to be craftier than any human with the wielding of a sword and bow and arrow.
These types of creatures were whimsical and had an enchanting of light surrounding them. If you were to ever meet or spot one of these creatures, it was seen as a sign of luck.
But then, on the flip side, there were some creatures that were more sinister. Seen as a bad omen rather a good luck charm. Evil individuals, you might even go to say, who prided themselves on mastering the arts of dark magic.
Creature and beings like witches and sorcerers--wizards. Even demons who exchanged wishes for the acquisition of human naïve souls, binding their skin with irreversible contracts until the agreements had been fulfilled.
There were others that lived in the dark trenches of the ocean, who weren’t polite enough to make contracts, like sirens, meant to lure traveling sailors to their doom under the cold glow of the stars.
And then there were some that wished not to kill their victims, but instead leech onto them. Succubus and incubus scoured the lands to find a darkened heart, only to drain their poor human soul until their minds were reduced to think of only the demon that had begun to pleasure them.
But then there were ones that were less frightening and had their own unique characteristics.
The ones that were not necessarily magical, but had mystical qualities.
Ones that were neither of dark or light magic.
Special and rare.
Half human, half animal.
If you were to ever encounter one, it was told that it would be best to remain silent and if possible, escape before you are spotted. The creatures that had animalistic looking qualities, as this man ahead of you did, were known to be incredibly engaging creatures.
If they found interest in you, they would become clingy and rather unwavering. Then, you would unknowingly find yourself being followed around by something akin to a stray cat. But these creatures, of course, weren't a simple domestic feline. They had a will of their own and were unstudied, so they were very unpredictable. So much so that they could possibly be just as dangerous as the demons you had so feared.
So, you kept your head low and held your breath.
The creature sat quietly for a few moments, his wings messy and lazy behind him, concealing the length of his actual body before he was standing up and approaching the pool of the lake.
Now, as he grew tall, the action allowed for you to spectate the profile of his body and face. Needless to say, your breath hitched.
You nearly dropped the bag in your hand once you caught sight of his visage, clutching the red feather in your hand tighter.
The being was decorated in the most beautiful clothing you had ever seen—silk satin, flattering to his body with sheer material of a black color that wrapped tightly around his torso. Silk draped from his arms, loose and flowy with slits cut into the material to expose the length of his tan shoulders and down half his arm.
You could tell he had a bronze tone to his skin, though with the darkness beginning to overshadow the forest, it might have been slightly paler. You dared to walk closer, being as quiet as you could for a more visible inspection. You watched as the creature crouched down on one of the large rocks by the pond and your attention changed from his clothing to instead fixate on the strings of pearls wrapped around his waist and hips, dangling off him in an impressive show of wealth.
That's right. You had also been told these creatures, particularly those with avian characteristics such as this one, were fond of shiny things. Anything with a glow or sparkle to it, caught their eye and they would take it into their possession.
And yes, you were sure of it. This creature must be the owner of the red trail of feathers that had caused you to even enter this forest in the first place. They were large enough to be so, and you were completely positive the further you glanced at the expanse of wings.
It seemed he had collected quite an array of such shiny things. Well, with the gold dangling off his ears and other pricey accessories. When he turned his head to look to his right, you could see the glitter of sparking crystals attached to a web of dainty chains of gold, sitting atop his bed of blonde hair almost like a crown.
You heard him flick at the water and splash it around with his hands before bringing some up to his lips to drink from. The mistake in his actions made you cringe but you were mesmerized by the way his wings were so bright against his warm skin to really react.
It seemed you hadn’t been as silent as you previously thought, because as soon he swallowed the water, he let out a laugh, loud enough to echo into the air before saying in a smooth and handsome voice, “Enjoying the view?”
You held your breath, looking around the field and trees. Perhaps he was talking to someone else?
Right?
Wrong.
“Come on out,” He called and then wiped his hand on the fabric of his dark trousers.
You didn’t move.
“I can see you holding my feather.” He spoke in a sing-song voice.
How could he possibly see you if he wasn’t even looking in your direction?
You hid further in the trees, remembering the strict words of warning you had been told along with the other citizens of the kingdom. Which was to stray away from interacting with these creatures.
“It’s rude to spy.” He cooed this time, but you couldn’t exactly hear any anger in his tone.
It seemed he was amused, rather, and all at once the man stood up, his body twisting around to finally face you.
Your eyes widened in both fear and excitement to finally get the opportunity of seeing him from the front.
It seemed the town had left out some pretty important details about these creatures, which were that they were more beautiful and unique than anything you had ever seen in your age.
It was as if admiring a painting where pastel colors and oil pigments of paint come to life, only to stand before you like something like something to be found in the figments of one's imagination
He looked like a dream.
The man was not necessarily tall, but he was majestic in a sense that had amazing posture to make up for his lack of height. He had a hand on his hip where you could tell his flowy shirt was connected by a thin gold ring around his middle finger.
You rose from the bush, seeing as it was pointless to hide now that you had already been spotted.
But you felt that your words had dried out from your throat at the same time, and you couldn’t bring yourself to respond. You had been spying. But not with ill intentions.
Simply because you were curious.
How could you not be?
There was water shining on his lips from where he had drank from the lake and he licked it off with his pink tongue, using a finger to wipe off the excess that had dribbled down to his chin.
“I’m sorry.” You finally managed to croak.
The man took his hand off his waist to instead cross his arms over his chest. The material of his shirt was sheer only around his stomach, thus more opaque around his neck though in the end it didn’t matter because his blouse was cut low.
He had more diamonds, gold and pearls all around his neck. In your kingdom, such displays of wealth might actually have been frowned upon, seen as disrespectful, reserved only for the king, queen, and overall royal family.
Other noble men and women were meant to keep more modest, to an extent of course. Well, the rules weren’t that strict, but it was unlikely that a common person such as yourself would have enough wealth in the first place to buy such a large collection of accessories.
This creature was not from your kingdom, however. Not with those feathers and certainly not with those bird-like eyes, staring at you from beside the pond.
There was rustling of leaves beyond the stranger’s stature, and you spotted a little squirrel scurrying past the man, hopping around the rocks and effectively distracting you for a moment. It left you unaware, a grave mistake, and the man took the opportunity to walk much closer until he was offering a hand to you past the vegetation you were still hiding behind.
“Why don’t you get out of those bushes?” He cooed and you looked down at his palm where the silk sleeve of his shirt draped into a hammock with the ring keeping it secured to his arm, “Maybe I can forgive you for being sneaky with a proper greeting...”
All at once, you felt yourself grow with confidence, willing away your initial shock of interacting with the creature to hesitantly, but eventually, accept his hand.
The kingdom had never mentioned these creatures to necessarily be hostile or pose any harm through physical means. So, you used your brain to distinguish that you were not likely in any danger that you couldn't escape.
But it was also rather evident that you were slightly charmed by his appearance, enough so that you had subconsciously let your guard slip low enough to realistically speak with him and accept his helping hand.
“I didn’t mean to spy.” You stated and held his palm with your own. His skin was soft while the rings on his fingers were ice cold as he helped you lift off the ground.
He led you around the bush, making sure to not allow your clothing to catch on any branches or twigs, and upon closer inspection, you could smell that he had a floral yet honey musk to him. Overall the forest mostly smelled of dirt and tree, but the honey was different. You had never smelled another animal or even another human with such a scent, and it only heightened your curiosity.
Maybe this would be a chance for you to make headway with your studies. Though you weren’t one to find much interest in physiology, you did find it amusing at times, especially when the chance came up to you so unexpectedly.
The creature was strong, helping you up firmly and could see the way his biceps flexed, unveiled to you by the cut of fabric on his shoulders.
Once you were balanced, he released your hand and you dusted off your trousers where they had brushed upon shrub and dirt from the floor. You were thankful for having chosen to wear something rather light as to not weigh you down while you had been venturing past the kingdom.
“No harm done,” He dismissed and then pointed to the feather in your hand, “Though, do you need to make it a habit to follow strangers into the forest?”
The tone came off teasing and you somehow chuckled, shaking your head and holding the red object up for him to take back, seeing as it doesn’t belong to you, “No.”
Then you made a glance at him where his wings sat lazily on his back. You gathered the bravery to ask, “I’m awfully sorry to disturb you. It’s just...I have never seen anyone quite like you. Do you happen to be from the Kingdom of Caelum?”
Another detail about these specific creatures was that they tend not to stray far from their kingdoms--or, more like nests. From the few details you had acquired over the years, you were under the impression that they preferred to stay in their mass of land, only traveling off for food or other necessities that they didn’t have inside their home’s walls.
The Kingdom of Caelum was, truth be told, just a rumor that you had heard. So you weren’t exactly sure if you would sound silly asking the question.
“Not exactly.” He replied. The man had an aura of confidence around him and laid back nature as he spoke, “But anyways, what’s a lovely lady like you doing out here in the forest?”
Ah, yes. You had been breaking curfew so the man had probably not expected to see a woman, out of all things, out here.
But you did have an excuse. Maybe not a valid one, but it was honest.
“I’m actually a researcher from the Kingdom of Insan.” You itched at your cheek where you felt a bug had landed and let it fly away while you continued. Somehow, his casual attitude made you less wary to speak, so in an effort to be friendly, you told him, “I was looking for a plant known as chamomile, and this was the only place where I could think to find them.”
The man made an ahh sound in understanding and you suddenly felt your cheeks grew hot as his yellow irises scanned up and down your body, rather indiscreetly. Such shows of flirtation were also uncommon in your kingdom between men and women, especially not so blatantly.
Though, this man was not exactly a man.
But as shy as it made you, you didn’t allow it to show on your face. You cleared your throat and then queried, “What about you? What are you doing here alone?”
Though you could make some of your own assumptions, by the fact that he had been drinking from the pond and had a flush on his cheeks, it likely meant he was taking a break from walking--or flying?
You hadn’t recalled seeing anything flying in the sky however and with how large the man was, it was unlikely you would have missed such a sight in the blue sky during your exploration.
The man swept some of his hair past his forehead, effectively jostling the diamonds that hung down the length of his scalp.
“I was doing some adventuring.” The answer was vague, and when you peeked behind him on the spot with the log, you could actually see he did have a sack discarded on the ground, likely to store all his belongings while he travelled.
In your moment of thought, the man proceeded to lift your hand, though this time with the intention to plant a soft kiss across the curves of your knuckles. The gesture was simple and rather harmless, but it made you to madden with more curiosity. It seemed this man was not particularly shy like you had expected him to be.
He was...forward.
“My name is Keigo,” He offered and released your hand. You let the limb fall to your side and were amazed that you still felt the press of his plush lips from where they had tickled your knuckles.
You kept a strong face, unwavering. It was probably not best to give your name to a stranger. But again, you hadn’t sensed any particular danger. If anything, you seemed more threatening than the fellow, with your spying and all.
As if you owed the man, you allowed yourself to disclose your name, “I am Y/n.”
The man grinned. You tilted your chin down and saw that the leather of his shoes were shiny and made of real material, cleaned perfectly to the point they sparkled almost as much as the gold bracelets wrapped around his ankles.
“Well Y/n, I am truthfully not just adventuring. I’m actually on my way to Topuk Palace.”
Then, the creature shifted in his footing and used his toe to almost nervously toy with one of the branches on the Earth below, “Have you ever heard of it? I believe I lost my way.” He spoke honestly.
As you suspected, this creature, Keigo--was indeed on a lonesome journey with the lack of escort. You did instantly recognize the title of the Palace of Healing...
Coincidentally enough, it was the palace in which you had received your tutoring in your pubescent years and the place you frequented in your adult life to relay information to your peers and teachers. It was the place where you had learned all about the arts of flora and medicinal practices.
It was a highly respected and beloved location, not too far away in the kingdom past yours, large in population in which individuals from all over the lands come to visit. Reasons for such a wide tourist site is the traction gained when people trekked there from their decline in health, in need of answers for their sickness.
There was a large web of doctors and professors there, highly equipped for teaching and practicing, serving to help others.
But it was rather far away, past the forest itself and past your kingdom, beyond even the looming mountains and around the great lake. Only there would you happen to stumble upon the kingdom. It was vast in both population and land, so it wasn’t difficult to spot.
“Yes, I do in fact.” You politely smiled. Then you thought, if Keigo had lost his way, maybe you could spare some time to be of help, “Would you like the directions?”
The man rubbed the back of his neck with embarrassment and gave you a rather small grin. Though you didn’t know if creatures like this aged differently from humans, you speculated that he was younger in age than you. Clear by his youthful pores and athletic build, “That would be appreciated.”
Luckily in your bag, you had a handy map that you liked to bring with you in case of emergencies or if you made it a habit to stay past curfew. When it grew dark like this, sometimes you needed refreshing of the landmarks around your kingdom to head back to your village without the presence of the sun to guide you.
“I can draw you the regional map. Would that be helpful?” You offered and reached into your bag to dig for your little folded map.
“Very much so.” He agreed with a breath of relief.
It seemed the man was genuinely lost and simply collecting his bearings in this forest. You had been a lucky coincidence to have spotted this creature and followed him.
And so, in favor of comfort and ease to do as you offered, you walked down through the grass to the log where Keigo had been sitting earlier. You could see the pond had a few lily pads sitting atop the stagnant surface. The green vines fell down from the tree branches to create a beautiful landscape. It was a beautiful stretch of water and ahead of the pond, you noticed there to be more groves of more trees blocking you from seeing anything further.
You seated yourself on the dead tree’s trunk and Keigo walked around to sit next to you at a respectful distance. But even with the space between your bodies, you could still smell the honey wafting off him. You could hear crickets beginning to creak now that the sun had officially disappeared, leaving you cast in very bad lighting. You rushed to pull out the things from your bag, scouring for your stick of graphite to start sketching. You went through the pouch around your waist, flipping the flap of its top to pull out your things until you finally found the material.
When you found the items you were looking for, you tugged out the map from your bag and Keigo watched you intently as you unfolded the paper. You tried not to grow distracted by his presence too much.
It was rather difficult when all you could hear was the sound of his pearls shaking on his torso as he shifted in his seat.
And it was also hard with how pretty his yellow eyes were when they gazed at you.
“My, that’s an awful lot of supplies. Are you an artist?” Keigo asked curiously.
You understood where the conclusion came from, though it was false. You loved the arts. You also deeply appreciated and admired all those who set forth in such a field and area of study, but you didn’t find you had the eye for that.
“No.”
You pulled out your pad and flipped through the pages to a blank one and didn’t miss the way Keigo raised a bushy brow, unruly on his facial features, “Are you sure? Your sketches look quite detailed. If not an artist, what is your occupation?”
His wings ruffled once when you licked your lips to moisten them after they had dried up, and caught the wince in his shoulders at that motion.
It wasn’t an odd question, to be honest. Keigo looked to your lap and then again to your body. You were, after all, wearing trousers.
Which were usually suited for men.
So you clarified by saying, “I’m a scientist.”
Though you had told other people this fact before, you felt yourself grow heated anyways. You’d never quite get used to disclosing that part about yourself. While not a particularly popular course of study for women in your kingdom, you couldn’t deny the time and devotion you have spent to this subject.
Ever since you were young, you had found an interest in not only plants, but their properties and uses. Your home back in the village was racked with shelves and cabinets of all sorts of samples of plants and shelves of books dedicated to your research, along with other informative studies.
The man didn’t seem put off by this however, even when it was unconventional. Usually when you revealed this sort of thing, you would get some questionable gazes and smirks, smug expressions as you were judged.
You waited for the impact to drop. But Keigo surprised you.
Keigo simply nodded, “Ah, that explains the tools then.”
In your lap, he gestured where you indeed had an array of your magnifying glasses, your metal tweezers and collection of rags and clothes, even a few empty vials to sample dirt.
You hummed and started tracing your finger on the paper where the Palace of Healing was meant to be. You made a mental note of the best route to lead Keigo to the kingdom and started to sketch it out.
It was peculiar that even though you were currently talking to and interacting with a mythical being, Keigo didn’t come off as something too otherworldly. Sure his appearance was that of extreme beauty, unseen to your eyes before today, but that wasn’t exactly enough to be magical.
Those wings however were something different.
Around you, as you sketched out some of the common landmarks and names of towns that he would find along the trek, you could see Keigo choose to stand off the bark. In your peripheral, the man waltzed to the edge of the lake and leaned down to cup the water in his hand.
You spoke up quickly, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The man raised a brow and turned his neck to you. His red wings stretched for a second and he dropped the water back into the lake, “How come?”
You stopped writing for a moment and licked your lip, thinking of the best way to describe why he shouldn’t quench his thirst from the pond’s fluid. You shifted to cross your legs on the log, letting your pants hike further up your calves to expose the skin to the night air
It was beginning to grow colder by the second.
“Well, for one, the water is stagnant.” You explained and when he only smiled and raised his brow again, you cleared your throat and gestured with your fingers, “If the water isn’t flowing, that means it is not safe to drink.” You clarified.
It was common knowledge. Or so you thought.
The man turned to look at the water then back to you before asking further, “What if I have a really strong immune system?”
You actually had to resist letting out the laughter that had bubbled up your throat because while someone may have had a good body--strong and healthy enough to fight infection or bacteria that may enter their system--that didn’t mean much to poisoning.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be safe rather than sorry?” You smirked, playfully teasing the creature.
Keigo wasn’t being disrespectful to you, choosing to listen and wipe his hands on his shirt to dampen the silky cloth.
“So you really are a scientist, hm?” He confirmed and then probed, “What exactly do you study Miss Y/n?”
Knowing not to drink stagnant water hardly qualified as enough evidence to prove you were a researcher, but if that was all the proof the man required, you supposed you’d let him believe so.
You actually studied an array of things, but were currently focused on ecology and the environment, finding great interest in nature and what it had to offer.
You resumed sketching, turning your vision away from him to hum, “You could say I study nature and plants.”
Then, you heard his footsteps near your body on the log until Keigo was sitting again beside you, this time much closer to the point you could feel the heat radiating off his body like a furnace.
You only needed to map out a few more details in order for the map to be of any true use and the man spoke up again. He seemed to be a chatty fellow, having the ability to make conversation flow easily and with little thought. Though, these were rather causal questions and statements thus far.
“That is quite impressive. You can read and write as well? Not a lot of the ladies back in my kingdom know how to do such a thing.” Keigo explained.
This was actually true even in your own kingdom. Women seldom pursued academics, though you wished they did. It would provide you possible comfort and excitement to be surrounded by female energy as you delved into your research. But the male dominance in the academic field would simply be a barrier that you had to overcome.
In any case, you felt yourself grow a bit prideful at his praise and your ears even heated. You were glad your hair had been down today to hide some of your face so Keigo wouldn’t be able to see the way your shoulders shifted.
You rushed to finish the last sketch and then started to refold the map. Keigo was kind enough to help you open your bag, helping you to put all your supplies and equipment back inside.
But not before grabbing your sketchpad out of your fingers.
You instantly grew both startled and upset by his forward demeanor. You rushed to reach and grab for it again, but the creature was already off the log and hopping away from you. The man held the book open with a hand while he skipped backwards so you were out of reach from him, trudging around the lake to avoid the water.
“Excuse me.” You pronounced agitated and followed to chase after him. The man squinted as he looked through your book while you left your bag on the log and trailed after him to get your item back.
“Just let me have a look.” Keigo pleaded and turned to you with a careful step back, away from your approaching form. He even gave you a childish pout, as if an infant wanting to keep a toy that they had seen in the store.
Initially, you had been simply annoyed that he had grabbed the leather right out of your hands. And this rude behavior hadn’t exactly done well to convince or show reasoning as to why you should allow him to grab and look at your personal belongings without permission.
But for some unknown logic, your mind was telling you to let him quell his curiosity and take a look at your sketches...
You sighed at the thought and shook your head, feeling stubborn at the gall of the man and chose to stomp closer, “Perhaps if you had asked instead of grabbing it from my hands.”
The man again, stepped on his heels and you watched the way the gold around his ear started oscillating back and forth, swinging line vines next to his neck. And then, just as you were about to snatch it out of his hands, his wings flapped a single time.
And then Keigo winced unexpectedly and the book fell to the floor.
You ran and rushed to gather the book from the ground, wiping off the dirt and pieces of grass that had smeared against its pages before standing up.
But Keigo had made a hiss as you rose up, victoriously with your book back in your positions. The heat of anger left you in relief now that you had your book back and then asked, “Are you alright?”
Keigo’s blonde brows were pulled into a scowl of pain, eyes shut tight as he reached behind himself to rub at his wings. He exhaled slowly and then straightened out his pained face to give a faux grin that you could easily decipher.
Afterwards, he simply rolled his shoulders as if to stretch them and respond, “Of course.”
The lie was rather obvious and told without much fabrication, other than him choosing to change the subject before you had a chance to call out his fib, “Your drawings are very beautiful.” He complimented and you again, felt that your heart was pumping faster than usual with his sincere flattery. You weren't sure if all creatures such as Keigo were friendly and communicative, but if so, you were very unused to this sort of treatment.
In a way, you were at a loss for words but desperate to continue your conversation so you thanked him for the nice words. You forced your body to relax, keeping an eye on him to see if he were to wince again while you started to rip the page where you had drawn on the map.
Keigo took the page from your hand once you offered it and brought it up to his face to admire the picture, reading out the names of the different locations he would have to pass through.
“It’s a bit of a walk. You’ll have to cross through the mountains and go around the lake.”
But then, you felt embarrassed at those words when you noticed again that Keigo was not just a human. He was a mythical creature, not like you at all.
Half avian. You weren't sure to what extent his biology extended to that of a bird, but those wings were surely large and strong enough to carry him into the sky.
“Sorry, I suppose you could just fly.” You gestured to his red feathers..
The man gave you a light and airy chuckle then shook his blonde head, “I could, except the whole reason I’m visiting the palace is because I cannot.”
Then he continued on by stepping a few spaces closer, “I mean, at the moment at least.”
Your hand tightened around the book in your hand as you started binding it closed with the strings before you questioned, “How come?”
The man seemed a bit skeptical at first to confide in you for the reasoning behind his inability to simply use his magical gift of flight to reach his destination. But your problem solving skills and ability to connect pieces together was unrelenting. Before Keigo opened his mouth to explain, you had figured it out.
The man eventually decided to show you what he meant with a visual and spun around on his feet, demonstrating his back in the dark air. There, you could faintly see there to be what appeared to be a patch of distressed feathers on his left wing.
The area was balding to the skin. Keigo mentioned, “I injured it. They’re not exactly good to use. I was informed that a doctor in the Topuk Palace would be able to help.”
You didn’t know what possessed you, but your hand must have had a mind of its own as it reached out to brush the pads of your fingers against the red and injured wing. This action caused the man to yelp and jump forward, flipping around hurriedly to grab your hand tightly as he hissed, “Hey,”
You grew frightened for a mere moment at his tough grasp to your wrist.
Keigo’s tone had been threatening and suddenly, you were extremely close to the man. So close, you could admire the way his bird-like eyes’ pupils had slit into a defensive gesture. He eased up on his hold and spoke calmly but sternly with an exhale, “I know you lot are not accustomed to seeing creatures like us, but that’s no excuse to go touching them, do you agree?”
The scolding caught you off guard and you felt yourself grow sheepish. You seemed to have forgotten your etiquette in this meeting and realized your mistake immediately, feeling you didn’t have a single excuse this time for your horrific actions. Keigo was right. If he had done the same thing to you, it was likely you would have thrown a similar fit.
Again, this action had been driven by your curiosity, and for some reason, a wish to know more about this creature.
Keigo seemed normal to you when you had been speaking to him, but clearly if provoked, would react differently than that of a human. The creature was very different in a sense that he had different boundaries, likely a different way of life and clearly a different status than you.
Perhaps he was even nobility and you were shocked that you had been slow to come up to that conclusion.
“I apologize.” You uttered but then your eyes flickered away from the yellow irises to return their inspection on his languid wings, staring at the area where the arch of the bone was a bit out of place.
You rasped, feeling as though your throat had become dry and dull, “Is it broken?”
Keigo’s hand was still holding yours rather firmly and you didn’t have the heart to pull away, feeling comfortable in the touch though it was originally menacing. His hands were large but thin, strong and rather calloused like yours.
He sighed, “It is.”
You peeked past his hair once more to the red and he squeezed your fingers to draw your attention
“But that’s no excuse to go ‘round touching, mm?” Keigo repeated and you felt yourself now a bit nervous.
“Yes, you’re right. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.” You tried to apologize and wiggle your fingers in his hold as to indicate for him to let go. But in that moment, what Keigo did instead of releasing was look you up and down.
He seemed to have a habit of doing that.
You could see the way the sharp lines around his eyes further made him look alike to a bird, impressing you again.
The man unexpectedly tugged you forward with his strength until your chest was pressed to his.
A finger took your chin and the silk of his blouse brushed upon your cheek as he tilted your head up, “That’s not a proper apology.” He stated.
Keigo had a smirk on his lips now and you felt your body quiver with feeling his skin against yours.
You hadn’t been much of a woman to engage with romances or flirty behavior as such, so you were finding yourself to be incredibly unsure of what to do and stuttered out, “What should I do to show I’m sorry?”
You did feel bad for your behavior and were hoping he wouldn’t ask you to do anything too straining or overexerting. You were tired from your long day and in a sense, longed to return home but were also rivaled with a desire to continue talking to Keigo.
At that, Keigo took your hand where he was gripping it very firmly and set it on his shoulder. His bare shoulder where the fabric had been opened purposefully. His skin was heated incredibly so, and you were almost frightened to be touching him so blatantly. But then Keigo returned the intimate touch with a hand around your waist, clutching at the material of your corset where it was tightened in a way that made your heartbeat quicken with exhilaration.
You were afraid Keigo would be able to hear it with how loudly it was drumming in your ear and you begged yourself to get a grip on your behavior, to at least try and calm your breathing.
Both pairs of eyes were currently locked with each others vision, slowly waiting to hear what he would request from you when he used his other hand to touch upon the velvet choker you had wrapped around your neck.
“Perhaps a kiss?”
A kiss? What a peculiar and shameless request. How could Keigo possibly think in his right mind that an apology consisted of an intimate display of affection. At first, you were angered and almost disturbed that he wanted such a thing. But then you had to cool and remind yourself that this man was not from your kingdom and thus, had different customs to you. Different ways to show appreciation, consolation, and apology.
You swallowed your pride and wavered, feeling unconfident to do such an action but didn’t really have a way to counter his proposal. At least he hadn’t asked you to do something physically difficult.
“Alright.” You ultimately agreed and the man only provided you with a moment of silence before he initiated the contact, shutting his eyes and tugging you by the necklace to press your lips to his.
You weren’t sure what to do other than close your eyes as well, your hand tightening around his shoulder while he kissed you.
Not only did his breath smell sweet, but it was a natural glucose flavor that you had never tasted before. You wondered what he possibly could have eaten before meeting you for it to taste like that.
Just as soon as the kiss had started, it had ended.
The man pulled away and released your velvet choker. You had to suck in a breath of air as you had briefly been choked by the action, feeling oddly disappointed as your lips disconnected.
After swallowing some oxygen, your hands shook as you quivered, “Is that all?”
Keigo tapped his finger on your waist, causing you to jolt briefly and he nodded.
“Yes. But my, you are a rather lousy kisser. I suppose that should be enough.”
Keigo told you this but he still hadn’t let go. You would do it yourself, but the man was much stronger than you physically and you weren't sure if the maneuver would be unwanted or offensive to him.
Despite seeming rather unhostile, you would rather not anger the man by being rude again. Thus, you just softened your touch to his shoulder to prompt him to release you.
Instead of letting go--you don’t know why you expected him to, as if he had been doing anything predictable this evening--his hand had started to stroke up your waist until it was touching your face. Again, you were caught off guard by his forward and un-shy behavior, his fingers skirting down the profile of your face to stroke your jaw.
Around you, it had grown much darker than earlier and Keigo’s eyes were suddenly glowing. Bright and yellow in the air, easy to spot.
His jewelry rattled as he touched your face and the breath in your throat hitched the same way it had done when you had first seen the expanse of this creature’s red wings.
But then--really in the worst of times--you had started to remember more details about creatures like Keigo. You had remembered that these creatures were while yes, clingy--that much was clear by the way he was taking your time and company--but they were also, to an extent, timid.
Easily scared off by others and prying eyes, liking to keep to themselves or with their families and similar friends.
Keigo was not shy, nor had he been scared by your presence earlier. So, that must mean he was a special case. Whoever this man was, you had simply been growing more and more intrigued by his state of nature.
It was almost as if he were a siren, a frightening demon or a scary creature that served only to lure others and make them unable to leave, trapped by a curse of infatuation or some other incantation.
But you were sure you weren't under any sort of spell or magic right now.
Keigo had not done anything to you so far against your will.
“Don’t tell me though...” Keigo started to speak in a lower register than before.
The words had rolled off his tongue strangely. You caught in that moment that the man seemed to have an ability to be glowing in appearance with femininity yet had the charm of masculinity in tone of voice, “...Was that your first kiss, Y/n?”
Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to simply allow this man to touch you romantically after the kiss and ask you personal questions. The truth was that it wasn’t, but it had been awhile since the last instance you had allowed yourself to engage in such intimacy with another person. Keigo stroked your jaw before he was lifting some of your hair to tuck behind your ear while his sleeves brushed past the collar of your beige blouse.
“No.” You nearly snapped, but it came out more breathy and the man clearly hadn’t bought your answer because he tugged at your hair in a way that surely shouldn’t have sent a jolt of electricity down your spine.
And it surely shouldn’t have elicited an airy cry from your lips.
The man had another charming smirk on his lips and you resisted his pulling by digging your nails into his shoulder, “Why don’t you be honest, darling?” The man cooed.
What sort of game was he playing at? Did he make it a habit to toy with strangers after being helped?
“I’m not lying.” You started and then bit your lip when he tugged more gently at your roots until he was tilting your neck to the side.
“Hmm, then maybe you are simply inexperienced...” Keigo mused quietly almost to himself, and then brought a finger back down your neck. Your throat bobbed as he tickled your skin there.
“Am I correct?”
He was correct.
You were neither experienced, nor were you really aware of anything that had to do with romantic initiations. You’ve kissed before, and you had some level of knowledge of the matter, but nothing extensive.
It seemed Keigo’s eyes, while previously slit and rather predatory, had blown back to normal size before he was letting go of your hair and waist after a stretch of silence.
You breathed outwardly and stepped back warily, unsure of the sudden change in behavior. Keigo cleared his throat and his voice became a pitch higher instead of the low and almost menacing tone he had acquired earlier. The man held the piece of paper up that you had sketched out for him to say, “Thanks for the map.”
You also cleared your throat and nodded curtly before you finally managed to move your feet and flip around, walking back to the bag you had forgotten to gather at the log earlier.
Keigo also returned to the log with you to pick up his own sack, tucking the map into one of the pockets by pushing aside some of the strings of pearls.
Pearls were a rather rare object in these parts of the lands. You were rather far from the ocean and the white beads tended not to be found around here in such bulk forms. Not only were they rather fair in size, but each one was shaped almost perfectly and shined to a bright opaque color.
You tried to not stare but it was just so difficult.
Around the two of you, the crickets had grown louder. When you looked down on the ground, to ensure you had gathered all your things, you were sidetracked to the surprising sight of what appeared to be a cluster of mushrooms, growing in an abundance on the earth beneath your feet.
Because it was dusk, you couldn’t exactly see too much around you, the only source of light being the little lightning bugs that glowed past the trees and brushes.
You couldn’t resist though. Even if you were still thinking about the kiss you had just had with the winged creature, now your heart was telling you to examine the fungi on the floor.
Despite the lack of sunlight, you bent down on your knee and tried to gather a better look at the species of fungus.
Unfortunately, because of the poisonous tendencies that mushrooms sometimes held, you wouldn't be able to take them with you unless you could find an unused cloth in your belongings. You quickly searched through your bag with eagerness, forgetting how far past curfew it was for you, and that you would likely get in trouble when the kingdom patrollers caught you sneaking in past the appropriate time.
You thought it would be worth it however as you faintly saw the white spots on the shell of the mushroom and used the cloth to detach it from the root. Then, without touching it, you wrapped it in the fabric and tucked it into your bag with promises in your heart to inspect the fungi from the comfort of your own house.
Nevertheless, you had been so focused on the mushroom that you hadn’t even realized a head of blonde hair was now crouched down and accompanying you, also entranced by the species of fungi.
Keigo spoke up smoothly, “Find something interesting?”
You nodded and pointed to the other mushroom beside his own foot, that was smaller in size to the one you had picked out but the same species regardless, “I’ve never come across these types of mushrooms. They don’t grow around my village.”
The man hummed and stood up with you once you both took one last look at the peculiar life.
Now that you had both gathered your things, you were wondering if you should probably start bidding him farewell. Surely Keigo understood that it was late and you should start getting back to your own kingdom.
But for some reason, you dreaded the thought to have the creature leave and for some other reason, wanted to extend the interaction.
And you sensed the man was feeling the same way.
The pearls around his waist rattled and clunked softly as he dusted off his knee where he had been kneeling down on the dirt. Keigo must be a nobleman, or prince even. Those pearls were not fake, nor were the other crystals and gems he had on his neck.
“Excuse the question, but are you a prince perhaps?” You asked and the man seemed to grow a bit smug after the words left your tongue and his chest puffed out.
You’d realize you might regret letting your curiosity get the best of you.
The man lifted a shoulder and turned his body perpendicular to you, as if to show you his shoulder.
“Oh, do I look like a prince?” Keigo answered with his own question and then he was batting his lashes at you in a way that was, again, flirtatious but with a rather feminine mystique.
This creature had the charm of a man, but the smooth grace of a female and you realized Keigo had been surprising you in more ways than one.
You were mesmerized.
“Well,” You stuttered for a short second than affirmed more self-assuredly, “Your accessories: Is it normal to wear such jewels in your kingdom? Only noblemen and royalty wear such things in public.”
The man put a finger to his neck where he had a variety of dainty chains hanging and swooping down the cleft of his chest.
Keigo started to fiddle with the metal before he hummed, “Not everyone enjoys wearing their collection, but I’m--hm, how should I put this...”
He smoothed the pearls on his waist and shrugged, shooting you another wide smirk, “...Attached to my belongings.”
You were staring at his naked shoulder.
And his red wings.
And the pretty white teeth.
“I see.”
But the man continued, even though he had finished explaining his reasoning choosing to dress so indiscreetly, “I suppose it's similar to how you’re attached to yours.”
You raised a brow, confused by the suggestion.
He stopped playing with the pearls then jutted his chin forward in the direction of the pouch wrapped around your waist, “Your notebook.” The man reminded you.
In a way, it was similar.
Your notebook was a possession of yours, almost like a security blanket that you were rarely able to part with, needing to have it on your person or else you’d grow nervous. That was probably how Keigo paralleled you, with his own need to have jewelry on his body.
In hindsight, you thought his attachment to be more vain than yours but...
You wouldn’t judge him for being shallow or prideful, because again, these creatures were much different in characteristics behaviorally than you, so it was unfair for you to make judgments.
Keigo started sauntering off and his hips swayed rather enticingly until he was some distance away from you by a large tree, and you watched as he curled a finger to you before inviting, “As a thank you for the map, would you allow me to show you something?”
Keigo’s wings dragged behind his body until he stopped in his tracks, waiting for your answer.
You bit your lip and turned your body to look in the direction from which you had entered the forest, “Actually, I should probably start heading home.” You answered rather dejectedly.
You wouldn’t lie, you were incredibly tempted to.
His pretty waist and impressive feathers were an offer you found obliged to give into, but had a few prioritized settled.
The man rolled his eyes and then tapped a finger on the tree bark next to him, “It’ll only take a couple minutes, I promise you’ll like it.” He tried to convince you further.
It hadn’t even been much of a promising effort, but Keigo seemed excited to show you something and you hooked the fabric of your bag on your shoulder.
Then you sighed. Why was it that you couldn’t say no to this creature. You supposed you were already late, so what would a few more minutes be?
You eventually replied, “I suppose.”
The man gave you an excited grin and you walked around the pond to where he was waiting for you.
He exclaimed, “Terrific.”
And so, you followed Keigo while he disappeared behind the tree. As you trudged forward, following his steps through the dirt, he accompanied his guiding by saying, “While I was making my way through the forest, I stumbled upon this interesting place. I have no use for it really, but uh...”
He trailed off with his words and you simply followed pursuit quietly, growing a bit uneasy to be following him blindly through the forest. Then, if your ears hadn’t deceived you, you were hearing the very distinct sound of running water, a noise that you had not heard before.
Keigo clearly knew where he was going, walking around the shrub and down a cleared trail through the trees without hesitation until the sound grew incredibly loud.
Then, the two of you were halted by a layer of vines draping down from what appeared to be a small cave entrance, or perhaps exit. Keigo pushed away some fallen vines as they hung from the rock before was revealing to you a rather impressive sight.
You wished you had a candle with you or even a torch, or at least the sun so you could have seen this in the light of the day.
Ahead, you were met with another lake, similar in appearance from before, however, this one was much larger and surrounded by more colossal trees. Past a grove of these trees, you could actually see a waterfall, coming down from a rather medium sized cliff to create a pool of water and river to float downstream to the right of you.
But that hadn’t been the most impressive thing. What intrigued you the most was the great amount of vegetation and flowers, various types of plants and other flora that surrounded the entirety of the area.
You turned to Keigo, as if to ensure you weren’t seeing something that wasn’t there and the man laughed lightly and pressed his hand to the small of your back.
He guided you forward while protecting you from the touch of the vines, “Go on. You said you were a scientist, right?”
Yes, you were.
This was incredible.
While it was true that this forest was relatively unexplored, you had never exactly found a reason to venture into it for research purposes, but clearly you should have. You walked down the dirt and grass, feeling your heart pump with something of thrill. All around you, the fireflies were gleaming and buzzing, the creaking of a cricket no longer to be heard as the waterfall was too noisy and overshadowed its voice.
Your body was cold, but you still felt hot with joy.
You made a note not to forget this location. Keigo still had his hand on your back, driving you further into the opening so you could see the plants it had to offer.
“Do you like it?”
You nodded your head immediately, your eyes darting around the pond of lilies and mushrooms, nearly the size of boulders scattered around the field. Keigo rubbed his hand up your spine, almost in a friendly way, but then it stopped by the nape of your neck until it held you rather firmly, craning your neck to him.
“I’m glad.” Keigo spoke and his voice had dropped again. He looked pleased with himself as having sparked your joy by showing you something of your personal interest, and while his hand was tight on your neck, it was still comfortable.
Why did you suddenly remember the kiss from earlier? Your heart quickened and he rubbed a circle with his thumb on your skin before tracing the hem of the neck of your collar.
After a moment Keigo let go and you felt cold again. The man fiddled with his shirt sleeve, twirling the golden ring attached to his shirt around on his finger, causing the fabric to twist until it couldn't anymore and he had to swirl it back into place.
Your eyes had returned to scouring the area and you walked up to a large rock near the lake where a bush of budded roses were closed.
“This is absolutely amazing.” You gleamed, your breath lost in your throat and the man nodded.
“Some of us like gems and some of us like flowers?”
Well, that was probably the most profound thing Keigo had said to you all day.
You willed yourself to bring your attention to him, “Mm, we all have different treasures.” You agreed.
Yes, the nature of this man was different from you, but you two had a mutual understanding that you were fundamentally different and worked to meet each other in the middle. It was very interesting and you found that you had never met anyone like him, both figuratively, and literally.
He was a creature of rumors, really, and has never been spotted by your kingdom in hindsight. But those wings on his back didn’t make him anything scary or frightening. He was also a human, to an extent. Polite and respectful, though with different boundaries.
Why were you so joyful all of a sudden?
“Alright well, I’m happy you found this to your liking.” Keigo showed you his teeth with a grin before he sighed, “But I should let you get back home before it grows too dark.”
You spared one last look at the waterfall than back at the lake.
You nodded.
The man took your hand from where it had been limp at your side and you breathed in the honey of his skin as he pressed a kiss to your knuckles again, “I had a lovely evening with you.”
The compliment was romantic and caused you to again, feel a shudder go up your vertebrae. When Keigo pulled his hand back, you oddly clutched it tighter as to prevent him from retreating just yet to which he raised a bushy brow.
You gathered your courage and Keigo waited patiently for you, as if he already knew what you were going to say. You inhaled before letting out the words, “I also had a good evening. Perhaps, we...”
The words were on the tip of your tongue.
Formed and prepared to be released out into the air.
Your throat was dry.
“Perhaps we..?” The man echoed.
It really was now or never.
You met his eyes.
“Perhaps we could meet again?”
You caught the tone of your voice as it registered in your ears. You nervously chuckled to hide your bashfulness and articulated, “Well, only if you’d like. It’s simply that I liked talking with you and--”
The man cut you off by compressing your fingers in a tight grasp before letting out a laugh of amusement of his own, “Of course I’d like to meet you again Y/n.”
You felt yourself startle in disbelief that he shared your feelings. Maybe it had been that kiss that had clouded your better judgment, but you really didn’t see anything wrong with this request. At least, not with the fact that you two seemed to be on the same energies this evening.
“R-really?” You asked, shocked.
The man nodded and the diamonds on his scalp were no longer glittering with how dark it had become. Behind Keigo, around his wings, you could see the bugs dim with a green glow, floating around the feathers.
Keigo then stood tall and suggested, “How about in a fortnight, on this same day of the week as today, we can meet here?”
You stood on your toes in excitement then set them back down firmly.
He was enabling this?
You were beyond words.
“Near this lake?” You clarified.
Keigo nodded.
“After I visit the Palace of Healing, I will return here in the morning. And perhaps we could get to know each other more?”
Then he smiled and continued, “You’re a very interesting woman, Y/n.”
Before you could catch them, you echoed, “And you're a very interesting man.”
Keigo’s cheeks looked like they were glowing.
“Then it’s a date.” He stated simply.
Yes, you guessed it did seem like a date, but you weren't complaining. On the contrary, you weren't sure if you had suddenly been struck with some kind of love potion, or maybe you had been cursed with an infatuation spell, but regardless, you wanted to be around Keigo all night. The thought of having to part with Keigo somehow filled you with dread, and the way you were both stalling your goodbyes, was very intriguing.
“Goodbye, for now.” Keigo broke the silence first, but then reached into his pocket to pull out a red feather--his red feather--twirling the stem of it between his fingers before handing it to you.
“A promise.”
You took the red object, holding the lightweight material in your own hand and glancing up at his glowing yellow eyes, “Are you sure?”
It seemed that they were a rather personal part of himself and you didn’t want to impose on him.
“Yes.” Keigo confirmed with a lick to his lips
You didn’t argue and took the feather.
And so, the two of you walked out of the forest with short chatter until you were outside in the grassy field once again, outlooking your kingdom and its gates. The lights of the town were beginning to shut off, leaving only a few left burning to guide you back.
You bid Keigo a farewell before you started the trek back home.
The whole walk there, you had a smile on your face and kept the stem of feather warm between your fingers.
It smelled like honey.