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"Allan… How do you know I…?" Asked Faylen, as her tears were being cleansed by Allan's hands.
"Isn't it obvious? You've been all strange since we rescued that little girl." Sighed Allan. "I guessed something was happening to my wife the moment I noticed you were walking away from the tent to stay alone…"
Allan gently kissed Faylen's forehead as he continued hugging her tightly. He had felt similarly to her many times, to the point of also crying alone… But unlike her, he continued moving forward while carrying such sins, he felt regret and sorrow, but perhaps his heart was stronger, capable of bearing such things.
But Faylen, despite her age and experience, had a weak heart. Since she was a little girl that she had always been gentle-hearted, nice, and very sensitive and empathic with everybody. One of the big reasons that made her into the woman she is today was because she wanted to heal everybody, especially those incapable of affording expensive treatment in her Kingdom.
"You know me well…" Sighed Faylen. After she rested and cried all she had to cry, the two sat next to one another and shared a warm herb tea that Allan brought.
"Better now?" He asked.
"Yes… I am okay now… Sorry, I guess I had a little breakdown there… It's just that…" Muttered Faylen, afraid of saying what she had in mind.
"Its because of what little Sylphy said?" Asked Allan.
"Yeah… She left me thinking too much. I ended recalling the past and… That time… when I… I…" Muttered Faylen, afraid to recall more. "That time I did all those horrendous things… I… She's right… I am a demon, right? These innocent people are not really deserving of carrying such a terrible name… The one most worthy of such a name is me…"
"Faylen… Don't say such things." Said Allan. "You're not a demon… You're the sweetest woman I've ever meet in my entire life."
"Allan…" Sighed Faylen. "But I've killed so many…"
"And so I have…" Said Allan. "I… also regret what I've done countless times over. But drowning in our own sorrow… It won't lead us anywhere."
"It is hard…" Sighed Faylen. "I wish… I had the brave heart you have. I wish it was so easy for me…"
"It is not easy for me either, Faylen." Said Allan. "I bear with the pain every day. Every time I wake up, every time I eat, every time I look into the sky and breath… Every time I sleep… In my dreams and when I wake up again… These lingering memories, these traumas never disappear from my mind, they're ever-present."
"T-Then how… How can you…?" Asked Faylen.
"How can I cope with it?" Asked Allan. "Because you're here with me… Because I got my little Sylphy too… The spirits… our friends… everyone."
"Ah…" Faylen gasped.
She had forgotten the most important and crucial things in her life, all her family here… Perhaps because she had such a long life, that these years she had spent with all of them had been little compared to her long life, her own mentality had a hard time putting them inside of her mind as much as her traumas.
It was a problem she had suffered for a long time now, and even Sylph had noticed how her mother sometimes forgets she has a family that loves her, and drowns herself in sorrow and regret, thinking she's alone. Maybe… she doesn't recall them because her own self-esteem is so low she can't even put into her mind those that love her, because she doesn't even love herself.
"It's true… I am sorry… I often… don't take such things into consideration… I don't know why.. I am… I am such a cold-hearted person… I am really the worst." She cried.
"Come on now… Don't say that." Sighed Allan. "You're the most precious thing in my life."
"A-Allan…"
"You're my greatest treasure… well, Sylphy is here too, but you're still… well, I hate to compare you two but… you're two equally loved." Said Allan. "You have to also remember her, Sylphy… She might had said something that was shocking, but she never said it to offend you. You know how she is, right? Sylphy is an angel, she loves everybody! If you want to, we can talk with her tomorrow and ask her to apologize for the misunderstanding. I am sure she'll do and even feel regret, she'll hug you and might even cry if she knows she made you cry for saying such things."
"I-I… No, there's no need to bother her like that." Said Faylen. "You're right, she's a love. I… I was being dummy. Maybe my age is getting the best of me. I need to meditate some more to calm my emotions… Perhaps I am growing senile…"
"Senile? But isn't your father thousands of years old? You're still in the bloom of your youth, Faylen. You're a beautiful young maiden." Said Allan. "My princess."
"P-Princess?! G-Geez… I am so old and you call me princess!" Sighed Faylen, getting all embarrassed and blushing.
"You've always been." Said Allan. He approached her cheek and kissed her. "I love you."
"Sigh… I love you too." Said Faylen, hugging him back and kissing him in the lips. "Sorry for worrying you, I am alright now… I've realized that… there are things in here that I should keep close to my heart. Despite the regrets and everything I have… I have a life now that I must keep on living, people I love I must protect… I will do my best, okay? So… you don't have to worry so much for me."
"It's no problem for me to worry for my most beloved maiden." Said Allan. "I will always be at your side no matter what, no matter the time, or the age… no matter the era… I'll remain at your side protecting you, okay? I'll never leave you alone, never."
"S-Stop talking such embarrassing things!" Said Faylen while crossing her arms. "L-Let's go back to bed…"
"Alright… Let's go." Allan quickly carried his wife with his arms like a princess.
"D-Don't carry me like this! Y-You idiot!" Cried Faylen, growing even redder like a tomato.
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