Chapter 177: Starplumes and the Quiet Way Hearts Learn to Wait
Chapter 177: Starplumes and the Quiet Way Hearts Learn to Wait
Elyn’s POV
Azerion didn’t rush toward Aziren.
He walked, slow and deliberate, like he was afraid that if he moved too quickly, something fragile would break. His small fingers were curled tightly around the sweet, the thin, shimmering wrapper crinkling softly with every step. The colors—reds, blues, golds, and greens—caught the light as he stopped in front of Aziren, holding the starplume out with both hands.
Aziren went still as he watched Azerion approach him. Honestly, the distance between the both of them wasn’t even much, but with how slow Azerion was walking, one would think it was.
Azerion swallowed when he finally reached Aziren.
"Finally," Rin muttered behind her hand. She thought it was quiet, but I heard her and gave her a glare. She immediately mimed zipping up her lips, although I knew that would do nothing to stop her from saying something stupid later.
Well, at least Azerion didn’t hear her. I could only imagine the argument that would have ensued if he did.
"You’re the first person," Azerion said, voice low and careful, "apart from the Queen... that I like... a lot."
Aziren blinked, clearly not expecting that.
"I’m giving you this," Azerion continued, nudging the sweet forward, "because that means we’re friends now."
There was no teasing in his tone. No bravado. Just sincerity, raw and unguarded.
Aziren’s face lit up instantly.
He nodded eagerly and took the starplume from Azerion, cradling it like it was something precious. "You’re my friend too," he said without hesitation. "I’ll come back and play with you again. Thank you."
Azerion nodded. It wasn’t an excited nod, but one that showed he appreciated Aziren’s words and would hold him to them.
"I’ll see you again," Aziren said to Azerion softly.
"Me too," Azerion told him.
"Bye," he said to Azerion with a wave.
Azerion waved back. "Bye."
Aziren turned to me and immediately ran to me and hugged my legs, but he didn’t linger for long before running to his father, waving as he did so.
Even after Ignivar lifted him into his arms, Aziren twisted around, one hand clutching the sweet tightly to his chest like it was some treasure, while the other waved again. "Bye-bye!" he called.
I waved at him, as did Azerion. "Bye," I said softly.
Ignivar bowed to me, fire flaring softly around him and his son.
And then they were gone.
The space they left behind felt... quieter.
Azerion sniffled immediately after they were gone.
Before I could even say a word, Rin’s voice cut in, bright with amusement. "Are you crying?"
Azerion immediately covered his face with one hand while Rin laughed in delight.
She nudged Vaelory and pointed openly. "Look! He’s crying! The Syrenthis demon is crying because a child left the palace!"
Azerion sniffled again. "I’m not," he muttered.
Rin laughed louder.
"Rin," I said sharply.
"My lady..." she said.
I turned fully toward her, my voice calm but edged with promise. "If you do not stop laughing right now, the shiny jewels I promised you will no longer exist."
Rin pouted, deeply offended, but nodded and fell silent.
I crouched down in front of Azerion.
"Come here," I said softly.
He hesitated, then shuffled closer, shoulders hunched, still trying very hard not to cry.
I lowered myself until we were eye to eye.
"Do you like Aziren?" I asked gently.
He nodded immediately. "I like him," he said. "More than that other girl that came with the succubus."
I smiled. I knew exactly who he meant.
"That makes sense," I said. "You don’t have to like everyone the same way."
He sniffed. "He left."
"I know," I said.
His lip trembled. "He didn’t stay."
I nodded. "That part hurts," I admitted. "It’s okay that it hurts."
He looked up at me, eyes glossy. "Is it because I’m not fun enough?"
My chest tightened.
"No," I said immediately, firm and gentle all at once. "Aziren didn’t leave because of you."
"Then why?"
"Because sometimes people live in different places," I said. "And even when they want to stay, they can’t always."
He wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Will he forget me?"
"No," I said without hesitation. "He won’t."
"How do you know?"
"Because he took your starplume," I said softly. "Those aren’t just sweets, are they?"
Azerion shook his head. "They’re promises."
"Yes," I said. "And you don’t forget promises."
He stared down at his hands for a long moment. "But I can’t see him every day."
"I know," I said. "That’s hard."
He sniffed again, quieter this time.
"But listen to me," I continued, lowering my voice. "Not seeing someone every day doesn’t mean they stop being important."
"It doesn’t?"
"No," I said. "It just means you carry them with you until you meet again."
He frowned slightly. "Carry how?"
I tapped gently over his chest. "Here."
He was quiet.
"Aziren doesn’t live in the palace," I went on, "but he knows where you are. And he knows you’re his friend."
"What if I miss him too much?"
I smiled softly. "Then that just means your heart is working the way it should."
He looked confused. "Missing hurts."
"Yes," I said. "But it also means you cared. And caring is never something to be ashamed of."
His shoulders slowly relaxed.
"When will he come back?" he asked.
I shook my head gently. "I don’t know."
He nodded. "That’s okay," he said after a moment. "I know he can’t come whenever he wants."
I brushed my thumb across his cheek, wiping away the last trace of tears. "And when he does come back," I added, "you’ll still be here. And you’ll still be his friend."
He took a shaky breath.
"I won’t cry," he said quietly.
"You don’t have to promise that," I told him. "Crying is allowed."
He sniffed once more... then exhaled.
His breathing evened out.
The tightness left his shoulders.
And slowly, the tears stopped.
I stayed there with him until they did.