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The stars stretched infinitely above them. It was quiet, except for the animals in the nearby forest. From the hill where they were laying, one could normally see the illuminated castle perfectly, but right now, on their backs, their elbows almost touching like this, it had vanished from their view. Everything had vanished except the night sky above them. Saul’s breathing was bare audible and Farah shot him a glance, making sure he had not fallen asleep.
His hands crossed under his head, Saul stared into the night. His body was barely an outline in the dark. He’d become quieter in the past few weeks, his laugh shorter, not as loud, and less often than before. Farah did not blame Andreas or even Rosalind for this, although every new training lesson made Saul grimmer. There was a war after all, they all had spent years training for this. The thought of graduating however, of being out there in no more than a few months – it was intimidating. But at the same time, inevitable for all of them. It became more real every single day, every waking hour. And with it, the looming danger and fear of loss. Farah’s heart clenched in her chest and she desperately tried to put these thoughts aside, to enjoy this time she had with Saul, in the safe borders of Alfea. But there was one question that she couldn’t push aside, gnawing at her insides.
“Do you think they’ll separate us?” It was no more than a whisper but her best friend heard her anyway.
“That’d be very stupid. We’re a great team. A fairy and her specialist.”
Hers. But not really. Not definitely.
“We are. But Rosalind has made difficult choices before. If she thinks it’s right …”
Their mentor hadn’t voiced it, but Farah was a mind fairy after all. Even if she weren’t – the slight crease between the older fairy’s brows, her lips pressed together, told Farah that Rosalind was becoming worried about their relationship. Worried it might become too deep. There was a small line between a strong bond and a dependent one.
“Then we’ll ask Luna to throw in her voice. She’ll be Solaria’s queen, that must account for something.”
Right now, it did not matter much. The princess, Farah’s roommate, was subjected to Rosalind’s moods just like the others. But unlike her, Saul, Ben and Andreas, Luna would never have to set foot on a battlefield.
They were quiet for a while.
“But what if –“
“I don’t even want to think about her breaking us up.”
Saul still stared into the sky. She had to say it.
“But we are not … what if you develop a bond with another fairy?”
Bonds were rare but not as uncommon as they were said to be. Farah and Saul hadn’t bonded yet, not after all these years. Of course, bonds took time to develop and form, but from Rosalind’s looks, Farah could tell the fairy had expected it to happen by now. But it didn’t.
“I won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Farah turned onto her side, her eyes mapping out Saul’s familiar body in the dark.
“Because of this.” He finally moved, facing her and his eyes were silver moons in the dark. Saul grabbed her hand, placing it carefully over his chest. The fabric of his sweater was rough underneath her fingers but he was warm. Farah raised her brows.
Listen. And feel it.
She exhaled. They didn’t do this often. Him projecting into her mind, or her, allowing herself to read him. They had learned this skill fairly recently and even though they had been best friends for years, it brough a new level of intimacy for them. And they held it carefully in their hands like glass.
Farah pushed these thoughts away and she became aware of what Saul was showing her. His heart beat in the now so familiar rhythm, steady and strong.
“It’s the sound of your heart,” Saul stated quietly.
The words carried a weight that should have pressed her down, but instead Farah felt liberated. Her fingertips tingled where she still touched his chest.
“It’s been beating in your rhythm, ever since I was first paired up with you.”
Saul stretched his arm out and Farah rolled over, laying her head on his chest, listening closely to the drumming of his heart underneath her. Her one hand clutched the fabric of his shirt, the other found his. His voice was a soft rumble and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, wrapping his arms tightly around her. His lips were touching her ear as he murmured: “And it will beat in this rhythm until it stops forever.