“To tell you?” he asked, taking five of the cards. “I’ll.. try.”
Kayan flipped them over, putting them in the same x shape she had. Top right showed The Magician. The middle revealed The Sun, and the two bottom cards showed Temperance and Justice. Finally, the top left card showed The Empress.
Kayan gazed at them for a moment, occasionally glancing up at Evers to see her reaction. Then, he began.
“Starting with the sun,” he said, though his voice sounded more like he was asking a question. “You… need to be confident in the power you have. Trust in yourself— your light comes from within, perhaps. It’s a possibility you underestimate your true power, and you don’t give yourself enough credit.”
His eyes stayed on the cards as he explained, trying to draw out any symbolism he could.
Evers watched both Kayan and the cards carefully as if she was nervous of the out come. She tilted her head when he pulled out the five and flipped them over. The Sun and The Magician were familiar to her, ones she herself had pulled out for herself multiple times before. Justice had appeared for her as well though that one always confused her a bit. Temperence and The Empress were what surprised her the most, having never in her life of Tarot reading, pulled those two cards out for herself before.
Evers nodded to what kayan was interpreting, finding similar outcomes when it came to the Sun card. "A light from within or within another, one who gives and receives inspiration. You can't live without it, but it may be absent." she said automatically, flinching and ducking her head "sorry. Please, continue."
Kayan just gave a sweet smile, raising an eyebrow.
“No— feel free to intervene any time. Lord knows I have no clue what I’m doing.”
He gazed over the cards, his eyes finally resting on The Empress.
“The Empress. Kind of like the Sun,” he replied. “Along the same lines as inner trust. You’re too hard on yourself and trust others more than your own sense of wrong and right.”
He kept giving the woman quick glances, trying to pick up on any facial cues.
“You need to rebuild your own moral compass and follow that. Trust in your ideas and who you are.”
Kayan kept his eyes on her this time, his face sort of inquisitive. Like a dog looking for a great after it did a trick.
Evers shyly smiled back Kayan as he read, surprised at how quickly he picked up on the symbolism within the cards. She tilted her head at the mention of Moral Compasses. She thought she knew hers, of course she knew not all things she did was morally right but she wasn’t perfect, she didn’t want to be, especially in the eyes of the towns people. She wanted them to accept what she did, that or fear her enough so that she would be left alone. Realizing he had finished and had been waiting for her response, Evers snapped out of her thoughts and straightened in her seat.
“That was great, you can put me out of business.” She smiles softly and nodded “You’re doing really well, keep going.”
Kayan grinned at the praise.
“Really?” he beamed happily. “In that case…”
His fingers danced atop another card, seeing it was the Magician.
“You’re optimistic,” he began. “You trust in your magic. You do what you can with what you have on hand, and you act like a curious scientist.”
He looked up again, this time more confidently.
“Be spontaneous. Creative. Do what you want. Take those chances.”
Kayan gave a sweet smile, genuine, as he sat back in the chair. His wings folded out on either side so he could comfortably sit.
He held the card between two fingers, showing her the side revealing the magician.
“You’re an explorer. You rely on intuition, yet serendipity at the same time.”
She breathed a laugh at his newly found confidence when reading cards and watched him, almost as if she were hypnotized by his words. hen he finished with the Magician she leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest "Serendipity? really? Thats a new, you're sure you didn't make that one up?" She drawled, teasingly arching an eyebrow and looking at him. "Why do you keep referring to this as magic?" she asked, a bit more seriously. "I don't have magic. I was taught this by my aunt. I'm normal, like everyone else, despite what they think."
Kayan gave her a questioned look, cocking his head slightly with a smile.
“Like I said, you don’t give yourself enough credit,” he muttered, though his voice was light. “What is your definition of magic? Being able to heal someone? Flying? The kind that makes the edges of your finger’s twinkle with light?”
He shifted, putting the card back on the table and sliding it over to her.
“You can heal with instruments. You can fly in an airship. You can hold your hand to the sun, seeing it outlined with light. All is mystery. All is magic.”
Kayan gestured to the cards, his hands outspread. “Why is this any different? Why is any of that different?”
Finally finishing his lecture, his arms still outspread, he gave a slight laugh. “Maybe you should change your definition.”
Her expression fell slightly and she clasped her hands in her lap, looking away from Kayan.
“It’s different cuz no one accepts it. Everyone excepts the sun, to be able to heal someone with medical practices and remedies, to be able to figure out why a bird flies. This cannot be explained. It can only be. This isn’t something people want to explain. Some find it neat, some horrifying and unnatural.” She shut her eyes, suddenly ashamed at how pathetic she sounded. “People will kill me over it. If that’s part of magic then I want nothing’s to do with it.” She shuddered as if she’s was cold.
“What is magic if not horrifying and unnatural?” he mumbled, more to himself than her.
Kayan sat more stiffly. He could completely sense her disposition, but he kept quiet. He sat contentedly, his calm face keeping steady as he listened.
He let the silence linger, unmoving. He’d probably feel the same way, if he was in her position. And… it’s not like he wasn’t. There had been plenty of people threatening to cut off his wings, or chain him to the ground.
Of course, he never let it happen. Obviously.
“There’s always going to be people that disagree with your practices,” he said. “That’s the way it is.”
Kai paused for a moment, resting his hand on the table.
“That shouldn’t stop you from doing what you’re good at. Even if they want to kill you.”
A long sigh interrupted his words as he leaned forward, his eyes resting on her bowed head.
“I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“I’m absolutely fine people not accepting what I do. I know it’s a lot to take in but wanting to kill me for it?” She shook her head in troubled disbelief.
She glanced up when he mentioned he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. “You don’t Owen me anything Kayan. It’s not your job to protect nor will I ever allow you to take that burden upon yourself.”
She looked up, not expecting him to be so close “I can take care of myself,” She teased slightly, resting her head on her hand twirling one of the cards in her hand.
Kayan smiled. “Well of course. You’re strong.”
He paused for a moment as his eyes danced across the card she was twirling. His smile rested as he placed his head on over of his hands, almost mimiking her movement.
“And I’m not sure you understand what my job is,” he mumbled. He shot back that same teasing glance. “I save people. I protect them. That’s what I do for my living. So yes, as a matter of fact, I will take that upon myself. Thank you.”
“Funny that you think I need protecting,” she smirked and looked up at him “or saving.” She shook her head and pressed the card to her lips. She set it down to reveal the sword card. “What do you protect? The life or the heart?” She arched an eyebrow and tapped the card “will you risk your own to save another’s?” Waving a hand over the card, it shifted to reveal death on one side and the queen in the other. “One can’t live without the other.”
“I try my best to protect both,” he retorted. “And of course I’d sacrifice myself for another.”
Even he was taken aback by how truthfully he had answered. Kayan didn’t show it externally, but he didn’t realize that’s how he had actually acted. Of course he would risk himself, even if the thought of death terrified him to his core.
His cool demeanor kept unchanging as he looked at the shifted card.
Her gaze flicked up to his, her lips curled up into a small smile “even for one you know nothing about? Not even the name?” She breathed a laughed and leaned back in her chair, gathering the cards in a flourish before stashing then away in her sleeve.
“Don’t waste your energy Kai, there are those out there that have it worse.” She stood from the desk and carried the candle to the kitchen, where she used it to light the flame on the stove.
“So the answer is you won’t let me help you?” he asked, sitting up from resting his head. His hand hung limp off the table, his elbow still propped. His tone still held that teasing lacing, and he seemed much more joyful than he was during the card discussion. He wasn’t going to lie— he was relieved when she had put the cards back away. He didn’t necessarily enjoy things he couldn’t explain.
“Probably not, though I am forever thankful for what you did today.” She glanced over her shoulder and smiled softly as she started to gather all the necessary in gradients to make dinner. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to see if there’s any tomatoes in the garden.” She grabbed an apron to use as a sling for the tomatoes Andy headed out the back door to the field outside.
Kayan nodded, his wings fluttering habitually. His eyes wandered around the house. She had made decent progress with cleaning up the deal from that morning. He slowly rose from the chair, padding over to where she had left out the back door. He stood in the doorway, eyeing the field. He stood there peacefully, watching as she headed out. A small smile quivered at his lips and his eyes looked gently out at the setting sun.
She glanced back when she noticed he had followed and smiled softly. She glanced up at the sun and stood from her crouched position to gaze up at the sun. Using her hand to shield herself, she smiled and started humming the song from a few nights before.
Kayan gave a warm smile at the familiar sound. Stepping from his spot and joining her in the field, the situation was almost romantic. The long grass complimented his wings, which were just in the slightest bit translucent so the sun shined through.
“Mind if I ask what song that is?” he asked, his voice melodic.
She shrugged, ending the verse before answering the question. "I'm not entirely sure. My aunt used to sing it all the time when I was little. It sort of just stuck with me through out my life." She glanced up at him, eyeing his beautiful wings. "Do you recognize the language?" she inquired, wanting to know more about the song herself but not having any resources to do so. "All I know id that it's in old Language, One used by those he personally served the gods in times of war."
“It’s familiar to me,” he admitted, his eyes not particularly resting on a point in the distance, just gazing at the beautiful land.
“I almost want to say my father knew it,” he said, though his voice was much quieter. However, he still kept his soft smile. “I’ve never heard the song, but I recognize the syllables.”
He put his gloved hands in his pockets, standing calmly on the balls of his feet. His wings fluttered involuntarily, almost like a landed butterfly with the sun grazing its wings.
“Is he still with us? Your father I mean?” She asked softly, her eyes occasionally looking to his wings as they shifted in the dimming light. From blacks and iridescent greens to ambers and purples.
How many had tried to take that from him? Was he hated for what he was? For what he represented. No. He’s too important…and intimidating. No one would dare.
Shaking herself from thought and sat down in the field.
“Do you know any song in that language? Besides this one?”
Kayan kept his eyes on the horizon, his stomach dropping as soon as she slung the first question. His smile seemed in the slightest bit melancholic, resting there. His eyes lost their twinkle, the sun shining from them dimly.
“He’s… No. He’s not,” Kai said softly. “But he did teach me one of the songs. He said it was from my family… a long time ago.”
Instinctively, he began singing it. Some of the words were iffy, almost like he couldn’t really remember annunciation. Still, the melody was clear, and his voice did it at least a bit of justice. He kept a sort of hum rather than production, bobbing his head occasionally with the rhythm.
Finishing the verse, he explained, “My father used to sing it to me before night. He said it was about… about how the dark is the only place you’re able to see the light. Poetic and cheesy, I know. But… important to note notheless.”
She glanced up and reached for his arm in silent comfort. She knew he didn’t want an apology, she hadn’t wanted o e when they burned her aunt. She pulled away gently and listened to his singing, liking the way his voice carried the words and tune of the song.
“It’s not cheesy, it’s beautifully simple.” She commented lightheartedly, looking up at the sky and standing. “He’s right you know, the darkness with always hold what light you seek.” She carefully put more tomatoes in her apron sling and brought them inside. “Would like to start yay for dinner or would I be keeping you from doing something important?” She asked over her shoulder, putting the tomatoes on the counter to be diced
“I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome,” he said, ducking in the door after her. He shut it behind himself gently, continuing to look out at the sun as he did so.
“Plus…,” he began, dropping his head only slightly and pausing to take a sigh. “I have to get to the city. I said I would this evening.”
Kayan glanced over, watching her work. He moved gracefully over, taking both hands from his pockets.
Truly, he was averse to the concept of leaving. He liked this woman, perhaps a little more than he wanted to. Not to mention, she had torn out his secrets. That’s not someone you leave.
But then again, he had no business in this village. Conversing with the people here… it seemed Tawn had done all he could. Kai’s only concern now was to keep people from harming Evers. Something he wished to do loyally.
