Chapter Text
The song of fairies always swirl in the forest's silent force, just like a soft hymn of lullaby.
Tap, Tap, Tap.
The sound of Mink's boots are smooth yet heavy. He keeps moving deeper and deeper into the forest as a natural traveler will do. Branches and flying roots mean nothing for him; no wilderness doesn't recognize his existence: The-Chained-Mage.
Mink is a native of an exiled town-- feared and avoided at the peak of Midorijima island. The outsiders called the place as "The Black Mage Cage". Ever since they are born, the children of this town are blessed with the power of magic. Every person wears unique accessories at the end of their braids, made from bird's feathers or colorful pearls.
That man is the same; with the braids and pearls but he always wears broken chains on both of his hands. Even though nobody kept him in prison anymore, Mink still wears them.
As he passes the blue mushroom where black liquid keeps falling down--The Rhyme, Mink snorts heavily and takes another path. For Mink, the Rhyme smells like a burning corpse. Unlike his baby brother who regularly drinks the liquid for breakfast and dinner, Mink once tried it but ended up throwing it all up. His brother laughed so much that day. Lately, the rest of his family begin to like it, as well, and their mother has put the Rhyme as one of the menu for meals. Mink can't understand why they can eat that crap.
The forest becomes darker. The song of fairies is loudly sung.
A pair of big wings shadowed the dirt. Mink's best partner has arrived, Rurakhan, an elegant bird with sharp eyes; perches on Mink's backpack.
"Something weird has grow a lot," Rurakhan says.
Mink looks at its eyes. Rurakhan moves its head as though pointing to Mink's destination.
A strange panorama. Mink blinks twice, breathing heavily. All greenery which stays close inside Mink's memories has been covered by bright blue floral. The Rhyme has grow faster into this part of forest. Mink growled low as he pulled down his hood. This is his favorite place, yet it is filled with those disgusting mushrooms. He moves deeper into shadows where the Rhyme grow less.
Suddenly, the song stopped.
Mink also stops, on his guard. It has never happened before. The song has stopped, and the only reason he can think of is filled with dangerous omens.
This is not the time to stay put.
Mink changes his destination, back to where the Rhyme grow the most. The scent gradually changes from burning corpse into a fresh fragrance, like water. It's easy to breath.
Crack! Crack!
One of the biggest Rhyme moves sharply. A big hole near the roots part is cracking up, its stomach-like branch opens up. From that hole, two white seeds grow out. The Rhyme keeps moving weirdly until each seed is as big as a bulldog. A harsh crack begins to pound the other Rhymes as the black liquid's pouring greatly. Black mist starts to dance in every corner of the area where the Rhyme stands. Crickets, snakes, birds... As though feeling weak, one by one they fall to the ground, unconscious.
Poison?! Mink moves back, covering his nose with bare palm. Rurakhan flies higher towards the branches, crying with high-pitched voice.
A group of rabbits, hiding in the big roots, slowly bounce out of their burrows. Every animal then silently gathers around the black liquid before drinking them non-stop. Mink notices that their eyes are lifeless.
What is happening?
"...Somebody...."
A small voice is calling.
"...Please....Take..."
A call for someone to come. Mink can't comprehend what he's doing. He feels that he has to answer. The black mist dissipates as he steps through it. He can't see his destination. Squishy sounds dangling as his boots move further. The black liquid is all over his feet, but Mink doesn't care anymore.
"...Take...Me..."
Mink stands right in front of those white seeds. One of them is so transparent that he can see clearly there's a child inside. A long white haired boy with slim body, almost skinny, is sleeping naked. That child's body is covered with strange, soft branches connecting him with the Rhyme.
That child opens his eyes, looking straight into Mink's eyes. Those are the most beautiful hazel irises Mink has ever seen.
"...Take me..."
Somehow, Mink knows that he can't use any magic to that seed.
He crouches and put his hands on the roots. He sighs heavily before holding them. With all his might, Mink begins to break all the roots covering that seed. One smack, he breaks one row of the obstacles. His family is unlike other normal mage families. They have strong bodies and powerful fists. Crack! Crack! Mink's finally getting closer to the seed. It doesn't take much time. He uses a sharp branch to cut open the seed nicely.
White liquid pours. The child gasps for air as he reaches out his hands to Mink. He pulls that child out as he cuts the soft branches and hair with sharp wind magic.
"U-WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" The child screams in pain.
"It's okay. Hold on to me," Mink put his arm around him, but that child still let out a shrill. Rurakhan brings a soft cloth from Mink's backpack. He takes it and covers the child gently. The small and slender body in his arms sniffles and slowly falls into another slumber. His hair softly touches Mink's bare skin. This boy is warm like a baby.
The seed that once locking up this child slowly withered, leaving only one white seed. Unlike the previous one, the skin of this seed isn't transparent, so the inside cannot be seen.
"What are you going to do with it?" Rurakhan asks.
".........." Mink stands with that child on his arms. "I'm going to ask Clear."