Chapter 4. Bottled Up Feelings

''Carysse. Carysse, wake up.''

The image of Ashki loomed over her as she opened her eyelids.

''Huh?'' Carysse tried to get up and Ashki supported her, letting her back lean on his arm as she sat. She flexed her freezing fists. She had actually slept outside in the cold night.

''I'm sorry. I know you're tired but Elder Shimar is asking for your presence,'' Ashki said.

''Okay,'' Carysse said with a nod and she stood. Ashki offered his hand and she took it.

They both climbed down from the tree and Carysse hid her blush as they walked from the Kairin tree to the tent still holding hands. They had been holding hands since they were at the orphanage-- it was a normal thing as children of Thalisse who were closely knitted together but to Carysse who was a growing lady, it was enough to warm her heart, though she knew it had no meaning to Ashki.

To her surprise, none other than Elder Shimar and Chaos were present. She had expected for the village leaders to be also there. 

The two of them were squatted on a richly-woven tapestry mat that filled almost the whole room with the majestic figure of the Sacro bird as center of the design. Four cups of tea were also set beside them.

Chaos eyed them when they entered but she pretended not to notice his stare at their hands. A candle was put out when the wind entered with them and Ashki nonchalantly let go of her hand to light the candle. 

''Sit with us, Carysse, my child.''

The warm voice of the village elder made the room brighter. She took a squat beside him with Chaos directly in front of her. Carysse saw that his hand was bandaged and felt a little guilty but then changed her mind on why she should be feeling sorry for a traitor.

''It seems like you're not satisfied with the stab in my hand,'' Chaos suddenly blurted out. He must have noticed Carysse looking at his hand wrapped in thick bandages.

''Yeah,'' Carysse admitted with sarcasm. ''What would be it like to stab you in the heart?''

''Could you? All I see is a girl whose talent is to cry.''

Carysse blinked. There was a long moment of silence before she suddenly burst into laughter. She cracked so hard she must have woken the sleeping village. It was a good laugh. She hadn't had it for many years.

''You've gotten weak, Chaos,'' she said with a smirk. ''You call that a provocation?''. Carysse looked at Chaos with bloodlust.

''Mark my words, you traitor of Thalisse.'' There was venom in her words that Ashki slightly put up his guard like he was expecting her to attack Chaos. ''You're not my family anymore. So you can stop with the familiar memories and just shut your crap.''

They locked eyes and neither showed emotion. No sign of warmth from their childhood days was left. 

The heavy atmosphere dissipated when Elder Shimar clapped his hands once. All eyes were upon him and they saw his eyes were closed. The Elder then linked his fingers together like a prayer, twisted his palms like he was molding something, and ended with a fistbump on both his knuckles like he crushed something.

Carysse recognized the pattern. 

''If you really are loyal to Thalisse no matter what your ideals and goals are, do the sign,'' Elder Shimar said.

They both stared at their hands. Reluctantly, Carysse went first. She knew the meaning. Every sign started with a clap to get the attention of good. The prayer sign was a plea, the molding was the bad spirit or thoughts that were forming in one's mind and finally the fistbump was to crush whatever evil thing that the person wanted to cast out.

It was the pattern for acquiring peace within oneself and to others.

Chaos also followed and then Ashki even did it.

''I cannot blame you for your attitude towards each other. I have witnessed all of your growth through the years and nothing pains me more than to see you so drifted apart because of unforeseen circumstances.'' He wasn't speaking as the village elder anymore. He was talking as a father being grieved for the distance between his children.

''I am not forcing you to be family once again but for this time, I am pleading the three of you, to work as mere acquaintances for the survival of the village.''

Carysse's ears perked at that. She felt that this was going in a different direction.

''Elder Shimar, what do you mean?''

The elder then nodded at Chaos. Chaos, in return, inhaled and exhaled deeply like he was preparing to say something big.

''Go on, Chaos,'' Ashki suddenly said as he took his seat beside Carysse. ''We're all gathered here as you requested.''

Chaos closed his eyes for a second before opening his mouth to speak.

''Carysse, Ashki, I can only rely on both of you.'' He looked at both of them with honor like he actually revered them. ''I have a plan to liberate Thalisse.”

For the survival of the village…

Carysse was surprised. With the words of Chaos earlier when she saw him about how he wants to speak with Elder Shimar, it just didn't cross her mind that Chaos' goal in sending a letter and coming back after two years was to save the village.

''A plan?'' She pressed.

Chaos looked at her for too long. But this time, he had a different expression. The corners of his lips curled like he wanted to say something too important to hold back anymore.

''Carysse.''

She was startled at the warmth of his voice.

''I am sorry. I really am.'' He said it genuinely like a thorn was finally removed from his cold expressions. ''Earlier, I just wanted to bring back the old times where we used to badmouth each other. It wasn't my intention to provoke you or anything. I take back when I said you were just a crybaby. You're still strong as ever.''