Chapter 33 I LIKE HIM SO MUCH

FIRA'S POV

"You're lucky."

It was just a few words, but the radiating ache from his heart reflected to me. I knew that even though he is mad with his mother, he still hopes in his heart that maybe one day, he knows that she loves him. He may not burst out, but he wants to know her reason for leaving him.

I will find her mother. I will help him.

We walked for about thirty minutes. The night was almost deeping. The half moon was peeking on us, giving a small amount of light. The trees were dancing due to the wind. The nocturnal animals were groaning, even the frogs were courting the female frogs. They were singing that was why I knew that they were mating.

When we arrived from the bottom of the mountain, we knocked on the wooden house. We waited for about thirty minutes, but no one opened the door.

"I think there's no people here?" Janus said while wrinkling his eyebrow.

I walked closer. He moved aside to give direction to me. I knocked at the door and leaned my ear on the door. "Father? Are you there?"

"Who's that?"

We both looked at each other. "Is that your father?"

I moved my head from left to right. The disappointment was written on my face. "No. I know his voice."

"You, sure?"

"Yes."

The door opened. I almost fell because I was leaning on the door. Good thing, Janus held my arms to avoid me from falling. We stared at each for a few seconds, but were suddenly interrupted by the man in front of me.

"You disturb my sleep! What do you need!" The old man was glaring at us.

My eyes widened. I was trembling in shock when I saw his features, he was like a hermit: long white hair in the head, white mustache, eyebrow, eyelashes and an old scary man. That was why I ran towards Janus and hid in his back. I held his shirt tightly while peeking into the old man.

"Sorry to interrupt you." Janus' voice was a bit cracked. It was obvious that he was scared, too, with that hermit. "We just want to ask something about her father. Did you know where Eyrom is?"

The old man moved closer to us with the cane supporting him in every step he made. We both moved backward as he moved forward. My hold on Janus' shirt was tightened. I almost ripped his clothes by my hand.

"There's no Eyrom here!"

I managed to get all my strength and talk. "Do you know my father, don't you? I am Fira. His younger daughter. Please help me, he is gone for about a week now."

The hermit was shocked, it could be seen in his old wrinkled skin in the face. His expression softened and gestured to us to go inside. "Go inside."

Janus and I looked at each other. I could see the hesitation in his emotion, but I nodded, making sure that we were going to be fine. I held his shirt tightly before we followed him. I was still trembling, but I should be brave for my father.

He invited us to sit so we stepped forward and sat on the wooden sofa. I did not go far from Janus, I almost glued on his body due to the shiver that was rolling all over me. His house was scary and dark. A lot of dolls and leaves that may be used in his ritual.

"Hmm." I managed to clear the clog in my throat. "Did you see my father?" I repeated that question again and I believed this time I would get a proper answer.

"Yes."

I almost held my breath when he answered. The little hope in my chest grew. It must be the answer to every question running in my mind.

"But that was last month. He went here to beg for the potion that makes his heart out of pain."

I bit my lips. It was too difficult for our father to forget about mom and I believed he was trying his best to be happy, to not think about her. I was supposed to take care of him more, but I overworked to ease the pain in my heart, like him.

"Then what happened?" Janus asked. The confusion was written on his face.

"He was sad. He left me without saying goodbye." I watched him gradually walk towards the sofa and sit in front of us. "He is a good friend of mine. Yes, he may have tough times, but I know him. He will not leave her daughters. Maybe something happened?"

I shook my head. The tears in the corner of my eyes peep. "He will come back. He just grabbed fresh air."

"I don't think so. Last time, he was so devastated that he was thinking of killing himself or jumping on the cliff, but I prevented him by giving advice. I thought he listened."

"No! He will not leave us alone! He is the only parent we have and he knows that!" I could not prohibit myself from raising my voice.

I am a happy wolf. I know myself more than anyone, but I can not hold my emotions anymore. I would go crazy if my father died.

"I will help you. Tomorrow, you can go to the cliff, near the river and check on him. If I heard the news, I will tell you immediately."

I had nothing to do, but to nod. "Thank you." I sniffed the mucus that was about to go out. "Looking forward to the information. Please help me to find him." One drop of tear crawled to my cheek. I immediately remove it using my thumb.

"Surely."

We stood up and faced him again with the spark of gratitude. "Thank you so much, Mister?"

"Henry. Call me Henry."

I moved my head from up and down. I forgot to give him my name so I stretched my arms and offered my hand. "Fira and this my friend, Janus."

"Nice to meet you." He grabbed my hand and shook it. "Go home as fast as you can. The night is deeping. There are wild animals that you might encounter."

We both nodded and said our farewell before we went out of his house.

"I'm sorry, Fira. I disappointed you. I thought we could find your father there." Janus was scratching his head.

"It's not your fault. I am eager to look for my father. I will find him soon."

"I will accompany you, going to the cliff tomorrow."

I stopped my feet from walking. The crack of hard brown leaves could be heard. "Really?" I was just stunned that he was offering me even if he was too busy with the minings.

"Don't worry. I will join you until you see your father again. Eyrom is good to me and this is the only thing that I can do for him."

A wide sad smile formed on my lips. "Thanks."

We walked in silence. I was holding my shoulder, the arms were folded to my chest due to the cold air.

"Want my arm?"

My eyebrows went up. I observed the emotion in his face. He scratched the back of his head and smiled shyly. "I have no clothes to offer so if you don't mind...I will wrap my arms to you so that you will not be cold? Ahm…" He looked away with the embarrassment in his eyes. "If that's okay?"

I bit my lips. I could hear the echoing drum in my chest and the flowing thrill in my body. My heart was filled with happiness. I had no idea that I really liked this guy—so much.

I was about to open my mouth to say a word when I saw the man standing behind him. He was literally burning in fire.

"Pyro?"