On these particular days, he often longed for a complete disappearance, questioning his purpose in this realm. Yet, as always, he kept these thoughts locked away, for there were few, if any, friends who would lend an ear. He understood that they, too, were burdened with their own lives and inner battles. Solitude held no great weight for him; he had grown accustomed to it since the departure of his parents. His relationships with other relatives were distant, right now he only has his aunt by his side, so the embrace of solitude was initially welcomed.

In this place, those who did not fit in were either shunned or feared and avoided. Despite his status as a royal sorcerer's and a child of one of the greatest among other kingdoms, he often found himself fitting seamlessly into both categories, where he was both feared and disregarded.

He remains perplexed by his sudden change in behavior, pondering the influence of the intoxicating elixir flowing through his bloodstream. Swiftly, he finds himself stationed at his customary spot beneath the tree, dutifully observing her presence. However, in a surprising twist, he is now compelled to approach her with measured steps.

"Why are you always doing this?" When he approached her, he frowned. The bottle was in the bag he had maintained, and his tobacco was at the end of his life.

The woman rose to her feet, her equilibrium momentarily disrupted as she beheld the intrusion of an unfamiliar figure into their sacred sanctuary. However, upon closer inspection of his countenance, she discerned his identity as none other than the ethereal being who had inspired her artistic creation, the very individual she had encountered within the hallowed halls of the art and literature emporium.

With trepidation lingering within her, she found herself perplexed by the sudden discovery of his presence in their sanctuary. Nevertheless, she maintained a composed facade. Men of his ilk, unlike the benevolent Azra, were not always imbued with kindness, even if they were linked by blood or camaraderie. It was a lesson her mother had repeatedly imparted, stressing the eternal truth that not all souls are cast in the same mold. Alas, his very visage did not assuage her apprehension; garbed in a somber hue of ebony and clad in supple leather, he exuded an air of foreboding.

As her eyes met his crinkled nose, a sudden urge to burst into laughter swept over her, momentarily contrasting his demeanor. Yet a swirling unease within her gut urged her to resist surrendering to such intrusive musings. "Ah, I recognize you," she remarked, swiftly composing herself and tightening her grip on the basket, her knuckles turning pale. With her other hand, she delicately smoothed the fabric of her attire.

"Besides, this is also my place. How did you find this place? "He rolled his eyes. He didn't want to hear her stupid words of scolding; he had enough for today.

Looking at her dress, something about it annoyed him. He cannot completely place it. Perhaps because she was wearing yellow, bright colors, just like her attitude, at some point he wanted to put down the light in her. Her eyes fell on the bag he was holding. "Are you drinking here?"

"Does it look like water to you? So if I am, what are you going to do? Scold me?"

"How do you know that I do this all the time, and no, I will not scold you. Who am I to do that?"

In the midst of their interaction, he momentarily halts, fixating his gaze upon her, while she delicately presses her lips together. Her attention then shifts to the bottle, which he firmly grasps. "May I have a taste?" she queries, his raised eyebrows betraying his astonishment. Such an unexpected turn of events, he muses.

"It's just, I've always wanted to, you say it was not water, I just wanted to try something new."

"The whereabouts of your mother remain elusive, and I cannot help but ponder the repercussions that shall ensue upon your try-out of such a new discovery of this transgression, do you not agree?

"She's out of town for a few days; she needs to do something for us, that's what she says." She smiled a little proud. "She always returns after a few days."

Daemin Hummed. "You are very naive; does your mother inform you that it is not good to tell someone that you are alone, especially to the strangers you just met?"

"You are practically not a stranger; I saw you before."

"That doesn't work like that. No matter what you say. Going back, what you're saying is that while your mother is not around, you want to try alcohol?" She nodded, and he looked around. Is this a joke? Someone would jump out to condemn him for even entertaining this idea of hers, maybe her mother, and then probably beat the hell out of him?

With a sigh, he extended his hand towards her, handing her the bottle. Observing her radiant expression and the inquisitive gleam in her eyes, he witnessed her delicately placing the flowers aside before accepting the offering from his grasp.

He patiently awaited her attempt, for there seemed to be no superior way to occupy his time, the prospect of returning to his abode would come in due course.

"Are you allowed to speak to me at all? What if your mother finds out that you not only drank? That you also talked to someone? Wouldn't she be angry with you?"

"She will certainly do so, but she will never know if I will not tell her unless you snitched me" He was caught off guard by her response. He was poked. When she realized what she had said, her sudden embarrassment caused a red flush on her face. He sees her bring the bottle to her lips for a while and lower it with a new nervous expression. Probably starting to second-guess her rebellion, right?

He says, "Give it to me if you change your mind."  He then seizes her arm and pulls the bottle out of her hands. But she refuses to give it back. "Hey," she whined, the bottle clinking against her teeth as Daemin held her firm in place and forced the drink into her mouth. " Okay, stop, I don't like it." She managed to get out between the burn of liquor and sputtering as she tried to breathe.

With a swift motion, Daemin shattered their connection, pouring the remaining contents of the bottle onto her, trickling down her, and drenching her resplendent yellow gown. "You! For what purpose did you commit such an act?" Her voice quivered, tears brimming in her eyes as she gazed upon him.

He snickered. "You said you wanted to try?" He rolled his eyes. He observed the heat of embarrassment on her cheeks, large wet stripes of tears mixing with the color of the alcohol itself colored her face, and her hair was reduced to being wet against her own skin. "Now, get out of here before your mother sees you with me."

"Mother's words are truly always right, appearance can be truly a deception. You are not close to what I thought you were."

"Such are the consequences one must bear when burdened with excessive expectations. Alas, the swiftness with which you pass judgment upon an individual, unbeknownst to me, is truly disheartening." As he observes her hasten to collect her belongings and retreat, he doesn't miss her faint sobs that reach his ears from afar.

In the depths of introspection, he contemplates the possibility of exceeding the bounds of propriety. In a valiant effort to absolve himself of any transgressions, save perhaps for the minor infraction of encroaching upon their domain, he maintains that this woodland sanctuary is, in fact, conceived for the enjoyment of all. Dare they claim ownership over this verdant expanse? Moreover, it is she who imposes upon him the burdensome yoke of expectation, a burden she ought not bear.

Alas, what compulsion led him astray from his perch beneath the tree? Cursed be the intoxication that clouded his judgment.

_______

He didn't get enough sleep the night before, and the next day didn't offer any comfort after a short but influential meeting with the woman. He feels restless and can't understand why. "Where are you headed?"

"Forest!" he replied, causing Taevan to laugh. "Do you go back to that woman's abode every day? Can you enlighten me on your true intentions this time? I thought our main objective was solely to retrieve the enchanted flower they possess."

He is correct, but he goes to great lengths to accomplish tasks, but he was still unable to obtain evidence, if she had any. "I am aware of my actions. There is no need to be concerned about me."

The man tilted his head for a second, thinking before nodding at his words. "Well, do you want me to ask Ruel to bring your horse there?"

"I don't need it, I will be going with it on my trip."

_______

He arrived just as the sun was beginning to set, and took his usual spot with anticipation, not knowing that she was already nearby, eagerly waiting for him. For the fact that little did he know, she had developed a regular routine and cleverly figured out exactly where he liked to find comfort, showing an impressive understanding of his habits.

"I had an inkling I will stumble upon your presence in this very spot. It's your haven of choice." A voice resonated from behind her. Swiftly, he redirected his gaze, and what met his eyes was her graceful figure donning an impeccably tailored lilac-red ensemble. Failing to utter a single word, he simply observed her settle down beside him with unwavering attention.

"Do you always return to this location for a specific reason, or is it simply because you enjoy being here? It may be impolite for me to inquire further, as we are unfamiliar with one another. Perhaps you have a genuine fondness for the place itself. Undeniably, this forest is stunning. I have resided here since birth, and regardless of other more exquisite forests, this place will always hold a special significance to me."

He gazes at her, allowing her to complete her thoughts. "I understand now, you're not fond of conversation, correct? Well, I feel the same way, but the thing is, it's not often that I have someone who will listen to my thoughts and stories like this. You're similar to Leo in that regard, except the distinction is that you're a human like me, so I believe you will comprehend me better than him."

"Why are you engaging in conversation with me? Aren't you afraid? You lack familiarity with my identity."

"Yes, and I am well aware at the times that you have returned here even though I do not have personal knowledge of it. I observed your presence and acknowledged that you have not caused any harm to me. I apologize if my presence bothers you, similar to our previous, you know last encounter and I assure you that I will refrain from engaging in conversation if that is your preference."

"It's fine, I enjoy listening to it. So, is Leo the orange feline that accompanies you?" He asked, and the woman acknowledged that he gives her permission to interact and communicate with him.

When he mentioned her pet, she responded with a big smile. "Yes, how do you know that he is my pet? In any case, Leo, he is dear, the one who holds me in the company when my mother is not nearby. Usually it's mainly me and all of him all the time. " He nodded in acknowledgment and shifted his gaze away from her towards the enchanting view of the verdant forest. "I also have a cherished companion," he stated.

"Really, what is your pet? Is your pet like Leo?"

"Indeed not, surely most would be prudent to avoid encountering a pet that I have"

"Why?" He laughed. "My pet is not like Leo. Mine is scary, it's a snake, but I also have a dear horse who accompanies me in every journey."

"Snakes are not scary; what's the name of your snake and your horse?"

"Onyx is the snake, I named him after the ebony-hued gemstone known as onyx possesses an alluring mystique, captivating the senses with its profound darkness and like what one of my close companion friend says, an enigmatic beauty. While the horse is named Alex."

"Your pets has such a thoughtful name" She says which in return he acknowledges by giving him a slight nod.

She fidgets with her attire, seeking a new subject to discuss since she perceives the man beside him as somewhat reticent. "You know, I happened to see you on two- wait I think three occasions? once at the art and bookshop and another time at the flower gathering spot which is not a good encounter moment for I was really rude to you, but to be honest you are too, well, I must admit, I didn't recognize you at first. In fact, I even discovered the name of your pets before learning yours. Would it bother you to share it with me? However, if you prefer not to, that's perfectly fine."

"Daemin" she grinned, her face lighting up at the sound of his name. There was something about the way he said it that made her heart flutter.

"I go by Yuhimi, but you're welcome to call me Yuhi," he smiled back, extending his hand for a handshake, which she eagerly took. "You've got such a beautiful name, Yuhi. I also apologize too for my previous manner towards you." he remarked, genuinely impressed.

They talked for a complete hour before it was time for her to leave. He confidently assured her that their paths would definitely cross again in the future. This simple idea filled her with great joy because she finally found comfort in someone's presence, beyond her pet cat and her occasionally present mother.