❝ til we meet again,
relieve the memories we shared,
as that is my only gift to you,
what us was. ❞

➵ my one, true friend

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

“where are we going?” gusion asked, his eyes lighting up as he kept bugging claude.

the ragged boy turned to gusion, biting his lip, “anywhere as long as its far away from here.”

gusion frowned, “why don't you like my family?”

“i don't see the appeal in being a royalty, other than everything being handed to you, it's just not fun. besides, most of them are jerks,” claude explained, hopping over a fallen log.

“do you hate me?” gusion asked, looking down.

claude turned to him, a smile flashing on his lips for a second, “why would i?”

gusion nodded slightly, grabbing the other boy's hand, “but isn't it dangerous out here?”

claude yawned, “don't you know magic?”

gusion bit his lip, a slight frown forming, “yeah but–”

“you suck at it,” claude sighed.

gusion's grip tightened, “i'm still learning.”

“but still, you suck at it.”

gusion pouted, “shut up.”

as the silence took over, gusion released his grip from claude's. folding his arms over his chest as he narrowed his eyes at the surrounding. a slight chill going down his spine.

“don't be scared.”

gusion shaked his head, “i'm not scared.”

claude sighed, grabbing the other boy's hand as they walked through the calm forest. “let's go fishing.”

“but...” gusion squeezed claude's hand, frowning, “i don't know how to fish.”

“doesn't mean you can't learn,” claude rolled his eyes at the shaking boy.

“it sounds dangerous, i'm only nine,” gusion continued, tugging at claude's arm, signalling for them to go back.

“oh come on, we're both nine. but the difference is that you're a scaredy cat,” the boy turned to gusion, grabbing his cheek, “but now, it's time for you to stop being a baby.” he patted his cheek.

gusion pouted, shaking his head, “how do we even fish?”

“it's simple,” claude picked up a stick, gently hitting gusion's head, “we don't exactly have fishing rods but we can just use a stick to kill a fish. almost like using a dagger.”

gusion scratched his head, “but daggers are forbidden for mages like me.”

gusion grabbed the stick, whereas the other boy just sighed, “it's just a stick. not a real dagger.”

the mage boy nodded as he used the stick to hit claude.

“oi! why'd you do that?!” claude fumed.

gusion stood there with a innocent look, pointing at him, “you hit me first!” he pouted once again, rapidly blinking.

the ragged boy folded his arms, “are you crying?”

the mage bit his lip, “do you hate me now?” tears threatened to fall as claude sighed.

“tsk, stop caring about it so much. it doesn't matter anyway,” claude shrugged, as he turned to him with a smile, “now stop crying, you baby.” he lightly patted the shorter boy's head.

gusion puffed his cheeks out, tossing the stick back to claude, “why not use my magic?”

the ragged boy shaked his head, “first of all, you cannot get hurt whatsoever as having the royal apprentice injured wouldn't look so good for me.” claude paused, biting his lip, “second of all, you're kinda of a crybaby— wait, i mean you are a crybaby and finally i don't trust you to use magic, chances are, you'll end up killing yourself or worse, me.”

the mage crossed his arms, shaking his head, “come on, i've been practicing. please, pretty please!”

claude raised his hands up, “i don't want to die.”

gusion his mouth to speak but claude quickly dismissed him, “use your magic then. but i for sure will not be part of it. and stop bugging me for everything. you can make your own decisions.” claude turned to the mage, shaking his head, “tell me again why we're friends?”

the mage placed a innocent look on, straightening up, “not friends, best friends.” he looked down, “right?”

the ragged boy sighed, “sadly, your my only friend.”

“aww why can't i be your best friend? you always care for me and you make me happy! come on, claude, you trust me, don't you?” gusion kept on bugging as he frowned at claude.

claude sighed, “you'll make better friends. perhaps, they would know magic and actually teach you something useful,” claude paused, raising his hand a little, “i trust you though. a lot.”

the mage pouted, “you don't trust my magic.”

“nobody does,” claude chuckled, turned around walking away.

“hey!! where are you going!? you can't leave me here, alone!” gusion yelled.

“i'm not leaving. i'm setting some distance apart from you.” claude explained. “in case of death.”

gusion pouted, “promise to never leave me, okay?”

“fine, now stop whining, and let's see how hard you've been practicing,” claude said.

“as long as you don't disappear,” gusion continued.

claude nodded, “i'll always be here. don't be scared.”

“promise?”

“i guess.”

gusion puffed his cheeks out, “that means yes, right?”

“yes.”

3 years later

gusion crumbled up his note, muttering curse words at it. “you said you'd always be here,” he said.

he reread the note again, mumbling it out.

“hi gus, i left, i'm not coming back, i'm sorry but a thief is always on the run.

til we meet again, relieve the memories we shared, as that is my only gift to you, what us was.

don't cry, you're not a crybaby anymore.”

the mage boy slowly walked up to the fire. tossing the note in it, letting it burn.

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

this was so rushed. owo
might update this in the future, also this will definetely get a part two. ;>