The Castle Under The Hill // O/O // Closed

((Thank you!!))

Kelton sighed, "I'm not trying to be funny at all, but I guess I'll take the compliment." He said giving Nova a playful glare as he walked over to him. "Hey, I don't judge the fact that you think you're the king of butterflies, so don't tease me when I say thee. IN FACT, I think I might as well say it more often." He crossed his arms a little bit, "Of course I would do that, I wouldn't want to share my river any longer." He said with a smug look on his face, then he saw the face Nova was making and sort of panicked, "Oh gods, I didn't mean to hurt you're feelings, please don't loo. . .Oh, you're only joking." He sighed louder to show his annoyance then sat down on the ground next to him, "Oh, hush, it's not my fault that I enjoy colder water."

"Well… I guess that's fair. But don't blame me if I laugh whenever you say it. It's kind of funny." Nova smirked at him and ran a hand through their hair. Oh, gods, they had gotten Kelton so good. They burst out laughing again at his total freak-out. "Ha, you totally fell for that!" Nova let out one last giggle and dropped onto the ground. "Sorry, darling, but I couldn't help myself." They shrugged, tilting their head back and closing their eyes. "I guess so." It would be nice if this could just go on forever. Traveling the world, seeing new things… of course, that had to wait until they got all that treasure from the castle under the hill. Even though the castle seemed like a barrier between them and their dreams, Nova wasn't annoyed at it. It was just another adventure to tackle. "Are you worried about the castle?" They asked suddenly, opening their eyes and looking over at Kelton.

Kelton grumbled a little bit, "That's fair. . .I guess." He mumbled, still giving the Nova the stink eye, he wasn't too happy that he had fallen for that, but he hated to see people sad or hurt by him. If he actually hurt someone physically or verbally, he normally would apologize so many times trying to fix the situation. Unless he completed disliked the person, then he could care less. He zoned out a bit, not really paying attention to what Nova was saying at that point, and began to think of his family back at home, or what was left of them. The treasures I would collect from the castle should go to them, or at least some of it right? Ppffh, what am I even talking about, I might not even make it out of there alive. . . He hadn't really taken it seriously that he might die in the castle, that these days that he spent travelling there might be his last, Good gods, what have I gotten myself into? He jumped slightly when he heard Nova's voice pierce through the silence and brought him back to reality, "I am terrified," he answered bluntly, "What about thou?"

Nova kept grinning at Kelton, though it faded when he answered their question. "Yeah, I can get that. I'm trying not to think about it too much. Just… enjoying the journey, you know?" They sighed. They weren't exactly terrified of the castle, but that might have just been because they weren't thinking about it. Honestly, Nova wasn't really focused on the whole 'you might die' thing at all. They probably weren't going to accept it until they were breathing their final breaths. Nova wasn't really a 'future plans' kind of person. Things happened, and they just went along with it. "But we're going to be fine. I know it sounds stupid, but we're going to be the first people to make it out of the castle alive. I just know it." Nova patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

Kelton sighed, "I don't understand you, you tell me to not think about dying too much? And to just enjoy the journey?" He tried to keep his voice calm and not raise it at Nova, it wasn't the other's fault that he was terrified to die, "I just have so much that I want to do before well, before I die, but if something goes wrong, I just might due to all of this." he shuddered thinking about that, "I know I must sound like a voice of doom or something but thou must understand, I'm just not prepared to die. Even if you think we'll survive."

"Yeah, denial always seems to work for me." Nova shrugged, trying to keep the mood light. They could tell that Kelton wasn't exactly calm about the whole 'you might and probably are going to die' part of the castle. "Well, for me, I don't want to spend the life that I have left worried about the things I could or could not do in the future. I guess you could say that I live in the moment. After all, I wasn't going to go to the castle for another few weeks, but you showed up and here I am!" Nova spread their hands. "I don't think anyone could be truly prepared to die. Just go into it with the mindset that you're going to survive. If you think you're going to die, you might as well be dead already."

Kelton tried to smile a little bit, "I uhm, guess that makes sense, but I think I just see things a tiny bit different than you. I mean, I have my parents to provide for and such, and than expectations that they have for me, like starting a proper family and settling down, and if I don't survive, I'll disappoint them." He mumbled the last bit, slightly embarrassed about that, "But, I am glad to have met you, surprisingly, I enjoy the time I've spent with you, you're quite fun." He didn't respond to the rest of what Nova said, not sure of what to say, or if he even agreed. Death just scared him, and he knew that if he died he would not really be missed, moreso what he would have given would be.

"Oh, yeah." Nova nodded slowly. They didn't really have a family or anyone who was relying on them. It was just them, while Kelton had a family and people who expected and needed things from him. "Well… you shouldn't be living for someone else. I don't have any experience with it, but I guess I can understand wanting to make your family proud." They rubbed the back of their neck. "I'm glad to have met you, too. You seemed like a 'meh' sort of person at first, but now? You're pretty interesting." Nova gave him a smile and a pat on the shoulder. Everything that Kelton had said made them a little sad. The fact that he had said that his family would be disappointed if he died instead of sad… Nova had never really had someone who would be either if they suddenly disappeared. Kelton had people like that, but it didn't seem like they actually cared about him as a person that much. Just about what he could do for them. It sounded terrible.

Kelton shrugged and sighed, "I don't know really any other way though, but, I have to respect it, I guess." He said with yet another shrug, "I uhm, well. . ." He trailed off awkwardly, not exactly himself at the moment, "A meh person? Hhm, I guess I must be terrible at first impressions then, but at least you think I'm interesting. I mean, I think you're interesting too with your magic, or whatever it is and stuff. Could, uhm maybe you uhm show me the thing again?" He was curious of it, but wasn't exactly sure as to why.

"Well, you were a bit unfriendly at first, but soon after that you got much better!" Nova said, grinning at him. "Now you're more of a 'wow, awesome' person." They tucked a bit of rogue hair behind their ear, eyes going wide at Kelton's request. He'd been so adamant that magic didn't exist, that it wasn't a thing. And now he was asking to see it again? Nova's lips spread into a surprised smile. "Of course!" They held their hand out and concentrated. A pinprick of light appeared in their palm, growing to the size of a coin. Nova smiled softly at the light. They'd always thought they looked like stars. "See? Beautiful, right?" The light rose a little way off their palm and started spinning slowly. Although it looked pretty, it could also hurt someone if used in the right way.

"Gee, thanks." He said rolling his eyes, "Sure are making me feel good right now." He smirked a little bit and crossed his arms, "I'd uhm just like to uhm see it. I mean, I don't think it is real, but I am interested in seeing it. I mean, well, uhm, oh dear." He trailed off sort of nervous as he watched Nova do his magic, "It is beautiful. . ." He murmured as he watched it. A slight breeze came through moving the branches and leaves on the tree, and vines slowly moved down from the trees and closer to the pair.

Nova laughed lightly at Kelton's ramblings and kept staring at the star. It was quite captivating, and Nova was always amazed that they were the one who could create it. "I love that this is what I can create. It might be dangerous, but at least it's beautiful. And it isn't destructive unless I want it to be, unlike fire." If they hadn't had this, Nova would have liked to be able to conjure fire. That might have been a little more dangerous, but fire could be beautiful in it's own way. The star rose onto their fingertips. Nova laughed and looked over at Kelton, a glimmer of joy visible in their eyes. They were so focused on the magic and Kelton's reaction to it that the rustling from the trees didn't register.

As Nova began to explain his magic, Kelton began to think about his well, not magic, but whatever it truly was. He had grown up thinking that magic wasn't good or real, and that the people who practiced it were evil, or just again, liars. But, Nova wasn't lying, were they? Kelton didn't see how they could be lying though, So, well that settled it, magic must be real, then what did that make Nova? Nova wasn't evil, they couldn't be, they were so sweet and nice, and so friendly, how could someone like that be evil or dark or whatever he had been told. So, was Kelton's well, the plants? The magic? Was it magic then? Had he been lying to himself all his life? Maybe it was time to stop hiding it and lying. If Nova was so adamant that magic was real, and willing to prove it, prehaps Kelton should try doing the same.

Nova slowly let the star fade away and dropped their hand. However beautiful it was, it was also difficult to keep it going for that long. "Phew!" They sighed and leaned back to lay on the ground. "So…" Nova started, staring at the leaves and blue sky above them. In the past, whenever they'd tried to bring up Kelton's magic, he had shut them down quite quickly. But he'd just asked to see their magic, so maybe they could ask him about it now. "What about your magic? Can I see it?" They glanced over at him, a hopeful expression on their face. From they'd seen, it looked really interesting. "It's fine if you don't want to," Nova added, not wanting to push him too much. "But I think it would be cool."

Kelton sighed, having made up his mind, "Yes?" He answered hesitantly, waiting for the other boy to continue with his question, "My magic? I uhm, what?" He looked around nervously, sort of chickening out, then decided to answer him, "A-all right, you, y-you can." He didn't even know why he was stammering, it wasn't anything to be scared by, but yet, he was. He quietly asked the vines to move a little bit closer to the two, hoping that they would pay attention to him this time, since the trees and shrubs listened to him better. The vines that held been moving closer made their way until they were right behind Nova, "uhm, that's about it, I uhm, plants, well, plants somewhat listen to me?"

Nova looked at Kelton, a slightly worried look on their face. He sounded… really nervous. And yet, he did it. Nova sat up and looked around them, finally finding some vines snaking towards them. That was definitely not natural, so it must have been Kelton's magic making them do that. "Ha, see! You're fine. You did it and nothing bad happened!" Nova threw an arm over Kelton's shoulders and patted his chest in a sort of comforting way. At least, they hoped it would be comforting and not just really weird. If it was weird, it might not even be that weird for them. They were Lord of the Butterflies or something. It would work for them. "And honestly, slithering vines are pretty awesome." Nova smirked at him. "And being heard by the forest is pretty handy when almost everything we're going to be doing is in the forest. Much more useful than mine, and kind of cooler too."

Kelton smiled a little bit, "You're right, n-nothing bad did happen." He smiled a little bit more, "Nothing happened!!!!!!" He grabbed Nova and pulled him into a hug, "NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!" It seemed as though his life was being turned upside down, and he was free to be himself, free to use his magic at will, no longer having to hide it. That made him so happy, "NOVA, NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL!!" He pulled away a little bit still all smiles, "I don't get it, I thougt I'd die or something." He continued to grin more and more, "I just, I mean, it's not just vines, it's plants and stuff too, that's why tree climbing is safe for me."

Nova grinned widely, loving how happy Kelton was. They were surprised when he pulled them into a hug, but they hugged him back. Free hugs weren't something they would turn away. "Yes!" They exclaimed, laughing a little. "Don't worry, you won't die because you're using magic." Nova listened, nodding a little. Now, all that sleeping-in-trees thing made a lot more sense. He could probably do anything up there and still not fall out, since the trees were working to keep him off the ground. "Hmm. Maybe, if I ever try sleeping up in a tree– or even going up in a tree– could you make sure I don't fall out? Because otherwise, I am going to fall out." They laughed again, then sighed happily. Kelton being okay with using his magic made them really happy and they were really proud of him.

Ketlon chuckled and squeezed Nova a little tighter, "HHmph, you'll have to take that up with the trees themselves, now that you know about it, they might respond a little bit to you." He said letting Nova go, "Do you want to try? Or, I could just talk to them a little bit for you, I think that'd work too." He stated, all smiles still, "What do you think of that." He was still really happy and pumped about what he had done, "Or I mean, the vines could hold you in place in the trees? Or better yet, a hammock? Do you like that idea?" Kelton was a bit too excited now, but then again, for someone who's life was just turned upside down for the good, wouldn't they behave the same?

"Hmm, I don't think they'll listen to me as much as they'll listen to you." Nova laughed lightly, listening to Kelton talk with a smile on their face. He seemed really excited and they were loving it. Discovering a part of yourself wasn't as terrible as you'd previously thought could do that. "Ha, a hammock sounds like a wonderful idea, Kelton. Maybe we can try making one once nightfall is closer," They suggested, glancing up at the sky. "But first, I think it would be a good idea to start hunting." Even though they would rather stay here and hang out with Kelton, getting food for that day was what they probably should be doing. "I'd love to stay here with you more, but alas, we need to eat." Nova sighed and stared at the water. They really didn't want to get up and do anything… why couldn't food just appear, instead of having to be found?

Kelton started to calm down a little bit from his excitement earlier, "I think you might be right." He said with a chuckle, "I mean, if you tried, maybe it'd work. I don't know, no one has ever tried, as far as I know." He shrugged a little bit, but then I never talk to anyone about this. We could do that later though, I'm sure you're just as hungry as I am." He stood up and shivered slightly, still a little bit wet from the river wrestling. "Why don't we fish?" He stared down at the water and noticed that there were a good amount of fish in the water, "I think it could work rather well."

"Well, I guess I could try some other time we're free." Nova suggested, running their hands through their hair. It was still damp, but not uncomfortably so. "Yeah, that would work." They stood as well, stretching their hands towards the sky. "Oh, fish?" Nova looked over at him, eyes brightening. They hadn't through about that, but it would allow them to not have to move, but still get food. "Yeah, let's do that! It's the perfect after-river-fight activity." They walked over to the rock and checked on their shirt. It wasn't dry enough for them to put in on without getting cold again, so they left it. "How do you suggest we start with our fishing adventures?"

Kelton nodded, sloshing around in the water again, "I mean, I hope it would work, it's been a little while since I've last fished for anything, well a couple of days, but still." He playfully rolled his eyes at Nova, the other person had a great sense of humour, and at times Kelton was really trying to keep a straight face, this being one of those times, "I'm not sure, maybe we could use something to bait them, or just use a net?" He went over to the tree he had been in earlier and grabbed net out of his sack, "This might work."

"It probably will. We still have a good amount of time before the sun goes down." Nova nodded. "Yeah, same– Kelton, a few days isn't a little while. I haven't fished for anything in… oh, gods, a month at least." They laughed, shaking their head at him. In response to the eyeroll, Nova blew Kelton a kiss and winked at him. "Yeah, I think that will. We're guaranteed at least one fish. I mean, there are so many of them." Nova waved at the water. "And if it doesn't work, I bet we can find some string around here."

((Mar, I haven't dropped this roleplay, I promise. I'll post a response either today or tomorrow, but if you have decided that you are no longer interested, I understand.))

(Oh, no, you're fine! I'm good with waiting. :)

Kelton groaned and dragged the net over to the river, "Well, also it was with my cousins, who are fishermen, and we were on their boat. Wait, if that was the last time I fished, then it was more than a couple of days ago." As he began to set up the net he started to try and figure it out. "Well, the trip from the town where I met you, to here was less than a day. Then, from my village to the town where I met you was a couple of days, about maybe three, but since I stopped for the nights it took about four days. Then, if we go back further, from my cousin's village to my own is two. But, I stayed with my cousins for a while, and out of the time I was there, we went fishing only once. So to be quite truthful, it's been a while since I last went fishing." He said with a big dumb grin on his face as if he had just unwittingly solved an extremely hard problem. "So, then we're even. RIght?" His cheeks turned a shade of red when Nove blew the kiss at him, and he looked down at the river, "Are you going to stay on the shore all day, or are you going to help me set this thing up?"

Once the two were finished Kelton trudged back to the shore, thoroughly exhausted from the work of setting up the net, "Let's hope that the fish come quickly, I'm starving." He headed over to his tree and quickly climbed up the branches, weaving his way up to the top. He stopped at the branch were he had left his satchel and began to go through it looking for some of the food he had brought with him, but all he had was two loafs of bread, and he was planning on saving those for when the two got extremely hungry and there was no way to hunt. Sighing with disappointment he dropped out of the tree and landed on the ground near Nova, "Hungry?"

((I can post more if you'd like))

(This is good! :)

Nova listened to Kelton's long, rambling explanation about when he had last fished with an amused smile on their face. They didn't really wanted to move just yet, so instead they stayed on the ground, staring at him. That huge smile he had on his face at the very, very funny, and Nova just had to laugh. "Well, I guess I can't make you do everything now just because you're the one who's fished last." They sighed heavily, a smirk flitting onto their lips at Kelton's slight blush. "Fine, fine, I'll come." Nova heaved themself to their feet and waded into the river. "What would you like me to do?" They crossed their arms over their chest and looked up at him. The river was still chilly and even though they had been basking in the sun, they were still shivering a bit.

Kelton smiled with satisfaction and handed Nova a side of the net, just tie this down, and we'll be done, at least I think so. If the fish will get caught, which I think they might, we ought to get some then." Once he sat back down on the ground he leaned back so that he was lying on his back and stretched out, enjoying the warm sunrays, "Alright, it's time to take a nap now." He said closing his eyes, honestly, it would be quite nice to take a nap right now, or any time honestly. He would have climbed up into a tree, but he was too lazy and tired to do so.