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It was no doubt that Qifrey’s eye was failing him, for he had long noticed the hazy visions, the way his eye was now incredibly sensitive to even such a small ray of light. Because of a missing eye, the other one tends to tire out way faster than usual. It was only a matter of time until he went completely blind.
Refusing to believe the inevitable truth, Qifrey often enters a state of being in denial. Locked away in his room, the witch would curl up into a corner, head in his hands and muttering something incomprehensible beneath his breath.
The first to notice his unusual behavior were the apprentices. Usually, the atelier would be enveloped in such a calming scent of forest pine and freshly baked bread. However, in recent days, there has been quite a drastic change.
Coco, as observant as she is, was the first one to point out the change in atmosphere.
“Don’t you think the atelier smells a little different today?” Sitting along with her fellow apprentices for a group study, the young girl asks.
Tetia herself took a light sniff, then nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right! How weird, didn’t we all clean the atelier inside out with each other yesterday?”
There was undeniably a stench somewhere within the atelier, emitting such a horrible odor. Curious as the little girls were, Tetia reckoned that they would figure out the source of that smell.
Nevertheless, Agott stopped them in their tracks. “I’m certain that we need not be concerned about it. If it were anything that could bring us harm, Master Qifrey would have addressed it to us.”
“Richeh believes everything will be okay too.” The fourth girl chimes in, scribbling ink onto a piece of paper.
“But we haven’t really seen Master Qifrey today, have we?” Coco asks, still hesitant. “Could we at least go ask Master Olly?”
Worry was written all over her face, and it was not a horrible trait. Most of the time, Master Qifrey would be fawning over them to make sure they were okay, it was only right that in a moment like this that she gets worried for him in return.
Her hand fiddles with the pen, unsure what to say next.
“Master Olly is busy working, probably?” A hand on her chin, Tetia thinks aloud. “Well, I mean we can try consulting him–”
“There is really no need.” A tired voice echoed from across the room. Peering inside, their atelier’s Watchful Eye that they have just been talking about emerges from stairs, entering their place of study with heavy steps. “There has just been some things going on, but nothing too bad to worry about.”
He settles down next to the girls, resting his chin on his hand as he lets out a heavy sigh. Clearly the witch hadn’t gotten much sleep, the apprentices can tell by the dark circles under Olruggio’s eyes.
“Your Master Qifrey is dealing with some problems – hence, the stench.” His voice trailed off at the last part. Olruggio glances over each and every of the apprentices, then reassures them. “There’s nothing wrong with the atelier. What we’re dealing with is emotions. Don’t worry, I’ll get it sorted out- hopefully.”
The apprentices didn’t question any further. The four girls then nodded obediently, quietly returning to their quarters for self study.
Later, Olruggio arrived in front of the door to Qifrey’s chambers and knocked lightly on it a few times, the rap of his knuckles against the wood echoed sharply. He leaned in and pressed his ear against the door to listen for any movement.
For a moment, he was met only with silence. There was no way Qifrey couldn’t have heard that. Just to be sure, he went ahead and knocked on the wooden door once again, yet to no avail.
Impatient, Olruggio was getting ready to return to his own tower for work. Maybe the other witch was just not in the room at the moment.
However, just as his left foot turned away, the doorknob slowly turned and the door creaked open. And oh gosh, that foul smell that oozed out from the room almost had Olruggio turning away completely.
No wonder the apprentices had been complaining. Maybe it’s because Olruggio’s an adult so he’s gotten quite used to a variety of different scents but good lord — this wasn’t just any usual smell at all.
“Qifrey?” He calls, earning a light hum as a response. “It’s just me. Can I come in?”
There was a sudden pregnant pause.
“If you don’t feel like it, there’s no need to force yourself.” It was true. If Qifrey felt like he needed time alone to think over his problems, Olruggio would gladly comply and stand there, waiting for an invitation to come in.
A hand suddenly reached out from within, grabbing onto the fabric of Olruggio’s sleeves, tugging on it lightly. Olruggio took it as permission to enter, using his other free hand to gently push the door open, slipping into the room before closing it shut.
The room barely had any light at all as windows had curtains pulled over them and Qifrey didn’t even bother to light up a lamp. But oh well, Olruggio was just a guest, he shouldn’t complain about how the other witch prefers his room.
Olruggio was able to identify the source of the smell instantly, it was none other than Qifrey who had been letting out such a scent that brought displeasure to the whole atelier. Distressed – Olruggio guesses.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Qifrey pulls Olruggio closer to him, maneuvers until the latter is sitting on his thighs. Despite being embarrassed because of the position, Olruggio does not speak a word of complaint, not when his friend is feeling down. The other pulls him in, nosing into the crook of his neck to take a whiff of the scent there, the comforting smell of fresh ink and a hint of sweet wine – intoxicating nonetheless.
Qifrey had presented early in their youth as an alpha, his first rut hit him whilst they were on an adventure to view the beauties of the world. However, the first ones mostly aren’t that much of a pleasant experience.
They resided inside a cave temporarily, Qifrey clinging onto Olruggio’s side, hand tightening around the fabric of his friend’s cloak, refusing to let go. Muttering something about how Olruggio emits such a calming scent, the black haired witch was baffled, face tinting red in embarrassment for he himself has presented as an Omega.
He’s long grown accustomed to this. So, Olruggio wraps his arms around Qifrey’s back, one of his hands gently patting the silver locks, trying his best to calm the other down.
“Do you want me to—“
“No,” Qifrey says. No, orders. The possessive tone had stunned Olruggio, a drop of sweat rolling down from his forehead, a chill sent down his spine, shaking him to the core. “No, just– I need a moment.”
It was a rare display to see Qifrey act like that, all trembling and breathing heavy. Olruggio’s heart ached seeing his beloved suffering like this.
The warm hands cupped the sides of Qifrey’s face, tilting the face so that their eyes could meet.
“You’re crying,” Olruggio pointed out.
“I am not…” He denies, shaking his head lightly. Leaning into Olruggio’s touch, Qifrey closes his eye, comfortably nuzzling into the scent gland at the other’s wrist.
“Whatever you say.” And he scoffs, gently wiping away the lone tear in the corner of Qifrey’s eye, then placing a light kiss there, hoping that it would soothe his pain. It may feel ticklish on the surface of his skin, but Qifrey does not pull away.
They stayed there in silence, listening to the beat of each other’s heart, feeling the warmth of one another’s skin. It was so peaceful that it was slowly lulling him to sleep.
“Olly…” Qifrey tightened his hold around Olruggio’s waist, nuzzling his nose to the scent gland on Olruggio’s neck. “Olly…”
The way he said his name sounded like a prayer – a lost lamb trying to survive by holding onto any bits of hope laid out for it. Qifrey was no different. Losing his vision over time, it wouldn’t take long until he completely loses the ability to see the world.
A wet streak streamed down his cheek as he silently wept. Olruggio caressed him, murmuring praises and comforting words as the other kept repeating his name over and over.
“I’ll lose you,” he admits after a while, voice trembling. “What happens if I don’t get to see you again?”
Olruggio does not answer. Rather, he couldn’t find the correct words to do so.
Those hands of Qifrey’s reached forward, gently touching him, to feel the curves of his face, to carve the features he had into his mind, leaving an etched mark in his memory. But as time passes, memories will also fade. Qifrey’s afraid that one day after he goes completely blind, he’ll forget what Olruggio looks like – that familiar face that always softened when they talk, the way his brows furrow when something’s troubling him, the way his mouth parts to gasp for air during his naps, Qifrey’s scared he’d forget them all.
“Olruggio..?” This time, he actually calls for the witch’s attention, and Olruggio hums in response. “You’re perfect, do you know that?”
“Nothing’s perfect, dearest.” Came a response from Olruggio as he tucks silver locks behind Qifrey’s ear to reveal the scar from the missing eye.
“But to me, you’re the most ethereal and perfect being there is to exist.” The embrace loosened, then tightened once more. “Nothing else is more immaculate than you.”
“Quit being sappy.”
“Only if you scent me…” He pauses for a moment to think over his words before continuing, “–please?”
That small plea made Olruggio’s heart flutter. How could he bring himself to reject something like that?
Gently, he brought off Qifrey's wrist up to his own, rubbing the two against each other. It felt extremely pleasant to Olruggio, and he can tell that Qifrey feels the same based on his reaction when their wrists collided.
Their scents slowly entwine with one another, the scent of musky forest pine blends with the sweetness of wine, creating such an exquisite smell.
“I love you, Olly.” A statement like that shouldn’t have had any impact on him, except it did. It made Olruggio’s heart skip a beat.
“You mean you love my scent?” He jests in a playful tone. “Because your actions prove different than your words.”
“No, I love you – I mean it.” A low murmur came in response, more in a demanding tone to seal the final statement.
Olruggio sighs in defeat as there was no point in arguing with his friend about such a trivial matter. After all, what Qifrey wants, he shall grant.
“Are you feeling better now?” The other nodded. “Great. Shall I return to–”
The hold around him tightened even harder, so hard that Olruggio thought that it could squeeze all the air out of him. He knew that Qifrey had a strong hold, but he didn’t expect it to be that strong.
Sensing the other’s discomfort by how the scent in the air shifts, Qifrey lets loose a little. “Can you please stay for today?”
“Until the pain goes away, okay?”
“Until the pain goes away.”
Maybe it was just a selfish request to get Olruggio to stay by his side, for he fears one day he’ll even lose the last ties to the person he loves so much. If one day Olruggio were to be truly separated from him, he would truly be devastated.
Of course, Qifrey will not allow that to happen. This scent of Olruggio’s allows him to enter a state of peace, creating such a comforting Eden as it slowly drowses him.
“You go to such lengths for me…” That, he does. “... and I always wonder why.”
“Does that even matter?”
“To me, it does.” Quietly, he insists, tucking his head underneath Olruggio’s chin.
Olruggio sighs, but gives him an answer nonetheless.
“Because devotion is one thing, but my love for you is another.”
Those words hit him harder than any magic spells could’ve. Silently, Qifrey shattered into tears, soaking Olruggio’s white shirt wet with those teardrops.
It wasn’t the actions or words that he spoke that made him cry. Simply, it was because the person that’s with him is Olruggio.
His vision may not last, but at least the scent that brings him comfort will. The scent he adores so much would never fade, not when Olruggio’s here by his side, scenting him everyday.
On occasions the other witch does forget, Qifrey himself would wander into the quarter of Olruggio’s room or signal him with something else. And without fail, Olruggio would make his way over to Qifrey’s side, rubbing their scent glands together to share such a comforting essence.
“I’m afraid, Olly.” It was not easy to suppress such a feeling. Fear is a common human trait, one would say. Nevertheless, it’s not something that should act as a chain pulling one under.
It was only natural that Qifrey feared about his loss of vision. Of course, none could stand the thought of waking up one day only to realise your world is suddenly drowned in a darkness with no light illuminating a path for you to walk on. Well, in this case, no remaining light to be able to see the ones you love.
“Don’t be. I’ll be here with you for as long as you want.”
A feather-like touch here and there, Qifrey lets himself be submerged in the warmth that Olruggio willingly offers, taking in the sweet scent that is laid for him to savor.
Right. Despite him losing his vision, there is still one thing that’s for certain – Olruggio would not leave him. For when the day he truly becomes blind, the calming scent will forever remain, calming him through the days that he is enveloped in darkness.
“Mmm, I love you, Olly.”
“Yes,” Olruggio places a kiss on Qifrey’s forehead, another on the marring scar. “Love you too, Qifrey.”