Salazar's Story

After a week, Salazar was in a terrible mood. He had spent many days in the company of his new fiancée, who had proved to be a cold and unsociable person, and now he had to say goodbye forever to Devin just to marry her. When the madam let him in, he was already there, and looked up from his work to give him a big smile as usual. But Salazar barely managed to return it, then he immediately headed to the loom. He wished to postpone as much as possible his speech with Devin, so he concentrated on his work, not even raising his eyes once from the loom, too scared to cross the boy's eyes, which as usual was sitting beside him.

After many weeks of work, Salazar was finally weaving the final part of the tapestry, and after crossing the warp threads, he dismounted it from the loom to brush it. Then he raised it to see the final result. The legendary guardian of the forest proudly returned his gaze, surrounded by leaves and flowers of all kinds. "It’s wonderful!" commented excited Devin looking at it from behind him. “It’s hard to believe that’s the first tapestry you weave; you really have a natural talent! Virizion looks really nice.” Salazar shook his head. “But it isn’t anywhere near to the charm of the true original one. When he will get back to the forest from his adventures, I'll go visit him and give this to him!”

Salazar turned to Devin and smiled happily, but then he recalled the words of the legend. “This is your life and you have to live it as you see fit.” the smile faded and he threw the tapestry on a table. He felt tired. What was the right thing to do? He would have wanted Virizion to be there, to be able to ask him for advice.
When the class was over, Devin asked him to stay a little longer together as usual. Salazar was tempted to find an excuse and go home as soon as possible, but he knew that sooner or later he had to talk about the situation with him.
So they went in a remote part of the forest, and they stood in a quiet clearing. When they seated down, Salazar took a deep breath, "I have to tell you something ..." he began, "but I don’t know where to start." Devin took his hand and smiled. "You know that you can talk about anything to me." He was always so sweet and thoughtful. He listened to him and made him feel at ease, it was just so different from the people that his father invited at their home, and there he was, ready to turn his back for a wedding that he didn’t even wanted, only based on pure interest. Salazar felt without escape.

There wasn’t just any way to get away from all that? That was really how it would have ended between them? But...! But perhaps he could’ve talked to Clarissa, maybe she didn’t want to get married either after all! She, who was always so cold towards him! Maybe she could’ve convinced her parents to break the engagement. There was still a little hope, and he couldn’t give up like that ... he didn’t wanted to. He had to at least try that last chance.

Devin was still looking at him. He must had noticed his distress, because he looked worried. "I like you Devin. I like you very much. I'm so happy to have you in my life... I…only wanted to tell you this.” the boy tilted his head and bit his lip, blushing. He seemed embarrassed, almost uncomfortable. "Uhm...yes. You know that I like to be with you.." he mumbled in a low voice. Then he grabbed Salazar by his shoulders and kissed him. A kiss more passionate than previous ones, but... it didn’t felt so good. It was as if it was just an excuse to not continue to talk.
When they separated, Devin turned away. "Did you hear it too?" he asked him. They stood for a moment in silence to listen, but they didn’t hear any unusual noise, only the rustling of the leaves, and the quiet cooing of the Pidove. “I thought I heard something, but I guess I’ve imagined it.” Commented Devin, who stood up and took his bag. “It’s better if I’ll go home now... then... I’ll see you next week.” Salazar felt distressed. Was Devin looking for an excuse to go away? He was insecure, but smiled anyway. "Certainly." he answered, getting up too. “And next time maybe I will have fixed everything” he thought hopefully to himself.

After returning home, he shut himself up in his room, laid down the tapestry on his dresser, took out his sewing machine and began working on a garment, reflecting. Since the day his father had presented them each other, Clarissa had already come to his house to meet him many times, because their parents wanted them to pass time together. When she'd be coming back to visit him again, and they would be alone, he would have seriously talked about their engagement to her. Salazar keeps reasoning about it. It was quite obvious that she too wasn’t happy at all about that arranged marriage. Perhaps she wished for a stronger and better husband and not someone so weak and timid like him. Maybe she had a bigger chance to be heard by her parents and make them change their minds.