One person, however, is both glad to see Syeha return to her home village and also has a changed attitude towards her. Makto, the former boyfriend and shill of the villainous Ahi'i, has gotten over his initial humiliation and guilt regarding that situation, and is now in a vulnerable state to fall for a very different sort of girl. Syeha is pretty and good and powerful. #DesertDiamond#Pangaea
Immediately, Makto is ashamed of himself, and tries to give this djinn boy he's never met a fair chance, but it is difficult. He's not proud of feeling jealous, but he can't help that, either, although to his credit, the village boy doesn't envy Amen as much as another teen might. Syeha isn't ignorant of Makto's internal struggles, and praises him, "It's not easy, I know. I wouldn't have told you if I didn't trust you. You're a good person, Makto." After that, what else can he do but smile?
Makto, of course, believes that when it comes to other people's romantic choices, he's in no position to be critical, and Syeha values this trait in him. She confides to him the truth, that Amen was once human, and he's working on becoming human again, but right now he's living as a fey caught in a genie ring. The village boy is surprised, to say the least, and suddenly understands her parents' added reluctance to bless this relationship. Deep within him, he selfishly wishes for Amen to fail.
It is a simple strategy, but an effective one. Syeha, being a caring person and not completely oblivious to other people's emotions, can sense that Makto has at least a mild crush on her, but since she is open and honest about her own feelings for Amen, she presumes that is enough to cause him to regard her as merely a potential friend. And the girl, having lost a friend or two due to her newfound magic, is glad to have discovered a sympathetic and almost entirely nonjudgemental ear in Makto.
He knows that Syeha has feelings for another boy, although it is not common knowledge that this other boy is blue and immortal, but Makto cannot help hoping that if he is a good and constant friend, Syeha will come to love him better than the absent... boyfriend, he guesses must be the proper term... and not fiance despite the ring she wears. So Makto makes a point of "chancing" to be nearby whenever Syeha is done with her chores and magic lessons, convenient for friendship if nothing more.
