Raya Marin
There were over sixty enemy Awakened, surrounding us in a wide circle. They all had one single expression on their somber faces: Fear.
"Klein," Lizzie whispered. "use your rune, do something."
Klein shook his head, he had no idea of what to make of the unforeseen situation we were in. I briefly gazed at my friend.
"A rune?" I thought to myself.
A single, short lenght girl stepped forward. She was dressed in white locks, her yellow, serpent-like eyes were as fierce as a snake`s. She was clad in a white gown which had wizened blood on it. But beyond all, she had golden horns on her head that curled forward, just like Lizzie. She looked about the same age as Cathy, maybe just a bit older.
At her sight, Lizzie gasped in both dread and fuddle. Klein leaned on her, an instinctive act of protectiveness.
"Do you know her?" he asked.
Lizzie quickly nodded her head, timid.
"Of course I do." Her eyes narrowed. "She is of the Godline. Lady Vesper of Godline Fel."
Lizzie appeared utterly dreadful, utterly terrified of the small girl in front of her.
"Shit, shit, shit." she mumbled. "If she is our enemy, then we are completely doomed. There is no escape for us if none of you decide to use those damn runes." She snapped, her breaths quickening.
I glanced over to Klein, trying to figure out what she had meant. She talked to both of us. Did Klein also have a rune somewhere on him? Why and when did he even get it?
"Please, all of ye randy shit eaters, calm down in the name of Ion." That angelic girl ordered. "One of them is my people."
Out of a sudden everyone that was screaming in fear and lust for blood went silent.
Vesper stepped closer, her steps firm and strong, her stance unbreakable and also muse. The girl paused just two steps away from Lizzie. She eyed her up and down.
"Whats thy name, girl?" Vesper asked, her voice indifferent to any particular emotion. "Thee don`t look godborne."
Lizzie`s bow dropped from her hands to the golden grass beneath. She bowed without a second thought, her small knees shaking like they`re about to combust.
"L-Lady Vesper!" She said, her voice trembling."I-I am Lizzie of Nullline Todd. It is an honor to stand in thine presence."
Vesper`s eyes ignited with hunger. A crooked, wicked smile flashed on her face.
"Ah, Lady Lizzie, don`t need to act so formal, here we all art in the same sphere." Her right hand moved up to the right horn of Lizzie, Vesper`s hand cupped it gently. "What nice horns thee have. I`ve never seen a Nullline with such pretty horns like these."
A fearful, small smile formed on Lizzie`s face.
"T-T-Thank thou, Lady Vesper."
The malevolent smile on Vesper`s face got wider. Klein wanted to intervene, but I stopped him from doing so. We couldn`t take the risk. Klein tried to resist but I didn`t let him.
"Not now." I whispered.
"Tell me, Lizzie, how old art thee?"
An awkward laugh escaped Lizzie`s mouth as she answered the question:
"S-Sixteen, milady."
Vesper chuckled.
"Thou`rt older than me in many years." Her eyes looked down on her. "I am just ten in age."
My head jerked up. In no damn did she look ten.
Lizzie shivered in the coldness of the conversation they were in.
"Ye-Yes, milady."
The grip of Vesper`s hand on Lizzie`s horn tightened.
"How sweet of a girl ye art. How beautiful these horns art." Her smile fell. "Thou could`ve born in a higher lineage, maybe then we could have been close companions."
Lizzie tried to look up, her eyes filling with fear. However Vesper's sheer grip didn't let Lizzie move her head to any direction.
The malicious smile on Vesper`s face returned and then, in a single swift of hand movement... she ripped off Lizzie`s horn, tearing it almost completely. An agonizing, searing scream tore out of Lizzie as she collapsed to her knees. Klein and I just stood in place, shivering at the inhumane act happening right before our darkening eyes.
Vesper played with the horn on her hand until she got bored of it.
"Ah, yes, now thee look like a true Omen. Like a true, pathetic Nulline."
Lizzie`s eyes were full of tears, she looked much smaller than she already was. She looked like a helpless, lost child in the middle of a giant crowd of uncaring adults.
The girl wrapped in tears as her watery eyes glared up at Vesper, at her long gone horn.
"W-W-Wh-Why?" Lizzie asked in the embrace of hate. "W-Why do... this?"
Vesper crushed the ripped, dark horn on her small hand in smooth strength. The pebble-like remains of the horn fell down off her hands.
"Ye shouldst be glad, I didst not rip thy heart."
Lizzie was livid. Her hands clenched into a fist as she spit on the so-called "Godline`s" boots. It almost appeared like even the tiniest bit of dread she had for Vesper was gone in a wink. Vesper, without blinking, slapped Lizzie so vehemently, the poor girl let out a whimper as her body rested on the grass. Eyes looking up at her then us, she was quiet and angry.
"Try and try and it shalt not be lost in bright." Vesper rhymed. "Thee know be, of our fury. Be deaf, be blind, then be nigh. Ding. Ding. Ding. Don`t be such a thing. Land and bend, back and fend. Canst be then, don`t began."
Vesper silenced herself as she stepped a foot towards us. Her bloodlust aura was visible with naked eyes, yet she had the face of an innocent, small child.
"Who art thee? Which realm art whence? Why fret, it may be our last dance?"
Klein`s face clenched in all a grimace, he was clearly not fond of the desperate situation we were in.
Vesper`s golden eyes fell to his wrist, as mine did too. My eyes went wide as hers went tight. We both stared at the rune engraved in his wrist. A rune in the shape of a world.
"Thou`rt a bearer of the rune." Vesper said sharply. "The Rune of Space." She added.
"Yes." Klein spat. "I am."
Vesper`s eyes moved to me as if she was searching. She looked all around my body until she found the source of her unease.
"Another bearer of the rune? I must be in fortunate to be around so many of thee." Her voice mellowed. "I wilt be gladful to knowest how."
Klein ignored her as he rushed towards Lizzie and helped her get up on one leg. Vesper, not particularly, literally did not give a shit about Klein nor Lizzie. Her marrow eyes were all focused on I, to the bearer of the Rune of Freedom.
"What`s thine name then, Bearer of Freedom?" Her body went stiff as the other Awakened around us begun to step closer. Vesper smirked in delight at them. "Didst I not warn all of thou? They art mine to slay."
"They are rune bearers!" A thin boy shouted.
"They are a threat to us all!" A tall woman yelled. "They possess immense strength!"
And this continued for a while. Dozens of Awakened barked in awe and woe as they kept coming closer. Klein and Lizzie watched with scowls as all these braindead idiots stepped short towards us. Vesper was not happy, Klein and Lizzie were not happy, the Awakened around me were not happy and I was also not happy. Not happy at all. They were going to consume us, I, in all those hells there is, had no idea of what to do. I glanced at the few aetheric particles left. The blue imps had no guide for me to follow. I was all alone once again. Maybe that wasn`t so bad. If I die, I will just return to my inception point, all the way back to the beach. Though, now that I look back on it, I was a complete idiot for ever using Mount Eckly as leverage.
Vesper stood next to me, she had the severe intention of bloodlust but to my luck it was not towards me. All these Awakened... Few of them were silent and just watched the crowd of violent. Yet, of all these people only a few had the prowess to step up and talk back at the girl standing next to me. And one of them was another woman who this time did actually look her age, eighteen I would guess. Vesper`s eyes furrowed in annoyance at her. My eyes darted to her strong morning star. She had short brown hair and keen, icy blue eyes and a tiny scar under her left eye. She wore a white garb, her left shoulder protected by a brown pad. She was lean and tall, also had minimal muscle mass, surprising to me for the grievous weapon she was holding.
Vesper frowned slightly as she spoke uppishly:
"And who the fuck art thee?"
The woman snorted:
"You are here bullying lesser Awakened. Does it soothe your lust for primacy?"
Vesper`s gaze sharpened:
"Thou`rt whence Dream Realm, art thee?"
The woman smirked.
"You are smarter than you look, brat." The woman stopped smirking. "I am Virginia of Great House Hiems."
"She looks strong." Klein murmured to himself.
I did agree with him. She really did look strong.
Virginia was near us. Her gentle yet sharp eyes circled the crowd of Awakened. Then she spoke... yelled in percipience as her eyes set on me.
"Are you fine?" she asked.
I nodded my head in return.
"Yes, thank you."
Virginia shook her head as she scowled.
"Don`t thank me yet. These bolems will not stop until they saw that rune off your palm." Her eyes glanced at Vesper. "Especially monsters like her."
Virginia placed a hand on my shoulder as she smiled.
"Whats your name, girl?"
A thousand thoughts flashed in my mind just for a moment. I answered in a certain tune:
"Raya Marin."
Her teeth became visible through her smile.
"Thats a pretty name."
I looked away.
"Thanks, yours too."
Virginia`s eyes lightened up as her hand pulled away from my shoulder. Her gaze then lifted and danced around the circle of Awakened. My fingers itched in annoyance. But then, a group of Awakened stepped up towards us. Virginia mimicked them in return. I could hear the cold wind around me brushing the golden grass beneath my toes. Virginia raised her morning star in defense, but she did not swing it. Instead the spiked metal ball dropped off her hands and fell to the aureate grass. Virginia`s shoulders were high but her chin and eyes were equal to all the others around her. Her voice was gentle and firm enough, not much, not less:
"I am Virginia Hiems of Great House Hiems!" she began. My lineage rules the Glassoath City centered in the wild swings of the Dark Vale!" She smiled at me. "I am here to complete my trial just like all of you! But this? We attack three sinless children and you call it honour? Don`t bullshit me! On the Horns of Tarn, on the legacy of my dynasty, I refuse to kill these kids just because they have Concept Runes! This is not how an Awakened should fight!" Virginia`s voice risen as did her words. "My brothers and sisters of aether! We are all descendants of our guides! We are all bound to our realms and Pillars! I know you are afraid but don`t be, for even the hottest of flames fade as the wind brushes our faces!"
Vesper hissed, she merely rolled her eyes at me and Virginia. Some of the Awakened soon backed away as when they glanced at our faces once more their shouts dimmed and expressions softened. There were kids amongst them, teens and adults. And they all slowly but assuredly composed as our expressions did so too. But that wasn`t enough to ensure the valor and acceptance of all these people. I stepped forward, surpassing even Virginia in voice.
"I am Raya Marin!" I shouted, slightly unsure. But my confidence was boosted up when I saw the faces of Klein and Lizzie next to Virginia, and the smiles of Derald and Coop amidst the crowd. I lifted my right arm and opened my palm, showing them all my rune. "I come from Lineage City of the Green Realm! And I am the bearer of the Rune of Freedom! I, a Descendant of Destruction, hereby declare that I have no intention of bloodshed! I just want to go home, just like how you do!" My eyes scanned the crowd. "I know, I look like a threat but I beg! I am not! I choose to be unafraid! Of all that wants to hurt me! Fear is not real! But danger is! I don`t want to be the foe you all think I am! Has forgiveness lost its meaning in the hearts of all these realms? Fear is just a tool! The unknown is just a cause! We fight and slaughter each other because we think that this is the only way! There is not one way! There are not two ways! Every way is to be there as a path to step on! We will walk and work together and we will reach our home once again! Fear is not real! I promise you all, I will help you whole! I. Am. Vowing to all!"
There was utter silence at first. The circle of Awakened warriors all were dormant. They were until a dude with dead yellow eyes raised his right arm and shouted my name. Not "Raya" but the "Mistress of Liberation".
"Hail the rune bearer!" A small boy, approximately at the age of eleven shouted.
"Hail the Libarator!" A short girl yelled in excitement.
"Hail the Mistress of Libaration!" All of them bellowed in adoration as the crowd of Awakened all released a presence of admiration.
Klein and Lizzie watched dumfounded, Vesper was sitting on the grass, not looking at anything or anyone in particular. Virginia, my new friend, was smiling at me in revere like I was some sort of a goddess. In fact, all those that surrounded me had the same look on their raging faces. What the hell was I doing?
And with that two days had already passed. They gave me and Klein epithets that sounded a bit unnecessary. They call me the "Devil of Blue", "Daughter of Freedom". Klein is in a much funnier situation than I am. They call the poor boy "Consort of the Stars", the "Hero of Dawn". And now, proximately two thousand Awakened, all from different realms, position themselves in the Golden Lowlands. And we... We were trying everything to travel across the Golden Lowlands, but neither Derald nor Virginia let me. They say: "Its too dangarous." They don`t know what true danger is. I came face to face with my Pillar, with Orginazer, I was before the presence of the Last Enigma. I even met with an angel and a shadow. If the vision I saw back when I fell here does mean something even a little, then there is only one left for me to stand before. The light that travels across the world and trying to find justice. I remember well of my conversation with Last Enigma. She named them all, Angel of Imagination, Humanities Shadow and lastly: True Justice. I can only imagine what they are. But by the looks of it, Organizer is the only one that has a slip mind.
I was sitting alone inside a small tent, handmade by Gwyn of Grandline Nidus and Gherman von Armum. The tent was comfortable enough for me to sleep and just live. I was nevertheless tired of being here. The aetheric particles guided me towards the depths of the Battle Island. But again, I was not allowed to leave until all the Awakened who were still on reached the Golden Lowlands and did not pose any threat. Klein and I were runes bearers after all, if we were lost, then the runes would be lost too. Even if we still have five loop backs, that doesn`t mean we are truly safe.
Klein came to my tent at dawn on the fourth day of my trial. He had a tired and red gaze.
"You look like crap." I said playing with my dirty nails.
Klein rolled his eyes as he sat down next to me, his chin resting on his hands.
"Lizzie is devastated because of the horn she lost."
I blew air out of my mouth.
"Can`t it just regrow?" I asked, my voice lazy.
Klein stared at me baffled. I noticed him and just shrugged.
"Don`t worry, I was just joking."
Klein looked away clearly not amused.
"You look awfully chill." he said numbly.
There was not a single hint of me being not chill.
"Yeah? But I am not." I glanced at the azure motes. "I miss Grey."
Klein did not spoke immediately, and when he did speak his voice was even blank then before:
"I know... I know... Didn`t you speak to any of the other Awakened?"
I shook my head.
"Virginia looks like she knows something, but I don`t want to corner her without any reason to back it up."
Klein arched a brow.
"Whats that supposed to mean?"
I reached for a mote as I replied:
"It means that I will pressure her until she gives me everything I need and want."
Klein chuckled.
"Horridly patient for a girl that used a volcano as a levearge." He paused then added. "You know, the peak of Mount Eckly is my inception point."
I lingered for a moment. I held the aetheric particle in my hands.
"I know now."
Klein leaned back and focused on nothing in particular. Even if he won`t say in words it's nakedly obvious that he doesn't want to be here. Who does anyway? Moving to the further east is just tiring. I wonder what will happen to us when our trial is complete. Will I just fall back to Green Realm? I let the small particle go. Anyways, I don`t need to think of that for now.
"Bleeding in the sun, living in gawn. Then let be, be within, when they swing the light be seen. Beneath all the dim, the stars may sin." I tuned silently.
Klein glanced at me with a gentle smile on his face. I cocked my head on a whim.
"What?"
Klein let out a breath filled by the gentle scoops of a man who lost someone.
"You sing when you are stressed." he said calmly.
I looked away embarrassed.
"I don`t sing only, dancing is my hobby too."
Klein looked at the outside of the tent and then to the rising Azure Sun. The colors of the sky in the shade of blue and lavender.
"The sky looks beatiful." He uttered in a tone which most would believe belongs to a child`s. "Considering that aether is the one that made the stars of our realms." He looked back at me in delight. "Are we also made out of aether?"
I stared down at my hands more specifically to the rune engraved into my palm. The Rune of Freedom. I was the holder of freedom, yet I felt more chained than everybody else. Klein asked me a question I didn`t want to answer. What is the purpose of us in the first place? Why do we Awaken? Is it just a wild joke of aether to torment by rewarding us for being shaken?
"I don`t know." I answered honestly. "And I don`t really have the urge to know it."
Klein`s brows went up for a moment. I stood up before he could say anything. Stretching my arms I walked out of the tent. When I went outside I saw a dozen other tents as big as mine. Whoever had this much material to make such many tents is really in my interest. I glanced around, my eyes having a need to find something, or someone. And there she was, my eyes landed on the ten year old girl sitting on a log across a corner of the camp zone. She was quiet and dull. Her golden horns shone through the dawn. I walked past a group of small Awakened, they looked eleven at best. Even Vesper was only ten years old only. She and most other Awakened were just kids who were dropped here to get stronger.
I sat next to the golden horned girl, she was looking down, her tired and sleepless eyes were not seeking to stare at anything. She did not even acknowledge my presence. My eyes narrowed in frustration.
"Did you talk to Lizzie? Did you apologize?" I asked at random.
Vesper froze for three seconds. In those three seconds the air was heavy. A tiny delay in her eyes as she finally looked at me and with the passing of that three seconds she shook her head. Vesper pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly.
"No. I did not." she answered in a barely audible voice.
I looked straight into her eyes.
"And why is that?" I sounded almost cynical, even though I did not want to.
She did not answer me. Vesper`s shoulders slumped, eyes low, her blinks became slower. Her lips departed from one another leisurely.
"I... Am... Sorry..." she whispered eventually.
I stood up abruptly. Vesper`s eyes followed me intensely.
"Don`t go." she uttered. Her voice so low pitched that I almost walked away without noticing her.
I sat back down, but now Vesper scoot closer to me, I could see tears filling her eyes. The horned girl`s small hands gripped my shoulder, her fingers tightened as she clinged to me.
"Thee art kind." she muttered. "Thee art not angry."
I was baffled at Vesper`s behavior and way of speaking. Her act of being a superior race had lost. She now truly and utterly acted as her age.
I instinctively held her head, brushing strands of hair off her face to see the godborne`s sharp yet gentle face.
"Thou`rt stalwart. Ye wilt be a great Awakened." she said, leaning into my touch. "Please don`t leave me." Her head leaned on my shoulder, resting there, her eyes closed in relief.
I did not move nor speak. I had no way of thinking right now, not when there was a girl clinging to me like I was her mother. My eyes widened in realization. She was also an Awakened after all, she had to go through something to be where she was now.
My eyes furrowed as my hold on her tightened. I was uncomfortable but she wasn`t. I did not like her at all at first. She looked like a vicious, arrogant brat, but now... She is just like an innocent little girl.
The Sun was almost up, the Awakened count around the zone had increased. Virginia and Coop were walking together as they were holding food supplies on their backs.
Vesper stirred slightly as her head turned and looked up at me, her eyes big.
"How thee didst Awoke?"
I opened my mouth to reply but nothing came out to ring in my tongue. Vesper`s eyes danced away.
"I Awakened... " She paused for a vast before proceeding. "after mother and sister were murdered by the Aeons."
My eyes fell down, a very disturbing and griefful way to Awaken. My fingers brushed her hair gently and gingerly.
Vesper`s breaths became steadier as her chest arose and fell in sync. Her eyes were closed once again, fingers still clinging to me. I sang a tune to make her more at ease.
"Once a little snake, praised by the mother, swung her tail to be under. Withering in her forests she wheezes for a mother. A rasp is there, climbing for her. Eyes lord, bill blonde. Little snake canst do more, her eyes boil through. She sees a whimper, her wither gawns more. The little snake begs in affection, the maw hisses in starvation. Little snake creeps, the hawk takes. Evil comest burst, kindness thus lost force. Little snake looks up, the hawk looks down. A nib on her eyes, the maw swallows alas."
Vesper had already fallen into a deep, soothing repose. In resident movements I gently picked her up to my arms. She was heavier than she looked, but my body easily lifted the girl`s weight. Derald did not lie when he said that our bodies do get stronger as well.
I, with Vesper in my arms, walked across the zone to reach my tent. I got inside, pushing the sheet away. Klein was still there, his eyes were idle like a corpse. When he looked at me, a sheer wave of surprise washed through him. I, without bothering to say anything, laid Vesper in my snug blanket, which I had not used since Virginia gave it to me. Vesper scooted the blanket closer to her body. The little golden horned girl stirred slightly but then a tiny smile risen in her tiny puss.
Klein stood next to me staring at the slumbering girl.
"Why is she here?" he asked, his voice low pitched.
I shrugged as a response.
"She fell asleep on me so I brought her here."
Klein sparkled.
"Didn`t think this vicious one could be sweet in her sleep."
I crossed my arms as I stared at him down.
"She may be vicious," I glanced at Vesper for a second. "she`s still an Awakened."
Klein nodded his head with apprehension.
"Even the worst of us shed tears in loss, and the best of us roar in blood." he whispered.
A tight minute had passed, both of us were watching the godborne repose under the heavy rain of the Battle Island. We were in mute until Leth of Godline Stella walked inside the small tent, a sneer in his gentle face. His eyes first found Vesper then they slowly went up to meet with Klein`s gaze. Leth motioned his head to follow his lead. I walked out after Klein but not before giving the little girl a soft kiss on her forehead.
When we walked out, Gwyn, Ghernman, Derald, Coop, Virginia and the heavy rain welcomed us. Leth walked over and stood in between Gwyn and Gherman. Derald gave a smile.
"Time to move, milady." he said.
I yawned tirelessly.
"Well, where now?"
"Down the further east." Virginia replied. "To the Blacklight Rivers."
Gherman placed a hand on Leth`s shoulder.
"You don`t look so eager, Devil of Blue." the hunter pointed.
Coop growled at his keenness.
"Don`t you have other things to do, Hunter of Shadows?" Coop mocked.
Gherman glared at Coop as he spoke in an amused tone.
"Not all of us have an Archon in their families, Jujumo."
Gwyn intervened:
"Shut up, both of you."
Coop rolled his eyes as Klein came into the show.
"Who`ll come with us?" the Hero asked.
Virginia raised his arm as an answer. I stared at Derald, smirking.
"Why don`t you come? Weren`t you the one who pledged himself to me?"
Derald grinned playfully and scratched the back of his head.
"I will continue my path towards the south."
"Then I guess this is a farewell." I said as I stepped closer to Derald.
"Still, we technically have the same inception point, anyways bye bye, pops."
Derald looked down at me with a mourning face.
"Nah, I`m sure we`ll meet—"
Before pops could finish his sentence I embraced him into a hug. Derald was shocked at first but then he returned the hug, his arms tightened around me.
"Don`t die," he warned.
"You too." I responded back.
We pulled away at once as I looked at Coop. The boy seemed sad.
"It was nice to burst a volcano alongside you," he said.
I smiled as I also pulled him into an embrace. Coop smiled through my shoulder.
"I`ll miss you." he muffled.
"I`ll miss you too."
And with Coop and I pulled away I stood next to Virginia. Klein wasn`t done yet. As she shook hands with the three boys. Gherman, Gwyn and Leth all looked happy to have Klein by their sides. Under the rain of the clouds one person had also made an appearance. Lizzie with her one remaining horn weaved her hand towards us. Klein immediately dashed towards her, both of them hugging each other tightly. Klein pulled away slightly to look at Lizzie`s face, his hands on her shoulders. Lizzie blushed and looked away.
"D-Don`t stare at me like that."
Klein`s eyes widened as he giggled awkwardly.
"Sorry, I shouldn`t have."
"Just kiss the girl already." Gherman shouted behind them.
The two teens flushed in embarrassment.
Gwyn pinched Gherman`s arm. The Hunter yelped in pain, pulling his arm away and glared at Gwyn. Nidus just shrugged.
Klein's hopeful green eyes jolted at Lizzie.
"Won`t you be coming with us?"
Lizzie`s eyes looked down.
"I could but most of my kind is here, I want to be with them for a time."
Klein nodded empathetically and smiled bright.
"It's okay, you have your own trial after all."
Lizzie`s eyes looked up, meeting with Klein`s once more.
"Thanks." she whispered.
Lizzie smiled back as she leaned closer, kissing Klein on the cheek with her soft lips. Lizzie pulled away, both of the young lovers' faces were in the shade of a smooth red.
"Don`t forget our promise, eh?" Lizzie`s expression hardened. "Or I`ll find and bring you myself."
Klein giggled.
"Of course, I would be glad nonetheless."
Lizzie punched Klein`s arm playfully.
"You bet?"
And with the rain on top we once again continued our march through the east of Soulbattle Island. Virginia, Klein and I all were soaked because of the rain. The damaged uniform of Legacy`s Academy on me was drenched wet. We stopped to take a break after an hour, in the borders of the Golden Lowlands.
Virginia had a big back on her, the same one the climbers of Mount Apicem uses. The equipment doesn`t change much across worlds I guess.
Virginia laid some hot rugs embedded with aether for us to sit on. Virginia and I sat across each other, Klein just sat next to me looking at our next destination: Blacklight Rivers.
Virginia gave us two small pieces of bread from her bag.
"This`ll do for now." she said.
We took the pieces gladly and ate them in a single, big bite. Virginia looked dumbfounded at our eating style.
"Isn`t there any bread in the Green Realm?"
I shrugged.
"I like bread." The words came out muffled.
Virginia looked away, pleasant at our sight.
"Even if realm travel is forbidden in the Dream Realm, I would like to visit the Green Realm one time."
Klein let out a weak laughter.
"It's not much of a great place."
Virginia smirked.
"Can`t be worse than the Dream Realm. Fates Masterpiece fell from there after all."
At the mention of the name I almost threw up all the bread I had just chewed. I swallowed intensely as I recalled our encounter with Organizer. He called Grey "Fates Masterpiece". My eyes widened in realization.
"Grey is there?" I almost shouted, my eyes welling up.
Klein pulled back for a moment, shock filling him.
"G-Grey is really alive?" Klein`s eyes stared down, thinking something.
I stood up and grabbed Virginia by her shoulders.
"Is he okay?" I asked, my voice breaking.
Virginia was surprised at my emotions draining out of my wrinkled face.
"I-I don`t know. Last time, I believe he was lecturing in the Aetherim Academy with my cousin."
I almost burst out.
"So he is okay?" My voice lowered.
Virginia shook her head.
"I don`t really believe so. He`ll fight the Dream King after all."
My eyes furrowed in aspiration.
"What? Why is he even fighting?"
Virginia leaned back slightly
"Oh, dear, only if you knew."
Virginia smiled gently.
"The Dragon King challenged the Dream King of the Storm City," She paused, looking straight into my eyes then continued. "The Dream King is without a doubt the strongest Awakened in the Dream Realm, and Fates Masterpiece challenged him in a duel to death."
My grip on her shoulders tightened.
"When the fuck did this even happen!?"
Virginia raised a brow.
"I am not sure, time works vastly differently in the Battle Islands and the realms all together."
I let go of her as my steps faltered, my gaze hollowed to an abyss.
Grey is going to fight. Grey will die. I don`t want that. I want Grey. I love Grey. Grey loves me. He loves my hair. No... No! Grey will die and fly away from my grasp yet again. I don`t want that. I can`t have that. I will not have that.
I fell to my knees, glaring down at the wet golden grass. I placed my hands on the golden grass. No. There was not any grass. It was Grey. It was Grey`s long and soft blonde hair. It was Grey`s piercing aureate eyes.
I began to laugh. A single, eternal, mirthful, mad laugh.
"What a drag path all this is!"