PART 16:-
CONSEQUENCES OF THE BLESSING
Minidra perspective :-
[After Bright left the room]
Why are you so kind, Bright? Whenever I meet you, all I can sense is your kindness. You don't know this, but nobody in this world has ever shown me this much kindness. Your words always save me.
[From Minidra's past memories]
"My lady, you should try harder. You are so close to achieving it. For the past few days, I've noticed you haven't been focusing on anything. What's the matter, my lady?"
"What could I possibly achieve? In the end, I am just a tool for everyone."
"No, my lady. Who told you such a horrible thing? Did those bunch of men say that? I will cut out their tongues."
"Father did. Now that I can sense others' true feelings, I can also see their true selves."
"Ahh… I'm sorry, my lady. But you know this society doesn't treat men and women the same."
"But I saw how others treat you. Why do they respect you?"
"You see, I come from a common family. In my early days, things were much worse for me than they are for you. I had to go through a lot more. But I had a master who always fought for me. That person gave me the courage to move forward. And when I became a warrior, everyone started respecting me."
"Is being a warrior considered respectable?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Then I wish to become a warrior too and show others my worth. I will change people's thoughts about me."
"Oh, my lady, you are the sweetest person ever."
[At the palace hallway]
"Hey—look, the princess is coming this way. Keep your distance, or she might hear our inner voices."
Everyone avoided me because they feared that I might discover their dark secrets. But the truth is, I can know anyway them if I want to.
"Ahaaa… Waaaa…"
Brother is crying. Is Lady Mother not with him? I can sense fear inside him. Is he afraid because he is alone?
He looks so cute and innocent.
[She grabs him in her arms.]
"Now, now, you don't have to cry. Your sister is here. She will protect you. Do you want to hear a song? La la la…"
"Don't touch him. Look, you made him cry. How did you even enter here?"
"I heard him crying. He was afraid of being alone."
"How do you know that? Maybe he was afraid because of you. Never go near him."
"I was just trying to help…"
"You don't need to help him. Just stay away."
[In a room where Minidra's parents are talking]
"Did you know your daughter tried to hurt our son today?"
"Don't make it a big issue. Maybe she was really trying to help him."
"Don't act like you know everything. She is growing up now. She knows she is the eldest, yet she can't have anything because of our son. Maybe she tried to kill him."
"Don't speak so loudly. Her powers are increasing daily. She might hear you."
"Oh, I don't care if she hears me. Her existence makes me sick. Tell me, our son also has your blood, so why was only she born with a boon? Why wasn't our son gifted too? Is she really your child, or did that woman cheat on you?"
"Enough. She is my daughter, and that will never change. She was blessed by the gods, and we should be thankful for it. Though I admit I would have been happier if our son possessed that gift instead of her, we can't change anything. It is all the gods' will."
[Minidra hears everything because of her power. After hearing that, her heart breaks completely. She leaves the palace and starts running without knowing where she is going.]
"Ahaa… ahaa…"
I am running without knowing where I am going. Tears won't stop falling from my eyes. Why was I born with this power? If I hadn't been born with it, maybe everyone would have loved me. Why do those men look at me like that? Why was I born beautiful? What crime did I commit?
My power is not a gift or a blessing—it is a curse.
I want to die.
I don't want to live in a world where everyone sees me that way.
[Without realizing it, she enters the forest.]
"Aaa…"
I suddenly fall to the ground. Where am I? Is this the forest of our land? I am tired. It is so quiet here.
It feels peaceful. I don't have to think about anyone. I should stay here and listen to the sounds around me. I can hear many birds singing.
The bushes suddenly rustle. Is there a tiger?
...…
PART 17 :-
THE UNEXPECTED MEETING
[Minidra was sitting in the forest when she heard a sound coming from the bushes.]
"Grrr…" A wild wolf appeared with red eyes and saliva dripping from its mouth. It looked hungry. Am I going to die today?
"What?!" A boy suddenly jumped down from a tree.
"Hide behind my back. She is not going to hurt you."
He stood between me and the wolf. He looked about the same age as me.
"Easy, that girl is not your enemy. She will not hurt you. Easy… come on, sit now."
The wolf listened to his words.
"How is that possible? A wolf would never follow a human's orders."
"What? She does not want to eat you. She thinks you are her enemy."
"But why?!"
"You came to this forest for the first time, didn't you? She has never smelled you before, so she thought you were an enemy. She is just protecting her kids from you."
"How do you know that?"
"I spend most of my time in this forest, so she remembers me. You don't believe me? Then come with me."
He held my hand gently and led me in front of a cave where I saw a bunch of pups.
"She already fed them, so you do not have to worry. They are not going to eat you."
"You are so brave. You jumped from a tree just to save me."
"Thank you for the compliment. Ha… it looks like you fell. Your hand is wounded."
"That's…"
"I have bandages with me."
He pulled out a roll of bandages from his side bag.
"What is your name?"
Iras told me not to tell anyone my real name. What should I tell him?
"Aahh… Mini. My name is Mini."
"Mini, give me your hand."
We sat on the ground, and he started wrapping the bandage around my hand.
"You need to be careful, Mini. There are lots of dangerous things in this forest. It is dangerous to stay out here alone."
"But you are also alone."
"Well, I have spent a long time in this forest, so most of the animals know me now. And it is not like anyone would stay with me."
His gentle, warm hands felt comforting. I could not sense anything inside him. It was like my powers did not work on him. Still, I could feel his warmth and kindness. It felt relaxing, like all my pain was disappearing.
"Are you lost? Is that why you were crying?"
"I ran away from my house. I do not want to go back there. It would be better if I did not exist."
"But why?"
"It is a long story."
"Well, you do not have to tell me if you do not want to. But you know, I live in an orphanage, and I always wished I had a home to return to."
"You do not have any parents?"
"I do not even know their names. I do not have anyone, so nobody would care if I died in this forest. I am cursed, so people avoid me. They always say that I should die. They do not want me to exist."
Cursed? Iras told me that cursed people live the worst lives in this world. He has so many problems, and yet he is still smiling.
"You know, life is full of problems and suffering, but that does not mean we should run away. Then what would be the value of living? I do not want to run. I want to face everything and make my life worthwhile."
My stomach made a sound.
"You are hungry! You should have told me earlier."
He gave me a piece of bread and told me to eat it. I had never eaten such low-quality bread before, but it was tasty.
"Thank you."
"You do not have to thank me."
"Awoo…"
"What? Are you still hungry?"
He gave his bread to the wolf sitting beside him.
"If you give her your food, then what will you eat?"
"She listens to me, so would it not be unfair if I did not give her food too?"
I had never seen anyone kinder than him before. I could not read him or understand his inner thoughts, but I could feel his warmth.
"What is your name?"
"Oh, sorry for not introducing myself. My name is Bright. I live in Joyful."
Is he the one everyone talks about? The curse of Joyful!? But he shines so brightly… I feel like I could watch him forever.
"I wish I could be like you."
"What is wrong with you? You do not have to be like others. Just be yourself. I like the way you are."
"What is good about me?"
"You did not run away from me like others do. That makes me happy. You did not look at me the way others stare at me. I feel comfortable around you. I am telling you, you are lucky that you are not like me."
His eyes were shining in the afternoon sunlight. I did not feel uncomfortable around him at all. I wished I could stay with him forever.
"You should go now before it gets late. And do not tell anyone about me, or everyone might start hating and avoiding you too."
Everyone already did. There is nothing new about that.
"And one more thing… do not hurt yourself again or think about dying. It would be a great loss if this world lost a beautiful girl."
Why am I blushing?
He took me out of the forest.
"Okay, bye. And if you ever feel lonely, come to that cave. That wolf is not going to eat you."
He waved goodbye and walked away.
...
PART 18 :-
A HEART STOLEN AT FIRST SIGHT
What is happening? I have been thinking about him for two weeks straight now. I cannot think about anything except him. Whenever I close my eyes, I remember his smile.
Am I falling in love with him?
"My lady, happy birthday."
Today is my birthday? I even forgot about it.
"Today we will go to the market and buy whatever you want."
[At the market]
"What happened, my lady?"
"It feels so uneasy when men stare at me like that."
"You do not have to worry."
Suddenly, all of them collapsed.
"What happened?"
"I paralyzed those who were staring at you. They will not be able to move for a few hours."
Wait… I can sense Bright's presence. Is he here in the market? I want to see him.
"My lady, this section does not sell anything for females."
"I want to go there."
"How dare you enter my shop?!" I heard someone shouting.
"You cursed freak! Do not dare step into my shop again, or I will kill you!"
It is Bright. He is really here. But how dare that man treat him like that?
"Iras, paralyze that man as well."
"But why, my lady?"
"He treated that boy coldly."
"My lady, I cannot do such things randomly, or it might create chaos."
Bright is leaving. I want to talk to him. Why can I not call out to him? My heart is beating so fast.
Is it because I am shy around boys?
[At the forest]
I am here again.
That wolf… it is true. She does not look at me the same way as before. But I have read that wolves do not obey humans.
Then how did she listen to him?
I wish Bright were here with me. I cannot approach him.
[At the academy]
"Is that Bright?! He is here!"
I am so happy. We are in the same class. I do not want to hide myself from him anymore. I want to be his friend.
"Ummm… excuse me, can I join you?" I finally asked him, my heart beating rapidly. I cannot think properly whenever I am around him.
"But… is it really okay for you to join us? I mean, I am cursed, and others might start hating you too."
Who cares about others? I want to stand by your side. I do not care about anyone else.
"Those who are important to me already hate me, so I do not think about that anymore."
"What are you talking about? I do not understand."
I am glad you do not remember me. I do not want you to remember my weakest side.
"It is nothing. I just wanted to ask… can I be your friend?"
I finally said it.
Actually, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
"Ammm… it would be a great pleasure to be your friend."
"Really?! Thank you!"
I am so happy. I finally became Bright's friend.
[In the present time]
I have watched you from afar for so long. Every time I came close to you, I hid myself because I was too weak to face you.
But not anymore.
I am tired of watching your back from the shadows. Now, I want to stand beside you, stay with you, and protect you forever.
That is my wish.
And I will win this fight, no matter what.
...…