Lying on my bed, I was half asleep until I started hearing whispers. These whispers were murmuring in a language that was somehow understandable. But suddenly, they started getting so loud that it became unbearable.
"AGHH!"
I woke up, soaked in sweat, leaning back as I tried to recall what the hell had just happened.
After the execution, the prince had made a long speech about justice and his prophecy before departing.
At this moment, those whispers were still lingering in my mind, so I shoved my hands into the drawer beside my bed and yanked out a piece of paper along with a quill and ink.
Then, getting up and sitting on a chair by the table, I began writing down what I'd heard. Though I felt like these murmurs were disappearing every second, so I had no choice but to write them down as fast as I could.
When I reached the last words of the sentence, I couldn't recall what I'd heard. Though I remembered that I had heard something, I couldn't really recall it right now...
"God damn it."
Scratching my hair and looking at the text I'd written, I saw that it turned out to be:
'Once upon a time, far away from the lands and worlds, somewhere on the Earth. A long time ago, lived a cruel prince who claimed himself to be a prophet of God.'
'He possessed some miracles which could qualify him as a prophet, but he committed the most atrocious acts, some acts which a prophet could revolt against, or rather kill themselves than even think about.'
'He went by the name Darian Roy. The cruel prince and the falsely claimed prophet who, at the end, met his fate by—.'
Staring at the text, I wondered.
What caused the end of him?
My mind went hollow, and no intrusive thoughts answered me about its outcome.
CREEEAK!
Suddenly, the door opened, its creaking sound echoing throughout the whole room. My gaze locked onto it as I got up.
"W–Who's there?"
It was as though a ghost had entered my room. I couldn't see nor hear it. Yet my heart began pounding. My senses were telling me that something, someone, was here.
"What the hell do you want from me!?"
My scream didn't change the environment of the room. That same eerie sensation lingered around.
Leaning back against the wall and gasping heavily, I didn't let my guard down nor did I turn my gaze away from the front.
There was nothing here I could use as a weapon for my defense.
Suddenly, I heard a garbled noise.
"███████—"
Left startled by what the hell had just happened, I tried to describe it.
It was like this was a story and I'd encountered a being who knew the truth about its ending. But the story itself blurred it into a distorted noise.
The room temperature, which had been chillingly cold a few moments ago, started changing, as did the air. It was as though everything was going back to normal.
Though a weird, indescribable feeling erupted within me.
What if... this was a revelation of the future?
Or something even more horrific...
I sat down on the nearby chair, glaring at the center of the room where, a few moments ago, I had felt someone's presence.
***
Afternoon had come. Ender was sitting on the chair by his sister's side, who was lying on the bed. She had a fever. Actually, she was a softhearted girl who could easily be provoked by minor violence.
Which was why Ender's head had been tilted down on the bed. It seemed like he was quite tired from taking care of her, so he had dozed off too.
TAP! TAP!
The light, gentle sounds coming from the main door startled him as he woke up, rubbing his eyes. Seeing that his sister was still unconscious, he stared blankly before getting up.
"Who's it?"
"Your boss."
He opened the door to see Sara, who had come with a basket of fruits in her hands, wearing a wide-brimmed hat as today was quite sunny.
Upon entering, she took her hat off before sliding the basket over.
"This is for her."
"Ahh... thank you."
Ender mumbled in a soft tone of voice.
They went to the room where Marine was lying. Sara sat beside her while he arrived after putting the basket somewhere safe.
For a while, they silently looked at the young girl who was shivering because of the fever.
"It's unusually hot today, and her fever is off the charts. Should I visit an apothecary to get some medicine?"
"Hmm... you should, but I came here because I need your help..."
"What?"
"Some customers are at the shop to buy our goods. Ruis is helping them, but he's new. If you can go help out, things will go smoothly. Whereas you can call him, or I'll pick up the medicine for her."
Ender wondered for a moment before answering.
"Fine... I'll tell him to do my work."
He sighed before walking away. Meanwhile, she stayed alongside Marine.
***
"So, what do you think about it?"
At the shop, after letting the traders check our goods, I watched them with a mechanical smile lingering around my cheeks.
They were trading our goods for a quite decent amount. Their leader, observing our goods for a few seconds, spoke up with a resolute voice.
"Hmmm... Well, as you said, you're a newbie, so I guess we have to wait until your senior comes, or your boss."
As I was about to say that I could do it myself, a voice emerged from outside, catching our attention.
"I'm here."
Fortunately, Ender had come here just in time, though I could have handled it myself.
"Oh, hello! Nice to meet you."
The leader and Ender shook hands while his men were lost watching the landscape. Suddenly, Ender called out to me.
"Forst, boss is calling you. Go to my house."
This left me startled. I pondered why he would specifically tell me to go to his house.
Damn, I realized my delayed response had made the air silent.
"...Ah, okay."
Anyways, I made my way and got going.
As they watched me leave, their leader cleared his throat before speaking.
"So, what's your opinion? Deal?"
At last, I heard a faint voice of his fluttering into my ears.
"Well, I would say it's decent, so let's begin our deal then."
Moments Later...
The door opened as Sara welcomed me. It was Ender's house. She began telling me about Marine's condition.
Oh well, I didn't expect she would fall this easily from such things... or maybe I was a monster who was used to bloodshed.
Surprisingly, I still haven't done it in this life... yet. F*ck, these memories are so annoying.
"Did something happen there?"
She asked, observing me more vigorously. We were by the door, watching Marine, who was resting on her bed.
Sometimes I think she acts dumb but is smart, or maybe she's just good at analyzing people.
Well, I guess circumstances shape a person into who they are, but that isn't the only factor.
I cleared my throat, then giggled to settle this awkward air between us.
"Ahh, no. They went smoothly."
"What's with this troubled face hanging around, then?"
She spoke with a teasing smirk.
"Huh—I don't see any faces like that."
She chuckled before coming to her senses.
"Anyways, go outside. I'll bring you the list of medicine to bring."
With her hiss, I made my way outside, leaning against the wall while waiting for her.
After a while... I heard the door creaking as she came out too, handing me the paper with the medicines listed.
If I wanted, I could go right now... But I want to spend time with her. Time spent with the person I had forgotten.
Surprisingly, the day that had started quite sunny and hot had become cool and refreshing as clouds covered the blazing sun. It felt like it could rain at any moment.
She gazed at my eyes, looking at the sky, before looking at it too. Her expression was unreadable. Silence wrapped around us.
"It's so cool, just as the world wanted."
Her whisper shattered the silence between us. I glanced at her, then looked at the sky.
"Everyone is like the sun. They are not accepted by the world from their core. So they cover and cover themselves to seek validation from others. When the world accepts them, they are no longer the same sun as they were before. In the end, to get accepted by the world, they lose their sense of self."
I didn't expect these words to come from her... At this moment, a thought popped into my mind.
Was my behavior in my current life changing her, which was why she and this Sara were so different?
No way... Me? Was it all me? For me, she changed herself? I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this!
"Ahh, I was being too sophisticated, right?"
Those pearls matched mine. They were saying something... screaming something... I could definitely read what they were saying.
"No... I like those who show their truth."
I made a faint smile. I wanted to empathize with her. Acknowledge her. Say that it was okay to be true to herself.
But could I say it when I was here, living in these illusions?
***
A caravan was strolling along a grassy path, suggesting that this path wasn't used much. Inside the caravan, the leader and his people were sitting along with Ender.
"So, Ender, what do you think?"
The reason Ender was going with them was because they had offered him a higher amount if he went with them to check another blacksmith shop there and inspect the quality of their materials.
He would return using their resources as well. Or simply, he was skilled at his job.
"Hmm... Not bad. Still, I would like to return before dusk."
"Ah! Leave it to us. Don't worry."
The two men were busy chatting with each other while the leader was looking at the view outside from the caravan. Ender had leaned back, chilling.
THUNK!
Suddenly, the caravan was attacked by arrows.One of them pierced the leader's shoulder. Ender and the other two men were startled and bent down instinctively.
The rider who was controlling the horse was killed as some arrows pierced his neck. The horse, which was injured too, began running uncontrollably before collapsing.
At last, Ender, the injured leader, and the other two men got out of the caravan.
They were surrounded by several bandits.
"Gosh... These bitches just don't get erased from existence."
Ender murmured as he took out a sword from one of the boxes where the goods were kept.
The injured leader also picked up a sword, grimacing, while the other two men picked up an axe and a sword.
The bandits, realizing the situation, decided to draw their knives this time. Their faces were covered by masks.
"We'll kill you, so surrender and give the goods to us."
This time, the old leader spoke up with resolute determination.
"Why should I fear death when it's an undeniable fact that we all will die one day?"
Ender was surprised.
The bandits were taken aback too, yet they still marched forward.
Ender and the leader made their way towards them as well. Seeing their motivation, the two men were stunned. They sighed and marched forward.
....
Blood stains were spread over the forest floor.
Walking among the trees, Ender's clothes were torn. His arms had been wounded, and there was a wide cut over his stomach where blood was leaking out, even though he had placed his hand firmly over it.
They had somehow won against the bandits, yet the leader died shortly after, followed by the other two men. At last, Ender was the only one left.
He was in a severe state as well. He had lost his sense of direction, dragging his legs with the last bits of energy he had.
He had been strolling from forest to forest for hours, yet he couldn't find what he thought of as 'home'.
At last, the dark shadows of the trees vanished, and he thought he had reached home. But looking closely, he found himself in a completely different place.
Stunned, he walked a few steps, looking at the beauty here.
There was a grassy field with flowers. After them stretched huge mountains, with water draining down them and forming a river.
There was something by the riverside, but he couldn't squint his eyes enough to see it.
After walking a few steps, he fell down, watching the beautiful cloudy sky.
Dusk had arrived. Maybe the so-called golden hour.
Feeling the warmth of the sunlight embracing his body, he lay in the long grass.
The earthly smell flooded his mind. His consciousness reached its limit.
~ Someday... I wanted to show them... this world isn't filled with all misery. Somewhere here exists a beauty.
He heard faint footsteps approaching.
~ And here I am, a selfish guy. Who is seeing this beauty all by myself...
His eyelids began closing as he watched the golden sky.
Suddenly, someone appeared in his vision. It was a girl. Her hair was covered by a loose black hood. So...
He couldn't see her face, but he could see the dark brown hair coming out from beneath the loose hood.
At last, before his consciousness slipped away...
He saw two golden eyes staring at him.