Castaway

THE AWAKENING

Limo followed Niveus to the waterfall. It was more beautiful when he saw it up close. The rocks surrounding the water glittered under the sun. There, flowers grew beside where the water falls. He bent his knees and touched the water when his replica showed someone else’s face. He moved his head sideward, and the face surfaced. He was taken aback when he saw a fish with the face of a human, and it shrunk above water.

“They are Refuscis. They are somewhat similar to what humans called mermaids. The difference is that they shrunk above water, and sometimes their size depends on their habitats,” Niveus told him as they continued to walk.

Limo fulled himself with the scenery. He didn’t know if it’s real or not.

“By the way, where’s that bird I saw the other day? That with pink and bluish green feathers,” he asked Niveus.

“Regina? She barely made herself visible to anyone. She’s here that day to greet you. She’s the guardian of this forest.” Niveus faced him as they stopped on a stair that will lead them to the water.

“My spirit should have been burned if it wasn’t for her. I was one of the lost creatures guarding the forest against intruders, but the curse imprisoned me here, and now I became her responsibility. That’s why every time the next Primo was chosen. She came to check them up,” he said.

Niveus gestured him to go first. Limo descended into the water and turned to see Niveus. He was surprised when he saw Niveus turned into a human when he reached the water. He had long and wavy silver hair. He was built and muscled with scars that he may be gained from fighting. He still has golden eyes that made him look exotic.

“The waterfall reveals your other side. You may see my human form but believe me, I still see myself as the two-tailed white fox,” Niveus told him.

“What am I then?” Limo asked him.

Niveus looked at him and said, “It’s you who can answer your question if you know who you really are. Now get under the water… and die.”

Limo didn’t have time to react. The refuscis took his arms and legs and drowned him deep underwater. He struggled as he was gasping for air. They were really looked like mermaids, a creature that is half-human with fishtails. They moved swiftly on water and brought him even deeper. He can barely see the light on the surface. The water felt even colder than before. He tried his best to hold his breath, but as a human, he can’t hold it in for too long. He lost his consciousness.

-0-0-0-

“Ugh!” Devanna grunted when she felt pain in her wrist.

Calyx immediately woke up from his drowsiness and walked closer to her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. It’s been almost a week, and I’m used to it,” she said.

She watched Limo, who’s sleeping peacefully on his bed. There were no demons around, and they attacked Limo when Calyx arrived. Maybe they are aware of two hunters guarding him.

“How long has he been sleeping?” Calyx asked her as he leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“19 hours,” Devanna answered.

“Aren’t you tired?” he asked.

“I’m okay.”

Their conversation ended, and they both stared at Limo sleeping peacefully. The machines are no longer attached to him and the bandages left are on his right foot and left arm. There are times when they heard him grunting in his sleep and sweating a lot, but that’s all. Still, they prepared themselves for whatever comes next and the worst case possible to happen.

-0-0-0-

Limo woke up in a dark cave. He can feel pain in his left foot and found it was bleeding. His clothes changed, and it is dry. He tried his best to sit up when he heard the grasses moved and footsteps drawing near. He looked around, finding someplace to hide, but his body is weak. He saw the light coming from a fire, and then he saw a young lady wearing clothes totally different from what he was wearing even to what he knew people wear at the present time.

“Niveus? You’re awake!” the young lady exclaimed.

He looked around to see if Niveus was there, but he was surprised when the young lady came to hug him.

“I looked into the palace doctor’s place and found some herbs that will help your wound. You should avoid getting close contact with the other intruders,” she said. Her eyes were brown, just like Devanna's.

“You are an intruder yourself,” he said. That came out from his mouth, and he had no idea why.

The young lady looked at him and smiled.

“Can you make me an exception?” she asked.

He felt his head spun, and his body touched the cold ground. He heard the young lady called him Niveus, but he’s too weak even to open his eyes.

-0-0-0-

Limo woke up, and his clothes changed again. He has no wound, but his body felt weak and heavy. He had a hard time breathing. He was inside a house made of woods and bamboo-knitted walls.

“Fortis…” he heard someone whispered.

“Fortis, I’m here at the window.” He saw a girl in the window. He looked like the young lady from the cave he saw with Niveus.

“What are you doing there, Marionette?” he asked. He didn’t know why he knew the girl, and her name came out like he’d been friends since they were younger.

“I’m here to play with you. Are your parents in there?” she asked.

“They’re out to gather some food,” he replied.

He tried to sit, but unlike when he was Niveus, this body is a lot weaker. He then realized what’s going on.

“Maybe it’s the former Primo’s memories,” he mumbled.

“What did you say?” Marionette asked. He saw her eyes are also the same as Devanna's.

“Nothing,” he said.

-0-0-0-

“Clarus! Don’t let go of my hand!”

“Let me go, Luna!”

“I won’t.”

Memories after memories ended up tragic. He had seen a lot of fights against demons, wars against humans, and the most painful to watch, the purge of every brown-eyed girl’s family. Before he could see how the two of them ended, the white round light came out from the Primo’s chest and went back to the forest, suffering from pain after pain until his heart crushed and his world crumbled in every sad goodbye.

He felt himself floating above the water. He could feel his tears streaming down. He felt his body went numb, and his heart is no exception. He couldn’t even open his eyes.

“Feel the sadness, Limo,” he heard Niveus’ voice.

“Feel the agony and pain. Feel how it tragically ended. Make your heart stronger than it was before. In that way, you could embrace my soul, my power. Be one of us, be one with the curse, for this is now yours. This is now you. This is the new life you have to live. Acknowledge yourself as the next Primo.”

The numbness he felt was replaced with something, and a strong force dwelled up inside him. He felt his body went on fire, every vein, every muscle. His heart was pounding faster than it normally does. His eyes hurt like it was sliced multiple times. He was floating, yet he’s not drowning. The water helped him to get through the feeling.

-0-0-0-

“Ugh!” Devanna saw Limo losing himself. He was shouting, and his body stretched and curled like he’s in so much pain, yet his eyes are closed, and he’s asleep.

She saw Calyx went in along with the other nurses and a doctor. They immediately checked him up.

Devanna couldn’t move and talked with what she saw until she felt her wrist throbbing in pain. It’s not like what she used to feel. It was more intense. She tried her best to hide it. Luckily, Calyx was too busy looking at Limo. She walked to the corner of the room. Her head was spinning, and his breathing went heavy. She could hear the doctor said his command until she lost her hearing. She sat down on the floor, and that’s when Calyx noticed her. He immediately ran towards his sister and called her name, but she couldn’t hear it. She was panting while holding her wrist.

Everything was a mess. Suddenly Devanna saw Limo stopped moving, and then she lost her consciousness.

“He’s not breathing,” the doctor announced.