Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 38
1729 Words
Chapter 38
(Note: This chapter’s beginning is the legend of the Rose Valley’s Star Festival)
Once, there was a Princess. She was a talented beauty, and had a stubborn but kind heart.
Betrothed to marry a Prince from their alliance, a Prince whom she loved and loved her back with all his heart.
Blessed with a good family, loving people, and a prosperous kingdom.
But fate hated her perfect life.
One day, she lost everything.
Her Kingdom fell into chaos.
To protect her, the Prince set a plan for her escape.
Along with her trusted attendant, she survived.
The stubborn Princess never gave up and found out who ruined her people.
Treacherous enemies enslaved the citizens of their Kingdom
The Princess, with no power left, sought help from former allies.
One Kingdom offered a helping hand. But then she found her missing Prince, married to the Princess of that Kingdom.
The Prince, who lost his memories, remembered everything the moment he laid her eyes on her,
However, he was already married to his savior.
The ill-fated Princess thought he just looked like her Prince as the Princess of that Kingdom made up a lie.
The ill-fated Princess gained her desired help. Along with the allies she made while strengthening herself, she made her way.
Another war broke, blood spilled across the land.
Soon, the tide in their favor, victory in sight.
Unexpectedly, an assassin sneaked-attacked the Princess.
But the missing Prince appeared, protecting her. The poisonous blade struck him instead.
It was their cruel fate.
The Princess regained their Kingdom but she passed it on to her closest relative.
She went to the mountains and prayed for her country day and night. Hoping the lost lives and lost happiness won’t be in vain for centuries.
The Princess became a legend across the land.
But she lived unhappily.
On that last streak of her life, she still prayed for peace.
A goddess took pity on her at last and asked, “What are your two greatest wishes?”
“To be able to see my beloved once again.”
The goddess frowned, “a wish like that consumes the happiness of this land.”
The Princess asked, “Then, can I wish for guaranteed happiness and safety for this land?”
“But it will consume your chance of reincarnation.”
“Those were the only wishes I have.”
The goddess, who pitied her so much, asked once again, “If you could see him even once, but sadness will befall the people of this land, would you be happy?”
“No,” the Princess said decisively, “I rather suffer than be consumed by greed.”
The goddess smiled, “Such selflessness deserves a reward.”
The goddess granted her wish.
As the ill-fated princess passed away, her soul ascended in heaven and became a star.
The Prince, who lost his memory, wished her happiness upon his death bed.
But without him, she would never find happiness even if an eternity passed by.
To grant his wish, he joined the stars in the sky like the Princess.
Once a year, they could see each other across the heavenly river, their wishes granted, fates intertwined.
Every once a year, they could cross the heavenly river and meet.
“Are you happy?” The goddess asked both of them.
“Yes, we can not ask for more.”
But unknown to everyone, if a war enveloped the land, a wish could be granted by these ill-fated lovers. To people whose love and devotion to each other was as beautiful as the brightly lit sky.
__________
A comforting warmth surrounded Nephrite, a weak yet majestic voice waking him up.
Such a mysterious fate…
Nephrite struggled to open his eyes but it was so bright he could not force his eyes open…
He was also dying at this point…
Nephrite froze, Who?
In a flash, coldness wrapped Nephrite’s body. On instinct he opened his eyes and saw he was surrounded with water. Even so, he did not panic as he can breathe normally.
Was this an illusion?
Then he heard a loud splash of water, as if a heavy object fell into the water. He looked up and from the light, he saw a familiar figure struggling as he sank into the water.
When he realized that person’s identity, his heart was also enveloped with cold.
Again, he heard the mysterious voice, “What do you wish for?”
“Save him.”
“But if I save him now, you will die.”
“Still, save him.”
For a while, the mysterious voice did not speak. The person was now near Nephrite. As if tired of struggling, that person shifted his body to look at the bottom of the lake. But to his surprise, he saw someone he knew.
“Neph—” water entered Kazuyuki’s mouth. Wait, Nephrite?
Nephrite raised his hand to catch him. Nephrite held him in his arms. His heart wrecked as he saw all his wounds. “Kazuyuki.”
Kazuyuki was slowly losing his consciousness,
Then, he heard again the mysterious voice, Entwined by fate.
Warmth enveloped Nephrite’s chest once again. It was like a whirlwind that would burst anytime. Without thinking, he reached out and moved his head close to Kazuyuki.
Kazuyuki’s fainting consciousness suddenly received waves of life force into his body as their lips touched. The softness held a burning sensation that sent the chill away. It was like a lava emerged from both of their chests.
They did not know when the kiss got deeper, all they could feel was the feeling of being submerged in an emotion that was hard to extricate.
Inexplicable warmth surged inside Kazuyuki’s body. At the same time, memories that he had forgotten slowly swept through his being. His eyes widened.
Kazuyuki struggled from the binds as Nephrite’s hold on him weakened.
No! No, someone. Please save him. Save him!
I can’t even hold him. Please save him!
But if I save him now, you’ll lose the life he just gave you. Someone answered.
Then, let me die with him. If it’s not possible to live, then dying together is better.
The mysterious voice chuckled, Such interesting souls.
Live and may both of you survive all perils.
A strong force swept both of their consciousness.
_________
Nephrite glanced around the familiar interior of the palace around him until his eyes landed on the sobbing Aijin. It was the same dream he got after he acquired Aijin’s memory.
“I won’t believe Kazuyuki killed himself. It’s impossible.” Aijin said firmly in between her sobs.
She suddenly stood up. Nephrite recognized the clothes in her hand. Kazuyuki’s clothes… The one he wore when they saw each other underwater earlier.
Nephrite was about to follow Aijin when he saw a movement in the other end of the main hall.
Without further ado, he quickly followed.
“Who told all of you to kill him!?” The anger from the voice can not be hidden.
“Your Highness, destroying the roots will always be the best way to destroy the enemy.”
Nephrite arrived at the corridor. He saw the Second Prince, his eyes burning with anger. “If I wanted him dead, I won’t leave even his bones. I left him because I wanted him to leave. But..” He shook his head, “Tell me, am I the Prince here or you are?!”
“Your Highness had been short-sighted,” Nephrite could not help but raise an eyebrow on the way the other person insulted the Second Prince. “If we did not kill him, he might return with a heavy grudge. If the Saikyu family stayed quiet for years and yet joined hands in rebellion, how much was the Miyazuya Family? They might be just a branch of their main clan but their influence even surpassed the head of their family. He was also connected to the Inner Minister.”
The Second Prince froze upon hearing Kazuyuki’s connection to the Inner Minister. He just stood there, his back facing the Minister so the latter could not see the veins popping on the Prince’s forehead. “So that’s how it is,” his voice sounded delighted but his facial expression showed the opposite. “I thought you were a compassionate person. Turns out you were also cold-blooded. Continue your hard work but never touch the Inner Minister’s men from now on unless you want to receive the King’s wrath.”
With the flick of his sleeves, the Second Prince walked away.”
Nephrite wanted to follow and see the face of the other man but then he heard a muffled sob. He turned and saw Aijin running away.
Nephrite ran after her but the moment he stepped on the main hall again, the floor turned into a vacuum, sucking every inch of these memory fragment to eternal void.
___________
Are we in space?
Xei saw a vast darkness surrounding him. Across him, Nephrite was suspended in mid-air, upside-down, eyes closed.
Nephrite?
Xei?
Xei sighed in relief
Xei?
Hmm?
Have you ever experienced this feeling of tranquility?
As if you were floating with the clouds or like a fizz slowly rising from the bottom of a glass?
...Yes.
Dangers awaits at the end, but it’s hard to extricate ourselves. Even the most dangerous paths give a mysterious gleam of peace, clearing our minds.
Yes, people said it's heroic to save someone in this state of consciousness. But I think, what pushed people to do it was fear of regret. You being there, it was like watching life slip in front of our eyes. Unnecessary restraint makes one want to break free…
Do you regret saving me? Xei asked.
No.
A sudden strong force engulfed both of them. Cold and Hot vortex gyrated Xei into the state of oblivion.
It was like someone suddenly blew a huge amount of air in his lungs.
“Ack! Cough! Cough!” Xei made a drawing wind sound, so loud that people surrounding him started to panic. He turned his body to his side and vomited water.
“Yuki-kun! You scared me to death!” Katsuhiro turned towards the guard nearest him, ‘Quick, get a blanket!”
The voices seemed far away. Xei glanced over then passed out once again.
- Writer
