Jiji no. 8

Under A Wishing Star

The small-scale war between Agnosbadtt and their opponent, Guion, has finally ended. There were casualty for the sides of the troops of the Kingdom of Agnosbadtt, but it does not reach onto a hundred. What was dreary was the situation of the Soldiers of Guion. Almost thousands had died. Some even turned into torn pieces of met as it met some powerful attacks like of Duthor and Benny Flick.

“Booze for the victory!”

And so, they celebrated.

They were inside the drinking hall, celebrating the triumph that they had achieved for the pride and name of their Agnosbadtt. The soldiers, Balel, the General, The Knights, and the Sankt Vessel users sat inside the drinking hall, and spend a day full of laughter, of calories, of liquor and joyful conversations.

When the midnight came, the lights in the drinking hall was still open, and there were still people laughing and talking to each other, unbothered by the effect of the liquors that they were drinking. Those people were of high alcohol tolerance, that is why they are still awake, partying, enjoying the great feat of today.

If there is one thing that Holder learned to his baba Cicero, that would be ‘to never try or be curious of what the taste of a booze, a wine, or any liquor is.’ Because it would not bring any good for him. Alcohol and friends and healthy conversation is needed in a person’s life—he was aware of that. But, he believes that friends, and memories with friends, can still be achieved even if he would cut the alcohol on his life.

It’s just that… he doesn’t want to be like his Baba Cicero, or of like Professor Zen.

Ah, speaking of the Professor: when she had finally emptied the second mug of his booze, she started spilling the drama of her life. Particularly her bittersweet romance with the General Wu (the one who wore blue General’s cloth). She shared her story towards everyone who would listen. She shared how they met on a certain small kingdom in which she forgot the name, completely hiding that she is a strong-asset professor of Agnosbadtt, and he hiding the fact that he was a general of Agnosbadtt’s opposing kingdom.

Professor Zen was there for a spying mission about the ridiculous amount of Majicules being produced by the kingdom. She spent three months on the mission—meaning she spent three months of flirt with the then unknown yet general of Guion. She wasn’t aware that the handsome Wu she met (and had flirted with), was also spying the incident. And when they met, caught each other in the middle of action, there they started suspecting each other. Until both of them revealed the truth. And both of them decided not to continue the relationship that they had. Because it would not work.

Unbeknownst to the General, Professor Zen was devastated with what happened to their relationship. She had realized how bittersweet their relationship is, and it was the most ugly ending of a love story one would ever experience. She had no appetite for a whole month, when they decided to end their relationship. She kept thinking of her handsome features. Until one day, she decided to finally move on—and accept the fact that there will be no more happy ending that would come to them, knowing that they are bounded in two different countries who hated each other. Being with him was just a fantasy.

But it seemed that even now, she still cannot move on from the bittersweet story that they have. Even Channie—who only enjoys the food but was not allowed to drink any liquor—had bawled tears when the Professor started crying.

Even Holder felt pity for the Professor.

Now, Professor Zen was sleeping on the table along with other Sankt Vessel users. They were all devastated with the alcohol that they unthinkably drank.

Holder was now outside of the drinking hall. His hands were resting on a wooden railing, designed as a support of anyone who would go out of the hall drunk and has wobbly walk. He looked at the stars, all were shining brightly, twinkling as if it was the forever. He sighed.

“To what are you sighing for, and it seemed you’re totally broken.”

A familiar voice of a woman appeared on his left side. He stared at it, and saw someone walking towards him, wearing a brown cape, warmly smiling at him.

“Hi,” the woman said.

It took a few moment before Holder could recognize her. “Princess Ellaine! What are you doing here? It was late of the midnight, and yet you’re still outside.”

The Princess pursed her lips and looked at him with a squinting eyes. She then broke her stare, shifted it onto the twinkling stars, and just like him, her body rested on the wooden railings.

“I just want a good night to spend, Holder.”

“Good night. Then you must be having your sleep. That’s the best way to spend the night for your good. Besides, this night is always dangerous for you.”

The Princess sighed. “But I have trouble sleeping,” she said, whispering.

Holder, however, heard what the Princess said. That is why, instead of scolding her about the wrong move that she had done, he just sighed, and said; “I’ll just escort you later. I need to make sure that you are fine and safe.”

The Princess smacked him at his arms. “How gentleman was that.”

But Holder replied with an “Ow! That’s painful!” and a scowl to her.

“Hey, that was just a weak smack. Why acting so dainty?”

“Are you sure you really are the princess? It seemed you’re a guy who can beat ten goons with just that simple smack,” Holder teased.

Princess Ellaine repeated smacking Holder’s arm, but Holder managed to evade it now. “Oops, not again.” And then he laughed.

“Whatever,” said the Princess, annoyed. She pursed her lips in annoyance, crossed her hand on her chest, and looked at the star as if she was about to cry.

“I was just kidding, Princess,” said Holder. With concern, he went near the Princess, and thought of how she would not be annoyed anymore. “I’m sorry.”

And then Princess Ellaine looked at her, then smacked him on his forehead. “You’re tricked!” said the Princess.

She distanced away of Holder with a mocking smile all pasted on her face.

As Holder held his forehead who has received knocking of fingers by the Princess, he sighed. “If perhaps you’re not a princess, I would have ran towards you and start for revenge.”

Princess Ellaine shrugged. “Sometimes, I enjoy the privilege of being a Princess.” She went back beside Holder. She was sure that the man would not seek for a revenge, knowing that he is recognizing the boundary—not of her being a princess, but of her being a woman. Holder had a lot of respect for woman. A thing that most men was losing on their selves.

“Would you want to answer my question?” the Princess asked.

“Hmm?” Holder looked at her. Their eyes met, and their gazes locked. The forest green eyes of Holder met the twinkling blackness of the princess. And they were drowned to each other.

When they realized that they stared to each other for already a long time, they both broke from their stares in a sudden flash. Holder felt awkwardness creeping to him as he held the back of his head, hoping that the blush on his cheek would be gone.

“Uhm, I—I was just thinking about something,” said Holder, as an answer for the Princess’ question.

“Y—Yeah, I can see that.” Even the Princess was stammering. “I can see that.”

And then there were silence between them.

“Uhm, what were you thinking, by the way?”

The laugh of drunken men inside the drinking hall bursts in the still silence of the midnight.

“Uhm, about stuffs… like would I be stronger if I train harder? Or would I be as great as other Sankt Vessel users? When will I see my family again? Or what would happen if there came a real huge war between us and our opponents? Stuffs like that.”

The Princess went silent.

Because of that, Holder decided to look at her, and to check what she was doing, or if she was still there, beside him, and listening to what he tells.

“Uhm, I think we’re both inside the same field of thoughts. You see, I’ve been thinking of a lot of things these days.”

Holder nodded. “I can feel it.”

And then another silence. The only sound that they hear was of the muffled voices of the men that was still having their drinking session inside the hall.

A star falling on the sky passed through their eyes.

“A wishing star,” said Elaine. And then she closed her eyes, and started praying.

“What are you doing?” Holder asked.

“Hmm? Oh, praying to the stars. They say that stars are bound with mysterious Majicules that can hear other people’s wishes, and can make it true.”

“That’s impossible to believe.”

“You can’t tell that not unless if you are the star itself.”

“So long as the stars does not tell you they are real, you would keep on believing about their magic?”

The princess nodded with a smile.

“I will.”

“What were you wishing for?”

“Uh, uh. A wish should be kept secret between the stars and the wisher. You should not spill it to others, or else the star would be mad at you.”

“That’s crazy.”

“You know what, Holder… sometimes, we need to believe in superficial things, because the reality is too cruel for us.”

“But would that leave us clinging to something that would never happen? If that so, then it would lead us nothing but pain.”

The Princess sighed. “I thought you are a man of dreams. And an idealistic soldier.”

“Perhaps, I am.”

“But for a wishing star, you would not believe?”

Holder looked at her again. “Perhaps if I desperately need it, I would start believing then,” he said.

“Whatever, Holder.” The Princess turned her back to him, and started walking. The brown cape she was wearing had fluttered to the cool breeze of the midnight wind.

“Perhaps, If I am desperate,” repeated Holder.

He ran towards Ellaine, and chased her pace.

“Ellaine, where are you going now?” he asked.

“Nothing. Going back to the palace.”

“Then I’ll escort you.”

“Whatever. I don’t want to talk to someone who does not believe to a wishing star.”

Holder laughed. “Alright, alright. For your sake, I will believe, okay? Just for the sake of your peace of mind.”