“Do you know ██████?”
The old man exclaimed with an ‘ah’ to the question.
“Yes. But impudently, how did you come to know that child?”
“Just a small passing connection.”
The old man gazed out of the window. Children playing under a tree masking the light of the sun.
Saying nothing, the old man silently breathed out.
“It was years ago.”
“Hm.”
“It was the time when the Empire was in an unfavorable situation due to fighting on two fronts. War is never easy. Even more so for the people who live near battlefields.
Their own home could be one if either side is pushed back. So most leave. Whether it was due to bad luck or ignorance, she at a young age, not even old enough to hold memories of that time was left. It was at that time when the battlefield shifted when I found her.”
The old man grabbed the cup and wetted his throat before continuing.
“She grew up like everyone else here. But at some point… I’m not sure what she got herself into. Always avoiding where she went, what she did to make money, growing colder to everyone. Acting as if the world only had her.
Perhaps it started before she was ten. When I frequently traveled out instead of being here. What happened is unknown to me. All I heard was her disappearance for long stretches of time.”
“That’s sound’s like failure.”
“Failure… that would likely be correct.”
The old man closed his eyes.
“A year ago, they appeared.”
Clasping the other hand, the old man rubbed his fingers.
“I expected her to behave as she would. Regardless of the relationship. But… she didn’t. She gave herself up. She knew the consequence yet still went through with it. I…
I won’t forget her reaching upwards to the sky. This place has been marked but left alone.”
“I see what the thing outside is for now.”
The old man looked at them.
“You said a small passing connection. How did you come to meet her?”
“Ah, just on a normal day doing my thing.”
The old man waited as they explained a bit more.
“It wasn’t much. Just a few conversations. I merely watched a part of her story play out.”
“...I see.”
“Well.” They stood up. “Thanks for telling me this. Didn’t know they were gone.”
“...”
They waved their hand as the old man watched them exit.
Outside, they stopped by a grave.
“Died eh? Neat.”
They smiled and continued walking.
— —
They whistled while looking around.
“Nice place.”
“This isn’t my place.”
“But don’t you work here?”
“...”
“What about you, good sire?”
Akelia’s head said nothing.
“Sheesh you guys have no conversation skills.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Shut it.”
“WWwwwwwwwhhy?!”
Akelia’s arm glared at them.
“Want a treat?”
Her face scrunched up in disgust and irritation.
Akelia’s head passively watched.
The arm’s silver white cloak shook while they walked forward.
They suddenly had a thought.
“Say how’d you get to this position?”
The arm ignored it.
“...Competency?” the head answered.
“Hey you're in that spot, of course it’d be.”
The head nodded along.
“But but but! I think, it’s because one! Specialization!”
“Hmm..?” the head leaned their head to the side.
“Two! Follow orders well!”
“Tch.” the arm clicked their tongue.
They continued spouting things off the top of their head despite the arms short temper caused by them.
“We’re here.”
“Ah yes. Let the lingo do it. Cheer for me lads.”
“Fail horribly.”
“Do weeell.” the head raised their balled hand.
“Sniff..! You guys mean so well!” they wiped a nonexistent tear off their face.
They entered.
And after some time came out.
Returning the way they came. In silence.
Before saying a parting.
“You're quite different from the last time we met.”
“...What are you talking about.”
“Well as an assistant, I know juuust a bit of everything. And a whole lotta nothing.” They smiled.
“...” The arm narrowed their eyes.
“Maybe it’ll be the same. Or different again. Can’t say." They started walking forward. “Adieu.”
The arm watched them disappear into the body of people. Then returned back inside.
The head followed suit.
The pink haired continued with their duties.
— —
She didn’t want it to be like this.
What did she do all this for to have it end like this?
“Sucks.”
Her hazy eyes turned to them.
“Too late, too late.”
“Puhk–”
“But. Haha. Look at you. Sorry mess.” they grinned.
Strength was leaving her body so quickly.
She earnestly prayed for it to stop.
“My disciples are great at sniffing out things. Not fast enough though.”
Too much was leaving here.
She gurgled on her blood trying to say something.
“I did ask them to be quick but…” they looked at the many weapons embedded in her body. “Don’t think your makin it in this turn.”
She didn’t want to hear it.
She refused to accept her end like this.
Not after being so close to freedom.
“N…t…et…pl…ea..sh…”
“Hm hm. Well, what can you do?” they shrugged.
She lost sight.
She lost sense.
She lost taste.
She lost smell.
She lost breath.
Desperation clawed at her. Wishing to not make the same decision. To live even a second longer.
She must survive.
She must.
That drive did nothing to the unhesitating reaper.
“Ah.”
They looked down.
“She’s gone. Shame.” they chuckled.
They stood up.
“Alas what can you do? Ough my backs stiff.”
They stretched and walked towards their running disciples.
Waving with a smile.
██████ looked at something with a hollow gaze.
In heaven we meet.
In hell we burn.
The sins drag many to the ocean.
The virtues lift the filial.
Arrogance fills the angelic.
Camaraderie fills the demonic.
An alternating scale of consequence and action.
How many more must be required?
How insatiable is your desire?
When can you resist it?
When will you try?
Are you willing to give back in return for what was given?
Some do.
Some do not.
But it is fine.
Hatred may be felt at the very moment, or forever.
That is fine.
Love may be eternal. Or it may not.
That is fine.
It is a flaw after all.
That is what governs one part of life.
