"Is it about your parents at home, right?" I ask.
"No," she said, closing her eyes and voice stuttering.
"They were at the swamp, Tuk."
"I-I saw them..."
"It's my fault, isn't it? Right?"
After she said that, it only makes it more painful for her, and she cried on my chest. I was in total shock, I did not expect this.
"I told you that I hate them," Emil said that line plenty of times, but now, it's full of regret. "Bu... But..." She continues to wail while I comforted trying not to distract her, "But this isn't what I want that I hate t-them," Emil cried more. "Tell me, Tuk. Is it my fault that I hate them and that I wished them to die?" Emil asked, and I immediately answered "No," truthfully, and I embrace my hug to her more. "But it happened," Emil regretted saying those lines of hating her parents. I can't think of anything to say of what will help her ease this tragic experience but the only thing I need to do is to shut up and be there for her. That is all.
So, that's why she wasn't listening to me when I lied to Dubin-sak, that's why she collapse and lost consciousness, and that's why she wasn't entirely on focus. That's why she ask if I have any doubts. Her parents were in the swamp and died. They died in a horrible way.
I'm so sorry for both of them.
"I'm so sorry, Emil," I could imagine how painful it was to watch her parents die. I can relate to her but we are different in how we hate our parents. Emil hated her parents but not the way I hate my parents. I can understand that regret because I kept thinking and imagining myself if I was in the same situation.
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"If your father and mother died would you still hate them, Tuk?" Someone at the church said this to me and I don't know how to answer that. They're telling me to love them because I was a sinner to them, both eyebrows raising and waving hands like an officer addressing the crimes to a criminal in an interrogation, the criminal is me to be precise.
I explained why am I feeling like this but all I received was just them saying gospels from the Lib to honor my parents for infinite blessings.
"Tuk? Would you still hate them?"
I hate them, really, but not that kind of part that I hate them. I just want to get away.
"Then, they loved you, son."
I just want to be understood is it that hard to understand?
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CHAPTER 5
The reason why she hated her parents was because she was forced to be homeschooled rather than go to an actual school, ever since she was born.
There's a reason why, people that are not Saintruism can't go to school. Some schools are allowed but only on limited grade levels. I don't know why, but the standards in our society are about people that aren't Saintruism as sub-human rather than actual human beings, but I do not support this idea.
It is also said in the Lib, when I read it. Aba chapter 3, verse 1: "Unbelievers shan't enter in the kingdom of God, therefore, they will be thrown into the pits of great abyss."
Our village in Ghoirne, my hometown believes that unbelievers will change our direction away from our religion, and staying away from unbelievers will make their holy spirit grow, or making the unbelievers be a Saintrus. That's why our society there are strict when it comes to these people. People like them must be in their homes, people like them must believe and follow the religion laws, people like them will only have authority when she marries a Saintrus man or a Saintrus woman. They are trying to implement our cultures and religion to them because they are unbelievers.
That's why Emil was my childhood friend, she was a shut-in person by her parents because of society's beliefs, especially in a place of Saintruism. Emil manages to get out most of the time to play with us(me) and her parents aren't bad people: her mother and father is the most understanding and caring person I have ever met. They are not Saintrus but they are good people inside and out. It changed my worldview right that people only judge based on what they believe.
The reason why she's scared of going back to them was that she was afraid to be a shut-in again, and that's why her attitude is sore and timid. She might be sore and rude sometimes, that's how she is. And I like that part of her. Her parents like it as well.
It suits her.
The only part missing is that she failed to realize it. When Emil ask to promise that I will stay by her side, I remembered her father entrusted me to stay also by her side, I remembered when he said that to me.
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It was the day after Mom argued with Emil's parents, that she thought my curiosity came from them.
The next day, I snuck outside. Saying my sorries by knocking on their door. "Coming in a sec!" I heard that familiar voice, Emil's dad. I heard the click of the door opening.
I felt ashamed, eye-siding him and rubbing my hands subtly in front of me. It is way harder for me to speak, and words are getting heavier when it takes too long to express.
"Oh, Tuk?" He greeted me like a long-time nephew to him. "Is something the matter?" He asked.
I still can't face him, but I gather my courage to face him it's better than not saying it. I looked at him. "I-I'm sorry about... Yesterday..." I apologized to him but it was for both of them. My eyes suddenly changes glance to the side, and now I'm getting anxious, anxiously blinking my eyes.
"It's okay son," he said with a pat on both my shoulders, with a genuine smile. "Son, it's okay. I understand." He patted my shoulders again, I guess that was his way of trying to calm me down.
My heart is still racing, but I felt a little comfort.
"Son, can you look at Emil, for me?" He moved down to face me with a genuine smile. "You're only her friend, after what happened to your other friends..." His tone got softer when he mentioned my friends and he felt that too. "Please? I know that she likes going outside, but please look after her, this place doesn't feel like welcoming." That's all he needs.
In my mind, please not me, there are times that I'm not there for her. I'm worried about her that she'll get hurt because of me, please not me.
Of all the people, please, not me.
"T-Tuk?" He jolted when he saw me crying.
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"I-I'm so sorry M-mom, Dad." Emil continued to sob while hugging her on the bed. "I-I'll give you some space," I said almost letting go off her but she embraces me. "No," she said napping on my chest. "Please stay," she said then she cried.
I didn't question or talk more I just hug her like she wanted me to stay. After all, we're on an unfamiliar planet that we don't know.
The only thing that I'm worried about is how much I lied, especially to her. Apparently, I wouldn't call it a lie, yet, but the good part is that she didn't ask yet if I like her.
Then, again I'm sorry for both of you.
I wish you were my parents.
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"Kan!" Somewhere in a Palace of Livihha, A soldier presents himself when entered at a green grand throne hall, raised his voice that sounds like an announcement, raising his arm onto his chest, bowing with his chin.
"Ha!" A fitted white skin red hair woman sitting on a green grand chair wearing an emerald lining crown but a headband; three pointy linings, with three gems; an emerald in between two diamonds, earrings made of small white diamonds, a necklace with only an emerald attached, a V-neck gown covering her feet with white and green jewelries on the gown with perfect posture, elegant and formal facial expression with pure green eyes full of threat, raised her voice with a right arm raising at a right angle, giving the soldier a permission to speak.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Another person, a white man with combed black hair, sitting on another green grand chair besides the woman, wearing a crown with three pointy linings with the same gems as the woman next to him, wearing a mixed color of green and yellow royal mantle that is very loose on his feet, wearing a white royal tunic with green unrecognizable written symbols in a necklace pattern, a small belt with a blue gemstone on his abdomen perfectly fits, a dark green pants with lime lining on, a pair of leather brown shoes without laces.
All of the people in the room spoke in a different language. "Kan! Ang miesto dei ca lei!" ["Kan! The masters has been vanished!"] The soldier said while bowing. "Dei ca lei?" ["Has been vanished?"] The woman sitting questioned with seriousness on her face, and the man beside her look questioned.
Soon, a group of soldiers appeared out, addressing their relatives, comrades and peers are missing. "Kan! Bor amiyonda ca lei!?" [Kan! Some of the soldiers vanished!"] The other soldier said some intruders appeared out of nowhere in their territory, and another report is that some intruder are running around, terrified by them. "Kai isara bo meir iso! An isara posora kopas!" ["Some intruders appeared out of nowhere! And some intruder started running around like crazy."]
More and more questions keep popping out of nowhere.
The woman sitting looked very disappoint than confuse of what is happening now. She stands with elegance with a serious face. "Mai isara divara! Nil iposh sara divara alik!" ["Capture those intruders! And bring the intruders to me!"] Said the woman in green. "Kan! Ashi ilaba na me isara!" ["Kan! I have found an intruder!"] A soldier brought a random stranger.
"H-hey! What are you doing?" A random girl wearing a purple shirt and a short pajama was pushed by a soldier and landed on fours on the floor, leading her into the room. "I-I know this is some kind of a misunderstanding, b-but I don't know what happened to me." The girl was on fours, and she doesn't understand her situation or any person near her.
The woman in green sitting with a look on the girl disappointedly, and the woman on fours got afraid of her presence, so, she bowed, kneeling on her knees with her arms raising over her head, showing respect. All of them looked question of what she was doing, and some started laughing. "I-I'm deeply sorry, your majesty." The girl got scared but she tries to know how to pay respect from such a threat aura.
The woman in green raised her hand, then moved her palm pointed to the woman. "Ha!" A random man screamed wearing a white turned-up collar long sleeves, with a caravat tucked in a dark greened waist coat, opened a small glass bottle and smeared closely on the woman's face but the woman got frightened by his action. "W-What are you doing to me?" The woman turned her face away but when returning her eyes towards the woman in green staring menacingly, she was afraid. The man grabbed the woman's hair by force, then she screams in pain and got smeared by the anonymous bottle closely on her nose.
After the man let go of her, the woman in green standing spoke in a mannerism voice, "Now, do you understand us?" The woman on four was stunned from the woman in green speaking the same language. "Y-yes. Thank you. Thank you, your highness," said the woman, bowing again. The crowd looked confuse, even the one who smeared the girl got confuse as well.
"Highness?" Said the man on the chair.
"You don't look a threat to us, aren't you?" The man sitting said, laying his white skin face on the back of his arm. "No-no! No! I am not!" The woman on four said. "I was only doing the dishes then I'm at this place." The woman said then looked around.
"So, you are not familiar with the others?" The man sitting asked the woman. "Others?" The woman on fours looked questioned. A sigh came out of the breath from the man sitting with disappointment. "Since we can't garrantee that you all not a threat, we can't waste time on some drastic measures," The woman in green standing said to her. "B-but I'm not a threat! You can liter-" the woman in green cut her words. "You dare address me with such words in front of us?" The woman in green screamed full of threat walked down the stair hall with elegance and formal posture going closer to the woman on fours, maintaining her stance.
"You certainly do not have any knowledge about the people you are dealing with and your whereabouts." The woman in green got closer in front of the girl, holding her chin with her index finger. "Now, let us make this fast," the woman in green said to the woman on fours while holding her chin up. "Tell me your reason to not execute or put to death to you all," The woman stated to her.
"W-what?!"
"That's a very unfortunate choice of words," the woman in green said then turned around walking back to her chair. "Put all of the intruders down the swamp!" The woman in green ordered.
All of the soldiers screamed with agreement.
"W-wait!" The ordinary woman cries but the queen ignored by shutting her own eyes with disappointment, and the man sitting next to her look at different ways. "W-wait! Please!!" The woman scream.
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"Tuk! Emil! Wake up!"
I woke up by the scream and slowly got up with a yawn, it felt my eyes hurt due to the sunlight beaming at my face. I quickly remembered that we just got hired as a librarian, yesterday. "Shit!" I cursed.
I got off the bed in a hurry, almost falling on the floor. "Boy! Easy!" Carlos caught me in his arms. "Sorry," I apologized for being like a startled prey, then he raises me on the bed sitting on. "There's actually a problem," Carlos said.
Emil got up suddenly, I don't know what to say about her, especially last night. "Hey," Carlos whispered into my left ear. "Your friend doesn't want to talk to me, when you went to the bathroom, yesterday," he said to me then looks at her, deepening her face onto her legs.
I don't know if I should say it but I guess I have to. I whispered to him, "Her parents just died." He raises an eyebrow at me. "Didn't you mention that you were thrown out?" Carlos gave me a serious look, raising both of his eyebrows at me. It made me anxious.
You can do it.
"I was thrown out and Emil tag along with me because she doesn't have a place to go to," I said sadly. "Oh, I guess she had it rough." Carlos looks at her not actually in the mood to talk.
I can't tell if Emil slept or not, I should have focused on her. Fuck. I'm so useless.
Always has been.
"Anyways, sorry to interrupt but we gotta go," Carlos ordered us. "On it!" I answered him, getting up from the bed, then looked at Emil again. "Emil," I called her while she's deepening her face onto her legs. I know she heard me. "We can wait for you downstairs," I said to her then turned around, walking to the door. I realized there's our uniform formally folded on the floor, apparently, there are two. I picked it up, seeing a dark brown long sleeve with a small badge attached on its chest. When I inspected, holding with my fingers, a badge made of steel designed to a dark green flag with a transparent crossed shield inside looks like a fox-like animal that I haven't seen. I guess this must symbolizes something. There's also a dark green pants a little large for my legs, and large clothes are my favorite; they are very comfortable than fitted clothes.
I immediately went to the bathroom to change, then head downstairs to the library store and greeted Mr.Dubin. "Morning Dubin-sak," I said with respect with a enthusiasm smile. I still feel like it stupid to say with a -sak, but I have to respect their culture. "Morning to you, young fellow," he greeted me as well. I looked at Carlos just looking at the books on the shelves that he can't read, even the titles. I can't read those either.
I want to ask Dubin-sak that I can't read but I'm too scared that he'll ask why did I took this job if I can't read. "Tuk, right?" Dubin-sak called me. "Yes, Dubin-sak?" I went to his counter, feeling stupid saying that formal thing in their culture. "Can you read? I'm afraid if you're from other place, you'll be having a hard time adjusting books from a different language," he said. "But how can we speak the same language, if the letters aren't?" I ask looked question at him.
"I like your speculation on that matter, Tuk," he said with a chuckle, then waved his hand to me, wanting me to come to his counter. I didn't hesitate and I feel wanting to know more. "Can you see the sky, outside?" Mr.Dubin pointed outside at the window, outside the sky, I glanced my eyes to my world first, that is so blurry, I suddenly asked, "What about that?" Pointing my world, confirming something.
"Why? That's the moon, of course," he said to me like he wasn't lying to what he said. My eyes widened. The fuck? The moon? That's my world.
Fuck. Maybe that's why people aren't suspicious about that, or maybe Dubin-sak was just here the whole time reading a book.
I forcefully blinked my eyes twice, trying not to show any signs of nervous tension in front of Dubin-sak. "It looks blurry," as my random words just came out of my breathe. "That's right, son!" He said and I began to question myself again of what I just said.
"This place of Livihha, that blurry thing you saw, it's an ancient magic protected by our great ancestors," he explained but it sounds awesome to hear. "So, what does it do?" I ask hoping for a scientific answer or an accurate answer. "Other than to protect us from wars such as arrows, boulders, invaders, thanks to the swamp over us," he added.
Wait? Over us?
"Wait, is that the Poseria's Swamp Valley?" I answered but still looked questioned. "Yes, it is the home of the Imps," he explained again, guessing those are the white skin gorgeous monsters, Imps.
I have many questioned but I kept answering with another question appearing.
"As I am saying, I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about that those are the barrier surrounding us," he circled his hand illustrating to me about that barrier, it actually make sense and that's why the sky is so blurry and small to look at. "And that is why we understand each other, because I made your mind understand me, and you're trying me to understand you," I tried my mind collect all the information but it seems hard to swallow.
"So, you're basically saying that I'm trying you to understand me, because I made you understand me?" I corrected and he nodded. "But how does it really work?" I ask because not all words are understandable to them and us, including that we have a different culture. "Save it for later," he said, then he scooted me away like he is a different person now when working. "Yes, Dubin-sak," I sounded like goodbye.
I walk to Carlos looked very confuse even more. "So, what's the problem?" I ask, even it's obvious to me. "The books are in a different language, Tuk," he said then scratched his head.
I inspected the books: only the cover and side of the book. Would I just took down the name of the authors coming from the side cover of the books and put those together? If so, then what about other authors who just wrote their first book, how would I categorize of which it belongs. Looking at these unrecognizable letters, putting on the same spot with the letters are seemingly likely to be the author's name but it is still does not make sense to me. "This is gonna give me a headache," I said feeling like my brain is melting. "You could say that again," Carlos agrees.
While I'm doing nothing but stare at the books, I soon heard scream of a bird, it irritates my ear. I squinted my eyes and covered both of my ears. It hurts.
I heard Dubin-sak calling me, but I couldn't understanding what he is saying because of the unknown bird screeching through my ears. I ran to his counter and ask "What's happening Dubin-sak?" I ask with a scream. He bents closer to my ear.
"We're being invaded."
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PLEASE STAY WITH ME