Lila and Loy

Behind a hut, away from view, Lila received a vial with black liquid inside.

‘Careful with this one,’ said the old man; vial giver. ‘Don’t even let it touch your skin.’

‘Thank you,’ Lila said.

‘No need, child. I owed Raladr.’ He pointed his bony finger at the vial. ‘Don’t misuse that,’ he gave a last warning and left.

Lila inspected the vial, holding it by its lid.

When she heard a commotion, she immediately hid the vial in her coat.

She turned, expecting people, but she was alone under the shadow of a hut.

There was a cheer going on and she walked toward the source. Her hands were guarding the vial she had gotten. With each step she took, the sound grew louder and louder.

‘Thank you!’ cried a woman.

‘The crisis is over!’ shouted a man.

Piqued by the shout, Lila hastened her steps, her eyes glittered with hope. Exiting from the shadows, she saw a number of villagers looking in a certain direction. Blocked by their bodies, Lila climbed a hut, curious by the excitement.

On the roof, she saw a group of people wearing a white-blue uniform, their genders and age mixed; each carrying their preferred weapon: some swords, some spears, and more. Behind them was a carriage full of wooden crates, filled to the brim with canned foods. Their underlings were distributing them fairly to each villager.

‘They’re going to kill the monster!’ shouted festively by a man.

The glitter in Lila’s eyes faded into disappointment.

‘They still haven’t killed the monster…’ she muttered to herself.

*

Outside his hut, Loy poured his steaming tea into a bowl. He then included a powder into the liquid and stirred it thoroughly with wood. Carefully, he carried the bowl and stepped into his hut.

Inside the hut, a woman older than him was sitting at a table. She sat with her back slanted. She faced forward, black circles under her eyes, and a drool coursing down her chin.

‘You should sleep, sis,’ Loy said as he came in.

She heard it, but there was a delayed response. ‘The nightmare—it comes… back when… I sleep…’

On the table was an illustration of a woman; and beside it was an illustration of Raladr.

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‘Our parents wouldn’t be happy if you don’t get a good rest.’ He patted her back.

She turned her head toward Loy with a slowness that could be considered creepy. Her anguished eyes stared at him. ‘I can’t… sleep, Loy. Every time… Every time I sleep… The monster…’ tears dripped down her cheek. ‘The monster awaits…’

She leaned her head to Loy, and he let her wipe her tears on his shirt. He had an anguished expression upon seeing his sister’s suffering.

‘I… made you tea, sis. This should make you better.’

She wiped her tears and stared at the bowl for a while, her thoughts delayed. ‘Thank you, Loy. Sorry… about your shirt…’

‘Don’t worry about it. Here.’ Loy gently pressed the rim of the bowl to his sister’s lips. She drank the whole of it.

‘It tasted… wei—’ her upper body fell forward and Loy caught her before her head hit the table. She was safely asleep.

Guilt was written all over his face.

‘Loy! Lo—’ came a voice from the hut entrance. The voice came from a girl with the same face as him. His twin, Lila. ‘She finally slept,’ she remarked with relief.

‘I drugged her,’ Loy admitted.

Lila was surprised. However, she understood why he drugged her. ‘You did it for her own good, Loy. Cheer up. I would’ve done the same if I had gotten my hands on a sleeping drug. Where did you get it?’

‘Someone gave me.’

‘Kayla?’

Loy was quiet. He didn’t answer, but his response admitted it.

‘Huh… Anyway, Loy! Listen to this! The Agents have arrived!’

‘They do? That’s great!’

‘Yes. And I’ve volunteered to lead them through the forest.’

‘… You what?’

‘They’re specialized in fighting monsters, not track. A hunter needs to help them to get to the monster, and so I volunteered.’

‘You what?’ Loy repeated, raising his voice in disbelief.

‘As I’ve said: I volunteered. Are you in with me or not?’

‘Lila! It’s a dangerous monster! Anything could happen and you could die joining them!’

‘The Agents assured my safety. They said I could help them out and elder Vignette finally allowed me!’

‘The monster killed our father!’ Loy let out his outrage.

‘Precisely!’ Lila let out hers. ‘This is our chance to take vengeance! To kill the monster that killed our father!’

‘You’re going to get yourself killed!’ Loy shouted. He then let out ragged breaths. He glanced at their sister, relieved she was still asleep.

‘Loy.’ Lila lowered her voice. ‘I’m going to prepare for tomorrow. You’re free to join me if you want, but I’m going with or without you.’

Lila left the hut.

Loy leaned on the table. His hand pressed on his forehead. Through the gap of his hair, he saw his father’s illustration.

‘I can’t replace you…’ he muttered.