“Aria!” Ella shouted while walked, following Aria.

However, Aria did not respond. She continued walking, and the last rays of the sun cast a somber light on her sadness.

“What happened? Why are you acting like this?” Ella asked. “He is Prisoner. Stayed in jail, no knowledge, only train illegal do evil deed all along.” Ella said.

There was no answer, only silence and the sound of their footsteps. Ella felt that something was wrong. This wasn’t the Aria she knew. There had to be something amiss. Ella clenched her fists and forcefully grabbed Aria’s hand. Aria swayed like a doll without strings, but managed to keep her balance. Her long hair covered her face as she looked down at the floor.

Ella raised an eyebrow, and her heart started beating faster. She hadn’t used that much force, yet Aria’s body felt weak, like that of a fragile patient. Her hand was cool.

Ella’s shadow covered Aria’s face as Aria slowly raised her head, her hair moving away from her face. Instead of the warm and beautiful face that always looked at her, Ella only saw a plain face with the coldest eyes. They shimmered like the eyes of a blue dragon in the shadow world.

Aria grabbed Ella’s wrist, this hand feeling as fragile as glass and as cool as ice. “Leave… me alone,” she said

Hurt to the inner heart, like a thousand needles pierced directly into it, Ella felt the cool sensation, her hand trembling, but she refused to let go of Aria and asked again, “Aria, what happened? Please, tell me.”

In a split second, like a winter breeze, Aria used her mana to control the air around her. She jumped, spun into a moon shape, her hair fluttering like a fan, and twisted her body, using the force to release Ella’s grip on her wrist. She landed perfectly on both legs. The wind causing Ella’s hair to fly back.

Aria turned back and continued walking into the shadow of the mountain, leaving Ella standing alone with the last light. Ella clenched her fists tightly, blood seeping out from her palms.

—§—

Crackle! Sizzle!

Nearby, a fire camp was lit near a wagon. It was a silent night, and only two saints sat by the fire, with no food or celebration for the Pierce Sky Saint’s first victory. Cause the cook was nowhere to be seen.

The cursed child still sat on the same rock, looking at the moon. Its light shone on his face, and he still wore his usual smile. Little rocks surrounded his body. The Red witch emerged from the shadows and walked towards him, her tall and beautiful figure unchanged.

“You look better,” Faye said, standing nearby and looking at Rain. His body seemed to have improved, with the bleeding stopped.

“Haha, thanks to Aria. She covered every part with green herbs. Now you can call me the Herb Man, strong enough to fight any wound,” Rain said, striking a pose to show off his muscles.

“How about your leg? Can you stand up?” Faye asked plainly, while checking another part of him.

“My power is not fully change yet. It needs more sunlight to changing the power.” He patted his own leg, pat! Pat! “Don’t be sad. The sun will rise tomorrow, and we will become strong together again. Wa ha ha!” He moved his ten fingers up while laughing.

Faye just looked at his performance and ugly face without responding. She continued to ask, “Who are you?”

Rain tilted his head, confused by the question, and then answered, “I’m Rain, the Herb man, right?”

Faye stared at Rain for a second, then sat opposite him. “You’re also a bad boy.” She threw something to Rain.

Rain instinctively caught it. “Ouch! That was close.” In his hand, he held an oval stone, cut completely round, with a black color. “Thank you, but What is it?” Rain asked.

“It’s an obsidian heart, tiny but real one,” Faye said while combing her own hair. Red light particles started to shine, and the sound of her amulet lingered like a wind chime, blending with the night.

Rain rotated the black oval left and right, and it shimmered beautifully, like a black pearl coated in a rainbow. “It’s really... her heart... Thank you, Faye,” he said, smiling childishly at her.

The corner of Faye’s mouth lifted slightly, but she didn’t answer back and just continued combing her hair.

Rain carefully arranged his stones, playing with them one by one, much like a child. As he placed each stone to create flowers shape, while others placed into tree shape. At the center have a little child.

While Rain arranged his stones, Aria returned. Ella noticed her presence and ran fast to Aria. Her heart was still not completely healed, and fear still lingered inside her, but she didn’t want to lose something precious to her. “Aria...” she said softly.

Aria noticed Ella, as if she had already calmed down. “Um... I’m back. Sorry for the food. It’s a little late, but you can have this.” She took out a bag full of berries and gave it to Ella. “Share it with Eeon, okay?”

Like a lifted heart, Ella’s eyes brimmed with water without her even realizing it. She nodded and accepted the bag. “Shall we eat together?” Ella asked.

“I already have it. Go on first, I have something to do” Aria smiled and patted Ella’s shoulder.

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A warm sensation returned. “Ah, okay,” Ella said, softly touching Aria’s hand on her shoulder.

Aria nodded, then continued to walk past the campfire, to big rock far behind. Her body had dirt and mud stains, and her hair tangled and messy. However, she held various types of flowers in her hand, emitting a small, sweet fragrance.

Feeling a little amazed to see Rain and Faye sitting together. However, they weren’t talking like they usually did. There was only the sound of Faye’s accessories resonating. Furthermore, Faye was helping Rain arrange rocks into the shape of a flower.

“What are you playing?” Aria asked. “I thought so, I shouldn’t have let you two stay together. Now Faye has become the new weird kid next door,” Aria sighed.

Rain called out to Aria, “Ah, Aria! Come, come! Look at this beautiful rock!” He showed Aria an obsidian heart. “Faye collected it and gave it to me. Now we’re good.”

“Hump! You two are already good, so you don’t need these flowers anymore.” Aria showed the flowers. “I guess I’ll just have to throw them away.”

“Wow, wow, I need it, Aria!” Rain’s eyes sparkled. “Please, please give them to me. I’ll trade you with all the truffles, even the Chupa Chupa. Anything you want, please trade with me.” He reached forward with his sachet.

Aria sat on her heels, handed the flowers to Rain. “Okay, for the trade, I’ll think about it later.”

Rain softly took the flower and hugged it to his body. Rain looked at Aria, tilting his head slightly, and a beautiful smile appeared on his face, like sunshine on a summer morning. “Thank you, Aria. This is very beautiful. It means a lot to me,” Rain said.

Aria’s mouth parted slightly, feeling as if the wind had healed her heart, instantly washing away the fatigue of the hard day. Her face instinctively lit up with a smile.

“Praise the Holy. We have a new weird kid next door,” Faye said, shrugging her shoulders.

Aria turned her head and said, “Don’t include me in your weird gang.”

“Are you sure?” Faye lowered her eyelids and smiled mischievously at Aria.

Aria strengthened two arms down and said. “What? Why are you giving me that smile? I’m not strange.”

“O—kay” Faye looked at Rain, who was arranging the flowers around the rock circle, and said, “Mr. Herbman, looks like I’m the only one excited to see your magic show.”

“Oh, that’s so sad—” Rain replied.

“What? A magic show?!” Aria exclaimed, pressing her hands down on the floor and sitting with her knees bent. She leaned closer to the group, eager to hear more clearly.

Faye tilted her head, her crystal jewelry winking slightly. “Looks like she’s interested. Mr. Herbman, can you provide another seat?”

Rain smiled at Aria, waving his right hand to show a nearby spot to sit.

Aria instinctively moved to that place, feeling as if a joyful wind had guided her there. There was a big rock that was large enough for three people to sit close together. The night sky was clear, resembling sparkling water with stars and a shining moon.

Then Rain began his chant, “Lady of the three moons, I am Rain Ter Astra, the son of the third line. I am here to take a wish for the beautiful youth.”

Warm breeze enveloped the area, and the stone glowed. It slowly floated towards the sky, shining brightly like a star.

“She wants a breeze that will take us to the tears of the sea. She wants a friend with whom she can share secrets. She wishes for a single petal to transform into a field of flowers.”

Rain looked at Aria and asked, “can I take you hand?” He extended his hand towards her. Aria slowly reached out and touched his hand. Then, he looked at the moon and said, “Lady of the three moons, please help me, give us a reality of sweet dreams that heal our fragile hearts and comfort our souls, Sleepless Moon”

Woosh! Flume!

Suddenly, flowers bloomed all around, illuminating the area like lamps in the night. Small particles of light floated upward, creating a rich and sweet aroma that filled the air. Glowing flower petals danced and played with the wind. The sound of the wind traveled across the field. Moon shone brightly lighted, all life brighter.

Aria’s eyes widened, her lips slightly parted. Everything in front of her was so beautiful. As she touched the flowers, the petals swayed along with her fingers. Her heart fluttered at the warmth and the realness of the night sounds. “It’s beautiful, right?” Rain said.

“Um, this is really beautiful. How can you do it?” she looked at Rain.

He smiled back at Aria and then turned his head towards his legs. There is a little girl sleeping use his leg as pillow. “I didn’t do this. She did,” he said gently, caressing the girl’s hair.

Aria looked at the girl, amazed. She never saw this girl before. She had long black hair, black attire, and scales on some parts of her body. Only a quick second. Aria eyes widened, hands covered her mouth, looked at Rain. “Is she?”

“Um, she’s the Obsidian Serpent,” Rain said, taking out the Obsidian Heart. He whispered softly, “Moon already shine, sleepyhead.”

Girl slowly open eye, slowly put herself up, yawning a little. She blinked and looked at the two in front of her.

“Did you sleep well?” Rain asked.

The girl nodded in response.

“Um,” Rain said, handing her back the Heart stone. “This is your important stone, right?” The girl nodded and took it. As she touched it, the stone dissolved into thin air.

“Is there anything else you want?” Rain asked.

The girl rubbed her hands on her body

“Ah, a warm, right?” Rain said, then he leaned closer to her and hugged her gently. The girl giggled and hugged him back, while Rain caressed her back.

Aria felt amazed by what she was witnessing and warmth filled her heart. She smiled softly and asked, “Can I hug her, too?”

“Um.” Rain released the hug, and Aria moved closer to the girl and hugged her. The girl’s body was warm, just like that of a normal child. She giggled and hugged Aria back, and flower petals flew around them as they moved.

Rain watched as both of them hugged each other and asked, “Is there anything else you want?”

The girl, still in Aria’s arms, spoke softly and sweetly for the first time. “Flower.”

“Um.” Then Rain grabbed flowers around him and started weaving them together, while both Aria and the girl looked at his hands. Finally, he created a flower crown and gave it to Aria.

Aria lowered her head and looked at the girl, who stared at the flower crown with big eyes. Aria asked, “Do you like it?” The girl nodded happily, and Aria gently placed the flower crown on her head. Little girl giggled and ran into the flower field. Night wind followed her

She blew the flowers, moving her hands up and down, making the petals fly. Some petals accidentally went into her mouth, and she struggled to spit them out. Aria went to help her get the flower out. Then went back and sat near Rain again.

The girl ran like that for a long time, and Aria smiled at her clumsiness. But suddenly, the girl stopped running and looked at Rain with a smile.

“Is it time?” a sad smile caught on his face.

Aria’s eyebrows lifted, but returned normally in a second, as if she understood the meaning. “Is it time to say goodbye?”

“Um” Raid said.

“Can I hug her one last time?” Aria said.

Like as flower obsidian girl knew Aria’s wish she ran across a flower field and embraced Aria. The flowers bloomed, Aria gently caressed her hair, and suddenly her body glowed, transforming into a radiant light that soared into the distance.

Both of them watched as the particles flew towards the moon. “Farewell... little friend,” he said.

“Thank you, Aria... for bringing her a flower... she really... liked it,” Rain whispered softly.

“Um... Thank you, Rain... This is truly beautiful...” Aria leaned against Rain, closing her eyes.

“Have a sweet dream, Aria.”