„Where are we?" A girl's voice was heard asking, and her sweet voice resounded pleasantly in the darkness around her.

„I don’t know,” replied the boy next to her. „I think that’s the path toward where we are heading now. That place, which is called Earth.”

„Earth? But… what’s Earth?” Insisted the girl to find out an answer, confused.

„Honestly… I have no idea. All I know is that the others said that Earth is also known as Home. It’s also the place where we can find our parents.”

„Then, if that Earth is also called Home and we know that there are our parents, doesn’t it mean that we won’t be alone anymore?”

The boy laughed. „We’ve never been alone. Or what, did you already forget this? In Aeon, there are a lot of children like us that wait to go to Earth.”

„Well, maybe you’re right, but… we've left Aeon already while they are still there.”

„This is because we’re luckier than they are.”

„Luckier? What do you mean?” Insisted the girl, amazed.

„I say so because we’ll meet our parents before everybody else. That’s why we’re luckier because… not everybody meets his parents. There, on Earth, I mean, and you know that,” the boy responded in a cheerful voice, proud of himself that he had been able to answer the girl’s question.

Unlike him, who was sure of the result and what he was saying, the girl was pessimistic. That’s why she didn’t feel the same joy the boy felt when he said what he said. She even said, sadly, at one moment, „I know you’re right now, but… I can’t chase this awkward feeling from my chest away.”

„Awkward? Feeling? Why?” Asked the boy, then he stopped to stare at the girl. Yet, he couldn’t see her because of the darkness. Nevertheless, he felt that she was looking around, terrified. He felt this from the tremble of her voice and because her hand, which was slightly shaking, was squeezing the cloth of his coat.

Suddenly, the boy felt his companion turning toward him. He even felt that she was staring at him, terrified. Moreover, when she said, „I think that this feeling is called fear. At least this is what the voice whispers in my ear.”

„In your ear? A voice whispers to you. Whose exactly?”

„The Voice of Aeon,” the girl whispered. „I heard it not only once whispering to the other children that weren’t at their first life on earth to feel fear because there they’d pay for the mistakes they did in their previous life.”

The boy frowned. „Another life,” he murmured, confused. „What do you want to say right now is that this won’t be your first life on earth?” Instead of surprise, he felt regret in his voice.

Nevertheless, even if she knew that the boy waited for an answer from her, the girl wasn’t sure of what she should have responded. That’s why she only shrugged at first. Then, in a shaking voice, she said, „I think so. Well… I’m not sure of anything because…”

The girl kept silent the moment a strange sound was heard around them. Yet, even if they heard that sound clearly, none of them saw anything, again because of the darkness. However, seconds later only, both of them covered their eyes with their sleeves when a blinding light surrounded that place. They stood like this for another few moments, to take their hand from their eyes later, and, looking around, they saw the same path onto which Karina and the Virgins of Siar walked when the Yātrīkars had stolen their souls. Nevertheless, that path was a little bit different from that time because the children saw the trees in flowers to their left and this was so because they were heading toward life and not toward death like the Virgins of Siar.

The beauty of the place amazed the girl a lot, a child that wasn’t older than three years. She, looking around, at all that splendor, asked in amazement, „What place is this? There's so much light here, and I thought that it’d always be darkness. Even on Earth.”

Not hearing an answer from the boy, she looked at him. Thus, she saw him looking both at the trees in flower and at those that were in the shadow. The boy, just like the girl, wasn’t older than three years. Even so, he carefully looked at those trees, thoughtful and confused, because he wasn’t able to understand how the trees could have hands because he saw, at a tree in flower, two wooden arms stretched in front while above the tree's palms white butterflies were flying. The same white butterflies they usually saw in their dreams while they were still in Aeon. More than this, the boy was amazed to see that tree taking thoughts, just like him. That’s why he suddenly looked at the girl, whispering to her while grabbing her hand, „Look, there is a tree that thinks!”

However, seeing him so amazed, the girl didn’t feel the same but frowned. Then, somehow upset, she told him, „What a big deal! I saw a lot of thoughtful trees in Aeon.”

„None as this one,” insisted the boy in a cheerful voice. „This one is different. And… it’s very beautiful.”

Hearing that childish enthusiasm of the boy, the girl stared at him. Then, careless, she told him, „Honestly, I can’t see any difference between this one and the trees from Aeon.”

Her response amazed the boy. Yet, even if she looked at her companion, waiting for his reaction, the girl didn’t hear an answer from him but from the tree, about which the boy said that had hands. „Life,” the tree said. Nevertheless, seeing the amazement on the children’s faces, who were staring at him, often blinking, the tree laughed and asked, „You’re from Aeon, right?”

„Well, yes,” the boy cheerfully replied. „We are two lucky souls from Aeon. And we’re lucky because we have parents already.”

„Hm, so it be?!” The tree, thoughtful, murmured. „But…,” he added in a lazy tone, „It seems to me that not both of you are excited about this. Just as not both of you think that there, on Earth, you’ll find a priceless treasure.” After that, the tree fixed his thoughtful glare over the girl.

However, the girl didn't do the same. She, looking elsewhere, felt a kind of fear because of the tree. Moreover, she was confused because of everything she heard from the tree, something that made her say eventually, „It’s because of the fear!”

„Because of fear? What kind of fear?” The tree asked her.

„Fear of loneliness!” The girl responded. Then, with teary eyes, she looked at the tree again. Yet, seeing a smile, sketched by the wooden lips of the tree, she blinked in amazement.

The innocence seen on her face made the tree smile again. After that, in a clear and cheerful voice, he said, „Well, a fear that has no place in your life. And, my child, you shouldn’t be afraid because of loneliness because it isn’t as scary as you think.”

„No?” The boy asked, amazed. „Why do you think so, old good tree?”

„Because… think about this in this way: we, the trees, are always lonely. However, we never feel the harsh burden of loneliness as others think we feel,” the tree responded, looking straight into the boy’s eyes. Seeing him more confused than before, the tree bent a little to see the boy’s eyes better.

Seeing that tree bending, moreover, when he spotted his gray-green eyes fixed on his blue eyes, the boy smiled. „Something I don’t think that’s right. That the trees never felt loneliness,” the boy said.

„Why do you think so?” The tree asked. Yet, the tree didn’t ask this because he was curious or wanted to provoke the boy, but because he understood that the boy was smart and wanted to see what he was thinking about this.

To his great surprise, the boy didn’t avoid either his glance or answering the question as other children used to do. The boy carefully looked into the green eyes of the trees, saying to him, „I think so because I know that each alive soul is afraid of loneliness. That’s why each alive soul is meant to have a soulmate.”

„What if you’re wrong in thinking so?” The tree asked in a cunning tone. Something that made the boy carefully stare at him because he definitely didn’t know what the tree meant by saying this. A confusion of his that made the tree add, „I see that this topic intrigues you.”

„That’s right. Why? Because I always thought that two souls should be together.”

„Only if they are soul mates. Something that is rarely seen in this world because… most of the souls that appear in this world are lonely and… they are just fine even if they are alone,” the tree proudly said as if talking about himself.

„Maybe you’re right, but… really these souls have never felt the necessity to be with someone?”

The tree looked in amazement at the little girl that asked that question. Then, thoughtful, because that question confused him, he said, „It’s possible… that they felt this, but I’m not aware of this. I only know the Story of Loneliness!”

„The Story of Loneliness?” The children asked at the same time. They were really surprised to hear that there was a story of Loneliness, one they were so eager to listen to because they really loved to listen to others telling them stories.

Their joy and surprise made the tree laugh. „Of course, there is a Story of Loneliness,” he said later. „Even Loneliness is worth having a story of itself. And… honestly, Loneliness hasn’t been lonely right from the beginning. When it appeared in this world, it was always accompanied by Shadow and Recklessness. Companions next to which it always felt weird. That’s why, Loneliness told herself one day, „What if I wandered this world alone, leaving Shadow and Recklessness behind me? Will I feel the same… weird and confused?”

„And? What did Loneliness do after that? Did she wander the world alone?”

„Don't be impatient,” the tree scolded the little boy in a kind voice. „All in good time. Yet… you’re right because, after that thought, Loneliness started to wander the world alone. And, doing this, it understood that it wasn’t as bad as it thought… not to have a companion while traveling.”

„What about the burden from one’s soul? That one a human feels when he’s alone,” the girl asked.

„Well, this happens only to those that don’t believe in themselves and who always think that they are useless in this world. A wrong thought in fact because… at least from time to time… it’s more than fine to be alone. Thus, you have time to dream and meditate. Even to understand this world you have time when you are alone. And, honestly, when one’s alone, he manages to do more things than when he’s surrounded by friends or other souls.”

„Why does this happen then?” The boy asked.

„Because of others’problems. Why? Well, it’s inevitable not to find out what happens to others when you are around them. Thus, one gets involved in others’problems, unwillingly in most of the cases, having no free time to solve his own problems later.”

„Then, what should we do, white grandpa? How can someone solve his problems and of others too?” The boy inquired again.

„Mmm,” said the tree, thoughtful this time. „I think that first of all, someone should know what is his role and his aim in life. Thus, if he knows what he should do in life, he won’t ever turn to another path no matter what or whom he meets in his way. Nevertheless, keep this in mind, my little creatures: being alone doesn’t mean being reckless. I mean now… if someone asks for your help, then help him! Yet, don’t make a priority from this - to always help others, I mean, not when you aren’t able to help even yourself. More than that, one shouldn’t spend his time only helping others if he hasn't reached the Upper Step of his soul yet - Personal Fulfillment or, as others know it, the Philosophical Stone.”

„Yet, good tree, what is the Philosophical Stone and how can I find mine?” The boy asked, amazed and confused at the same time.”

„Hm, a tough question, this one. Honestly, I also don’t know the answer to this question.”

„Why?” The girl asked, more confused than the boy was.

„This is because… sometimes, you can find it randomly while walking on the street. Sometimes… you wait for it for an entire life, but you don’t find it. Well, some souls understand that they have found the Philosophical Stone right before their death when, for an entire life, they have considered that it is something impossible to find. That’s why I think that a soul finds the Philosophical Soul only when it’s capable of feeling the Soul of Earth.”

Suddenly, the tree and the boy winced when the girl burst into tears. „I… I won’t ever be able to find my Philosophical Stone,” she said. „This is because I’m nothing more than a stupid girl.”

Her tears made the boy reproachfully shake his head. After that, approaching her, he wiped her tears with his sleeve, telling her, so confident in himself, „You aren’t stupid! You only try to convince yourself of this, sometimes.”

„What if I am?” The girl said through sobs. „What if I won’t ever be able to find that Stone alone?”

„Then… you’ll always have me by your side. Thus, I’ll help you to find it if necessary.”

Instead of calming her down, the boy’s words made the girl cry even louder. After that, again through sobs, the boy could hear her saying, „You won’t be there. You probably won’t be with me on Earth. That’s why you can’t promise me this.”

The boy smiled this time, „Who wants something so badly, he’ll find it for sure even if he has to wander the world. Just like I’ll do if we aren’t together on Earth. I promise you! I’ll find you no matter where you are. So, don’t cry, ok? You should only wait for me there because… I’ll find you for sure.”

While the boy wiped her tears, the girl calmed a little bit. Then, with her eyes bathed by the dew of tears, something that made her long eyelashes seem as painted with pitch, she looked at the boy and asked him, „But… how to recognize you there? On Earth, I mean!”

Who answered her question was the tree and not the boy, „Two souls, which have promised to find each other on Earth, will recognize the other one with their heart first and, only after that, their mind will open and they’ll remember the day they promised something. That’s why, if you listen to your heart, you’ll know who is by your side in fact.”

„The white grandpa is right. That’s why, if you want to recognize me, you should only want this. And… listen to your heart, of course. Now… let’s go because our parents are waiting for us already!” After that, the boy grabbed the girl’s hand tightly and pulled her after him toward the tree.

The boy’s confidence made the girl calm down. After that, while they approached the tree, she wiped her tears off her eyelashes with her sleeve. And, when she’d been able to see the surroundings clearly again, she’d been so amazed to see the beauty of the trees in flower next to which they were at that moment.

Eventually, she winced the moment she felt a slight pulsation in her left hand. Yet, it wasn’t coming from inside her, but from the boy. That’s why she looked at him, seeing, outlining on his back, the form of Planet Earth. Yet, it wasn’t only drawn on the boy’s back but it was also pulsating as if it was a heart that was slowly beating. It was rhythmically beating actually, something that calmed the girl, giving her the confidence she needed at that moment.

At the same time, that rhythmic beat, heard from the boy, not only calmed her down but also made her feel confused because she couldn’t understand either what she was seeing or what she heard at that moment. Nevertheless, she didn’t ask the boy or the tree to explain it to her. She only slowly bowed in front of the tree, just as the boy did, saying goodbye to him. After that, joyful, they turned their backs to the tree and continued their path, which seemed with no return.

Watching behind them, the tree smiled. Yet, he was also melancholic because he said, „I’d have given my entire life if it was possible to see what Earth looks like. Yet, this is something that only the chosen souls can see.”

***

A slight sigh came out of Yellen’s chest the moment she stopped having the vision of the two children walking on the path of Life. Then, the moment she felt she was able to do that, she stood up and approached the door of Dike’s house, which was open all year long. Yet, staying by the threshold and looking at the village of Rophions, she realized that what she saw wasn’t a vision but a dream. That’s why she frowned right away.

Then, suddenly, she winced the moment she heard that strange voice, of the girl from her dream, in her ears, „What if it wasn’t just a random dream? What if this was a memory of your soul from that time when it walked onto the path to Earth? More than that, what if that child, who you saved today, isn’t a stranger to you?”

„He isn’t a stranger,” murmured Yellen, frowning again. „What are you talking about?”

„I’m talking about destiny,” the girl responded in a cheerful voice. „Yet, I can’t tell you more about this or why you have had that dream. You must discover it by yourself. More than that, you should figure out by yourself if it was a dream or a vision, and you’ll find this out the moment you’ll be able to listen to your soul.”

„The Philosophical Stone!” Murmured Yellen suddenly. Then, she frowned once again when she heard the voice of the girl only in her left ear:

„Of course not! I’m not talking about the Philosophical Stone right now but about the Soul of Earth. The one that took form in the soul of that child, who promised you to find your Philosophical Stone here, on Earth. It’s what others call the Fulfillment of One’s Destiny. And… the one who’ll help you to find your soulmate.” After that, the voice kept silent.

Yet, the moment the girl kept silent, Yellen felt even more confused than before. At the same time, she felt sorrow that she stopped hearing that girl’s voice. She started to wish to have had more time to talk to that girl, who seemed to be her, the one from the past. More than that, she winced again when she heard the voice of the boy saying to her, „Let’s go!”

„Where?” The real Yellen asked, confused. Yet, when she saw her brother to her left, where she heard the girl’s voice before, she’d been so surprised because she didn’t feel Nathaniel approaching her. That’s why she asked him in amazement, „You… here?”

„Where should I have been if not here?” Nathaniel asked her, laughing.

„What do I know?! It seemed to me that you were sleeping."

„Well, I was. Your sigh awoke me. Did you have a nightmare?”

„No, a memory.”

Nathaniel looked at her, confused. „Do you start to remember your past? What exactly? The time you spent with your parents before we found you?”

The girl shook her head. „No, brother! It seems to me that what I’ve seen is a memory I have from that time I walked on the path of Life.” A response that confused Nathaniel more. Yellen instead, seeing the confusion on her brother’s face, looked elsewhere, as though she felt ashamed of something. Even so, she didn’t keep silent but said, „A memory of two children heading to Earth to look for the Philosophical Stone.”

„Then, it was a vision and not a memory! I mean… a vision of something that will happen someday!”

„I don’t think so, Nathaniel, because… that girl… was me. Yes, she looked exactly like me. What I’m not sure of is who the boy next to me was.”

„A boy? Who exactly?”

„I’m not sure, but I think it was Kkuṟai. Actually, when Mai and I did the ritual to bring him back from that terrifying place, I found out something that amazed me a lot: that Kkuṟai had the same dreams as I had.”

„Dreams? Which ones?”

„That he’d been abandoned! More than that, he remembered that while he was a baby in his mother’s arms, they were trying to escape from somewhere. I think Mai said that dogs were following them in that dream.”

Nathaniel winced. „Is it true?” He thought. „Yet, how can it be? I never told Yellen about that event. How can she know about this? More than that, how did Kkuṟai find this out?”

As though reading his mind, Yellen said, „I know that it sounds weird, brother, but it seems to be true. I can’t explain it, but it’s what happened. Thus, I realize that there are many mysteries in this world and things we can’t explain. Just as there are hidden truths that sooner or later mankind will find out or it will stay hidden forever.”

„Maybe you’re right, sister. Yet… it’s still unbelievable. It’s unreal for me because… as far as I heard from the elders of our tribe, the souls that live more than one life forget their previous life when they are reborn.”

„What if it’s not as we thought, Nathaniel? What if there are souls that remember their previous life?”

„The souls that looked behind them while crossing the Bridge Yeomna!” Nathaniel murmured, confused.

„No, Nathaniel, there are souls in this world that can remember their previous life even if they didn’t look back while crossing the Bridge Yeomna,” said Arion. Looking to Nathaniel’s left, they saw Soan coming from the Altars Vāyil. He was wearing a white robe on his shoulders, the hood was on, and, in Arion’s right hand, they saw the small blue sphere known as Vāḻkkaiyiṉ (the symbol of Soan.) „I talk about the Predestined ones.”

„What do you try to say, Arion? That Yellen is destined to have a great future?”

„It seems so. Otherwise, I can’t explain how could she turn Kkuṟai back to the Path of Life! This is something only a few can do. Actually, this was something I knew it was impossible… for those who looked behind them while crossing the Tunnel of the Deserted Memories to turn back to life. Yet, Kkuṟai, with Yellen’s help, is back!”

„Then… my Philosophical Stone was to save Kkuṟai?” Asked Yellen, confused.

„This is also probable. Nevertheless, I don’t think that it was your single goal to reach in this life. What else you should do, Yellen, I don’t know because I can’t see your future. Something weird in fact because I generally can see the future of many living souls.”

„Maybe this is so because I’m a Yātrīkar, huh?”

„Maybe, but… it’s not the important thing now. We’ll find out later. Now… let’s go to the Stone Vāyil! There, Kkuṟai will choose his bride from those Twelve Virgins that announced his glory to his parents.”

„Something I don’t understand, really… what should I do there,” said Yellen, careless. „I’m not one of those Virgins!” Saying this, Yellen seemed sad, even though she also didn’t know why she felt this way.

„It’s Mai who asked for your presence there,” said Arion smiling. „The reason?? Well, you should ask her. I don’t know.” After that, Arion turned his back to the two brothers, heading toward the stone Vāyil.

Watching behind Soan, Yellen cooked her nose. She didn’t know why she did that, but she felt even more sad than before. At the same time, she’d have liked for Arion to insist that she should go there. Yet, as she was proud and she wasn’t ready to give up on this, she intended to turn her back to her brother and enter the house.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Something that didn’t happen in the end because Nathaniel suddenly grabbed her by the arm and forced her to stay next to him. After that, he told her in a cheerful voice, „If you’ve been invited to a place, you have to go. Otherwise, those who invited you could think that this is rudeness. Moreover, when you also want to be there.”

„Who wants to be there? Me? When I said that?” The girl stuttered, trying to hide her feelings.

„When? I don’t remember. I actually don’t even know when this started. Yet, I feel that it should be this way. That’s why I say that we must go there and find out who Kkuṟai’s bride is.” After that, pushing her from behind, the two headed toward the stone where the entire village was waiting for Kkuṟai’s decision.

***

Once next to the Stone Vāyil, where the entire village was already, Nathaniel and Yellen saw the twelve virgins forming a circle around Kkuṟai. The boy, instead of standing in the middle of the circle as it should have been, was sitting on the same stone on which he had laid a few nights before. A position of Kkuṟai that made Yellen frown when she saw him, and later murmur, in her head only, „Weird! He’s sitting when he should have stood. More than that, why do I have the feeling that it's not a circle formed by the virgins, but a sun?”

„Because this is what they form: a sun, the symbol of the rituals of rebirth that are closely related to the existence of the Sun. A ritual that the Magic Wolves utterly abide by because this is a kind of matrimonial unit. That’s why you have the feeling that the thirteen involved in this ritual form a sun and not a circle.” Who told her all this was Island. Yet, he said that telepathically, afraid to interrupt the ritual. And, looking at him, Yellen saw Island only a few steps behind her.

Nevertheless, Yellen didn’t want to see Island for what he said but because she was amazed to hear his telepathic voice when she never heard the voice of the Titans before. Even so, she said nothing about this. She only forced a smile and looked in front after this. Then, suddenly, she felt a weird sensation in her chest. Something that made her understand that she didn't have to be there. Why? She also didn’t know this. Yet, she felt it… she felt that she missed someone. Who? She didn’t know it either. Yet, she kept hearing the voice of the boy from her dream in her head, „Just listen to your heart, as the white grandpa said. Thus, if you carefully listen to it, you’ll find me.” Or something like this the boy from her dream said. Well, she didn’t remember the exact words, but she still remembered the meaning of what he said.

Understanding this, Yellen looked at Kkuṟai. She saw him carefully looking at each virgin present there, trying to figure out who was his bride. Yet, even if it was time already, the boy seemed not to rush to choose one. Or… was it because he couldn’t decide whom to choose?!

It wasn’t that important anyway: if he was undecided or didn’t know what to do. What was important for Yamu was that it was time for his boy to choose. That’s why he took a few steps toward his boy when he realized that it was time for the sun to be high in the sky, the perfect moment to choose the bride. If Kkuṟai had missed the right moment, then it would have been a mistake because his marriage with the chosen one would have been short. That’s why he decided not to let the boy hesitate anymore and told him, „It’s time to choose, my boy! Titan Tī is already up in the sky. That’s why, it’s necessary for you to…”

„But, father, I can’t choose any of them,” said Kkuṟai suddenly. Words that amazed the entire village, who started to murmur shortly after that.

As surprised as all the Rophions were Yamu and Mai. They, hearing those words, exchanged glances, then they looked at their other children. Yet, none of them could understand why Kkuṟai was unable to choose his bride.

They winced eventually when the boy said confidently, „It’s not because I don’t know whom to choose, but because none of them is my bride.” Words that made the Rophions murmur again.

Kkuṟai’s response sketched a smile on Mai’s face. „I knew it!” She said in her head. Then, looking at her boy, Mai asked, „Then, if none of the twelve virgins is your bride, who is she?” The moment Kkuṟai pointed toward the crowd, Mai looked over there just as the other Rophions did. Yet, what they saw were only the other wolves, but no virgin.

Even so, Mai knew that she wasn’t wrong. Her maternal instinct told her this. So, if her boy pointed toward someone in that direction, it meant he knew who was there. And she was right because, soon, when the other wolves moved aside, everybody could see Yellen behind them.

Nevertheless, even if the Rophions stared at her, Yellen looked at none of them. Not even when she heard Yamu saying, „Another unpaired soul!” Why did she keep silent? Well, she was definitely confused because she couldn’t understand why Kkuṟai chose her. More than that, she felt uncomfortable with all those pairs of eyes focused on her.

Eventually, understanding that running away won’t help her, Yellen looked at the boy. Seeing him smiling, Yellen frowned because she didn’t expect such a reaction from him. Moreover, she didn’t expect him to say, „You are the chosen one! The girl from my dream!”

„The dream? The chosen one? I? Why?” Yellen asked, confused.

„Because it had been written this way, right from the start,” Kkuṟai cheerfully said. „Actually, you’ve always been the chosen one. Only you.” After that, he stood up and approached the girl. Once in front of her, he raised his hand and, as though wiping her tears, he touched her eyes. A movement that made Yellen wince.”

Nevertheless, she didn’t wince because she understood that Kkuṟai did the same as the boy from her dream but because she heard his heartbeats. And, looking at his chest, she saw the Planet Earth inside him again. Something that made her murmur, confused, „The Soul of the Earth.”

„What?” Asked Kkuṟai in amazement.

„Nothing. I just…,” Yellen rushed to say. Then, she withdrew, looking for an escape. She did that the moment she heard the whispers of the other wolves, who were wondering why Kkuṟai chose her. Whispers that made Yellen say eventually, „I think you are wrong choosing me, Kkuṟai. I’m not your bride, but a Yātrīkar.”

Kkuṟai smiled, listening to her words. Then, taking two steps toward her, he held her to his chest, whispering into her ear, „It’s alright. If you need a soul, it can be me.” After that, happy, he hid his face in Yellen’s hair.

This romantic scene made the other Virgins cover their faces with their palms. Then, they turned their back to the young pair. They didn’t do that because they didn’t accept that union, but as a symbol that they gave up on the idea of being Kkuṟai’s bride.

Their reaction made Nathaniel scratch the back of his head. He was definitely confused because, so suddenly, he had not only a sister but also a brother-in-law. Not a human, but a… wolf. Something strange as he thought because it couldn’t be only a coincidence that both he and Yellen chose their soulmate among wolves. Yet, not being able to find an answer to all those questions that were spinning in his head, he contented himself with only whispering, „I understand that I didn’t understand anything from all that just happened.”

„Trust me, I’m in the same boat,” said Yamu, who was only two steps from Nathaniel. „More than that, I don’t understand where this kid learned about life so fast. I didn’t teach him this.” Yet, seeing Mai staring at him, with one eyebrow slightly raised, Yamu finally remembered who he’d been while being young. That’s why he suddenly grinned and, grabbing Mai’s hand, he made her follow him toward their house.

Watching their parents going home, Akita and Ilēcāṉa smiled. Moreover, when Ilēcāṉa said, „He said that not he taught Kkuṟai what love is. With such examples, there is no need for lessons.”

„What if not father taught Kkuṟai, but vice-versa?” Said Akita, winking. „Let’s not forget that only after our brother’s birth, father became serious.”

„Do you think so?” The boy asked in a joke. „I’m not that sure anyway because… maybe you didn’t see how romantic our parents can be, but I saw it instead. So, I’m more than sure that we’ll have a wedding soon.” After that, smiling, he glanced at Yellen and his brother, who were still in the same position, hugging each other. Then, smiling, along with Akita, Ilēcāṉa also headed home.

Behind them, one by one, the Rophions also went home, leaving Kkuṟai and Yellen alone. Why did they still hug each other? They probably weren’t aware of this. They only felt that by staying this way they fulfilled their promise… to meet the other one on Earth, that promise they made on the Path of Life.

***

„It seems to me that the boy’s choice is unusual,” said Uruṇṭai, one of the elders of the Rophions'village, who was also known as the Blind One. This nickname wasn’t random, but it represented a physical feature of the wolf, who had only one eye. He lost the other one when he was still a boy, a naughty one in fact, who loved to play with the whip, whose top left him without the eye eventually. Well, if it had been only the top of the whip maybe Uruṇṭai would have still seen something with that eye, but… as he loved adventures, he tied a stone by that tope, whose sharp edge left him blind by one eye.

Actually, the genius idea of binding a stone from the top of the whip came to his mind after a bet he made with the other boys. What kind of bet? Well, nothing out of the ordinary. They just simply decided to compete in whipping the ground. Thus, whose whip would have made the louder noise, that one was the winner.

A bad decision in fact because, after binding the stone to the top of the whip and whipping the ground with it later, so loud that the surroundings resounded because of them, the stone got out of the loop and hit the boy’s eyes. Yet, it was a smooth stone and didn’t hurt him. That’s why, Uruṇṭai, who was well known for his stubbornness, decided that the stone didn’t hit the ground loud enough and, to be the winner, he chose another stone… sharper at the edge, which left him eventually without his right eye. For an entire life.

Nevertheless, this didn’t diminish his authority because, after that event, Uruṇṭai became wiser. He even obtained the right to have the last word in the Council of Elders for being that wise. And not only the elders respected his decision, but Yamu too, who asked eventually, „Why do you think so, old Uruṇṭai?”

„Because… Only think about this: our young people, who passed through the ritual of purification Cēmikka, always chose a bride that had our blood. This boy, however, chose a stranger. That’s why I consider his decision reckless.”

„What I think is that Kkuṟai made the right choice,” said the old Mūkkutti. „More than that, I think that his decision has nothing to do with the ritual.”

„What do you mean, Mūkkutti?” Asked Aṭikkaṭi.

„That the boy chose his bride listening to his heart. Or what, did you already forget what he said when he chose her? He said, „We promised this long ago,” or something like this. That’s why I consider that Kkuṟai is wise. Just like that young lady he chose as his bride.”

„I agree with you this time, Mūkkutti,” said Uḻaikkum. „Stranger or not, the young Yellen has been chosen by one of us. Thus, as one Rophion chose his bride, we must accept his decision.” A remark that made the other elders, who were gathered in Yamu’s house for the Council, nod.

Suddenly, Aṭikkaṭi interrupted their approving murmur when he said, „What about our traditions? Those who say that a Rophion should never mix his blood with the one of a stranger. That’s why I think that we should…”

„No, old Uḻaikkum,” said the wise Pāṇṭittiyam. „Now you’re wrong because our traditions aren’t something unchangeable. They are very old, I agree with you, but they are part of a past that doesn’t exist anymore. Thus, as time is changing, we should also change our traditions.”

„I agree with Pāṇṭittiyam this time,” said Mūkkutti. „Actually, if we think carefully about this, Attārai hasn’t been created only to purify the souls of those hurt by the cursed ones. It’s an old law, which we all respected all this time. And we respected it because it says, „The one who chooses his bride next to the Stone Vāyil chooses her with his heart and not with his mind. Thus… nobody has the right to oppose it.”

„You forget about the law of the tribe right now,” said Aṭikkaṭi feistily. „The young people should listen to the elders, and if the elders say no, the young ones should respect it. Otherwise… our tribe can die.”

After Aṭikkaṭi’s words, the elders kept silent for a while. Yet, they right away looked at Yamu when he said, „What if Kkuṟai hadn't chosen her today?” Then, raising his glance, he looked at each of the elders. „I talk now about Kkuṟai’s dreams. I talked about them when he was still a child. You remember those dreams, right?”

„Mmm, I think you mentioned something about this,” murmured Pāṇṭittiyam. „That he had been abandoned in a forest.”

„That’s right. And, honestly, I also forgot about those dreams, which I recently found out that hadn’t been only dreams, but the truth. Who told me this? Titan Island. He told me that those were Yellen’s dreams and not of my boy.”

„Did he see part of someone else’s life in his dreams?” Asked Uruṇṭai, widening his eyes.

„Yes. That’s why I’m sure that they are tied by destiny before their birth. Yes, they’ve been separated when they came into this world, but they separated only after promising each other that they’d meet someday. Just as it happened when Yellen came to this village.”

„Maybe you’re right, Yamu. No, no, wait, I’m sure you’re right. Otherwise, I can’t explain the boy’s choice,” said Pāṇṭittiyam, thoughtful.

„What about the traditions?” Insisted Uruṇṭai.

„The traditions…,” whispered Yamu, also thoughtful. „Well, you are also right, old Uruṇṭai. Yet, those traditions are ours, of Rophions. We accepted them and we can change them. Young people especially can change their traditions because… you said this before… a wolf’s choice must always be respected.”

„Yes, I said that, Yamu. I said that the choice of a Rophion wolf must be respected, but… you can’t agree to have grandchildren that don’t have the pure blood of Rophions or… yes?”

Yamu smiled, „If they are wise and healthy, I don’t think that it is such a big difference what kind of blood flows through their veins. At the same time, I must accept that I don’t totally agree with my boy’s choice, but… I’m his father, I grew him, and I know what kind of values I sowed in his heart. That’s why I know that no matter where he will be in the future, he’ll always be the pride of the Rophion wolves. More than that, I’m sure that my boy will teach his children the same values. And, even if his children aren’t wolves, but simply humans, I’ll love them anyway. How not to love my grandchildren? I’ll do it with all my heart because they are my son’s children and this makes them saints and priceless in my eyes.”

Saying this, Yamu kept silent, melancholically smiling. And yes… he was dreaming already about grandchildren. Yet, he was aware that he had to wait a little bit more until seeing them running on the streets of the Village. A waiting that didn’t bother him, being confident in the future of his children. Thus, because he was confident in himself too, the elders of the village approved Kkuṟai’s decision eventually, the one of always being by Yellen’s side, and this was undoubtedly Yamu’s merit too.

***

One hour after he made his choice while he and Yellen were at the stables already, Kkuṟai heard her question when she suddenly turned and looked at him, „Don’t you think you rushed in making that choice?” Then, when Shinar approached her and looked with his snout through her pocket for something tasty, the girl started to caress that snout, making the horse feel so pleasantly, spoiled by the girl’s soft hand.

„Did I rush? This is what you think I did?” Kkuṟai responded to her with another question, also caressing Shinar’s snout.

„Yeah, absolutely,” the girl drily responded. „You don’t know me. I don’t know you. That’s why you still have time to choose someone else.”

„I won’t do that.”

„Why exactly?” Yellen asked, frowning this time.

„Because it’s too late to choose someone else. More than that, if I quit now, I’ll look like an indecisive person in front of others. Something that won’t ever happen… to be considered a hesitant person.”

„Such a big deal,” Yellen randomly said. „As though, what others think about you, should influence your life. All that matters is for you to be ok. Why? Because neither you nor I feel something for each other.”

„We can learn. To love each other and take care of the other one I mean.”

„This is madness, Kkuṟai. What you say. How can a heart beat for someone it doesn’t know? A heart that actually never loved someone.” After that, she fixed her gaze on the boy’s one. Seeing him smiling, she frowned again. „Do you really think that loving someone is easy?”

„Easy… Well, it isn’t! I agree with that. Nevertheless, I won’t give up on you.”

„Why?”

„Because I’m stubborn,” the boy responded, grabbing her hand. Then, pulling her toward him a little, he rested her hand on his chest, over his heart, as though trying to make sure she won’t run away without his permission. „And because I love how our hearts beat. At the same time.”

„Yeah, they beat at the same time because they are alive.”

„If they beat for life, then they can also beat for love,” the boy said, confident. „All that we need is time.” After that, so suddenly that Yellen froze, blushing up to the ears, Kkuṟai kissed her cheek.

„This is not fair,” she mumbled, upset by his dare. After that, releasing her hand, she covered her face with her palms, trying to hide that she was ashamed.

Her reaction made Kkuṟai smile, pleasantly surprised by the girl’s embarrassment. He was actually happy seeing her acting like that because that meant he won, stealing a kiss from her. An innocent kiss, but still a kiss. He would have liked to kiss her lips, but he still didn’t have such courage. That’s why, to hide his awkward thoughts, the boy looked at Shinar, to whom he said, „Fair or not, a man must win a woman’s heart. So, Shinar, until I get this courage, take care of my heart.” After that, turning his back to the horse and the girl, he rushed the run away from there.

„I didn’t accept anything!” Yellen shouted behind him.

„Well, I think you did,” Nathaniel told her, smiling. Words that made Yellen wince and stare at him because she didn’t expect that he was spying on them from behind the stables. That’s why she told him feistily:

„Are you hiding there for long?”

„Hiding?” Nathaniel smiled again. „No, sweetie, I didn’t hide. I just… decided not to appear at the wrong moment, interrupting your sweet moment of love.”

„Love? Don’t make me laugh! I don’t love anyone and I don't intend to do that ever.”

„Then… you should have refused the boy.”

„I did that! Or what, didn’t you hear this part?”

„Yes, I heard it, but it didn't sound convincing either for me. And, as the words are deceiving, one can think that you say one thing, but think something else. If it has been a slap…”

„Don’t exaggerate, ok?” The girl scolded him. „How to slap him when he barely stands after the illness?”

„This is already a sign of love.” Yet, Nathaniel suddenly looked elsewhere, seeing the girl squinting at him. „Well, if you like to lie to yourself, it’s up to you!” After that, sticking his hands into his pockets and slowly whistling, Nathaniel moved away from the girl.

Her brother’s recklessness made Yellen feel even more upset than before. Nevertheless, feeling the warm snout of the horse, who touched the back of her palm, Yellen looked at him and asked, „Do you also think that I did wrong not firmly staying on my feet while refusing that boy’s love? Honestly, I’m not sure of anything anymore.” After that, somehow sad this time because she couldn’t understand her heart anymore, the girl stuck her forehead to the horse’s snout.

Shinar, as though understanding what was inside that girl, slowly neighed. Then, he slowly pushed her with his snout as though trying to make her understand what he thought, „Don’t worry, Yellen, I understand everything - how do you feel, that’s hard for you, but… don’t forget about the caress, ok?! It feels so pleasant in my heart.” Message Yellen understood right away because her hand started to caress his snout again.

Then, when both felt happiness in their souls again, the girl looked at Shinar and asked him, „What about you, Shinar? How is your heart? Is it stormy or calm enough inside you? If it’s quiet, then… share it with me because I needed it too, but… if it’s stormy then… chase it away because there’s no need for this in our lives right now.”

***

After leaving Yellen with Shinar at the stables, Nathaniel approached an old oak, sitting down by his trunk eventually. Then, he slowly sighed because the words the two children told each other made him take thoughts even if he tried to hide this from Yellen. He kept silent because he didn’t want to preoccupy her too… he was worried for Samaya.

Eventually, when he remembered the kiss Kkuṟai stole from his sister, Nathaniel frowned. He was jealous because those lips, touching Yellen’s cheek, were something that made him feel itches on his skin, and want to teach the boy a lesson in good manners. Yet, he didn’t do that when he heard the voice of his consciousness, „What’s your problem with him? Are you jealous? If so, just stay quiet and take care of your own problems because… you did the same with someone else’s sister. More than that, stay away from them! They’ll ask for your advice in case they need it. Or… is it because you feel remorse for stealing that kiss from Samaya that day?!”

Suddenly, realizing that he was pathetic having such thoughts, Nathaniel shook his head. „You have definitely lost your mind if you’re scolding yourself for those sweet and secret kisses with Samaya, because…” He winced eventually, hearing Fenrir’s voice to his right:

„And still you should do that: scold yourself for making others jealous of you. Thus, you shouldn’t feel it now.”

„To feel what?”

„Jealousy? A brother's one?!” Said Fenrir grinning while sitting down by Nathaniel.

Nathaniel didn’t answer this question even if the „It’s hard, I know,” was spinning on the top of his tongue. Then, when he felt a painful pressure in his chest, he asked Fenrir, „What do you think, are they ok there?”

„Do you mean Samaya and the rest?” Nathaniel nodded. „They are fine. For the moment. Later… I don’t know, honestly,” responded Fenrir in a sad voice.

„Why do you say so? Did you speak to Samaya?”

Fenrir shook his head. „No, I didn’t speak to my sister even if I tried this. The forest doesn’t speak to me, Nathaniel. The same happens to the air around us. Why does the forest keep silent? I don’t know, just as I’m not sure who’s to blame for this: Parca, the fox, or Tenebre.”

„Despite all this, you seem pretty calm. Why?”

„Because I feel this, Nathaniel. Samaya and I are twins, and we generally feel the same as the other one. Thus, if I’m calm, it means Samaya is fine. Something that wouldn’t have happened if she had been in danger. Yet… I must accept that I’m still worried because there, in the forest, a lot of dangers are lurking on them.”

„Maybe you are right,” murmured Nathaniel, thoughtful. „Yet, what worries me isn’t the silence but nature. It seems spiky. Like a hedgehog that felt the danger approaching him. Or maybe I feel all this because I’m in a forest I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know the answer.”

„Yet, you’re right. This forest is changing. Like any other forest in this world, I think. Something we don’t know. Yet, maybe it’s better this way… not to know the forest because I think that the same will happen to evil. Why? Not knowing a place during the war, it will be pretty hard also for him to win. More than that, I consider the forest’s change a cunning but wise move because… honestly, none of us knows what will happen eventually when this war comes over us.”

„What I want is… for this war to never come. If possible, I would like it to move away and not to head here.”

„Why?”

„For us to be fulfilled, just like any other creature in this world. I mean now… to give us the chance to know each other better, to know what love means, how the love of a parent feels. And, even if this jealousy kills me inside, I prefer it as long as Yellen is fine and loved. I also want her to cry.”

„A weird desire in my opinion,” said the wolf laughing. Nathaniel looked at him confused. „I mean… that you want Yellen to cry when most brothers want their sisters to be happy.” After that, Fenrir looked straight into the young man’s eyes.

Nathaniel bitterly smiled, „What I meant is for her to cry tears of happiness, those that release one’s soul, Fenrir. Why? Because Yellen never cried. She didn’t cry either when we were sad or happy. Not even when our parents died she cried. That’s why I’m worried for her because I feel that she doesn’t allow those tears to flow down her cheeks because of stubbornness, even if they harden her inside. Yes, those tears turn her into a weird beast… one I would like to never know.”

„I still think that you are exaggerating now, Nathaniel. I don’t think that Yellen hardens inside only because she’s not crying. Maybe she just feels better and more confident in herself this way. Don’t you think so? You can't know that. Yet, once we talk about this, tell me something about you… how your parents died for example. Did this happen suddenly or did an illness kill them?”

„An ambush!” Said Nathaniel, staring in front. „I was only a child then… only thirteen years old I was when my father went to hunt. He took me with him that day. Not alone we were but with a group of men from our camp. „It will be safer this way," my father thought that day. Yet, he was so wrong because… it wasn't as he thought because… we met the Yātrīkars and the Vanamars at a crossroads in the forest. What happened after this… I don’t remember. Yellen, however, remembers everything because she saw our parents’death.”

Fenrir suddenly shook his head. „Wait a minute… how could Yellen see your parents’death if you weren’t together that day? You said that you, your father, and a group of men went to hunt that day.”

„Yes, I said and I repeat this: we went to hunt. Yet, when we were turning to the camp, an arrow, shot from nowhere, hit my shoulder that day. An arrow, which an Yātrīkar shot as I thought. I was wrong yet because… who shot that arrow was one of us, one who tried to kill me that day.”

„But… why?”

„He wanted my father’s position in the group. He wanted to be the Leader of Siars.”

„Something strange in my opinion because… when someone wants to be a leader, he must prove it through actions and not wishes. More than that, not everybody can be a leader only because he wants this. There are also the elders or the group’s Council. We have it and I think humans have them too.”

Nathaniel bitterly smiled again. „Well, it isn’t as simple as you think, Fenrir. Sometimes humans are more complicated than beasts if I can compare us this way. No offense. Why do I think so? Because… humans rather prefer acting secretly than in front of others. They think they’ll succeed this way. At least Ison, the one who betrayed my father, thought so. Actually, if he hadn’t hurt me that day, we wouldn’t have been forced to rush toward the camp to look for help for me because I was badly bleeding. It’s because of this we took a shortcut, which led us to the ambush later.”

„How about your mother? How did she die? Because of sorrow for losing her beloved man?”

„No, Fenrir. My mother was there, at the place of the ambush. She felt that something bad would happen and she rushed to meet us. Actually, she told my father about her feelings before hunting. Days before that hunting in fact. She told him that she had a bad feeling about all this. Yet, my father, who saw a lot in this world, told her that bad feelings are only for people who fear. How wrong he’d been that day…”

Saying this, Nathaniel kept silent for a long while. The same Fenrir did. Yet, while they kept silent, each of them looked in a different direction: Fenrir at Nathaniel’s face while this one was looking in front, as though seeing those past events at that moment. Then, when he’d been able to talk again, Nathaniel said, „Coming back to my mother… when she felt that that bad feeling was killing her inside, she grabbed Yellen’s hand, who was about eight at that time and went to meet us. They didn’t leave the camp alone, but with old Solan that day, who didn’t want to leave them alone because… he was a wise man for sure, our old Solan. At the same time, he was a skillful man, who did everything that day to save me and Yellen because… when they met us, we were fighting already with the Vanamars and the Yātrīkars.”

„And? What happened to your father? Did a Devilish Virgin kill him?”

Nathaniel shook his head. „His friend killed him,” murmured the young man while bitter tears were flowing down his cheeks. „That Ison’s sword pierced his chest, injuring him so badly that day. A sword that was taken out of my father’s chest only when the last drop of life was also spilled on that forest road. And my mother… seeing my father dying, rushed to save him. Something she couldn’t do in the end, being also killed by a Yātrīkar.”

„A real sad story,” murmured Fenrir, sadly. „Yet, I don’t understand how Solan saved you and Yellen that day.”

„I also don’t know this very well. As I said, I don’t remember everything that happened that day. Only what old Solan told me after this: that when the Yātrīkars followed us, they seemed not to see us. I think that this happened because of Yellen, who was looking straight at them. And, as I said before, it’s because of this that I’m sure she saw our parents’death.”

„Now I get it: the Yātrīkars didn’t see you because of Yellen. Yet, I’m still confused because… if Ison killed your father to be a leader, why isn’t he the leader of Siars now? Did yours judge him for his crime?”

„No, he also died, the same day as my father. A Yātrīkar cut the thread of his life. After that, ours left his body there, in the forest, with no cornerstone next to him. Who left him there was old Solan and those who survived that day. They did that not because they hurried to save themselves. No, after that, when they were sure already that the danger was gone, they went to bury the dead ones’bodies. And they buried them in the forest, except my father and my mother, who had been buried in another place, near water as they wanted. Only one body remained unburied that day… Ison’s. This happened because the Siars believe that a traitor shouldn’t have peace ever, and the best punishment for him is to leave his soul to wander this world for an eternity.”

„Still, it’s sad even if it’s fair at the same time. More than that, I think you are also right in saying that humans are more complicated than we are. Or maybe it’s only what you think because you lived far from us, those with magic powers.”

„I don’t think that’s because of this, Fenrir. I think that’s because of life. Especially… because of what we’ve lived. This taught us to stick together and protect each other. And, as I said, even if this protects us, it hurts our souls a lot too. Just as it happened to Yellen’s soul, who never cried after that day and who I see more and more sad with each passing day.”

„What I think, Nathaniel, is that it’s normal to be this way. Eventually, you took care of the other one while growing up. Alone, after your parents passed away. This made you mature earlier than any other child. Yet, you did a good job taking care of her because… you are both good and trustful people.”

„I didn’t do this alone, but with the rest of Siars. Also, old Solan has been our parent after that tragic event. For this, I’ll always be grateful to him. Even now, when he’s not among us anymore.” Saying this, Nathaniel smiled while looking at the sky, at that limitless black sky where he saw old Solan’s smiling face for a few moments. Well, it was what he wanted to think: that old Solan was in Aeon already, waiting for a new chance to rebirth, not being aware that the old man lost that chance that day when he exchanged his life for that boy’s life… without regrets in fact…