I was scared. I thought I’d lose him the moment his body was pierced by Tempest’s spear. Just remembering that makes me want to cry. I lost my mind the moment he fell to the ground, his blood splattering and flowing on the sand. I got angry because I couldn’t save him. I got angry because I’m powerless to break Tempest’s spell. I got angry because I’m about to lose him when we’ve come so close.
I stare at his face as he sleeps peacefully on his bed. This is the first time I have seen his face asleep. I wonder how he looked at me when I was unconscious the first time we met. I gently stroke his hair. Bad thoughts run through my head, what if he doesn’t wake up? What if he ends up dying because he unleashes some unknown power that lurks inside him? I shake my head, trying to get rid of these thoughts.
“Aruta…” I call his name. I hold his hand with both hands, then bring it closer to my forehead and pray.
“I love you, so please wake up soon.”
----------------------------------------
I feel nothing. I can’t see anything, not even darkness. My senses don’t feel anything. But then I feel warmth. That warmth reminded me of everything that had just happened. I begin to feel again and slowly open my eyes.
“Wakey wakey, you’ll grow mushrooms on your head,” a voice says. The words feel familiar. My vision clears, and then I see someone.
“…Noarin…?” I look at her. Her eyes are tearing up, and there’s a hint of relief in her smile.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” her voice trembles. Then she starts to sob.
“Good morning,” I smile back at her.
She quickly jumps up and hugs me. “I thought I was going to lose you…” she cries, holding me tightly.
image [https://i.imgur.com/3ksTfcf.jpeg]
I embrace her and stroke her head gently. “I’m here, alive.”
“Please stop doing reckless things,” she continues, her voice still choked with emotion.
“All right, ma’am,” I nod playfully, comforting her. After a few minutes, she lets go of me. Her face flushes, and she turns away.
I chuckle softly. “If you’re too embarrassed, why are you doing it?”
She looks at me, her expression softening. “Because… I want to…” she pouts slightly. My heart skips a beat.
“Noarin…?” Rishia’s voice interrupts from behind the door, followed by a gentle knock.
“Come in,” I call out. Rishia swiftly opens the door upon hearing my voice, with Kai rushing in right after.
“Arutaaaaa!” Kai exclaims, jumping towards me and enveloping me in a tight hug.
“Ow, ow! Yes, I’m fine! I won’t be if you don’t stop now!” I squeal slightly. Kai releases me and steps back.
Rishia settles down on the floor beside Kai. “How’s your stomach?” she asks, her concern evident.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore, but I do feel something,” I rub my stomach, sensing a tingling sensation. “That reminds me, do you have an Ornament?” I inquire of Rishia, recalling how she had healed my wound during the battle.
Rishia nods slowly, then turns towards the door. I follow her gaze and see Saria standing there. Guilt and responsibility are written all over her face.
“I’m very sorry for what happened to you,” she bows deeply. “And I’m sorry I didn’t explain everything about our powers and ornaments,” she continues, her voice filled with remorse.Saria’s voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes filled with remorse. Her words hung heavy in the room, and I could sense the sincerity in her apology. Noarin and Kai exchanged glances, both still visibly affected by the recent events. Rishia remained calm, her expression thoughtful as she listened.
“You don’t have to apologize, Saria,” I finally said, breaking the heavy silence. “But we need to know everything now. About The Ornaments, and The Absolute”
Saria took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “The ornaments are ancient relics of immense power,” she began, her voice steady now. “They were created long ago, each with unique abilities tied to the elements and beyond.”
She paused, her gaze searching ours for understanding. "Belzad, my brother, is seeking the 'Absolute' - an awakened ornament said to amplify the power of their Holder to its fullest potential. It is believed to grant unparalleled abilities, but also has the potential to cause great chaos if misused."
Rishia nodded, her eyes fixed on Saria. "And how does an ornament become awakened?" she asked.
Saria looked at Noarin. "By feeding them human emotions," she answers and turns to me. "When a Holder is overwhelmed by strong emotions and feelings, the Ornament reads those feelings and awakens based on the Holder's emotions."
Kai glanced between Noarin and me. "Like how Noarin's power became more destructive when she was filled with anger and worry after seeing her loved one seriously injured?" he questioned. Noarin playfully tapped his head and then returned to her serious demeanor, a hint of bashfulness lingering. I'll just pretend I didn't hear that...
"Or like Rishia's power healing Aruta, driven by her strong desire to save and support her friends?" Kai continued, massaging his temples in mock pain. Saria nodded in agreement.
"Wait, then why didn't you tell me I've been wearing my ornament for so long?" Rishia interjected, grabbing the necklace hanging around her neck.
Saria shook her head regretfully. "I can trace a magic trail, not the magic source itself. Your ornament has remained dormant since its creation, so I wouldn't have detected it," she explained.
"I see..." Rishia murmured, absorbing the information.
Saria turned her attention back to Rishia. "You finally managed to activate your ornament at a crucial moment. Furthermore, you awakened it to become the Absolute."
I tilted my head, pondering. "So any ornament has the potential to become the Absolute?" I asked. Saria shook her head once more.
"Only certain ornaments have the ability to resonate with the emotions of their Holder. If an ornament has ever been shattered into pieces, it loses the potential to become the Absolute," Saria clarified.
Rishia glanced at Noarin with newfound understanding. "That's why Belzad and Tempest avoid shattering ornaments; they aim to eliminate the Holder instead, allowing the Ornament to potentially achieve Absolute status..." Rishia concluded. Saria nodded solemnly.
"That's the gist of ornaments and the Absolute. Any questions?" Saria prompted, looking at each of us expectantly.
I raise my hands. “Maybe this isn’t about ornaments or The Absolute, but back then you said you couldn’t come into this world physically, so you use a form of a cat to connect your consciousness between worlds, right?” I asked.
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"Are you asking why Belzad can come to this world in his physical form?" Saria sought confirmation. I nodded.
Taking a deep breath, Saria continued, "The Absolute grants unparalleled abilities. Can you imagine what a space attribute ornament can do once awakened?" Saria's words widened my eyes
"He possesses an Absolute..." I murmured.
"Now that I think about it, only an Absolute with the space attribute can open rifts between worlds. I feel foolish for not realizing sooner that it was my brother all along. Part of me still finds it hard to believe he's alive," Saria admitted, her gaze falling.
"That Absolute originally belonged to my mother. Belzad killed my father to awaken my mother's ornament. After its awakening, he murdered Mom and claimed the Absolute for himself. And I, who witnessed it all, also awakened my ornament," Saria placed her paw over her chest, her expression clouded with the weight of those memories.
"With my spiritual attribute Absolute, I managed to separate Belzad's soul from his body and banish him from existence. But I was naive. I should have destroyed his body as well, preventing his resurrection," Saria's voice tinged with anger as she stared at the ceiling.
"That's my story. Thank you for listening," Saria concluded her tale.
Kai leaned back, absorbing the revelation. "Huh... so now everyone has an Absolute. I wonder what that's like," he mused, casting glances between us.
I frowned. "Wait, everyone?" I tilted my head, drawing everyone's attention.
"Yes, Aruta. You awakened in the most peculiar manner," Kai replied.
"Aruta's Absolute is unique," Saria interjected. Confused, I turned to her.
"You have the ability to resonate with other Absolutes, enabling you to utilize their powers or even enhance them with your own attribute. We call this ability 'The Absolute Resonator'. There has only been one Absolute Resonator recorded in history," Saria explained further.
I pondered this revelation. I recalled using Noarin's power to confront Belzad. Did that mean I resonated with Noarin's power?
"However, there's a downside. With double the power, comes double the strain and magical energy coursing through your body. You've been asleep for nearly three days, exhausted from the ordeal," Saria added, her words gaining nods of agreement from the others.
Rishia grins. "Noarin was incredibly worried, you know? She kept checking on you, in and out of your ro—Aw!" Rishia yelped as Noarin playfully tapped her head. Kai chuckled.
"This side of you really resembles Aru—" Kai stopped abruptly as Noarin stood up, lifting the chair she had been sitting on.
"Wait, wait! Stop, that's too much!" Kai shielded his head. Noarin moved the chair to the wall, sat down, and covered her face. Rishia let out a laughs, Saria giggling. It was adorable how embarrassed she looked.
I turn to Saria. “So what do we do now?” I ask.
Saria stands up. “We have to prepare for the next encounter with Belzad. We should practice how to control and use The Absolute Power to its best advantage,” Saria gives me a determined look. The four of us nod.
“But for now, we can enjoy our vacation for a while,” Saria glances out the window at the glittering sea.
“Ahh… right. We’re on vacation, I completely forgot,” I look around the room. “Kai, how long are you renting this place?”
“One week, thanks to your coma we only have 3 days left for our vacation” Kai shrugs. I scratch my head.
“Then we should enjoy these 3 days. Let’s give it our all!” Rishia stands up excitedly.
“Yeah!” The rest of us shout.
Today we have learned a lot about the Absolute. I looked around at my friends, each carrying the weight of our newfound knowledge. Despite the challenges ahead, a sense of unity had settled in among us. We were bound not only by friendship, but now by a shared destiny – one intertwined with mysterious forces and the looming threat of an unseen adversary. Though the time will come to settle things with Belzad, we want to forget about it and enjoy our time together now.
----------------------------------------
I stare at the ceiling, lost in the intricate patterns of the plaster. Not thinking about anything, just staring, letting my mind drift.
I shift my gaze to the window, where the inky darkness of the night presses against the glass. The faint outline of tree branches sway in the breeze, casting eerie shadows in the room. I glance at the clock on the bedside table; its luminous hands point to midnight.
The silence of the night amplifies my thoughts. I can’t sleep. Maybe I’ve slept long enough during my recovery. The quiet is almost suffocating, a stark contrast to the chaos we’ve been through. My mind feels restless, unable to settle as I replay the recent events over and over.
“Ugh…” I groaned as I tried to get up, feeling the lingering numbness in my arms. The effort was taxing, but I managed to swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I shuffled to the window and pushed it open, welcoming the cool night breeze that carried the salty scent of the sea. The fresh air was invigorating, clearing some of the fog from my mind.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. I tilted my head, puzzled by the unexpected visitor. Who could be awake at this hour? I moved slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last, until I reached the door. I turned the knob and opened it, revealing Noarin standing there in her… nightgown.
My breath caught in my throat. The soft fabric of her gown clung to her figure. The moonlight spilling through the window behind me illuminated her, making her look almost ethereal. Shit, my imagination is running wild. My heart pounded as I tried to keep my composure, failing miserably to ignore the flood of thoughts racing through my mind.
image [https://i.imgur.com/oge3DXX.jpeg]
“H-hey, what’s up? Aren’t you asleep yet?” I stammered, quickly averting my gaze from her revealing skin.
Noarin shook her head, a gentle smile playing on her lips. “I can’t sleep, and I thought you might also have trouble sleeping after sleeping for almost 3 days.”
“Yeah, I guess so…” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. “Do you want to come in?” I offered, stepping aside to let her in. She nodded and stepped into the room.
We sat down on my bed, a comfortable but somewhat cramped space with its simple sheets and pillows. For a moment, neither of us said anything, the silence between us thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. The only sound was the gentle rustling of the curtains as the night breeze flowed through the open window. I could feel my heart racing, aware of how close she was sitting to me.
“So how’s everything after the fight?” I ask, trying to break the silence.
“Not much. After you fainted, I also fainted from exhaustion. I’ve been unconscious for a whole day. According to Kai, Rishia kept healing you, and Saria felt guilty about what happened. She said she wants to explain everything after we both wake up,” Noarin explains, absentmindedly playing with her hair. Her fingers twirl a loose strand, her eyes distant as if reliving the events.
“I see…” I murmur, staring at the ceiling. The room feels heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. The gentle hum of the night outside and the occasional creak of the house are the only sounds that fill the void.
After a moment, Noarin breaks the silence again, her voice barely above a whisper. “Hey…”
I turn to her, noticing the vulnerability in her eyes. “What… was going through your head… when I went on my rampage back then…?” she asks hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly.
I take a deep breath, my mind flashing back to the chaotic battle. “Honestly, I was terrified,” I admit, my voice soft but steady. “Seeing you like that, consumed by anger and pain… I was scared I’d lose you. I just wanted to reach you, to bring you back to yourself. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you to that rage.” I pause, searching her eyes for any sign of understanding.
Noarin looks down, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her nightgown. “I… I felt so helpless. When I saw you get hurt, something just snapped inside me. I couldn’t control it. I was so angry, so afraid…” Her voice breaks, and she bites her lip, trying to hold back tears.
I reach out and take her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against my own. “Don’t worry. I’m here now, all right? You’re here too, we’re both alive,” I say softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
She looks at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty and a hint of fear. “You won’t hate me? Even if I succumb to my rage?” Her voice trembles as she speaks. “Even though I lost control, I do want to kill Tempest because of what he did. This thought comes from my heart.”
I take a deep breath, my mind racing to find the right words. “Noarin, you went through a lot. What happened back there was intense, and it’s normal to feel anger and want revenge. But I could never hate you. You were protecting us, doing what you thought was right in that moment.”
A small, grateful smile forms on her lips. “Thank you, Aruta. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I smile back, my heart swelling with affection for her. “You don’t have to find out. I’m not going anywhere.”
Right, I’m not going anywhere. I need to tell her something to confirm that. Something I couldn’t say because of the interruption yesterday…
“Noari-“
Before I can finish, Noarin interrupts me with a sudden confession. “…love you.”
“Eh?” I blink in surprise, caught off guard by her unexpected declaration.
Noarin doesn’t let me speak, her voice clear and resolute as she repeats herself, louder this time. “I love you!” Her gaze is intense, fixed on mine.
I feel a rush of warmth spreading through me, coloring my cheeks with a blush. “I should have said that first…”
“No, I won’t let you…” Noarin murmurs shyly, hiding her face against her knees.
I chuckle softly, stepping closer to her and gently lifting her face with my fingertips. “I love you too. Will you go out with me?”
Noarin nods eagerly, her eyes shining with happiness. Without hesitation, she leaps into my arms, wrapping hers around me tightly. The weight of her embrace is comforting, reassuring, and in that moment, I feel an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment.
We stand there, holding each other, our hearts beating in sync. It’s a simple yet profound moment, filled with the promise of a new chapter in our lives together.