----------------------------------------

The past is something one must look back to, to reflect on one’s mistakes and to change for the better in the future. But we shouldn’t let it shackle us with weight in moving forward…

- Endellion Amaryllis

----------------------------------------

Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself in a cold and dark, yet familiar place. The beautiful blue river nearby, the dark-blue colored grass and walls of the cave, and lastly the different colored souls hanging on the ceiling, being held by roots. I was able to recognize this place. I remembered how I ended up in this place when I was young, but I wasn’t able to stay and talk with the lady that much since I was taken back so soon. But wait— why am I here now? Was I killed during my sleep? What—

"Oh? You are here again?" a familiar woman’s voice asked, making me turn to look at her. Placing her hand under her chin, and tilting her head, "Hmm… I do not remember that something happened to you to cause you to end up here so soon…"

"It’s you…" I said, a bit surprised. "Wait— you don’t know why I am here too?" I then looked around in worry and panic. "No no no. I need to go back! Who knows what they would do to Alessio— And I’ve still yet to give the letters to Minerva— it’s the only way for the war—" I then suddenly came to a halt as soon as I felt her gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked at her, and let out a sigh to calm down.

Her sapphire-colored eyes stare at me. "Unfortunately, there are times when I do not know the reason as to both why and how one would be transported here… Especially if one is not known to have been guided here by a Grim Reaper or has no cause of death." She then continued to stare at me in silence, as if she seemed to be in deep thought before soon shaking her head, "Anyhow, are you calmed down?"

I nodded a bit before sitting back down on the grass. "Yes. I’m sorry for that."

"And what are you apologizing for, my dear?" she asked, sitting down beside me. "Why must you apologize when it is normal for people to be feeling different emotions when they are met in a strange situation like this all of a sudden?..." She then looked up at the ceiling, closing her eyes. "Confused, sad, panicked. A mix of all of those emotions perhaps? There were even people who get angry upon waking up, and start to blabber quickly such questions towards the first person they see…"

She chuckled before following with a sigh. "Ah, yes… How strange for me to think of how human beings can still be interesting even in the tiniest of things…"

"... Weren’t you a human before you became the person you are now?"

After asking that question, it was followed by a moment of silence between us, making me worried that I may have crossed the line with that one. But before I could take back what I said, I noticed her soon lowering her head as she responded in a low voice, "It is true that I, too, was a human once… But because of my own desperation to fix my big mistake, it led me to be in this role for a long time now..."

I looked worried at her before looking away for a short moment, clenching on my hands. But soon, I looked back at her as she asked, "How about you?... If you were in my shoes, would you be desperate as well to do whatever it takes?"

I blinked twice in confusion. "I’m… I’m sorry? But I don’t think I can follow?"

"How much do you wish to get your older brother back?" she asked, looking back at me. "Will you be willing to break the countless laws of the realm and time itself, the rules of life and death, step on anything and anyone in your way, all for such a selfish wish of wanting to keep one person who is very dear to you… alive?"

My eyes widened in surprise before soon looking down, not knowing what to answer at the moment as silence befalls between us once again. She then sighed.

"Anyone can be desperate depending on the situation they are in. Especially when it comes to their loved ones being involved. Or because of the power they are lacking and desire for..." she said, standing up as her eyes were seemingly staring at the distance before looking back at me. "You, unfortunately, are no exception for such desperate feelings. Because you, too, are human… However, I do not see you would go as far as the others when it comes to that kind of situation in the future."

"What kind of situation in the future?" I asked. "Can you… tell me about it?"

Her gaze stares at me before closing her eyes and crossing her arms. "Well, I truly cannot tell you everything in full detail, as the future changes depending on everyone’s actions, which I will tell you as soon as now, such actions of others that you have no control over, and truly cannot change no matter how hard you try…"

"I see… But does that mean I cannot change Minerva’s mind? Even if I were to give her the letters from Taro?" I asked in a worried tone. "There must be a way."

"Minerva…" she repeated under her breath. "She is the one with the Stone of Mind, is she not? And if so, convincing her would be needed more than just giving her the letters, even with persuasive words at that… For she follows her mind more often than her frozen heart, which makes her quick to turn down things or words most of the time if you would not be able to make sense to her as soon as possible."

I blinked twice in slight amazement. "Wow. You truly seem to know a lot more about Minerva than I do…" I said before raising an eyebrow. "Did Minerva a—"

"Focus on the topic at hand, my dear," she said, quickly cutting me off but with a smile on her face for some odd reason. "Hmm. I suppose we can use the role of your older brother as an example for now, for you to easily understand it…" A gold-colored soul then appeared, floating on her hand, her gaze staring at it longingly. "Just like how a Head General like himself plans with his men before his battle, he must find all the information that he can about his enemies. Know where his enemies are weak against for it to be easier for them to win in the battle..."

She then looked back at me as the soul floated above. "And it is true that you are not a fighter, and I am not expecting or telling you to fight her, but the point that I am getting across to you is…" Pausing, she spread her arms at me, making me look at her confused. "...You need to get to know her more to be able to convince her fully. You need to know the true reason as to why she became the person she is now, perhaps then, you’ll be able to understand and be able to melt her cold heart."

"Ah, I see. I need to get to know her more." I said, placing my hand under my chin with my eyes closed. "Well, She does seem to know more about me and almost everyone else because of the current stone that she has… But I never once tried to know more about her that deeply before… Hmm? What… what is going on with the stones?" I opened my eyes, feeling a power surging from the two stones that I had.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

She tilted her head, though her expression didn’t show any hint of surprise or confusion. "You… You have the Stones of Soul and Time with you? In this place?"

"What? Is that a bad thing? Should I be worried about what will happen soon if this keeps up?" I asked, now holding the two stones that were glowing. "And yet, I…" Closing my eyes, I felt the mix of warmth and coldness from them as I held them against my chest, not noticing how they began to slowly glow brighter until…

"Endellion what are you doing—" she suddenly paused with her eyes widened in surprise and fear as she quickly moved back once the big different colored crystals suddenly sprouted from the ground everywhere. "...W-What is this power?"

Finally opening my eyes upon hearing her faint question, I looked around in amazement to see the crystals all around us. Out of curiosity, I gently placed my hand on one of the crystals, soon changing my reflection in every single one of them to different memories of the past and the present. But it wasn’t only mine but also his, or that's what I thought at least. "Is this the power of both of the stones?"

My eyes then continued to watch some of the memories projected through the crystals around us. The happy, the joyful times, and even the saddest times. But it did make me wonder, "I thought that only the Stone of Mind would be able to keep memories of people… hmm? What is this memory? I don’t remember this…?"

"Ordell, was it? Well, I appreciate your help with clearing out my father—" the Queen, Minerva cleared her throat. "I mean, the former king of this kingdom, from quite a long time ago. But… I never expected that you'd be visiting us again sooner…"

She then placed her tea cup on the table in front of them before placing her hands under her chin. Her cold and serious gaze stared at Ordell who was sitting across her. "But if you want me to repay you by giving the lady her memories back, I need her to be here with us. What she has is the Stone of Soul, one of the Six Stones of the Realm. The General and I would be able to train her on how to use her powers and keep her from harm’s way. Though, you will still be able to visit her from time to time."

Ordell let out a chuckle. "You don’t need to coat your words with sweet lies, your Majesty. I am very much aware that you wanted to take that stone from her. But of course… you were never the type that would hurt someone just for the sake of getting what you want, unlike your father— Oh I mean the former king... If you truly promise to keep your word, then I’ll accept it. Just please… keep her safe at all times."

After that reflection of a memory disappeared, I sat there dumbfounded. I was somewhat able to remember it now as it was the time I ended up crying when the news was given to me. I remember how I felt so heartbroken at first, and their words of reassurance weren't enough for me to believe them until he began to visit me again a week after that day. But why am I remembering this? Why am I seeing this now? Did I take it to heart for so long? Have I not really trusted them until now?

I then closed my eyes and lifted my head. "I suppose if I were to try to understand them, I should— I need not let my fear get the better of me like this. So I would be able to ask them properly, I would be able to hear them out, and from there, perhaps we could build a true bond with genuine trust." Opening my eyes, I soon began to smile a bit, "Perhaps then, all of us could finally let go of the past that has weighed us for a long time now, and be able to move forward together…"

Carefully standing up, "I think I know now what to do. Thank you—" I paused as I turned to look at her, my smile soon faded as I saw her kneeling on the ground in front of one crystal, her hand touching it as she seemingly quietly continued to cry. I was hesitant to approach her. Not knowing what she saw through the crystal, I had a strong feeling that it wasn’t something she wanted to remember again…

"When I believed serenity will last forever… Doom has come all of a sudden…" she mumbled under her breath, her head lowered as her tears continued to pour. "I remembered how everyone and everything in the land was stained in crimson blood." As she continued to speak, the crystals around us began to slowly break bit by bit.

"It is easier to look back at the past if it is as painful as if it wouldn’t shackle you back and trap you once again with its weight." she continued before finally slowly looking up at me with tears still in her eyes, but now with a hopeful smile. "But perhaps, this time, I could only hope that you and the rest of the guardians of the stones of the realm would be able to turn the tides of Fate in your favor for the better."

I stared at her for a short moment before looking down at her hand which I soon noticed was holding out to me. Hesitantly holding it in the end, "I hope so too."

And with that, the crystals and everything around us shattered like glass as the strange dream finally came to an end and soon slowly awoke me back to reality.

----------------------------------------

"Huh, I fell asleep here?…" I mumbled under my breath upon seeing the ceiling as I woke up. Not remembering what I was dreaming just now, or how or who was the one who brought me to the sofa earlier. I then turned my head to look at Alessio who was still asleep on his bed before noticing the door was closed quietly. Sitting up and rubbing my eyes, my curiosity to know who it was made me follow them. But not after checking whether the two stones were still with me, and if he wasn’t in an even more injured state than he already was. He’s still breathing… T-That’s good...

After sighing in relief and quietly opening the door, I looked on both sides of the hallway before leaving the room and headed to the left. It wasn’t that long when I noticed bits of blood stains on the carpet. Despite the carpet being red, the stains were still somewhat visible. It quickly began to fill my mind with questions and worries. My older brother and I weren’t hurt when I woke up a moment ago. And there seemed to be no signs of a fight that happened in the room, so what happened—

My train of thought suddenly came to a halt as my eyes quickly closed shut, and placed my hands on my head as it suddenly began to hurt. Did… Did I use the powers of the two stones earlier and I end up forgetting about it? I then opened my eyes and looked around the hallway. Or could it be because she’s somewhere nearby and could hear my thoughts right now? But if that was the case, she would be talking to me right now or scolding me for being awake and out at this kind of very late hour.

I then shook my head a bit. "I think I should head back to my bedroom soon before she truly finds out about this and finds out more of what she shouldn’t be knowing. But at the same time…" I looked down at the blood stains on the carpet before looking back at the dark hallway once again. The urge of wanting to know the truth made me walk a little more until suddenly my legs began to weaken. My eyes widened in surprise, my hand reached out as I fell to the floor. But then…

"Now what are you doing out here on a night like this?" His familiar voice was followed by his gentle grip on me before my body would even hit the floor. My eyes widened in surprise before he carefully lifted me back up and then carried me in his arms, and with the light from the moon outside that shone through the window I was able to see his smile. "My… letting your curiosity get the better of you again?"

I blinked twice in surprise upon seeing him and being in his arms at the moment before looking away and hearing him chuckling followed by his known teasing smile. "You truly do love to wander where you shouldn't. Well, I suppose at least you didn't get hurt, but what were you even doing all the way over here?" He then tilted his head and he soon noticed the blood stains on the carpet. "I see now."

I could feel the sudden change of tone in his voice and the aura around him. I could feel his grip on me tightened a bit before he turned us around and began walking in the other direction. With a smile, he said, "They truly need to clean their halls more..." However, I was able to tell the grim tone behind those words of his. He then let out a sigh. "I wonder if you'll continue to wander off by yourself and get in these kinds of situations. Do I need to ask the Queen or the Tyrant Head General to place a guard by your room and assign them to watch over you? What's going to happen one of these days when you come across something beyond your reach?"

"I know that you still worry for my safety, but I can defend myself. I’m no longer a child." I responded. "But how else can I know more about what’s going on here and be able to help if I would just sit and do nothing out of fear and worry?"

"El, your safety, your overall well-being means everything to me. It's not that I doubt your abilities to even defend yourself, but more of... I can't stand to bear the thought of you getting badly hurt because you want to know more about the truth…" he said as his worried gaze met mine before I looked away once again.

"Would you even answer me honestly if I were to ask about it? Or would you continue keeping me in the dark like how the Queen and the Head General always do?" I asked as he suddenly came to a halt followed by silence befell between us for a short moment. Making me nervous around him for once until he spoke again.

"My darling, I truly do want to give you everything you want. That much you should already know. But... There are those things that even I can't tell you. What's best for both of us is for you to not know or get involved in too much. There are just truly some things you should keep oblivious to… Afterall, things that are as sweet, and delicate of a soul like yours shouldn't be forced to bear the burdens of."

Upon opening the door to my bedroom, he gently placed me down on my bed before asking, "This is perhaps the first time that you were questioning things like that, did something happen while I was gone that made you this curious, dear?"

"Well, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself on how to answer that…" I placed my hand on my forehead followed by a tired sigh. "I found myself falling asleep in the guest room where my older brother currently is, not remembering the dream I had before waking up or who brought me on the sofa, then I could have sworn I saw someone leave that room. But I wasn’t entirely sure who it was..."

"And it's because of that you left the room in search of answers? You're truly going to be the death of me one day..." he said with a light chuckle, sitting down beside me and giving me a glass of what seemingly was normal drinkable water, "Drink a little of this for now and try not to think too deeply about all this tonight."

I stared at my reflection in the water before drinking it, he lowered his head with a smile before he continued to say, "...I would suggest you to not worry too much. I promise you that one day you'll know the truth. But I implore you... Do not search for it yourself. Let me give you the answers when the time is right…"

It wasn’t that long before he would then grab the glass from my hand and helping me lie down on my bed. My eyes began to feel heavy as my sight slowly but surely became blurry. Moments later, the feeling of his cold arms and his kiss on my forehead quickly faded, and my eyes finally came to a full shut. My ears were only able to hear his gentle humming of a familiar lullaby that he always sang to me before I fell asleep until I finally heard nothing and my mind finally went blank…

"When the time is right, and the day finally comes. Hopefully, I won't regret it…"

----------------------------------------