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The Taboo Child
Chapter 49: Lost in memories

Chapter 49: Lost in memories

“AunaLuna, Come here.” A tall glowing man came walking over to the waters' edge. Auna was staring into the water, her face was more nostalgic than familiar. She felt like the eyes were wrong, the hair too long.

“Yes, my creator.” Auna gave a low bow with her hands on her knees. It felt right and wrong at the same time. She felt off, though she could not yet put her finger on why.

“I have told you I did not create you.” The man sighed deeply. “I guess you can call me creator but not your creator.”

“Yes, creator. What have you asked me for?” Auna gave another bow which felt strange to her. She noticed a bundle of cloth in the creators’ arms.

“I made you a new toy. You don’t seem to enjoy the last ones I made you.” The creator gave a confident smile. “This one, as requested will not worship you as an untouchable person above their station. Even though you are, they should worship you. Besides the point though I guess. This one will merely see you as a master, an owner. He will always be by your side. I made him by releasing the fire from the core of the world into your tears.” The bundle moved.

“I have named him EmberKai. You will have to teach him most things, though the basics of eating, talking, and walking, I have instilled into him. Whatever you teach him will form his personality.” The creator removed the cloth to release a small boy, her size. EmberKai had white hair and red eyes.

“Why does he have white hair? Every other toy made from my tears has blue hair.” Auna asked as she looked at the boy, his face bringing her comfort.

“I am not sure; the pressure of the tears could be why. I did go to the deepest part. To create him. Maybe he is taking after your glow I was trying to make him for you. You do wrap yourself with that glow all day and night.” The creator shrugged. “I created him on your birthday, so his creation day was four days ago.”

“I see.” AunaLuna thought deeply on this. In her mind, she knew calling the ocean her tears, was odd. However, she also knew everyone even her toys called the oceans her tears. She knew the vast water was the tears that had flowed from her eyes over the years. What couldn’t remember was why she cried so much to flood the once nearly waterless world.

“Don’t you like him?” The stern voice of the creator snapped her from her thoughts. “Should I gift you a different toy?” He stood behind the boy with a look of indifference.

“No, I was just thinking about what we should do first. I have not had a playmate in a long time. The other toys do not like to play with me.” AunaLuna gave a bow as she spoke, hoping the creator would leave her alone. “I thank the creator.”

“I’ll be going then. Do try to still those tears, I don’t like what you have done to my world.” The creator gave her a look full of disdain before vanishing.

“Hello, EmberKai. I am AunaLuna. How do you feel?” Auna stepped closer to the newly created boy. He was looking around with wide eyes.

“Hello master, I am well.” His wide eyes looked slightly hollow.

“Don’t call me that. I don’t want to be your master.” Auna sighed going to sit by the waters' edge again.

“My creator said to call you Master. I am your toy, to do what you tell me. Nothing more, nothing less.” The boy spoke in a monotone voice.

“Come sit.” Auna watched both of them in the waters’ reflection thinking about what she would do about this boy following her everywhere. She didn’t want to look into the hallow eyes begging for freedom, so similar to her own.

They sat like that for hours, soon Auna stood, walking across the water. EmberKai followed her, also walking on the waters’ surface. She didn’t pay too much attention to him. Still thinking about why she felt off. She arrived on an island populated with winged people, similar to them. Different though as they didn’t ooze power like them.

“Luna, we humbly welcome you back to our home. Please rest while you are here.” The woman who greeted them bowed in the strange way she did to the creator.

“This is EmberKai he will be with me. Treat him well, your children are free to play with him.” Auna walked to a temple and stretched out on the comfortable pillow placed at the altar.

“EmberKai, you are welcome to play with the children.” The woman left them.

“You can play. I will merely rest.” Auna waved the boy off.

“Yes, master.” EmberKai gave a smile, running off to the few children the woman had brought. They looked worried at first but brightened when he called Auna master.

“A servant you travel with?” A boy sitting behind the altar spoke. He would often hide behind the altar to not be seen talking to her. He was an orphan boy his parents having been killed a few years back by the creator. They had angered him.

“The creator made him for me. Didn’t like how the other toys did not help stop the tears. Like a few toys would wash away the pain, fear, and anger caused by him.” Auna gave a sigh she could not remember what she was talking about. She could almost grasp the thought of her parents, torture, loneliness, and unending rage at the creator. The why was just out of her reach though. Unknown to her she was slowly waking from her deep slumber, becoming A, Jade again.

“I see. Well, he seems cute at least.” The boy giggled softly.

“Yeah, he is adorable, his eyes are wide full of curiosity as well as a deep yearning for freedom.” Auna rolled over to look at the alter. It was an altar for her, often the people put sweet fruit on it.

“You should try to make friends with him. I know it didn’t work out here, but if he is with you every day it should be okay.” The boy gave a sigh of his own. He had tried to follow her when he was younger, unlike Auna, he aged and grew. Soon he was too big for her to carry over the vast oceans, that just continued to grow each year. He had not been the first to follow her either. It was considered a great privilege for her to take a child for a few years to join her. So much so the boy was now treated specially, akin to a priest.

“Yeah. Don’t feel too badly. Only a few people have ever learnt how to walk on my tears. No one has ever lived more than one hundred years either, so I always lose my friends. You are right though. This boy might make a great friend.” Auna gave a weak smile.

“Don’t feel bad yourself. I know you take children from the few settlements the creator has allowed us. I know you travel with us teaching us many things. However, it hurts you though. To watch us grow old, to watch us die. To watch us achieve ultimate freedom. You never age, or if you do it is so slow no one has noticed. You are trapped. Now that boy is trapped too. Why not spend some time teaching him? I doubt he grows old.” The boy sniffled slightly. It was likely he was remembering the day he could no longer travel with her.

“I think I might.” Auna got up walking around the altar. The boy looked at her with cloudy eyes. His face sagged from the years, wrinkles from laughs and smiles littering the surface. To her he was still just a boy, a boy that she had raised for a few years. A boy she had given a piece of her soul to, a boy she loved. This boy was soon to return to the creator in soul alone. She mourned for that, knowing he would forget their time together. She would not though, she never did. This soul, this boy was hers. The first boy she took with her because she birthed him many eons ago.

The creator had asked her what would stop her crying, back when the oceans were small puddles of tears. She had said she wanted her own child to care for, like her parents had done for her. It had brought them joy, she wanted that joy as well. The creator being the person he was created her toys and told her how she could create a child.

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She had been old, but young. Not understanding everything. The creator had been cruel. She followed through though, and alone she gave birth to him. It had caused her much pain and suffering; her travels had become much better though. For a while, until the boy grew too big to carry. She had to leave him with her toys, the boys' father took care of him. There was still a tale among the people about her son. She took girls and boys with her, the tale talking about her son being sent back to her in many forms. Sometimes even as pets by the creator who had a cruel streak toward her.

This boy didn’t know about that though. His memories gone. This pained her deeply, though she had still taken him in. She always did, as a girl, boy, or animal. He would always be her sky, the little child with brilliant blue hair and eyes. In every life she would find this child as a cruel twist of fate, usually the childs’ parents would be killed or abandon him. The plus was his soul was blessed with long life; unlike her curse he was granted this blessing by the creator. It gave her more time with him.

“Lani? Are you going soon?” Auna gave him a strong hug, which he returned.

“Yes, very soon. I may not be here when you come back. Just promise me you will try with the boy.” Lani pulled back to look at Auna. She was still childlike in appearance. Her eyes full of complex emotion though a true marker of someone who had lived many lives. Her dark hair shimmered; her eyes brightly stared through your very soul. He was comfortable with her.

“I will try.” Auna pulled away to rest again. He left quietly after placing her favourite fruit on the altar.

“The children went to bed.” EmberKai sulked as he sat down near a half-asleep Auna.

“You should rest a bit as well.” Auna patted the spot beside her, EmberKai crawled over closing his eyes.

They walked together for years. The time blending for Auna as she could not shake the feeling of something being wrong. They crossed oceans, rivers, islands, and more. The only place they did not go was the creators’ land. The boy often questioned why they moved around.

Auna always shrugged, saying it was better than staying in one place. She felt better if she was moving, less time to cry. The creator had noticed this, placing toys near the top and bottom of the world. Causing her to walk the whole distance. He placed a few interesting toys on the sides as well. It would take about a month in between each area, sometimes longer if she stopped.

Her glow would push away the eternal darkness of the world when not facing the sun. The darkness felt comforting to her though, always on the edge of her perception. Unable to fully grasp it. She didn’t know why; the sun had the same feeling even if it made her skin red and sore. Sometimes a message of encouragement would be delivered on the back of animals. It was rare these days though. She vaguely remembered the reason or who was giving them to her. Though each time her body moved on its’ own. Jumping around with excitement and pure joy, answering the letter with ones detailing everything she had done between them.

“Wow you found me!” Auna giggled as EmberKai rolled his eyes. They were full of joy now, no longer hollow.

“Why did the creator make you glow? It is no fun for hide and seek.” Pouting he sat on a rock. Her glow making his hiding spots easily found as well.

“Is it not still fun?” Auna asked.

“It is, sorry master.” EmberKai gave a weak smile.

“Stop that, how many times do I have to tell you?” Auna groaned.

“What should I call you if not master, master?” A more familiar wry smile painted his lips, even though this was the first time she had seen it. Was it the first time?

“Friend.” Auna shrugged.

“Friend? Really you mean it?” EmberKai gave her a big hug before walking away from her. He knew the creator was coming, like Auna he could feel it. His eyes went hollow.

“Welcome, creator.” Auna said as she and EmberKai gave a proper bow.

“Hello, I came to check-in. You have not taken a child from your toys in a while.” The creator asked.

“Yes, I am focusing on teaching EmberKai, before bringing a child. I am not as brilliant as the creator; I can not hope to be able to mentor multiple people at once.” Another bow by Auna seemed to be a satisfactory answer as the creator vanished.

“Why do you look like that?” EmberKai made his face look angry like hers.

“I do not like the creator, anger and rage show through my face when he is around. Though he does not seem to mind as long as I am polite to him.” Auna gave a soft sigh. “Let’s train your wings.”

“Please no, why do I have to?” EmberKai groaned. “We walk most places!”

“We walk because you can not fly well.” Auna rolled her eyes.

“Where do we need to fly to?” EmberKai groaned.

“Just do it.” Auna laughed.

“Give me a reasonable reason.” EmberKai glared.

“I want your wings to grow big and strong. I want you to be able to fly so high that every problem you have seems like a little speck of dust, to be wiped away with the back of your hand. Please let me help you do that.” Auna smiled. Warmly remembering when this boy would not give her no as an answer. Now he was complaining and arguing with her. A true friend.

Slowly as the boy started to practice his flying the world blurred.

“AunaLuna, Come here.” A tall glowing man came walking over to the waters' edge. Auna was staring into the water, her face was more nostalgic than familiar. She felt like the eyes were wrong, the hair too long. Wait, where am I? Why am I here, is this me? It is right? Who is that man? Auna was confused as she began trying to put together what was going on. Barely hearing the words from her own mouth as she went with the motion of the memories. Her soul not being strong enough to hear Mr. Voice while deep in her souls’ memory.

“Yes, my creator.” Auna gave a low bow with her hands on her knees. I feel angry, why angry. No focus, what was I doing? Right, I was checking in on the dungeon this morning, right? She was putting her day back in order.

“I have told you I did not create you.” The man sighed deeply. “I guess you can call me creator but not your creator.” Yes, I was told the salt farming inside the dungeon was going well. I was also told more than usual had become magic salt, an ingredient for potion making and other magic crafting. The money used on keeping the residents fed and clothed is going down as the farming, food preservation, and more selling increased. They also now had teachers that had books scribed by their scribe, and basic educational skills. They had also given them assignments from their classes. The school was not built yet as the lumber for it was too expensive for it. The forest too dangerous to chop wood.

“Yes, creator. What have you asked me for?” Auna gave another bow. Auna was now completely ignoring her memories. After the dungeon was classes, then we stopped by the stables for training the winged salamanders. This past year we have not been able to explore the dungeon more, too busy. Busy with what? Right the school classes, the running of the dungeon, researching more ways to run the dungeon, the training of salamanders, and the fame. Many students and teachers were now crowding them everywhere from last years hunting festival. They had celebrated Cielas’ ninth birthday with many people because of this. The next festival was a few weeks away.

I can’t remember anything else, can I? Auna thought about this deeply, so deeply the world blurred around her restarting. This startled her a bit, until she understood what was going on.

I remember once that I was pulled into a dream-like state after remembering something. I woke up years later as a nearly dead person, and died. The gods told me it was soul damage, memories hidden deeply in my soul being remembered caused it. It was not uncommon to happen to mortals. No one could predict when it would happen. She was told by them if she found herself roaming in her own memories to look for the trigger words.

These words, if she could remember them, could bring her back to the current reality.

After a few more memory trips she got it.

“I want your wings to grow big and strong. I want you to be able to fly so high that every problem you have seems like a little speck of dust, to be wiped away with the back of your hand. Please let me help you do that.” Auna sighed deeply in her mind. She could now picture Jensen saying these words to the little winged salamander who, with stubbornness akin to his own, had been refusing to fly.

Are you waking up? Mr. Voice greeted the girl. Yes Mr. Voice can I look at the log?

Auna looked through the log. After Jensen had said the words’, she told him many eons ago she dropped like a puppet whose string had been cut. The keeper of the tamed pets immediately got the doctor. Jensen refused to leave her side the entire time.

He yelled and screamed about how he should have known better. The doctor explained to the king who had come as her guardian what was happening. He had explained the soul damage and what it was most likely caused by. Other world people were at higher risk for this to happen.

The doctor tried to remove Jensen when the night came, he would not leave. The doctor arguing that the modesty of the young woman must be upheld. How would her reputation be damaged if it was found out she spent the night with a boy unwed? The king waved away his worries saying he would stay by the children. No one would dare question the girls’ modesty if he was watching her the entire night. The doctor relented.

Next, there were hundreds of pages of logs of her going through the memories. Time inside ones’ soul could be greatly skewed.

“Are you awake?” The king sitting reading paperwork by candlelight asked her.

“I am.” Auna shifted gently, Jensen was holding onto her tightly. She was careful not to wake him. “How long?”

“Only a few hours, about six. It is the middle of the night though. You should go back to sleep for a few hours before your morning class.” The king gave her a smile.

“My king, I really do not want to sleep anymore tonight.” Auna gave a shy smile.

“Well. Should we talk instead?” The king gave her his full attention. Jensen kept lightly snoring.