VI | Spawns

Children are the embodiment of innocence and purity. Their presence are enough to bring hapiness to those around them, bringing forth peace and tranquility along with their merry laughter.

They are extremely loved by everyone, despite the knowledge of some cruelties in the world.

And it was no exemption in Chronos.

Most definitely, in the continent of Doilea, in the country of Siphiro. The head country. The top 3 richest country in the entirety of Chronos.

Unlike the other head countries that is located in the center of their respective continents, Siphiro is located on the east of Doilea, near the blue waters of Blue Abysmal Ocean. And because of the geography of the place, abundant businesses sprouted left and right at the country, heavily depending on the aquatic resources from Blue Abysmal Ocean and also the tourist attractions that could be seen there.

And as of that moment, harmony could be seen as a group of inconspicuous children strolled the beaches borderlining Siphiro and the great ocean.

"Say, Lauriel. If ever you'd be attacked by a Shadow, what will you do?" James suddenly asked as he squat down on the white sand, poking his small fingers on it. Lauriel and Jacqueline stopped walking and looked at the eccentric kid, now holding a small crab.

Lauriel deadpanned then answered, "I'd run, of course. I'm a child and I could not possibly fight a Shadow."

Humming, James stood up, still holding the crab, and then threw it on the vast ocean of blue. Jacqueline screeched beside Lauriel and then attempted to run after the flying crab, but was stopped by the latter.

"Stupid, James! Why did you do that?! The poor baby crab might die!" Jacqueline whined as she stomped towards the mischievously grinning boy, his hands folded on his nape.

Soon, verbal assaults started to fly from the big mouths of the two kids, forgetting the existence of Lauriel who just nonchalantly looked at the two, before staring at the vast ocean in front of them.

The blue waves gently rolled towards the shore, into her tiny feet, the waters reflecting the bright rays of the sun into several directions, greatly looking like a precious diamond. The ripple made by the crab James threw was now swallowed by the big waves, but in Lauriel's perspective, it seemed to be the source of the big "ripples" of the ocean. The ripple that caused the waves lapping at her feet.

Suddenly, all sounds seemed to fade, and she was Chione again. Standing on that all-too familiar view of an unknown beach, owned by Jean's family but was never named, she remained frozen stiff, confused on what is happening.

She knew this was a memory, the promise that was broken on her past life, the calm before the storm that took her and his life. The prelude to the disaster that never ended on their deaths.

Beside Chione is Jean, intently looking at her. His towering six-foot five height seemingly looming over the girl that never dared to meet the lad's freezing grey eyes—the trade mark of the Rousseau family. His blonde hair swayed with the salty breeze, the gloomy yellow-orange light of the setting sun highlighting his sharp features, making it incredibly soft, and sad.

[Of course, I'd never leave you alone.]

Impossible.

She realized that, the day Jean purposefully "betrayed" her. And it was too foolish of her to believe that somehow, they'd still get out of that dillema.

[My memories would come back, sooner or later. If what they said was true, then I might hate you.]

Another lie. Chione knew very well that she could not hate Jean, whether he is her benefactor or not.

[Hmm. We'll see. A gentle flap of the butterfly's wings can cause a storm, and a ripple to a tidal wave—so far, I have not done anything that I would regret...]

[...yet]

How she wished she could remain in this memory. So she could strain her ears even more, and hear that one word that could, or could have changed the tide the day after that.

It was very, very painful. But she could not change anything, as usual.

Because she's powerless.

Finally, she looked one last time at the clear memory she has of the young man that saved her in vain, and clutched her fist tightly. Wanting to touch, but could never wish for anything other than being able to see that beautiful view, soon to be tainted by blood.

They are a tragedy. A time bomb ticking, threatening to blow an entire country up and annihilate everything. They could never meet. They should've never met, but it was inevitable, just like Death. A sweet reprieve to those who yearn for it, but a torture for those who repulse it.

-clap-

Lauriel was stunned and was forced to cut the memory replaying before her. The illusion of Jean standing before her, replaced by another figure of a boy wearing a black face mask, his cold blue eyes glaring brightly against the sun like it is glowing, his black fringes peaking out of the hood of the white jacket he adorns.

'Who's this?' she thought, never having met that face in her entire [second] life.

"You alright, missy?" a youthful voice asked, muffled by the face mask that obscures his mouth. Lauriel seemed to have lost her voice, so she just nodded her tiny head.

The boy nodded, his eyes curving into crescents, an evidence that he is smiling under that mask. Noticing that very detail for the first time, Lauriel briefly scanned the boy's features for a second, before looking back at that lanky figure donning the white hoodie that is very out of place in the beach.

Like he knows what's on her head, the boy chuckled lightly before scratching his pale cheeks.

"I'm actually sick. The reason why I'm wearing the hoodie."

Lauriel just nodded again, not knowing why the boy gave her an excuse for his attire, like she cared or whatsoever.

"Aha ha, it seems like you're not as talkative as your friends right there. Anyway, I have to go... see you some other time!" the youth awkwardly said then walked away.

Lauriel just stared onto his back, and as if struck by lightning, she whipped her head towards the spot where she "left" James and Jacqueline to bicker amongst themselves. Sighing in relief when she saw them still at it. With that, she looked back to where she last saw the strange boy, and saw that he's already gone.

Oh, well.