~ Spring blooms yet dusk falls - I ~

I waited for something to happen as I was trapped in the chamber of Yu Ken's palace. A week had almost passed but I did not even hear or see my captor, nor Xi Ken.

There was no way of knowing what happened to Xi Ken or what was going on within the Yu Ken Palace, for every night there would be loud echoes of crying, fighting, begging and more such dramas. It was fearsome, to sit so idle in the chambers, getting catered to food on time like in jail and just being given a chance to pee and poop when very necessary.

Those two scantily clad girls did their best, yet they couldn't shatter the gloom over me or change the actual situation where I wasn't their prisoner. It put me in a damper, and I couldn't help but think about all the revelations Yu Ken talked about.

Was I really not… human?

If I wasn't originally one, then how come I was send there.. or brought back now. It was eating me alive to know the reasons behind. I wasn't dumb or stubborn enough to not pay attention to my surrounding, I knew that Yu Ken wouldn't tell lies just for the fun of it, he was powerful, if not more than Xi Ken then at least ranked the 3rd on the ladder.

I wasn't aware of what all went on outside the comforts of my life, but after hearing all the rubbish talk of deity's child, dark forces and 7 great provinces… it gave me a shock. I was actually anxious and restless, I wanted to know more, but having explored the possibility of calling back Yu Ken to hear his tale, I concluded it wouldn't suit me to go after secret knowledge like this, what would I do if he put in conditions before me, or started making bargains, or tried to bully me… I was reluctant to share such fate, so I kept to myself.

Suddenly learning that your family was never yours, or your life until now has been fake… anyone would want to strangle some folks or search for the truth. Maybe someone would also deny this fact like I was currently doing, and those who weren't emotionally invested in their life from the very beginning would become happy. But I was very close to my family, and there was nothing that made me say, 'This life is better'.

Sure I was annoyed by the sneers and repulsive gestures of the others who considered me weird, but it couldn't compare to the difficulties I was facing in this world. Just after arriving I was considered for trial, and now I was locked in some secret chamber for days.

Through the entire journey in this phase of my life, the only respite I received was from Xi Ken, but he also lied to me that he would let me go back to my world and according to Yu Ken, he was never planning to do that since the very beginning. And it turns out I was never a part of my original world, or what could be considered my temporary safe heaven.

I trusted that there might be some reason for Xi Ken to hide all this fact from me, but why would he try to hide it, did he think I would not accept it… or did he think I was too immature to handle the sudden development.

Whatever the case, I was disappointed with him, it did made me cry at night, the thought about never seeing my family again, never arguing with my friends and never waiting in line to buy ice-cream for my younger sister who always loved butterscotch.

It made my heart restless, but where was Xi Ken, he wasn't here even after a week's time, and who knew when this Yu Ken would let me go out.

I thought about escaping this place, but I did not have any fighting skills, nor did I know anything about this world. I had long since realized that my own strength was negligible and the few tricks I had, wouldn't help me stay alive in this strange land. I wasn't a protagonist in a novel where one would take a gamble and jump into the unknown, my personality since the very beginning had never been that courageous. I was a very cautious person and always had remained wary of all dangers.

It was also one of the major reasons for why I was so inclined to accept Xi Ken. He represented 'safety', 'comfort' and 'home'. A person who could make me forget I was in a dangerous world full of traps. He made me confident, he made me relaxed in such a difficult time and also liked me enough to pursue my interests.

I smiled at the recollection of his words when he confessed(?) to me.

But the smile soon evaporated, the same person who made me feel so positive was suddenly questionable, and I wasn't sure if he was just playing with me…

No, that couldn't be, but who can say for sure what he really wanted?

Pouting to myself, I leaned back down on my rough and solid bed, the pillow which seemed to be filled with stones pricked my neck and head, yet I couldn't complain about it, I was feeling too listless to really gather any sort of fiery fighting spirit.

Slightly peeved, I mocked Yu Ken. Didn't he say I was a deity's whatever? Then how come he gave me such low level services and rough treatment. Shouldn't he be more considerate towards me?

Groaning, I tried to close my eyes and get some rest, it would at least distract me from-

Wait… what the heck is fluttering on my legs?

I suddenly opened my eyes wide and looked down at the thing which was scaring me awake. Noticing something black, my immediate reaction was to scream, but right then the 'thing' got at the center of my sight and I relaxed instantly, for it was that black butterfly.

The size was smaller so I had thought it was some poisonous insect, but turns out it was actually that butterfly I was familiar with.

Smiling, I positioned my finger towards the fly in a gentle manner to make it more comfortable, trying to call it to perch on my digits.

The butterfly was rather smart, as it landed on my finger and fluttered for a while before going still.

"Why are you here?" I asked with a throaty voice, the lack of use very obvious.

Knowing the butterfly wouldn't answer back, I gave up on expecting anything in return. And just stared at it, as the beautiful black wings shimmered with a white glow in the dim chamber.

Since it was going to accompany me, I did not mind, and laid back again to have some sleep. For an instance I thought I saw the butterfly glowing red, but it could be my eyes playing tricks on me, since looking again, I didn't see anything weird.