Chapter 13: Hope

"We part ways for now, Ernest," Cassius said to him "Yes, may fate be your guide and harm be averted from you... Eth R' Nal," Cassius nods and responds, "May Eth R' Nal be our guide!" as he lifts to fingers and crosses his heart, the two brothers turns around and parts ways.

"That's how it all started," Ernest said with a melancholic smile, Mary fell silent to what he had just said to her, looking back, she had always had a more optimistic ego, they have now looked at the third significant memory of Ernest, now they traveled into another one.

Someone was standing in the middle of a field, tall grass danced around him as he kept still, meditating to his thoughts.

"is that..." I asked Ernest

"yes, that is me," his smile disappeared, the only sounds that could be heard was the rustling of the tall grass against the wind, the sun was about to set and past Ernest was glued in place, with his eyes closed, just what could he be thinking?

"I don't know, the future maybe? " He says.

"oh," Mary had forgotten he could read her mind.

They walk a bit, and a hole emerged from the ground and swallowed them both up.

"We are at my fourth memory, haha," Ernest looked pale, his eyes were barely open and he could barely stand.

"cmon Ernest, get up, you lazy bum," dragging him up, he was shivering. His hands were shaking and he just could not stand up.

"H-him!" breathing hysterically, his eyes widen and he hyperventilate as he points out to the darkness

I avert my gaze towards the shadowy figure, it's two eyes light up and is now staring at the both of us.

"n-no!" Ernest shouted

"Leave me be!" he was crying.

"oh Ernest, poor young Ernest." the voice had a raspy, deep tone. Footsteps grew closer to us as the moon shone through a large circular window. The whole room was lit by it, and I could see the figure standing before us.

The face of the figure Ernest was afraid of was finally revealed, I looked towards it and I was shocked.

"Cassius?" I asked. He looked similar to him, but had black hair, and red eyes.

"yes?" he answered looking straight towards me.

"H-huh?" out of confusion I reacted brazenly.

I shake Ernest's shoulder and whisper to his ear, "Hey, this is your memory right? Did he... Just respond to me?"

"just... Listen..." he looks down to the ground,

Plick, plack, pack...

His footsteps stopped, he stood in front of us. Looking down towards me and the pale Ernest.

"How has this human bewitched you? You're better than this" he kneels down and reaches with his hand, I gasp and close my eyes. Thinking he was going to grab me, but I felt no such hand.

I slowly opened my eyes and see, both Ernest and I were standing to the side, someone was on the ground, bleeding.

A lot of blood had flowed out and it looked very fatal, Cassius was stood beside the bleeding man.

"I thought I knew them," the bleeding man says, "I thought, I understood,"

"Take... A closer look," Ernest irked me to go, I nod and put him down gently, carefully tip toeing over to Cassius and the man on the floor. Slowly and carefully, I have a feeling that I must not disturb them.

I walk over beside Cassius, and, upon closer inspection... The bleeding man looked similar to Ernest, he had several stab wounds on his chest and was crying a lot.

"they even took your heart, such dastardly beings" Cassius said with his brows curled.

"Ahaha, I have no need for that, we both know that... I just thought, maybe she'd be different. But alas, this whole world still hates us... No, this cult." Said Ernest,

"indeed," Cassius replied "if the humans we love oh so much wants to destroy us so badly, then what are we to do brother?"

"No... Don't forsake them,"

"Then what do we do?"

"You're free to hate them, as much as you want. But the moment you forsake them... You'd be even less than these beasts."

Cassius stood up and ripped his necklace off, throwing it to the side, thunder struck outside and illuminated his back. His face was cringing at the sight of his beloved brother.

"You... Why do you love them so much?!" Cassius said in a calm manner,

"Because... She's one of them." A light started to emanate from Ernest's hair, small orbs of light were gathering at his forehead, his eyes were barely open and he was still holding a smile. His whole body started to gleam, the whole room was illuminated just by Ernest.

"Haha, I'll be back soon!" He said to Cassius... But he did not respond, Cassius was looking down to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. His hand was balled into a fist, shaking with rage... or despair?

"You lie." Cassius said,

"I don't, not this time," Ernest responded with a gentle tone.

"For how long?" Cassius asked, "I don't know," Ernest replied.

"Then... I'll wait, not for their sake but for yours." Ernest's light was growing brighter and brighter, I closed my eyes for the light was blinding.

A few seconds pass by, and the brightness has disappeared, so has Ernest. Cassius was now just sitting down against the wall, his eyes looked determined.

" Aaaand that's that." Ernest hopped back up enthusiastically, "what do you mean, that's that?" I asked, he looked at me with a sad expression,

"The rest of the memories are just bland,"

Confused as to why he called them bland, I asked "Why would it be bland? You've got a pretty interesting story haven't you? Being immortal and being the" guardian of humanity" or whatever, " I was clearly mocking his back story to cheer him up a bit.

" haha, you're right, but... I don't have enough time for that right now, "

Ernes took a deep breath, and grabbed both my shoulder, he pulls me in close and... Kisses me?!

What what what what what what what?!

"Sorry... I just don't have a lot of chance left... Mary... Lydia... I love you!" he smiles and poof! His body turned to dust and all of a sudden the ground was sliding almost like a conveyor belt, it was getting faster and faster, I fell down as it kept on sliding on, there was a large square light at the end, I cross my arms and brace for impact... 3... 2... 1! But I did not hit anything, rather, I was back inside of the tree, I was looking up towards the leaves... It seems I have fallen down.

Was my interactions with Ernest a hallucination? My mind flashes back to the time he kissed me, no way... I felt his embrace and his lips, there's no way that was all a dream... If it was... Have I fallen for him?! No no, that would be insane, right?

"Yep," A voice suddenly said behind my back, I felt a chill in my spine as I turned around, looking at him, he was reading a book, a boy with brunette hair and and alabaster skin, he had long eyelashes and I could hardly believe it was a boy, I could tell because of his voice, it had this young tone to it, one that would be present in all prepubescent boys.

"W-what?" I ask,

Lifting his gaze from his book, "I answered your question." he says and looks back down.

My question?

"You're insane." He nonchalantly said, "Insane? Wait a minute..."

"Yes, I'm back... I guess," he scratches his nose and awkwardly looks to the side, he could read my thoughts, and has this aloof attitude... Is that Ernest?

He closed his book abruptly and stood up, with a smile beaming across his face and his eyes lighting up, he says "In the flesh!"

"Hold on for a moment... What do you mean... You're back?" I said

"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" pointing his index finger to his chin and looking up, I feel a bit irritated with him as I've literally never been given any sort of insight to my confusing pile of shit situation I've been thrown in.

"My bad! haha, let's get down to brass taxes I guess," cracking his knuckles and spreading his arms like wings, closes his eyes and breathes in.

"Fhwoooooop"

And in just a moment, we were now falling... FALLING?!

"W-WHAT?!" I shouted

"We're back where we left off!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHERE WE LEFT OFF?"

"We fell down the airship remember?"

"WE FELL BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"I'm sorry I guess, teehee!"

"BLOODY STOP US FROM FALLING YOU HALFWIT!" My panic was clearly sent back inside my mind and outputted towards him, "I can stop us from dying... But you need to agree to my one rule,"

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?!"

"It's just a simple rule really..."

"FINE! WHATEVER, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!" I shouted at him angrily, the ground was getting nearer and nearer... I close my eyes and hold myself closely...

"Haha, that was a scare! I guess..." Ernest joyously said, "W-what..." I asked, we were in a cave... I could hear water gushing down, the entrance was hidden by a waterfall and it was very damp, I fell down on my knees in a cold sweat.

"Hey Mary... Let's run away together!"

My breathing was still heavy, I could feel my skin crawl, the ground felt like ice and my eyes were about to pop off... "R-run? Haaaa.... Haaaaa.... Where to?"

"I don't know,"

"Well, if you don't know, haaaa.... Then why are you running?"

"I... have to hide."

"Hide? You. A literal god, why do you have to hide?"

"It's because that I'm a god that I have to!" he was clearly peeved from my statement, he pouted and scoffed at me.

"Because you are one? What kind of fantasy world are you even living in? haha! Can't you just... Make all your troubles disappear? If you're lonely, just make a friend?"

"Why?"

"Just because..."

"Then answer me this... If you were given all the power in the world, what would you do with it?" he was showing a clear concerned look, his eyes were looking... muddy, it's almost as if he's lost.

"haha... you figured me out!" he rubbed his neck as he said that...

"Well... If I were to become someone very powerful and influential... I would make it so that the common person would be able to live comfortably," he was smiling as he heard those words,

"Mhm... Then?" he quick-wittedly responded.

"Then... What?" I asked, confused about his question.

"Time doesn't stop when you complete your goal Mary. There is still a continuation of this story."

"Well... If I finished my first goal... Then..." I took a while to give him a good answer... Somehow, my I felt that if I just gave a haphazardly thought of answer to his question, I would lead him down to a stray path.

"Well... I..."

"Uh-huh?" He was amused by my hesitation, he showed a jovial expression and was anticipating my answer.

"Then I would live for myself."

His face stopped showing a smile. Ernest was sat silent for a while, his eyes were widened almost as if due to shock... Was... He disappointed by my answer?

"N-no... Sniff," all of a sudden, he was crying.

"W-what? Did I say something bad?"

"No!" he shouted

"Then what?"

"It's because... I would've done the same,"

"The same? So we think alike? Why are you crying?"

"I hate it Mary..."

"Hate what?"

"Me."

"You hate yourself?"

"Yes..."

"..." I fell silent to his cries. Even a god would have his anxieties I guess?

"I'm not a god, I'm just half of one."

"Half?" I asked,

"Yeah,"

"Then where is the other half?"

"Hunting me down, trying to force me to join him,"

"Well, if he's also a god, where can we even run to?"

"G-good point," it seems he has calmed down, he was still stuttering a bit and his breathing had slowed.

"Where are we anyways?"

"Oh yeah!" Wiping the tears from his face, he stood up and perked back up like nothing else happened.

"Grab my hand! I want to show you around!" Reaching out his left hand, he had a gentle smile... One that radiated the warmth of the sun on a summer day with a cool summer breeze wafting over your head as you rest in a hammock... Strange, I somehow... Don't feel anxious, almost as if... I could just run without ever stopping.

He had a scar in the middle of his palm, paying no mind to it, I grabbed his hand and he stood me up, Ernest dragged me to the entrance of the cave where the waterfall was gushing down on, he had an amused look on his face, as if we were out on a leisurely stroll down to the town, we walk through the raging waterfall and we were both soaked when we came out. Looking at each other, we both looked like wet dogs and we shared a laugh.

My eyes widened in the sheer awe of what I saw, "My goodness!" I exclaimed, looking towards a lush and vibrant garden, trees of different varieties, some I've never even seen! There were a lot of woodland critters running around and co-existing, and the whole scenery was packed full of life... almost like a painting, an ideal world of the artist visualized by the their skill and forever frozen in time, but this... It was not frozen in time, everything was moving around and I could touch it and get near it.

"Go ahead," Ernest looks at me with a grin, as I run towards the different plants, my excitement was through the roof and you could see me smiling the whole time I was observing them,

"You really like these plants?"

"Y-yes, They're wonderfully bizarre,"

"Even this one?" He grabs a large reddish orange spotted flower, it was so huge it covered his whole body and all I could see was a standing flower... But, the smell...

"My god!" I took a step back because of the dastardly smell,

"That is putrid! What the hell?" I shout,

"Haha!" laughing in glee, he throws it to the side, stretches out his arms and walks slowly towards me,

"N-no, get away!" I shout and ran away as fast as I could,

"You'll never escape me!" He yelled behind me,

The smell was just so rancid, if I had to describe it, it smelled like a rotting corpse out on a hot summer day filled with mosquitoes and maggots, just the absolute worst!

I kept running away from Ernest, we were both laughing and smiling, the scent still lingered in my nose and it was messing with my head, I was feeling a bit lightheaded and my stamina was running out,

"Haaaaa.... Haaaaa... T-time out!" I shout with exasperated breath, "Haaaa.... Whoooo...."

I was breathing pretty heavily and fell down to my knees in a field of Lilacs and Gardenia, Ernest patiently stopped behind me, the scent finally left my head and I could smell the scent of gardenia and lilacs wafting through the air, the sweet smell of lilacs was contrasted by the bittersweet undertones of gardenia,

"How did you know the types of flowers?" Ernest stood still,

"My mother loved gardening, oh she would spend hours stood beside the windowsill, tending to her plants, and once she's done her routine check on the plants there, she would go downstairs to the patio and tend to her plants there!"

"She really loved plants?"

"Oh yes, quite!"

"Even if some of them outlive her?"

"Well, we take and we give I guess,"

"Even if when we die, plants will just use us as resources again?"

"Are you trying to insinuate something?"

"I want to die, Mary."

"Die?"

"Yes..." He looked down towards the ground, the field of lilacs and gardenia had now started to wither, starting from the point where Ernest was stood, the sky was turning gray and clouds were forming, a few moments pass and a raindrop fell on my cheek, the rain was pouring hard, and thunder crackled in the distance, Ernest stood still, I ran for cover under the tree.

It looked like he was pondering about something fondly,

"Ernest!" I shout but no response,

"Hey! Ernest! Get over here! You're going to catch a cold!" Agh, bloody hell, this moody brat, I dragged my dress up to not soil it in the mud, and walk over to him.

My steps were heavy from the frilly dress, and I would not want to stumble down to the mud, luckily I didn't, getting close to Ernest, I yelled again "HEEEEYYY!"

"..."

"Come on!"

"..."

"Agh, Bloody hell!" I shout as I grabbed his arm, the moment I did, the rain stopped, a shockwave could be felt throughout the air, almost like an earthquake was happening.

"W-what?"

He had a pained expression and was looking down at my feet,

"Y-your shoes..."

"What about my shoes?"

"They're stained,"

"And? You're soaking wet,"

"L-let's get you clean up!" While looking straight towards me, he reaches out his hand,

furling my eyebrows, I show a pompous expression and said "Lead the way!" While raising my chin up to the air, it seems he has calmed down...

"Mary..."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks,"

"What for?"

"For being you?" His statements confused me, but I shrug it off and follow in his stead, looking at his back, it felt so... wide, almost like a wall that couldn't be scaled over or an infinite vast expanse that has no end nor beginning. It felt like I was being sheltered, we walk for a bit and arrive at a cozy wood tavern, entering the home, I could immediately feel the warmth of the fireplace and the atmosphere was way more homely,

I sat down near the fireplace and Ernest sat beside me,

"I love you." he uttered.

"W-what?" I turn red with his statement.