Unavoidable tear

- I think I'm the only one, she confirmed, upset. Everyone around me has fallen into this monstrous state, my whole family is gone, they wanted to try to find a solution to... she paused for a moment, biting her lower lip, barely containing an overflow of tears and sadness. I don't know exactly what they had in mind, but they only asked me to stay here and wait for them. So I waited and waited but they never came back, and all those emissaries lurking around.

I looked at my new friend for a second and then asked.

- How long have they been gone?

She looked at me for a moment, an almost unbearable painful expression on her face, then finally answered.

- At least ten years.

I opened my eyes wide, looked at her in amazement, then shook my head.

- Ten years? And you've been here for a decade?

- Yes, I didn't know where to go, and even if I did, the house is protected by some kind of magical barrier that my parents must have installed before they left. Very powerful and undetectable. They spent almost all their savings on it. I can't stay outside for long, because of the air, and my power is getting weaker and weaker, as well as the protective spell of this house, we won't be able to stay here much longer. It will completely cancel out if I go out again.

Hearing Yriane's sad and unbelievable story, I felt a misplaced compassion for the abandoned child that she was. Left behind, unaware of what was really going on, and completely unaware of the fate her loving parents suffered. She still held on to a hope, a faint, tiny, even existing hope that kept her going throughout this decade, and this curse, that maybe they would come back to look for her or come back at all, or that someone would do it for her. Either way, it was the only thing she could hold on to.

But it had to end, I resolved with strength and determination. Despite the love she had for her loved ones, she had to keep going for her, for them. Anyway, that's what her family would have wanted. What any loving family would have wanted.

- Yriane, do you know if there is a way out of the city of Dirius?

She hesitated for a moment, apparently undecided, before resolving to reveal something to me.

- I don't, but my friend must surely know.

- Your friend? So there is still someone?

- Yes, it must be a year ago, she explained, but once I decided to go out, to the bridge. And as I suspected, everything was cold and dead, when I saw someone in the distance, already injured but perfectly normal. I got as close as possible to see who it was. That's when I recognized him, a childhood friend. We haven't seen each other for decades. He also saw me and probably wanted to ask me to join him but unfortunately emissaries appeared at that very moment. It was only just that I was able to escape, and I had to return home quickly. Moreover, it was too dangerous, my body was getting weaker and weaker, the air was too stuffy. But this did not make me lose confidence. However, I tried again and again, I could never cross the bridge, there are too many of them and they are much too dangerous.

- I understand, I said. But now it's over, I continued with courage, but also asking for her strength and her will, because we needed to support each other. We'll get out of here.

Yriane didn't need to think long to agree. She hugged me a little tighter, probably wanting to regain the confidence and hope that had almost died after all this time of abandonment.

- Now we have to get ready, I said.

And while nodding her golden head, I saw with satisfaction her clear eyes light up, in her eyes the determination to finally get out of this prison of darkness, and from the incurable fear that this ignominious wound has aroused in everyone, sprang up, timidly but very strongly. Dressed in boots, in an indigo combat uniform that brought out her blond hair, I was certain that in spite of everything, she had prepared herself in advance for the almost improbable case where by a miracle someone would come to save her from the cold desert that had become her home and her life.

Taking a deep breath we carefully, very carefully, left the lonely house. Yriane turned around one last time. Towards this house that had represented the unconditional affection that her parents had carried for her, and whose last spark of magic had been blown away by our departure. Like a farewell. Like an authentic death, but also like the last encouragement they were able to give her.

- Goodbye Mom and Dad. Thank you for everything. I will always love you.