Black Trust

Thalia

"Home, just what is this place exactly?"

Reis

"Heaven. The aftermath of what happened a decade ago. The reason I came to earth...and eventually came to meet you."

"It's weird. Despite this being my home, I don't recall any memories of my time here. It's like my attachment to Heaven has been completely severed, heh... mom would be devastated hearing such words."

A bitter laugh came while I sat on the bridge, viewing the scene. Sentiments were full of resentment, remorse, and grief.

Something I tried to keep concealing sprung open had now come rushing out. Hints of sorrow began to show in my voice and demeanor as Thalia sat next to me unmoving.

Thalia

"So why here? What's so important you had to conjure something like this up?"

Reis

"I didn't conjure anything. I know you can feel it, the raw mixture of negative and positive energy circling us."

"I can tell from the way you've been walking and looking. Your senses have been heightened, everything here is genuine, as is everything I'm about to tell you."

"Every tale I've told you about Heaven, they're just that, myths, lies, false notions so you wouldn't stumble upon our secret. I'm ashamed to say, but for the most part, throughout our time as siblings, it has been a lie."

"To simplify, I'm not what you'd consider human. We're not even related."

"When mom and I came to earth after deserting Heaven, she adopted you. Someone I could play with and help me overcome my trauma from the war."

"However, when the war failed to stop after so many casualties, she decided to leave, asking Leifa to keep watch over us until her return."

"Since you were blind, it was easier to lie than inform you of our reality, so when mom left, we told you it was business-related. And when news came that Heaven had fallen, we built off of it saying she passed in an attempted robbery."

"Every fib created was to protect you from discovering our sad, dark secrets. So we could live at peace without the possibility of anyone exposing me and putting you in harm."

"Yet, it all was for naught because of one stupid choice. Now everyone knows there's one last angel...and they think it's you."

"Thalia, the Devil King, wants you dead at all costs. The bounty proves it. Whether or not people can tell you're not an angel or not, we need to flee. Tonight."

Thalia

"...Then leave. Take Leifa and... leave me be."

Reis

"Sis?"

Sounds of heavy sniffling escaping from Thalia reached my ears as tears brushed down her cheek and she turned away avoiding me entirely.

Thalia

"Why did you...have to tell me? Why? You were...the only person...I thought would never lie to me."

Reis

"...Thal." Embracing my shaking sister, I do my best to wipe away the tears merely for more to spill out. Head buried against me she hit my chest repeatedly sobbing uncontrollably.

Thalia

"Yet again...everything's a lie... hic..sniff. All my memories with you...fake...just pity disguised as compassion. Hic...hic...mm... I don't...truly know you."

"So why should I go...you might as well be a complete stranger."

"I'm fine with having myself accused of being an angel, or even... sacrificing all sense of security to travel the ends of the earth with you...things would be dangerous, but it'd be a life I could be proud of, a decision of my volition."

"Just because the truth eludes me doesn't give you any right to belittle me with lies, how come knowing my feelings you trampled over them anyway...am I...that much a burden?"

Her soft upturned eyes moved to gaze at me as she pulled away from my hug still shaky from the crying, "Do you see me as an impediment?"

Reis

"...Yeah, I do, but not in the way you believe. Looking at you even now I can't help but still imagine the same little sister who could barely speak sentences when we met, or the girl who'd run into everything trying to navigate around the house while we played games."

"I can't help going back to those moments where everything seemed nearly perfect. It's the period where mom was still with us, a time when you were the happiest. I guess I still find myself wishing for a redo of the past."

"Earlier, you said you no longer knew what kind of person I was, the sad truth is I haven't changed much at all. I've been stumbling around blindly not even sure what I'm supposed to be doing...seems like at some point I ended up discarding you and your feelings."

"Sorry, sis."

Her cheeks slightly flushed as more tears streaked down her face and quivering lip as if she could finally expel the anger and disappointment. I cradled her stroking her long silky hair unsure if the tears that flowed were out of happiness or distress, one thing I did know was I hated seeing her so broken.

Little by little I stealthily filled my hands with magic letting the warmth it brought hug and console Thalia, slowly her sniffling stopped sounded and little snores replaced them as she slept peacefully in my arms.

Hoisting her backpack style I tuck her arms around my neck taking one last glance at the foreboding swirl of emptiness before navigating out of heaven's remains.

The exiting journey takes no time at all, after closing off the gate and obscuring the entrance I fumble around in my pocket dialing Leifa.

Leifa

"Young master...how was your talk?"

Reis

"Everything turned out fine for the most part. Is Resa still with you?"

Leifa

"Of course. He's napping, should I wake him?"

Reis

"Yeah, now seems about a good time. Pack only the essentials, we leave tonight."

Leifa

"Understood."

Our call disconnects and I'm left basking in the evening's ethereal glow. Sighing dejectedly as the wind races by I pluck a few flowers from the garden before back inside with Thalia still snoring contently on my back.

END