Echoes of Fate; Part-2

"I'm very grateful to you," the girl said, her eyes shining with admiration. Her voice was soft, like the warmth of the afternoon sun. "My home is nearby. If you don't mind, would you come with us?"

She gestured to her mother, standing just outside the park, waving a hand while balancing a few grocery bags. The wind stirred her hair, carrying the faint scent of fresh vegetables.

Kaia stared at the girl for a moment, unsure of what to do. Her mind was still tangled in the aftermath of the chaos, but something about the genuine warmth in the girl's eyes tugged at her.

Before Kaia knew it, she was sitting at a small dining table in a modest kitchen. The mother, cradling a baby in her arms, moved gracefully as she served the food, her movements filled with a quiet strength.

"I am so grateful to you for saving Maya from that creep," the mother said, her voice thick with emotion as she poured a generous amount of curry into Kaia's bowl. "Please, eat as much as you like. Even this won't be enough to thank you."

Kaia lowered her gaze, her tone barely audible. "It wasn't a big deal." The words felt hollow as they left her lips. She stared at the food, the emptiness inside her gnawing at her like a silent predator. A creep? She almost wanted to laugh bitterly. Had the Apostle erased her memories, too?

"Thanks for the food," Kaia murmured, folding her hands together in a mechanical gesture before picking up her spoon. But as she brought it to her lips, a sudden warmth spread over her head—a gentle touch, soft and kind.

"You're a brave girl," the mother whispered, her hand resting on Kaia's head. Her fingers were warm, soothing, but there was a tremor in them. "It's a surprise that people like you still exist. If you hadn't been there—"

The woman's voice faltered, and Kaia felt something damp trickling down onto her head. She froze, her chest tightening as the woman's hand shook. The sobs came next, quiet at first, then more desperate. Kaia blinked, slowly lifting her gaze to the woman, who had her face buried in her hands.

"I might never have forgiven myself," the mother sobbed, her voice cracking, "for leaving Maya all alone." Her words were raw, unguarded. The vulnerability in them cracked something in Kaia's chest, and she felt a pang of something unfamiliar.

Kaia stood up abruptly, her chair scraping the floor. Her hands trembled as she reached out, gently wiping the woman's tears with the back of her hand. "The past is long gone," Kaia said, her voice soft, but firm. "Don't dwell on it. Just focus on the future."

The words tasted strange on her tongue. Future? Was that even something she could afford to think about?

Her gaze darkened. If everyone had helped instead of turning a blind eye....then she wouldn't have to worry about leaving her kid alone. If only people weren't selfish.

She felt a sudden, bitter sting of anger, sharp and bitter. "It's not just your burden," Kaia said, her voice hardening. "The people around you, they carry the same weight. The same sin."

The mother's eyes widened, her voice cracking again as she whispered, "The guilt I feel isn't from sin... It's the guilt of losing someone."

Kaia swallowed, her throat tight. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. The guilt—the same burden that crushed her today—settled heavily in her chest. But it wasn't just about losing someone. It was about the choices, the irreversible actions that led to this moment.

A cold shiver ran through her body, and suddenly the memories of the blonde woman, mysterious and enigmatic, surfaced unbidden in her mind.

[I want to create a world where there is no cruelty, no selfishness, and no one dies...]

The words felt like a weight pressing on her chest. She gripped her head, her vision blurring, and staggered forward.

"Are you alright?" the woman's voice was laced with concern. Kaia didn't answer immediately, feeling as if the world was tilting beneath her.

"Yeah..." she murmured, trying to steady herself. "I just... need some air."

"There's a balcony," the mother said gently, pointing toward a door on the far side of the room. She hesitated, then added with a faint, self-conscious laugh, "I ruined the mood, didn't I?"

Kaia waved her hand dismissively, forcing a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "My mood wasn't good to begin with," she said, her words flat, as she stumbled toward the balcony, each step feeling more unsteady than the last.

Behind her, Maya's voice broke the silence. "I'm done with the food." She followed Kaia out, her footsteps light but determined, like a quiet echo of Kaia's own fractured thoughts.

"What were you doing at the park?" Maya asked, standing on a chair, her tiny form peeking over the balcony's edge. "Were you drinking?"

"Do I look like I've been drinking, kid?" Kaia replied with a raised eyebrow, leaning against the fence and staring up at the vast expanse of starry sky.

Maya crossed her arms and pouted. "Call me by my name, I'm sure you heard it." She glared at Kaia. "Are you always like this?"

"Well, sorry to disappoint," Kaia muttered nonchalantly, looking unbothered.

"No, I mean, even though you're hopeless, esteemed, and good-for-nothing type—"

"Hey, just what are you implying?" Kaia's voice was playful, but the sharp edge of her words lingered in the air.

Maya just sighed, then looked up at Kaia with wide, serious eyes. "I still want to become like you." She tugged at the hem of Kaia's shirt, her face flushed with admiration. "If you hadn't saved me back then, I would've been eaten by that monster. That's why I want to be like you!"

Kaia's face turned an unexpected shade of red, and she quickly turned her face away. "Believe me, you don't want to become like me."

She fell into silence for a moment, staring at the night sky. Her thoughts, unbidden, turned darker, as they always did. That's right... everything started when I chose to save her. The memory of that decision haunted her more than she cared to admit. It was only by saving her that I learned about my immortality. And that curiosity led me to Ananya's plan and to join Apostle.

Was it just curiosity that led to Sis's death? Or was there something else—something deeper, something she couldn't quite put her finger on? What was I really seeking? The thought felt like a whisper in her mind, a call she couldn't ignore.

Kaia broke the silence with a soft exhale, turning her head slightly toward Maya. "Hey, kid..." She hesitated, gathering her thoughts. "If the choice to save others meant the death of your loved ones and an immediate failure of the plan, would you still make that choice?" Her voice was low, distant.

Maya furrowed her brows, thinking. "Well... I wouldn't. But if the plan is already failing, I might find another way to fix things."

"Oh?" Kaia raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"But the thing that really matters is the present, right? If someone's dying in front of you, you're not just going to leave them to die, right?" Maya's voice grew more certain, her small form now standing tall with conviction. "What really matters is being there for them. You can't save anyone if you're not there."

Kaia blinked, taken aback by the wisdom coming from someone so young. She smirked and clapped her hands slowly. "Well, well, a philosophical kid. Who knew?"

"Hey! Don't joke! I'm serious!" Maya protested, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Okay, okay, you're right," Kaia said, her tone softening. "Presence is important. The choices I made... they were terrible. I chose to ignore people for things that didn't even matter." Her voice dropped, and she glanced at something in the distance, a figure watching her. "But... what's in front of me right now? How could I possibly ignore that?"

The weight of her own words seemed to hit her all at once. With a final glance toward Maya, Kaia straightened up.

"Bye, kid. Thanks for the company. We'll talk again sometime," Kaia called as she rushed toward the door, eager to leave. "Thanks, Auntie, for the food!"

"Come again, dear!" the woman called out after her, her voice warm, but with a hint of amusement.

"Well, well... looks like she noticed me," the blonde man murmured, a sly smile playing on his lips. His white, angelic wings fluttered softly, catching the pale light of the moon as he hovered high in the night sky.

He tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the distant figure below. "I'll have to tell Brother... she's coming. And she's coming for us."

The night air felt charged, the quiet hum of anticipation swirling around him. He let out a soft chuckle, the thrill of the game evident in his eyes.