CHAPTER 4: EXPLOSION

We are cleaning the church; all the people are cleaning around the village to be exact. Everyone wasn't showing any tears. However, the pain in their faces is too visible to ignore.

I was about to go upstairs when a hard tool comes flying, hitting me on the back. I can't help but hold onto it and look at the culprit. I was surprised to see Leinan but what shocked me the most is th resentment in his eyes, as he locked his gazed on me. I stop and silently look at him.

"You...you are…. you are a fighter…. you could have…save him" his voice tunes down on his last word. His sister come rushing in her crying brother. When I look around, I saw everyone eyes with the hint of anger as they glance at me.

"You are.... behind me, when...that monster eat my…. father"

I felt my hands tremble as I run towards my room. Just when I was about to enter, I hear a silent sob from the room Infront of mine.

I slowly opened it, I saw Shantal crying as she held an old shirt in her hands. "serg".

I closed the door and go inside my room. My tears burst out of my eyes, wetting my face. Serg, the name of Shantal's childhood friend and her lover. I cover my mouth as sounds started to let out of my mouth.

I was a foolish, she was probably thinking the same as others. Aurea used to support the village defenses way back then. Last night, I was a total useless. They all have hope in me, yet I tarnished the reputation's Aurea made all these years.

"princess"

I know what I have heard is not an hallucination. I took a paper and a pen; I have to write down every memory I have regarding this world. Aurea's memory

I can no longer burden the people who truly cares about her. After writing some information, I have finally realized one important thing. Aurea indeed fought in the front line. But I am certain now, that she is not a mage.

But that crimson fire…

Does that mean it was me, who was granted by magic? Why? No matter how much I scrutinized everything inside my head, I hold no knowledge. What can I do? No math nor literature could answer such thing as magic world. Science won't even believe this existing at all.

I lean my back at the chair and crossed my arm. I have to do something, I was fully aware that crying won't serves the truth. I have to face my current situation. I took this body unexpectedly. All I could do now, is to protect this and make sure to not cause strained to her achievement. If magic is possible in this place, then I could also do it.

A sudden flash of memory gets in my mind, when I closed my eyes.

"Taming the beast"

A story of a commoner who was abandoned by his own blood and flesh. The world was cruel, everyone looks at him like a villain after possessing a magic of beast summoning. He fell in love with a princess and finally gained tranquillity. But the people refused him, they neglect him and call him a monster.

He started a war for his beloved.

If I were to interpret his change of path. I could say that loneliness and pain drove him to madness. It wasn't his fault to begin with, it was the people preference of life that caused him to death. Like the flowers, it took them the right soil to bloom.

Summoning….

I think it would also match me…

If the world serves you no one then make someone. I raised my hands in the air while lying on my bed. A red flame gushing out of my body, a fire stronger than an ordinary, the hot sensation, probably called mana. The source of one's magic.

If I unlocked the gate of my mana source, I could feel it again. The hot sensation that crept in every vein and every cell of my body. I could feel it again. If I mastered it, I could provide security to the people, erasing their feared memories when the night approach us again

Yes, I do believe in myself, I could do it.

No, I can't.

All my resolve crumpled into pieces, vanishing into thin air. As I face a laundry taller than me and bigger, for sure. They want me to wash all of these. They don't even have some washing machine here. I was supposed to use? my hands?.

*Mentally beating the head chef who ordered this.

I sigh as I started to do all these. My mom never makes me do this kind of job. In addition to that, since this place are not as advance as the place where I came from. I don't know which soap or things to use.

I don't want to do this anymore…

After I lost a thousand years of my life, washing it, I finally succeeded. I was in my room now, lying on my bed after finishing my today's duty. I was too tired to spoke a single complaint. Will I last in this place?

NO!! I can't give up...

*Slapping my face, mentally.

I stood up and push my bed to the side, creating a larger space. I sat down at the middle and do a meditation pose. I closed my eyes and composed myself. Concentrate, I feel the cold air fading, covered by warm sensation. I feel my body, from the tip of my nails into the root of my hair.

I balanced my breathing…

Slowly, a burning feeling crept into my core.

My inside is inflamed, burning my organs. A sensation wants to burst, explodes outside this body. My body was strained, my limbs are tearing. I feel it, finally.

As I forced my eyes wide opened, I have witness it, the power I have finally acquired. Three magic circle surrounds me. A crimson fire blazing on the floor. I was mesmerized with its beauty that I forgot to stay in focus.

"BANG"

It created a loud explosion and due to powerful force. I was toss straight to the wall. Argh, I felt my limbs crack. It hurts; I could die now.

I feel someone barged onto my direction. But I was too tired to open my eyes. So, this is what it feels to use magic. This undefined sensation, I want to feel it again. I will surely made it next time.

"AUREA! OPEN YOUR EYES"

Shantal is silently wiping Aurea's body. The explosion happens three days ago, there's still no sign of her regaining consciousness. The girl feels her chest tighten as her eyes was showing a taint of anger and regret.

She is mad not to her, but herself.

She knows the girl for being reckless. But this thing never happens before. She watches her holding her sword, since when they were a little kid. She was gifted by a strong body, a flexible, and fast ability.

She was aware of all the sudden changes after they found her on the wood's unconscious. She can feel remorse seizing her inside. She feels so stupid and useless, by the fact that her loneliness makes her hate this person.

A sincere person, who stood by her side. It was not her responsibility to fight but Shantal mind was fighting after her lover, serg died. But when she saw her lying on the floor coated by her own blood.

All the hesitation is gone, all that was left is nothing but fear of losing a family again. She patiently waited for her to wake up, open her eyes and smiled at her. She started crying while hugging her friend.

Begging her to forgive her disgusting judgment that almost torn their hardbound relationship. Begging her to open her eyes and reassured her wavering affection. But she never opens her eyes.

She smiled out of nowhere, as she remembers her smiles. The feelings of doubt are not strong enough to fill her with negativity. She wipes her tears and carry out the thing she used. As she walks her way in huge hallway of the church, something caught her attention.

Leinan, the boy is alone, sitting under the oak tree Infront of the church, away from his playmates. She still remembers, it was the day of his arrival. A shy little boy melts down in the soft voice and warm hands. Aurea and Leinan used to spend time together, talking under that tree.

She understands everything, from the way the kid act, as to how he feels after what happen. After she put everything in the kitchen, she walks toward the open door. She slowly taken the direction towards the boy.

As she sat down next to him, he immediately looks at her with surprised visible in his innocent face. But the girl never looks back at him. She was aware that looking straight to someone eyes in their lonely days, will only brought tears...

Shantal's mind is telling her, comfort him, reassure him, and tell him. His feelings are valid. Se was unable to speak her mind. She sorts her thoughts for awhile and when she can't endure it anymore, she started talking.

"Leinan, I…...I know your pain, the regrets that's overflowing and hard to contained. Do you want to hear a story?" she asked gently. But the boy remained silent.

"There was a girl in your aged, she has no one. When they left her in the orphanage a warm hand welcomed her. She treats her like a family despite their boundaries. One day, her friends die in the middle of fighting. She has no one to blame, so, she directly attacked the girl. She condemns her, avoid her, and hurt her, multiple times. But she accepted it and they become friends again"

Shantal smiled as a flashing memory occur.

"It happened again, she blames her again and the history repeats. Afraid to destroy their relationship. She goes to her, to make amends. But found her lying on the floor cold and bleeding. Now she feels it, the regrets and hatred."

"Did her friends recover?" the child asks, pure of innocence. She gently strokes his hair, then carry him into her lap. "Not yet, but she believes that she will soon open her eyes. In that moment she swore to apologize."

The eyes of the boy swell in tears, he cried.

Shantal extended her arms to embrace the child and take him away from drowning in the depths of despair.

"Do you regret blaming your sister, Aurea?"

She felt the kids nodded between her arms. She can't help but shed a tear, as both of them feels the same way. After their talk, she stood up and walk back to the clinic. She volunteers to help their village doctor, as he tends to Aurea.

"Shantal, I've heard that you use air magic to save Aurea that day. Everyone was shocked."

She was also surprised, she answered the Doctor "So, I am Sir. Kyro. I didn't know I have something like that in my body" She was fixing the herbal medicine they make, in chronological order, for an easy access.

"Do you tried using it again?" He asked her with intense curiosity. This village is from the Boonies. Most of the people from this place has small chances of getting mana. The three kids who uses elemental magic came from the capital but somewhat led here, after they parents died.

Shantal is the first child of their village to have such power. "I haven't, I think it happen due to critical moments. I didn't feel anything after that" The Doctor wanted to ask more but he saw her blank eyes as she smiles.

"The child is in agony" he said to himself. He refrains opening a topic regarding this, as he can see her pain. He feels concerning towards her action, but he wanted to give her time to comprehend her own circumstances.

"After you finish sorting that, you can go back to the church. I think it would be best to rest, your complexion isn't really good." he saw the girl nodded and put the medicine on the cabinet.

"Then I'll be leaving Sr. Kyro" just when she turns her back the Senior uttered some words again. But she refused to look back and just continue walking.

"She'll be fine"

Yeah, sure she is. Aurea is okay, she believes in her. When she reaches the church the first thing she does, was to visit her. She silently walks towards her bedside. She saw how peaceful her face is. It was bright, feels like normal sleeping.

She smiled and sat beside her. She gently strokes her hand. The darkness' inside the room was able to hide her face, again. Tears come rushing into her face. She felt her emotion swelling up after a long day.

"You would probably be going to hit me if you saw me like this. But…. sobs*…. I-I can't help it. I-I-It was my fault for making you feel alone when they stared at you like that"

She shoves her face into the girl's hand.

"I should have held your hand when they look at you...full of resentment. I should have told you…that…. sobs*.... It's okay, it's not your fault…and….and that you're not alone"

She continues crying to her heart content, letting her feelings burst. She was waiting for her friend's reply, but she was fully aware that it wasn't possible for the moment. Her body started trembling, her chest tightens as she releases this overwhelming emotion.

"When you open your eyes. Let's practice our magic together" she said. Due to her tiredness, the girl fell into deep slumber.

hmm…

I felt heaviness in my right arm, I can't lift it. I slowly open my eyes, there where nothing but darkness. Seriously, what is it now. I raised my left hand and stroke my forehead. But my other arm's really heavy.

When my eyes finally adjusted, I sit on my bed and turn my gazed on the side. I see, Shantal. I tried caressing her face when I noticed it was wet. Did she cry?

*Hm who the hell make this goddess cry *mentally angry

I tried to take a handkerchief on my bed table but there's nothing in there. I look around and that was when I realized I am not in my room. A sudden flash of the memory comes to me.

I slapped my forehead as I remember everything. I tried casting a fire and lost focus. An explosion happened and I collapse. I almost forgot due to that heavy training. Jeez, thanks goodness my body is still intact.

[Like I told you, only your soul was sent to the domain]

"Nocturne?"

[it's okay I can hear your mind]

I see, thank you. I smiled after saying those words. I've been wanting to tell her that but got no chances.

"Aurea"

I look at my side, she was awake now. I saw tears from her eyes. I reach my hands and wipe it out. "Shan, no more crying"