Episode 5: A Friend From The Past

The lake mirrored the sky above with the kind of blue that's so bright that it felt unfit with the heavy mourning stench. Today was Taft’s funeral and yet Yurika was sitting on the dock of Aynalago lake house. She closed her eyes; the soft breeze rippled the quiet lake surface. Alone without the distraction of the view, she could detect the scent of the moist summer air, fresh and comforting. She took a deep breath in and quietly counted up in her mind,

"1... 2... 3..."

At the count of three, she could feel the heaviness feeling in her heart building up towards her throat and she choked with her quiet sob. Quickly she gazed at the sky as if it would help her to stop the tears that already flowing down on her cheeks.

"You killed him..."

She gritted her teeth, tightened her clutched hand on her chest as she could felt the warm painful pulsating sensation from the burning tattoo.

"You and no one else. The taboo... the cursed one..."

She couldn’t take it anymore, she screamed a silent cry, wailed quietly until her face paled of lack of air, then she curled like a baby on the dock, sobbing.

"Yurika, where are you?" Wenona's voice suddenly entered her mind, "Why are you not in Taft’s funeral?"

Yurika scooted away to the darker and more hidden area of the lake house's dock. She didn’t want to be found. Not even by her best friend.

"Everyone is looking for you, I know you are somewhere here, don’t ignore me, Yuu?!"

The more Wenona tried to call for her the more she pulled herself deeper in the dark corner. Then there was a pause, Wenona stopped sending her telepathy messages and the only thing they both could hear was the rustle of wind and soft chirping summer bird filling the space.

“Is this how are you going to pay respect to Taft? The man saved your life twice for goodness sake!!” Wenona shouted angrily breaking the silence and scared away the birds.

“No, that’s a lie made by Zeke. He didn't save me, I am the one who killed him,” Yurika mumbled softly as if she was answering her. She clamped her shaking lips to subdue the breaking wave of sobs. The guilt was eating her.

“Fine!! Do as you wish!”

Wenona stomped away as Yurika curled in the dark corner, touching her reddened, aching cheek; a stamp, an insignia of Moira’s wrath, and lament.

“You!! All of this because of you!! If only he didn’t find you, save you!! It should be you who died! Not Taft!” Moira's grieving image, her wail, her hate-filled eyes last night still imprinted on her mind; repeatedly played like a never-ending loop The slap that she got from her last night was painful, but she knew it was nothing compared to the pain Moira had, losing Taft.

“I can’t come to your funeral, I am sorry, Taft. Seeing my face will only hurt Moira and I have hurt her more than enough,” Yurika whispered as if talking to Taft spirit, “ let me pay my respect here. Saying goodbye to you at your favorite place.”

Yurika sat there until the sun slowly setting, the darkness pulled in quietly and solemnly, and the last warmth of the sun replaced by the fresh summer night breeze.

“How long are you planning to stay here?” Zeke's voice broke the silence. Yurika had felt his presence since a long time ago but neither of them said anything until now.

“As long as I feel I need to be.”

"...Eireen" Zeke voice barged in her mind.

“Stop!! That name has died long ago!” Yurika stood rashly and her body wobbled, losing the balance. She could feel her body shifted toward the lake in a split second. Zeke swiftly saved her and pulled her into his embrace.

“Finally, you remembered,” he smiled brightly and held her closer. Flushed at their closeness, Yurika pushed him away harshly.

“I don’t-- I don’t know what you mean.”

“Eireen...”

“STOP! Don’t ever call me with that name again! I am Yurika, no more, no less. Just a simple country girl that wanted to be an adventurer.”

“You are not a simple country girl, and you know that,” Zeke looked at her with a firm concerned look. How long do you think you can run away from your past? Not just your past, your future too, your fate.”

Yurika went silent, her arms dropped and she absentmindedly put her hand over her chest, over the transparent tattoo.

“Eireen...,” carefully Zeke put his hand on her arm, “it’s time to go. Don’t you think so?”

Yurika jolted at the heat his hand gave, she just realized how cold she must have been sitting all day outside on the last days of summer. She shook her head and softly pulled away.

“Stop calling me that, Eireen has passed away a long time ago. The girl that standing in front of you is Yurika. I had been reborn as Yurika and I refused to be called anything other than that, got it?” She said rigidly looking directly to Zeke’s eyes.

“... fine, Yurika,” He sighed and gave in, “but you know that won’t change the fact about your fate.”

Yurika sucked in a deep breath at the word of fate, “Fate... HAH!” She chuckled sarcastically at the word. Then she took out something from her pocket and stared at it with deep irony. The red gem glinting mockingly under the moonlight; teasing her.

“The war is over already, Zeke. What kind of fate I have to walk on now?"

“Yurika, the war may have been over. But the world needs their Goddesses back or it will reach its end soon, deep down you know that right? The signs are everywhere ... and the only way to resurrect them is through you and this legendary gem.”

“Do you know how much misery this thing has ever been giving me?!! All I want is peace and a quiet life, but nope! Out of all the people that more eligible she could have picked, she ought to choose me?! Really?! Me? I never wanted this!” Yurika screamed and raised her hand ready to throw the gem toward the lake.

“YURIKA!” Zeke quickly stopped her in time. Yurika looked at him, the desperation and pain filling up her eyes.

“I am sorry, Eireen, let me call you that for one last time. I am sorry, I am sorry that you had to face all those things on your own. I am sorry, I wasn’t there to protect you. I am sorry for being so weak and unable to defend you,” he carefully put his arm around her shoulder, hugging her from behind, his voice full of regret and sorrow, “Eireen...”

Yurika tears fell down like a river once more, this time Taft wasn’t the reason. Her past life flashing by in a rush. Suicide was never her choice, but she thought that was the best for her and for the kingdom; for the world. To be reborn was not on her agenda, she thought she could finally be freed but here she was holding the same item that brought her misery. She knew she was cursed.

“A Fanaura...,” she laughed ironically between her sobs, “Aine, you will never going to let me go, won't you?”

“Yurika...”

“Leave me, for now, Zeke, I need some time alone,” Yurika pulled herself away from him.

Zeke looked at her with concerned eyes.

“I won’t do anything stupid, I promise,” she gave him a tight smile, as reassuring as she could manage, “I had done that before and it is proven to be a failure.”

“I won’t be far,” Zeke said finally as he walked away.

“Thank you, Zeke,” Yurika watched him go as his image slowly disappeared in the darkness of the night.

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