AMARANTHINE

BEYOND THE EVERLASTING

N I E

Chapter 1

Answer

.

“what was missed from you will never mean for you

and what was meant for you will never miss you”

.

The sun shines brightly. The sounds of footsteps descending the stairs, the sound of birds chirping and a slight fragrant of brewed coffee can be felt that morning. Followed by the sound of frying and the bell ringing outside the door, indicating the newspaper-boy had arrived. An old man and a young man’s greetings and morning conversation can be heard too.

All, that morning, a woman sat in front of her laptop. Her hand was busy typing something. Shortly after that, she glanced at the clock and drank a sip of her coffee.

“Well, I have to get ready now.” After that, she tidied up several books and papers on the table.

“Dear, San, it’s already six. Don’t you have a class this morning?” the voice of an old woman called her from behind the door.

San: “Yes Mom. I’m getting ready.”

Her mother seems to go downstairs after reminding San to take a breakfast and called out the other siblings. San embraced her medium black bag and leave her room. San swiftly takes the nearest chair to sit and began chewing an egg sandwich. The old man came to the table and sat in front of her. he opened a sheet of newspaper that had just arrived.

Eyes still glued to the newspaper, the old man asked, “you have morning class?”

After swallowing her second bite, San: “as usual Dad”. Her Dad nodded and began to drink a glass of water.

“It’s better if you keep an umbrella or raincoat because we had entered the rainy season.”

San only gives a nod in return and chopping down the remaining of her sandwich. After a while, San’s eldest sister and younger brother began to appear in the dining room. they began to take their breakfast while being asked the same question by the old man.

San Roel.

She is our Protagonist. A plain-looking girl with long darkish-brown hair all the way touching her shoulder and dark brown eyes. The old man sitting in front of her was her Dad, Jade Roel. Her father was a professor of engineering at the University of Magla. The same campus with San and her older sister, Cia Roel, were studying. San majored in Nutrition and Sciences while her sister majored in dentistry. Her younger brother, Pim Roel, is still a student in high school.

Two older women approached the dining table from the kitchen. The first approached is her mother, Nepha Roel. And the latter is her grandmother, Sanne Roel. San’s name was taken from her grandmother. This began when her mother gave birth to herself and had to take intensive care as her critical condition risen while her father was still out of town, so the first golden day’s (one-thousand-days) San was taken cared of by her grandmother.

San took two sandwiches and wrapped them with a paper, then put it in a brown-lunch box. San quickly stood up after putting the box into her bag. She waves her hand while claiming her departure.

San walking along the street. Not seen many people. Since Magla City, the city was she live, has a relatively small population compared to other cities. But that’s what makes it nice, San prefer an environment like this than crowded. With a small population, it doesn’t stop the development of the city. There are some travelers or tourists who make a good income in the city. Magla city has several tourist destinations, they are located near Mt Magla. After the Mt Magla passes through the underground passageway while riding the train, there will be a vast-wide blue ocean, Magla Shore. Thus, make this quiet city has a nice travel tour.

Magla City. Located far in the southern part of the earth. Around 500 residents and an estimated 100 to 200 travelers a day. A city that has both mountains and beaches. It has enough buildings to maintain the city, one university, one city library, government area, residential area, two fields, two hospitals, around seven schools, travel destinations, and any other area such as industries, farm, ranch, etc. even with only one campus, it is enough to accommodate students, most teenagers nowadays prefer bustled and exciting city than a city almost regarded as the city of elderly.

She stopped right in front of the campus gates. There is a large round-globe statue with two rings rotating it and the name ‘Magla University’ stitches to the bottom, the statue stood in the middle of the pond.

Yes, this world, the earth. Only have one country, The Regnum, that become the federation of all the city. There are four big cities, Magla is the one, the other is Uddsey in the north, Jaego in the southeast, and Mime in the west. Uddsey is the biggest city among those four, the city popular as the midnight and bustled city with their crowded population. Jaego takes the second places of population range after Uddsey, it has a wide green plain and mounts so there is so many farm and ranch around. Mime has a dense forest and mountain, it becomes the places to mining and military purpose.

Although there is only one country to govern, there is still bandit, thief or rogue, rebellion forces that have no purpose, they tend to raid some region for fun, even mass-murdering that becomes a tragedy around twenty years ago. Of course, the country didn’t stay still, they search thoroughly the force’s camp to be annihilated. Among the map, there are countless deep forest and caves in the upper east and both around Mime City that predicted as the basecamp of rebellion forces by the country. That’s why the military set up most at the Mime City, Jaego City also close with the upper east, but until now there are no cases about the raid or any mass disruption in the city. Magla, of course, the safest, quiet and peaceful city. Very humble, recommended for meditation-seeker. Uddsey city, cannot say is the safest places too, it’s very crowded (yeah, we already wrote this term for the third times, so it’s really-seriously crowded), there is so many skyscrapers, the shops, and any services places always open fully 24 hours, a very busy schedule for public transportation, all the media, and entertainment places also located in this city, making more lively.

Why it’s not safe? Well, who would not guess there are mafias building among the skyscrapers? They are very known for their cruelty way and cunning. But they never make any commotion that harmed the country. there are untold works and jobs that even the country doesn’t know as they don’t like being sniffed or followed around by media or pers. It’s like a classic villain’s quotes in a film ‘you have seen too much’ and then the villain mass murdering the entire people. Of course, it’s all based on rumor. San arrived at the destination. She greeted some employees with smiles and nods her head. It has become the rules and culture in the faculty. eight states that essential to become a professional health worker; smiles, greet, heed, considerate and polite, no smoking, no drugs, and a balanced lifestyle.

San paused and shift her gaze. There is a bulletin board full of the poster and other public papers. Most of them were concerts and entertainment shows in the Uddsey City, well no wonder. But a glimpse word caught by her.

Oh, this is it.

She took off her mobile phone, her index finger dancing on the screen and she adapted the angle. CRIK. San captures the poster that caught her attention. A science competition. Wow, finally. It’s hard to find such science events nowadays. She checked her captured photo, feeling it’s quite readable she takes off again toward the class. Along the way, San taking a slow step and minding her plans for today.

Muttered to herself, San: “Alright, after class is over, I will send this report to the laboratories. And then quickly head home.”

Ordinary activities, ordinary-living, ordinary-looking. San was a superb common. She had a few friends with a safe distance. have a very intrapersonal, very individualism and do not want to overstep any boundaries et vice versa. She only talked when inquired, answered when questioned, and argued when needed. Hang out, spending time at café or popular places, and chatting over today’s trend is not her liking at all. She prefers spending her most of the time at home (her rooms for exact), doing homework and other activities related to academics, or designing any idea in front of her laptop. Her most frequent activities are reading or drawing. There is also a science competition that quite interests her, but it’s quite difficult to find one nowadays.

San sitting in the center spot, paying such attention to the class. She takes a chance to write or notes some important lessons today. The clock is ticking and the lecturer’s lesson had come to an end. After closing, most of the students stood up from their chair and start their chit-chat or approaching another student.

San was sitting alone while putting her books into the bag. getting ready to stand up, a student approached her.

She asked, “what are you doing after this?”

San glanced her from below and start standing up. San: “heading to the lab. How about you Zephy?”

Zephy: “great, accompany me to grab some brunch, please? I will accompany you to the lab of course.”

the brown-haired lady stared at the clock and nodded. It’s still 10.30. “Sure, but we might have to wait another thirty minutes since the lab still in-use. Let’s grab brunch first then”

Zephy brought her bag and they start to exit the class together. They headed toward canteen, Zephy marked the table and start to buy some snack as her brunch. San takes the seat facing the window outside. She took out her lunch box. While waiting for Zephy, she scrolled down her phone to kill times.

San takes full attention toward her screen as she glanced outside.

Outside, two-three groups of people were passing by. it’s quite reasonable because time has shown to rush-lunch hours. Just a moment ago the canteen seems dead, it started to get crowded with students. Some of them were eating, some were waiting for their friends, some take this opportunity to advertise.

San enjoyed her time. She retweeted some post or double click to like them. Two junior students approached her, offering some souvenirs and food that could be bought.

“it’s only five coins each, senior.” They started showing their stuff. San decline since she already brought enough food. “but if you buy two, we will make it only seven coins. How about it?” San smiles faintly and declines again. “how about some souvenirs?” the latter showing some keychains and paper envelopes with unique patterns. “it’s only ten coins for each souvenir. If you buy two, we will make it fifteen coins only, Senior won’t meet anything like this in the regular shop though hehe”

They tried hard, she thought.

San finally agrees. She takes her purse and gives the exact amount of money to the juniors. San picks one crescent-shaped keychain and white daisy flower paper one. after thanking the senior, the junior quickly retreated and offering another student.

She stared at the souvenirs she just bought. The crescent-shaped has a mixture between navy blue silver color from graphite and Dresden blue that matched each other. While the envelope she bought has white petals and yellow spots in the center, forming an elegant daisy flower that attached to the envelope.

Feeling satisfied, she played the keychains. Until around the corner of her eyes, she caught a black figure among the passerby. that figure, standing, with somewhat eerie aura around. San’s vision was blurry therefore she could not take a detailed appearance.

Those feeling comes back.

Suddenly San feels her thumping chest. Shivering ran along her skin. Belief it or not, San could feel the atmosphere around the canteen suddenly become dimmed and eerie too. She gripped her keychain tightly. The surrounding environment becomes cold, San can feel her mouth and teeth quivering. She felt anxious for unknown reasons.

She hesitantly turned her head to the side, looking for help to the people around her, at least she thought to talk to the person next to her might lift the eerie feeling.

Right now, there were lots of people around, but a word won’t come out. like someone or something pressing her vocal cords. She could see people talking to each other but their voices sounded like drowning. San felt the anxiety more than before. She shifted her gaze back to the outside; she knows that figure slowly approached her. Walk? No way, that figure wearing a somewhat long-black robe until the feet were hidden, that figure like flying low, slow but certainly coming toward her.

in her heart, she panics. She didn’t know what is that, what happen nor what's going to happen. it’s like her destiny has hooked. More like, she doesn’t know either she still conscious or not. She could not move, talking nor hearing clearly.

She flinched when suddenly a hand pokes her shoulder.

“What happened outside? You look stiffened while staring outside.” Zephy looked around outside the window. The brown-haired lady snapped from that feeling and glanced at the yellow-haired girl that sitting beside her.

Zephy gaze back to her, Zephy: “hey, what a cute envelope and keychain you have there sis. But if you gripped them too hard, they will be crushed” the yellow-haired sitting right next to San, her hands placing the tray filled with a plate of rice, the side dish and a glass of lemon tea. “sorry I took too long; I got this limited side dish okay. Let’s eat, shall we?” she added since she does not find any particular thing outside.

Long, huh?

San hesitantly nodded. “Ye-yeah…” she glanced at the window and found no black with eerie figure outside, only some passerby. The things that happened a short time ago, she wishes that is only her imagination.

After finished their meal, they headed to the lab. Zephy wanted to wait outside since she doesn’t like being around the lab as her reason. That makes San step inside.

She opened the door.

San: “Excuse me, Doc” she approached a man wearing a white suit and a grey turtleneck. “I came to hand out my report about last week's rehearsal.”

The man who busy with his paper smile faintly. “Great, good timing, please lend me a hand will you? I have an urgent document to do while it collided with my assignment in the hospital” the man quickly piling the books beside him and count them one by one. San could not find any reason to decline so she agreed.

San: “Pardon me, I will tell my friend to excuse first.” After given an agreement with Zephy outside, they parted since Zephy headed home first. San put down her bag and walked over the pile of documents. “what can I help, Dr. Dairis?”

the white suit man put more documents, “please assembly the five documents and split these pages, collect these pages and divide between the history one and the result one. Once you are done, just put it in my table over there.” He pointed a long dark brown table behind the counter. “You are a great help San. Now, I have to go.” And then he quickly took his leave.

San started her task. ten document and the pages Dr. Dairis mentioned were over ten randomly each document. She spending almost two hours to finish the task and the clock shows in one afternoon. Finally, she could put the task in Dr. Dairis’s table. She checked her belongings and left.

Dude, today is something. San massages her shoulder lightly. Dr. Dairis always like that. And if she thinks about it, it’s always when she shows up. Zephy has never been to lab except for practice lesson, she always boarded her report to the other students, and no student had talked once about this, the forced-task Dr. Dairies. Her classmates have a complain issue, a little stimulation that disrupts their godly time and there you go, it rapidly becomes a subject of conversation for two weeks, if it was severe, then three months would be. just three days ago she showed up again for rescheduling the practice skill for next week, She had to do his collide-task.

She paused in the center of the road. There weren’t many pedestrians pass by. The intersection still lit a green light. San stepped before the zebra cross, waiting for the next red light. Although the traffic was not very busy, and if she crosses the road while running, she might get to the opposite road right now. But she still remembers how dangerous the calm water is.

Well, not that she complains about. Just coincidence wasn’t enough right?

San sighed after some ridiculous thought crossed her mind. Just then she realized there were around six people around her who also waiting to cross the road. They busy on their own, some playing their mobile phone screen, some looked up at the traffic light, and some stared at their watch. San stared at the traffic light and found about 10 seconds before changing to red light. The closer to changes, most drivers will speed up faster, especially when approaching the red light.

San could hear the sound of a vehicle speeding up from her right-hand road, ready to crosses the intersection at full speed. It was a truck. The speed makes people tend to think it will successfully cross the traffic before the red light appear.

Oh well, she still has time. San still had her head looked up to the traffic light. As usual—

Just then, someone hand pushed her from the back.

Huh?

She was shocked, even though the impulse seems weak, but San’s body bounced forward strongly. the crescent-shaped keychain that had just been bought this afternoon was thrown right in front of her eyes. wide-eyed. She was pushed forward together with the truck that would pass the zebra cross. With only half of the cubic distance until the truck hit her body. San could only surrender as she realized she will hit by a speeding truck. She closed her eyes and could only hear the sirens from the truck and loud shouts from people around her.

So helpless.

The ends of her life, that’s what she thinks.

until the feeling starts happening again.

The eerie, thumping sound from her chest and drowning atmosphere. As if the time has stopped. San opened her eyes abruptly. This is the second time in a day, she could swear how people were, no, all around her immediately stopped. No movement, muted voices. The front of the truck is right next to her and ready to touch her arm, stopped.

What—

It was greatly shocked her for the second time.

The next second, wide-eyed. her eyes pupil still shrank and found herself sitting across the street. Look bewildered. She could see the people on the other side, the six people who a moment ago were around her and looked shocked or panicked, they still busy with their own. Not long after, a vehicle come across the road. Caught by her eyes, she followed the truck, that a moment ago should almost hit her. Her gaze followed the truck until it passes the traffic.

Huh? Does it successfully pass? And since when she already crosses the traffic?

It’s like nothing happened but only one person thinks contrary.

She looks to herself, who still in a sitting position, wearing her usual grey blouse and black skirt. Her bag still attached to the back. But something seems fishy though.

Wait, right, the keychain!

She checked her pocket, both in her skirt and bag, but she found nothing crescent-shaped one. she turned right and left around. As she was bewildered with her confusion. The traffic light started showing the green one. The people across the street take their pace to crosses. Some of them just passing by while looking at her with a strange look. An elderly approached San and asking her, “Lass, what are you doing?”

San snapped out of it and start looking at the older women in front of her. Still looked bewildered, “hu..huh? o-oh..” San stood up, she feels trembling all over her body. “Sorry, I just ... slipped,” she added. After thanking her, the elderly gave a nod and goes off. San looked at the zebra cross with a strange look. A stupid one might become Zephy’s comment if she was there and saw her look.

San quickly notices a small spark from the road. she takes a closer look and scrutinized her eyes.

Wait... no way...

A crescent-shaped keychain lying on the greyish asphalt of zebra cross.

Did that happen? Could it be happening? Is she still dreaming? How can this be?

In instant, she filled with a lot of things in mind. She started to look sweating. San could not believe it, what happening right now was really out of her mind, nor makes sense. She really wanted someone poke her shoulder and say ‘Hey, you are today’s joke, congrats’ or ‘look there is hidden camera, you are now on TV, wow’ and something like that, it’s better if someone makes a prank on her, anything that could lift this uneasy feeling and non-sense incident. She prayed for that silently.

Fortunately, half were answered.

A hand patted her shoulder from behind. enthusiastically, she looked back. It’s okay if this is for entertainment, San felt tired already with any unpleasant feeling and nonsense event today. Just finish this quickly, or so she retorted silently.

“San, what are you doing?”

White suit, grey blouse. None other than him.

Dr. Dairis.

San wanted to cry so badly but she could only show a mixture expression. she wondered why most of the prayers were answered in half. Because this is not making any good feeling either. And she was jabbing this person up to a moment before. She felt guilty, dismay and sad all of sudden.

Long-life him...

San: “uh... I just... passing by, Dr. Dairis.” She shifted her gaze to avoid the unpleasant in her eyes.

Dr. Dairis grasped something into the pocket behind his white suit and pulled out something. The mixture of navy blue, greyish and Dresden blue catch the brown-haired lady's attention fully.

Dr. Dairis: “I suppose, this is yours, right?”

San becomes stupefied. Thank god, her prayers were answered best. The moment Dr. Dairis handed the keychain to her, she felt like all the burden and uneasy feeling has gone.

She knows it, just a dream, thankfully this is also not a prank.

San: “Th-Thank you, Dr. Dairis. But where were you found this?”

Dr. Dairis: “not long after I came back from the hospital, I found this among the chair in the laboratories. I thought you left this, and when I’m going to head back I met you here.” San smiled so happy and thanking him for the second time. “No problem, I was on my way too. That crescent-shaped is unique. You have a fine taste if I may say.” He added. San’s regretting, she complained about him a moment ago, now she fully respected and adored her professor as her savior today.

Dr. Dairis: “well then, I have to go. Thank you for helping me this afternoon, see you at practice.” Then he takes his leave and crosses the zebra cross. San gazed him until he blended among the people across the road. She shifted her gaze to the road, the keychain still lying there. She just wanted to make sure that anything that happens today was truly didn’t happen.

Just her imagination or she just tired. That statement has to recite in her mind for the umpteenth times already.

She put her palm on her forehead, making sure she is still normal. She pinched her cheeks, making sure she is not dreaming. After that, she put the keychain in her pocket and started walking again.

Arrived at home, she closed the gate and approached the door.

“I’m home.” She opened the door and found her grandma was knitting on the sofa, the TV turned on and perform entertainment. Laugh and music could be heard from the front door where San standing at.

“Oh, San, dearie. Welcome home. How was your class?” her grandma put down the fabric.

She shrugged, San: “it was fine, grandma. I will be heading upstairs.” she drank a glass of water from the dispenser to avoid bad-things that almost crosses her mind. Then she takes the stairs toward her room.

San put her bag on the table. She grabbed the envelope she just bought and the keychain. She put the envelope into a blue map that filled with the unique paper, she likes to collect some paper, most of them were origamis, papercuts with unique patterns, and envelopes. San takes the keychain and put it in the shelf beside her table. She left the keychain hanging with the other keychains that attached to at white hanger inside the shelf.

Feeling satisfied around her collection she decided to take a nap. She makes a quick movement from putting off her shoes and shifted from wearing the blouse to a white t-shirt. Then she lay on her bed, closing her eyes and driven to her slumber.

San put her bag on the table. She grabbed the envelope she just bought and the keychain. She put the envelope into a blue map that filled with other unique papers, she likes to collect some paper, most of them were origamis, papercuts with unique patterns, and envelopes. San takes the keychain and puts it on the shelf beside her table. She left the keychain hanging with the other keychains that attached to at white hanger inside the shelf.

Feeling satisfied around her collection she decided to take a nap. She makes a quick movement from putting off her shoes and shifted from wearing the blouse to a white t-shirt. Then she lay on her bed, closing her eyes and driven to her slumber.

A faint sound.

“… up... Awake already”

San instantly opened her eyes. stared at the blue wide sky then she blinked a few times before getting up. She was gazing at her surroundings. She found herself were awake in an unknown place. Far she sees, only nothing to see, just a glass-like terrain and wide blue sky. She looked down and saw her reflection on the glass-like terrain the wide blue sky makes a nice wide grey reflection with them. then, there are faint waves onto the glass-like-terrain and she can feel the breeze that winding slowly.

San: “a dream... but feel so real... huh...”

“almost, but not close enough.”

San tensed up, she could feel an eerie feeling again with thumping sound but this time, either the place already drowned enough, instead she feels so calm. The voice belongs to a figure right behind her. She could not acknowledge the figure from the sound only. is it a woman or a man? The sound, older or younger? But more importantly, is the figure behind is a human?

San could not take any move nor the urge to looked behind. She felt scared, but no sweating. Only the eerie, thumping and cold sensation around her.

“Stay still. We are afraid you will pass out again if you try the urge. It’s better this way.” The voice, even with the eerie-package, you could say this figure trying to make a nice conversation with San. Or that’s what San thinks, and then the brown-haired lady obeyed.

It’s quiet for a while.

“There is something we need to tell you, child. But this place wasn’t safe. Let’s conduct a pledge.”

San doesn’t know how to start. Either she confused or blank inside. She just cannot think anything clearly from this afternoon up to this moment. Just what happens exactly? Wait, could this figure introduce him or her or who is this figure all about? And where is she now? If this is a dream, she should just awake since the thumping was loud enough to startle her, but she can’t.

And she chose the latter. the safest question as she was too scared to face another slapping-statement. San swearing, if this is continued, her mental consciousness might damage severely.

San: “Um... excuse me. But before that, where am I now?” she could feel her throat become hoarse all of sudden. Not only her throat, but she could also feel her acral becomes numb and cold.

“a realm. Somewhere between your world, and Aelux.”

...

‘I must be dead already’, That’s what she thought.

She realized she still not ready to inquire the question, in fact, she just wanted to go back to her usual lives so badly.

Aelux is the realm of all immortal beings, that we believe, called Guador who served The Almighty, the only and one god who created the world and all of the life-beings. Guador is the guardian, keeper, and overseer of earth dwellers and its essences. Many fantasies or fiction stories also called them as an angel or seraphim.

“Not dead yet.” The figure behind denied her thought. “We infused the inter-realm through your mind, which mankind, called a dream. This is a realm outside your dimensions and times. Staying here longer is not good, so let’s pledge and you will promptly awake.”

Great, this figure, had figured her inner-thought. She believes this figure would not do any harm. From the first time they began the conversation, this figure warned and answered her, even if she doesn’t know if it the truth or not, but she chose to believe this figure. Since she lacks any sense right now, best follow than shallow, she thought.

San wanted to take a peek behind, but her inner-feeling just say a big NO to her.

San: “... well, I’m awake already. What’s so bad about this place?”

“awake at your realm, child. There are no such bad things. like we say, this realm out of your power and any rational sense. If you stay longer, you might never come back to your realm and ...”

“dead?” She retorted fast. What is the meaning of ‘not good’ if it wasn’t ‘bad’?

“lost. Why human always thought like that?” the voice asked her, this figure’s tone like curiousness.

now, what is the difference between death and lost?

“well... I'm almost hit by a truck, I wished it’s just my imagination. And I... I—”

she what? she decided to NOT thinking that again. that's not a mere wish, it's a real thing. but, what if right now, this situation, will explain it all?

she had died.

She didn’t prepare for this. She is not ready if this is true. then again, She not bid farewell to her family yet. The early days she born, her grandma is the first person she was greeted, should today ended after greeted her grandma just a moment ago too?

What are her last words to her grandma this afternoon?

‘I will be heading upstairs’

San almost choked and puked a weird sentence silently, as she hates using dirty words.

why? Of all heading upstairs, she clearly remembers there are seven step-stairs at her home, that doesn’t make she should be heading to seven-cloud already. No fair. She is too innocent. She needs more justified about her death and makes it more rational. Pushed by an unknown person and hit by a truck, as if she was living in fiction stories, is this what reincarnated protagonist all about? Or she is being reincarnated? Both of them pointed the same fact, a second life.

No Sugar Honey Iced Tea.

She is reading too much fiction stories, and now San’s thinking how to survived if she gets a second life, if she was a villain or just cannon fodder.

San notice, this figure, has figured what she is thinking right now. So, she regained back her deadpan and tight-lipped. Silence filled the entire realm. The wind was also stopped. It was like the figure being somewhat baffled as listening to her turmoil.

‘I’m so shameless’ or so she thought.

The figure starts explaining slowly. “first, any life-being would sooner or later meet their end. Thought about when or did death happen should’ve been altered, it will come and they will be realized it. Don’t worry.”

“Also, once a soul we ripped, there is no way it will go back. Second life, reincarnated? That is just another term of ego and revenge. Even a lost-souls who split from their embodiment before the end of their time was scattered and become a strain of obsessiveness, loss their purposed and haunted for eternity, nothing good comes out of it. Since when Earth-dweller dreaming an eternal life if they still bounded with the ‘Earth’ as their middle names. The sun rises from the east only to set in the west. Life-being born and life only to pass away. Everything that has the beginning, will meet their end. And that is how the wheel of life rolling.”

“…”

What a nice lecture. This figure even added ‘don’t worry’ to her, San acknowledge something. This figure, despite being an unknown and carrying eerie feeling, didn’t have any good or bad intentions toward her. This figure stated the truthfulness, very-obvious, matter of facts, and neutral one. San has been slapped over than tenth time already. She noticed how baffled this figure must be when she thought about her plan to survive... in a second life as she innocently thought about this.

“We are baffled.”

Hearing this, San almost choked and can’t say she was crying, smiling or both. “second, that matter... We will explain that matter. We can’t say much right now, be patient. Both of these, about the end of life and that matter, you will meet your answer soon.”

San sweat-dropped. ‘thank you for answering. Really, but this figure should not mention about death.’ Just what is this figure? This figure, different than normal being that will be hospitality nor courtesy, this figure simply stated un-answered statement. But, again, San, despite being inner-slapped, feeling quite calm and relaxed when this figure said meet-your-answer-soon part.

It's like a promised. Those statements weren’t sugar-coated. It’s like truth, it stings but also a matter of fact. San preferred this kind of treatment more than anything else if she already pushed at her limit.

“let’s get head-on, to the pledge.”

San snapped. San: “what’s pledge? Should I make a vow?”

“You really should change how your minds work. We mean date, time and place so we can meet again.”

San quickly resigned her perception. A promise is non-abstract, which means, concrete dimensional pledges, while vow is an abstract-complex pledge with penalty issues. Note that.

San: “Ri-right... date and time huh... how about —”

“this evening. At your campus.”

Jaw-dropped. This figure said a pledge, it should have been decided together not one-sided. This is called an instruction then. It has nothing to do with pledges, promised nor vow.

“pledge it’s formally declared something that will be the case or matter. it was an honor to achieve such a one. you might never meet this again, child.”

Now San wanted to facepalm.

San retorted, “but, wait, why must today? I hardly find my way to break out from the house, it’s hard to get out once you already step inside.”

“…”

Should she have not retorted back in the first place, or she stepped on a landmine just now?

“We run out of time. More than this, it will affect your body. Remember the pledges. We don’t force you and vice versa, should you notice the marker, you will be acted along with the pledge.”

The breeze blew hard as soon as the figure finished the sentences. It was like San’s face was slapped.

And she opened her eyes widely.

it slapped her, She thinks. She touches her cheeks and can feel the same coldness with the dream that just happens. She blinked a few times and tried to get up. She found herself lying in her bed. The times is ticking and pointed right at two o’clock, afternoon.

She feels like didn’t sleep or fresh after taking a short nap. She was about to stand up but her feet gave up. She fell to the floor, her hands gripped the bed, so the impact after falling was light. Oh wow, that figure stated the truth, it affects my body.

She makes a careful move to sit and waited until her feet could be felt and used again. She is staring outside the window. She could see the sky looked dark; she thinks it will be rain again. She put her mobile phone and start browsing.

The beginning.

She still remembered a lesson when she is still at elementary school. For three years of the first grade, all the students in Magla elementary school learned about morals and attitudes. One of the lessons is about the insight of the beginning. It tells us Who created us, how we born, what is the reason we here. most of them with accepted theories. We, the figure called us Earth-dwellers, believe there is The Almighty. The Only One who created and ruled the whole-universe. The Almighty created three beings; the first one is Guador that formed from the light. Guador, remarkably as Angel or Seraphim in most fiction stories, is an existence that preserved the Earth and its essence. The second one is Daelos that formed from the darkness. Daelos, remarkably as Demon, Devil, Satan, or Djinn in most fiction stories, is an existence that was banished from Aelux and swore to ruin the third-being, the Earth-dwellers especially humans. Why banished, some theories stated that Daelos disregards The Almighty’s order thus they are banished and make a swore, an oath, that they will be ruin and incite the human-being for lifetimes. Some theories stated that Daelos treat the human-being crudely, one of the most famous stories is about how Daelos lured the first human being to break the taboo from The Almighty. The third-being is obvious, the Earth-dwellers that formed from the soil. Many theories stated that third-being is the most sublimed creature. The Almighty gave something that contrary to another being. they managed to think, assuming, feeling, determining, foreseeing and grasped something high, they inhabited the Earth and have the ability to survive, they are ceasing or having life-span, unlike Guador and Daelos. If Guador always obeyed The Almighty and Daelos have a swore to do, the Earth-dwellers have thousands of choices and paths. They declined, agreed or bargained were something which neither can do.

Aelux, San remembered. Which is the realm of The Almighty and Guador resides, formerly with Daelos that have been banished. The Guador were divided as ten Guador:

1. Gevee. Known as the Sender of Divine Revelation. The Guador who responsible for conveyed divine judgment.

2. Maevus. Known as the Overseer of Mundane Necessities. The Guador who responsible to keep track of all the earth-necessity from the smallest things, like rains, up to things which cannot be seen with the five senses, like inner-feeling.

3. Arie. Known as the End and Rebirth Whistler. The Guador who responsible for bearing the Trumpet and its divine obligation. Theories stated and belief, the trumpet will be used as the sign of the world’s End. The first honk was destruction and the second was rebirth again.

4. Zeeloreis. Known as Angel of Death. The Guador is responsible for gathering the souls of all living beings. Zeeloreis were feared and the most occupied Guador. Zeeloreis has a tremendous amount of aide than any other Guador. Being feared the most, many fiction stories developed a skull and reaper image about Zeeloreis, increasing the fear-euphoria. Even San elementary school’s book painted Zeeloreis as the hooded-grim-skull bringing the big-black-scythe.

5. Gemenna. Known as Keeper of Hellfire. The Guador who responsible to keep the Hell’s Gate of divine torments. Gemenna didn’t become most feared, instead become the most unwelcoming sight.

6. Rimmes. Known as Keeper of Pearly Gates. The Guador who responsible to keep the Heaven’s Gate of divine amenities. Rimmes was exactly the opposite of Gemenna.

7. Lorein. Known as one of the Honorable Querier. The Guador who responsible to attempt ordeal and divine inquiry of all the living soul. Lorein works together with Lenore.

8. Lenore. Also known as one of the Honorable Querier. The Guador who responsible for attempt ordeal and divine inquiry all the living souls. Lenore works together with Lorein. They make a final screening before the souls brought to the Judgement day

9. Reimer. Known as one of the Honorable Scribes. The Guador who responsible for recorded the benevolence of all living beings.

10. Liruii. Also known as one of the Honorable Scribes. The Guador who responsible for recorded the malevolence of all living beings. Together with Reimer, the scribes of each being will make real evidence for Judgement Day.

As for Daelos. There were not many theories described them. Until now, there is only folk’s tale, myths or delusion. Although around fifty years ago, many people admitted themselves as shamans around the world. They could perform many miracles, which people often called them magic. They said they are using a power called ‘Mana’, a magical force.

Since then, the theories developed a new insight. It’s about the blessings from The Almighty. the first one called ‘Mana’ and the second one called ‘Faltea’. Both had different sources and utilization.

Unfortunately, theories are a validity without practice.

San closed her mobile screen. she sighed. Browsing about this won’t be any help. If she wanted the answer, she will be acted along with the pledges. But if she doesn’t want to and chooses to remain ignorant. She would not act along with the pledge right? Besides, right now the rain is raining.

Huh, wait, it’s raining...?

San stared outside the window. Heavy rain. Is this what the figure said ‘notice the marker’? Well yeah, who would want to go outside if it heavily rains outside? San chuckled, she knew it, everything just her delusional. She must be tired from yesterday taking all night-shift to work out her assignment.

Her feet returned to normal. She stood up and goes downstairs. Suddenly feeling nostalgic and wanted to spend her time with her grandma in the living room. not because of that dream, though. Or that’s what she declined the reason.

Around two hours she accompanied her grandma, helping her knitting the fabric. Which San doesn’t know what’s for? But she enjoyed them. And then, her sister has returned home. Followed by her mother and her brother. San must admit, she found it quite rare to gathered with her family. She spent most of her time in her room. maybe that quotes were right, losing something valuable does change people.

Not like she has been dead and got a chance to fix it. No no no, she almost loses her keychain. San recited that ‘this is normal’ or ‘people could change, so I could change too’ repeatedly.

The topic changes from how were their school goes to what’s for dinner, where they will spend the weekend next time and something like that. San feeling dramatic suddenly, to spending time with her family, was a joyful first-time-ever moment.

Huh?

San: “Where is dad?”

Her mother put a plate filled with cookies in the table, “oh, you are right, he must be stuck on campus.” Her mother gazed outside the windows, still raining. “did he forgot to bring an umbrella with him?”

Now you mention it. San glanced at the clock, 6 pm, It’s already evening.

“mom, do you forget already? Father didn’t bring his umbrella because it was broken. I believe you broke his umbrella to catch a mouse.” Her sister mocked her brother and they start a quarrel.

facepalming. Her father, the one who always warned us to be careful, yet he... (added sigh here). If she knew this, she should have not brought her umbrella. Since she goes home faster.

Yeah, if she knew this... she just realized how dense she must be. she should have paid more attention to her family, who always there for her. Feeling guilty, she rose.

Mother: “San, where were you going?”

San put on the yellow boots and yellow raincoat. “campus”

Her mother almost choked her cookies. Mother: “what? No, stay here. What for? It’s already dark outside, and it rains heavily. You will get sick.”

San: “I will pick up father. And as long as I stayed fit, I won’t get sick easily.” She brings a blue umbrella; it was her sister’s. “I will borrow your umbrella sis” her sister echoed since she still quarrels with her brother. “I have to go. Better faster before dark happen.” Thus, San makes her way to the outside.

Her raincoat already drenched among heavy rain. She walked fast, not running. Because she didn’t dare to. Her vision was more like a vision of a thousand vertical-strain in retro tv with cloudy filter. She needs brightness-adjustment or bokeh-effect right now. she successfully arrived on her campus. The big-brown globe’s statue still rolling. There were not many pedestrians, but you could see how fast transportation passes.

San takes a shortcut. She jumps through the thicker bushes. Only to damped into a pond. It was not very deep, only reached around her thigh.

Nice. It’s damp-cold

And that cold struck her internally. Did she just come to her campus? This time? What?

She quickly going up, fortunately, there is no one saw what happened just now or she would be losing some face. She double-checked. Truly dead. A moment ago, there were some vehicles, which is like today was a national holiday (well, who wanted to go to campus on holiday). She takes a quick-paced, a quick turned, and twice times jump through some bushes along the way. This is greenery universities anyway.

Finally, she arrived at her destination. There is a little life, feeling grateful. She approached. There are three people, who looked like a student, waiting for the rain to stop. She decided to wait for her father.

She was on campus... what has been hit her? She is the those-people-who-breached-and-make-their way-through the heavy rain.

She just thought about the pledges ‘no matter, you will be acted accordingly’ and ‘we didn’t force you and you didn’t force yourself’ part. She must admit something; she should have been clearer headed.

Right, now what? this is already near the late evening. She should finish what she purposed here. She entered her father’s faculty, Engineering. She remembered her father’s office located on the fourth floor. So, she tapped the lift button, entered the lift and goes up.

Arrived on the fourth floor, San turned left and make her way to the corner part. She reached the door and greeted. Surely, she could hear her father’s voices. Indicating her to enter.

“Dad.”

Dad: “did you come all by yourself? Or mom ordered you?”

San shakes her head. “I come... by myself.” Yes, she admitted that pledges. She coming to the pledges accordingly. No one forced her, and she didn’t force herself either. Her father seems faintly gaped.

Dad: “did something hit you on your way?”

Yes, Dad. Today she swears she almost dead, hit by a truck on her way home. And then met a figure that she could not explain further who that is, and then make a pledge. Thus, you found me here was what the pledges said accordingly, somehow, she still didn’t see that figure again, but still prayed for that didn’t happen. San wanted to tell him everything so badly. Even the way she wanted to answered him was like a long title of the most fiction novel and comic about the reincarnated protagonist. But she didn’t want to make her dad worries.

It hit her greatly...

San concluded. She sighed and said, San: “sort of. I fell into a pond just now.” well she did not lie. You could see a darker zone in her skirts. Her dad only gives a chuckled. He offered a towel and tell her to sit.

Dad: “it won’t take too long” than the old man quickly mesmerized with his pile of works.

San sitting for a while. Then she stood up. It was not comfortable enough to sit while your lower part was drenched wet. San asked her father if she can roam freely and her father gives a nod. given an agreement, she exits the office.

She takes some pace and stopped in a window. Certainly, it was almost dark. The evening will pass. Then again, what about the pledges. Is she remembered them wrong? Or the other parties didn’t do the pledges accordingly?

Well, she prays that didn’t real. It wasn’t real. Yes. Was not—

San was aware of the silenced around her.

It’s silence.

Too silence if you asked. The downpour rain didn’t stop but their sound muted. The sky looked cloudy, added with the evening, it makes the atmosphere somewhat darker-red. She blinked a few times. Those feeling, eerie, thumping sound and a drowned sound always accompanied her.

It will begin... the pledges... it happens.

San checked her surroundings once again. What did she expect? Come on, move your feet!

She could feel how trembling her body. She wanted to go back to her father, hugging him, since she is too scared right now. the corridor, she glanced, seems the lights have been turned off without her noticing. It feels like any clip from horror movies. Surely something or someone will pop out from behind her. She quickly turns around only to find a wide white wall. That’s right after the heroine turn around and found nothing, something or someone will pop out behind her again, and—

San stopped how she could remember those common clips from horror movies.

God, I wanted to go home (T.T)

“evening”

She jumped and stumbled backward. Shocked greatly when something halted her sudden move. She didn’t know what holding her, but she was very sure, that was not a hand. It was cold, way too cold.

“Woah, no need to be excited. As we said, the pledges are declaring something that will be the case, right?” San balanced herself to standing normally.

“uh. “she didn’t know what to do or talked about, she wanted to retort the ‘to be excited’ part since she was feeling quite the opposite. But didn’t dare to. That figure right behind her.

“We think you have so many questions. Let’s hear them out.”

Silence filled the corridor.

“what’s wrong?”

Words won’t come out. It stuck in her freezing throat.

“Ah. We asking too much aren’t we. We can’t do much about that. It was natural for all living-being feeling scared or fear toward us. Including you, you are a living being. Let’s take a step by step explanations.”

That figure begins the sermon’s part.

First, we already know about you, then let us introduced ourselves properly,

We are one of the Guador. I supposed you already knew this, no? you, Earth-dweller, often called us The Angel of Death.

“….”

San could only stare down with bewildered expression. that figure, just now, introducing ‘their’ self as to what? Did she hear clearly? Because she has hearing issues since this afternoon. No wait... she has mental issues.

You hear them clearly. Yes, we are Zeeloreis.

Ah, those spikey-coated statements. How nostalgic. San wished she should have stayed with her father instead. Maybe she would not do accordingly with the pledges and this would never happen.

It will happen. No matter what, a destiny, that meant for you would never miss you.

Ah, those truthfulness statements. San closed her eyes slowly. She takes a deep breath. Just a word, a sentence, please. She begged herself repeatedly. She wanted to talk so badly. No wait... she wanted to screams.

“wh... why choose...?” the last sentences won’t come out, but it formed only with her mouth. Zeeloreis catches the phrase. As expected,

There are so many ‘why’. We understand,

First, if you wondering about the places, I expected you already know about Faltea, no? that will skip the explanation. This place has a high level of Faltea. Well, this entire aisle, that somehow your kind called ‘Magla Isle’, has a whole high Faltea. And your universities were a learning place filled with useful activities, thus the level is higher.

Second, if you wondering about why we chose you...

The figure becomes silent. San couldn’t help but curious about the answer.

Not really special, we just choose randomly.

“…”

San was jaw-dropped. How could they, she means that Zeeloreis, choose something crucial randomly. She was almost ground and being crazy because of what happened today. Does this figure know how she felt right now? she almost died. She wrongly pushed. And... and...

You are not dead... yet. what was missed from you will never mean for you and what was meant for you will never miss you.

Ah, those obvious-statement. Never sweet nor betrayal could be felt.

“Fa...Faltea... Co-Could you explain this f-further...?”

heaven, how did her voice become stammered. She was too long instated of fear. Oh, and added with coldness. Wait, Zeeloreis could answer what was on her mind, she should just ask what’s on her mind than embarrassed herself with a stuttered voice.

Faltea. The supreme power of faith, a blessing from the Almighty to us. born of trust and faith of each living-being as a level of power. Faltea also which we called ‘Blessing between the Light’, truthfully, only we, Guador could utilize and manage the Faltea directly. Earth-Dwellers also had the Faltea, but the utilization was different than us. The utilization was indirect which you called a blessing. Except for those Earth-Dwellers that we chose, they could utilize and managed the Faltea directly.

Now San was curious, what was the difference between directly and indirectly?

Directly means you could use them as your power and guidance as your willful. Indirectly means they will use at the right time and places, automatically.

San was swallowing the essential information. If only Guador and the earth-dwellers could use them, direct or indirect. What about the second-creation?

Oh, the Daelos you mean? They don’t use the Faltea, in which their good merits have been altered. They used a magic power which we called Mana. The Mana, ‘Blessing between the Darkness’, was a form of supreme power that balanced between the user’s ability and the strength. Its concept was more like this, what is expected to be then there must be the price to do, either the user’s physical, mental, spirit, the surrounding area or deceit even the souls could be the price. Depending on the user’s desires.

Now San was thinking about it. Surely, every RPG-games or novel wrote how the heroine and friends have magical power also have a mana point (MP). It could deplete and you can’t use the magic nor skill, some of them also ruined your health point (HP). Anyway, it means the ‘price’ right?

Your way of thinking, that was a not-bad example.

Why thank you.

San also curious, but the game mentioned how supreme the Mana is, it could heal and become a shield, but also attack and brings destruction. She remembered there was called white mana and dark mana. Huh, is it different?

No, they are the same. Anything comes from the Mana, was still ‘Blessing between the Darkness’ no matter what. Healing, forming a shield, or attacking was a mere of a user’s desires. They still need to do the price. And those will be damaged, even body and heart. All the mana users, Daelos and its underlings, would be blinded with the magical power. They wanted more and more, thus sacrificing and use another method.

From this, I will begin why such happened to you.

San gulped and calmed down. She will meet her answered.

It begins when Daelos already banished from Aelux. They swore to taunt all the Earth-Dwellers. They will use anything to make the most perfect creation fall to their knees. They promoted how strong and supreme Mana is, making all the earth-dwellers tempted. Once an Earth-Dwellers used Mana, they will get blinded with how strong the power is.

Some of them, maybe you already know, a creature like a demon, Satan, witch, and the newest underlings, Shaman. They are merely a human that fell to Daelos’s lured. Hungry with the magical power, they multiplied. It’s taken almost my aide and another Guador’s aide to wiped them out. But it will become worsened. Daelos won’t stop trying. They would use another method. Which were you already experienced.

Huh, the almost hit by a truck. That?

Yes, that. Your dead should not be that soon yet. The one who pushed you wanted you as their sacrificed and obtained greater Mana, the Daelos underlings. unfortunately, maybe you didn’t realize them. But they already have their eyes on you since you were sitting at the canteen.

They won’t stop. they will disrupt the whole system of life. The things that must keep hidden will appeared. The blessing that should not be meant for them well scattered. Everything would be out of balanced. Thus, it will affect Aelux more so. If we failed, then we can only depend on The Almighty’s order and decisions. Either way, He knows what’s best for ye.

Oh. Now, San almost forgot. The figure that standing outside the window, blended with the passerby... at the canteen.

That was my aide. I ordered them to watch what was eyed-on-you behind your back. And yes, you catch my aide figure. Anyway, my aide successfully stopped them before they gained what they desired but what will happen tomorrow might not be the same. We are busy.

Then why they wanted her? She thinks she just a plain-looking and ordinary student.

The fewer someone ties with another, the merrier to cut them. It’s like herding a whole sheep pack and being watched by a group of wolves. Of course, the wolves will only be seeking opportunities when a sheep split from its group. Thus, easy to have preyed.

Such an example.

San suddenly feeling uncomfortable when Zeeloreis mentioned ‘ties-’. Does that mean, she is such an individualism creature? Or worse, NEET? She hardly thinking just now, she realized how dense she was to not looking after her own family. San was blaming herself for not as worthy as social-beings. She could expect why Zeeloreis choose her randomly. Just what Zeeloreis said; she is too easy to be preyed at.

She was regretting that she just realized how something was important for her.

Can you see them?

San raised her head and glanced around her side. She found nothing.

The faltea. You just regretting something, didn’t you?

How can regretting something become the power of faith? There is so much knowledge that missed by her.

That’s not how Faltea’s works, child. Remember this well, the stronger Faltea depends on living beings' intentions, aims, purposes, objectives, motives even goals. Look at another perspective, what do you regret? It’s good or bad? Everything that meant for you was called as a Blessing. Since you will use them directly from now on, you must remember this. Everything based on your faith.

As clear as a day, tears flowing from her eyes. as she can see a slight glow around her. She thought it was a pack of fireflies. But she could feel how warm that small glow. Is this what Faltea? It looks faint, the glows look flicker around her.

You will realize the answer when you got used to Faltea. But for now, good, you already see them. That is one step forward. First, I need you to meet your tutor. He is also a human being that I sent to watch you. He will be explained further things with you, and you may get access to the Aelux open-hall realm. There you will meet another like you and will have your train started.

Wait the plot is asking too much. Just now she felt overly dramatic but then she driven into a real business here, give her a break. Also, she wanted to ask so many questions. Like, this figure, is Zeeloreis right? What is feel to be Angel of Death? Oh, should she ask when she is going to die? Nope, bad idea, Zeeloreis would certainly answer the most obvious one, what was that? You-will-meet-the-answer-soon yeah, something like that. Does every Guador bear such whole eerie-aura like Zeeloreis? Because even Zeeloreis’s aide was something like that. San wanted to take a little peek behind her, she also wanted to know how is Zeeloreis’s original forms, does it different than most of her elementary books? How to rip a soul? One step forward, that is not meaning there is still a whole step to do right? Tutor, a human at that? Aelux open-hall realm, wow, sounds like the first quest to her. The name was also similar to ‘lobby’ or ‘main hall of HQ’ in most of RPG-games and novels.

But Zeeloreis doesn’t take attention to her mind and continued the order.

The train started and it won’t become a hassle in your daily life, we assure you. We will train you on our own. So be prepared. We must act fast if we must face and stop them soon. On your way, you might find a slight of Mana users around your surroundings. Don’t act without thinking. Keep aware and stay still on your own. Until you get stronger, don’t do anything reckless.

We think that’s enough for now.

San: “Wa-wait... w-who is the person Is-should met?”

Damn stutter. She doesn’t find any tendency to this situation as she doesn’t want to in the first place.

I thought you already met him.

San wondering the person Zeeloreis referring to. Zephy? No way. Honestly, San aware that she doesn’t have a lot of friends. You may count with only a hand for her friends she comfortable with, even not close yet. Is Zeeloreis meant her family? More like a whole no-way.

Dairis Magne.

Heaven calamities.

“….”

.

To be continued

.

SIDE INFORMATION:

1. First Golden-days (One-Thousand-Days): the first day babies born, they will need intensive care like mother’s lactation, until six months. This is a remarkable as important and essential life as it would affect their grown-up development.

2. Jaw-dropped: mouth gaped open.

3. NEET: is a person who is "Not in Education, Employment, or Training". Basically, they isolated themselves from the outer world.

4. Seven-cloud: truthfully there were so many articles that stated it was until nine-cloud. It’s a place where the Angel resides in most articles, something like the afterlife and immortal realm.

5. Reincarnated: being given a second life.

6. RPG: sort from ‘role-playing games’ where you could switch or choose a player or job.

7. HQ: sort from ‘Headquarter’

8. MP: sort from ‘Mana Point’ is often shown as a blue color. Used to manage skill or magic. Some of RPG-games and novels may write them as Magic Point instead.

9. HP: sort from ‘Health Points’ is often shown as red color. Indicated the player's health to keep up the progress or journey.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: