A World for "One"

As the mystical bird appeared before us, with majestic arrays of colors and beauty. It's light ever so blinding, dimmed upon its descent unto her arms. 

"This is the very bird that freed you" she said as both children were bewildered by its sight. 

"What kind of magic is that?" Arthur asked

"Magic?" she gave a little pause, as her eye brows met "This isn't magic!" she added

"Well... it is magic, but it is a totally different concept" she insisted "The typical use of magic, is different from this one" 

"This is an arcana spell" she said, as she extended her arms, the bird once again igniting in light, however so did the hand it stood on. Her hand is covered in symbols, a series of writing, glowing in white light.

"To be frank— it draws power from beliefs" 

"Beliefs?"

"Yes. Besides the point, you seek to find the reason why your village was destroyed, correct?"

"There is one hint I can give you— with it you must be on your way, you mustn't overstay your welcome," she said as she stood up. Letting go of the mystical bird as it flew around her and returned to its previous form as a card.

"Follow me"

They quickly made it outside the door, as the woman's feet seemed to touch the ground, it did not. Himmel noticed, by a small margin, her feet were not touching the ground— she hovered over it, pretending to walk.

They followed the river, heading to the sea. Noticing it now, the huge coconut trees seemingly covering the entire scenery, the grass green and lively. However, there are noticeable buildings seemingly in rumbles on the sides—indicators of civilization.

"Miss, was your village attacked too?" Arthur asked

The woman kept silent. However, despite her silent efforts, the question triggered something. Her clothes were ordained in silk? Smooth and elegant fabrics mixing white and light blue, tribal in design. For a second, as she walked. In a dim light— followed her arms, then to the fabrics ordained in blue as it glowed, only to die the next moment.

Walking by the trails of grass, a series of trees and bushes. There seemed to be a glowing blue light, with an underlying cold mist. It was cold. It was cold. "You guessed it right"

It was like a cocoon made out of ice. As she approached it. Hands seemingly touching the cold exterior. It was clear from sight that it was still melting; touching it caused it to glow. It shed little characters made of light, evaporating from the cocoon— a language of a distant land.

As she read each character. Her focus unbroken, her eyes glowing. She opened her mouth; and spoke in verses.

"The deathly cold. On a winter night. Food scarce, with the frigid fright."

"The man had no food. His family, in a feud"

"Searching he went. Till the deathly hunger consumed"

"Now wondering forever more, beast form— he assumed"

She paused silent for a while. As her fingertips unbroken from their contact. Slowly but surely her hand began to freeze— causing her to be taken aback. She pulled her hand away as the freezing began to dissipate.

"How did you survive that." She said; bewildered at the thought.

"Why? What was it about?" Himmel asked. As her bewilderment continued— her eyes in theirs. She was confused

"Traveling through that thickened snow. Did you not feel at least hunger?" She asked

"Hunger? No..." Arthur replied. 

Looking back on it, I only experienced the harsh winter winds. What does she mean about hunger? 

"I can only analyze much of the fable— this ice's origin, at my current state." She said, fingers in her chin, deep in thought, "But, I've had my share of folk tales and this fable was meant to evoke hunger in harsh winter snow."

"It's a fable, a legend with harsh claws. Either you died due to the harsh snow, or you die from trying to eat each other alive..." She paused. At a brief moment seemingly empathizing, then neutral at the second.

"However, that is all I can give you." She said "It is up to you whether you travel, searching for the origin of this fable, or try and live as best as you can."

"It's best if you leave now. You may contaminate this space with your presence" she said as she quickly left. 

"Huh? That's it?" Himmel said, "She isn't even gonna offer us food??"

"Himmel, she did save us. I don't think we should ask for too much..." He paused. "Still, we need someone to venture out. Someone who can look after us..." He replied

"What if the same tragedy happened? I can't risk it." Arthur paused, looking at Himmel's worried expression. Eyes filled with worry. He thought for a moment and spoke.

"Maybe we can ask her for directions to the nearest village." 

"Maybe, we can get a head start there. It doesn't have to be this one" He said, placing his hand on his shoulder; with a little smile on his cheek. Maybe for once, they finally felt like children again after seemingly growing up to years beyond their age. Himmel let out a sigh and agreed.

"I doubt it'll be as better as our village!" Himmel chuckled "Our village was the best!" Arthur added

They both laughed "We talk about the most random things huh?" Himmel said.

Like children, they laughed. Like children, naturally enthusiastic— and like children, they want to forget about the disaster and hold out hope for the future...

That village. Is gone now. But one day, maybe we can restore it.

—Arthur dreamed.

...

On their way back, trailing the same path as before. They run into the same broken ruins. Which piqued Arthur's interest.

"Wait..." He said, noticing the ruins. It was like two-thirds of the house had crumbled down, it was made of marble rocks, white, and elegant, a mixture of wooden furnish broken down, and seemingly torn clothes hanging throughout the ceiling like a tent.

Approaching it. Himmel felt something. Was it the wind? The grass? He thought for a moment and approached it with Arthur.

Inspecting the ruins, hands glazing through the wall once filled with memories. Arthur tried to emulate what kind of life lived within the confines of this wall. What would've been their life?

The corners lay piles of items, covered in the same red cloth, with black linings as its design. Most of it was jars, things seemingly decorated with things coming from the sea. And most importantly, it was painted in intricate patterns of black ink.

Noticing the broken glass pane— a mixture of red and yellow as light passes through it. Seemingly enough, the light hit one spot. Himmel took notice of this and inspected with curiosity. As he looked under the red cloth, revealed a hole tore in the wooden floor. 

He found a few pieces of paper. It was written in a different language they both couldn't understand. Written in ink— Himmel looked back at Arthur, crouching down at what he found.

They both gave a look at each other. Nudging their shoulders in confusion. As they both shared different pieces of paper— trying to read a language they couldn't understand. 

Their concentration however was broken by a streak of light. The contents of the paper lit up in white light and floated into the air, and ever so slowly, changed its form, as the strokes of light now resembled a language they knew, a little giggle could be heard.

A little girl obscured Himmel's vision, as he looked up at the floating letters, startling him.

"What are you two doing here?"

Himmel was startled as the little girl's appearance was vague, startling the little girl in return. "Woah!" she exclaimed, backing away with misty feet.

"Who are you?" He said, trying to focus on the girl yet transparent as air, the little girl felt confused— her hands behind her back, and seemingly sitting mid-air; she replied "Those papers" she pointed "Do you know who they are about?"

"What..." Himmel— dumbfounded, looked back at the papers only for it to be blank. His shoulders were tapped "look..." Arthur said, as he pointed up at the ceiling.

"That woman. She has been miserable this entire time huh?" She mumbled "She's constantly sacrificing her energy— living unauthentically to her origin." 

As the little girl appeared before them, with pale skin and deep black hair, seemingly the same age as them. Her clothes ordained in blue and gold. A beautiful child, healthy yet frail appeared before them.

She held out her hands, and took the paper from them— her hands bristled against theirs. It is like her hand has yet to 'know' work. Her hands were so soft and delicate, as she hugged the very few papers tight. She spoke, "I want you to inherit my arcanum."

"What...?" 

She humbly asked, "Do you know what happened to this place?" 

Silence was their reply. 

"Let me tell you a story." She said as she let go of the papers, falling onto the floor only for them to rise again. The few pages of paper surrounded them, with the already floating characters, she touched one of the few sentences around.

And as the light overwhelmed them, just like that. The place felt brand new. And the child is gone— huh?

looking around, Arthur and that child was nowhere to be seen. Where are they?

Himmel's perplexion to the situation made him panic. As he disassociated himself from reality and illusions— he felt a sudden pull back from his perspective. Ever so suddenly, looking away, he noticed he was deep underwater.

Looking back again, a piece of paper was floating in front of him. He slowly reached towards it, one hand limp, unable to be used. He reached out and touched the piece of paper— and there he was. Again in the room that was turned back in time. 

And so...

I observed her.

She was secluded in a room all to her own— sitting on a table, sewing. Her hand swift with needle work, seamlessly sewing what looks like an endless fabric. To her right, it became apparent that she sews for long hours of the day as the piles of fabric stack up like book piles.

However, in other times of the day, in her room, she would dance. Dance for hours and hours perfecting it. Her body flexible in its movement, carried with grace and elegance. However, her dance always seemed to carry underlying sadness within them.

Or another, her grandmother would come over to her room. Witness all that she does, or in other days, teach her folktales. Folklores passed down orally. She memorized them with ease.

It is like witnessing a story unfold in my eyes... Observing her. Observing Roselyn, she seemed much more different from the person who freed us. Right now, she seemed more... mournful.

"It's for Miss Roselyn!" murmurs went around. It was at the brink of daylight that the commotion happened.

"Miss Roselyn!" A loud voice from a young man was heard. Seemingly through the walls, the man was dragged away from the echo of his voice. A young maiden entered the room and greeted her.

"I brought lunch, miss" 

"And I have news for you" she added

"What is it?" 

Her mouth opened in hesitation. As though the words hung on the tip of her tongue— in hesitation she said "You have a suitor"

"What?" Her eyes were bewildered. "Suitor?" She asked.

"Yes... It has been someone your father has been eyeing on"

Roselyn wanted to say something. However, instead, she bit her lips in disappointment. "What use, I've come at age, waiting for this suitor— when I could have been doing much more." She said under her breath.

She asked, "When will he be coming here?" 

"Later this afternoon..." She said.

"I'll get ready..."

"Yes." She replied, hurriedly leaving the room.

Witnessing most. Roselyn throughout her adult life felt like a caged bird. She was not allowed to work, or do any house chores, she was not allowed to be seen by men nor be exposed to sunlight. Her status was so high, that she was never allowed to step on the ground. If she needed to, she was to be carried by family members, covered in a veil to protect her from being seen. And if she were to bathe, she is do it at night where only the moon's glow illuminates the sky. If a man were to see her without permission, he was eligible for death.

She was precious, she was a princess. She was a veiled maiden.