Alice opened her eyes to an entirely different landscape. Before, the ground was a carpet of soft grass on a flat plain that went on for eternity. Now, she was in Sirus arms on the bank of a surreal lake.
A forest of Sakura trees surrounded the lake in full bloom. The trees danced in the wind that blew lightly through the area. Fireflies darted throughout the forest and above the lake, casting a soft light. The tiny bugs collected together formed clusters around the location like constellations of stars in the sky. The combination created an enchanting space.
In the center of the lake was an island. A gorgeous temple was erected at the center. The temple structure was constructed of an obsidian-like stone, polished to a smooth surface. The enormous columns and stone blocks of the massive structure was mind-boggling.
Between the couple and the island was a bridge made of the same stone. Like the temple, the black stones were polished and very pleasing to look at but functional.
The lake surface was covered with Lotuses lighted by fireflies. The two together making the lake look more unique then paper lanterns on the water surface. It was so much visual stimulation her mind froze. Sirus gave her time to take it all in. Finally, She caught here breathing and inquired of Sirus.
"Did you imagine all of this? Or did you see it in your past? It's too amazing!! How can my humble acting husband hide abilities that are this spectacular? You leave me speechless with your creativity. Never have I seen such a place as this."(Alice)
Sirus didn't answer her question, just smiled at her. She wraps her arms around his neck before kissing him. They enjoy each other's affection as they kissed passionately. After breaking their kiss, Sirus starts to cross the bridge. She looked up at his handsome face and noticed the sky. Sirus had replicated the celestial heavens from his first life. He even included the two silvery moons to complete it.
The wind brought a sweet smell on the air from the trees and flowers. All the stimulus from her five senses was filling Alice's mind. She was experiencing so much her mind was working overdrive to process it. Still, she was enraptured for the first time in her life.
Locked inside this world alone was bland and gloomy. She put on an excellent front for Sirus, but he wasn't wrong to say that she was lonely. Never experiencing anything from the world but her cage, she lacks the knowledge to create something this enchanting. Sirus said he wanted to make their first time unique and memorable. She thought he did a perfect job.
Fireflies and torches lit the way to the temple on six-foot wooden stakes. The lights on top were burning wicks dipped in oil to produce a small controllable flame. It gave the path a ritual like a feel that made Alice's heart to quick more. Anxiety and anticipation well up in her until she nervously started to tremble.
Sirius noticed her anxiety from the feel in his arms. He whispered soft words into her ear.
"Relax, sweetheart. I promise to take good care of you. We will go slow. We have all night, and I want this night to be etched into your soul forever. This night will be the moment to begin your new life. A life you get to enjoy and be happy, Forever. That's my wish, at least."(Sirus)
Wow!! How could I have live without him? Alice thought that ignorance is bliss. After coming to know a life with Sirus, she didn't want to be alone anymore. Tears of happiness leaked out of jewel-like eyes.
"Alice, it's okay. We both have suffered from loneliness. So, I will fill the void in your heart. Can I leave my heart in your care, Alice?"(Sirus)
Alice nods, while the tears roll down her pretty face. Sirus brought his face to hers and kissed her tears away. His care made her giggle in response.
The couple passed the bridge and stepped on to the island. The path from the bridge to the temple was paved out by cobbled stones lit with the same torches. As they got close, she could hear the soft sound of music playing. From the sound, it was some type of harp.
Finally, she could see the full temple as they stepped into it. Massive!! Unbelievably massive!! Columns of the structure stood twenty feet high with diameters around five feet that supported the enormous ceilings. Floors of polished black marble reflected the various light sources. A statue of her mother fill the full height of the structure. Her figure was so detailed she was shocked. Sirus was meticulous in its creation, leaving no details out.
She looked at him with a weary smile. His face was practically glowing with pride at his handy work. She sighed and shook her head. What to do with him?
"Why did you think it was a good idea to have a statue of my momma on my wedding night?"(Alice)
"This temple was a replica of the temple I met your mother the first time. When I think of us here, I can't help but be grateful to your mother. Had fate not handed me to her, we would not be together. So, I thought we should consummate our new life in her temple. From there, I thought her temple should have a statue. I consider this act as precious and sacred. So, us consummating our love in her temple is not blasphemy. I can't think of anything more reverent. But, with my reasoning said, if you find it uncomfortable, then say the word, and I will remove it. It's about you, not me on this day. I don't want anything that will make the experience negative."(Sirus)
She can understand his feelings. Maybe they can compromise on a solution. She thought about it before coming up with a workable option.
"Sirus, how about we burn some incense on her altar you made then bow to her in gratitude? Then, you can remove the statue after offering your heartfelt thanks."(Alice)
Alice watched as his face lit up from hearing her suggestion. Then, Sirus kissed her out of excitement. Show his gratitude was what he wanted, but didn't quite know how to express. She understood his heart on the issue. After their kiss, Sirus said.
"I'm truly hopeless without you. Thank you for your assistance. I think tackling the world is possible when I'm with you. I can only ask you to continue to guide me with your kind words and valuable insight."(Sirus)
Alice looked Sirus in the eyes and noticed something her mother also saw. In his eye's irises was a fire burning. His eyes gave off a soft glow. The flame dancing in his iris was mesmerizing. She couldn't help staring into his eyes. Her face drew slowly closer to look deeper. Like a moth, she was unconsciously drawn into his dark pupils wreath in a fiery glow. His eyes look like an eclipsed sun burning with contrasting naturals, light in the darkness.
Sirus think she wanted a kiss, closed the remaining distance to kiss her lips. The unexpected kiss woke her from her daze.
"Your eyes are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. They are practically hypnotizing to look at."(Alice)
Sirus quickly looks away. While his face visibly darkened at hearing that comment. The jubilant girl did not miss his scowl. He struggled inside before admitted to her
"In my first life, people... maybe I should show you instead..."(Sirus)
Sirus walked to the enormous bed placed in the center of the great temple. Sirus gently put Alice on it. He stepped back before beginning to disrobe.
"If this body of mine is a replica of my past self, then you will understand my resentment of my eyes."(Sirus)
Alice was confused. She loved his eyes. She could stare at them for hours without feeling it was a waste of her life. She could not get his hatred of them.
The robe that covered Sirus upper body fell to the stone floor. When she gazed at his body, it made her cover her mouth with her hand. Tears welled up before raining down. Sirus body was covered in scars and brands.
She slowly walks to towards him as he turns his back to her. The brands and wounds on his skin left no spots unmarred. In the middle of his desecrated back was carved words she didn't understand. She touched his body with her delicate hand that trembled from the evidence of a horrific life. What they put him through was something inhuman.
"Darling, please tell me what is writing on you back!! How could someone be so cruel!!"(Alice)
"*sigh* It says, 'Son of the Devil'. It was the brand I carried from the moment of my birth until death. Not one time in my whole life have I thought I received a blessing with my birth. After my birth, the church took the possession of the 'Devil child'. What my parents thought of my birth, I never knew. From birth, I was 'educated' by the religion order to 'know my place'. Even now, I wish to forget.
All I know that every day was hell. No one came to my rescue. My world had heroes and saints and cultivators, but no one cared for an existence like me. I was like the king of demons to them. If anything, they spent more time deciding whether to kill me, then to show affection to me. I hated that world to the very core of my soul.
Yet, I choose to live my life for hope. I believed from very little that one day, I would be free to find the joy and happiness I was denied. So, instead of dwelling on the past wrongs, I cling to the hope of a better life. It was my belief to banished the negative emotions that threaten to consume me. Because, If gave into the hatred for one second, I felt I would become the very thing they claimed. I didn't want people to view me as a calamity but as a person.
Can you understand it? That fire you see as beautiful has been one of the reasons for scars on my body. They said the eyes are the windows to the soul. Well, my eyes strike the fear of damnation into people. So, I cannot understand why you think it's beautiful when I spent a lifetime where everyone called them hateful."(Sirus PTSD)
Alice didn't answer his question, forthright. Instead, she wiped the streams of tears before accessing the system. Magic flow in abundance around her, before Alice spell was cast onto Sirus' body. In seconds, his physically ravaged body changed into a perfect specimen. Not a scar or brand, no horrible words etched into his flesh, nothing. After finishing, she responded to his insecurities. Turning Sirus around to look into his enchanting eyes, she said.
"Physical pain is quick to heal. In a few seconds, a lifetime of grievances was washed away by my spell. But Darling, the wounds on your heart run deep and bleeding. They take time to mend. Even then, they may never completely heal.
Yet, no matter how long it takes you to heal those wounds, I will be here with you. When your heart bleeds from accidental strikes or overexertion, I will administer the ointment that can help heal it faster. My love.
It doesn't affect me that the whole world hates you or call you 'The Devil's Son'. To me, your eyes are the most beautiful and mysterious I have ever seen. I want to spend my life peering into your eyes and see your spotless soul. So, when I stare into your eyes, please understand my feelings on this clearly.
Let's make today special in another sense. It will be a new beginning for both of us. My life will start from here, and your old life will be buried today. We will both be reborn anew, as the former lives passed away. Our joint life will begin from tonight. What do you think, Darling?"(Alice)