Intensely staring at the little white crystal on Van's neck, Aya, Scar and Freyja could really not believe the aura it is emitting. "Yeah, I know. It's exactly like Freyja's aura." Van said.
"Well, why don't you tell us EXACTLY how you got this thing?" Scarlet asked, taking a sip of bottled cola.
"I already told Freyja this, actually. I was six years old that time. I ran away from home because of some kind of trouble." Van had a sad smile on her face, prompting the three not to ask any further about the 'trouble.' "You've been there, right Freyja? That woods near our house has always been my 'home.' It's a lot more relaxing there. And there on the ground, I saw this weird crystal. I don't know why but it appealed so much to me. Before I knew it, I just ended up taking it with me. I told my mom that I saw it releasing some kind of 'magic.' But come on, as if anyone would believe that." She laughed.
"And? Anything strange that happened after that?" Skar asked.
Van shook her head. "I had vivid dreams of 'another world' but that's just about it. Except from being strangely relaxing to look at, it didn't do anything much until recently."
"So, when did you start seeing this Kirin guy?" Aya asked next.
Van paused. "Actually, just a year ago. One night, I had this strange vivid dream about me chasing after him. At first, I can only see small scenes in dreams. It's like watching TV though, I was there and I could see them and all, but I can't do anything at all. I can't speak, even my movements and points of view are pre-determined. Yeah, like watching a movie." Remembering the latest fight they were in, Van continued, "That's why I immediately knew it, what that Phrein controlled my dreams. Because in that fake dream, I can actually do something. Not consistent."
"How did you know his name is Kirin?" Aya added.
"Well, somewhere along the way, he was called Kirin. Kirin Aethelmaer."
"But it still won't explain why it has the same white aura!" Scarlet shouted, rather loudly. "Could it be that there's another celestial here than Frey? I mean, if there's a Phrein, don't you think it's possible to also have another celestial here?"
Freyja got it. She remembered the Phreins' disturbing words, along with the vivid dreams she had about 'Celestia'. She felt that now is the time to voice it all out. "That Phrein asked me something weird. He asked me where my 'guardians' are? He also said that he thought I took a human vessel, but I look Celestial enough to him. And… called me Freyja Lenfiare too."
"Which means…"
"Which means that I am most likely a Celestial, whatever that is, and that is why this universe is kicking me out. That's probably where I came from, and what's missing in my memories."
There was a brief silence, until Van broke it. "But if you are a Celestial, then what does 'human vessel' mean? Do you mean to say that you are reincarnated into this world as a human?"
"I am not sure about that. But based on what we know so far, it looks like I did take a human body once. But that Phrein said I look Celestial to him. Meaning, this body is probably my original celestial body." There was a long silence again, which prompted Freyja to continue. "If these visions… no, fragments of 'memories' I have are correct, then I remember something about Celestials having an 'aura core'."
"Aura core?" The three chorused.
"Yeah. I think its more like, our 'soul' or the very thing that keeps us alive. Unlike humans whose life forces are highly dependent on their physical body, Celestials are more detached with their bodies and can survive brief moments without it—"
"So, it is possible that your aura core is the one that travelled into this world?" Scarlet continued.
Freyja nodded. "And most likely when I first arrived here, I did take the body of a human being."
"I see now." Scar joined in. "But Frey, we are all unaware of what a real celestial looks like, right? So, that Phrein guy's words sounds pretty reliable to me. He looked genuinely surprised and was even asking for your help to get him out of this world."
"The question is, if you did take a human body to host your celestial aura core, and NOW, you are using your original celestial body, then what happened to the human body you used?" Aya added.
Aya's question triggered a splitting headache. "ARGH!" Freyja crouched, the three of them alarmed. "Frey, you' okay!?"
All of a sudden, flashes of memories came to her. This time, it's a gruesome memory. A big, muscular man in a cloak is holding a sword pointed at her neck. She was on the ground, unable to move. His eyes are pitch black, looking down on her, in full resolve. Then, the sword pierced right through her heart.
Freyja was sweating heavily as she remembered this scene. The headache subsided, but her heart won't stop racing, and her hands trembling. "I… I know Aya." She said. "That body…. died."
They're all speechless.
"Then how did you get your original celestial body back after that human body died?" No one knows.
"Anyway, I guess it's enough for now. Let's go home. Let's just think about this ourselves and meet tomorrow." They left the eatery and headed home to rest.
However, Aya and Scarlet, secretly met at the park late that afternoon.
"Something's bugging me Aya."
"It's about what Frey said before, right?"
"Here's what we know so far:
Freyja's original body was destroyed in her travel to this world. And for her 'aura core' to survive, she had to take the body of a human. Sometime a year ago, she went to somewhere—I assume, another world, where that that human body died. So, Freyja was sent back here and somehow got her celestial body back."
"But Scar, she said that celestials have the power to regenerate their bodies as long as their aura core is strong, right? And she has a strong aura core. Assuming her human body died in that other world, she could have awakened fair enough aura to regenerate her original celestial body. It shouldn't be surprising."
"No. Not that. I mean, if Freyja displaced the body of someone as a child, and now that that body is dead… what happened to the original person occupying that body? She USED a human vessel, right? So there has to be an original owner of that human body!"
Aya felt her hairs rise. "But Scar, if ever she's displaced or died, the original owner of her human body is still human right? She shouldn't have much of an influence in this dimension leak problem."
Scarlet was feeling extremely uneasy for some reason. The moment she heard what the Phrein said to Freyja, it's like she realized something important but can't articulate well yet. But at least based on what they've been through so far, she is sure that there is something that still ties Freyja into this world, that's why she can't leave. Assuming she really went to another world with that human body, died, and was sent back with her memories erased, then why does she have to be sent HERE and not in some other world? She is almost so sure that the reason Freyja can't go back to Celestia, lies in this world and not anywhere else.
"Yes, you're right. Buy you know Aya, I have a feeling that we need to know more about it, to solve the mystery of Van's crystal. Van was born fifteen months after Freyja. And I don't think it's a coincidence that she got the crystal instead of others. Plus, she can also see visions about some mysterious place and this Kirin guy."
"So what are you suggesting Scar?"
"The best place to look, is the place where Freyja grew up in."
~ o 0 o ~