Van found herself standing in the middle of the forest near her house. Her feet just took her there without thinking. It is quiet, no one is around except for the trees and plants. She's so used to be in this place by herself, but right now, it feels especially, disturbingly, quiet.
As Van walked, her eyes to the ground, she ended up in the exact same place where she picked up her white-aura emitting crystal. Back then, it was just lying there, one might not even notice it. For some weird reason, she picked it up. It grew more and more important to her that she's already unable to part with it no matter how much ridicule she's gotten for keeping it. Van took the crystal out of her pocket, and watched it closely, as it showed her yet another scene of a smiling Kirin. Squeezing it tight, she then recalled the first time Freyja stalked her and found her there.
Back then, she had just been scolded and wanted to be left alone. But much to her surprise, someone was nosy enough to go as far as stalk her to her home, even up to that forest where not even the locals would dare go. Van chuckled.
The crystal was glowing brightler than ever. She knows all too well what it means. The crystal was never hers to begin with, not even the memories kept with it. Right now, she's angry. She's so angry she wants to beat the hell out of Freyja. But, unlike usual, she can't bring herself to shout at her, to punch her and then laugh like how it has always been.
~ o 0 o ~
Scarlet couldn't catch up to Van. She has always been the fastest, and she, the slowest. She's wondering why she even volunteered to run after her. Now, she lost her whereabouts completely.
Somehow, she ended up running through the woods, the shortcut at the back of their school. "Goddammit." She cursed, sitting down, in the middle of a bridge. It is so quiet, you can only hear the sound of the wind hitting leaves and birds chirping. Suddenly, Scarlet remembered something.
The four of them, since they met, would always cut classes and escape through that short cut. It was there when they first encountered aggressive auras. Back then, she was so scared she immediately regretted following Freyja and Van. But looking at it now, she is glad she did after all. Scarlet looked at her hand, it is covered with warm scarlet aura. Realizing how much she improved since the first time she discovered she had it, made her feel proud. No one knows about her aura. No one knows about their mission. Heck, it doesn't even excuse them from cutting class. But it's okay. She never really felt bad about it. She enjoyed every minute of danger and thrill, felt proud being able to protect her world and experience things no one else could. No matter how dangerous, she would always move forward with the three of them. But right now, for some reason, it felt the scariest. Scarlet's hands trembled. It was like she's being dragged back to the way she used to be.
"The way I used to be…" Scarlet suddenly remembered the first time she met the three of them. She remembered that car driver who cursed her. She remembered every single word Freyja shouted at her back then. She was so angry. Back then, Freyja was uninjured despite getting hit by a speeding car. Scarlet was so mystified, she suddenly forgot her current problem and ended up using all her time re-searching how such a thing is possible. Freyja even called herself a warrior of justice. Scarlet broke out in laughter remembering those times.
She remembered seeing the fearless Van whom she's actually afraid of at the start. She used to think Van was a delinquent and troublemaker. But actually, she's the softest of them all. She would feel sad for a trapped mouse, though she would rather die than admit it.
Then, she remembered the timid Aya. She's always so quiet and never fights back no matter what was thrown at her. So, she wanted to protect her. Aya may be the first one to cry in many situations, but she's actually the last one to break down. She's compassionate, and always so hardworking.
Scarlet herself, became someone she never thought she would be. From wanting to die and leave the world, to someone who actually fights to protect it. It made her smile proudly. Scarlet took a deep breath and stood up. She clenched her fists, turned around and continued running.
~ o 0 o ~
Aya is lost. She did promise to follow Scarlet and Van, but she ended up not being able to follow any of them. Scarlet isn't even a good runner, and yet she lost her too. Aya ended up walking home instead, almost dragging her feet. It was the same familiar route she's going through every single day. It used to appear all the same, monotonous, black and white to her. But lately, it was different.
Though she often gets nervous and afraid of some aggressive aura or Phrein attacking her from nowhere, it did keep her senses alive. The black and white life she's been living, started to get more and more colorful.
She never realized it until now, that it's starting to drift back to how it used to be.
Aya used to be timid, she used to be someone who takes in all insults and just covers her ears. It's safer like that. But, for some reason, she changed. Looking at her hands, all of a sudden, she is surprised at how much of a different person she became. It isn't just about the aura or the powerful whips that she can summon. The reason why she can stand proud like now, no matter what is thrown at her, is not because of her awakened aura at all. Looking forward, she can see the images of the smiling Van, Scarlet and Freyja.
Yes, she's scared to get scolded by her parents. Yes, she's scared to get scolded by the teachers. She's scared that if she doesn't work hard enough, she will never get any better in life. She's scared that she will just be trapped in that house, with no will of her own. That's why she has always wanted to be the good girl. If she's good, if she's not hostile, then people will just ignore her. She won't get any more hurt than she already is. And maybe someday, a miracle will happen and she will end up being another person.
BUT, being with Van, Scarlet and Freyja, she was able to overcome those fears. Before she knew it, she's stopped waiting for a miracle and started carving her own life. Before she knew it, she was looking forward to coming to school, having more mysterious encounters, seeing something that normal people could not. It was as if a whole new world was opened to her. It's a world where she can be herself, without fears of what will happen or how people will see her.
Aya, wanted to stay in that bright world. She wanted to stay with Freyja, Van and Scarlet. That's how she really feels.
So why are they all feeling depressed now? What did change? Is it Freyja's awakening? Does it really have that much of an impact? "So what!?" Aya blurted out loud, without a care of the people looking at her. She slapped her cheeks hard and turned around, and she ran. She ran fast.
~ o 0 o ~
"Avice, how long can we make the portal? We are running out of time after all." Avice is silent. "We have to hurry. I am worried about Astrid and…"
"Lenfi." Avice interrupted, in a low, deep voice. "You don't have to force it."
"I'm not forcing it! I really am worried!" Freyja raised her voice all of a sudden. "See? It's okay to feel that way." Avice said, patting her head. "I said it before, didn't I? I've seen you grow up. I've been watching you from afar. So, I can definitely tell that you are forcing it." He smiled gently, which reminded Freyja of Kirin. "Lenfi, it's okay. Go to them. I'm sure they'll listen. After all, they are your friends, right?"
Avice' words struck her deep and hard. "In my whole service to you Lenfi, this is the first time I've seen you make those genuine expressions so easily. I've never seen you so alive before. That's why I don't want you to have regrets. They are precious to you, just like how Celestia and Kirin are."
Freyja clenched her fists and nodded. "Thanks Avice. Please wait for me, kay?" She said with a refreshed smile, and rushed out of the house.
It's already past nine in the evening, she turned off her phone. Freyja ran as fast as she could. She ran past crowds, dangerously crossed streets, she ran and ran like her life depended on it. She ended up right in front of the locked school gates, but climbed over it without second thoughts.
Freyja ran, and ended up at a circular bench around a tree near their high school campus.
It is their favorite hangout in school. They would always meet there, play with their small plush toys like kids, tell stories, and talk about anything under the sun. Sitting on that bench, they exchanged dreams, and felt not a single trace of fear of judgment or ridicule. They freely became themselves, sitting on that bench.
Freyja remembered the first time she met Van. She was extremely down back then, she can't even tell why. She had no friends, nothing. She was drawing on her sketchpad, when this girl, Van, approached her. For the first time in her life, she had someone who shared the same dreams with her. She may not be so vocal about it, she may be extremely proud in front of her, but deep inside she knows how much Van means to her. Scarlet, that superstitious girl she once thought to be batshit crazy, and Aya, the timid girl she first treated as a wimp. Freyja never thought how wrong she was and how much they all meant to her now. She wants to return to Celestia. She wants to see her friends. She wants to see Astrid and Aria as soon as possible. Above all, she longs for Kirin more than anything. She's been working hard for this moment, and yet, the mere thought of leaving Aya, Scarlet and Van is causing her so much pain.
Tears fell from Freyja's eyes. She wished time would stop. She sobbed and she sobbed, she cried like she's never cried before. Until, she heard a voice.
"Hey wimpy crybaby. The hell are you doing here?" The voice said, in a mocking tone. Freyja looked back, and saw Van, with her usual arrogant smug. "I'm not crying, asshole!" She wiped her tears in a hurry and sent a fist flying at her. She hit Van's face hard. "Damn you!" Van in return, punched her. "The hell is that for!?" She kicked her. "You asked for it!" Van gave her a round house kick.
They hit each other, full force, actually. Not for long, they both fell down the ground, panting, bruises on their bodies. Then, Van laughed. Freyja too, laughed out loud. "God, you're a brute." Freyja stood up, dusting off her skirt. Then, she walked over to Van and held her hand out.
"Look who's talking, crybaby. Come to think of it, you were also crying when I first met you here" Van smirked and took her hand, standing up. "I can't remember, that's so long ago." Freyja pouted.
"The pot is calling the kettle black, right?" Scarlet appeared from behind a tree, much to their surprise.
"Well, birds of the same feather flock together!" Aya, behind a bush.
The four of them, laughed. Together, they sat on the bench, joked, talked about everything under the sun, without a care for the world, they freely became themselves.
~ o 0 o ~