I forgot how they sounded. Their voice have left only fragmented memories in my head. Will I ever go back home? What awaits me in the coming future? I ask myself these questions, though I know the answer. I'm never gonna see home again. The cicadas, I will never again hear their cry.
Hirsugiminen
800bc
Hirsugiminen's Sanctuary
Aesthaea-sama was especially frustrated today. She has, for the second time, failed to kill Seikon. Being a high deity such as herself, she couldn't directly be a part of human conflict unless becoming one herself. Aesthaea still needed her god-like powers to carry out her duties. Still, I could see it in her eyes, even if she did not know. She was lonely. The king of hell, she called herself, still had a heart and needed comfort.
She fidgeted in the chair. The ground beneath it was brown but unearthy. Anything living or holy would surely have been condemned to a life of pain if they were to set foot in such a place. Aesthaea's anger had eroded the entire sanctuary, making it no longer a simple plain, but a mass of stone spikes were here and there. Some reached up to twenty metres.
The sanctuary was a large room consisting of the king, her chair, desk and other various dark elements. The sun didn't shine here. The only light came from the room itself, dark red and eerie. To the left was the entryway to the city. And the right was a gateway to the dragon's lair. A sick, twisted world called hell, meaning the 'Nether'.
I stood by Aesthaea's side as usual. I felt it my place to inform her of what she might've truly desired. I thought carefully at my choice of words.
"Aesthaea-sama." She shifted, saying without speaking that she was listening. "You're uncomfortable I'm sure. But, forgive my intrusion and correct me if I'm wrong. . .Is there something that you want? Something other than the death of all men."
I was the only man-like resemblance in all of Hirsugiminen. Still, I was no man. I was no different than the dead.
"What are you implying?"
"Other than killing Seikon, the epicenter of all your troubles. We know that the task is hard and more failures is almost sure to come so. . .Would you not like someone to comfort you in such a case?"
Aesthaea seemed to be pondering my suggestion.
"I already have you." Was her curt reply.
"No, not like me. Someone to be there for you when I'm not present."
"Like what?"
"A wife, Aesthaea-sama. I'm implying that you get a spouse."
"What makes you think I'm interested in sharing a bed with another woman? Especially one who's not a deity."
"Are you saying you'd rather be with a man?"
Aesthaea sighed.
"You're drawing a line Razael." Aesthaea warned.
"Forgive me then. Forget what I. . ."
"Still, you may be right. I do need someone. Someone to touch me when I need it most. Is that how far you're mind has gone Razael?"
"Forgive me, Aesthaea-sama."
"You don't even try to hide it. Yes, I do want a wife. Perhaps you could get me one. She's to be timid and shy."
"Forgive me once more, Aesthaea-sama but, what shall you name her?"
Aesthaea thought. It had to be something that represented her. Something that said goddess of women. Something that spoke beauty. She thought hard, then came up with an answer.
"Usthraea." She said.
Aesthaea pronounced (A-es-thaY-ea)
Usthraea pronounced (Oos-thray-ea)
Daizaiel pronounced (Die-zay-eel)
Razael pronounced (Ra-zay-eel)
Hirsugiminen
Two weeks after the king's wife to be declaration
Hirsugiminen's Sanctuary
\Usthraea/
How uncaring could they be? I thought. How thoughtless? I was taken from my everyday duties in the farm. I was dragged for months with little food. Only to be presented in front of a demonic woman, asking for a hand in marriage. How ludicrous.
"Sorry for inconveniencing you on this unpleasant trip, miss Umi but, this is a necessity."
"What do you want from me?! Are you brigands?"
I shouted at the man in black clothing. He was the one that had kidnapped me.
"You're human mind is limited to the small word around you thus your mind cannot comprehend anything outside of it." The woman spoke diligently and modestly. Despite her look.
"Instead of working all day on some wretched farm." The dark man spoke. "You'd be given a simple job. One that requires you solely to tend to Aesthaea-sama's needs when she desires it. You would be rewarded magnificently."
"You want me to have sex with another woman!?" The topic was already outrageous but now it was quickly turning preposterous.
"You make it seem as if it is a sin. You're hurting Aesthaea's feelings."
"To hell with that!"
"Forgive me, Aesthaea-sama. It seems as if she's not as timid as I'd first believed. Shall I return her to her ungodly abode?"
"No. Leave her."
"As you wish, Aesthaea-sama."
A couple of brigands in the middle of nowhere playing doll house of kings and servants. The way my hands and feet were bound with chains. The way my clothing was partially torn and my body grew slim from the lack of a balanced diet. I was seemingly a prisoner, forced to submit to sexual slavery. It seemed that my abundant luck had run out. Even though the current situation, I sighed. At least it was only a woman who is incapable of impregnating me. The woman who called herself Aesthaea came down to me.
"I understand your situation." She spoke calmly. "Still, there are two ways to look at this. One, is to view it as a misfortune as you were kidnapped and force to oblige to my request. Secondly, you can think of it as a gift. The opportunity to espouse a deity and gain her powers as well. . ."
"What bullshit! What are you, children?! There's no such thing as a goddess for hell's sakes!"
It may have been better to falsely oblige to their every word. At least pretending to understand but I was growing angry at their childishness and ludicracy.
"Hell? Is that what you want to see? Very well then. . ."
"Aesthaea-sama. . ."
""It's okay, Razael. I have given her strength to live in the corridors without dying so I should be able to protect her before the gates of the Nether."
"But Aesthaea-sama. . .She's just. . .A human."
"Even they have to learn. Her mind, as I said before is limited even though it has a limitless capacity. The user refuses to learn. . .So I shall teach her."
"Where are you taking me?" I asked as the woman began to lift me, lossening my bondages. I knew better than to try to escape from mad people.
"You are not permitted to come, Razael. . .For someone like you. . .Would surely die."
"But Aesthaea-sama. . ."
"You said it yourself, Razael. Someone to be there when you're not present. Someone to follow me where you can't." She looked over at me. I could feel my body flinch. "This day shall be our anniversary. The day you and I are wed. . .So then, to celebrate. ..Let's host this ceremony in hell."
Hirsugiminen
2001
Hirsugiminen's Sanctuary
It is the day of that anniversary. On an anniversary, the husband and wife exchange gifts and memories. On the honeymoon they bond in both body and soul. But Aesthaea-sama and I. . .The only thing we exchanged were sad glances.
The city was lovely today. The only city that has no living soul. The only city reminiscent of cold wars and plagues. Hirsugiminen, the city of the dead. Still, as the wandering, lifeless bodies were once human, they tended to carry on in that manner. Stalls and shops, hot springs, schools even. Still, it was all a doll house for no one here had the soul to appreciate it's beauty under the sun.
Aside from me. I was the only one who'd managed to retain the soul of a living being yet survive in this place. Dressed in the mourning kimono, and white hair held in a bun by chopsticks, I walked daintily onto the unpaved streets. I nodded to the Shi and they responded with the same gesture. I sighed. My life was meaningless, and with a meaningless life, I'm no different from the dead.
Even though it was hard and challenging, scary even. I had grown to love the woman who was also a goddess. And being a woman myself, I couldn't help but feel ashamed for those feelings. She called it a flower, lily. Yuri. But after some time, I had begun to become like her. Her dark traits, her bossy attitude, her overall being. Seeing this, she cast me aside to work as a messenger alongside Razael. She of course, having gotten to the feeling, remarried. But in my years with Aesthaea, I had gained something I could call my own.
Powers from the darkest corners of Hirsugiminen. But when they were only blossoming, I was already madly infatuated with Aesthaea so my powers portrayed themselves in that way. They activated when my feelings were strongest for Aesthaea. The power to control, not the body, but the heart of women. I had used this power to bed the spouse of Aesthaea-sama to settle my own needs. After all that time with Aesthaea, the want, the need, the desire for another woman's body was overbearing.
I couldn't stop. Couldn't help myself anymore. After that, I began roaming the face of the earth, raping all women who were unfortunate enough to have been alone. So then, even though I was a wife of Aesthaea all that time, I wasn't truly important, but now that I had these powers. . .
I was truly the queen of hell.
Erichin mountain pass
2001
Erichin plains
Day 1
\RAZAEL/
My memory cannot stay forever. Past events, memories, they'll all fade into a place that I myself, cannot reach. In front of me, stood Aesthaea's hopes. I have seen her 'hopes' countless times. But this time, it was going to be different. I was sure that this time, I will not fail Aesthaea-sama.
I stopped for a moment, only now, noticing the change. The wind here didn't speak, it it had forgotten how to do so. In Hirsugiminen, it's chatter was a torture to my ear but now. . .
I picked up a flower and gazed at it. It swayed gently in the breeze. I shook my head sadly. Even that had forgotten how to speak as well. The flowers themselves were thoughtless gossipers in Hirsugiminen. Still, it was strange, even if it's a couple of years by your lonesome, the skill of speech doesn't just leave you.
I could feel their gaze upon me now so I decided to just joke; A remedy for even my troubles.
"Hey, guys! Guess what?!"
I could see them mumble something but I just let it fly over my head. After a few more hours, we stopped and sat under the shade of the trees. Daizaiel had gone to hunt for food. I yawned and stretched lazily against the soft ground. I looked up into the shining trees. The blossoms were falling in unending abundance all around us.
Cherry Blossoms?
I stood up quickly and let a petal fall into my hand. I examined its texture.
"What's wrong?" Someone asked. I briefly told them the reason for my discomfort and then remained thinking. A memory of a small girl playing with blossoms such as these played inside my mind. I could feel her presence nearby. I dashed off in search of it. Someone like her, a STD, could prove to be very useful.
After a few more minutes, a girl kneeling in prayer before a tree came into view. I stopped beside her. She opened one eye and looked at me. Then, she returned to her previous business. Was I that unimportant?
"So, hey, Aka. How long's it. . .?"
"Shut up."
"But I. . ."
"I said, shut up."
After a few seconds, she sighed and stood up. She took up her basket or wriggling cloths and turned her back to me.
"I'm leaving now. I've done my duties here. Goodbye Razael."
"But I just got here."
"I don't have the time nor care to deal with someone of your status. Leave me be Razael the messenger."
"Listen, I'm in a bit of a crisis. . ."
"Is that why you came looking for me? Sorry, I decline. . ."
"Wouldn't you like to hear my terms?"
"What terms?"
"Would a stroll around Hirsugiminen be good enough for you. I know you miss someone."
". . .You can't promise that."
Her voice started to waver.
"Oh, but I can."
". . .No comment."
"Is that a yes?"
"No comment."
"Alright then, I guess I have no choice. . .I'll take you, even if I have to drag you with me?"
"Sorry but I. . .Aah!"
I had to hurry. We were nearing Erichin's border. Someone of Aka's skill was necessary. I found her, which was unexpected and I didn't intend on letting her go. So I dragged her with me, back to the camp of hopes and Giminens.
--To the next episode--