(TIME WATCH)
'WHEN everything seems to fall to the wrong side of the right, will you still look at me? Would you ever feel the same, and can you still and forever would stay by my side?'
The words that I always have from the dreams that keep on repeating ever since I wake up from the clutches of the grim reaper. The dream that feels like I am drowning in deep and endless waters. Looking at the vast blue sky walking up from the long three years of fast asleep, I open my eyes with no recollection of my life.
"Miyu. Just who is she?"
Asking a question that I could not find the answer to, with the same dream and agony that's knocking inside my subconsciousness, I always feel at lost. Everything that I own, the luxury that I'm dwelling on then, but now is gone, the name that once flew with gold and silver, and the omen that they scream that was due to my selfish fault is like a lost jigsaw that I could not find. Everything that I once had, the family that throws me aside, and the world that pull everything gone from the name that I am born with. The church pagans and innocently dumb way of their beliefs, that my lost memories are the curse and an omen for the sin I commit, but I could not remember. Throwing me with nothing, even a family to call, and a name to hold, my crime they branded as a curse, is the taboo of loving someone I could not remember.
'You are, but never a part of this family, from now on, we strip our every tie to you. For, you are a fool, who has been a curse for eternity. A witch and not even be worthy of a slave's name.'
Eternity, am I that filthy of a person then? That the heavens curse my life for eternity for falling in love? Just who is the one I in-depth my heart into as our love binds me in this predicament? Still, I can only wonder as I could not understand nor I could remember the past they are telling me to be my curse. But I can argue no more, not this life, the choice that I made then nor the heavens will and punishment, for I knew that the person I choose to love, I have lost and the reason of my 'tragic' life is the very reason that from the deep side corner of my heart I can still smile.
Now facing the verdict of my life, I can only look down as I am present in front of the people of this kingdom, chain in the center and unto the jury's eyes. The Patreon comes out, standing above and in front of me as he slides the scroll, clearing his voice as he speaks.
"For sinning and committing the highest taboo of tying the knot with the Demon, and tainting your purity with the curse, from the highest monarchy and the church blessing, a decree shall sentence you in exile from this land. All to not be able to spread the black magic that you entrain in your body. Here and from now on, you are strip from your status and name, and will live as a witch for eternity, and so the public agrees."
Somehow bomb by the world's greatest regret, I am forced to take and too weak to protest, the fate they seal unto me.
"Get out of here!"
They all scream, disgusted, and somewhat rare in constant torment by my existence.
"Curse!"
The title they pin unto me, as I can only look down and be sorry to myself from the sin I could not even remember. To the stones that they throw unto me, bruised by consecutive tortures, and bleed by their cursed words dragging me out worst as a criminal who murdered a hundred. They lock me inside a cage of wood into the barren land a mile away from the fertile valley of once I grew up too. Driven out as they release my chains, I walk for a mile before collapsing onto the ground and wake up to the village opposite to what they all claim it to be.
"Where?"
As I ask myself, looking at every detail of the room I wake up into, just then, my attention shift as the door opens and a lady comes in, greeting.
"You're awake."
Bearing a sweet smile, with her distinct log and curly red hair and auburn eye color. She places a fragrant scent of Ebers inside a makeshift pot, informing.
"This will keep you relax as you try to make yourself comfortable and gain your energy back."
As she assures me with care, which I wonder why she is not asking questions from a stranger that is me, yet, somehow reading my thoughts, she smiles once more saying.
"Everyone in this village has their own story to tell. But one thing is certain, all of us are branded curse by a certain point in our lives."
Figuring out or perhaps having the same tragic tale as I am. I then realize I was in the place where someone like me, driven and cast out by their homeland, is thrown out. The land they titled as the cursed land where the filthy beings are dwelling in sin but thinking back as I am facing a person in this place. Her gentle nature contradicts those thoughts.
"Don't worry."
Holding my hand as she warmly says those words, she promises.
"No one will treat you anything like they use to in your known past. We are all the same in here."
Nodding back as my reply, I smiled halfway as I finally ask, "When?"
Reading the point, she nodded back with a smile saying, "Our Village guards as we call them to be." she laughs in between, amusing by her description. "They found you unconscious not far away from the entrance of the forest, and upon seeing your amulet." she stops, taken aback from her words with sorry and sympathy. Looking at the amulet that my kingdom marks on me as a curse one, I then knew what she means.
"Thank you." I gently reply which she accepted with a warm smile, introducing herself.
"My names Nana, head of the village nutrire. As you can see, this is our village humble Infirm house."
She briefly explains as she smiles with an asking stare for my name. Looking down for a second and back at her, I smile as I hold the name they call me beyond the memory that I have lost.
"Miyu."
Finding myself in the care of the people that soon enough I care about as my family. Welcome by their warm embrace and bright smiles, I found relief, in the place where everyone back home feared the most to set foot on was the tender truth of a cradle not by the witch's cursed ones, but the heavens blessed children. To the land that is a title to be barren and infertile deserted sand. Turns out as the most abundant and beautiful place of lust green trees and fruitful bearing forest. With the valley and vast forest that dances gently by the aid of the gentle breeze, a meadow of vast green fields filled with the sweet fragrant of colorful flowers, clear waters from a fall of a near mountain where animals strive and abundant co-existing in a balance to everything.
Walking in harmony with everyone and everything, my newfound friends and family never fail to teases to remind me of the same old thing since the past days I have been here.
"In this place, though we own nothing, this piece of a borrowed fertile land, we all found a home. Though society cast us aside, not all people are as cruel as they brand us to be, for in this place and to the person who lends us a helping hand we will give back by the same. In here we are connected by a bond that no one can ever break, so you do not have to worry about anything at all, for those who are in need is a family for us and you can find with us."
As Annabeth monologues every time we stroll to the forest to pick some berries of our pies, making Evangeline rolls her eyes in irritation, which I find amusing.
"Of course we all are."
Evangeline retorted and impatient to Annabeth's mumbles that never changes. Where she perfectly memorize every line and every tone long ago. Picking the berries we three found, Annabeth opens the thoughts that shake my consciousness.
"I already take with the chief, and do you know what?"
She started to tease, rolling the blueberry in between her fingers smiling winningly, which Evangeline puff in aspiration, asking.
"What?"
Giggling, Annabeth comes closer to us both as she whispers, "Guess who is going out for this month's supply to be sold and brought to the kingdom?"
Looking at each other as Evangeline's brows cross in questions, knowing that it was the Village merchant's duty, Annabeth giggles giving the news.
"I have talked about this to my father and for a long time of persuasion, she granted me to go to the Kingdom."
Jumping in anticipation as she means by the Village Elder in chief which is her father and Elder Peter. Both of us of Evangeline are in the question of what she truly means. Glancing her gaze back to the both of us, she squeals saying.
"We three are going to the Kingdom, on the same day of the festival."
With both of them squealing and jumping in excitement, I only smile, shaking my head as I continue picking the berries.
"Aren't you excited Miyu?" Annabeth asks to which as only smiles, looking back at her with a light gesture of 'a little'.
"You should be Miyu," Evangeline added as she holds my hand with all the blissful marks in her eyes. From the irritation she just had with Annabeth to the excitement and anticipation for that day, adding. "We are not just going to the kingdom by just another day in the month like the merchants do so, but!" she emphasizes, only making me laughs a bit as she continues. "That day is the kingdom's founding festival as it means not just the festivity that it brings, but we might end up seeing the king."
They both squeals giggling at the thought, where I only nodded as nothing special for that words that rings a sound unto me, until.
"If luck is in our side, we might see, King Rafael."
Somehow strip by a breath, my world stops in a while as the name rings deep inside me. I do not know why, as I cannot find a reason to explain what I am feeling right now, but my heart aches as well is in bliss by just hearing that name.
To the small village that stands in between and away for a few kilometers from the shelter of the kingdom and its ruler, and whose rapidly making his name and mark to the world. To the king they all talks, and nothing but praise and gratitude somewhat is knocking a familiar tone to my heart that wants to see and make its way, to the king I somehow long.
"The King? You wanted to know what kind of person he is?"
As I curiously want to know, the things that are flooding me with wants, that I could not figure out, but it urges me to.
"Well, he is a King with pride and dignity, but always thinks for the welfare of his people, setting aside himself with a pure heart to help with outmost dignity above all. Someone who never abides by this world's rule as he thinks and sees everyone equally, as this place proves. For in this land, we are not a curse or a criminal in any way that is exiled from our past kingdoms, but his people that he thinks of and cared for."
As everyone boosts with the same compliment every time, I ask another, from the different ones, the King that they knew, but never saw the person they look up to, and the one that somewhat from my aching heart I wanted to see and find out, who.
"Is he that remarkable to begin with?" I teasingly ask, earning the same irritated looks from their faces before turning back, explaining the same old thing.
"Remarkable is not even the word to describe him but in everything that he does. He's smart with the light of a chivalrous knight, brave, pure, and handsome. Most especially, he still doesn't have a queen, that's why every maiden in the Kingdom and outside the Kingdom whose under his rule is dreaming to be." Smiling with glee as every maiden I ask too strikes with those same giggles, I smiled back wanting to feel the same, yet there is something that's stopping me to do so, a thing that screaming that someone as 'they' all says that it became my doom for tying the knot into is there to linger, the one I still and holding dear though I could not remember and the very reason of my unfaithful past that lined my present into this day.
"Then how can someone as lowly as we could ever have the chance to meet this not remarkable, but 'marvelous' King that you say?" As I ask wondering, but teasingly around hiding the urge to know even a glimpse of him.
Smiling wide as I picture the mischievousness inside. Everything went from that day into the time where the sun's warmth doubles and the day changes into longer ones before the fall began.
"WELCOME to the Kingdom, my ladies."
With the both of them Annabeth and Evangeline giggling, as we three arrived riding the carriage with the livestock and farm goods we ought to bargain in the lands' marketplace. We entered the fortress of the Kingdom's first from the seven gates circling from way wide of a thousand miles from the outside going within. With each wall guarded by the kingdom's knights, the tallest and most fortified of all is the center gate and wall, where the capital lies and the pearly castle stands. Taking our carriage as we pass to every gate without delay and fault, I smiled looking at the vast blue sky as our carriage made its way inside the bright, crowded, peaceful, and colorful entrance city of the Kingdom.
"A rare opportunity indeed to come in the kingdom, but thinking about work and the urgency to come back immediately, isn't it too sad to just go without any sweets in the pocket?"
As they two cooperated with each other's scheme, pleading an approval to journey forth after our work is done.
"Well, I guess a few of the time to spare would not hurt." Agreeing as they both clapped with delight, we three hurriedly went in our way, fulfilling our intended jobs before setting foot to the capital, leaving our carriage in a safe place and hand exploring the grandest place of all.
"Where would we go first?" as they both excitedly said in unison, breath taken by the grandest landscapes of beautiful gardens, biggest houses, color patterns of red and white, and the busy crowd of the aristocrat's marketplace.
Walking to the stalls and glass plain windows of the marketplace, a necklace, a pendant designed as a pair of broken golden star crystals meant to be separated, caught my eyes. Slowly reaching out to touch it, a familiar beat took my heart into fleeting warmth, just then a voice whispers letting a shiver to my unfamiliar past ring.
"My guardian angel in the spring of angel."
Turning my gaze up and towards, a gentle smile of the most beautiful woman welcomes me at that moment. To the ray of the lightest gentle breeze of the warm wind, the maiden who took me by surprise and smiled at me was ringing its familiarity, but I could not recognize.
"Pardon me." apologizing, yet asking the words that she just said as I unconsciously held the necklace close to my heart, she points back, drawing a small smile saying,
"It finally came back to where it should belong."
Puzzled by her words, yet somewhat my heartfelt at ease, looking back at the pendant as it slides down as its intended pieces cut into its half as it sways in the air. I held it tight, gazing back, and still looking puzzled without knowing that my tears fall in the moment from my eyes.
"The thing that you have lost, the one that you are truly seeking, will lead you back by the guardian angel in the spring of angel."
Pointing to the necklace as those words snapped everything in return, my heart drowns with the pain and agony from the lingering moment in that split time.
"What," speechless as I wanted to ask what does it mean. I find myself failing as in that second as I looked towards her again, she was gone.
Looking from left to right, back and forth searching for the maiden that somewhat did not exist in the first place as the place to where she stands to adorn with the things she's selling, became in an instant, from a time into an empty narrow place, leaving nothing, but the two necklaces of its both half pieces each. Wondering if I was just dreaming, I held back realizing that everything is not, for if everything in that one simple moment is just an awaking illusion, then why do I have the necklace at hand?
"My guardian angel in the spring of angel." Whispering the name that she gave. I hurriedly took my steps as I apologize to the two that I will be heading my way, and we will just see each other at the front gate before dusk.
Neglecting their both responses, as I immediately took my fastest steps, searching from left to right, top to bottom, and from everywhere. Forcing my way in and out to the busy market and crowded place of people from the capital. I lost my footing as I stumble, just then, someone screams with a warning.
"Everyone, step aside and give way!"
As the crowd scrambles, running in either direction into a panic. For wailing from a distance that's slowly becoming clear, was a horde of wild horses that by means made their way unknowingly into the place.
"It's a mad dash!"
Someone screams, creating another panic, leaving huge damage by the passing areas near. Waiting for nothing, I immediately run together by the crowd into a corner. When an unfortunate child was left in the middle of the street crying helplessly to her lost mother, in the dire time as the horde of horses is running at a speed near shrieking in agony.
"My child!"
Thinking fast to save the child, I dash my way, grabbing her by hand as I forcedly pushed her body out into the group of people by the side. Standing immediately up as I was about to run, the crowd of screams echoed my way.
"Look out!"
Turning around to be caught in the middle of the panicked crowd and angry horses a few centimeters and moment behind. A strong hand caught me by my arm, turning my body into a locking embrace and finally placing me near into a princess carriage facing towards the speed of a horse comes. The scenery became a passing pace behind the wind turning into a blazing breeze, I was saved, caught in just a moment into a perfect embrace.
"The thing that you have lost, the one that you are truly seeking, will lead you back by the guardian angel in the spring of angel."
Ringing those words out loud from my mind, as everything went into a blur from the fast pace of the event that happened, I found myself locked in a saving embrace, into the side of the one who wore a King's hunting clothes.
"There is only a thing that can distinguish the King from any other and anyone in the kingdom, for unlike the rest and nothing that anyone could have, the King is the only man alive to have and could only own as red silk of any clothes."
Riding the majestic white horse with the breeze that sways his unveiling unique long silver hair and the dragon's crest and image that is stitched within his clothes. His strong arms, build physic and striking ocean sapphire blue pair of eyes that anyone in this world could not compare. I was stunned into a mesmerizing tone as I slowly tighten my grip to where my heart at. As the pain broke through and the longing deeply sinks in with my tears that finally escape.
"My heart will break, and everything will shatter into pieces if I lose you, and if you, if you leave me behind."
Ringing the whispering words that the wind from afar or perhaps it brought from someone from a near-far and loud to make me dwell in pain. To the moment when everything seems to slow down, as I gaze upon the face of the person who I should not. Everything stops, as the moment ceases, losing his tight grip around my waist into an embrace, his last breath in, and as the horse stops. From the silent place where anyone wasn't present, he slowly looks beside me, caught me by an eye, and as my tears continue to shed. The beat of my heart with its longing and in pain shows as he says,
"I finally found you,"