Willow University, Faculty of Art and Design, Fine Art Major
ILIYA NARA POV
It was another midday on my campus but now, I'm extremely nervous in front of my lecturer. In the next three months, our class has a group project. It's an art exhibition and this will be our first time to hold such an extravagant event. There were forty students in my batch and each person must show at least three or four of their best works for the exhibition. I'm specialized in digital painting. This time, it's my turn to give my best portfolio, screened by my supervisor:
Miss Stacey.
"Miss Iliya Nara?"
"Yes?"
"I have seen your portfolio and I'm satisfied with your progress up so far. Could you tell me why are you interested in folklore? Do you have any specific reason for that?"
Miss Stacey, one of my favorite lecturers in the Visual Art program was giving me compliments and handed over my works after I showed them to her. For the past six months, I have worked hard continuously in making illustrations based on some local urban stories in my city. Most of them are ghost stories and local myths, which are still strongly believed by the locals until today. However, I prefer to focus on old legends and folklore which are still being orally told from generation to generation. In my opinion, it would be great to retell the stories using the illustration pictures to the younger pupils so it would be more fascinating and help them get interested in it. Moreover, myths, legends, and fantasies, are my favorite subjects. For this exhibition, I decided to raise the local legend. A skillful warrior who also an expert in archery. Hara Anu.
After the final mission of his last hunt of pursuing the legendary serial murderer, Scarlet Killet. He decided to retired and lived in peace with his family on a mountain.
After my short discussion with Miss Stacey, I decided to ride back on my bike and pay a visit to the pet shelter as always. With my absence for a couple of days, I heard Mrs. George has been bustling herself up all day long. Julia didn't do much help which is understandable since she's still quite new and very young. That's why I decided to check on it today. Managing all the mess and set everything back on its track. Then, after that, I'll concentrate on our exhibition project for three months ahead.
"How's your day?"
"What the hell…. arghh…"
I almost fell aside and losing my balance when he suddenly held my bike and keep it steady afterward.
"You!!! Damn!! How could you do that to me!!" I snapped at him, fuming with anger while repeatedly punch his shoulder. But the one who I'm so angry with just cynically laughed at me. Seems like popping out and shocking me have become his new hobby.
Such an annoyance!! Ugh!!
"AZALEL!!!"
"Yes?" He answered me back lazily as always.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him while I keep riding on my bike.
"Checking up on you? May I?" He answered me back and raised his eyebrows amusedly. I rolled my eyes. Ok! He's jerking around. Again…
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going back to the pet shelter. Why?"
I replied as he walks beside me as usual. After my last sentence, he didn't give a reply back.
"I need to go somewhere, little girl…" Then, he popped out. Vanished.
"Wait!! Hey!! Stop!! Azalel, where are you going?" I was too late. He is gone.
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REUBEN POV
Tokyo Tower, Japan
I was checking the list on my hands while he suddenly appeared from nowhere.
"Reuben..."
"WHOAAA!!!"
If I were a human, I must be dead by now because of a heart attack. Damn you, Azalel!
"Was it possible for a human to have more than two angelic abilities at the same time?"
He blurted this absurd question, making my eyebrows united as one. Did he eat or drink something wrong these days? Why has he become such a weirdo in such a short time? He's no longer the Azalel I've known. The old Azalel would is more rude, cold, heartless, and annoyingly straightforward. He is also fully dedicated to his job and assignments, but after he met that girl…..
Even though he may not realize it but I knew. He starts changing to be someone else. He's more attentive, carefree, friendly, and smiles more. A side that I thought never exist in him before. But somehow, that incident and their regular encounters are making a huge impact for both sides. He also develops a new habit. Popping in and disappeared in a blink of an eye while doing our tasks. Something that is intolerable for me.
"I don't know, Azalel. Why don't you ask Barachiel? I believe he knows things better than us both…"
"Hmmm…. Makes sense…." He nodded and agreed with me.
"Azalel… could you help me with arranging the wind in…" I turned around but I can only see the sky and feel the wind blows on my face, while the crows croak in the sky.
"Ok, he is leaving me alone... again… good job, Azalel..."
I sighed heavily and tapped my chest.
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ILIYA NARA POV
Feeding the kittens and puppies. Checked.
Cleaning up their cages. Checked.
Bringing some of them to get the vaccine to our vet. Checked.
Meeting up with some pet lovers and let them choose their pet. Checked.
Checking up the feedstocks for our pets.
Wait…. I remember that I asked Julia to buy it last week. Did she do it already? I should ask her away and search for her whereabouts.
I spotted Julia in the kitchen and was going to ask her a question when suddenly, my word hung in the air. She was there but somewhat I knew there is something wrong with this girl. She whimpered and sobbed softly while she wrapped herself up on the floor. I know she didn't realize my coming and occupied herself in her world for now. I walked slowly, crouched down, and strokes her back gently.
Suddenly, a roll of pictures rushed into my head. Those are the fragments of her memories. There was a fragment when she was so happy during her birthday celebration. There was a fragment when she cried out loud when her dog died because it was too old which lead her to this place and taking care of other animals. There were treasured moments when he met someone whom she called the love of her life. But then, the next fragment of her memory….
Shocked me.
Two people in a bed. Naked. Kissing, caressing one another, stroking and making love passionately while their body was soaked in sweat. I could hear their loud moan while both of them reached their orgasms. Over and over. There, on the door, a young girl looked at the lewd scene with her dazed eyes. Her tears welled up while at the same time, her heart filled up with disappointment and deep hatred. She turned away her head in disgust and run as far as possible from that place. Her apartment was supposed to be their happy home.
"Your boyfriend… He's cheating on you, isn't he?"
I asked her sympathetically while hugging her tight in my embrace. Trying my best to strengthen her in her fragile condition. Julia nodded her head without looking at me even once. Her tears flooded out. Her whimpers got louder as my hands hugged her tightly. Letting her burst out in tears for now, when she is broken to pieces inside.
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AZALEL POV
Again, I saw the whole scene from afar and shook my head. There's no coincidence in this world. I knew it since our first encounter. I know she's different. Ever since I decided to sneak around and observe her more closely, somehow, even though she didn't realize it she has started to melt my ice down. Crumbling my wall defense. Gradually erasing my hatred of mankind. Her heart is so genuine and pure. One look at her and I know there's nothing to hide inside her soul. I sighed. Iliya Nara, what have you done to me? Why I do have these strange feelings towards you?
"A Wisdom of Time. An ability to enter someone's past life and feel their miseries…"
"Four angelic abilities in a mortal. Tsk… tsk… tsk… no wonder you are so special, little girl…
"Iliya Nara, from now on, I'll keep on watching you..."
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CREAK…. CREAAKKK… CREAAAKKKK….
Night has fallen….
Inside an underground tunnel, the sound of creaking bones was heard as crisp as potato chips. A rugged, heavy breath comes out from an awkward, creepy creature that crawled slowly and absorbed the shadows around him. Gradually, the figure formed itself into a tall and handsome male. His face is pale like he has never been under the sun for years. His pitch-black hair fell over his shoulders. He is tall build and has a sharp nose. His jaw is perfectly sculptured and his look resembles such elegance from an aristocratic family in ancient times. After he regained himself, he looked above and turned himself into a black mist that seeped out easily from the ceiling. The mist unleashed itself above the ground, then returned into its human form in a blink of an eye. The full moon is shining beautifully up there.
"It has been a while…."
He murmured the words to himself.
"And now, I have found you…."
"The last descendant of Hara Anu…
"Iliya Nara…"