I remember when I first met him. A year ago on the farmlands, a boy who barely anyone knew with pale white hair and a blank face.
He appeared at the farmhouse one day as I was reading a storybook while looking after the sheep.
His body was drenched and covered with dirt. Shocked and confused, it was hard not to stare at him; my book had fallen out my hand before I had even noticed it, I was speechless, but he too didn't say a word.
It was strange it was like he was looking at me but not seeing me. He approached and dropped a basket on the ground before me, then walked away. I didn't bother following him, and I was hesitant about opening the basket.
It took me a while to even muster the courage to even stay within the area.
Eventually, I got off my seat and opened it slowly. The basket was full of medicinal herbs and beneath them a tight rope, tied into a noose, covered in mud.
I didn't understand what it meant, and the memory was quickly forgotten, but that was our first meeting.
I turned to pick up the storybook that had fallen from my hands as I carried the basket.
I can still remember what it was titled; 'The Unknown Child'.
It's not like people avoided him. It was more like no one could even tell he was there.
Sometimes, I'd see him reading a book under the oak tree. Other times, I'd see him staring blankly at the fields for hours.
I was the farmer's head daughter so I often had a lot of responsibilities; to take care of the farm, but whenever I'd ask my father about him, he'd say, "Is there anyone like that here?"
I started to believe I was the only one who could see him. It made me feel a little happy; but the more I met him, the less I understood anything about him.
He'd barely do anything I'd say or be able to answer to anything I'd asked; whether it was about his parents, where he came from, or even his own name.
The only times it ever felt like we talked was when it was about history books or magic books that I lent him; he was a good listener and even though at times it'd feel like I'm talking to myself being around him made me feel strangely comfortable, but at the same time, his eyes were slightly scary.
One day, I saw him walking with the Graystov's in the village.
Out of curiosity, I asked them if they knew each other. Surprisingly, it turned out that he was their son.
Everyone in the village knew the Graystovs had a second child, but no one had ever actually seen it. We all just assumed they were hiding it for personal reasons.
When they asked me whether I was his friend, I didn't even know what to say. They were nice people, and they came onto me so earnestly that I couldn't turn them down.
"Y-yeah..." I said, trying to avoid their eyes. I expected them to start shouting with joy, but instead, their eyes were filled with tears, and they stared at me calmly.
"Really?" Mrs.Graystov asked.
I started to feel guilty. It was my first time seeing something like this, and I couldn't understand what could have made me feel this way.
It was as if I was thinking about what to do next that he spoke.
"Yeah, her name's Reina."
I was shocked and it seemed I wasn't the only one, his parents were surprised too.
Apparently, it was the first time he had called anyone by their name, as well as the first time he had ever remembered a person's face aside from his family.
For the Graystovs, it was probably the happiest moment they had experienced in a while.
Embracing us both as tears flowed out from their eyes like a fountain; onlookers staring at is with worry and concern.
Throughout that short time that felt like a lifetime, Miya stared only at me as if acknowledging my presence alone.
Once again, that comfortable feeling.
For me, that was my happiest moment.
Reina stared at the corpse. Her eyes pitch black, her lips ajar. A loud distorting sound ringing in her ears.
FroM thAt moMEnt wE WEre AlwAYs together.
The beast's teeth dug deeper, and the dragon released a loud roar as Miya's body that was formerly inclined was now dangling downward. The distortion increased.
I wOULD nEVER Let yOU Be ALONe, AND I WOULD NeVER lEt YOU LeAVe my side.
A drip of blood flowed out of Miya's eye and dripped into the black fluid, forever lost. Reina's head dropping down as if following the drop of blood and its last trinkle. The distortion increased.
I'M sORRY FOR BeINg SO selfish.
The distortion increased.
I'M SORRY FOR NOT caring.
The distortion was loud.
Even now...
It was silent.