"Hey she actually lostcri!"
"You're joking right?"
"That Nychibi?"
"And so fastcri…"
A commotion had started around me. I was so focused on the arena, I didn't even notice the people that had gathered. I quickly picked up my dime from the ground, and when I looked up Enora was in front of me. "See, didn't I tell you?"
"There is blood!" There was blood on her arm. "I guess she cut me when I passed by her."
"She cut you? But I couldn't even see anything. More importantly, you are not hurt are you?"
"Nope, it's already healed, see?" It's true her arm had no wound. There was just a small trickle of blood on it. Still I grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Why did you do it!?"
"I am sorry for making you worry, but I am fine."
"That isn't the point. You put yourself in danger for me."
"Didn't you also put yourself in danger?"
"W-well that is true. B-but…" She hugged me tightly. "Let's get away from all of these people."
After she said that the world around us went completely dark. It was like standing in a dark void. Only her and I were present. "What's this!? Magic? Where are we?"
"This is like its own dimension. It is similar to the magic I used to transfer us over. Although, I don't know exactly where it is. More importantly, you need to listen to me. We aren't on Earth anymore…"
"I know that." She sat down on the… floor? If I tried to think about what this place was, I would probably hurt my brain. Instead, I sat next to her, grabbing her hand. "You lived in a relatively peaceful place before coming here."
"Yes…." I leaned my head against her shoulder. "Still all across Earth there had been and still was fighting. Here it is pretty much unavoidable."
"I know that, but I thought we would be fighting monsters. Not other people… birds." She gently stroked my hair. "Fighting people feels wrong."
"You are very kind, Melle. Let me ask you. What would you do to someone who tried to hurt you? Or tried to hurt me?" If someone tried to hurt me…
—----
I thought about being back on a playground, my mother sitting there watching me. A boy my age had grabbed my hair while I was playing in the sand. He pulled it so hard that I started to cry. Before either of our parents could get over there, I slapped him. He was shocked. I don't think he had ever been hit before.
My mom lectured me afterwards that I shouldn't hit people. She said that I should only hit them if I'm in danger. Then she looked deep into my eyes and said "there are other ways to get people to leave you alone, and there is one other time when you are free to hit someone."
"When is that mommy?" She smiled at me, and she answered. "If they hurt your loved ones. Never let anyone hurt your loved ones. If anyone ever hurt you, they would wake a sleeping giant."
"A sleeping giant?" I tilted my head. "That's right. This momma bear would wake up her sleeping giant. Then I would protect you from everyone."
"Will I ever wake up a sleeping giant?" She started laughing as she messed up my hair. "Didn't you listen to what I just said?"
"Well, I want to see mommy's sleeping giant!" I hugged her arm that was still patting my head. "I am sure you will find a sleeping giant someday."
—----
"Melle? What's wrong? You're crying…"
"What you said just reminded me of something my mom said." I rested my head on her lap. "Want to talk about it?"
I told her everything that happened on the playground including what my mom said to me as Enora stroked my hair. "I don't know what to say…"
"It's okay. I understand why you were so angry for me. If I was in your position, I would probably be angry too. You know my parents were killed by a drunk driver?"
"I remember you told me." I ground my teeth together as the tears kept flowing. "That guy got a ten year sentence, but if I'm honest. I wanted more. I wanted to kill him. My parents never deserved that. When he got locked up, I was empty for a while. I thought, who's fault was it? Surely it was the drunk drivers? But all of those years I blamed myself. If I hadn't…"
"They would never blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself either. It isn't wrong to want vengeance on the person who caused it. I suppose I should share a bit about myself."
"I am the princess of the Twilight Clan. You already know that part, but I ran away from it all. Or rather I was sent to Earth by my father. We were always able to choose who we got to be with. I had always thought that. Until my father said I had to marry someone from the Dusk Clan. There was no way I would ever accept such a proposal. For one I didn't even like men."
"I told him exactly that. He was always strict with me. When I didn't accept the offer, he sent me to Earth. He said 'you can spend the rest of your life here'. My mom didn't say anything. It was so unlike her. I had always thought she cared what I wanted, but she just watched as I was sent away."
"Earth was hell when I arrived. The few humans who actually could use magic prosecuted my kind and other people from here. So many of my kin were burned alive. I couldn't do anything. I had to preserve my strength. Eventually, I couldn't watch anymore. I went back into hiding. I went to sleep. What could I do? I think my father knew I would have to come back here. My strength on Earth wouldn't last long. Eventually the mana in the air evaporated. I couldn't keep up with it without drinking blood. I didn't want to die there, so I decided to come back. My father will soon realize…"
She was carrying a different kind of burden. Still a lot of things didn't make sense, but if she had to face her father… "I've decided! I want you to teach me magic."
"What's this so sudden? I already told you I would."
"This and that are different. I won't let anyone take you away from me, and to do that I need strength." Her face became red. "I will become as strong as you are! Then you will never be taken away. I won't allow it."
"What about your sleeping giant?"
"What would happen if I woke the sleeping giant, and I was too weak? It might crush me!"
"Dork…" She started to tear up, but she was smiling nonetheless. "You should know I'm selfish. I won't let anyone take you away. Not even your father. I love you, Enora."
"I-I l-love you too." I held her cheek as the tears ran down her face. She was alone all of that time. Just how long was she alone for? Now that I was here, I would never leave her alone. We would find the sleeping giant, and along the way I might just slug her father.