Looking at me with a smile, Aylin asks me once more if I could help her find true happiness. Her smile is not real, it was a mask covering what is beneath. All the pain and suffering that is behind that smile.
A piercing pain started radiating from my cheek.
"Woah, that's a big black flower, how beautiful," Aylin remarked.
Seeing the flower on my cheek light up, Aylin gave me another big smile. But this one is genuine, not a fake one.
"You are cuter when you smile like that."
Aylin stopped smiling, and while the smile faded, her cheeks became bright red. Looking away for a brief period and then looking back.
"You sure know how to flatter women, don't you?" Aylin said smiling.
I don't know how to help Aylin with her curse. There isn't anything I can do to assist her. At that moment the flower on my cheek glowed even more, emitting a black ooze that trickled down.
Aylin let out a quick wow as if she is surprised. Aylin suddenly got an idea, she looks hesitant but after thinking, she spilled the beans.
"If we ask the Aeon of Serenity for help, she could probably help us find what we are seeking," Aylin said.
Doesn't serenity mean peacefulness and stuff? There is an Aeon for that? How does the Aeon of Serenity act? If she is one of those people who are with fear then I am dead, right?
"Aylin… I am kinda hesitant meeting another Aeon, I mean, the last one tried to murk my ass." I said, trying to persuade her.
Aylin leaned in closer, her face mere inches from mine, a determination shining in her eyes. She believed that finding the Aeon of Serenity was the key to her happiness, and she wanted me by her side.
"Sooo, Aylin, how is Serenity like?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
In Aylin's eyes, Serenity was reminiscent of a figure named Sekito Sakaranai, known for her calm and laid-back demeanor. She sought solitude in quiet places, far away from the noise of the world. Sekito was one of the elder aeons, boasting an age of around 4000 years.
"Wait, wait, wait a damn minute, aeons users live longer than normal humans?"
Aylin paused for a moment, mentally counting the known aeons on her fingers.
"Well, most of them do live longer, but there are exceptions. The oldest aeons, like Fear, Dexterity, Serenity, Guilt, and Nihility, have surpassed the 1000-year mark," Aylin explained.
"Aylin, how many aeons are there total in this world?"
"Uhh, let me remember for a second."
She took out her hands and began counting.
"So, how many aeons are there in total?" I pressed further, eager to understand this hidden world.
Aylin's hands rose as she began counting off the aeons one by one.
"There's me, the Aeon of Fear, along with the Aeon of Rejuvenation, Dexterity, Serenity, Breakage, Joy, Guilt— then theirs you, by the way— Conservation, and Ember. Oh, and I almost forgot, there's also the Aeon of Nihility," Aylin listed, her satisfaction
She pointed at me, telling me that I was also an aeon wielder. Aylin also said that she has never seen such an aeon before.
Intrigued by the existence of other aeons, I inquired about Aylin's encounters with them. She revealed that she had crossed paths with me, Oslovi, Viego, Sekito and Fear but had yet to meet the others.
"Aylin, how come you met Serenity? You are so formal in using her name too."
Aylin switched into a more comfortable position and her story began.
Around 10 years ago when I was little, I didn't have the curse of desire. I was free, I was a child exploring the world. I had nothing that held me back. I used to do all sorts of activities like fishing, bug catching, and exploring the vast forest.
But one day, something gruesome happened, I was out searching for kabutos. There was a giant one perching on the tree. I had to catch it. Climbing the oak tree. My hand was outstretched ready to grab it, the moment I touched it, it flew and I flew. Hearing a loud crack and the sound of falling hissing leaves, I landed with a thud.
The moment I woke up the sun was setting. The city was silent and voiceless. Navigating through the streets finding my home. The sounds of wind and the droplets of rain was the only thing I heard. I was finally home, opening the door and yelling out that I was home.
I expected a warm welcome from my mother, a hot meal, and a comforting bath. I called out,
"Mom, are you home yet?"
There was no response, the heavy rainfall could be heard outside. Mom was probably sleeping and resting after a hard day at work. I stroll into the kitchen, seeing a sandwich specially made with my favorite ingredients. Mom made me some food before going to sleep, how nice.
"Mom, I'm taking the bath!" I called out.
Washing my small body that had a large bruise on it. Sitting on the cramped stool washing my hair. I felt a slight pain radiating down my arm. A big large purple mark was on my arm. As I got done washing my hair, I got a chill, thinking it was just cold I jumped into the warm tub.
All my worries and pain went away, the water carried away all my anxiety and anguish. All flowed away and my mind drifted. As I was sitting there in the tub, a rubber ducky floated up. Its orange peak poking me. Poking back at it, I played with it for a while, until I decided it was enough water.
Stepping out of the washroom and heading down to my room. I got dressed and laid down in bed. What a short day it has been. I lay there staring at the ceiling thinking about how I should catch the big kabuto. A new net? A pair of climbing shoes? Well, I will collect enough money for that one day.
As I lay there, trying to sleep, I felt lonely, I wanted someone to hug me and comfort me.
I slowly walked to my mom's room. Mom would usually sleep here alone, she liked being alone. After my dad left me, Mom tried her best to raise me. She tried to make me into a pretty lady, she raised me with proper etiquette, with love.
I slide the paper door to the side and see my mom laying in the room. Her arms are in a weird position. I walked over to her futon and open it up. After that, I tried to push my mother into the futon, and my small little body manage to push her little by little. She was finally on the futon. I crawled into the futon with my mom and hugged her. Her body felt cold and empty but I had someone to comfort me.
I slept with her, I woke up the next morning and saw Mom still asleep.
"Mom, wake up."
I tugged on her shoulder and shook her but she wouldn't wake up. I had seen people throw cold water on sleeping people to make them wake up. I ran outside grabbing our water bucket and throwing it down the well. After scooping up the cold groundwater, I stood in front of Mom with it.
"Sorry Mom, don't get angry."
The cold splashed all over her face and drenched her in water. The water made my feet wet.
Mom didn't wake up. She still laid there, motionless.
"MOM, STOP PRETENDING YOU ARE ASLEEP!" I yelled angrily.
There was no response. There was only quiet and the echoes of my voice.
"I'm sorry Mom."
I grabbed some tissues and started wiping the floor that was soaked. I changed her shirt and laid her back in her futon. I think Mom is just really tired and needs extra sleep.
I went into the kitchen and started to make the dish Mom taught me. Oil in pan then beat your eggs, my small hands struggled to pour in oil. I poured in the beaten eggs and started to stir them. Then add vegetables and stir. Finally adding the meat, I took out some chicken we had bought and chopped it into small bits, and dumped it into the pan. Now stir even more and then add the rice.
"Which sauce was I supposed to pour again?" I asked perplexed.
Looking around, there were five different sauces we had. They all looked the same and all had different smells. Mom poured in one of these at least but which one?
Tired of thinking, I poured in all the five different sauces. In the end, the fried rice smelled and tasted weird.
"Mom! I made some fried rice. Want some?"
There was no response. At that moment, a lady walked into the house. She had a black dress and a thick blue belt around her waist. Covering her shoulders was a white cloth that ran down to her hips. At last, she had a pink cloth that covered the white, it flourished with patterns and flowers. Her white hair as long the dress.
"Where is Luna?" She asked.
I pointed in the direction of where my mother was sleeping. The woman walked over to Mother and held her. The woman spoke out.
"Your mother is gone." She said emotionless.
What did she mean by gone? And who was this woman to barge into the house and touch my mom?
"What are you doing here?" I questioned with a hint of aggression.
"Sorry for no introduction, I'm Sekito Sakaranai, call me Sekito." She said with a faint smile.
Sekito? Why was she here though?
"I felt a disturbance in this area, something impure here. It seems we found it." She said.
She pointed at the tea that Mom left on the table.
"Your mother was poisoned by someone."
What? Poisoned? What did she mean? Did she mean someone put poison in her tea? But who could have wanted Mom dead? Everyone who lived here loved her then I remember those words.
"I will kill you someday, take your stupid child. I am leaving you."
Then he left, never came back, and never interacted with us. But why now? Why would he kill Mom?
"Sekito, why would he kill her?" I asked calmly.
My insides were breaking apart as if a piece of my jigsaw puzzle was missing, Mom. The other bits tried to hold the main structure up but with one missing it collapsed.
I fell to the ground and started to cry and whine.
"Mom, Mom, Mommy, WAKE UP!" I desperately screamed out.
Sekito's cloth swayed in the air as she turned around to face me.
"Come Aylin." Her eyes were full of regret.
I walked over and saw my mom's empty body laying there.
"Speak with her," Sekito said.
How was I supposed to speak with her if she was dead? I touched her face and curled my finger around her brown hair like I used to do as a kid.
"Mom, please wake up."
I made a final attempt to wake her up but to no avail. I laid crying on her lifeless body, tears seeped into her beautiful clothing.
"Aylin, please don't cry. It ruins your makeup." My mom said jokingly.
I heard a voice behind me.
"You heard Luna's voice didn't you?"
How did Sekito know that I heard my mother's voice?
"Sekito, what are you?" I asked while tears rolled down.
In a casual response, she responded.
"Well… You could say I was Luna's friend. But you hearing her voice was no accident. I allowed her soul to vocalize those words." She explained.
Confused and amazed by this I ask her how. She didn't respond, I turn to my side and see that her cheek was a delicate shade of ethereal white. The petals seem to glow with soft luminescence. A white blossom imbued with a hint of shimmering silver.
"You are one of the aeons," I said, my eyes opened wide.
"Ah, you got me. That's right, you are a well-educated little girl, I'm the Aeon of Serenity." She said while head-patting me.
"Now, let's give your mom a proper rest shall we?" She asked.
I nodded in approval, the next moment, Mom's body was dematerialized, it was turned into nothing.