He was running in the forest. Running, trying to find something... someone.
"Who are you, what are you?!" he asked over and over again as he ran. A stone caused him to trip over and fall on the muddy ground. As he looked up, he saw wooden pillars and a set of stairs. Lanterns on the floor and some were hanging on the tree branches. It was all inside a mountain. The mountain arched over the small wooden village and slowly, he approached it.
The houses were simple and well made. The surroundings were calm and soothing as the scent of fresh air and flowers surround the area.
"You came!"
Said a voice of a woman. Kaori turned around to look but as he did, he woke up. The twins laid on his chest and a few blankets were over them. It's been almost a month since he came here, but he would've left if it weren't for the mother insisting for him to stay a little longer. Slowly, he sat up to avoid waking up the two children. He tied up his hair like the twins taught him and he fixed his clothes like the father told him.
It was a fresh new day, when he heard the same voice as he looked at the mountains through the window.
"Come"
The voice echoed in his ears but he tried his best to ignore it.
The family lived in a village between Priradonia and The Altus, so it was expected that the banners of both nations were around the village. Most of them were used as covers, some were used as hammocks. Kaori saw these as he walked towards the well for some water. He sighed as he looked into the well and pulled the rope for the bucket. The water was cold as he splashed some to his face, it was as it the water came from Aomori. Kaori let out a low groan as he placed the bucket back at the foot of the well. The voice kept echoing in his ear.
He finally had enough. He didn't want to sit still and be taunted by this echo anymore. He wanted to know what it was. Then he rushed back to the house and into the room of the twins, to see the mother as he opened the door.
He decided to leave and look for the source, but the mother stopped him as he packed his things.
"The ones who enter that nation never came back... please do not risk-"
"I'm better now. Thank you."
Kaori cut her off as he continued to pack. As he took the bag, he paused to look at the mother who was sitting on the bed and looking after her twin daughters. Kaori wasn't one of them, so he saw no reason to stay or to feel bad about leaving them. So he left, not even saying goodbye to the people who grew fond of him.
He walked towards the voice that kept calling him but as the sun sets, he stopped by an old cottage. It was worn out but it's enough for him to think about what to do after he finds the source. It might be just like Aernas and he doesn't want that, but the books in Aomori said that Priradonia was the land of memories and the land of the Last Grace, so maybe it wouldn't be as harsh as Aernas.
Morning came and he decided to continue his journey. Kaori was walking slowly, taking in his surroundings as they turn more lively and natural. It looks like it hasn't been touched by humans at all. It was a calming sight and he was happy to see nature being itself.
After half a day later, he reached the foot of the mountain. This was where the bevy was when he saw them back at the village. He looked up to see it, the village, and small figures working and playing around. He remembered how he would always look after the twins, how he would always try to keep them out of trouble. All those memories, he didn't know how to feel about them but there was one thing certain. They always have a place in his cold heart.
He stopped by the river to refresh his face. As he splashed the water onto his face with a sigh, he saw a figure of a lady from the other side of the river. She was like a beautiful while lily, white and pure looking. Her hair had the same dark shade of orange like newly bloomed marigolds, movements were so gentle that the water was not bothered. She was graceful, elegant, and beautiful.
Kaori wiped his face and as he did, the woman disappeared.
He was left star-struck, frozen in place. He couldn't help but want to see her more. So he got up to continue looking for the same place in his dream.
Slowly the area starts to become familiar. The road he was on, looked exactly like his dream. The road looks as if someone did run towards the plants. He walked towards the end to see the same exact place. The same wooden pillars and the same lanterns... but the place was overgrown now. There was the same muddy ground he fell on in his dream and the same set of stairs. Most of the lanterns had their glass broken, but the lights still remained. The mountain was now filled with many different kinds of plants but the houses still stood strong.
It was all different. To the far corner, at the little cave was a way underground. The village never went up the mountain, they went under it and at the walls of the inner side. A massive wooden building was at Kaori's left and its rooms went through the mountain. Everything was overgrown, but not ruined.
Then he heard footsteps.
A gentle breeze of wind hit his skin and the same smell of flowers surrounds him. The lanterns glowed brighter and the green plants were more lively, he was in awe. Again, he saw her.
The Last Grace.