-1:23 am-
The Sovereign Train station
There weren't many people at this time but I was glad that I was here before the last train arrived. 1:30 am train was the last one to go to my destination. And I was relieved by only half of the air because Jodai wasn't here yet.
We went our separate ways to save more time, and he willingly let me come here by myself. Even though I could see in his eyes that he wasn't pleased, He went back to the Bamboo house, more like sneaking into it. If he was caught, we fucked up the plan.
"..."
I looked up at the central clock at the center of the pathway.
"Almost 1:30."
I spoke it out.
Is it a good idea? I can't go back to Bamboo house, not yet. I don't know how to face him. I don't know how to tell him about everything, to ask, to look into his eyes. To be honest, I want to hold his hands right now. But how can I? Behind those kind gestures, he helped that family, the family that killed my mother.
"Maste...Zephyra."
"Jodai."
"Let's go. The train is here."
"What about..."
Before I asked him, he grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the train.
"!!"
And jumped inside together.
"..."
I looked at him.
And then the train ran off.
"Ha...Ha….ha."
He was panting. He took out his energy to return to the house and came here.
"!"
He looked back at me and raised the two swords in his hand to me while another hand was still holding mine.
"Ha…ha."
He was still panting and also showed a little smile to me.
I moved closer to him and raised my hand to put on his head, but I couldn't reach him.
"!!"
He was startled, and then he leaned his face toward me.
"Heh."
I could pat him
"Good job.."
I told him.
-9:16 am-
"Zephyra..."
"Hmm."
"Wake up. We almost arrive at the last station."
"Hmm..."
I tried to open my eyes. I saw the dark sky was a bit brighter than yesterday but still gloomy.
"The next and last station, Hwaland. You can take the bus to the North Mountain at this station."
"..."
I got up and stretched myself.
Jodai took my hand to get out of the train and led me to one of the benches where no one was sitting. No one was here at this station either; there was only one ticket seller.
It took a minute for Jodai to manage and come back to me.
"He said the bus to the North Mountain will arrive at 10am."
"Ah...Okay."
"..."
"Zephyra...please sit and wait here. I'll be right back."
"...Hm, where are you going?"
"To the store over there."
"Umm."
He walked away, and halfway, he looked back.
"?"
Then, he continued his way to the store. What was that about?
-11:36 am-
We were on the bus for an hour, but there was no sign telling us to get there. I could not remember how to get to the mountain because I was only 6 years old when my mother took me down from the mountain.
"Here."
He gave me the sandwich.
"I'm not that hungry."
"You haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon."
"You too."
"Just eat it, please."
"Here."
I separated the sandwich in half and gave it to him.
"You have some, then I have some."
I told him.
"Yes, Zephyra"
He took it, and I waited for him to grab a bite. Then he took a bite, and I did, too.
-6:30pm-
"Jodai..."
"..."
He fell asleep.
"Jodai."
"Yes, yes!"
He flinched.
"We're here."
"..."
He looked at the view from the window.
We got out of the bus. It took us about 6 and 30 minutes to reach the mountain. It wasn't that smooth of a ride; it was quite bumpy, to be exact. But Jodai could fall asleep, which meant he must be very exhausted.
"It's all white."
He told me after looking around at the scenery.
"And cold..."
I supported his words.
The North Mountain
With the white covering the dirt and grass, we could see the street and the walking path here and there. The North Mountain only has two seasons: winter and spring. We are in the late spring season and are crossing over to winter time.
The snow must have fallen during the day because it had started to melt and fade away, but the weather was still cold and chilly. It was almost dark, after all.
The way to the North Mountain village was up the hill. I couldn't remember exactly. I was just
6 years old then.
"Are you sure this is the way, Zephyra?"
Jodai asked.
"No."
"...And why do we go this way?"
"I don't know."
"..."
"It's getting dark."
He said.
"Yeah."
It was hard to speak while on the steep hill, and I barely kept my balance while walking. I haven't slept much and eaten much. I glanced at Jodai; he was also... Did I take him on a tortured journey?
"It's almost winter. The nighttime is longer."
I spoke up.
"Zephyra, wear my coat."
He took the coat off and gave it to me.
"You need it."
"..."
Then he put his coat over my back.
"You're so stubborn."
I told him.
"You too, Zephyra."
"Are you…trying to not call me Master?"
"..Yes, Zephyra."
"..Cute."
I softly said to myself.
We were walking for about an hour or even more. The wind was stronger and stronger high up. My legs were shaking and weakening. The sky was totally dark. I could not see the path ahead.
Jodai?
I couldn't see him either.
"J..Jodai?"
My voice was a bit shakingly.
I saw nothing but the dark blue color.
"Fuck...Jodai... Jodai, where are you?"
I was stepping back and forth.
"Thug!"
And suddenly slipped and fell down to the ground.
"J..Jodai??..Where are...you?"
"!!"
And then someone grabbed my arms.
"Zephyra...Ha…ha."
He called my name, and his breath was panting loudly against the wind.
"Where the fuck are you!? I thought you were following me…"
I used all my energy to scold him because of fear.
"I can't lose you...too."
I told him softly, and I barely opened my eyes. I couldn't push myself to get up.
"I'm sorry, I was following you...but…Zephyra…Zephyra! Are you hurt?.. Zephyra!!?"
…