The sweet melodies of Nijahoeba's guitar seemed to play while Arina walked inside the large temple, stepping on the white tiles with her barefeet.
She kept her eyes on the alter while masses, from all around Yada and neighboring cities cheered her name, begging for her to bless them. She was a vessel, performing the miracles of the great white Upper Being.
The white robe she wore covered her entire body and she looked like an angel.
The sick and injured came in numbers, all of them begging to be healed by her. It was what she was born to do, as a believer.
Sulli, the Healer and upper being had gifted her with this ability years ago when she was a little girl.
She would never forget the day she touched her hand and inherited some of her power.
Sulli was their God, they lived by her commandments.
As she touched each hand, healing each one, her mind was still curious about Nijahoeba.
A pang of guilt overwhelmed her as she thought about what Arth did. Odo and Nijahoeba were too good to her.
Nobody deserved such ill treatment, rich or poor, man or God.
A shrill voice was heard throughout the temple, pulling Arina out of her thoughts.
Her body tensed as her face turned to face the two gigantic, white doors behind her. Even from behind the doors, she could sense Sulli's wrath.
"What have you brought to my kingdom Arina?" the hoarse but yet calm voice asked.
Silence reigned. Sulli was speaking to Arina and her alone. Nobody else could hear them.
"What have I brought? I'm afraid I do not understand my lady." Arina replied.
"There is something in my kingdom, it is also provoking me. Get rid of it Arina," concluded
Sulli.
Arina bowed slightly before saying a prayer. She knew what her God wanted. She also knew that she had to do it.
Nijahoeba, he was provoking her God, she had to act before Sulli herself decided to break out of her realm and attack Nijahoeba.
After the gathering, Arina headed for the Yada Harbor. Nobody knew where she was going, not even Arth. She wore a grey cloak over her head, in order to camouflage amongst the regular civilians.
Her heart seemed to beats its way out of her chest as she walked down the dark streets.
The sky was an orange color with dark clouds.
The first star had appeared, reminding her that the evening was arriving. The loud yell from men caught her attention and she walked faster.
Finally, she reached the harbor and began looking for the Marietta, Odo's ship.
Her eyes wandered across the endless ships, a gentle wind blowing her dress.
She held it closely and suddenly saw a figure approaching.
The figure grew closer and she realized that it was a man. He carried a barrel.
"Greetings ma'am," the man spoke when he reached her.
"Greetings. If I may ask, the man that sells oil, where can I find him?" she asked. "He was with a young man with dark long hair."
The man narrowed his eyes. "Are you talking about the old man with one leg? Odo?" he finally answered.
"Yes! Where is he?" she asked.
"You see that ship over there? That is where he is." The man answered as he put the barrel on the floor and pointed at one of the ships.
"Thank you very much!" Arina said gratefully.
"You are welcome," the man said as she walked away, heading to the Marietta.
***
Distant whispers filled his ears as he stared at the compass.
The needle stood static, never moving. "Lad, somebody is here for you," Odo appeared from below the crow's nest, where Nijahoeba stood and said.
"Who is it?" asked Nijahoeba, closing the compass.
"It's me," The familiar voice said.
Nijahoeba looked down from the crow's nest and saw the blonde young woman who wore a grey cloak. She removed the hood and blonde hair fell over her shoulders in waves. "Arina?" his voice came out unclear as he put his compass back in his coat.
Odo was already gone, leaving just the two of them.
Nijahoeba quickly climbed down the crow's nest swiftly,
"I bought the money over, Odo is counting it as we speak." She began once they were close to each other.
"Hhm, I see," he slowly said when his feet touched the deck. Silence then reigned.
"You were right," she said once again. "I am a believer. I serve Sulli, the healer."
"Forgive me but I don't think I want to talk to you," Nijahoeba said before walking pass her.
"Why are you here?!" she asked, turning to face his back.
Nijahoeba stopped walking and turned to face her. "I believe I should be asking you that," he answered. "You didn't have to bring the money, not after what that man said to me."
"What are you?" she asked.
He rose his eyebrow.
"Sulli has seen you. Now, tell me what brings you here? Which God do you serve?" her voice was demanding.
A sharp laughter escaped Nijahoeba's lips.
"I don't serve any God Arina. I am here to sell oil, nothing else,"
"Lad, prepare the sail, we have to leave before the next hour." Odo's voice yelled from the background.
"Yes sir!" Nijahoeba yelled. "Arina, you you have to leave," he then said to her.
Her lower lip quivered as she looked at the horizon.
"Forgive me for what Arth did." She slowly said, "I should have done something." Before walking away.
The shrill sound of an unknown creature filled Nijahoeba's ears, triggering his anger.
He kept his eyes on the small figure that belonged to Arina who stood at the edge of the harbor.
She was watching over them as the ship sailed away, like some God.
There was something about her that made her seem superior, it was something not even the Upper beings possessed.
Could this be the reason his mother believed that men could replace the Upper beings? The reason she did what she did to him?
"We can save all men son, the two of us can destroy these tyrants who call themselves GODS!" his mother had said with tears running down her cheeks.
His eyes suddenly noticed the small figure that belonged to Arina pushing a small boat into the sea.
What was she doing?
He quickly looked through the binoculars on his hand and saw her paddling in the water.
A shrill sound was heard once again, this time Nijahoeba sensed some movement as well. "Arina..." he whispered before taking off his coat and shoes.
He let go off of the binoculars and jumped into the sea, swimming towards Arina. An angry Upper being appeared, destroying everything in its path as well.
The giant, white beast with eight eyes and long limbs raced for the harbor, wrath in its eyes. It carried a gourd on its back.
Arina paddled as fast as she could, seeing Sulli approaching. A strong hand suddenly appeared from under the water and held onto the boat.
Nijahoeba's wet face appeared. He stretched out his other hand towards Arina's waist and pulled her into the water.
Time seemed to stop as they both sank into the deep sea. She held onto him, her eyes wide open as the water drowned them both.
Certain memories returned, bringing Arina to the past.
"You have to let her bless you," the old man said as he put his arm around young Arina.
"Why should I? I thought you were the one who told me to never believe anything she says." She asked,
"Yes, I did but...think about her power, what we can do with it? Imagine healing the whole world. Don't you want that?" the old man answered.
"A new GOD is coming Arina, when he arrives, I want to be amongst his army."
"New God?" she asked, looking at the old man in shock.
Her eyes immediately peeled open and the first thing she saw was the ceiling. She slowly sat upright and realized that she was in a ship, Odo's ship.
A red coat covered her body. Her head throbbed terribly and she still tasted the salty sea.
The door suddenly opened and the young
man with long, black hair and a small moustache walked inside. he wore a loose white shite that was buttoned down to the navel, revealing his toned chest and old scars. Life hadn't been kind to him, she realized.
He carried a mug on his right hand and some clothes on the other.
"Where is she?" she asked, pulling the coat close to her naked body. He placed the mug on the small drawer next to her and put the clothes on the small bed she was on.
He then pulled a chair from the corner and sat down before her. His half opened, dark eyes stared at her. "You defied your God, why?" he asked.
"The same reason you defied yours, for the future of men. When you told me you served no God, you awoke something..." she tried to explain but he said,
"I am not like you."
"You are! You abandoned your God..."
"I never had a God Arina! I was never a believer."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean? How come you know so much about the believers? Sulli how did she see you?" she asked. There was silence.
"Sailor," she begged.
"Yada is no more." He slowly said.
"YOU angered your God and she punished everyone in your home island. Is that what you wanted? The future of men?"
Tears slowly ran down her rosy cheeks.
"Foolish is one to think they can go against the Upper beings." He added.
"THEN why did you come for me? Why did you save me from Sulli?!" she asked in anger and hurt. "You went against an Upper being...are you also foolish?"
He did not answer, instead rose to his feet and headed for the door.
His footsteps faded as he walked down the passage heading to the unknown.
Arina covered her face and silently wept.