When the stars aligned on the horizon, during the third blink of the solar, a soft, caressing voice had whispered to her."My child…They stole my precious child…"The revelation shattered her heart, as though breaking it into ten fragile pieces. A shadow loomed, vast and oppressive, casting its presence over her entire being. Ached, her tears falling like radiant blue drops into the void of nothingness. Even the cure purple moon, once a source of solace, darkened into a menacing red. In the end, she granted her own child — Her revered tear. —Recorded At Third Blink, Esta.
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Beneath the weight of a dark, rain-soaked sky, a young man stood alone, his dirty shirt clinging to his thin frame, his hands and feet raw and bleeding from the harsh ran."Huff, huff… Finally… I'm free." After a long run in the storm, he was trying to catch his breath. "Goodbye, damn prison. I swear on my life I'll never see your black wall again!" He exclaimed.Eighteen years…Damn, I spent eighteen years in that dark and oppressive jail. He unjustly cursed for committing no sins only because the Church had filled the continent with fanaticism and blind faith.But now he was free, and no one could take that back from him.He knew he needed to find a place to stay for the night and plan his journey north, where true freedom awaited. Glancing down, he noticed his legs trembling beneath him and silently pleaded with them to hold on a little longer.Should he take the road? No, the jailers would have already noticed his absence. Perhaps they had even sent the Church's judgment after him.He looked back to see if anyone was following him, but there was nobody there."Nah… I'm just being paranoid. It's been an hour and this heavy rain has washed away all traces." He said as swept his leg along the ground, attempting to erase his tracks in the rain.Unfortunately, the world has treated him poorly.A figure stood on the hill, its rain-soaked black cloak blending seamlessly with the stormy sky. Its eyes glimmered with an eerie blue light, fixed intently on him.Thunder! Lightning shone the sky. Two shadows collided on the ground.He stumbled backward, startled, his mind racing. What on earth was that? Those glowing eyes,terrifying and unrelenting. Was this a jailer or a judge?"Who are you?" The Cloak-man asked, sound blurred with rain.He's not a jailor. He doesn't recognize me. "I'm nobody, just lost on the mountain. Do you know how to get out?""Lost, here? Again! Who are you?" Cloak-man eyes glowed brighter.Thunder rumbled, its voice creeped into his heart. The prisoner stayed silent.What is this situation? How can I escape? What should I do? He knocked on a shaking leg, fighting back his fear.Cloak-man lost his patience. "No answer? Fine! I'll find it myself." He then pulled out a majestic book from under his cloak. Church symbols and magic crystals adorned the book.When the prisoner caught sight of the book, his senses were immediately reawakened. Without thinking, he instinctively rubbed his wrist, which bore a black angel tattoo, a sign of prisoner's mark.He knew that book. It was a holy book. It connected to the holy tower system, which judged all rules and laws without testimony. The Cloak-man is a Saint who possesses God's whisperer.His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope. He still had a chance. Out of everyone, he was the luckiest one. This opportunity belonged to him alone. Karma had no control over him. He stared at the holy book as he adjusted his legs. When the Whisperer used the book, I will create a distraction and run as fast as I can.The book activated and emitted a soft glow. It illuminated everything around. In this moment, he could see clearly. Within the cloak, there was a captivating woman. She had flowing hair and piercing eyes. She was adorned with a crusader's attire.His eyes widen The Whisperer is a woman. he raised his arms, "Though I may be a prisoner, I am not a sinner. Please, consider setting me free.""A prisoner, huh! Finally, you speak. Do you think I'm blind? I noticed your prison attire from the beginning, but now it's too late. Prepare yourself for punishment," she retorted. Pointing the book towards him, a bright light shone.A light beam shone on the prisoner, revealing his form. Child with long wet hair obscured his face, dressed in worn-out clothes that were covered in age marks and had been repaired numerous times.A monotonous voice from the holy book declared, "Evaluate End, No Sin," causing her beautiful brow furrowed in confusion.Thunder! A flash illuminated the dark world.With lightning speed, the Prisoner dashed, contemplating his next move. Should he venture into the forest on the right or explore the expanse of the vast glassy field on the left? In the heat of the moment, he instinctively veered his body towards the right. Hah! Into the woods is always the best choice. I can use the dark shadows and create false trails."Stop!" She reached hand out, but her legs stood still. "Why Holy book evaluated 'no sin', everyone in continent should have one guidance at least send the word free, compensate, or death… Besides that." She gazed at the tattoo on his wrist. Black angel."Cursed...? You are the Cursed child!" Her eyes widened in shock. "You were born in The Prison." watching him disappear into the woods. She bent her knees, swoosh, dashed off, and sprinted right after.Swoop, Thud, Thud, Thud. He dashed through the forest, his head lowered, evading the protruding tree bark. "Yes, it's me. My whole life, people have been calling me the 'Cursed child.' But I want you to understand that I'm not a monster. I'm a little different, nothing more!" His voice echoed through the wood as he sprinted, causing branches to snap create the trail. He then veering left and then turning right. discovered a gap between a fallen tree trunk. He pressed himself as closely as possible against the tree. Turned himself into shadow.The sound of human gave back to nature, only a faint heartbeat of a tiny child in the wood. Rain poured down on the damp and puddles, with every drop reflected the lonely thought of him.Just gotta think, think, think, my self. What that crazy priest babbled on about their saint, their god's whisperer. First, avoid fighting. Do not retaliate. God will judge your sins immediately. Second, they have to follow the Holy Words of the whisperer's book. What was the last one? I can't remember. The last…Splash! Splash, thud, thud, crack. The sound of footsteps vibrated through the damped ground."Reveal yourself. I am aware of your presence." Voice boomed.Hah. Seriously? Are you a rookie? If you talk like that, nobody's coming out. Gotta do something to get her outta here. He picked up a rock, aiming it at a cluster of trees far away. For the good karma of my last life, please get hit. Then he hurled it.As if the sky answered his thoughts.Thunder! light shone on the sky.Crack! The stone hit its mark.A group of birds suddenly cackled and flew out of the forest. A flash of lightning appeared, casting their shadow that seemed to be moving as if it were alive."So, you were there." Without hesitation, she darted towards that path, disappearing deeper into the forest, unaware of the man hiding between the tree.Gradually, he emerged from his hiding spot, his gaze shifting to the vast, grassy fields stretching out before him. As he assessed his surroundings, the realization struck him. He couldn't stay in the forest any longer. She would search every inch of this dense forest. Left with no other choice, he turned and began making his way in the opposite direction.Despite the dampness and the rainstorm battering the field of tall grass that lay ahead, it seemed like the perfect hiding place. Its height could easily conceal a little man, and with that in mind, he crouched down as low as possible and started moving. I hope the grass will hide me as I go.Time seemed to crawl by, each second feeling like a rat spun on the endless wheel. It rolled by, with seconds evolving into minutes, and minutes stretching into an hour. The rain poured down. Thunder boomed from time to time.I'm safe. What a scare! My heart feels like it's about to shatter. Raising his head to survey his surroundings Then, he reached down and casually picked up a wet rock, absently rubbing it between his fingers as his mind lingered. Why had she come to such a deserted area? Was she here to complete a quest or perhaps to slay monsters? It seemed odd that she was alone. Perhaps her companion was nearby.But his train of thought couldn't last long. His body trembled as he heard a thunderous voice booming from the sky."I have found you, cursed child!" The Whisperer shouted. She lowered her hood. With a stern expression and piercing eyes, she stared at him. Rain poured down on her face, and her wet hair stuck to leaves, obscured her face. She appeared like a creature from the depths of the forest.Curse me! She also can fly too. That is not fair. I'm a prisoner, never even considering or attempting to reach the sky. Yet you possess the ability to fly.He rose his hands up, "I have done nothing wrong. Please spare me," he pleaded. But his message couldn't reach her. In fact, it only provoked more anger within her."You tricked me into that forest, isn't that enough? And that black angel of you..." Her eyes shone, the air and rain swirled around her. She drew a clean and sturdy sword from its sheath. Cling! cling, cling, Raindrops touched the blade and flowed along it, causing the sword to gleam, eager to slice through its target's skin. She tightened her grip on the sword, preparing to strike.Their gazes locked, and a fiery determination flared within him. Fine, if it must come to this, let's fight.His mind flashed to his own struggles. Cursed since birth, he had endured by consuming spoiled food and surviving in a colorless world devoid of smell or pain. Clenching his teeth and tightening his fists, he steeled himself, holding onto one unwavering belief. Despite everything bad, I firmly believe that I still have the right to live.Swoosh! The blade moved, causing the air to cry out.As the blade approached, he said. "Eyes of seeking truth, The Verity Eye." A vibrant voice resonating with the rain. In his gray scale world, a faint blue line appeared, the trace of mana. He could see through it. The blade was about to swing towards his head. He ducked.Swish! The blade swept past the tip of his hair, leaving half of the grass field shaped into a cone.Saint's eyes widened in surprise, yet she regained her composure. She turned her hand and slashed the blade in a vertical line.Prisoner deftly shifted on his toes, avoiding the blow and suffering only a small tear in his shirt.Swoosh! Swink! Her blade continued to slash back and forth, causing the grassy field to become a chaotic mess. Yet, his body only suffered minor injuries.Kneeling, she spun her body and aimed the blade at his lower knee. The grassy field was shaped like a circle, like a moon.He jumped back, evading the blade.She lunged forward, raising her sword and splitting the rain into two separate streams.He tilted his head, seamlessly blending his body with the movement of the blade, narrowly evading a cut that could have grazed his forehead.His shimmering blue eyes were momentarily visible.He fell to the ground, rolled, and swiftly dashed left.She hastened her steps, following his movement. Gripping her sword handle tightly, water covered the blade, vibrating with a blue hue. Then, with full force, she lunged her sword forward, creating a tunnel of water.Swoosh! A rock flicked from his hand and flew through the air, Twink! grazing the blade. "Whisperer, you're breaking the law! You're not following the holy book, and you're harming innocent people!" Sound echoed in the rain.The blade stopped inches away from his forehead, cut his bang hair as the wind gently brushed his hair back. In that fleeting moment, a translucent force field materialized, shielding them from the rain. With unwavering focus, his piercing blue eyes looked into hers, shimmering with a water reflection."How do you know our law?" She questioned, giving him an icy stare.Drip! drop, patter, patter, patter, the sound of rain filled back to the area. Their eyes remained locked on each other, a silence stretching between them.Prisoner had no answer.Patter, patter, as the rain continued its steady song, and the mind of aria whispered about his life.His eyes held a rare blue hue, a shade scarcely seen in the western lands. It was a unique trait, one native to the east coast, just like me, just like my family and my country. That were all gone, perished beneath the castle's shadow.Her sword lowered down.The fear was unmistakable in his eyes, a clear reflection of his inner mind. She observed the small, fragile body in front of her. Nothing can describe how alone he seemed, like someone who had lost all hope and could see no future ahead.Raindrops softly touched her hand. They were as cold as her blade. But gentle compared to his eyes.She couldn't help but wonder where he was coming from and in what condition he might be. The sword in her hand trembled, a reflection of her confusion. I pray for the river mother. I really want to know this."Who are you?" she said with a clear voice, hoping for answers that could dispel her doubts.However, before receiving a response, the prisoner ran away again. "I already told you. I'm just someone who has lost the way. Just let me go!""Running again?" She furiously slashed through the tall grass, venting her rage. I need to control myself, Took a deep breath, signed. She then ran after him.The child dashed ahead, his small body struggling to climb the large rock. His tiny fingers grasped at the rocks, causing blood to seep from his wounds. "Please, let me go," he pleaded with a trembling voice.Are you dimwit? If you said that, no one will not let you go. They will only pursue you further, trying to uncover what you're hiding under your tattered dress and that dark blue eyes hidden in your messy black hair.She touched the rock with her hand and jumped, following him. "How do you know about our laws, about the saint's law? Tell me.""I don't know! I just want to go home.""You were born in jail, that is your home…" she said. She quickly bit her lip. Regretting her words. What have I just said? I'm such a fool.The child at the front, He groaned in pain as his foot stepped on a sharp rock. The red blood on his black nails blended into his trail, turning the dark brown into a black crimson. Even on this rainy day, she could see it. His breath grew shallower, slower, as the air in his lungs began to wane, fading with each passing moment.Not long…"You have to stop—" she said."No! I don't want to go back," he refused, continuing to run for his life without even glancing back at her. Sorry, He wasn't aware that she already remembered his scent. Blood and fear.As he ran, his left leg lost balance, causing his body to tilt. Bruises covered him, the red of his blood lost its vibrant color. Now it's even clearer than a raindrop. The cold temperature bit at him within, exuding a scent of fear and approaching death, as if it comes from the last air of people's lives.Not long, he will stop soon…Both of them sprinted and chased each other through the grassy field, their movements twisting and turning aimlessly.In the dark night, the only audible sounds were the rumbling clouds, the patter of rain, and the footsteps of the two souls. One soul shone brightly like a star, while the other welcomed death with open arms.Saint had no words, only running in pursuit.No star adorned the night sky.No guiding light to be found on both.Only our shadows intertwined within the dark world.Relentless rain poured down, seemingly mocking his life. Yet, in his little dark blue eyes and in his young mind, he remained still, watching and holding onto hope from a distance.How far does she want to follow me? My lungs and feet were reaching their limits. Knocking on his legs as he ran, he silently urged his body to hold on just a little longer. Ahead, the grass field seemed to end, and he hoped he might find something useful there.But as he reached the endpoint, frustration washed over him. Damn! Again and again, why do these things always happen to me?Ahead of him, a cliff loomed, offering no escape. He stepped toward the edge and peered down, gritting his teeth in frustration. The only thing that awaited him was death, a path leading straight to the hell that lay at the bottom of that dark, eerie pit.He turned his head back to the grass field and saw Whisperer walking slowly, like death, approaching him. Her hand gripped a sword. Blue mana waved like a surf.Ta-thump! Ta-thump! His heart raced, but his body grew colder.Is this my end line? Should I jump or fight until the end? I am so miserable. Either way, death awaits. Curse me!"A cliff, huh?… no more running?" she said with a clear voice. Raindrops were hanging there and slowly turned into water spheres.What had happened? Why had her tone suddenly shifted? It felt different, filled with concerns."You shouldn't run anymore. You're only making things more difficult for yourself… Death, It's calling you."Ah… She pities me. He gazed at her intently, as if attempting to capture every detail, realizing that she might be the last person he encountered in this miserable life.At least, I want to see you for the last time.Then, he softly uttered, "Eyes of Verity," Glowing mana emanating from her.As she walked towards him in the monochrome world, traces of mana connected and formed letters, flowing out one by one to weave together above her head.The words Vow of Temperance. shone brightly over her head.Suddenly, triggered a rush of information in his brain. A picture of a blurred priest appeared, saying, 'The Last, they believed in The Vow, never breaking it, even if their lives were on the line, because they were the spoken of Holy Tower.'Vow! Vow! I remember now, his inner insight rang.He glared at her in his tranquil state.She approached and stopped five steps away before saying, "Let's talk—"His eyes glowed, his body stopped trembling. He sat with one knee up and both hands resting on it. "I, Rain, the cursed child, will make a vow!" His voice echoed into the sky.She was taken aback, shocked.The rain stopped as if responding to its own name, 'Rain,' as if a master had called it back.