"Are you from the Council?"
"What Council? I don't know what are you talking about. But one thing is clear your life will change after today."
"How?"
"The power-hungry people will hunt you for what I've given you."
"Why me?"
"Simple enough. A grandma passing her legacy to her grandson. Our body constellations are also similar so it is perfect for the transfer."
"Grandma? I have no grandparents."
"You have,"
"But I don't have any memories of them," I said, confused.
"That's... complicated."
.
.
"Even if you're this body's grandmother, I'm not who you think I am."
Her smiled widened.
"Here's a little secret: the person who inhabited this body before and the one in it now are the same."
"WHAT?"
"Treat those around you as your own – because they are."
My head spun, not from the power but from her words. My heart raced, my chest tightening as conflicting emotions warred within me.
"Don't fight it," she said calmly. "Accept these feelings."
My heart thundered faster until I couldn't take it. I slapped myself hard across the face.
SLAP!
"Get it together!"
SLAP! SLAP!
"FUCK!"
The sharp pain cleared my head.
"Clever solution," she commented.
"For real?"
"Yes."
Her form began fading into flower petals.
"What's happening?"
"My time is up," she said calmly. "Remember: Be true to yourself."
"The stronger the fragrance of a flower, the more it attracts bees."
"My well wishes are with you, my boy."
She scattered into countless petals and vanished as time resumed its flow.
I sat there as stars began appearing in the darkening sky, processing the hurricane of emotions – fear, jealousy, anger, and more.
The old woman wasn't from the Council; there was no system alert, and I remember her face – beautiful despite her age, with piercing black eyes and silver hair.
Standing up, I noticed passersby staring. I needed to leave before anyone asked questions. My body felt lighter, free of pain.
—------
"Eddie, what happened?" A familiar voice called out.
I improvised quickly.
"Just taking a breather after some stamina training. You know the festival is coming."
"Keep at it," he replied with a knowing smile. "You'll need it."
I sighed,
Whatever had just happened, one thing is clear: life is about to get a lot more complicated.
I headed towards the library,
----
In a few minutes, I was outside of the library as I was close to the door. I hear someone sobbing and I know who this was.
Sight~ Did they fight again?
I went in and look both of them. Hearing my footsteps they look at me. Seeing me, Mira began to cry more. She was a mess.
How long is she crying?
Seeing her in that state, I felt a slight pain in my chest.
I looked back and forth between them.
There are no new scratch marks on them. If they didn't fight then what happened?
"What happened?" I asked Mira but she didn't reply.
"Nothing," Feyra replied
"Then why is she in this state?"
"I just explain something."
"Something?" I looked at Feyra with narrow eyes.
I went near Mira. At looked into her eyes she avoided it.
"What she told you?"
I tried to make eye contact with her but she keeps avoid it, getting frustrated I cupped my hands around her red cheeks,
"Stopping crying and look at me."
She suddenly hugged me and said while her face buried in my clothes.
"I..I'm…. sorry. So sorry."
"Sorry? For what?" I had a puzzled look on my face.
"I'm sob a burden….sob useless..sob."
I looked at Feyra who was avoiding eye contact with me.
'What she did?'
"Mira first calm down. So, we can talk."
I said while patting her head.
It took a few minutes to stop crying, she had still not completely stopped crying but now we could talk.
"Tell me what happened?"
Mira began to tell me what happened and after hearing it. I sighed.
"Sigh~,"
I again cupped her face with my hands.
"You fool,"
"You are not a burden, nor you're a bad person. I like you for who you are."
"Really?"
Her tears again began to fall.
"Yup, you are cute, sometimes irritating, a crybaby but not some burden."
She hugged me tightly and cried in relief. A few moments later, Mira calmed down, as she calm down I said,
"Let's call it for today."
"Sure,"
I put the stuff I got from the market behind the counter.
"What did you buy from the market?"
"If you want to know then come tomorrow early in the morning," I said with a smile.
Feyra looked from side of her eyes and said,
"Okay."
Mira took the lead followed by Feyra and me. As Mira went out of the door.
I pull Feyra to the side. Push her against the wall and whispered,
"Put your head in helping me, not messing things for me."
I slid down my head and gave her a hickey on her neck. Feeling my touch, a moan leaked from her mouth.
I took my head away and whispered again.
"Do you understand?"
It sent a shiver down her spine.
She just nodded.
As I was locking the library. Feyra thought.
'I just left for a week and he changed so much.'
"Let's leave," I said,
Mira nodded and for Feyra she gave me a peck on my lips and said,
"Thanks for today. Love you,"
Saying that, she left.
I looked at Mira, who stood without expression.
"I will not give to her tease," Mira said,
Hearing that, I smiled and held her hand, and went home.
As we reached home. Rebecca panicked seeing Mira's puff eyes. But we came up with an excuse and had dinner and went to bed.