Ch. 10: A Single Ally (MOON)
The darkness of the deep night dyed Lucien's room…-.
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Lucien: "I've decided to leave this country. This country doesn't need people with black wings. So… it'd be better if I was gone."
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After that, Lucien's decision had been such a shock that I didn't know what to say.
But Lucien's a kinder, better person than anyone else.
I bit my lip in frustration, and had headed towards Lucien's room as he prepared for his journey…-.
OO: "Where will you go?"
Lucien: "I don't know yet. But …I want to go to the place I love most in this country one last time."
OO: "The place you love… Could I go with you?"
Lucien: "No. You shouldn't be near me anyway."
He hurled those words without looking at me, and my heart twisted in pain.
OO: "…"
Lucien: "It hadn't been my intent…but you got completely wrapped up in this issue."
OO: "That's just because I was persistent…"
Lucien: "You really are weird."
Lucien's eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them…and they were filled with sadness.
I didn't want to be parted from him, no matter what, so I ventured to ask again.
OO: "…Lucien, will you take me with you?"
Lucien: "…you'll come even if I say no."
Then Lucien smiled in earnest.
…
……
Lucien and I went to a flower field not far from the forbidden grounds we'd been in not long ago.
…ah!
There was a forest in the deeper part of the flower field, and as we walked deeper in, we came to an area filled with a small spring.
The moonlight shone down on it, and I was spellbound as I watched the magical effect of the light reflecting off the water's surface.
OO: "This place is so beautiful."
Lucien: "Yeah, I love it here. I used to play here a lot when I was a kid…"
OO: "…with Micaela?"
Lucien: "Yeah…exactly. Micaela and I…and the others would play here."
There was a yearning in his eyes for something long gone, and he slowly walked out into the spring without a care for his clothes getting wet.
His pure black wings flicked away the water, and the droplets were beautiful as they hung in the moonlight.
Somehow, it's so beautiful…
OO: "… beautiful."
I spoke without thinking, and Lucien turned to look at me.
The beauty I saw then took my breath away, and for a moment I was at a loss for words…
Lucien: "Micaela would rest easier if I wasn't around."
OO: "Eh…?"
Lucien: "I entered the forbidden grounds, and my wings turned black… because Micaela almost fell in. He almost got hit with the miasma, and I protected him. Right over there…on the other side of this spring is the forbidden grounds…"
Lucien was quiet as he told the tale.
There was too much sadness and regret in his voice, and I was helpless to stop the pain in my heart.
OO: "But…I think he'd be lonely if he lost his brother."
Lucien: "Even if I'm suffering?"
OO: "Eh…?"
Suffering?
He dipped his hand in the spring water and stared at it, cupped in the palm of his hand.
Lucien: "…I'm at my limit of being in that country. It feels like I'm suffocating. Still…I'm bound to it."
My heart cried out in grief, and I looked at the motionless Lucien…
Lucien: "…will you come here?"
Bathed in the light of the moon, Lucien held his hand out to me.
OO: "…"
As he stood there inviting me, I went into the spring with him…
OO: "…!"
I was caught up in Lucien's arms, and he held me tightly.
The splash of water that went up into the air became tiny sparkles in the moonlight.
Lucien: "You're the only one on my side."
He placed his hand on my cheek, then drew his face in closer…-.
OO: "Luci…-. Nn…"
Without even enough time to call his name, my lips were stopped with a deep kiss.
Lucien: "…"
He kissed me again with barely a chance to catch my breath, and I felt my body heating up, but…
He's so sad…
I felt my heart couldn't hurt any worse, and this time tears gathered in my eyes.
At last our lips parted…and what I saw as I slowly opened my eyes was Lucien's incredibly sorrowful smile.
Lucien: "You just naturally accepted the color of my wings and truly looked at me."
I could feel the coolness of the water and the heat of Lucien's body as I continued to stare into his eyes.
Finally…
Lucien: "So please, don't hate me…OO…"
Even now he looked at me as if he was about to cry, and my heart felt like it would break completely.
OO: "I could never hate you. Lucien…I'll go with you anywhere. Remember, I'm persistent…"
I smiled, holding back my tears, and Lucien moved in even closer.
Lucien: "OO… OO…yeah, if we're together… we can go however far we want… we can go anywhere. Even with these black wings …"
OO: "Your wings are beautiful. Within those wings, your wings, is the most beautiful, wonderful thing that I have ever known."
Lucien: "Thanks…"
I placed my hand on his cheek, and this time I kissed him.
Even if the world rejected him, I would always be close by his side…
That was the single, solemn vow I made.
END