Cold. That was what Xion felt as he let himself drown in the water.
Was it even water? Where did it co from? Xion did not know, nor did he care to find out.
As long as it kept those hands away from him, it was fine. Those haunting voices seed to be distant now.
Xion could not hear them. He could not feel them.
It’s nice... I should just stay here, Xion mused hazily.
A sense of peace, cold yet oddly soothing, wrapped around him like a cocoon.
"Child, this is not a place to sleep."
A soft voice filled with a sweet smile made his ears itch. Xion blinked as he felt a sudden tap on his forehead.
He slowly sat up, half confused; half baffled by what he saw. He was lounging on the sofa floating in the air.
Mana books. He vaguely recognized them as they drifted lazily around him, pages flipping as if caught in a silent breeze. A teapot poured itself into hovering cups, the liquid never spilling, as though ti itself had been stilled to perfection.
The golden pavilion itself was perched amidst the fluffy clouds, bathed in an ethereal glow.
It was beautiful. Tranquil even.
But none of it held his attention for long. Not when his gaze landed on the woman standing before him.
She had long, flowing black hair and hazel eyes that glead with warmth. Her skin looked like a mixture of dark chocolate and lted gold.
Beside her stood a small boy, partially hidden behind the folds of her green gown.
His hair was the sa shade as hers, but his eyes were blue. Not the light blue of the sky but the deep blue of the ocean. And right now, they were wide with a familiar shyness.
It was him.
Xion Vaelis.
"H-hello, brother," the boy whispered, peeking out from behind the woman. He gave a small, hesitant wave with delicate hands. His movents were timid, like a rabbit wary of the world.
The beautiful lady looked at the shy rabbit with a doting smile.
"Y-you..." Xion did not speak further. He could not.
There were so many things he wanted to ask, so many questions, so many whys, yet his brain seed to be filled with cotton.
He felt foggy and sluggish, as though he were wading through a dream he couldn’t fully grasp. No matter how he tried, he could not think straight.
"It’s alright, my child." The lady took a step closer.
In the next mont, Xion was engulfed in the warst of the hugs. All the buzzing in his mind halted.
His hands slowly clenched the soft fabric of her gown as if fearing she might disappear. He surrendered himself completely.
A gentle hand smoothed over his hair.
"I am so proud of you, Xion," she said as her fingers slid over his scalp. "You did such a great job saving all those people."
"I... did I do good?" His voice sounded muffled as he buried his head closer to the lady’s stomach. So warm...
She chuckled, "Oh, sweetheart! You did wonderful! See, even Xion wants to thank you," she leaned back just enough so that Xion could see Xion Vaelis.
"Brother, thank you for saving . I am so happy here. If it were not for you changing your place with I... I-" He hesitated, then shook his head. "Forget it. As long as everything’s fine now."
Those words caught Xion off guard. His mind, which was drifting in the hazy warmth, sizzled until he started thinking straight.
"You an... If I had not taken your place, I would have been here. In this heaven?"
A naless fire ignited in his chest. Xion wanted to scream, to yell. "Why? Why must I go there?"
Like a child who finally saw his mother, Xion looked up at the lady with watery eyes and complained, "You know, they tried to rape ! Those people even tried to feed to orcs!"
He sobbed, his grip tightened onto her, "What did I do so wrong that you punished like this... mother?"
Although Xion was already sure, the word ’mother’ still ca out a little hesitant. After all, she was the real mother of Xion Vaelis, not Xion Aijawa. Not him.
The lady sat beside Xion before pulling him into a tight hug. "I am so sorry, my child. But you chose it. You chose him."
"Who?" Xion asked,"Soren?" A rain of pearly drops silently rolled down his cheeks.
The lady snorted lightly. Her chocolate coloured fingers wiped his tears while Xion Vaelis patted his hair soothingly.
"Does he deserve you?" She was angry just by listening to that na. That disgusting pervert who was the reason for the suffering of her two children.
"Then who? Who is it that I chose to suffer for?"
Her hazel eyes softened once more. "It’s your soul mate, sweetheart. You prayed for him."
Xion did. He prayed for soone to love him when he was in still high school. He had begged forthatperson, and he did it so desperately, so fervently.
However, all he received was a betrayal from Takumi, and he completely lost his faith in God.
"I was about to send him to you, but you silly child died."
Xion sniffed. The tornado of his emotions sohow settled down with the gentle touch of the lady.
"S-so, If I have not died, there was actually soone made for ?"
"Of course," Xion Vaelis chid in, "I was going to et you too! As your friend!"
Friend... it sounds nice.
"You are not my mother though," Xion looked at the hazel-eyed beauty. "Who are you?"
The said beauty giggled. "Oh, sweetheart, but I am." Her smile was so radiant, it glowed like the sun. "I am a mother of all the living beings."
Xion’s eyes widened. Then it clicked. It was her, the goddess everyone revered in the churches!
Myrthia tapped on stunned Xion’s nose, "It’s ti to wake up, my child."
The clouds around the golden pavilion began swirling rapidly. The delicate, fleeting peace started to slip through his fingers.
Xion wanted to hold onto the delicious warmth, but his hands beca transparent.
"Bye, brother! I have sent you another little gift!"
Xion anxiously looked at the two figures, who were getting blurry with each passing second.
"At least tell who is my soul mate?!" He yelled desperately.
Myrthia smiled. Her soft pink lips parted and slowly ford the words.
Xion strained his watery eyes to read them. Then... His breath stopped. His eyes widened.
"How can it be him? Why scary Darius?"
"Of course, to protect you from the scary people, my sweet angel." A blurry golden shadow waved as the gentle voices drifted into his ears.
The answer hit him like a tidal wave. But before he could even process it, the dream dissolved.
Everything vanished, and Xion fell into darkness once more. However, this ti, he felt warm.
Reviews
All reviews (0)