Shin Yura.
Excluding family, shes the person Ive known the longest. Consequently, I have many mories of her.
Among those mories
There were good tis, but just as many, if not more, bad tis. Throughout elentary, middle, and high school, as we spent ti together, I painfully realized I wasnt better than her in any aspect.
Thats to say, I did have one thing over her.
Yes, I was taller, and I fought better. But boasting about just those two things felt foolish.
During relentless teasing, if I clenched my fist, I wouldve imdiately been teased again, Eek~ Even dumber than and barbaric to boot!
This wasnt a doubt but a certainty.
Yura teased rcilessly right up until we parted ways. Of course, it wasnt like that from the beginning.
I still rember vividly. How could I forget?
It was during the sumr vacation of our elentary school years.
Kids, unlike adults, can beco friends quickly even if theyve just t. However, Yura wasnt like that. Her eyes were fiercely sharp, and frankly, her personality was so prickly that it seed difficult for her to make friends.
Wasnt her personality prickly?
Thinking about it now, she seed like a shy child who was just very reserved.
At even the smallest argunt, she would clam up and, when she couldnt bear it anymore, would spit out curses.
You could say, for a kid, having a foul mouth doesnt equate to being shy, but considering she didnt like going out much and preferred playing with over other kids, she was indeed shy.
But that was only for a while.
After middle school, she changed. Maybe she felt more confident? Trying to rember Perhaps it started when the school began ranking students by grades.
[Shin Yura 1/346]
The look on her face when she received the notification with her na among the top was sothing I hadnt seen before there was a certain pride.
I dont rember my rank. It wasnt embarrassingly low, but Yura started teasing quietly right after we moved up to middle school.
Hyun-jun, look at this? Im first, first!
Why?
It must have been helpful studying with you.
What help? Its your ability. You worked hard for it.
Well but you taught a lot that I didnt know. Without you
I didnt know.
Hyun-jun, where are you going?
Ho. Im so tired after the exams. Sorry.
What about ? Arent we going to see a movie? You promised
Did I? Its such an old mory; I cant quite recall. Now that I think about it, maybe I did.
Perhaps at that ti I was making excuses. The feeling of being surpassed by soone who always relied on might have inadvertently sparked jealousy in my young heart.
Looking back, I was just a pathetic kid, but I couldnt help it.
At 14, I was indeed just a kid, and back then, I had a bit of an impulsive nature. Being around her and feeling increasingly bad, I might have been embarrassed to show my jealous feelings.
However, that didnt make our relationship distant.
Hey, are you upset because I ca first?
What are you talking about? Stop talking nonsense and eat.
Youve been sulking. Thats why.
Youre the one. Are you just picking a fight because I didnt go to the movies with you?
Pfft.
Why are you laughing?
Pffhaha! Right, right. Hyun-jun, why are you so cute? Huh? Look at your face turning red.
Do you want to die?
Yura teased , and I simply tried to retaliate.
Looking back now, I think she knew deep down that I harbored jealousy and feelings of inferiority. Whether good or bad, Yura and I never directly got angry or fought.
Not until we parted ways
But teasing should only go so far.
I told you, didnt I? That wont work. I know what youre thinking, but after about ten years, shouldnt you have learned by now?
She crossed the line. I never imagined shed freak out over my failure to get into my desired university. So, I really got angry.
Learn what?
If you just tried a little harder
What does trying hard have to do with learning?
If I had taught you, it wouldve been different! You just had to follow exactly! You kept avoiding !
Do you think that makes any sense?
I dont know, idiot! Anyway, its your fault!
What happened next?
I think I yelled at her to stop freaking out. With my veins bulging and eyes wide, I told her she was really annoying and irritating before I turned and walked away. I heard her screaming from behind, but I fervently ignored her and went ho. The frustration that had been building up couldnt just be overlooked.
Not only that, but after I went ho, I blocked her phone number and passed by her without acknowledging her, not wanting to deal with her anymore. After a few tis, Yura did the sa to .
Strangely enough, a relationship of over ten years broke so futilely.
I shouldnt have blocked her.
If I knew she would die so soon, leaving these feelings unresolved
Sob-
[For Hyun-jun, whom I always miss.]
Wouldnt I have not cried so miserably like this?
Tears stread down from my heated eyes, but it didnt last long. This was Kyries spiritual tomb. Being conscious of crying in front of many people, Shiron quickly wiped his face with his sleeve.
How pathetic
Whether it was the salty tears or the roughness of the sleeve, my eyes stung considerably. I should have wiped my face with a handkerchief instead but I guess I was too flustered to even take it out.
I was collecting my old feelings when I heard a strange sound from under .
Sob-
It wasnt Shiron who made the sound. As his eyes stopped stinging and the tears quickly ceased, he looked down to find the source of the sound.
Krheung!
Lucia was also crying.
Why is she crying?
Blinking for a mont, Shiron realized where he was: Kyries spiritual tomb. Was she overwheld by emotions upon seeing his grave and the morial stone dedicated to him?
Here.
Shiron took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lucia. Knowing what to do in this situation, as Lucia had been crying for more than just a day or two, he reacted quickly.
Krheung Thank you.
Perhaps because it had been in Shirons pocket, the handkerchief faintly slled of him. Lucia gently dabbed her tears with the handkerchief she received, looking at the morial stone.
[In mory of my dear friend Kyrie.]
She had cried involuntarily, her tears stimulated, but her first thought was who could have written it.
Was it Seira? Anjei and Vinella cant write, and Yura died before . Seira is the only one who would call a dear friend
Lucia sobbed again and turned to give the handkerchief back to Shiron.
Huh?
The reddened eyes and the moisture that hadnt been wiped away
Why is he crying?
Shiron, is there sothing sad?
Sothing sad?
You cried Krheung!
Lucia looked at Shiron with her reddened eyes.
Just wondering why you were crying.
I wasnt crying.
Shiron put the handkerchief Lucia handed back into his pocket.
Dust It was just dust in my eyes.
I see.
Although it was clear to both that these were not tears caused by dust, since Shiron didnt ask why Lucia was crying, she decided not to pry further.
She couldnt tell him the reason for her tears, nor could she reveal her identity as Kyrie.
How unsightly.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shiron blushed and started to closely inspect the area around the morial stone. Now was not the ti to be lost in contemplation.
Latera said that her location would be known when he arrived at the holy land. Intruders have invaded the Heros Abode before. There must be a hint sowhere here leading to the Heros Abode.
[Prepare offerings for the gods and prove your worth]
Indeed, the stele was inscribed with many phrases, not just Easter eggs or pranks made by Yura. Each engraved letter bore the marks of ti, its age indeterminable. No matter how well maintained, being exposed to the outside air for 500 years naturally wore the edges down.
[The one who is qualified shall be the next warrior]
[The peculiar resurrection of a god is upon us. We must prepare the next warrior]
However, these inscriptions were rely phrases that appeared in a dialogue box when the stele was clicked.
Shiron straightened up from his stooping position.
What was he supposed to gain from these unoriginal phrases? He regretted not asking Latera more before they parted, as today was a day full of regrets.
It was then, as he was rolling his eyes.
Suddenly-
Soone approached him.
?
It was a man he hadnt seen before. Between his slightly opened eyelids, greyish-blue eyes were visible. Given the [Lions Eyes], he seed to be from Brahhams defense force, but why a mber of Brahhams defense force was here was beyond him.
As Shiron looked puzzled, the man started talking out of the blue.
Hello. My na is Asad.
Ah Yes, I see.
Whats with this guy?
Shiron cocked his head and stared at him.
Do you need sothing from ?
Yes, I do.
The man who introduced himself as Asad smiled subtly.
You have a kind-looking face.
Thank you. But what does that have to do with your business?
Why wouldnt it? Its said that those with true faith have kind faces.
I see It seems you have no business then, so Ill be on my way.
A strange person. Shiron, not wanting to be involved any further, quickly turned and walked away from him. However, the next words he heard stopped him in his tracks.
Do you believe in God?
Yes, I do. How could I, as a priest of Lucerne, deny God?
He was about to say he didnt believe but couldnt risk being branded a heretic here. Shiron collected his thoughts and gave an appropriate response.
Is that God the right God?
What are you saying Are you suggesting I believe in a peculiar god?
His response was sharp, unable to mask his irritation. Shirons mood soured instantly at the unexpected intrusion. A frown creased his brow, and before he realized it, Lucia had joined him.
Not at all.
Perhaps it was the strength in Lucias [Lions Eyes] that caused a flicker of unease in Asads narrow eyes.
By grace, last night I heard the voice of the Lord.
The Lord?
Yes. The Lord commanded to et you.
Shirons thoughts drifted to Captain Malleus. During his studies in Lucerne, he had been greatly indebted to the man rumored to hear the voice of God.
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