Chapter 88 - 89. A Little Hope
"Azalea told me that Antonie's strata were just one level under Mr. Yon, and two levels above that woman. Although I am not a wizard, I know it is not something to be underestimated right?" I stopped walking and saw that the young man was smiling.
"He was the only one who knew the immortality spell," He said. "He had ever been on a battlefield, either two or three times—I kind of forgot, but he always won." He added, looking proud.
"I am myself a wizard like Antonie. I've learned a lot from him. However, my illusion magic abilities are in the media," He explained, then seemed to recall something.
"The best illusion I've ever made was a painting, The Silent Paint. Unfortunately it was so dangerous that finally it was destroyed." He laughed right after saying that. I just smiled in response to him.
Zie took my hands gently. "Tha, thirteen years from now you will definitely be grown up, and maybe you will be different from you are right now. When that time comes and you ever like someone very much, you will know that 'like' doesn't have to be together." He looked at me deeply.
"From the very first time we have been different. And the possibility of being together is very small. Like is very simple and doesn't require any conditions. You will understand later." He poked the tip of my nose and pinched both of my cheeks. "My lil sister is grown up now," he said as he walked ahead of me.
I did not understand why he still wanted to help me to get back. I really did not want to love although Naar was around. I was so tired of my life and my wish for him to support me, but he just didn't. He was just the opposite.
I took the ice cream he bought for me. As I was about to eat it, something strange stopped me. The red light from the afternoon sun penetrated my hand, my body was transparent. I just stood there, shocked and confused.
While on the other side, Zie did not see a strange thing happen to me because he walked ahead of me. 'Should I tell him what happened to me?' I asked myself, looking at the man who wanted me to go back to my own world.
…
After dinner, I said goodbye to Nana. That woman grumbled because it was nine in the evening when I took my bike to go out somewhere. I could hear her clearly calling my name even when my bike had already reached the corner of the market alley heading to my house.
I was very happy to see her looking so healthy. I remember very well when I was hospitalized, she lost her weight because she was unhealthy but she had to take care of me to undergo my therapy.
I paddled my bike nonstop toward River Mother. I wanted to meet that man if I was lucky. I knew he was more capable of helping me to go to the spirit realm than Zie who would force me to go back to my world.
When I reached the bank of the river, I was shocked by what I found there. Honestly, I used to be happy coming here at night to catch fireflies, but I had never seen it this crowded.
Hundreds or even more people were flocked to the banks of the river. Is there a show here?' I biked by the river and ventured into the crowd.
Wooden boats with colorful lanterns lightened up filled up the river. Traditional music was played beautifully while people on the boat danced. In a moment I was carried away with it.
I turned my gaze to the merchant on the banks of the river selling traditional food, toys, and masks. I felt as if I had to let go of my life and looked back on my childhood. Things like this were very rare for me nowadays so I decided to enjoy the moment here.
"What are you doing here?" A deep hissing voice startled me. It belonged to the person I wanted to meet. He looked at me angrily. "You are not supposed to be here." He snapped.
I got confused by being scolded like that, "What are you talking about? Why can't I be here? And see this exhibition? Is it because I am not from this time?"I asked successively.
"You can't be with them." He said shortly, then pulled my arm and took me away from the crowd. "Where is Zie? How can he leave you in such a place alone?" He looked panicked this time.
I was still dubious about what I did wrong by being in that place while so many people were gathering there and watching the shows. It had been a while since the last time I watched such shows so I thought it was okay for me to enjoy the moment for a while, right?
I felt upset but I had no choice other than to allow myself to be pulled and dragged away from the banks of the river.
He let my hand go after we were quite far from that place and I could not hear the music again. "Never come to that place after the sunset, especially alone. You got it?!" He scolded me.
"Why can't I? Look at those people, they are allowed to come. I don't do anything, just watch." I replied and felt upset.
"Do you think they are human?" His voice rose, "They are spirits that will be taken across the spirit realm." He stared at me while explaining.
I was surprised to hear his explanation. "Not humans?" I asked in confusion, "So, how can I see them?" I asked again.
He was silent for a moment and looked at me sharply. "Didn't anyone ever tell you about those eyes capabilities?" he grew even more irritated, "How possible?"
Charon, that was how he was called. His responsibilities were to take the spirits to the place of Kerberos, before being judged. It was almost the same responsibilities the Lichens had. It was just a different way.
After all the spirits got the food refreshment from Mr. Oka to delete all their memories during their life in the world, the spirits of the adults would wait while the child's spirits would be guided by the Lichens to go into the spirit realm.
"You don't belong here," He said firmly. "Zie sent me messages to keep you away from here, otherwise you would be carried on that boat and be sent to the underworld." He said further.
I was speechless after listening to his explanation. 'Should I tell him if I knew Kerberos?' I was considering by heart what decision I should make.
"As a matter of fact, I came here to meet you." He looked shocked to hear my words. "No, no one ever told me about my eyes. But there is something more important to do at the moment. I feel like my body starts fading from this place." I told him in the end.
Charon's expression was getting more upset. "Why didn't you tell this to Zie?" His eyes penetrated mine. "If you don't go back as soon as possible, you won't be able to go back to your world forever, nor to Kerberos' place. You will wander and have no home to go back to." He told me.
I was stunned to hear his explanation, I was shocked. "What should I do?" I asked in confusion, "Actually I made a pact with the Manjis so that they would do an exchange of my spirit with my friend's, but when I woke up I was stranded here, instead. Shouldn't I be at Kerberos' place already?"
Charon was silent for a moment. "It looks like they tricked you," He said, looking so thoughtful. "The Manjis don't want you to do the swap, so they are buying the time. Your friend will die within three days of your coming here. And just before he dies, your spirit will be drawn back to your world." He said, reassuring me.
"But if your friend doesn't die within three days and your spirit isn't drawn as soon as possible, you will be a wanderer spirit. It can be assured that the Manjis will kill him before the time comes. For them, he is the one who has to go, anyway." I just froze listening to his words.
"If both of you want to survive, your friend must wake up before three days, and so should you," He gave a little hope. "Believe me, you are very treasured for the Manjis, so that they won't let you die just like that." I wanted Naar to survive, and I did not want to be a wandering spirit nor to go back to my time. Would that be possible?
"My advice is just wait because I am sure they will bring you back to your world before three days end," He said casually while I froze at my place.. "Now do you understand why I asked you to come back immediately?" He asked.