Chapter 50: Back to the light
1260 Words
Memory link…
Memories of Belle were channeled into my vision by watching them like some sort of movie. Sad memories of her childhood. The loneliness, trauma, and crime. Most importantly, the love she lost.
My vision got watery and feelings ran through my heart. Heavy feelings are enough to make someone dragged into insanity for hundreds of years.
Belle is waiting for Rin, believing that he will come back. She had already lost the sense of time and didn’t even remember how she died. Right now, that isn’t important.
Belle is continuously crying, tears continue to flow endlessly. Big tears she tried to wipe the gushes out.
With the help of her levitation ability. She made me float and gave me a proper landing on the floor.
“I remember everything… Rin… Everything that happened in the past. The people I killed all of them... There is no way of saving me.”
Belle murmured.
I’m puzzled about what I’m supposed to do. I don’t even know if she is on the good side or the evil side. Her actions are evil… She has killed many people for hundreds of years. Even though I know all of that, my heartfelt heart feels like she had to be forgiven.
The tragedy was not something she wanted.
Ever since the past, the royal family has already been evil.
“Hanayuki…”
Shaymi stepped forward with her hand glowing holy magic.
“... I’ll purify her with my holy magic.”
“Wait, Shaymi…”
“It’s fine… Kill me… I spent living in my room for a very long time and forgot the flow of time. Time passed and an era changed. I have to change. I can’t have myself waiting for another thousand years for nothing… Rin has already left and we’re not going to meet again.”
“Don’t say that… Heaven is real… You’ll meet Rin in heaven, I’m sure of it.”
“Heaven is a place for good people… I’m not qualified to go to heaven. Just like the people I killed. I’ll be thrown into hell with them. Evil people burn in flames.”
Evil people burn in flames…
I can’t forgive this…
I held Belle’s hand and looked at her eyes directly.
“You’re not going to hell… I’m sure of it… God is always above us. Watching us. He is the kindest and he will forgive you for the sins you committed. I’m sure he’ll give me another chance.”
Belle smiled, looking at me. She hugged me tightly and whispered to my ears.
“Thank you… Thank you for reminding me of my past. Thank you for believing in me… Little girl, please exorcise me.”
Is this the right choice? Just like Noah, she did those crimes for a reason. She is fine with leaving things like that. Despite being evil. They are still people.
They deserve a second chance.
My logic is a mess. I cant even decide what to say. If I saved her now… What am I supposed to do with her? How could I save her? The answer is nothing. There is nothing I could do.
Shaymi, on request of Belle, took a direct attack of pure holy light magic. Purifying the beautiful ghost in the mansion. The dolls floating in the air lost the magic source and fell to the floor. The dark clouds whirling above the mansion disappeared like a bubble.
Belle took a form of light flying up and vanished.
“Finally, she was able to move on.”
A girl arrived inside the mansion with a smiling face. Looking at her face I recalled a striking resemblance to the girl I saw in Belle’s memories. Her appearance also made me realize that she was the girl in the guild earlier before we entered the Hunted mansion.
“Flore…”
“Yup… I’m Flore, Belle’s maid… Just like Belle, I’m unable to move on to after-life. My reason is that I’m too worried about Belle. I’m glad I’m able to find the right person to purify her… Thank you very much Hanayuki… Shaymi…”
Flore bows her head to us.
“...Just like Belle… I have to move forward, back to the light where we all belong.”
Her body was then enveloped by light. Vanishing just like Belle. Leaving a satisfied smile on her face.
“She’s also a ghost?”
Shaymi said, shaking.
I wiped my tears and stood up straight.
Still, I don’t have answers to my questions. My ideals and understanding of the world are still blurry.
Being frustrated and thinking about events I’m not in control of will only bring me down. Just like the two of them, I move forward together with the flow of time.
I have nothing to do with them, but after seeing her memories. I sympathized with her on a deeper level. As if I became one with her.
What is this ability that shows me the memories of her past? Using this ability, I can look back on my memories.
“Hanayuki, are you okay?”
“I’m fine… Let's go out… The mansion is crumbling to pieces. We have to go.”
“ You're right.”
Before we left, I saw the cute toy doll, Elaina. I took the doll and put it immediately in my bag. It was small and it wouldn’t use too much space.
...
We finished the quest and went back to Guild to get our reward. But we are disappointed to know that we’re not getting anything because the quest is already expired and since no one is interested. The reward for the quest was canceled a long time ago.
We go to the park to have a rest. Shaymi was so exhausted I had to lend her my lap to use as a pillow.
Using holy magic might have taken some toll on her body. Today she did her best. She also matured fast. I’m proud of her.
I took Elaina the doll.
This is the doll that Belle used to talk to when she was alive. Staring closely, this toy doll is sure cute. It's a little heavy throughout.
I saw a zipper on its back. Curious, I opened the dog's back by pulling down the zipper. I was then surprised at what I found.
Hanging inside the doll was jewelry; diamond rings, sparling, earrings, and a golden necklace.
This must be owned by Belle from the past.
“There is a letter inside.”
To whoever found this doll… The jewel is already yours. In exchange, please take good care of Elaina and please give the flower seed to someone. If the two conditions are not met, I’ll hunt you until you’re dead.
“This is freaky…”
Belle is right. There is a seed inside the doll. Also a picture. I took the picture.
“She is indeed very beautiful.”
Reading on the back… It said visiting the capital city. In the background of the picture, I recognized someone. A light brown-haired girl talking to a girl with short black hair.
That girl looks like me.
She also has the antenna hair on my head. What is the meaning of this?
“Sigh~… Maybe she is my Sigh! or something… These are flower seeds. Better give them to an expert.”
In a certain flower shop in another city, another couple will be sure to make this flower bloom beautifully.
“ It's been a while. I guess I’ll visit Fina and Denver.”
- Writer
