Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 29: The Kingdom of Heiruche

“She’s afraid of the scythe?” Mhir said as she looked at the scythe, her gaze complicated.

“Is there a significant event this scythe is related to?” Leui asked.

Mhir shook her head. “Not that I can remember…” she muttered, her voice fading. “AH!” she said as she took a step back and pointed to the scythe. “Could it be - ?!” she said.

“What?” Leui said, his voice suddenly excited. “Is this a legendary scythe?” he asked.

Mhir looked at Leui. “Could it be that a woman was hacked to death by a farmer using this scythe, then she became a fairy?” she asked and pointed to the fair hiding behind the tall grasses.

Leui looked at Mhir, his gaze complicated. “… that’s it?” he said and looked at the scythe, his face full of disappointment. He thought the scythe is a legendary weapon.

He was about to throw the scythe when the fairy jumped out of her hiding, wanting to escape. But, Leui raised the scythe, thinking the fairy is going to attack them. “AAH!!!” the fairy screamed when the tip of the blade of the scythe touched her back. It didn’t impale her, but it’s as if she was burned. She fell to the ground and crawled away, her back was burnt. She turned and glared at Leui and Mhir as if they were monsters.

“W-what did I do? I didn’t do anything!” Leui immediately said as he dropped the scythe to the ground.

However, Mhir’s expression is serious as she deeply pondered. “If a fairy did something wrong, her soul would turn black.” She said as she remembered what happened back in the Mirror Lake. “But…” she said and looked at the fairy whose green hair was burned at the tips. “You looked like you did something wrong…” she said.

“I didn’t!” the fairy shrieked. “I was just telling the truth! However, he punished me! That hypocrite!” she said.

“Who punished you?” Leui asked.

“Was it the farmer?” Mhir asked.

“What farmer? It’s that man!” the fairy said.

“Who?” Leui said.

“The founder of the continent!” the fairy answered.

Mhir was shocked. “Lord Loheiruchel?!” she exclaimed.

“Yes! I can’t speak his name as one of his punishments!” the fairy said.

Mhir’s gaze turned sharp. “What did you do to be punished?” she asked.

“I only speak of the truth!” The fairy defended herself.

“Lord Loheiruchel is kind. He won’t punish those who aren’t evildoers!” Mhir defended the said accused. “What did you do?” she asked.

The fairy gritted her teeth in anger. “I only spoke what I saw!” she answered. “He killed my brethren! His hands are stained with my brethren’s blood!” she said.

“Lies!” Mhir screamed. “Lord Loheiruchel won’t kill anyone!” she said.

“What do you know? You weren’t born in the time of war. I was there! I saw him kill my brethren!” the fairy said.

Mhir gaped at the fairy, and her face was red in anger. She can’t defend more of Loheiruchel since the fairy was right. She wasn’t born yet at that time. It was one of her regrets. “You’re lying! You’re a fairy yet you lie! Lord Loheiruchel won’t kill anyone!” she said and grabbed the scythe from Leui’s hands. “You liar! You really should be punished!'' She raised the scythe.

Leui’s eyes widened in shock and he immediately stopped Mhir. “Mhir!” he called as he pulled the scythe from Mhir’s hands. “Don’t lower yourself to her level. She’s not worth it!” he told her while patting her back, consoling her.

Mhir’s face is filled with tears. Leui sighed as she stared at her. He was always there as Mhir spoke of Loheiruchel’s greatness. She is his fan. But, he has not yet realized how deep Mhir’s admiration towards the man is.

He turned to the fairy. “Why did you put a barrier around the area?” he asked.

“To hide myself.” The fairy answered.

Leui fell silent. It’s not as if he’s naïve. He surely has heard those who were wrongly accused, yet being forced to admit their crimes. “How do we leave?” he asked.

“The scythe can cut any barrier.” The fairy answered.

“Thank you.” Leui said as he raised the scythe, then cut down the space. The scene in front of them changed. Mhir didn’t spare a second thought as she immediately went out of the fairy’s barrier. Leui helplessly sighed and turned to the fairy. “How about y – “ he said, when he froze when he saw the fairy’s fair face turned monstrous. Her green eyes are red and her green hair turned snake-like. Her fingernails became long and sharp as she pounced on him.

Leui didn’t hesitate to raise the scythe to defend himself. The fairy’s eyes widened, but it was too late for her to dodge. Her body was impaled by the sharp blade. “Great…” he heard the fairy say as a pale orange blood flowed out of her mouth. “In the end, the last of our kin – me, fell on the same blade.” She said,

Leui stared at her. “If you were hiding from him, why is the scythe here?” he asked.

She bitterly smiled. “Aren’t you naïve?” she laughed, but more blood flowed out of her wound. “Didn’t you hear what your friend said? I lied.” She said,

“But, your soul…” Leui said.

The fairy looked at him. Her sanity returned and her eyes returned to green color. “Young one. Let me tell you a secret – “ she said as her voice became low. “ – those who have darkness in their heart and mind will have their souls turn black. But, if your mind is clear, your heart can be cleared.” She told him.

Leui was confused. “What are you talking about?” he said.

She smiled. “I am deceiving myself.” She pushed the blade away from her body. “It is time for war. Of course, everyone would do everything just to weaken their enemies’ defense.” She said, “I stole the blade from that man. My kin made me hide the blade and I hid inside my space. However, I didn’t expect for the humans to emerge victorious in the Great War. I was scared, thus, I chose to trap myself. I cannot leave, and no one can enter the barrier. But…” she coughed and fell on her knees. “… it seems that my powers are weakening over time…” she said and her body fell limp on the ground. “Take the blade… it belongs to you humans. It is time for the blade to return… since I can sense something bad is going to fall on the continent.” She said, her voice weak like a whisper. “Go…” she told him and looked at him.

Leui doesn’t know what to say and so he took the blade and went out of the barrier. “There’s this history?” he muttered as he walked towards Mhir.

The fairy bitterly smiled and slowly closed her eyes. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something. It was too fast and the thought immediately left her mind.

The man just now... he seemed familiar. However, she had no time to ponder about it since her soul now dissipated.