12. Flowing Star – 11
It’s a story from the distant past that can’t easily be recalled now, but she could still recall the time when she swore to hold a sword in her hands for the first time in her life.
– Iris, why are you trying to learn the sword?
To such a question from her teacher, who looked at her with a stern face, she remembered that she had answered like this.
The imperial family of the empire are no different than the parents of all people, and they have the duty to take care of them.
He said he wanted to be the sky that could embrace them all.
That was her first wish, a way of life, and a resolution.
Carrying such an oath deep in her heart, first of all, she embraced the high blue sky deep in her own image.
That’s why the name of the sword she wields with her will is ‘Sword of the Sky’.
It was the realization of the ideal that she pursued, which was completed after weaving together the thoughts and hopes of all people who wanted to see and rely on her.
After defending what he pursued to the end, he tried to capture God in his martial arts.
The sky I wanted to pursue, it seems that only one man was not able to cut it in the end.
Because I have already had a man who is far more precious to me than a sword, more than all the people who depend on me.
****
When I entered the gymnasium with Cain, it was snowing from the sky just in time.
It seems like it was just yesterday that winter ended and warm spring came, but without even realizing it, the seasons had changed again.
In the past, the snow falling from the sky and the resulting cold were only accepted as a symbol of an endless nightmare.
Now, it was once again being accepted as a part of the season as well as the providence of nature.
The streets were full of praise for Iris El Devhart, the princess of the Empire who defeated the ‘witch of winter’.
In fact, Iris was only embarrassed by their praise toward her.
Because she thought she really didn’t do anything.
Indeed, I didn’t like it. There was a hero who actually subdued the ‘Witch of Winter’, but I couldn’t really understand why his name was going up and down in people’s mouths while his achievements were buried. There is a true hero who saved this world, but the majority of people who do not acknowledge him really hate him.
Now, she hated swinging her sword to protect others. He only wanted to wield his sword for one man only.
Serureung-
Cain, who was standing on the other side of the gymnasium, took a step towards Iris and slowly drew his sword.
“…Please, raise your sword. Lowering. Didn’t you promise You will be the last moment for me.”
The fact that I was going to die did not inspire me at all. It was because he had already been prepared for something like death from the moment he accepted Kirie’s hand.
…But I hate to die this way. Iris, in front of a woman like you, I don’t want my end to be pitiful.
Iris, I want you to decorate the final moments of my life.
That alone is my last wish.
“…ka, in.”
Iris felt her hands tremble. I couldn’t even meet his eyes with my bare mind.
I didn’t like it. She knew very well that he would die some time later, even if he didn’t do anything about it. He also knew better than anyone else in the world that putting a sword through his heart with his own hands at this moment would be the last mercy he could bestow on him.
…However, I couldn’t get enough courage. I couldn’t find the courage to draw my sword towards him.
It was just, it was scary. The fact that he can no longer talk to you, the fact that you can’t have any emotional exchange with him, the fact that you’ll never come back to me, all of that—
It was just scary. Yes, everything was just terrifying. At this moment, I was just a cowardly woman.
I, I wanted to be the glow of the sunset for you. When you suddenly raise your head, you can look up and smile.
I wanted to be a chair for you. When you are tired and exhausted in the journey of life, to give you comfort so that you can rest.
…I wanted to be your hope. Just as you have established yourself as a star in my heart, I also wanted to become your only side and walk through the time of eternity with you.
But that dream is now-
Turbuck.
He takes a step towards himself again, taking a step forward. And seeing him approaching her, she involuntarily took a step back.
“…Lowering. There really isn’t much time left. The sense of the limbs is gradually fading. Please help me to face the end as a soldier.”
Cain’s entire appearance came into Iris’ eyes.
His wrists, which were once full of muscle, had become thin, as if only bones had remained, and his face had lost weight, leaving only the expression of a definite sick man full of his whole body.
…Now, it seemed like I couldn’t help but admit that the end of the breakup was approaching.
“…Your hand doesn’t seem to have any strength. I don’t think I’ll be able to swing the sword only once.”
“…..”
“Well, I don’t mean to die peacefully. Although my goal is to die at the hands of a warrior named you, I think surpassing you at the last moment is also a good ending. So, I am going to resist you with all my might.”
Cain only laughed loudly, saying that it would be more meaningful to swing the sword at a prey that struggled until the last minute than a prey that did not resist.
…Ah, that’s right. Even when I come to this moment, you are me.
“Now, are you ready?”
Rather, I was comforted by you, who was in a position on the verge of death.
“…okay.”
yes, this is the last one This last moment with you, I can’t dirty it without doing anything. So I-
“Cain.”
I will put all emotions behind and make a resolution.
“According to your wishes, I will cut you with all my might.”
“…excellent.”
His sincere smile greets me. Whatever the reason, I’m just glad that you smile at me.
His sword slowly rises upwards. take a stance Its attitude is only the same as the one when it faced the “witch of winter” alone.
“Sir, I am your disciple.”
“…I know.”
There is nothing in my life that I am more proud of than the fact that you are my disciple.
“There is an old saying, Cheongchuleoram. A disciple can say that he has learned everything from his master only when he surpasses the karma accumulated by his master.”
The tip of the sword he is holding slowly shakes. At the same time, the images he has in mind and the will derived from them begin to connect heaven and earth. That sword, the very sword that ended the ‘witch’s life’ earlier –
“This is my sword, which I tried to surpass the teacher you are.”
The only star on the ground. That star longed for the sky that she would never reach.
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My great teacher, this is my tribute to you.
I wield my sword at this moment to split the sky that is you.
The moment he lowered his sword like that-
everything fell apart
The white snowflakes falling from the sky, the space they are standing in, and the sky above them are all.
From the gap where everything split, only the dazzling starlight leaked out and burned her cornea brightly.
That is the sword Cain wielded with all his might to surpass his master.
That is why the name of the sword is Pacheon (破天). There is only one clear answer given by a person who wants to jump over the sky with a mere human body-
“…Ahh.”
In the glare, she involuntarily closed her eyes. While facing the torrent of starlight that attacked her, only a bitter smile hung on her lips.
Cain, you always surprise me. Certainly, with this sword, I would have been able to neutralize my ‘Sword of the Sky’.
…Yes, if the sword I wanted to wield was really the ‘Sword of the Sky’, this fight would have been my defeat.
Cain, do you know? I no longer look up at the sky. Nor does it yearn for a sky that embraces everyone.
After that day, the object I wanted to look at and longed for.
that it was only you
In an instant, the sword slides out of her scabbard.
and-
“…..”
Cain and Iris were still standing on top of the gym, facing each other.
At first glance, it just seemed like nothing had changed.
…but both knew. Just now, something decisive had come to an end.
Fuhuk-
From Cain’s upper body, red blood began to spurt out. At the same time, his body slowly fell to the floor.
“Cain!”
Iris, unable to hold on to the end, rushed to Cain who was lying on the floor and hugged him. The expression on her face was truly tearful, and it was a sad expression, as if tears were about to overflow at any moment.
“…ka, in…”
Feeling the warm arms of Iris embracing him, Cain’s gaze turned to the sky where the snow was slowly falling. And, without realizing it, I smiled softly.
…aria. Soon, I will be able to go see you.
“…What was that sword at the end? I don’t think it was the Sky Sword…”
His voice as he asked Iris such a question was getting quieter and less lively. Looking at him like that, Iris managed to open her mouth and answer him.
“…Starlight. I used the starlight as my milestone and swung my sword. Cain.”
To be precise, I swung my own sword as I saw you shining like a star.
In the past, I swung my sword to become everyone’s sky.
Now, I can’t put anything other than you in my heart.
…That was your decisive defeat.
You swung your own sword to cut through the sky.
Actually, my sword was only looking at the person you are.
I just came to value you more than anything else in the world.
“…Aha, somehow. It was a very beautiful sword.”
His hands are getting cold. The warmth gradually disappears.
“Please don’t say anything more. please don’t do anything please…!”
don’t leave me don’t leave me Even if it’s for a minute or a second, stay by my side. please…
Eventually, tears fell from both eyes. The overflowing tears seemed to fall somewhere other than the ground.
“…don’t cry, don’t.”
He managed to lift his hand and wipe the tears from my eyes. That hand gesture was infinitely light, as if it would fly off into the sky at any moment, and it just lacked any power.
“…Now, I want to rest.”
He muttered in a hoarse voice that had lost his vitality.
At his words, Iris quietly knelt down on the floor, resting his head on her lap. His eyes were already half-closed.
“…Cain.”
The end is really not far now. If not now, there might not be another chance. Carefully stroking his cheek, Iris was just about to open her mouth slowly to confess something.
“…Cain. There is one thing I want to say. I, I…”
“…stop.”
She tried to say something to him, but Cain’s finger gently blocked her mouth.
“Isn’t it really rude to be a man and let a woman say that first?”
“So, let me confess to you first.”
After laughing silently for a moment, Cain rises with the last of his strength and places his mouth on Iris’s lips.
“love. Iris El Devhardt. I loved the woman you were.”
At the confession in the last moment of her life, tears flowed from her eyes again. How could that be what I wanted to hear from him? And, of course, at this last moment, is he saying these words? The tears of her sorrow and joy, which became one, flowed down to the ground.
…Yes, Cain. I also loved the man you are.
Last time, I was happy being with a man like you. I was really happy to be able to love a man like you.
So let me promise you one thing.
I will always love you as a man
I will definitely go see you man wherever you are.
certainly.
“…I, too, loved you. A lot of it too. So now, get some rest.”
“…..”
There was no further reply. Just, still silence hovers around.
“…Cain.”
“…..”
“…ka, in…”
“…..”
Suddenly, no more snow was falling from the sky.
The clear, cloudless sky was just endlessly high and clear.
The words of bitterness she spits out are blown away by the wind.
In the end, there was only one man left in a very deep sleep.
The cold winter surrounding Iris ended like that.