17. Goddess Aria – 08
often say The meeting between people can be likened to a circle.
If there is a meeting, there will inevitably be a parting, and in such a parting, a new meeting will bloom again. A series of processes is bound to circulate endlessly, and since it has neither end nor beginning, it is no different from a circle.
A person is a creature that derives its vitality from meeting and interacting with other people. What we find interesting in a story, what we find beautiful in poetry, and what we find sweet in music are all feelings derived from such things.
In the end, the pleasure of meeting and interacting with others is all for oneself. We fill the void with something that does not exist within ourselves, through encounters with others. And all the actions go round and round again so that they can replenish their vitality to return to themselves someday, and at the end, a virtuous cycle is achieved.
…but on the contrary, it means that those who are not included in the circle cannot replenish the vitality they have expended. No matter how much you think of, embrace, and serve others, nothing will come back to you.
And a woman named Kyrie el Denaris was one of the very few people who were not included in the ‘circle’ that made up society. Even in the society of elves, which can be said to be closed compared to humans, she could be said to be a somewhat different person.
The position of guardian of the World Tree, a body that has achieved immortality in the true sense of the word, rather than simply having a longer lifespan than humans, and a special martial art that has been honed over a thousand years.
All of these elements came together to quietly push the woman, Kyriera, out of the circle. Kirie also didn’t have the thought of wanting to hang out with others to the point of overdoing it. Being alone was all too familiar to her.
Over a long period of more than a thousand years, she has seen many things, experienced many things, and met many people. There were friends among them, and there were others who could be called colleagues. She did a lot with them and even shared a lot with them.
…and without exception, they left her. There was no one who stayed by her side until the end.
The reasons for the breakup were indeed diverse. There were people who naturally left her side for no particular reason, and there were people who saw her and ran away in fear, calling her an undying monster.
I think the biggest reason is that he died before her, so he couldn’t meet anymore.
But soon, I got used to it too. No, as time goes by, she gets used to many things. Even in the sadness of parting that cannot be compared to the joy of meeting, in the solitude of being alone without any interaction with others, even in one’s life itself, which is passing the time without any meaning. all.
The emotions that once filled her heart gradually dry up. Her heart is filled with so many emotions that she can’t even tell whether all the colors of emotions she remembers, and everything she feels right now, come from her own mind or are learned experiences accumulated over many years. lost something
Yes. It was a life in which something was always lost. I’ve lost so many things that I can’t even count the things I’ve dropped. A thousand years have passed since then. Now, even if I lose anything, I pride myself on being confident that I won’t mind.
From some point on, one thing that I desperately wished for that I never wanted to forget was born.
The memory of a man who can call her partner in her long life. As much as that, I didn’t want to lose it like I’ve been doing until now.
At first, it was just interesting. It was nothing more than a mind game. Sometimes he wielded his sword with all his might, sometimes he spent all his fortune with the woman he loved even though he knew full well that the end would be ruin, and sometimes he casually gave up his own life.
However, while quietly watching his progress from the back of the stage, she was able to discover herself following only his back. As he watched the scene where he gave up his life for another woman, he imagined himself standing in the position of that woman. He thought how great it would be if he could have his affection and love all to himself.
In a long life, for the first time, I coveted someone, cared for someone, and thought deeply about someone. It was the first time I felt it, but I don’t think it was a bad thing.
…That’s why I felt afraid. Just as she had always been, she only felt so afraid of the future that this feeling she felt towards him might also fade and wear out and degenerate into something of no value.
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Maybe someday i’ll forget Like what you read in a book, like a story you heard from someone out of interest, you may have a future self that casually recalls memories related to it and passes it off casually.
…hate. that’s it, i don’t like it I hated the future Kyrie el Denaris, who might lightly express this world I was looking at, this landscape that contained the person you were, this time I spent with you that I would not want to forget for the rest of my life, as something ephemeral.
For the past thousand years, she has been wandering all along. Without knowing the meaning or purpose of his life, he was only worn out over a long period of time.
And now, a thousand years later, something was found. She could barely find something that she cherished more than herself, was precious to her heart, and illuminated her heart.
I had a dream. A dream so small and insignificant that she, an immortal monster, would give birth to his child, grow old with him, and die beside him.
…but that’s impossible. Her wish will never come true unless a true miracle of God descends on this land. Because she, whose body and soul belonged to the World Tree, was a monster who could not face death by any means.
So I hoped. If the feelings she had towards him would disappear meaninglessly, ask that she embrace her heart before that, even if it means death.
“But for you, who have become immortal, even death is nothing more than a luxury you cannot wish for easily. Isn’t that why the goddess descended on this earth? I hoped that a goddess who was said to be omnipotent would be able to surpass the power of the World Tree and completely kill you.”
Saying that, Cain drained Kyrie’s blood from his sword once, and then put the sword back into the scabbard that was tied around his waist.
“I feel sorry for you, but the wish you wished for so much will never come true. Because from now on, I intend to bring the goddess Aria down from the heavens to the earth. Rather than leaving Aria as a strange goddess like a goddess, I intend to return it to Aria, the maid of the Duke of Estelle. I’m a greedy person, so I’m a person with a bad heart to get back what I once got my hands on.”
Fortunately, there seemed to be no need to ask where the goddess Arya was located in this vast great forest. Because, even at this moment, there was one place where he could feel a huge pressure as if his whole body was being shuddered.
Where the World Tree is located. The center of the great forest.
That is the place where all decisions will be made, and it must be the place where the goddess Aria has descended on this land.
Be patient there, Arya. I’m going to get you back now
At this moment, just when she was looking straight in the direction where Arya was supposed to be and was about to start moving in that direction.
“…Cain. Are you really sincere? Are you serious about going forward to save her?”
A dull voice comes from behind him. There was the figure of Kirie, who was looking up at him with eyes she had never seen before, clutching the wound that pierced her chest.
“Okay, is there anything wrong with that? I move forward to save Arya, and you stand in my way to fulfill your own wish. We each risked our lives to fulfill our wishes, and as a result, I defeated you. So I don’t think you, the loser, have the right to say anything about this.”
“…..”
At those words, Kirie had no choice but to swallow the words she was about to say back down her throat. Certainly, it was as he said. Just before, they fought on their own beliefs, and in the end, they were defeated by him. Now, she reverses what she said and gets in his way, which is nothing other than her pride.
so.
“…I will give you one piece of advice. The present woman is not Arya, your handmaid, nor is she the Winter Witch we once dealt with. The opponent you have to face is none other than Aria, the goddess of heaven. It is a person who has a different level from human beings by itself. Don’t forget that if you really want to save her, at least bring her down to the same level as us.”
At Kyrie’s sincere advice, Cain pauses for a moment and smiles at her.
“It is a well known fact. Thanks to the hint you gave us.”
Kyrie, who quickly noticed what Cain was talking about, made a puzzled expression for a moment.
“…It was just my bad taste. I never did anything to help you.”
“Well, is it really so? At least I don’t think so. And Bianca and Iris agreed with me.”
Saying that, he turned his back on her this time. Kyrie could not afford to delay any longer. It was really time to go rescue Arya.
“I’ll tell you the rest of the story later at the Duke of Estelle. When everything is over, all we have left is time.”
In spite of the fact that a while ago they were fighting to the death risking their own lives and each other’s lives, now they stare blankly at his back as he so naturally promises to have a later date with himself, as if spilled by something.
…Really, he’s a man who has burst into tears. And I also think that I am really crazy for thinking that even his backed-up figure is lovely.
In this way, she watches his back as he gradually disappears into small dots until the last moment. While desperately wishing that the man who wanted to reach the heavens without mercy breaking his wish would be able to fulfill his wish.
****
“…ha.”
out of breath Not knowing if it was because of the fierce battle I had invested all my mental strength and concentration in just now, or because of the scars on my body that had not yet healed halfway, or because of the eerie mana that filled this space, I breathed again and again. was repeating
The closer you get to the center where the World Tree exists, the more inexplicable the sense of intimidation and awe grows. Enormous magical energy that could not be thought of as belonging to this world enveloped this area. The aftermath, which was only a scrap of debris, was this much, but how enormous was the power she currently contained in her body?
“…..”
Let’s not talk about dying already. What I want to do is not impossible. It’s just that it’s nothing short of impossible.
It’s only a very minor difference, but I think there’s a definite difference between having no possibility and having even a little.
it is hope A word that contains the distant hope that Arya can be saved, and that the five of them can go back smiling as they promised Iris.
that’s why i walk I do not contain any hesitation in my steps and only walk forward.
At the end, it arrived. At the center of the Great Forest, a tree in legend said to support the world. right in front of the world tree.
And the girl I was looking for was quietly floating on top of the altar in front of the world tree.
“…Finally, we’ve arrived here. If possible, I hoped that you would not come here.”
With a cold that will never happen again in the world, with a raging snowstorm on her back, she slightly lifts the hem of the dress she is wearing to welcome the ‘guest’ who has entered her realm.
“But even so, it would be disrespectful to not welcome guests who have come all the way here. Although we already know each other well, I would like to introduce myself to you again as I am claiming to be the owner of this place.”
Enormous magical power that can’t feel the limit, a power that can be called omnipotence in this world, wrapped around her body and containing a single directionality, she is none other than-
“Greetings again. My name is Arya.”
“I am the goddess of winter who presides over winter among the four seasons.”