Emotions

Two months before the Greyford Valley events, in the ruins near the city of Taranios, at dusk.

“Well, now that we all have introduced ourselves, we will discuss the plan.” Iwao said calmly.

They were all sitting on the ruins of a temple, in a circle, looking firmly at each other. Tension could be felt in the air, as the topic was important. Putting this plan in place could help build bonds of mutual trust, as it involved the participation of everyone.

“Like I expected, Celi, you’re better at hand-to-hand combat, while Saya is better at ranged combat and spells of control. I’m more versatile and can do quite a lot of things. Our little group came together very quickly, but as we all have something to offer to each other, I hope we can all get along.” Iwao explained, trying to convince himself that he was doing the right choice.

The two girls looked at each other. Saya was embarrassed while looking at Celi. On the other hand, Celi was showing Saya a bright smile to put her at ease.

They then both turned their head toward Iwao. Celi was still smiling, but in a different way, showing Iwao that she thought they already got along pretty well. However, Saya was still not accustomed to Iwao’s monstrous look. Her face betrayed her, even though she wanted to make an effort not to be scared anymore.

“Iwao, this little group, I promise, will grow stronger and will reach its goals. Count on us!” Celi said in a compassionate tone, while playing with the knob of her sword resting on her legs.

Iwao smiled as Celi’s words reached his heart. But he almost forgot that his smile was not as beautiful as when he was human. It was as horrendous as the monster he had become, stretching to his long ears and showing his sharp teeth. 

Saya screamed in fear, starting to panic. The smile terrified her. She was sweating a lot, her gaze unfocused, lost in her fears.

“Let me take care of this, Iwao!” Celi exclaimed.

She took Saya behind a wall where they could be alone. Iwao was left perplexed, staring at the ground.

“Sigh. Again… I have to find a way to get rid of this smile. It should be easier than returning to my human form… If I terrify her every time we go on a mission at night, she will not get used to me and will start to fear the night itself. I have to make more effort.”

Iwao was full of determination as he joined his hands and looked up. He was going to try something.

Behind the wall where Celi and Saya had gone, cries could be heard. Celi tried to calm Saya with reason and compassion.

“You know everything about his true self, right?" Celi asked. "You heard us last night.” 

She was holding Saya’s shoulders, trying to look her in the eyes. But Saya was covering her face with her hands, hiding her fear and her tears. She didn’t answer Celi’s question. Celi sighed deeply.

“You know, Saya, it was hard for me too at first, even if it was not the same as for you. You promised to make an effort, and I’m sure Iwao will too. That’s why I got used to his appearance so quickly – I saw all the efforts he put into everything he does, how he tries to be better and help people. I’m sure that one day you will see that side of him and won’t be terrified anymore.”

Saya breathed deeply. She wiped the tears from her face. She waited two long minutes before stammering a few words.

“I… know… but… when I saw him smiling, terrible images appeared… in my head…”

“Images?”

“Yes… like flashes of horrible visions. It was like Iwao, but... different... he tried to attack me… But I know it’s not him! I don’t want to link this image to him. I don't want to add weight to his burden.”

“Don’t worry, Saya. We will both – Iwao and I – do everything to make these images disappear. Now let’s go back to him, he must feel lonely all by himself.” Celi said with a big smile to chase away the bad vibes in the atmosphere.

As Celi was starting to go back to the other side of the wall where Iwao was, Saya called out to her. Celi stopped and turned.

“Yes, Saya?”

“I… just want to thank you. We’ve only known each other since yesterday and you already act like a mother to me… Your smile also has a sort of power. When I see it, I can only focus on it and be happy.”

“I wish my smile worked that well on Iwao too.” Celi whispered, looking sad.

She looked Saya in the eyes.

“You want to know why I act like this, even though we just met? It’s because I can’t turn my eyes away when I see someone suffering in their corner.”

Celi turned around, tilted her head to look at Saya, and winked.

Night had fallen on the ruins. The three suns were replaced by the three moons.

Celi and Saya had came back to sit in front of Iwao. But something was strange – they were left in shock. Iwao’s face had changed. More precisely, his smile had changed.

“What did you do?” Celi exclaimed.

“Oh, that? I don’t want to traumatize Saya anymore. I just cast an illusion spell on my mouth to hide my horrendous smile. Now… my mouth only opens a little and my smile doesn’t stretch to my ears anymore.” Iwao replied softly.

Saya started crying and chuckled as she spoke.

“I’m sorry Iwao… it’s all because of me... But thank you” Saya stood up and wiped her tears. “Thanks to this, I can start making an effort not to fear you anymore. Look! I’m already able to talk to you while looking you in the eyes.”

Iwao hid behind his new sweet smile his discomfort at the situation.

“That won’t help me accept my appearance... I hate it even more now. But… it’s for the good of everyone. I don’t need to totally accept my appearance if I’m rushing to become human again. This form is only temporary.”

He looked at Saya with a delicate glaze.

“I’m glad you like it. Now, let’s talk about the plan-”

Celi cut him off.

“If I may... I know something that could help you. Sorry to interrupt, but what I have to propose is an option we should try first.”

“What is it? My plan is not perfect, so all ideas are welcome. Even though I already planned every details. But… somehow, it’s nice to count on others, not to be the only one everyone relies on. I can have someone to rely on too.”

“It is told that a book exists, written by a strange woman known as The Witch. She sought to be the first to transfer multiple consciousnesses and essences into a single being, in order to create a perfect entity and control society. During her lifetime, she carried out all sorts of experiments: altering the essence of animals to slightly change their appearance, or transferring their consciousness into objects and other things. I think there is a similarity with your case. It is said that she recorded everything in a book that no one has ever read. I believe that inside it, we may find a way to reverse the process of you becoming entirely a monster – by learning how to reshape your essence. But before she could achieve her plan to control society, the authorities discovered her plans and executed her publicly, declaring the crimes she had committed in front of everyone. This is why we know at least this much about her experiments. Her book, however, is said to have been buried in a secret place. It could not be destroyed because of a strange spell cast upon it, which is why it was hidden away.”

“So, it’s pretty much just a legend… And where is this book?” Iwao asked skeptically.

Celi looked at Saya with a little smirk at the corner of her mouth. Saya pointed at herself as if to ask "me?".

“Let’s ask our princess! Only the royalty knows where it is buried.” Celi replied, looking intently at Saya.

Saya looked down at her feet and nodded.

“It’s true… During my research these last five months in the royal archives, I saw documents talking about this book. It’s in the Valley of the Dead.”

“The Valley of the Dead...? Is that really a good option? The name doesn’t suggest it’s a safe place. My plan would have been more reliable, but it could take a long time. With this book, I could speed things up. Let’s go. We have nothing to lose, only to gain.”

Celi looked at Iwao while putting her sword back in its scabbard, since she had left it on the ground when she went off with Saya earlier.

“We will have to train and see what we are all able to do before that. This place is full of unexpected dangers, and we must be fully prepared. There’s a reason why this place is called the Valley of the Dead.” Celi said in a serious tone.

The three of them looked at each other, bathed in the light of the moons – as if each of them were illuminated by a different one.

******************************

“Pierce the rock, pierce my hand. Terva!”

As these words escaped Iwao’s mouth, a black mist emerged from the magic circle that had appeared beneath his hand. The wind blew violently. Celi and Saya were forced to raise their arms to protect themselves from the dirt flying in the air.

Iwao muffled a scream. The black mist soon covered him entirely. It was so dark that he couldn’t see a meter ahead.

Lost in the darkness, he heard a distant voice. He didn’t recognize it, yet it seemed strangely familiar. Neither deep nor high pitch, it was just a calm voice asking him a question.

“Are you sure you want to use it? You will have only one try, one chance to do what you wish. In return, let me have your hand.”

Iwao answered in his thoughts. “Let me use it.”

The voice didn’t reply. Instead, the darkness lifted from Iwao’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Celi and Saya couldn’t move, the shaking ground preventing them from taking even a step. If they had tried, they would have fallen.

“Iwao!” They screamed, trying to wake him from what looked like a trance.

His eyes were completely white, as if he no longer possessed his own body.

The two women kept calling his name. He could hear them, but no words would leave his lips. His mind was blank.

Only distant echoes of his name reached him, fading little by little.

From Celi and Saya’s perspective, the black mist had pierced through Iwao’s hand and solidified, forming what he now held in the hair: a spear-hand, ready to strike the trapdoor.

Iwao sank deeper into his mind. He no longer knew what he was doing. “Are Celi and Saya safe? Didn’t he only want my hand? Did I destroy the trapdoor? Where am I? Why does this feel so good?”

All around him was pure white. He floated like a soul adrift. He closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.

“Oh! You’re already coming back, my dear Iwao? I was waiti-”

“This voice... it’s not one of those I heard earlier! I need to go back or I’m dead!”

At that instant, his body trembled and rushed toward a dark hole within the pure white space. His consciousness was pulled back into his body, and he regained his senses.

He opened his eyes and saw what was happening. His hand, now a spear, was rushing toward the trapdoor. The moment it touched, a magic barrier activated. Still, the spear forced its way, trying to break both barrier and trapdoor. 

The violent clash sent Celi and Saya flying back. Saya quickly cast a spell to summon a wall behind her, absorbing the impact, while Celi drove her sword into the ground to anchor herself.

Iwao screamed, pouring more Firia and strength into his strike. The royalty must have wanted to protect this book at all costs to set up such a barrier.

Finally, the barrier disintegrated under the power of the special spear-hand spell. The resulting explosion hurled Iwao backward. The spear dissolved back into black mist before vanishing.

Celi was the first to rush to him, crying his name. Iwao lay on the ground, agonizing, clutching the place where his hand had once been. Celi ripped a piece of her pants to make a bandage. Soon, his bleeding slowed, and he regained consciousness.

“Ahhhh…. It seems I really lost my hand… That was the price after all…” Iwao said in a hoarse, breathless voice.

Tears streamed down Celi’s face as she tried healing him with a spell, but nothing worked. 

“Don’t die! Not you too, please!” She screamed.

Saya joined in, attempting her own healing, yet neither of them could restore what was gone. His hand was truly lost.

Sadness and frustration surged inside Celi’s heart – the despair of being powerless. The air around her stirred, lifting her hair. Her hands hovered over Iwao’s wound.

The flow of Firia thickened. The healing spell, fueled by her emotions, grew more powerful.

It didn’t just stop the bleeding completely.

Iwao's hand began to grow back.