Those who matter to me

I once again find myself surrounded by darkness. This place between dream and reality has already become quite comforting. Soon enough the lights begin to gather, and the figure of a young woman appears in front me.

“Before we begin, I just want to say that I am beyond proud of you Akihiko. You became a member of the resting guild and made so many wonderful friends and connections. I knew it was the right choice to ask you for help.”

“Thanks, but I think you may be exaggerating. The people here are the ones who deserve this kind of praise. They are truly kind; they will help complete strangers and every death they experience leaves them sad and mourning. I have no idea how long I have simply watched something like the news, seeing dozens of people dying every day in accidents and not even taking a moment to care. I just considered that normal. But even if people die every day, they are still lives.”

“But now it seems that you share their views too.”

“And what good does that make? I had to change to become like this, I’m not a good person.”

“But this is exactly why you are a good person.”

“What do you mean?”

“The amount of people who are willing to change is miniscule. And even then, the number of people who actually do change is even smaller. You saw this world as a magical place, and at some point, you even started to treat it as a game. But not anymore. You began to understand the pain that these people experience, and the suffering slumberwalkers go through while under Umbravar influence. The tears you shed are the proof of your kindness and your willingness to change who you are for the better.”

“I owe it all to them though…”

“And that’s how it should be, they will help you grow. And in return you will help them.”

Talking like this was exactly what I needed. My appreciation for everyone just grows even more.

“Now what’s the next step?” I put the conversation back on track.

“Now you can just wait. I need time to carefully analyze the bodies you and your teammates have sent my way, but I believe that in a week I should come to a conclusion on what has been happening these past ten years. In the meantime, just relax, you have been through enough and a little rest will do you some good.”

“Then I’ll be here waiting. As soon as you’re ready just give me a call.”

“You got it!” Sonala does a quirky little pose like an idol. “Oh, and Akihiko. While I don’t mind what you saying to your friends about me, please try to keep the embarrassing parts of our talks private, ok? I have an image to maintain.”

“I’ll make sure to not say anything about your tantrums and sketchy deals then.”

“My deals are not sketchy you big meanie!! And I don’t throw tantrums!!!” She says as she stomps the ground.

As I open my eyes I’m back in my room. The sun shines out of the window and in my hands I grasp my dreamcatcher. Just looking at it is enough to make me smile.

I get up and head to the infirmary. As I open the door Juni, Lafanda and Mimi are already in there with Olivia. She comes rushing over and gives me a big hug.

“Just in time Aki! Olivia was just finishing up with us. It’s your turn to get healed.” Juni says.

“I heard plenty of people return from their first missions really injured. So, I did my best to make sure I could heal any sort of injury once you guys arrived.” Olivia says.

She brings me to a bed, and I sit on it. She first analyses each of my wounds and after that starts preparing a blessing.

“Holy Dream Blessing: Sunlight recovery.”

I begin to feel warm all over, like I’m taking a sun bath on a cold winter day. My wounds begin to close at a super-fast speed and all the pain in my body vanishes.

“Olivia this is amazing! You are amazing!” I say.

“She sure is.” Lafanda adds

Mimi flicks her tongue in agreement.

“Not bad at all for a non-combative.” Juni says.

Olivia starts blushing hard and her face is completely red. But she seems to be happy after receiving praise.

We talk a bit about our trip and the people of Hariot but leave a lot out of the actual mission in itself. Olivia understands and doesn’t press any further. When we are about to leave Gora shows up knocking on the door.

“Akihiko, there ya are! I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Gora, you’re still here?” I ask

“After the first mission members usually get a week to rest, we decided to stay here to make you company since Volkan will also be staying for the time being. But never mind that. She finally arrived!” Gora says.

“Who arrived?” I ask.

“Lara! The other human kin!”

I completely forgot about that. It has been months since I’ve been here, but at some point, I stopped looking to see if she had arrived.

(Another human…)

As I think that, memories of my first mission flash in my mind. Technically I already met another human here. But it definitely wouldn’t hurt to meet her.

“Sure, where is she right now?”

“Over in the library. C’mon!”

I say goodbye to the others and head to the library. As I get there, Gora points me to Lara. She is sitting on a table alone, reading a book. She has long blond hair that runs down on only a single side of her shoulders and blue eyes. No heterochromia though. She has white skin and just like me the lack of features makes her stand out a bit. No scales, no colorful hair or skin.

I approach her.

“E-excuse me? Are you Lara?” I say.

I just realized that I’m taking to a girl I never met before, a human girl at that. I’m beginning to get nervous.

“Who would like to know?” She answers.

“Ah yes, sorry. I’m Akihiko of Human Kin.”

“Oh, another human. So, what do you need?” She says in a cold tone.

Not exactly the reaction I was expecting from a her.

“Well, I just wanted to meet you since, well. You’re the first human I have met since I arrived here in the headquarters and…”

“Oh…So that’s how it is. Look dude, I’m flattered, but I’m not interested.” She cuts me off.

That completely catches me off guard,

(Does she think I’m hitting on her?)

“What? No, that’s not it. I just wanted to meet you because…”

“Is not going to work dude, I heard this story before. Just because we’re from the same rare kin doesn’t mean we’re destined to be together. I’m sorry but I’m not interested.”

She gets up and moves to a different table.

Gora approaches me after she sees Lara leave.

“Ok, that was rude. What’s her problem?” Gora says.

I’m just standing there speechless. I wasn’t really trying anything like that.

Me and gora head outside to the top floor and sit on the grass and look at the horizon.

“Don’t let her get to you ok, Akihiko?” Gora tries to console me.

“It’s okay. I’m actually felling really good right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Is just that I thought I would feel better with this whole awakening thing if a met someone who looked like me. But now that I met her, I see how dumb that was. She was a complete stranger, the only thing we had in common was we were both human kin”

“Yeah, but. She’s the closest thing you would have to family, isn’t she? I wanted you to at least get along with her.”

“I mean, if we’re talking about direct family, then I guess. But technically I already have Lafanda and Mimi for that. We’re all rare kin after all, with so few of us around it is way better to be with the ones you like. Plus, your parents are harpies, right? Just because they are from different kin are they any less your parents?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then there you have it. I have you guys. And from me that all the family and friends I ever need.”

As I finish saying that I see everyone else coming from the stairs looking for the two of us. They are going to the cafeteria and are calling us to join them. Me and Gora stand up and head there.

Being together with them just feels right. It doesn’t matter how different we are. They are the friends I made here in this world, and I will cherish them for as long as I live.

The rest of us just take it easy on this following week, doing some light training, reading and hanging out.

Six days have passed since then. Tomorrow night Sonala should get in contact with me to talk about the next step against Umbravar.

We finish eating and we each head into our rooms.

As I fall asleep, I have another dream.

I’m once more running on that field of shadows but there are no more creatures around me. I can see the field of light and the faces of all the figures over there, waving and smiling at me.

Gora, Lumiere, Ruina, Volkan, Juni, Lafanda, Mimi, Olivia, and many others I’ve met during my stay here in this world. Even Salazar is there.

I run towards them, getting closer when all of a sudden, the field of light vanishes, like someone turned off the light abruptly.

“…hiko.”

I can faintly hear Sonala’s voice

As I look around, I’m completely surrounded by darkness. I being to feel cold.

“…Akihiko.”

Sonala’s voice gets louder and clearer.

The shadows begin to take shape and circle around me, bearing their claws and fangs at me.

“…Akihiko!”

(What’s going on?!)

They get ready to attack me but at the last second I hear Sonala.

“WAKE UP AKIHIKO!!!”

I open my eyes, my heart almost beating out of my chest. It is the middle of the night and I’m in my room.

I can hear screaming coming from outside the door