Personality

Part.1 – Lull

The sun is at its highest in the sky.

That leaves us a lot of time.

We’ll have to find a place to sleep while Hiko’s brother recovers.

But obviously, before that, we will have to carry him.

“Clearly not the easiest thing…”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your brother.”

“Yes.”

“How are we going to move him?”

“You’ve never lifted your brother, right?”

“Ah! Uh…”

“…”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Do you really think I have the strength to move him?”

“But you can do these things”

These things?

“What do you mean?”

“All of That.”

He shows me the plants that I used during the confrontation.

I noticed that the one that protected him had faded.

“Why don’t you do it? It took a lot of energy for me to put it all together, put some of your own in it.”

“…”

“…”

He looks at me blankly.

Did I say something wrong?

“What are you saying? I can’t do this. Hahaha.”

“…”

Eh?

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why you can’t?”

“I don’t have that kind of power in me.”

“You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie?”

“You are lazy.”

“But... What are you saying?!

“…”

“…”

“So…”

“How did you wilt those ivies over there?”

“I didn’t do anything, they wilted on their own.”

“…”

“…”

“I don’t believe you.”

“But…”

“I don’t know why you don’t want to show it to me but I respect your decision. I won’t ask you anymore.”

“Give me ten minutes.”

Aaaaaaaah, he annoys me!

Why doesn’t he want to help me out a little bit?

All of that almost exhausted me.

I don’t even know if I’ll make it…

…

He doesn’t speak anymore.

…

“Why aren’t you talking anymore?”

“Don’t you have to focus to do it?”

“… Yes.”

“Then I don’t want to bother you, the sooner we get out of here the better.”

…

First, I need…

Wheels.

Just one won’t give us enough stability.

And two, we’d have chance to trip him up.

Three?

… I don’t think I can get to four.

…

“Bring me the bag I left there. And pick up the blue stone please.”

“On my way.”

It bothers me that I had to throw it so hard, but I had no other choice…

Forgive me, mom.

…

“Here, as you asked me to.”

“Thank you.”

I put the stone in the center of the three circles of ivy.

Should be a good way to carry it.

…

I need a bed of flowers. Flowers like this. Yes, this daisy should do the job.

…

Concentrate…

“Grow,

Like the bed of clovers in the early morning,

Spread out and scatter your beauty.”

…

That’s it.

It should do the trick.

“Incredible…”

“How do you do this?!”

“…”

“I focus on the thoughts of the plants, and I ask them.”

“You’re asking them?”

“Yes.”

“To plants?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s amazing.”

He really never seen that?

“Where do you come from?”

“Well… We’re from a very distant country.”

“We came here because of my mother’s illness.”

“… She didn’t have much left to live on.”

“When this disaster struck…”

“…”

Maybe that’s why he never saw this.

There must not be that kind of power in his home country.

“Ok, I believe you… Sorry for asking.”

“…”

“Help me to carry him on the stretcher.”

“… Okay.”

…

He’s much lighter than I thought it would be.

“We’re going to go and look at the big houses around, we’ll start with this one.”

We need a place high enough. Plants, in general, lose strength by overgrowing.

At least, we’ll have the advantage of the height.

…

We’ll have to climb some stairs to get that high…

“If there’s any concern, please tell me Hiko”

“Got it, Lyre.”

…

I can’t remember the last time someone called me that.

My mom got used to nicknames with me.

My treasure, Sweetie…

There’s one time she called me the ‘Grew up with low socializing skills issues’

That one was particularly harsh.

But I’ve never taken a grudge on her cause of this.

… I want to see her again.

…

My plants have some heat resistance, but deprived of water and buried roots, they will not last very long.

“We’re going to speed up the pace, Hiko.”

“Well received.”

He doesn’t seem to be flinching.

He’s totally different from the one I met at first.

The dread from his face was gone.

I feel a great confidence now.

…

Here we are.

Rectangles of shadows begin to emerge around this gigantic gray house.

It looks like the ivy of the wheels has held out so far.

“Okay, we have to do a recognition before going there.”

“Give me a few minutes, I’ll…”

“No!”

“Let me check.”

“Eh? But…”

“You have to protect him. If something happens, you are the only one who can prevent it.”

“But, you…”

“I can take care of myself, don’t worry about me.”

“I’ll be right back.”

…

Liar.

Part.2 – Gratitude

…

It is said that several wars have been stopped because of capricious weather.

At least that’s what I read in a book.

This book also talks about the impact of global warming.

I didn’t really understand what it was, but I’m sure it’s something that’s not good for my plants.

Is this time, so bright and yet so arid, part of it?

If so, isn’t this same global warming here to create wars?

…

I refuse it.

I will deal with it after I overcome the source of this apocalypse.

This is justice.

We must defend and protect the weak from those who abuse their power.

In this sense, it therefore seems logical that some people have no power.

…

Isn’t that an injustice in itself?

…

As I gazed at the blue sky, filled with unanswered questions, I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye.

An enemy?

…

No.

Just… His brother.

He’s moving.

I…

I must warn him!

“No.”

He grabbed my arm before I could leave

“…”

“…”

“It’s in the family, is it?”

“Eh?”

“Hiko does the same to me. He speaks, I answer him and he starts to stare at me without saying anything.

“A horn grew on my forehead?”

“…”

“…”

“Hahahahaha!”

“What’s so funny?”

“You’re exceptional. I have never seen anyone complain near someone in bad shape. Hahahahaha.”

“Stop kidding!”

Did I do something weird?

Why is he laughing?

I don’t understand…

Shouldn’t I have said it like that?

Should I have waited?

“Sorry, that wasn’t my intention, Lyre.”

“… You obviously haven’t forgotten my name.”

“… I will never forget your name.”

“…”

“Lyre. Listen to me.”

“I have crossed oceans, moved heaven and earth to find something.”

“I was looking for a cure. For the woman who mattered most to me in the world.”

“But despite all my research in biology, I couldn’t find anything.”

“And worse…”

“…”

“I know what you’re looking for.”

“Strangely, I heard it.”

“Go to this place with Hiko, you will find interesting things there.”

With Hiko?

Why…

Why this speech.

Why you…

“Why…”

?

“Why?!”

I see his face.

You should be afraid of the tone of my voice.

Why…

Why are you smiling?

“… I’m sorry.”

“You did everything you could.”

“But my body… He can’t anymore.”

“Probably from toxins, or maybe my ability to regenerate has been impaired.”

His breathing is loud…

“You will find your mother.”

…?!

How…?

“She told me about you a lot.”

“Yes, it’s you...”

“The child coming from the skies…”

…

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand.

I don’t understand.

What did I do wrong?

It was not enough…

He will die.

I can still cure him!

Fast…

…No…

“Thank you. This pleases me.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better gift before I died.”

“I’m sorry for Hiko, I wanted to see him one last time but…”

“I know how he is.”

“I don’t want to see his expression on his face. He’s still too young.”

“He will learn… Over time…”

“Please, protect him.”

“I’m begging you…”

“…”

“Who did you take me for?”

Obviously…

Yes.

I will do it.

For you…

“Thank you… Say hello to Lisa for me.”

Mother…

…

“YOUR NAME!”

“…”

“Lean.”

I can’t face it back.

I dare not face the reality that awaits me.

What Is justice?

Why couldn’t I save him?

“Why?!”

…

As if I was looking for an answer to my lack of strength, I looked behind me.

There is nothing left.

His body, scattered, flew away.

Like a dandelion blown by a squall.

Part.3 – Perspective

I don’t dare anymore.

I can’t speak anymore.

My thoughts are tangled.

Everything is messy in my head.

What’s the meaning of my life?

I never asked myself the question until then.

If I couldn’t save him, what am I worth for?

Where are my principles, filed with dreams and good intent?

Where is my justice?

… Where is the justice?

…

I was not up to the task.

Sorry Hiko.

Sorry Mom.

… And sorry Lean.

I no longer know where I am.

I no longer know where to go.

I feel like I’m falling.

Why…

Accept this feeling… Is that hard…?

…

“Hey, I’ve finished inspecting the premises. Nothing to worry about, that’s for sure. There’s even still electricity.”

“…”

“Oh, you managed to move my brother?”

“No, I…”

“Ah! He managed to get up, eh? It doesn’t surprise me. He has always been tenacious.”

No, that’s not it.

“He got up almost immediately.”

Stop it...

“My brother is amazing”

“…”

It hurts…

I can’t take it any longer.

“Hiko, in fact...- “

“I’m sorry.”

… Eh?

“I’ve seen it all since you started chatting.”

“I knew deep down that it was just a fleeting joy.”

“These plants have destroyed his vital organs.”

“I knew it well, but…”

“I wanted to believed, in something. In a miracle.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“It’s mine.”

… No.

It cannot be your fault.

“Come on, we have to take care of the food before falls.”

“There must be some things left if we search in the rooms.”

How to you do?

“We have also to…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

My ears.

I can’t hear anymore.

The sounds that reach me…

I feel like I’m being dragged underwater.

What did he say already?

… Nothing special, I suppose.

“Yeah, we’re going to go to the highest place. We should be safe there.”

“Ok, I follow you!”

Why are you nodding?

… I only make mistakes…

“Let’s take the elevator, it will be faster.”

“… Okay.”

I don’t even know what is it.

Maybe a place where you can rest.

Or something to carried…

… I’m tired.

“So, for the top floor…”

“It will be the 20th floor!”

“…”

I feel sick.

What is this box of death?

Everything is gray and oppressive.

I can’t even feel the wind transporting the flowery scents of spring.

… So, would that be dying?

*Ding*

Ding?

“…”

The doors open to a new place.

But I haven’t move…

…

I just follow Hiko.

Ah. I see.

If I follow him, it’ll be fine, right?

…

Eh.

Why… Everything is cloudy.

I don’t feel well.

Ah…

This place… Lacks of light.

I think I’ve reached my limit…

…

*Bam*