Discovering Myself

"Hinata, are you all right?" Fulvius inquires as soon as he notices my eyes opening.

I turn to glance around and see that the monster plant is dead. It is dismembered, and its emerald-coloured heart lies lifeless on the ground.

Emiko is sobbing and screaming: "Even after I killed it, I still feel hollow inside!" Hideki gives her a tissue, then takes a seat next to her.

"How did you exactly succeed in killing it?" I query, puzzled.
"We couldn't have done it without you. You halted it," Fulvius says.
"Really? I'm really glad I could help you guys," I say. I'm so completely worn out that I'm unable to display any kind of enthusiasm.

"I kept you in my arms the entire time. From the moment you passed out. However, your freezing spell was so effective that even without my participation, it would still work out fine," Fulvius elaborates.

"So, you didn't utilize life force draining magic in any way?" I ask, shocked that I could accomplish so much on my own.
"No, as I just said I had you in my arms all the time. I was worried about you," he claims.
"That is very sweet of you," I say, smiling.

"You are a true sorceress, Hinata. You were successful in fighting it in the other realm." Fulvius exclaims with a smile on his face. I have never seen him smiling like that before. He is very happy right now.

"How do you mean true sorceress?" I ask him.
"You have predetermined affinity for casting spells and magic in general. Not a lot of people have it," he clarifies for me
"Even my mum and I have never been able to accomplish something like this. You also learn really quickly," he adds.

"Are you suggesting that I should use my gift for magic in some way?" I'm genuinely curious.
"Yes, absolutely, and don't let this turn of events discourage you. There are so many nice and peaceful ways you can use magic for," Fulvius informs me.

Emiko stops sobbing, and as she approaches me, Hideki follows.

"I'm grateful. I was able to exact revenge on Mitsuko thanks to you," she says sincerely.
"At the very least, Emiko, you managed to do it. I was unable to exact my vengeance in the end," Looking at the ground, Fulvius remarks.
"I'm sad you didn't make it, but you know what, revenge is good for nothing. It was only a momentary feeling of satisfaction," Emiko says.
She adds regretfully, "It did not bring Mitsuko back to life."

"She is correct, Fulvius, you wouldn't be able to turn back time and prevent your father’s death. You would only make things more difficult for yourself," Hideki expresses his opinion.

"I agree with you. Mitsuko and a few other people were killed as a result of this attempt to gain retribution," Fulvius cries out in pain.
"My father will not be brought back to life, and my mother will be very disappointed in me," he continues.

I have a sudden urge to examine the plant closely. I'm interested to see what's within. Now that I am close to it, I peer inside. Only a few objects are floating on the thick, green liquid that fills the monster. There are two pendants, a watch, a ring, and several unidentifiable little metallic pieces. It's terribly depressing. It indicates they were all dissolved.

"Emiko, please come closer," I say.
I question her when she arrives, "Does anything you see belong to Mitsuko?"
"Yes. That heart-shaped silver pendant. Could I please have it?" She pleads, on the edge of crying once more.

I go to pick up the stake from the ground and pull Mitsuko's pendant out from the pool of despair.

"Avoid contacting it with bare hands. It must first be thoroughly washed," I remark while handing her the stick with the pendant attached.

We all agree to leave the plant here and head home right away. Since it is properly hidden, no one will find it before tomorrow morning.

It is already daybreak. I wake up without getting a good night's rest. I get ready for school, have a quick breakfast, and then I meet Fulvius outside of my house. We walk side by side, both of us feeling extremely anxious. We briefly inform the homeroom teacher what has happened this week, and she agrees that we should have an urgent meeting now before the first class begins. Before calling the police.

Whole neighbourhood is alert due to the carnage on the street. Everyone is convinced that there is something horrific going on and the police and the media are looking into the incident.

We move toward the meeting room after entering the school building. Emiko and Hideki are already there seated on the bench, and we can see Mitsuko's parents standing quietly by the door.

Time moves quite slowly and the atmosphere is utterly depressing and tranquil. After about fifteen minutes, we hear the sound of heels echoing down the hallway.

"Thank you for your patience," Chisaka-sensei says flatly.
"We may now enter," she says as she swings open the door.

When everyone gets settled into their seats in the classroom, Mitsuko's mother asks Chisaka-sensei in a tearful tone, "How did my daughter die? You called us early in the morning to tell us that our dear Mitsuko was killed but you omitted the cause of death."

The teacher accusingly points her head in our direction and says, "They claimed they would give us a full explanation at this meeting."

"I will speak," Emiko volunteers.
"Let's hear what you have to say," Chisaka-sensei states.

"We turned the enormous flower head in the woods into a monster. It's a well-hidden spot, and no one goes there. Initially, there was no threat because it was tightly chained...," Mitsuko's father cuts off Emiko's explanation in the middle and slams his fists on the desk.

"A monster emerged from the flower's head? By magic, is that how it happened? I reject that nonsense. Please let me know what really happened to my daughter!"

"We went to feed the monster two days ago, and after having provoked the plant Mitsuko unintentionally slipped; I tried to save her, but I was too slow, and the chains unravelled. Then, Hideki put his own life in danger, but sadly, Mitsuko had already been absorbed," Emiko cries throughout her narration.

Upon hearing Emiko's moving speech, Mitsuko's mother begins to cry and envelops the girl she knows well from before.

"Two days ago? And why are we hearing all of this now?" Mitsuko’s father angrily asks.
"Because we had to go kill the plant. You probably saw police cars in the neighbourhood or at least saw the news on the television. We wanted to prevent more victims," Hideki explains even though that doesn’t calm Mitsuko’s father down at all.

"Do you have any evidence that the monster ever existed?" Chisaka-sensei inquires.
"Yes, the creature is now dead in the same location where we left it yesterday," Hideki confirms.

"Please accompany us. We will show you the dead monster," Fulvius asserts.

We are all gathered at the incident location. The teacher and Mitsuko's parents are grossed out by the sight. Even though the monster is all messed up they can still see its razor-sharp claws and the holes where its eyes used to be.

Mitsuko's parents approach the plant, and as her mother sees the items floating on the liquid, she becomes quite pale and starts to lose her balance. Her husband immediately assists her.

Emiko comes near them and shows them Mitsuko's pendant, "We found it there, this is the proof Mitsuko was devoured."

"Thank you for telling us the truth," she cries and then turns to her husband who has his face cover with his palms.