Chapter Five

A tall figure with long curly silvery hair stood at the foot of a cliff, her dirty white robes flew with the wind as she let herself revel in the smell of the ocean.

She closed her eyes in contentment as the smell washed over her. Nothing beats a fresh breathe of air. For how long since she had this opportunity, she couldn’t tell.

She was already around before the world itself was created, before man had selfishly started to destroy it with his whims of greed and power. She was there when the first animals roamed the earth for the first time.

And she was there when the stars were placed in the sky, to act as beacons to the humans who never seemed to appreciate the way it was and desired for more.

“How easy to forgive...” she mused as she slowly opened her eyes. “but hard to forget.” 

“For years-millions of years to be exact, I’ve wondered how I came to live a life where I watched countless numbers of humans and animals die like a passing thought, something that even in those years I’ve failed to understand.” she added as she looked over at the horizon.

“Civilizations were built and destroyed, kings and generals were toppled down from their thrones as their empires vanished into dust, with nothing short of blood staining their hands. What more could these people want than to be simply accepted as they are?” she asked herself as she let out a chuckle.

“How fickle-minded are these humans.” she mused as a laugh escaped from her. “No wonder all hardwork tend to vanish.” 

“Not all are that way, Parisa.” a voice spoke in a mocking tone. “Some tend to go down in history for remaining as they are.” 

Parisa laughed. “Yes, some but in a way, it’s still unforgettable that a human should think that the only way to be remembered is to be someone who is in a position of wealth and power.” 

The figure was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke. “So, what are you going to do now?”

She turned her head to look at him, a smile on her face. Her golden eyes intense. “Do? For millions of years I have only lived for the will of the Lord, but now...I don’t think that there’s something that would make me attach to the living world...not anymore.”

“Why don’t you try?” he urged. “Misery loves company.”

She laughed despite the situation. “I’m not miserable, Akram. I’m beyond it. I’m more of despise of what human emotions had brought me.”

Akram let out a sigh as he placed a hand on the hilt of the sword strapped to his waist. “Aren’t you going to try at least?”

“What’s to try when all the emotions have died? When I have none to give it to?” she asked as she turned back to looking over the ocean. “I considered myself impenetrable when it comes to human emotions, but only, only one person have brought what I thought I don’t have in the open. After millions of years!” she laughed but he could hear the pain in her voice. “The emotions that I thought was not mine, was shown in the open.” 

He bit his lip then walked towards her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she cried out all the agony she had felt in her heart all this time.

“Just let it all out.” he murmured as he patted her shoulder. “As they say, move on.”

“How can I?” she asked as she turned to face him, tears running down her face. “When I’ve lost everything I’ve ever known? How!?”

He looked at her face then cupped it in both of his hands, and wiped the tears away with his fingers. “Try to forget. Dwelling in the past would only make it harder.”

She didn’t speak as he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. Murmuring in her ear. “I’ll always be here.” And he thought. ‘For you.’

A group of men trudged through the forest, their shoes cracking and kicking every obstacle that stood in their way to their prize. Their bags banged on their backs as they crossed through the forest, their hands tight on the weapons they carried; varying from swords to guns of various lengths and sizes.

Their boots marching in perfect synchronization; as if all of them were trained in the military prior to the traversing the forest for their game.

It would seem that they were ordinary hunters looking for fair game at first glance but their stance and the manner they seem to impede on every step they took seem to echo a different agenda.

They were after something that was unknown. Something that only the talk of legends could ever boast as a means of interest for adventurers to seek out unknown lands.

And as they walked through the forest, still oblivious to the power that was pulsating in the area, they couldn’t help but set their faces in their determination. They could feel that something was off in the air.

Something mystical. Something that they hadn’t thought to encounter. 

And as they got near the newly trodden path, something came whistling through the air and hit the back of one of the men lagging behind. The man arched his back in pain and dropped to his knees at the force of impact of whatever was thrown at him.

The others looked at him in rage. “What-“

They weren’t able to finish as a shadow flitted through the trees and began hitting them one by one with rocks. The one in front of the group, snarled as his eyes caught movement at the corner of his eye. And pointed his sword at the shadow that had moved towards where they had come from.

“After it!” he shouted as he ran forward, the others following suit. And sooner and later had been wrapped in earth and gobbled up.

Not a sign of them could be seen anywhere. As if the very earth had simply opened up and ate them, erasing their existence from the world.

Someone stepped out from behind the trees and smirked as she walked towards the area where the men had been swallowed earlier. And bent down to pick up a small gold pin of a flower. A rafflesia.

She twirled the pin in her hands. “A flower. Huh.” she scoffed and then placed it inside her pocket. Then headed back to the direction where she came from.