Interdimensional Magic Shenanigans Reupload (In memory of Ch3rryblossom05)

21: Forgiveness?

C:

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As they waited in the hallway, Umbra's mind wandered. A distant memory flashed before her eyes. Unnoticeably, her limbs grew cold, the skin became paler. It was an unwell and quite abnormal feeling for her. She closed her eye, forcing herself to forget it. She couldn't.

Cherry sensed the change of atmosphere. She knew what was going on since she had taken care of an angelic entity before. They tended to frequently drift away into their recollections and got very emotional about it. She gently tugged on the lady's hand to get her attention.

-"Miss ... Are you okay?" The girl sleepily asked.

-"Huh?" Umbra uttered, as she was brought back from her painful daydreaming. It was as if she'd been awakened from a prolonged coma. She glanced around like she was lost.

-"Miss ... your - your hands are cold." Cherry murmured. "You okie ?"

-"Oh ... sorry about that. I am fine."The angelic entity's voice cracked slightly. Why was this child even here, holding her by the hand? Why wasn't it scared, angry?"

Cherry yawned soundly. The door finally opened and they both entered the spaceful common room.

Umbra heeded the ex-ruler's words.

'Please tell me why you deserve forgiveness?'

"Why do I ..." It rang louder in her head.

'WHY DO YOU DESERVE FORGIVENESS?'

That last phrase got stuck on loop in her head. Her gaze dropped down to the floor, even if she did not necessarily need to inspect her shoes. She didn't move her head, just her eye lost all its previous glow, now greyer than steel.

'Do you think hideous creatures like you deserve anything? Hah, we'll that's funny!'

'A witch that doesn't do potions? What ARE you?!'

'Don't look her in the eyes she'll steal your soul'

Slowly ... drifting ... away.

It was so familiar ... way too familiar. That one particular moment came to her mind. Her trial. The one after which she was incarcerated, thrown away from the rest of society.

A friendly squeeze. Her eyes focused back on her shoes, no longer staring into the emptiness.

-"Whatever you do, wherever you are, know that I am here and that I won't leave your side."Cherry kindly whispered as she reassuringly held onto the other's hand.

The same words she said to Hatter more than a thousand million times when he was having one of those sessions of emotional overthinking. Umbra finally pulled her gaze off the floor to fixate with her one eye and an empty cavity the two mandorians.

-"... I, do not."Kiara spoke for them both. She calmly articulated every word, not stuttering once.

"I have absolutely no reason to be forgiven. I don't deserve anything, now that I think about it. My actions were fuelled by ancient fury and grieving, all because some people broke me and cast me away. Centuries have passed since, but the hard feelings remained. I shouldn't have let them influence my behavior. Scrapped creatures like me search for a reason to live, they feed on their negative emotions in an attempt to reach their goals ... yet they fall into despair when they finally come to realize that what they searched for, what they fiercely fought for, does not or no longer exist. I was born broken, and they completely dismantled me.

However, that does absolutely not excuse or explain my crimes. It took me long enough to open my eyes and realize that destroying everything around me only shatters me more, as well as my chances to find peace. I caught myself, but I was too late, the damage had already been done. I know you may not forgive me, yet I still want you to know that I am sincerely sorry for everything that I've done. I deeply regret hurting you all. It was not even my first intention."