The Legends of Anigma: Ethiel Archer | ONC 2023

PART IV

Seeing the video wasn't easy; it was beyond hard, it was a horrifying and unbearable torment. However, Ethiel wanted to see it anyways and so did Tifa.

In a corner of his head he knew: for Alice, making the video was equally hard.

"There are a lot of things I haven't told you. Please know that I never wanted things to be this way when I brought you two into this world. And I'm truly sorry for drifting away. I know I've not been a good mother. Forgiveness is something I no longer deserve." Her eyes glistened. She stopped to wipe them.

"No... mom... Don't – Don't say that!" Tifa broke into tears.

Ethiel didn't console her or hold her. He himself was frozen and filled with several shattering emotions. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he slowly shook his head, denying what he had always agreed to in his thoughts.

"But," Alice sniffed and collected herself, "I hope you understand why I did it. To start with, I'm not from Earth. I'm from Anigma – the world the mirror led you to. To be precise, I am a princess from one of Anigma's Kingdoms – or used to be. I fled to Earth, abandoning all my responsibilities, almost broken by the torment and guilt, hoping to start a new life – and I did; I found your father. With time, I told him my truth and he sure thought I was crazy first," she chuckled, watery eyes unable to retain the tears anymore, "but then I showed him, and finally he understood and accepted me as I am. Then it was you two who entered my life. I've never been happier. All that bitter and dark past, I was finally starting to forget it. But... maybe destiny didn't want me to. Your father discovered something. I – it seemed I had opportunity; I could've saved my world and my people if I wanted to. However, I knew it could've meant me going away from you and not getting to see you again maybe. Hence, I ignored it. Thought of not caring about my responsibilities. Thought of just loving you two. Seems though, living like that wasn't as easy as I thought it was. Regret had become a friend. Sadly, and suddenly, your father passed away in an accident after some time. Before he left, in the hospital, he spent his final breaths to tell me that he had till then used his archaeology skills to continue researching on that thing that could've saved my world – he was doing what I should've done, just to make me truly happy. Maybe he knew, deep inside I was never really at peace, I had just found a way to shove that guilt inside me. The gravity of my regret became stronger. It was torturous to look at the woman in the mirror. Everything felt the same as before, before I came to Earth. Those faces from the past kept showing themselves in my head no matter how hard I resisted. My conscience was begging me to do what I must. So I decided to leave you two under the care of your aunt and do what my people needed me to do. Funny thing is, it still wasn't any different. I guess regret started to like me," she tried to smile, but her eyes reflected her mourning soul. "It never left me. Right now, as I sit here, speaking all this, it's still torturing me. I regret leaving you, my children." Her lips started to quiver. "But I have to do this. No more running. I am bloody done with that. I am bloody tired of it. I know all this sounds very vague, but the next video will make more sense. The password of the next video is your birthday, Ethiel."

The video ended.

Ethiel, in his desperate curiosity, not caring to wipe the moisture blurring his eyes, straight ahead opened the next video. It was password encrypted.

He typed in his birthday, whispering it under his breath, "two slash four slash two thousand five. Please work." He smashed the Enter key.

The video opened. Alice was there, that sad smile still plastered on her guilty face. "That was to make sure that it is you who is seeing these videos. Now, I will tell you who killed me, but before that, you need to know the history of my world and the reason I came to Earth. Years ago, I was a happy princess living with my parents, the King and the Queen of Elven Kingdom. Life couldn't have been more perfect for me as well as my people – even for the whole of Anigma. Prosperity and peace, that was Anigma. Darkness existed, but our Supreme King made sure to keep it in check for hundreds of centuries and ensured our collective safety. However, he was growing old, and his powers were getting weaker. Atlas, his day came to bid us farewell and pass on to the next phase in the cycle of life. It was a tragedy; would've been the greatest if what followed never came to be. While we were lamenting, an unprecedented darkness was conspiring in the shadows, scheming to conquer us. It wasn't long after his death that it finally fell over our world in the form of Rak Sharas, a monster almost as strong as our Supreme King. He along with his minions had found what was told in our legends – the Sphere of Hezwond. It was capable of granting three wishes to its finder. Even if it weren't for that, Rak Sharas was definitely formidable enough to take over Anigma. The wishes only enabled him to be invincible, and he used them wisely. He announced his wishes to us the day he trampled over our freedom and pride. To not be able to be killed by any Anigman was his first wish. Great strength and immunity to magic and elements was his second wish. As for the third wish, he didn't tell us that; all we got was the most sinister, spine-chilling smile oozing evil intentions. For the first wish, the divine spirit of Hezwond bestowed him with a device that alerted him of any Anigman who was willing to act and kill him, regardless of whether that person's actions proved fatal or not, and the device was also capable of pointing out the identity and location of the person. That is what he told us at least; it wasn't true entirely however, as I will be explaining to you later. The Kingdoms weren't ready to surrender. We fought, but we failed. Father was killed by him; same was the fate of the many other Kings. He and his army were too strong. What ensued was worse... It was a nightmare. We were ruled by demons – his minions. Injustice had reached its peak. I couldn't bear any of it. Despair fell over all of us. Father was gone, freedom was gone, mother's happiness was gone, pride and peace of our lands became dust... And there was nothing I could've done about it. Everything was so... it all felt so... lost. I couldn't take it anymore; it was killing me inside. And so, I came to Earth, abandoning Anigma, for a new beginning – a new life. Your father, you two, my new life, it was a bright ray of happiness that entered my life, and I like a craving soul, cherished that deeply. God blessed me with this new lovely family," her tears started again. "I was so lucky to have had the privilege to be the mother of such lovely children. I would've lived in ignorance of my responsibilities if your father hadn't discovered that... it was what I once wished for – a way to fulfill my responsibilities and save my people – a way to destroy Rak Sharas once and for all." Finally, her smile disappeared for a moment and her true grave emotional state revealed itself. "The next video will provide more clarity. In order to get the password of the next video, you will need to travel to King Veer. The person you will find on the other side of the portal I have given you – the glass sphere – knows where to find him. Go out the cabin and throw it hard on the ground near the pool in order to open the portal. Only she can open trunk in the hall, it's imbued with strong magic that no might can break. Inside it, you will find a few stuff, the scroll being the most important. You need to deliver that to King Veer, and then you shall get the password to the next video. I'm sorry for asking you to do all this, but please I beg you; consider it my last request. I hope to see you both in the next video." Again she smiled and bid farewell.

The video ended again.

Ethiel opened the next. It was password encrypted. Having no patience left in him, he tried typing his birthday again. No effect. He tried Tifa's birthday. But still, it was no use.

"No... Don't stop now... No. NO!" He slammed the table and clutched his mouth, suffocating his pathetic whimpering.

A small hand patted his back. He heard Tifa weeping.

"Please... Don't cry... Ethiel..." She was crying herself too, her eyes and nose leaking.

His eyes immediately fixed at the sphere glass in the open block of cube near him. He took it in his hands and rubbed his eyes.

"Let's go."