Oblivion, A Timeless Void

Chapter 18: Death, Be Not Proud

For a long time, dreams had been a bridge between the souls roaming Oblivion and the souls roaming the mortal world. It would always be dependent on the person, but the path was still there, merely waiting to be crossed.

For a long time, Alcestis had found her haven in those dreams. Ever since her childhood, she'd been on her own—people outcasted her, her grandparents loathed her, and her parents abandoned her. There were too many scars to heal on her small child's heart.

Had it not been for those dreams... She would've been driven to madness long ago. She would've been driven beyond the edge of nowhere.

For the longest time, she'd been lost among the crashing waves of fate, shivering away from the warmth of her home—her home, her haven, the person she would always lovingly call 'Master', the closest person to a maternal figure for her.

She'd lost her way in a world with no landmarks, one that was filled with lies and hypocrisy, in which conscience is buried and jokes are told in front of you while machinations are hatched behind you.

A lost stranger running through streets crowded with people, looking for any familiar face... Yet she did not find anybody. For well over 12 years, that had been the life of Alcestis Ashwood. One that was filled with sorrow, pain, and loneliness.

Though left to fend for herself, every now and again, a beautiful woman would appear in her dreams. She would talk to her, comfort her, and provide the solace that she'd been deprived of.

And today, as Alcestis drifted off into a deep slumber filled with the exhaustion of battles and injuries she'd sustained, the beautiful chirping of birds filled her ears once again. Then she found herself sitting among the grass. Those dreams were always like that.

Excited to see the woman again after so long, Alcestis sprang up, eyes practically sparkling and lips stretched into a huge grin that seemed like it went from ear to ear. The way her face lit up was a sufficient testament to the amount of love she held for the person before her.

"Master!"

The woman with golden hair that embodied the midsummer sun and hazel eyes that crinkled with her smile turned at the girl's voice, automatically opening her arms to receive Alcestis.

"Hey, there, sweetheart. How have you been the past few months?" Her voice was smooth as she spoke, and her tone carried a mother's warmth.

"I missed you so much, Master..."

"Now, weren't you with your parents? And how many times have I told you not to call me that?"

Alcestis laughed at the woman's comment, stepping back a little. It was then that the woman's eyes widened slightly as she took in the girl's eye. Her gentle hand went up to caress Alcestis's face, a sad frown replacing her smile.

"Dear God, what happened to you?"

Alcestis let out a breath, her own hand going up to cover the woman's. Without holding back, she spilt everything. From the events that led to her losing her left eye and all the way back to her first meeting with the Elementals.

As they sat amidst the verdant grass, Alcestis's head rested on the woman's lap while she ran her fingers through her hair. A soft hum left her throat as she listened to Alcestis speak. "Did you manage to make any friends, Al?"

"I did, actually. I met this boy not long after I made it to Hokkaido."

"Oho, a boy?"

"Master, it's not like that! Well, ah—please don't kill me—he was a demon who'd been to Earth for the first time. I found him gawking at a Sakura tree and simply explained what it was. He was also really pretty..."