Magi: The Oblivious Rukh

CHAPTER ONE

...
For heaven's sake, chances are at the millions over hundreds. No calculations were needed. Just the conscience of faith that scraped the binding gas of suffocation. Defiance shall lose its ends.
I swear, what I had heard were good words. Though these tickling voices appeared jumbled.
Still, I swear, hysteria did not ever struck me.
.
.
.

Let's see.
They reminded me of golden butterflies that we could only witness in our dreams. On each calm swift they made, twinkling dusts tumbled. Complex paths were created as they open blinding directions. Give me a moment... These butterflies... scented of... nostalgia.
Hysteria probably ripped me now.

Faujia grasped my shaky hand as her sulked expression ruined her distorted beauty. Tears. I am seeing tears gliding out of her red cheeks. "Listen... to me..." Breathy words came out. It's from her, not them. Squeezing her eyes, she inhaled so loud, that it sounded like a humming. "Speak," I said.
In a blink of my eyes, swarm of golden butterflies rounded her. The butterflies made unusual noises that I could not understand. With such way of seeing reality, I lose my focus.

Why were they here?

"Eino!" Faujia pinched my ear. "Stop staring with such vigorous manner!" I shook my head, denying. "I wasn't looking at you," I stated,"Butterflies. There were butterflies around you." Faujia's almond eyes drew larger. With a frightened stare fixed upon me, she exclaimed, "Are you nuts?!"

I might be. No. Probably it's you.

I nonchalantly crossed my arms as I let out a big sigh. I knew it. This happened a couple of times before. In everywhere I set my eyes to, there were always silly golden butterflies surrounding every smiling human, lively plants, and even the morning light. Such scenarios were common to me, even back from my childhood years.

Getting mocked.
That I could see golden butterflies whilst they couldn't.
Innocent neighbors call me lunatic.
For I could see dead people passing by as ghosts.

I assure the world.
Insanity never touched me.
I was not blessed with irrationality.

"Snap it out," The crown woman in front me of scowled. You had read it on the right way. She's a princess. Princess of Hostility. Faujia clutched the collar of my sand bleached cloak. The tightness could actually take my remaining life force! It's as if she had done this uncountable times before that I can't find a way out. "Let go of me, woman." I mumbled. "Can't speak out my name, huh?" Her lips curved sarcastically. Narrowing the grip, Faujia whispered her order so foolish.

"What are you talking about?" I glared in confusion. She bit her lip prior to my reaction. Nerves clicked on her sweaty forehead, as she clenched her fists.
"Why...?" She murmured, "Disappear... Just go and disappear..."

"I forbid you to take my life."
Involuntary, I took a rusty dagger dwelling inside my pocket. I ferociously leveled the blade unto her neck. Her eyes remained vicious. Won't blink. Won't ever falter.
"You know the truth about my identity, right?" Faujia grimaced.

Faujia's identity...

Faujia was my childhood friend.
A dear friend.
My rival.
My...

Murderer.

I had accidentally dropped the arrogant dagger on the ground. Judgemental sight of strangers superseded the town. They were watching us. A big problem. Strangers might bring me trouble.

"Faujia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill you." I grabbed my dagger, carefully hiding it with a soft cloth.
Her legs unexpectedly dropped on the ground. She started to mourn. Was she actually mourning? A sobbing sound resonated the roads.

I found a way back home through a short lane towards the town of Mercari. I live there. Sounds crazy enough, but Faujia and I resided on the same inn. She worked as a fake fortune teller, while I worked as longshoreman. Good thing our boss did not bother to look at my poor physique.

Reminiscing the old times, Faujia used to be a silly girl who dreamt of becoming princess in a country called Sindria, a country she was longing to visit. Sadly, Faujia reversed -

Hiding painful truths are pointless. Swallow them and you'll regret nothing. But thank them for the pain.

Faujia tried to kill me.
For almost one-hundred times.
But she ended up failing.
For a ridiculous idea,
If she would succeed, then she'll become a hero, said she.
I might had seen golden butterflies while normal humans hadn't, but I'm definitely sane. Faujia wasn't.

What now if had died? No one would thank her. Not even the King of This Country. Not even the King of the world.

The first stab, back when I was 13 years old, almost corroded my will to live.

On the verge of death, those golden butterflies surrounded me.
I lose consciousness.
When I woke up, my wounds stopped bleeding.
I was strong, healthy, and lively again.
Faujia loathed me to the deepest depths.
Ever since that day, those golden butterflies were keeping me away from death. They were the reason why Faujia failed on her witless mission.

According to the prophecy, you will be the reason for this country's fall. You'll end up killing us all! Don't get me wrong, you're my friend, Eino. But I need to save my family more than anyone else!

I remembered her words as if it was just yesterday.
It was no use reporting the incidents to the Head Chief. I had no strong evidence. Faujia was a daughter of merchants. While I'm just a nobody.
Faujia was witty. I could never figure out her next attempt to kill me. I swear to the gods... this time... I'll catch her.

Curse the prophecy! I will never carry out such filthy plan! With these bare hands? Never. I could not even eat three times a day! How could I subdue a whole army?

Lastly... How can a fake fortune teller foretell a prophecy?! That's just impossible!

"Mister," I heard a flat voice behind me. "Could you shut up? You're in the middle of the road."

Crap! Was I thinking out loud?