Colors of our Souls

8. When the Hand of Fate Intervenes

Ikari:

Slowly, I drift out of my dreamless sleep to feel my body in a sitting position, rough bark underneath me. I crack my eyes open to a world of grey. There is dim light filtering through the roof of dense leaves, illuminating the forest floor. I am currently sitting in a large oak tree, about thirty feet off of the ground where I slept for a couple of hours last night. The tree's foliage is a medium to dark grey, while the shrubs and mosses are all different shades of grey, some so dark they are almost black.

Silently as a ninja, I stand on the tree limb and begin calmly walking along the narrowing branch. Soon, I am leaping deftly from tree to tree without a sound. The air around me is beginning to cool as fall grey leaves stir in the autumn breeze. I feel like there is something significant about autumn... Aki in Japanese... I just... can't seem to remember.

It has been about four months since I escaped Grimoire Heart, and I have been training like crazy to regain my physical strength and speed. I can still see my entire rib cage, but nearly all of the open wounds healed, just leaving numerous scars over my entire body, other than my face.

After about an hour of tree hopping, I catch a glimpse of a white reflection. Jumping down softly, I step hesitantly through the low shrubs to find a small clearing, there are multi-shaded grey flowers and grasses surrounding a small, clear grey pond. I could refill my canteens... I quickly make my way to the pond, listening and sniffing the air discreetly, all I hear is birds and insects, but... something smells... off. Choosing to ignore the smell, as it is faint, I reach the water's edge, and am completely stunned by what I see.

A figure of about five foot statue stands guarded in the reflection of the crystal clear pool. They are wearing a solid black cloak that completely covers their body and shadows their face so only a black void and a set of full, pale grey lips can be seen. Slowly, the person lifts one of their hands, pushing back the cloak's hood and exposing their face to the bright rays of the sun. Face revealed, the girl has pale, almost ghostly white skin marred only by the dark grey circles and bags underneath each eye. Her features are soft, but not childlike. Her hair is light gray on the left of the side part over her right eye, but the other section is black, all of it braided tightly beneath the cloak, making the knee-length hair fall only to her waist. My eyes trail back to her face, landing on something strange.

The stranger's eyes meet my own. Her eyes are large and beautiful like twin stars set into her face. However, behind their beauty, her eyes hold a deep sorrow, that of someone who has lost everything in this world. At first glance, her eyes are a shade of grey like everything else but then... What? What is this? It's bright... Green! I remember the color.

Suddenly, in the mirror pond, I can see the forest behind me flash into vibrant color. So many shades of green, too many to count, and they are all so beautiful.

Now the world is grey and green.

The stranger and I turn away at the same time, pulling our hoods over our heads in synchronization. I don't remember why I stopped in the first place, but I'm glad I did. I almost crack the tiniest of smiles.

Almost.

I begin walking through the woods instead of jumping through the trees. Now, the forest is infinitely more inviting, a green haven for plants and animals alike.

Suddenly, the wing gusts straight into my face. Inhaling deeply, I pick up the same scent as before, but stronger now. With a start, I realize that I have smelled this before. I take off running towards the scent, following my nose. The world flashes by me in streaks of grey and green as I run a breakneck speed. That scent... it's...