Kapitel 21: Sweet Lullaby
Liu's palms were slick with sweat as he gazed at the woman before him. Though she didn't seem menacing, a growing suspicion gnawed at him. How did she know his name? Her friendly tone sent chills down his spine.
"Calm yourself, Liu." The Sword Saint's words were soft, nearly soothing his tense muscles. Yet, Liu struggled to regain control. His body trembled, and indecision consumed him. He wanted to trust her, but survival instincts warned him not to.
As Liu's nerves reached a fever pitch, he narrowed his eyes and backed away slowly. The Sword Saint watched him with a knowing gaze.
"You are suspicious of everyone and everything, aren't you? Given the life you've led, it's not surprising." Her words struck a chord with Liu. He realized the implications of her statement, and the anxiety in his chest deepened.
"Your perception of reality is both a blessing and a curse. It can help you survive, but it can also hold you back." The Sword Saint rose gracefully to her feet, and moved closer to the petrified boy.
Liu's feet refused to budge, as though an invisible force held him in place. The closer she came, the faster his heart raced. Until finally...
"Liu, will you listen to me?" The Sword Saint stood mere inches away from him, her lovely scent of plums enveloping him. Liu's tension ebbed away, and a strange sense of calm washed over him. His thoughts became clearer, and his heart rate slowed.
As their eyes met, Liu felt his soul resonate with hers. Something inexplicable had happened between them.
"How do you know my name?" Liu asked, his apprehension and suspicion melting away. In this moment, it was just him and the Sword Saint.
She smiled slowly, nodding gently. Her delicate pink lips parted, and words spilled out. "When I healed you before, I resonated my Soul with yours. As a result, I was able to glimpse your memories."
It sounded fantastical, but Liu felt it was true. He felt a strange connection to her. "Our Souls still resonate. It's a bond we share. I had to do it to save your life… I apologize for the consequences."
Liu's heart beat faster, but not with fear. Something about her presence was calming, almost transcendent. He had never felt such peace before, and he couldn't explain why.
"The Sword Saint must have used her Spirit Arts to save you from certain death," he thought. "This Astral Form of hers must have limited her, yet she still rescued me. How amazing was that?"
"You saw my memories. Then, you know?" Liu's voice trembled as he gazed into her deep azure eyes.
"Yes. You come from another world, Liu. You've suffered a great deal there and here. I am truly sorry. Your poor soul." The Sword Saint's voice was soft, but Liu could feel the weight of her empathy.
Pity was the last thing he desired. He had never solicited anyone's concern, nor did he care for their sympathy. Liu knew that well. Yet, in this moment, he couldn't help it.
"A-ah...?" He was surprised by the tears streaming down his face. He tried to stop them, but they flowed in abundance. Liu couldn't contain the bitter flow, so he stood powerlessly, watching his pathetic display of sadness.
His heart ached, and he clutched at it deeply, paralyzed by the pain. Why was he feeling such a rush of emotions now? Why was he being so worthless? Why? The more he tried to struggle and halt the flow, the stronger the current became.
"It's fine, Liu. It's alright now. You don't have to keep fighting it." A gentle hug from the Sword Saint stopped him in his tracks.
Kneeling before him, she buried his wet, snot-filled face in her pure white robe. As his filthy face soiled her shoulder, Liu felt his body quake. He smelled more of the plums, but more importantly, he felt his heart melt.
His lips trembled incessantly, and his vision blurred thanks to the tears. His little legs gave up strength, and before he knew it, he had surrendered completely—just as the Saint told him to.
"You can let it all out, Liu."
Hearing his name, the beautiful name his mother had given him, made Liu remember the face of his goddess. The woman who had raised him for five whole years...he saw her in his thoughts.
She was smiling at him.
"M-mom..." He croaked, tears streaming down his face. "Mom, is that you?"
He was enveloped in the embrace of the Sword Saint, but the sensation was akin to his mother's loving hug. Though his mom was not physically present, Liu couldn't let this profound emotion go unanswered.
"Mom...please...stroke my hair. Mom...mom," he whispered, his voice quivering.
Just as he thought his words would fade into the silence, he felt a tender touch on his hair. A smooth hand ran through his jet-black locks, gliding seamlessly over their rough surface.
Liu remembered the sensation he had almost forgotten. He wept uncontrollably, releasing everything he had bottled up for years. All the sorrow, pain, and hatred he had accumulated over time melted away in that moment.
"You're a good boy, Liu. You're a good boy," the Sword Saint spoke with affection and care.
And then, in the shrine, something changed. Liu didn't realize it yet, but something had blossomed within him. It might not have been what he had expected or desired, but it would shape his life in ways he never thought possible.
As Liu lay in the Sword Saint's arms, his eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep. He held onto her, and she held onto him, locked in that embrace for the entire night. It was then that Liu had the sweetest dream.
"Rest well, my dear Liu," the Sword Saint whispered, gazing at him with the purest of affections. Her pale skin contrasted with his dark hair, but she didn't seem to mind. Her eyes were only on Liu.
"You're safe now," she said, and for the first time in a long while, Liu believed her.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein