Chapter 223: Chapter 223 Night at the Beach Part 02.
-1st POV-
Ever since childhood, I have had a fortune that will make everyone envious of me. The wealth that could move a country, a strong foundation my family had built over the years, a beauty that could make every male line up for taking me. But none of that doesn't matter to me.
None of that truly matters, as the more powerful your family is, the world turns bleaker and darker the world.
So, I never care for any of that. I never come to family parties or social events to introduce my brothers and sisters; I rather sit on my bed reading a book accompanied by my mother, who has a weak body.
The story she always told me and the warm hand she used to pat me, for me, is the most priceless thing I can have, and nothing can be compared to it.
"Lian'er, are you interested in Martial Art?".
"...Mm? Martial Arts, I want it; I want to become strong and then search for a cure for your mother".
"Fufu, Lian'er, you are truly silly. That's not what I meant when I asked you that question".
As someone who holds the lower caste in the house, my mother and I stayed in a place far from the main one. However, that didn't matter to me because for as long as I have my mother, that is enough for me.
I was born into a house that regarded Martial power as its foundation. I joined the main teaching of the family in nurturing martial arts since I was little. I trained along with the teacher the family had tasked. It seems I have a talent for mastering the spear art.
So, I worked hard; every day, I thrust, thrust, thrust toward the same target every day while my mother was watching for me, smiling, looking through my growth.
Besides martial power, I also began to train below the teaching of the main house in our family's history, general knowledge, and even the economy in which I have no interest, so it has already gone from my brain.
My father, who is a busy man, occasionally visited my house and always, with his care and kind nature, helped me in my studies and training and always took care of my mother if he had time for it.
However, everything came crashing down when my mother suddenly collapsed. As the person who saw it firsthand, my heart broke seeing her limp body and light breath. When the doctor in the place said she had an unknown disease that gnawed at her physique and that it was probably a matter of time before she lost it, I felt the whole world crumble.
"It's okay, Lian'er; your aunt will be here supporting you."
From that moment, I was under the care of a person I called my Aunt. I single-handedly focused on my train to fulfill my promise to my mother, searching for a cure to help her. I train and learn. Then, I trained again and learned under my aunt's tutelage, who seemed worried about my progress and lack of self-care.
Years passed by, and my heart started to numb about all the meticulous things I had done every day because of the absence of my mother. My face just got stiffer, and everyone called me an Expressionless Princess.
I don't care what they thought about me, for I had my ultimate goal to save my mother, then when the ceremony in my family began. I was acknowledged by the legendary weapon that made my status in the family turned upside down.
Through the spear's influence, I managed to climb a rank in the family successor, which I refused in place, and I chose to go to the academy to search for a clue regarding the cure for my mother.
"Lian'er, I'm sorry I couldn't come with you because of my busy schedule. I wish I could go with you, but".
"Mm, thanks, Aunt, don't worry about me. I can care for myself".
"That is why I'm worried, you know".
"?".
For the last time, my aunt, who has no blood relation in our household and always takes care of me alone, hugged me tightly as if not wanting to be separated from me.
"Take care, Lian'er, if you need something, call me immediately! I will launch a plane to go there".
"Mm".
*****
Then, it was my first step to reach my goal. However, on the way, I met with a boy who gave me a sense of familiar feeling, as if I was facing a person from my close family. He is unbelievably strong and he gives an imposing aura like an emperor that is ready to dominate the world. Also, I couldn't take my eyes away from him.
"I won".
"Um, that was Amazing".
From there, my life flipped because of the comfort and warmth they gave me, and then I realized, "Ah, so this is what they called a friend". I got so absorbed in it without knowing it, and I felt that academic life was not that bad. Of course, without forgetting my actual objective coming to the Academy.
With them, I survived the trial, and with them, I could train with all my heart; also, with them, I believed that they could help me find a way to cure my mother until that hope washed away after the demon's appearance.
A demon infiltrated the academy, which almost killed the red-hair. I saw Soma Leaking out an ominous murderous aura that pricked my skin furiously in rage, killing the demon. As a member family of the Xiao clan that harbors demons, Soma did the right thing because demons need to be eradicated from this planet; that's what my family engraved to me ever since I was a child.
However, I saw Soma turned into a demon; no, he was turned into something else that even demons are afraid of. After seeing him like that, my heart clouded, and I am at a loss for words.
My mind was conflicted. I couldn't figure out what I should do if I met him. Then, for the first time in my life, I ran. From there, my contact with him slowly deteriorated, and I felt that the world started to turn into its usual color when I saw my mother collapse back then. "What should I do?".
The happy time when we eat together now feels bland because of the wall between us. Slowly, because of my lack of communication, I don't know how I am supposed to clear things up with him, who seems to start to create a wall. "I didn't want that. I want us to return at that time, laugh, fight, and share our moment together. I want all of it back, but how? How can I do that?
Someone please help me".
I stand on the beach shore, thinking alone while waiting for Senior Serafina to come. I suddenly recall my past and hear the voice I miss so much this past month.
"Xiao Lian".
When my name was called, my entire body turned rigid, and I almost lost the strength of my limbs from hearing his voice. My heart began to throb intensely, sending myriad pulses through my veins that seemed frozen. My thoughts start to race as I want to find out the truth about who Soma is. Is he a human? Or a Demon?. I don't know, can someone please tell me what to do?
"Please help me, Mother".
The warmth that once again soothed my heart spread from his caressing my head, and it melted my heart. The gloomy feeling in my chest started to blow away as he patted my head.
"Are you not going to ask anything about me?".
"...".
My face stiffened hearing that question; that is precisely what I wanted to ask ever since I saw him turn into that figure, but my mouth was muted and refused to move even a little.
"Then, do you want to listen to this boring story of mine?".
"?!". ("...I want to hear it!")
From then on, Soma began to tell his past while we sat on the soft white sand at the shore while looking at the beautiful scenery. I don't know where it started, but my eyes refuse to leave his face. Slowly, I began to understand why Soma acted like that and how he could gain that power in his body.
"So what do you say? My power is pretty ominous and dangerous, right?".
Soma spread his lips helplessly, and that made my heart tighten in pain. "I see. So it was like that. He had that past surrounding him. I'm such a fool for not noticing it and assuming that you are the same as the demon who harms others".
What I see in Soma is a boy who is always calm and undeterred under any suppression that would make him yield, but now Soma unusually shows his weak side, which triggers something dormant within me. My body unconsciously moved and wrapped around his head with my hands and let his head rest in my chest.
"It's okay, Soma. Thank you for telling me everything, and I am sorry for what I have done in the past month".
"No, it's okay. I want to apologize for acting like a coward back then, not facing you earlier, making you feel isolated, and I am sorry for hiding this from you".
"No, it wasn't like that!".
Even at a time like this, he still cares about me despite being the one who was being thrown at me. I tightened my embrace and let his head submerge into my still-developed chest. "I'm glad he is the Soma I know and I like".
Our heart beating began to resonate, and it rhymed in our ears, creating a tranquil atmosphere that soothed each other's hearts in relief. Slowly, as I basked in this feeling, my frozen heart started to beat rapidly, sending a lot of oxygen toward my whole body, especially my cheeks, which I felt slightly warmer. "I see. I understand now.
I should not hold back my feelings anymore, and Soma, No matter what happens, I will stand by your side even if the world despises you. I will stand beside you". Today, under the watchful eyes of heaven. I vow to always become this person's strength and support him no matter what the world sees him.