The End, and the Beginning (1)
I calmly turned my arms around and groped behind my back.
I couldn't feel the hair that was clearly long enough to come down to my waist.
As if someone grabbed them all at once and cut them off at once.
There was no sign. My hair turned to ashes, but I didn't feel anything.
It is the power of the 'keeper' to turn life into nothingness. Apparently, Ian was too excited to control his powers.
Hiding my embarrassment, I approached Ian.
"It's okay. I can grow my hair again."
I held out my hand, but Ian didn't hold it up. I could feel the fear on his face as he stepped back and distanced himself from me.
Were you surprised? I guess that's because he's used my power on someone
He loves without realizing it.
"I was chosen to be a Guardian, and for the first few years, my power was uncontrollable. I didn't even realize it, but I suddenly saw the future. It must have taken you months to get used to it."
Ian laughed like a dry leaf. My heart dropped as I smiled as if I had given up everything.
"No, I don't."
"What, are you going?"
"I have been able to control my power since I was chosen to be a Guardian."
"But why..."
Suddenly, a proposition that I had forgotten for a while came to my mind.
The 'keeper' cannot achieve love.
"Oh..."
A sigh came out of my mouth.
Was it like this? Was this the fate of the 'keeper"?
Unlike the other Guardians, the fate of the Keeper was shrouded in mystery.
They can't achieve love. What exactly is that?
Compared to other Guardians. It was too conceptual and vague.
Moreover, it was not known how it could be achieved.
There were even people who doubted whether the 'keeper' really had a fate...
Is this why it is not known?
It will make you nothing.
There was silence in the barracks.
Ian seemed more shocked than I was. I could feel despair in his eyes looking down at my hand.
I stared at him and then approached his desk. I opened the second drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors that looked like they had never been used.
"What..."
Ian tried to stop me from holding the scissors, but he couldn't get close to me and backed away. As if he were afraid that somewhere in my body would turn into ashes again.
I grabbed my hair together and cut it off. My lagged hair was sharply curled and fell to the floor.
Ian's gaze lingered for a moment on the scissors I put down on the desk.
"Let me be clear. I'm not going. If you want to talk to my father, tell him. But I'll be by your side."
"I...Isn't it scary?"
"Why am I scared? It's not pleasant, but I'm not afraid. To put it bluntly, it's more of a pleasant feeling."
"Do you feel good? You're almost dead!"
"It means that you love me that much. Of course it's good."
"..."
"Me too... I feel the same way as you."
Ian's eyes were blank as if he had been hit by a blow.
I didn't mean to confess in this way, but I was much more embarrassed than I imagined, so I avoided looking at him.
"Loosen up your facial expressions. Has the world collapsed? Did I get hurt? I can grow my hair, so why do you act like someone who has committed a mortal crime?"
"..."
"Hold your head up. You can't hurt me."
I left Ian silent and walked out of the barracks.
As I walked blindly with my head bowed, I was in front of my accommodation.
I stopped for a moment and looked up at the starless night sky.
"I didn't remove my hair..."
The floor must be a mess.
Suddenly, my eyes fluttered. It was because of the tears that filled up in an instant.
The tears that I had endured in front of Ian poured out like an open burst. I slumped down and buried my face in my lap before teardrops flowed down my temple.
"...hurt."
I grabbed my chest. I felt like my heart was being torn.
Is it right to go home with the funds? Maybe I'm making Ian suffer more.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't go back. How can I leave Ian alone...
I'm crying so much that my sleeves are damp, but I can hear a spicy and bitter smell from behind. It was Baba who was returning to his lodging after work.
"Master, what are you doing here?"
"..."
"No. Why is your hair the way it is... Yes? Are you crying?"
I hurriedly wiped away my tears and looked up, but my face was a mess. Baba's eyes widened when he saw me.
I laughed and asked.
"Do you know how to cut hair?"
However, I couldn't hide the crying mixed with my voice.
***
I got up early in the morning, washed up, and looked in the mirror.
"Wow... It's a mess."
My eyelids were swollen. It is a sloppy face.
As I was massaging the area around my eyes, I smiled. If Nadia had seen this face, she would have screamed.
"Even the head has come to this point..."
How will Nadia nag me when I get home? I'm already worried.
I sighed and checked myself.
"That's enough."
It wasn't ugly because Baba had polished it. It's my first time wearing short hair, but I like it quite a bit. I combed my hair, pinned it down, and went outside.
"Did you wake up?"
Baba, who should have gone to work at the restaurant a long time ago, was waiting in front of the inn. Startled, I strode up to him.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I waited for my master."
"Why me?"
"Take it."
Baba threw something away. When I received it in the wrong way, I found that it contained candy.
"Wow..."
Seeing candy on the battlefield. Was this in a supply drop? How did Baba get this? As time went by, I was amazed at Baba's abilities.
"Where did you get this?"
"You don't have to know about that. Eat, don't give it to anyone else."
"What? Oh boy... Thank you, I'll eat well."
"Yes."
Baba replied and turned away.
So he was waiting for candy to be given? For what? Could it be that I cried yesterday?
"A..."
Baba, who has the lowest level of empathy, can't do that.
I put the candy case in my pocket and resumed my walk.
Ian's barracks get closer and closer. I relaxed my stiff expression and practiced smiling.
Ian won't be in the barracks until this time, but I might run into him.
The security knight who spotted me just in time opened his eyes wide. He checked the back of my hand and asked.
"Did you cut your hair?"
"I burned it while cooking. Is it strange?"
"No, you're still beautiful!"
"..."
"No, that, uh, it meant to hang out."
"Thank you. Can I come in?"
"The Commander is inside."
"Still? Is there a meeting this morning?"
"I think he probably put it off."
"Don't let me in..."
"There was no such instruction."
He must have put it off to meet me. He's trying to continue the persuasion that he couldn't do yesterday.
Do you think I'll go back?
I made a promise all night. Ian had been protecting me until now, but now it's my turn to protect him.
To do that, I have to be by my side.
"Please have one."
"Is it candy?"
The knight with a bright face took a candy from inside the case. I bowed to him and went into the barracks.
Ian was sitting on the couch, perfectly dressed. It seems that he was waiting for me.
I bowed to him calmly.
"Hello, Commander. Good morning."
He stared at me with sunken eyes. I can feel the emotion in his golden eyes. I was strangely sad and lowered my head.
"Let's start cleaning."
"Millenia"
"I heard that there is a morning meeting. You have to come and attend."
"Let's sit down for a while."
"Do you have anything to ask me to do?"
"Let's talk to me."
"I'm going to kiss you."
"..."
Ian's expression hardened for a moment. He seems to be suspicious of what he heard.
It was understandable. I didn't know if I could say these things with my own mouth.
He covered his embarrassment with a blank shyness and spoke bluntly.
"If you try to send me, I will."
"Are you threatening?"
"Yes."
I replied casually and looked at the bed. The sheets were arranged without any wrinkles.
"I told you not to do this. Why do you take other people's work?"
"Did you come all the way here to do this?"
"I do it because I like it. Don't ignore it."
"I'm not ignoring it. It's... Ha."
Ian let out a long sigh as if he had given up. Soon, he brushed his neatly tidy hair up and stood up from the sofa.
"The supply ship has to go back to the rear anyway and stay here for the time being."
"You're not going to send me back, are you?"
"Do you like it?"
"Of course. Good... Of course, it's nice to be with someone. Don't tell my father either."
"I won't tell him. Don't work instead. Hands... It has become very rough."
Is that so? My fingertips turned a little red while washing in cold water.
"It's okay, this much."
Ian approached me. His gaze was cautiously drawn to the swollen eyelids.
"...cried"
Before he could finish speaking, I picked out a candy from the case.
When I thrust it in, Ian opened his mouth in a hurry.
He reflexively took the candy and raised his eyebrows. When I saw his expression, I smiled uncontrollably
"Sweet?"
"..."
"Take it and share it."
I tucked the case into the pocket of his suit and pushed his back. Ian, who had been walking a few steps in my hand, started nagging me.
"Don't have an accident and stay quiet. If you do anything dangerous, I will send you home no matter what."
"Yes, yes, you should go to work quickly."
I waved my hand gently to Ian at the entrance. He glances at me with disgusted eyes, then laughs and turns away.
Didn't we just look like newlyweds?
"..."
Tears welled up from the corners of my eyes. I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve and started cleaning.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment