As we marched upon these endless corridors... The silence was so loud. After all, I have no any right to say anything to what happened to Klein in his past. I have nothing to say. Shit, my arm is still broken.. but at least it was worth it.
I'm carrying a backpack, which contains supplies we have taken, which as of now would last us for three days. There would be some periods where I ask him if he wants bread. He doesn't respond, but if I hand him some, he would take it, look at me for a split second, and eat it. Sometimes I just try to contain my laugh as he has the ability to break my sense of humor sometimes. I crave to break this silence.. Not to mention I stalked him for days.. well I don't want to be left alone so what am I supposed to do..
It has been a week now since we have traversed into the labyrinth since defeating the Lady monster. I really am curious about his world and want to talk about it, but I'm afraid it might trigger something in him so I avoid it. So, this time I am just dying to have any kinds of conversation with him. After I gave him a bread and we took a little break (I'm the only one resting to be honest haha), I followed it by asking with curiosity "Do you love bread?". He looked at me. There was this a bit of an awkward silence, but he soon replied "I do relish the savor of it.". "Ahh, I see." I replied. Then thought of something and said "Have you tasted different kinds of breads? Like, a cake perhaps?". "Nay." he remarked as he continue to eat the piece of bread in his hand. "Ohhh. Well, I sure do hope you taste some one day. There are so many different kinds of bread in my time. ". He stared at me blankly and I continued nervously "Many many flavor, well, of course this does not apply only to bread but a lot of food was deliciously invented. If I try to think about it maybe I should have paid more attention to what they taste like. But I guess I forgot how to... *sigh* because of how....ah you know what never mind". Then I stopped as I was getting out of nowhere. Oh dear, I sure am awkward. I sighed.
"Pray tell, do you come from a time beyond mine own?" he finally spoken with his own words. I answered "Yep, that explains the difference behind our cultural context and such.". "Tell me, does your era still boast kingdoms?" He inquired with eager wonder. "Looks like someone is interested. Almost, just almost none, but there are one or two countries where they still have kingdoms, and have princesses and kings and yeah, well if I remember correctly, I didn't study well in history so there's a chance I could be wrong.". I happily spoked. "Do.. battles still beset the world?" he uttered with grief. I was silenced, before I spoke again "...Sadly, people are still greedy, battles still exist globally, but at the very least good things were born also. The state of humanity, compared to the earlier periods, ages, I can say it has been working out well now, I suppose." I fully said with uncertainties.
"Well, as many people manage to get what they want, many people were also born from the dumps. So even though I could say its way much better now, but everything is still a shit show . *I sighed* People are just born to make mistakes, and it's up to them if they want to grow from their mistakes. But this is why Humanity can't take a bigger step. As many people still make mistakes, and chose to not grow, either they are too ignorant, mislead, or manipulated."... Both of us went silent again. And i tried to share my thoughts to him again "You know, when I was a kid, I always had big dreams. One of them being, to save the world, hahaha.... funny isn't, I just, I'm just tired of all this negativity. So I just wished to have the ability, to convince people they can live better under the influence of good. All of us can just be happy, rollin' and smilin'.. But that's impossible I know. Even if I try to imagine it in my head, I can't.... How about you? Have you got any dreams you could share? You want to save the world too or something.". Klein, became silent again, that made me worried so I tried to change the subject, but that's when a monster interrupted us. And it's a different monster again, I moved backwards, and let Klein be the one to fight.
This time, the monster was covered in unexplainable shadows. For some reason, it got my heart racing. I noticed there's something wrapping in the monster's hand. It has a... Japanese text written on it.. My eyes widened. I did not hesitate to be the one to kill it. "Klein! Step aside!" I yelled at him and he stepped aside out of confusion. I took my pocket knife and threw at it. I manage to hit it in its head. It suddenly laughed before it died. When it died the shadow disperse also, and it revealed a corpse... I looked at my hand shaking. My body... was.. shaking with fear... "Anis?". I looked ahead and looked at Klein and said, "Nothing... That was, *sigh* At least that was over..... Let's keep going. "
-I know-
I know this would happen sooner or later. At least it didn't happen to him... I looked at Klein. "He still needs to see the beauty of living." I said to myself as my hands are shaking not from fear. No. But something. I.... at least want to save.. at least one person. Before everything ends.
...
....
Ahh shit, how unlucky am I.
...
.....
Upon walking down at the corridors for an hour, we noticed the theme of the corridors starts to change. I felt a sense of breeze. And just ahead us was a strong radiance.. as we past through the corridor, we never thought we would get to see things like this. A magnificent terrain! The wind, the grass, it still has questionable properties such as random large objects clipped into walls. I know we still need to be wary, but I just can't stop enjoying myself from this moment. I fell down and become one with the grass that is coursing through the wind. Klein was still standing, unfazed by the view. And I started to wonder is this truly Hell from what we speak of. Relief washed over me with a sigh.
"What do you feel about this.... I've never seen anything like this before.".
"....I do hold it with worthy praise."
"Times like this is what it makes worth living."
"..."
We continued exploring the whole landscape. No monster can be seen. Everything was... quiet. Peaceful. I was quite saddened when we finally left and ventured deeper again into the dark abyss, and of what makes this place hell. We began marching once again through an endless corridors.
It's been three days now. We've been getting desperate to look for food... we (I) got too tired to look for food so we decided to take a rest. We tried opening a room from the corridor, and what it seems like is a normal bedroom with one bed and a drawer in front of and by its side.. Klein sat at a chair nearby and fixed his armor while I was still very wary, so I doubled checked every object to see any anomaly and found none. I exhaled in relief and spoke as I sit at the bed "Looks like we're clean here,... a very soft bed... say.. Have you slept through a comfortable bed before?". "Nay" he responded while still fixing his armor. "Well, now you're chance to enjoy this very. very soft bed... Come on now! Don't be shy aha." I said with delight. He looked a little bit annoyed but ey, at least he came to the bed. "See? Comfy isn't it." I said. Klein slide down the bed and a look of bliss is subtly visible in his face aha. Then after a while I proceeded to got off the bed, took a pillow, and attempted to sleep at the floor. "Now, pray tell again which of us does now show shyness?" he surprisingly joked. "Come on now! You get to keep it to yourself on your own, so be happy." I remarked. "Come one now then too. Your naivety is plain to see. Pray, just take your rest upon the bed. By my troth, I intend no foul play." HE INSISTED WHY. I sighed, and got in to the bed. At least I'm aware, to not be awkward, is to not let yourself be awkward, in simple terms, just play it cool. Shit, my heart is racing, "I hear your heart racing, are you in good condition?" he annoyingly asked. "Yes, I'm fine" I said with defeat. Well,.. this is completely normal, sharing a bed with a Knight, in the middle of hell with roaming monsters. Wow. I just exhaled and inhaled, so I could calm down and sleep. But as I was about to sleep.
"Tell me, fellow" he said.
"Anis" I interrupted.
"Tell me, Anis,.." he continued
"Have you ever bear... the sting of regrets. " he murmured.
I paused.. and chuckled "Many... although I'm sure it's not that deep compared to yours, but it hurts how I have wasted my life into something colorless.".
Both of us looked at the ceiling while we talked.
"But I felt like I was more pathetic. I know what I must do. Yet I still didn't do a single damn thing. I wasn't even confined by anything, more so, I'm the one who confined myself. So, here I am now. Your ordinary salary men in Japan..... How about you my sire?"
"....I.. ..."
Klein raised his arms and looked at his hands
"I,.. murdered countless people in wars with no reasonable outcome. For glory they say, for to battle famine they say, what a load of wretched people." he furiously exclaimed. "Nothing changes."
"However... who am i to differ, I am nothing but just a bag of flesh who's destiny is to kill. and kill."
"Did you.. kill me though?" I interrupted
"....Nay"
"Is it truly your destiny then? When you can choose your own."
"I...."
"Did you kill those men, for your pleasure?"
"...."
"Every men in a battlefield knows their a dead man already, that's why they always had a heartfelt farewell to their family. You're a victim of war, everyone's a victim of it. Though it's normal to blame oneself for killing countless people. But those people you have killed had already passed on peacefully. They died with honor, and that is enough for them, they don't need your blood, they don't need revenge. Even if you made yourself suffer, in the end its just your fantasy, thinking they would finally live peacefully if you suffered eternally. I have no right to judge all of this and what they actually want, but neither do you. So, what do you do if you don't know what they want? You could pray for them. Apologize wholeheartedly. Every day.... And just so they know, You have been through a lot too, you suffered already so much upon carrying the burden of this many deaths. And for that I praise you, nobody have been there to acknowledge you. But I'm here now. So.. you don't need to be alone."
I can see grimace in his face .. For a guy who's very tough, it's nice to see their vulnerable side too.
"Rest for now you deserve it, this nice comfortable bed haha.... Can I. embrace you? If you - ".
He immediately opened his arms, and there we embraced each other.
We embraced each others mistakes, regrets,... the fire that is burning greatly, dimmed... but still lit, to be the scar, the reminder of who we once are, and the mark of how we became convicted and determined to live. To live and be free. Just as birds who flies wherever they wish to go.
-In truth, I never thought I'd know such sentiment, such delight. The warmth as I embraced Anis.-
-It was the first night I slept with a gentle smile gracing my face.-
After we got ready to take off and scavenge again, I bashfully asked, "Anis.. good sir, tell me how do you pray?".. "Hm, I'm not that religious but. Do you, believe in God?" he asked. "No one, ever introduced me. I only discovered God upon seeing those who speak of Him at the nearby church. But I chose not to believe, as I quoted, 'In these world beset by war and famine, there's no God. Foolish people who deluded their selves.' but I now had doubts." I said as I seek forgiveness. "What made you suddenly want to believe in God?" he sought answers. "I... I want to make amends to those I have killed. I do not ask for forgiveness, I will not beg for it. But I will pray for them as I repent. And to do that I believe I have to ask for forgiveness to God too.". I mournfully said as I tilt my head downwards. He gave off a soft look, and said "You just need yourself and some peace. Once, you believe you are ready. Then you can ask God whatever it is."....this marked the first such occurrence in my mortal span, to ever pray...
From that point on, I and Anis embarked on this endless adventure. Solitude no more.