Last chapter: Fine has encountered Eclipse. The thief on the other hand, has remembered about Princess Grace…
Chapter 9:
'Princess Grace was given two titles: Flameheart to her enemies and Oceanheart to her friends' Bright silently thought, 'Her crown was then patterned with her title where the jewel in the middle would shift its color from blue to red.'
The inspector frowned, 'So what's the way to leave this fake reality? What's in Princess Grace's mind and she placed us here?' Bright was processing every variable that led to this event. He backtracked his steps from the moment Eclipse or rather Shade appeared. If anything was amiss, he didn't notice it… not until the blinding white light shrouded him.
He was obviously in an abandoned town, the kind in the olden days where the structures of each building is made of wood and stone. The area he was in was the market area because of the line of shops at the edge of the cobblestone streets. Each shop showed their products – food, flowers, and weapons. It was all in display and it gave them the individuality and uniqueness from each other. Bright passed by and never turned his head on them because he was busy thinking.
'I need Shade's help… If we were dragged in here together then its logical to assume that we need to help each other to get out. I need his help… and that means I need to overlook my anger towards our curse.'
With that, he faced himself on a shop with a glass window. Bright was just preparing his emotional state – maybe do some steady breathing but when he saw himself, he froze.
"What the – "
His whole attire changed. Bright as wearing a cream colored long sleeves, white pants and brown leather boots. Moreover he has a mask that was covering half of his face; his glasses were nowhere to be seen. But the thing that made his mind go blank were the objects behind him. His misfortunate white wings. With a shaky hand, he touched his right wing. He was fine… he felt no pain, no struggle to control.
He didn't know what emotion that was surging in his body. Relief? Confusion? Gratitude? Disgust? All he knew was that this was the doing of Princess Grace and he was baffled as to what is the purpose of this.
As if sensing his distress, a clue appeared. The sun with six petal like rays showed and one by one they led him to the central part of the village. Bright walked in his usual calm and confident manner but it was obvious that he was not accustomed with having his wings. The inspector's mind was divided into two as he followed the little suns – one was trying to observe his surroundings and the other one was itching to destroy his wings – the kind of destruction where it would be rendered useless. But he needed to stay focus on the task before him.
When he arrived at the central part of the village, Bright noticed a middle-sized clock tower. It was large enough to surpass the cottages and other buildings but small enough compared to the hills beyond the place. In the darkness, he could barely see its design but he was fairly sure that the color of the clock tower was an ancient hued brown. However, its hands were not moving. It was struck on the midnight hour.
Bright looked around and tried to make sense as to why he was led there. He didn't need to look further because on the opposite side, a certain blue haired girl was casually strolling the place.
Unlike her sister, Rein was more adventurous. She's not easily scared by some unexplained event, she never let the panic and fear seize her and to some extent, she even considers such experiences as fun challenges to overcome. Maybe that's why she's so hooked to Eclipse and maybe that's why even after finding herself in an odd place, she was firm and calm. If it were her, Rein would gladly explore the village however she needed to find Fine. She knows how her sister can react given with this kind of situation so she hurriedly scanned through the streets (occasionally stopping in some dress shops).
Her quest to find Fine has led her to the central part of town where a clock tower resided. As she took a step in that place, she immediately felt that she was being watched but not in a hostile way. Whoever was watching her was cautious and undecided. To Rein, she felt that the person was being shy so instead of looking for Fine somewhere else, she decided to stay there for a little while. Maybe that person will come to her eventually.
All the logical explanations were thrown out in the window as Rein decided that this person is in need of help just like her. They could sort out things together if the fates willed it.
Some minutes passed and the person who was watching her shows no signs of moving. Rein was just about to call a "Hello" when the rain started pouring. She hugged herself to keep the warmth as she scolded her mind as to why she decided to wear a dress. Rein was ready to run to the nearest shade when a set of wings enveloped her.
"Eclipse!" she happily exclaimed as she turned around.
It was not Eclipse that was facing her.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," the boy said, "And I'm also sorry for putting my wings around you because I don't have any garment to lend you," he explained.
Somehow Rein felt that she knows this young man with white wings… she just couldn't figure out who.
So instead of the classic question "Who are you?" she asked this: "Do I know you?"
"No. I don't think you know me," he replied as he continued to cover Rein within the confines of his wings.
"Is that so?"
"It is so."
"Hmmm…" Rein muttered as she eyed his face. His mask was concealing half of his features but she knew she had seen those eyes before… Those breath-taking beautiful eyes yet devoid of any light… She observed him as she tried to think of a person and one came to mind.
The girl gave him a faint smile, "If you say that I don't know you then it is so. Nobody would ever know you if you keep your distance away," she said.
Bright was speechless.
"Oh come on!" Rein said as she playfully punched his chest, "You weren't even trying! Anyone would have guessed who you are!"
The master of the White Wings suddenly gripped Rein's hand that was resting on his chest, "Please, keep this to yourself. Let this be a secret among the two of us."
For some reasons, Rein's face heated up but when she saw how serious Bright was, she realized how important this is.
"Okay… then it's a secret just among the two of us," she vowed, "And since you obviously don't want to talk about your wings that are awfully familiar to Eclipse's then I'm not going to mention it."
"Thank you."
"But there is a price for keeping that secret."
"There is?"
Rein nodded as she gave him a concerned look, "If the pain is too much to bear… you could call me. After all, it is a secret among the two of us. It's not only yours but ours."
"Call you? Ours? What right do you have in my life?"
"Your friend."
"Since when?"
"Since now."
"Wow."
Rein stuck her tongue out, "It's a take it and deal with it bargain. I already thought of you as my friend a long time ago but this is just making it official since you're in debt to me now."
"No."
"Oh Bright," Rein pleaded, "Drop with the cold shoulder already. It really doesn't suit you. I bet you're actually a goody two shoes prince on the inside."
"I'll take that as an insult."
"It's an encouragement to develop your personality and to make you smile more," Rein explained, "Besides, I'm looking forward to the day that you'll finally be able to be yourself."
Bright stared at Rein. His face plastered with some unexplained expression. Again, he didn't know what feeling was conquering his heart. Incredulous? Grateful? Surprised? Amazed? Maybe it was all of it at the same time or maybe it was none of the emotions mentioned. The only thing that will vividly mark this moment is the warm feeling in his chest as he held this girl before him. Rein on the other hand placed her hands on his shoulders and moved closer to avoid the splatters of the rain.
In his white wings, they remained in that position. There was a little bit of awkwardness but both of them secured their mindset that this stance is necessary so that they wouldn't be wet from the rain.
"It's like a position for a dance," Rein commented after a while.
"Surprisingly, it is," Bright replied.
"A dance in the rain sound fun!"
"No, it isn't."
"Yes," Rein said, pulling Bright, "it is."
She pulled him outwards and his wings flew back. In the rain, the girl led his unwilling partner in a dance.
"This is crazy!" Bright shouted as he was tossed here and there by Rein, "What was the point of covering you earlier?"
"Oh come on! Come on!" Rein said as she giggled, "I don't mind now since I have my friend!" She released him and twirled in the frenzy of the rain and white feathers. Rein was like a water fairy in that moment and Bright cannot help but stare at her in amazement – he was clearly mesmerized at her every move.
"Ooppps!" Rein yelled as she made a wrong step and slipped but she didn't fall.
"Are you alright?" Bright asked.
"Uh… uh… y-yeah."
The boy lifted her as he continued to support her waist, "We need to find your sister," he finally said, knowing full well that their dance has finally ended since the rain was now but a drizzle, "If we find her, I'm sure Eclipse will also be there."
Rein nodded, "And then what?"
"And then we need to figure out how to get out of this place."
The girl gripped his arms. Rein was just realizing the magnitude of this problem. For a moment, she was enjoying their dance in the rain – lost at the things that were weighing on her but her trust in Bright was there. She was absolutely sure that he wouldn't abandon her here.
"We need to hurry up."
"I agree. Now that the rain is gone, the place is a lot clearer now but it might be slippery."
"Then why don't you use your wings?" Rein suggested, not knowing she had just dropped a bomb.
In an instant, Bright' face was contorted in a scowl. His mask may hide his features but the fury in his eyes was there.
"No," he said in his hard tone.
"But there's no other way!"
"I said no and that's final, Rein."
The way he said her name irritated her but she kept her mood in check, "Bright," she said in an equal cold manner, "I don't know what your problem about Eclipse or your wings but right now, it's the fastest way to find my sister who is probably really scared by now."
He retorted in a lame excuse, "I don't know how to use them."
"Then learn."
"That's not easy."
"You're a prodigy. Flying would be as easy as pie."
"No. I don't want to use it."
"Can you just – "
"Stop!" Bright said as he staggered, "Don't make me use them! Don't make me use them!" he pleaded as he put his hands on his hair, "They're cursed! I'm cursed! I don't have the courage to wield them! They might devour me!" Bright shouted, tears spilling on his eyes.
In her place, rein was frozen. It was seeing a perfect machine break. Bright – the ever so brilliant boy – snapped.
"I will die! I will die!" he continued as all of the frustrations and anger pouring out from his mind.
Earlier that night, Shade didn't know how to save Bright and in the same way, Rein didn't know how to calm him. But there's that instinct in her gut that made her move closer despite the alarming situation. She lifted her arms and warmingly embraced him. Bright stopped, the action making him surprised. His knees buckled up and he found himself kneeling and Rein followed him, never breaking the hug.
"There, there," Rein's calm and ocean-like voice said as she stroked his back in a soothing manner, "It's okay. It's okay," she said because she didn't know anything else to say.
Then with a tentative hand, she reached for his right wing. Her fingers caressed the feathers, gliding it with a careful manner and eyeing them with amazement.
"I… I really don't know anything about you…" she said, "I'm sorry for pushing you to use your wings," Rein apologized, "But… even if your white wings are cursed… I still think they're beautiful."
The tears started to come out even before he knew it.
"They're beautiful," Rein repeated, "And I think there was a reason why this was given to you."
Bright lowered his head to weep on Rein's bare shoulders. All of his burdens and anxieties cascaded and he cried them for the first time. In that moment – the showcase of how broken and weak he is, Rein was there. She continued to stroke his back, never saying a word but letting him know that she was there. Her presence gave him a pillar he could depend and he was beyond thankful for meeting her.
Rein, the representation of Princess Grace's title for Oceanheart, truly lives in her.
Next chapter: The truth on why the twins, Bright and Shade was trapped in Princess Grace's made up reality will be revealed. (Based on chapters 8 and 9, can you tell what it is?)
