I'll Wish For You Forever

Chapter II - Sin

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Garet knocked on the maple door. After a few minutes, the door creaked open, revealing the tired and weary face of a young man, unshaved and messy, just as he had been since that day. Garet's expression was still somewhat surprised at his friend's transformation. Eventually, his face melted into a warm smile. He grinned as he held up a basket.

"My girlfriend made you an apple pie. Want it?"

Isaac smiled weakly, and let him in.

-

Inside, books on psynergy and alchemy were strewn about. There were also papers with seals drawn on them, some with precision, others with extreme disorder. Paint and ink stained random parts of the room, making it a mess. Garet stared at everything in shock.

"Isaac."

"It's just as you see. It's what people call a sin."

Garet turned around, and grabbed Isaac's collar. Despite being younger, Garet had always been taller than Isaac.

"I don't know anything about alchemy, but I do know one thing. What happens to people who commit a sin..."

Isaac pushed Garet from him lightly. Garet let go of Isaac's collar.

"Don't worry. I haven't done anything."

"But you were going to..."

"She died... because I wasn't there."

"It wasn't your fault."

Isaac turned away, "That isn't true."

"Yes it is. You aren't a god, Isaac. You can't be there for everyone. Do you think Jenna would be happy if she came back to life and you died?"

Isaac chuckled bitterly, "I don't know."

Garet's fist landed squarely on Isaac's cheek.

"Is a sin so easy to commit that you only need to study it for a little while?!"

Isaac remained silent as he looked down, his hand on his cheek.

"Or ... were you trying to die? If you wanted to die, there's a much easier way of doing that."

Garet drew his dagger and pointed it at Isaac.

"I couldn't do it ... because I was afraid of death."

"Of course."

"That's the kind of human I am," Isaac said, chuckling bitterly again.

"Everyone is like that!"

-

"Garet?"

Mia's voiced knocked Garet out of his daydreams. Ever since he had visited Isaac the week before, what he saw was always on his mind.

"Oh, hi Mia. Going to Isaac's?"

"I already went."

"You come here every day from Imil. Doesn't it get tiring?"

"Sometimes..."

"Mia, you need to stop pampering Isaac. The kinder you are to him, the more he'll be dependant on you, and the worse he'll feel."

"Yes, but..."

"What happened wasn't your fault."

"...maybe it was..."

"What?"

"Are you sure it's not just your jealousy speaking?"

"..."

"...I'm sorry, Garet. I didn't mean to say that."

Garet got up from the bench he was sitting at.

"Come on, I'll walk you to the entrance of Vale."

Garet made his way to the village's entrance. Mia followed rather hesitantly.

"Why... did it turn out like this?" Mia whispered.

"HUh?"

"Why did Jenna have to die? Why couldn't we all be happy?"

"...life isn't guaranteed to be happy. It's guaranteed to be uncertain. The person you love can go on living even if you die. Sad, but true."

"..."

"Did you see his room?"

"Yes..."

"I'm worried he'll do something stupid. A man like him would commit a sin for those he loves. That's the kind of person he is."

"Yes..."

"A human can't create a human. That's something that only a god can do. What Isaac's trying to do... it's frightening."

"...yes."

-

The rain poured down mercilessly. However, Mia stilled traveled from Imil to Vale in order to take care of Isaac for the day. She would always see him at Jenna's grave, standing there. Sometimes he would be talking, as if Jenna was there in front of him. Other times he was silent, and only stared blankly at the tombstone, as if it would reveal some hidden message that Jenna was sending to him from the afterlife. Mia had rejected Garet's affections for her shortly after Jenna had died, because she was still in love with Isaac. Although she despised and loathed it, she was partially happy when Jenna died. It meant that she would have another chance to be with Isaac. The thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind, but they frequently would resurface.

When she came today, Isaac was still there, standing in the rain, silent.

"Isaac, you'll get wet." Mia said gently. Isaac didn't move.

"Isaac, come on, let's go back." Mia tugged lightly at Isaac's arm. At first Isaac didn't move. Eventually, he loosened and let Mia drag him away from the grave.

Mia threw a towel on Isaac's head.

"Wipe yourself up before you catch a cold."

Isaac didn't make a move.

"What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Silence.

"Is rice okay?"

Silence.

"Isaac, please say something."

Again, silence.

"SAY SOMETHING!"

Mia grabbed Isaac's shirt and began shaking him.

"Say something! Say something, Isaac!"

Isaac stared blankly, still remaining silent.

"You... you bastard!" Mia screamed, tears flowing from her eyes, and her palm flung across Isaac's face. Still Isaac stared, and remained silent.

Mia leaned forward, hugging Isaac despite him being crenched, and closed her lips around his. Isaac's blank stare suddenly became one of shock as Mia forced him onto the ground and forced her tongue into his mouth.

Mia stood up, and undid the sash that held her robe together. in on graceful motion, she slid her robe off, revealing her naked form underneath. Because she always wore a robe, she never wore any undergarments, and what little light there was reflected off her pale skin. Her hands were over her plump, full breasts, but she didn't hide her nipples, which had hardened somewhat from the biting cold, nor did she arc her legs so that her shaved sex was hidden; though she was a priestess, Mia had paid more attention to her looks than many people realized. Mia closed her eyes, partially from embarrassment, partially because she was afraid of Isaac's reaction.

She opened her eyes when Isaac draped her robe back on her again. She looked up at him. His eyes were no longer blank. They were the eyes of Isaac from years past. Strong eyes. Eyes that one would stare into and be lost within. Isaac shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Mia."

"Isaac..."

"I know I can't be like this forever..."

"Then why? I'm here... I'm... willing." Mia parted the robe slightly so that more of her figure was showing. "I... love you, Isaac."

"But I can't love you... not in that way."

"Isaac..."

Isaac's hand wiped Mia's tears away. "You're beauiful, Mia. As beautiful as Jenna; no, you're probably moreso. But..."

"You can't forget her, can you?"

"...no. I'm sorry. But I know I can't let myself become dependant on others all the time."

Isaac leaned down and kissed Mia gently. He then picked up Mia's sash and put it in her hands.

"You should probably get dressed now."

Mia blushed, and remembered she was still showing off the naughtier bits of her body. She nodded. While she was saddened that Isaac couldn't reciprocate her love, she was happy that she had helped him stand up again. She dressed herself, and began to walk out.

"Mia?"

"...yes?" Mia didn't turn around, for fear that Isaac would see her tears.

"...thank you."

Mia didn't reply, and left, closing the door behind her. It was the last time she and Isaac would see each other.

I'll Wish For You Forever – Chapter II: Sin – End