Chapter 4: Innocence Lost, Ryu-chan's past/present
Ryu Lion was a young and spirited elf girl who had spent the majority of her life living among the trees in the forest. Her parents had tragically lost their lives in a war with the dwarves, leaving Ryu in the care of her loving grandmother. The forest became her playground, and the trees her refuge, as she grew up in the peaceful serenity of nature.
Her grandmother, a wise and gentle soul, ran an orphanage for elven children who had also lost their families in the same war. Ryu would spend her days playing with the other children, their laughter echoing through the trees as they slid down the slides and painted their faces with colorful designs. It was a time of innocence and pure joy, with no worries or responsibilities tarnishing their carefree days.
Ryu's grandmother was her guiding light, the one she followed everywhere. With a warm smile on her face, she would lead the children on various adventures, teaching them valuable life skills and imparting wise words of wisdom. Ryu idolized her grandmother and longed to have a family unit of her own, just like the one she observed with her matriarchal grandmother's life, and the walls of the orphanage.
As she grew older, Ryu's girly nature began to emerge. She would spend hours playing with dollhouses and taking care of imaginary babies, pretending to be the nurturing mother she yearned to become one day. She would create elaborate setups using boxes collected over the years, transforming them into different rooms of her self-built dream home. Her youthful innocence thrived in these moments, her imagination allowing her to escape into a world where fantasies came alive.
Ryu often found herself daydreaming of a future where she would have her own family to love and care for, much like her grandmother.
However, everything changed when Ryu turned ten years old. It was then that her grandmother decided to reveal the painful truth about her parents' death. The news struck her like a thunderbolt, shattering her innocent dreams and leaving her heartbroken. The revelation awakened something within her, a longing for a future different from what she had always imagined.
From that moment on, Ryu's perspective shifted. The adventurous spirit her parents possessed now became an intrinsic part of her being. She yearned to explore the world, uncovering her own destiny and discovering the truth behind her parents' sacrifice. Gone were the days of solely dreaming about being a mother and a wife; now, she craved purpose and a life filled with meaningful experiences.
Deep inside, Ryu knew that her ambitions of a wifely nature might seem unambitious to others, she dreamed of adventures now, however her childhood dreams never died. To Ryu, the idea of a loving family was also a dream come true. It was a reminder of the unconditional love and comfort that she had received from her grandmother, who had become her pillar of strength. Ryu hoped to pay it forward and create a home where she could shower her future children with the same love and affection.
With her heart set on becoming an adventurer, Ryu embraced her dream with unwavering determination. She knew that by embarking on this path, she would not only gain the strength and skills necessary to protect her future family but also discover the truth about her parents and honor their memory.
Deep within her heart, the desire to become a mother and a wife always remained, reminding her of the strength and love that lay at the core of her being. And so, Ryu Lion stepped into the bustling streets of Orario, ready to carve her own path and embrace the extraordinary destiny that awaited her.
However, at the core, Ryu's deepest desire remained unchanged. Beneath her newfound ambition, she still longed for the comforts of a family, the joy of motherhood, and the warmth of a loving husband.
For this reason she could not resist, almost demanding that Bell Cranel would hold her cold and naked body in the dungeon's dim depths. Everything became a circle, the dreams she had thought dead resurrected in that warm embrace.
Day after 1st date...
Ryu Lion entered the bustling tavern, her heart still fluttering from the excitement of her first date with Bell Cranel – her future husband. She couldn't help but smile as memories of their time together yesterday played in her mind like a blissful melody. The pure, genuine connection they shared was something she had never experienced before, and it made her more certain than ever that she had found her soulmate.
As she approached the bar, Ryu noticed the familiar figure of Syr, the kind waitress who had not only saved her life but had also helped her secure a job at the Hostess of Fertility. Syr greeted her. " Ryu, can I speak with you privately?"
Syr had played a significant role in her life, and Ryu couldn't help but feel grateful for her constant support and friendship. Intrigued by Syr's request for a private conversation, Ryu also greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Syr. You wanted to speak with me privately?" Ryu asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Ryu said with a cautious smile. "You wanted to talk?"
Ryu took the seat at a table with her. The tension in the air was palpable, and Ryu couldn't help but wonder if their friendship would be altered by what was about to unfold. She knew she had to choose her words carefully.
"Your date with Bell," Syr said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hope you had a good time."
Ryu's heart sank as she detected the underlying sadness in Syr's tone. A pang of guilt washed over her, knowing that her blossoming feelings for Bell were causing her friend such anguish. She reached out across the table, gently placing her hand over Syr's trembling ones.
"Syr, I... I'm sorry," Ryu began, her voice filled with genuine remorse. "I never wanted to hurt you. But my feelings for Bell... They're real. And I can't deny them any longer."
Syr's/Freya's eyes welled up with tears, and Ryu's heart broke at the sight. She never wanted to be the cause of Syr's pain, but she couldn't deny herself the chance at happiness either. Bell had shown her a side of herself that she had long forgotten, and she cherished every moment they spent together.
Taking a shaky breath, Syr finally spoke, her voice quivering with raw emotion. "I've always loved Bell Ryu and you of all people knew that. Watching you two together... It's like a knife to my heart. Ryu. I just... I don't know how to move forward from this."
Ryu sighed, her heart sinking as she saw the pain in Syr's eyes. She had anticipated this conversation, but it still hurt to witness the depth of Syr's emotions. She had never intended to hurt her friend, but her feelings for Bell had become undeniable.
"I'm sorry, Syr," Ryu said softly, her voice filled with remorse. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you."
Syr clenched her fists, her anger and hurt mixing together in a dangerous concoction. "How could you do this to me, Ryu? We've been friends for so long, and you knew how I felt about Bell. Why did you have to steal him away from me?"
"I didn't steal him, Syr. Bell and I just...connected. It wasn't something I planned or expected."
Syr shrugged Ryu's hand away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It doesn't matter. You knew, and you still went after him. You betrayed our friendship."
Ryu felt her own tears welling up, a heavy weight settling in her chest. She had never wanted to cause this much pain, especially to someone she cared about. "I never wanted to hurt you, Syr. Please believe me. I understand if you're angry with me, but I hope we can still be friends."
Ryu had expected anger, maybe even a bit of jealousy, but she never anticipated this level of hostility. The words hung heavy in the air, piercing through her heart with their painful truth. How had it come to this?
As she tried to gather her thoughts, Ryu's mind raced back to that fateful day when everything had changed. Bell Cranel, a young adventurer with a kind heart, had captured her attention from the very beginning. There was something about him, an indescribable charm, that had drawn her in. And now, after their first date, she saw a future with him. But she never intended to hurt Syr, to betray her.
Taking a deep breath, Ryu steadied her voice and replied, "Syr, I never meant to hurt you. I had no idea you had such deep feelings for Bell. I thought our friendship was strong enough for me to pursue my own happiness without causing you pain."
Syr's eyes welled up with tears, her hurt palpable. "But Ryu, you knew how much I liked him. We always talked about him, and you never said anything. How could you do this to me?"
Ryu's heart ached at the sight of her friend's pain, but she knew she couldn't back down now. "Syr, I never wanted to come between you and Bell. But love is a complicated thing, and sometimes, it leads us down paths we can't control."
Syr's anger seemed to simmer, replaced now by a mix of sadness and confusion. "I just can't believe you would do this to me, Ryu. I thought we were more than friends. I thought we were like sisters."
Syr's face contorted in anguish, and she clenched her fists in frustration. "Do you even care about my feelings? Do you know how hard it is to watch the person you love fall for someone else right in front of your eyes?"
Ryu's voice trembled as she reached out to Syr, desperately wanting to bridge the gap that had formed between them. "Syr, please understand. You've saved my life, and I'm forever grateful for that. But Bell... Bell makes me feel alive. He makes me want to be a better person. I can't deny my own feelings for the sake of sparing yours."
Syr stands up from table, Ryu follows suit.Tears cascaded down Syr's cheeks as she looked into Ryu's eyes, searching for truth and sincerity. "Do you love him that much, Ryu? Enough to hurt those around you?"
Syr clenches her fists tightly and her eyes burn with an intensity Ryu had never seen before.
"I trusted you, Ryu. I thought we were friends, but you betrayed me," Syr seethes, her voice trembling with rage. "You knew how I felt about Bell. You knew I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to ask him out, and yet, you took advantage of my absence and took him for yourself."
Syr's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and despair. "I hate you now, Ryu. I was about to ask Bell on a date to the goddess festival. I always gave him lunch and flirted with him, and you knew that! You betrayed me!"
"You stabbed me in the back, Ryu! You cut my heart out!" Her voice cracked as the words tumbled from her lips, filled with pain and betrayal.
Ryu's heart sinks as she listens to Syr's accusations. She had never intended to hurt her friend, but she knew deep down that her feelings for Bell were genuine. She had hoped that Syr would understand, but it was clear now that she had only caused pain and heartache.
Syr scoffs, her eyes glaring at Ryu with anger. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You saw how much I cared for him, and yet, you went behind my back and stole him away. How can I ever forgive you for that?"
Ryu's eyes well up with tears as she looks at her friend, her voice trembling. "Syr, I never wanted to hurt you. I never meant for this to happen. But the truth is, Bell and I have a connection that I can't ignore. It's not something I can control or choose. I only hope that one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
But Syr's rage only intensifies, her fists shaking uncontrollably. "Forgive you? Never. I will never forgive you for what you've done. You've taken away the one person I cared about the most, and for that, I will make sure you regret it."
Ryu's heart sinks further as she realizes the magnitude of Syr's anger. She had never seen her friend like this before, and the sight scares her. She had expected Syr to be upset, but she never imagined she would go to such lengths for revenge.
"Syr, please," Ryu pleads, her voice filled with desperation. "I never wanted to hurt you. I know how much you care for Bell, and I'm truly sorry for the pain I've caused. But I hope you can understand that I can't change how I feel."
Syr's eyes narrow, her voice drips with venom. "Understand? I will never understand why you would do this to me. But mark my words, Ryu. I will make you pay for what you've done. You may have won Bell's heart, but I will ensure that you never find happiness."
With those final words, Syr turns and storms away, leaving Ryu standing there, her heart heavy with guilt and regret. She had never wanted things to turn out this way, but now she had to face the consequences of her actions and hope that one day, Syr would find it in her heart to forgive her.
But for now, Ryu would have to bear the weight of Syr's anger and the knowledge that she had inadvertently caused a rift between friends. As tears roll down her cheeks, she braces herself for the storm that is about to come.
To be continued...