Reta's Dream
episode 16

I felt something flowing from my nose, I tried to see what liquid it was, but it was completely useless because there was not a single point of light except for the three pairs of shining eyes.

"Reta!" I could see Jeriem running towards me.

"You.your nose is bleeding" he said, cleaning up the liquid coming out of my nose.

Is it really blood?

Why can, all my life I've never experienced anything like this.

Now the distance is only a few centi and from here I can see the eyes of Jeriem shining, really a beautiful and creepy blend.

"Energy here is too bad for you, let's go" Jeriem pulled me away somewhere because my eyes couldn't see anything

"Sorry, because of me you have to be stuck here" said Jeriem who made me remember about the rules of this game.

"But if we find the ball now can we get out?" Jeriem stopped stepping and turned to look at me with those shining eyes.

"When the sky darkens, CrucifiX will be destroyed by the bad energy this forest has sown" I was immediately suffocated by Jeriem's words.

But it wasn't that we came in the morning and why was it now suddenly night?

We went back and I didn't know where Jeriem was taking me, so I could see a big tree that was shining because it was surrounded by thousands of fireflies and it was really beautiful.

All my life I've never seen anything like this.

But.....

Again I feel familiar with this tree, Actually this kind of world, why do I feel ever here.

"Come on" Jeriem pulled my hand under the big tree.

"This tree can disguise the bad energy in this forest and it's good for you" Jeriem said with a smile.

He sat leaning against the tree and I could only follow him, sitting next to him.

"It's not that we go into this forest in the morning, but... " Jeriem smiled at me.

"The day-night shift in this forest was never clear Reta because it was controlled by Xeidriyx"

"What is Xeidriyx?"

Jeriem smiled at me again

"He's the guy that got us here, the guy you saw carrying the CrucifiX"

"Oh. "I think the name that was called Jeriem was the name of the item or something.

"So he controls day and night?"

"Only in this forest"

If he can make the day so short, then he can also make a very long night right?

I looked at Jeriem who was looking up, more precisely towards this big shining tree and after I noticed that the tree had a flower and the flower was a red rose.

Bizarrely.

It's very strange.

This tree is like a banyan tree but why do roses flower.

"You know, Reta"

"Hm?"

Jeriem was still staring up.

"The history of this tree is truly beautiful and sad"

I looked at Jeriem whose gaze was looking up at the sky.

I followed his view.

There's nothing there.

Black only.

There were no stars, not even moonlight, and it seemed like the light source of this forest was only in the fireflies flying around this tree.

"Whether it's just a fairy tale or it really is, but even if it's just a fairy tale I still like it"

Jeriem's smile broke and it really rubbed off on me.

"There used to be a woman who was cursed for making a King abdicate, because she and the King loved each other"

"What was the woman's fault until she was cursed?"

"He's not wrong, what's wrong is why he was born a werewolf"

"meaning?"

"Nortwhed's children shall not marry except with men, for it shall make the sanctity of their family's blood tainted"

"So... Nortwhed's blood is holy?" I asked in an irritated tone, this is what I hate most about the government system, caste number one.

Jeriem chuckled when he heard my question.

"Not only Nortwhed but all humans, because among the four clans of human blood is the cleanest and holiest"

I nodded in understanding

"But.... That only applies to Nortwhed right?"

Jeriem nodded while smiling at me

Oh... Fortunately

But what's in it for me?

What's....

Ck... Now I've really gone insane for too long living in this crazy world

"Oh yes, so what happened to the King and the woman?"

"The woman was cursed with the most painful and deadly curse by the royal witch but due to the King's high magic ability, she transferred the curse to herself"

I was speechless to hear Jeriem tell me if there was a man like the King who would even sacrifice his life for the woman he loved.

I wonder what it's like to be that woman, all my life nobody cared about me, nobody loved me.

"After receiving the curse the King did not die because a Nortwhed could not die by magic. He turned into this tree, the only source of positive energy in this forest"

Jeriem's story sounds absurd to me, but what in the world does this phrase make no sense?

I don't think that sentence applies here at all.

"Then the woman died of hanging, and people said they believed that this firefly was her"

Jeriem smiled looking at me.

"And in this scary place there is such a great sign of love"

I smiled when I heard Jeriem.

I was really comfortable with Jeriem and he was the first guy to make me this comfortable.

"Is your nose still bleeding or are you uncomfortable?"

I shook my head to answer the question

Because honestly, when I was near this tree I felt at home, in the real house, because even though I was at home I could not feel the comfort of home at all.

But under this tree....

Everything was warm and comfortable, coupled with the presence of a man who always gave me his best smile for me and now I can only feel the comfort and warmth that I have never felt in my life.

"You tired?" I spontaneously shook my head.

Instantly I gasped because Jeriem suddenly touched the back of my hand

"I'm sorry, because of me you're stuck here" Jeriem said, smiling.

Oh.... Oh my God what is this?

What's wrong with my heart?

Why is it beating so fast?

Am I having heart disease?

Anyone help me control my heart!!!