Post by RaineScarlet on Jan 1, 2009 14:12:22 GMT 8
Part of Sierra's history that I felt like telling in story mode. It's not too long, bear with me. =P The time frame is some time after the battle with Shiki.
A young woman, looking to be in her late teens, paused at a fork in the road. Her garments were simply designed for travel, but anyone could see that they were made of high quality. On her back, a huge broadsword was strapped. It was, perhaps, the most valuable of her meager possessions—a hilt of magical gems, and a blade of rare metal.
The girl’s long, dark hair moved with the breeze as reddish-brown eyes surveyed the path before her.
“Port of New Orlania?” She asked no one in particular. Her voice was calm, but held a powerful edge.
“It has been too long since I’ve last been here.”
---
“Isn’t there another way?” The dark haired girl asked tearfully. It wasn’t often that she expressed her emotions, but this was a special case.
“I want… I want the two worlds to be at peace…” Another girl replied quietly. Her hair was a very light brown, almost blonde, and her eyes were curiously violet. She was clearly the more soft-spoken of the two.
“Don’t…do this…Don’t leave me alone… Even Luke and Davos…”
The violet-eyed girl looked at her friend sadly. “I’m sorry…”
And then she vanished beneath the dark waters. Rain fell, hiding the dark haired girl’s tears. The heavens lamented at this girl’s curse.
---
Mana Reid opened her eyes from her familiar nightmare. She had dreamt of it so often that she no longer screamed, though it still caused her to be in a terrible mood.
She got up from her bed and walked over to the open window. Dawn was breaking. Rosy fingers of sunlight broke through the clouds, the dim light casting soft shadows over Mana’s smooth features, currently twisted in a scowl. This place brought back terrible memories.
Mana dressed quickly, lifted her broadsword with ease, and flew down the stairs for breakfast. Last night, she had arrived at the Machigai Teahouse for a night’s rest. The Tea House hadn’t been there when she last left the port city, but it was a nice addition to the bustling economy.
“Good morning!” The too-friendly blue haired host named Ayasaki Hayate greeted her from behind the counter. He flashed a winning smile.
Mana was unimpressed. “Can I have a bowl of raisin oatmeal please?” She asked, resting her sword on the wall next to her seat.
Hayate’s smile barely faltered as he prepared his guest’s order. He had encountered stranger and more aggressive people before. This girl, however, seemed different from all the rest.
She left abruptly after finishing her meal, leaving too much money on the table. Hayate didn’t dare chase after her with the change after the first glare he received.
“Just what is she…?” He pondered to himself as he returned to tending his Tea House.
***
Mana walked around the port, taking in the stores, the people, and the activity in general. She was here for something, but she hadn’t been able to sense it yet.
“What does this do?” A familiar voice asked quizzically. Mana whirled around, knocking several people over with her long sword in the process.
Three people were standing near a magic shop display. The most prominent one was a young monochromatic girl with three sets of angel wings. Everything about her lacked color, from her hair, to her wings, to her clothing. Only one of her eyes glowed light blue. She was being addressed by a taller and slightly older girl with light brown hair and impossibly light blue eyes. A tall male in a long cloak stood slightly apart from them, examining a separate item. His hair was dark, and eyes red.
“Oh,” The monochromatic girl answered cheerily, “It’s a pouch that can hold up to 200 pounds.”
“Really?” The brown haired girl seemed overly impressed.
“Yeah. It’s enchanted, so even you could probably fit in there if the opening were wide enough.” As she spoke, she seemed to shield the brown haired girl from the pouch, as if just realizing that she had said something dangerous.
Indeed, the older girl was eyeing the pouch rather intently.
“Hello~ Welcome to my shop, ze~” The girl who seemed to be in charge of the shop popped her head out the door. So much ash and soot covered her body that one could barely recognize her features.
“If there is anything you need help with, I’ll be inside, ze~” She offered, before disappearing inside again. Muted explosions resumed.
The three stared warily at the door before moving on.
“Kamin and Kyouko are with the others at the dojo.” The brown haired girl reported in a lighthearted tone. “They’re done with shopping and are waiting for us.”
“Alright, let’s go then.” The angel girl declared, and led the group swiftly. “Don’t get lost, Sol.”
The boy named Sol frowned, but followed closely regardless.
Mana trailed after this group, hiding her presence. Something about them had triggered her senses. They would lead her to what she was looking for.
The group eventually reached a large plot of flat land with a small wooden building at its center. There were other people mulling about within the area, perhaps the group that was mentioned earlier. Two were females, one tall with long brown hair tied in a ponytail, one short with long grey hair reaching her thighs wearing a hat and a snow bunny, and three were males, all very tall, one dressed in all black with a small cat pacing around him, another the opposite, with white clothing and hair, and a last one with light grey hair and dressed in a magician’s robe.
“Wait.” Sol stopped in his tracks before the reached the entrance and whispered something that Mana didn’t catch to the other two girls.
The brown haired girl nodded and took off at an awkward run towards the larger group. Mana only just noticed that the girl’s limbs were wrapped in water to help with movement.
The winged angel and Sol turned towards Mana’s position.
“Why don’t you tell us what you’re doing, following us?” The young man asked. There was no mercy in his tone.
Mana stayed in her hiding position, marveling at the group’s skills. Then again, she wasn’t a very good stalker anyway. She always preferred to charge in head-on.
“If you won’t come out, then I’ll just have to force you out.” The angel girl warned and began an incantation.
Sol flicked his fingers and sharp projectiles materialized in the air between him and Mana. He also summoned a crescent-shaped blade that he kept for himself. Farther along, the clumsy girl had reached the second group and was alerting them of the fight. Help was on the way.
Mana still stood with an unnatural calmness while she considered her options. She didn’t really care for fighting, though the exercise would do her some good… as a certain someone always used to tell her.
She stepped out into the light.
Sol and the angel girl paused, slightly startled. Before them was a girl no older than 18 carrying a large sword on her back. She didn’t seem too threatening. In fact, it seemed more fitting to describe her as being bored.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Mana unsheathed her large blade. “I need the exercise.”
The daggers in the air flew, but flew too slow. Mana had been shot at by bullets before, and flying daggers seemed hardly threatening. She weaved through the storm of blades until her large sword was close enough to nick Sol.
His eyes widened. She had moved far quicker than any human he had ever witnessed. Even Hayate and Shiki…
The angel girl released her spell at the right time, and prevented Mana from potentially beheading the surprised boy. Invisible lances of air locked on to her location and began to chase.
“Magic?” Mana asked, slightly impressed. Her blade spun easily in her hands and cut each stream of magic as it approached. “Air too. Thalia would be pleased.”
“What the…” The winged girl started, but recovered quickly, thanks to her battle experience. She launched another spell at the female fighter that summoned a hoard of Valkyries to attack.
A quick flash of Mana’s broadsword easily dispatched the waves of magic that assaulted her.
“You’re open.” She heard Sol’s voice behind her as she swung at the final Valkyrie. He had his blade ready for the kill.
“I know.” Mana replied as she felt the flesh on her back being sliced open. She shifted so the blow did as little damage as possible and stuck her blade in the ground, using it as a step to back flip herself behind him. Sol tried to turn to retaliate, but he was already on the ground, thanks to a boot in the behind by Mana.
As the others arrived (too late), they saw their companion in the ground, with a dark haired female sitting on him, holding her large sword effortlessly at his throat.
“Hi there.” Mana greeted the newcomers in a conversational tone.
Sol growled furiously, but could neither move nor cast thanks to the close proximity of the sword.
“Sol… Tsubasa…” The brown haired girl from before asked, worried, “Are you two hurt?”
Before either could answer, Mana whined, “I’m the only hurt one here.”
“If you had cooperated, this wouldn’t have happened.” Tsubasa shot back.
“I told you, I needed the exercise.” Mana grumbled irritably.
“She doesn’t seem to be a Knight…” The grey-haired boy in runic robes pointed out.
Mana’s eyes narrowed. A mind reader. Get out.
Her broadsword glowed, and the boy in question collapsed on the ground, panting, holding his head in pain.
“Venser!”
“Intruding on other peoples’ privacy isn’t very nice, Venser.” Mana drawled. “Anyway, I’m looking for something, and I thought following you all around would help me find it.” She paused, surveying the group, until her eyes rested on the clumsy brown haired girl. She was the one who had initially attracted her to this group.
Tsubasa and the pony-tailed girl noticed Mana’s new object of attention and moved slightly to shield her.
The brown haired girl looked at her two guardians as if confused, and then walked forward to Mana and Sol. The others moved to hold her back, but she said quickly, “She doesn’t seem hostile…” Sol and Tsubasa coughed. “…So I want to hear her story.”
“If I tell it, that is.” Mana pointed out. But this naïve girl had her attention. Mana stood and released Sol, who got up quickly and leapt backwards so that he was always facing her. That’s paranoia if I ever saw it, she thought to herself.
“My name is Sierra Nark.” The girl offered amicably. “What is your…”
But she didn’t finish. Mana’s expression had transformed from boredom to poorly hidden shock and she gasped sharply.
“Excuse me…” Sierra said quietly.
“I…knew a Sierra Nark once.” Mana interrupted, not hearing Sierra.
“She died 589 years ago.”
***
Mana was back at the Tea House again. It seemed to be the most popular area to lodge at in Orlania. The others were there too, just downstairs: Sol, Tsubasa, Kamin, Kyouko, Moridin, Constantine, Venser, and, of course, Sierra. They were a strange and varied bunch who had banded together to fight, each for reasons of their own. They were all probably discussing the day’s proceedings right now with Sol, Tsubasa, and Sierra right now, since Mana had fled to the Tea House right after her shocking statement.
Mana sighed, trying to think as well. Sierra Nark… who was she? Mana was searching for a Sierra Nark, but this Sierra Nark looked all wrong.
A quiet knock disturbed her thoughts. The dark-haired girl didn’t need to ask to know that it was Sierra at the door. No one else would knock. Mana paused halfway from the bed to the door. And how do I know what this Sierra is like? I shouldn’t jump into conclusions. My Sierra isn’t supposed to be alive…
She opened the door. It was Sierra all right, standing there with a worried look on her face. She would always put others before herself…
“I…” Sierra started awkwardly, “I saw that you were injured, so I was wondering if you needed treatment.”
She’s about the same height also. Facial features are similar, with the obvious exception of her hair and eyes.
“I’m fine.” Mana answered, her thoughts still distant. “I heal quickly.” She turned, as if to demonstrate. Her flesh wound was gone—not a scar remained.
“Oh, that’s good.” Her companion sighed with relief. “Did you heal yourself with magic?”
“No. I don’t need magic.”
Sierra stared, not comprehending. Mana sighed and motioned for her companion to enter, shutting the door after they were both in. She didn’t want those individuals camping at the stairs to hear.
After settling them both on the bed, Mana explained with a flourish, “I am immortal. Cursed at age 18 for 589 years.”
“I’m… sorry.” Sierra mumbled in shock. She really did look sorry.
“Don’t be. I’m sorry enough for myself. Anyway, I’m sure you want to know my story, huh? I’ll keep it short.”
Mana glanced at Sierra once and, upon seeing her attentive expression, began her tale.
---
I guess I’ll start with her, Sierra Nark, and me, Mana Reid. We were childhood friends since our early school days. Both of us lived in the real world. One day, we went on some fantasy journey to the magical world because our friend was in danger, etc, etc. Standard procedure. I’ll let you imagine the details, such as the epic battles and whatnot.
At the end of several years, two things happened. One was my curse. That’s what I call it, anyway. The other was Sierra’s death, which is my reason for being here…
Long story short, a conflict erupted between the magical world and the real world. It got so bad that the two worlds eventually had to be sealed off. A lot of magic power was required…After all that fighting, my friends, Davos, Luke, and Sierra, were the only strong ones left who could perform the ritual. Only they knew that the ritual would end in their deaths. They didn’t tell anyone else. I found out just as Sierra was about to die, but I couldn’t stop her.
After some time, the people around me died. I was the only one who stayed alive, thanks to my curse, even though I wanted so much to die. (Why I became immortal is another story for another time.)
Anyway, after years of my pitiful life, I learned that my friends were not really dead, but were reincarnated as part of the earth, the sky, and the water around the border of the real world and the magical world to act as guardians. I became hopeful again… that I could find my old friends… seeing how human friends died so quickly.
Don’t ask why it took me so long to find this place, even though it was probably obvious that one of my friends would be here. I’m bad with directions, and I seem to be inadvertently good at pissing people off so I get into a lot of fights. Well as Sierra would have put it, it was good exercise, as long as I didn’t kill someone.
---
“Are you here because you’re looking for your friends…?” Sierra asked softly.
Mana looked at her audience. “Yes.”
A moment of silence ensued, where Sierra thought deeply about the situation. “Do you think I am your Sierra?”
“It’s possible… But you don’t seem to remember anything.”
Sierra hung her head. “I’m sorry. I wish I could help…”
Mana placed a comforting hand on her companion’s head. “Don’t worry about it. I think I’m happy enough just knowing that my friends’ souls are still alive.”
“What will you do now? Your purpose…”
“I guess I’ll just wander around like I always have been. Exercise…” Mana laughed quietly to herself at a joke her friends would no longer get. “I’ll look for Davos and Luke too, of course. I think I can live a little easier, knowing that my companions are happy with their new lives.”
She paused, looking out the window. The sun was still high in the sky.
“Sierra…”
The addressee looked up.
“I bet an innate part of your soul deviates towards your past life. If you ever get color contacts, go for violet.” Mana said with a smile and left the room.
Sierra got up quickly to follow, but Mana was already gone. Befuddled, she went downstairs. The dark-haired girl wasn’t there either.
“Did anyone see where Mana went…?” Sierra asked the group downstairs.
“I did see a blur.” Hayate answered. “Considering her background, it was probably your strange friend.”
A young woman, looking to be in her late teens, paused at a fork in the road. Her garments were simply designed for travel, but anyone could see that they were made of high quality. On her back, a huge broadsword was strapped. It was, perhaps, the most valuable of her meager possessions—a hilt of magical gems, and a blade of rare metal.
The girl’s long, dark hair moved with the breeze as reddish-brown eyes surveyed the path before her.
“Port of New Orlania?” She asked no one in particular. Her voice was calm, but held a powerful edge.
“It has been too long since I’ve last been here.”
---
“Isn’t there another way?” The dark haired girl asked tearfully. It wasn’t often that she expressed her emotions, but this was a special case.
“I want… I want the two worlds to be at peace…” Another girl replied quietly. Her hair was a very light brown, almost blonde, and her eyes were curiously violet. She was clearly the more soft-spoken of the two.
“Don’t…do this…Don’t leave me alone… Even Luke and Davos…”
The violet-eyed girl looked at her friend sadly. “I’m sorry…”
And then she vanished beneath the dark waters. Rain fell, hiding the dark haired girl’s tears. The heavens lamented at this girl’s curse.
---
Mana Reid opened her eyes from her familiar nightmare. She had dreamt of it so often that she no longer screamed, though it still caused her to be in a terrible mood.
She got up from her bed and walked over to the open window. Dawn was breaking. Rosy fingers of sunlight broke through the clouds, the dim light casting soft shadows over Mana’s smooth features, currently twisted in a scowl. This place brought back terrible memories.
Mana dressed quickly, lifted her broadsword with ease, and flew down the stairs for breakfast. Last night, she had arrived at the Machigai Teahouse for a night’s rest. The Tea House hadn’t been there when she last left the port city, but it was a nice addition to the bustling economy.
“Good morning!” The too-friendly blue haired host named Ayasaki Hayate greeted her from behind the counter. He flashed a winning smile.
Mana was unimpressed. “Can I have a bowl of raisin oatmeal please?” She asked, resting her sword on the wall next to her seat.
Hayate’s smile barely faltered as he prepared his guest’s order. He had encountered stranger and more aggressive people before. This girl, however, seemed different from all the rest.
She left abruptly after finishing her meal, leaving too much money on the table. Hayate didn’t dare chase after her with the change after the first glare he received.
“Just what is she…?” He pondered to himself as he returned to tending his Tea House.
***
Mana walked around the port, taking in the stores, the people, and the activity in general. She was here for something, but she hadn’t been able to sense it yet.
“What does this do?” A familiar voice asked quizzically. Mana whirled around, knocking several people over with her long sword in the process.
Three people were standing near a magic shop display. The most prominent one was a young monochromatic girl with three sets of angel wings. Everything about her lacked color, from her hair, to her wings, to her clothing. Only one of her eyes glowed light blue. She was being addressed by a taller and slightly older girl with light brown hair and impossibly light blue eyes. A tall male in a long cloak stood slightly apart from them, examining a separate item. His hair was dark, and eyes red.
“Oh,” The monochromatic girl answered cheerily, “It’s a pouch that can hold up to 200 pounds.”
“Really?” The brown haired girl seemed overly impressed.
“Yeah. It’s enchanted, so even you could probably fit in there if the opening were wide enough.” As she spoke, she seemed to shield the brown haired girl from the pouch, as if just realizing that she had said something dangerous.
Indeed, the older girl was eyeing the pouch rather intently.
“Hello~ Welcome to my shop, ze~” The girl who seemed to be in charge of the shop popped her head out the door. So much ash and soot covered her body that one could barely recognize her features.
“If there is anything you need help with, I’ll be inside, ze~” She offered, before disappearing inside again. Muted explosions resumed.
The three stared warily at the door before moving on.
“Kamin and Kyouko are with the others at the dojo.” The brown haired girl reported in a lighthearted tone. “They’re done with shopping and are waiting for us.”
“Alright, let’s go then.” The angel girl declared, and led the group swiftly. “Don’t get lost, Sol.”
The boy named Sol frowned, but followed closely regardless.
Mana trailed after this group, hiding her presence. Something about them had triggered her senses. They would lead her to what she was looking for.
The group eventually reached a large plot of flat land with a small wooden building at its center. There were other people mulling about within the area, perhaps the group that was mentioned earlier. Two were females, one tall with long brown hair tied in a ponytail, one short with long grey hair reaching her thighs wearing a hat and a snow bunny, and three were males, all very tall, one dressed in all black with a small cat pacing around him, another the opposite, with white clothing and hair, and a last one with light grey hair and dressed in a magician’s robe.
“Wait.” Sol stopped in his tracks before the reached the entrance and whispered something that Mana didn’t catch to the other two girls.
The brown haired girl nodded and took off at an awkward run towards the larger group. Mana only just noticed that the girl’s limbs were wrapped in water to help with movement.
The winged angel and Sol turned towards Mana’s position.
“Why don’t you tell us what you’re doing, following us?” The young man asked. There was no mercy in his tone.
Mana stayed in her hiding position, marveling at the group’s skills. Then again, she wasn’t a very good stalker anyway. She always preferred to charge in head-on.
“If you won’t come out, then I’ll just have to force you out.” The angel girl warned and began an incantation.
Sol flicked his fingers and sharp projectiles materialized in the air between him and Mana. He also summoned a crescent-shaped blade that he kept for himself. Farther along, the clumsy girl had reached the second group and was alerting them of the fight. Help was on the way.
Mana still stood with an unnatural calmness while she considered her options. She didn’t really care for fighting, though the exercise would do her some good… as a certain someone always used to tell her.
She stepped out into the light.
Sol and the angel girl paused, slightly startled. Before them was a girl no older than 18 carrying a large sword on her back. She didn’t seem too threatening. In fact, it seemed more fitting to describe her as being bored.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Mana unsheathed her large blade. “I need the exercise.”
The daggers in the air flew, but flew too slow. Mana had been shot at by bullets before, and flying daggers seemed hardly threatening. She weaved through the storm of blades until her large sword was close enough to nick Sol.
His eyes widened. She had moved far quicker than any human he had ever witnessed. Even Hayate and Shiki…
The angel girl released her spell at the right time, and prevented Mana from potentially beheading the surprised boy. Invisible lances of air locked on to her location and began to chase.
“Magic?” Mana asked, slightly impressed. Her blade spun easily in her hands and cut each stream of magic as it approached. “Air too. Thalia would be pleased.”
“What the…” The winged girl started, but recovered quickly, thanks to her battle experience. She launched another spell at the female fighter that summoned a hoard of Valkyries to attack.
A quick flash of Mana’s broadsword easily dispatched the waves of magic that assaulted her.
“You’re open.” She heard Sol’s voice behind her as she swung at the final Valkyrie. He had his blade ready for the kill.
“I know.” Mana replied as she felt the flesh on her back being sliced open. She shifted so the blow did as little damage as possible and stuck her blade in the ground, using it as a step to back flip herself behind him. Sol tried to turn to retaliate, but he was already on the ground, thanks to a boot in the behind by Mana.
As the others arrived (too late), they saw their companion in the ground, with a dark haired female sitting on him, holding her large sword effortlessly at his throat.
“Hi there.” Mana greeted the newcomers in a conversational tone.
Sol growled furiously, but could neither move nor cast thanks to the close proximity of the sword.
“Sol… Tsubasa…” The brown haired girl from before asked, worried, “Are you two hurt?”
Before either could answer, Mana whined, “I’m the only hurt one here.”
“If you had cooperated, this wouldn’t have happened.” Tsubasa shot back.
“I told you, I needed the exercise.” Mana grumbled irritably.
“She doesn’t seem to be a Knight…” The grey-haired boy in runic robes pointed out.
Mana’s eyes narrowed. A mind reader. Get out.
Her broadsword glowed, and the boy in question collapsed on the ground, panting, holding his head in pain.
“Venser!”
“Intruding on other peoples’ privacy isn’t very nice, Venser.” Mana drawled. “Anyway, I’m looking for something, and I thought following you all around would help me find it.” She paused, surveying the group, until her eyes rested on the clumsy brown haired girl. She was the one who had initially attracted her to this group.
Tsubasa and the pony-tailed girl noticed Mana’s new object of attention and moved slightly to shield her.
The brown haired girl looked at her two guardians as if confused, and then walked forward to Mana and Sol. The others moved to hold her back, but she said quickly, “She doesn’t seem hostile…” Sol and Tsubasa coughed. “…So I want to hear her story.”
“If I tell it, that is.” Mana pointed out. But this naïve girl had her attention. Mana stood and released Sol, who got up quickly and leapt backwards so that he was always facing her. That’s paranoia if I ever saw it, she thought to herself.
“My name is Sierra Nark.” The girl offered amicably. “What is your…”
But she didn’t finish. Mana’s expression had transformed from boredom to poorly hidden shock and she gasped sharply.
“Excuse me…” Sierra said quietly.
“I…knew a Sierra Nark once.” Mana interrupted, not hearing Sierra.
“She died 589 years ago.”
***
Mana was back at the Tea House again. It seemed to be the most popular area to lodge at in Orlania. The others were there too, just downstairs: Sol, Tsubasa, Kamin, Kyouko, Moridin, Constantine, Venser, and, of course, Sierra. They were a strange and varied bunch who had banded together to fight, each for reasons of their own. They were all probably discussing the day’s proceedings right now with Sol, Tsubasa, and Sierra right now, since Mana had fled to the Tea House right after her shocking statement.
Mana sighed, trying to think as well. Sierra Nark… who was she? Mana was searching for a Sierra Nark, but this Sierra Nark looked all wrong.
A quiet knock disturbed her thoughts. The dark-haired girl didn’t need to ask to know that it was Sierra at the door. No one else would knock. Mana paused halfway from the bed to the door. And how do I know what this Sierra is like? I shouldn’t jump into conclusions. My Sierra isn’t supposed to be alive…
She opened the door. It was Sierra all right, standing there with a worried look on her face. She would always put others before herself…
“I…” Sierra started awkwardly, “I saw that you were injured, so I was wondering if you needed treatment.”
She’s about the same height also. Facial features are similar, with the obvious exception of her hair and eyes.
“I’m fine.” Mana answered, her thoughts still distant. “I heal quickly.” She turned, as if to demonstrate. Her flesh wound was gone—not a scar remained.
“Oh, that’s good.” Her companion sighed with relief. “Did you heal yourself with magic?”
“No. I don’t need magic.”
Sierra stared, not comprehending. Mana sighed and motioned for her companion to enter, shutting the door after they were both in. She didn’t want those individuals camping at the stairs to hear.
After settling them both on the bed, Mana explained with a flourish, “I am immortal. Cursed at age 18 for 589 years.”
“I’m… sorry.” Sierra mumbled in shock. She really did look sorry.
“Don’t be. I’m sorry enough for myself. Anyway, I’m sure you want to know my story, huh? I’ll keep it short.”
Mana glanced at Sierra once and, upon seeing her attentive expression, began her tale.
---
I guess I’ll start with her, Sierra Nark, and me, Mana Reid. We were childhood friends since our early school days. Both of us lived in the real world. One day, we went on some fantasy journey to the magical world because our friend was in danger, etc, etc. Standard procedure. I’ll let you imagine the details, such as the epic battles and whatnot.
At the end of several years, two things happened. One was my curse. That’s what I call it, anyway. The other was Sierra’s death, which is my reason for being here…
Long story short, a conflict erupted between the magical world and the real world. It got so bad that the two worlds eventually had to be sealed off. A lot of magic power was required…After all that fighting, my friends, Davos, Luke, and Sierra, were the only strong ones left who could perform the ritual. Only they knew that the ritual would end in their deaths. They didn’t tell anyone else. I found out just as Sierra was about to die, but I couldn’t stop her.
After some time, the people around me died. I was the only one who stayed alive, thanks to my curse, even though I wanted so much to die. (Why I became immortal is another story for another time.)
Anyway, after years of my pitiful life, I learned that my friends were not really dead, but were reincarnated as part of the earth, the sky, and the water around the border of the real world and the magical world to act as guardians. I became hopeful again… that I could find my old friends… seeing how human friends died so quickly.
Don’t ask why it took me so long to find this place, even though it was probably obvious that one of my friends would be here. I’m bad with directions, and I seem to be inadvertently good at pissing people off so I get into a lot of fights. Well as Sierra would have put it, it was good exercise, as long as I didn’t kill someone.
---
“Are you here because you’re looking for your friends…?” Sierra asked softly.
Mana looked at her audience. “Yes.”
A moment of silence ensued, where Sierra thought deeply about the situation. “Do you think I am your Sierra?”
“It’s possible… But you don’t seem to remember anything.”
Sierra hung her head. “I’m sorry. I wish I could help…”
Mana placed a comforting hand on her companion’s head. “Don’t worry about it. I think I’m happy enough just knowing that my friends’ souls are still alive.”
“What will you do now? Your purpose…”
“I guess I’ll just wander around like I always have been. Exercise…” Mana laughed quietly to herself at a joke her friends would no longer get. “I’ll look for Davos and Luke too, of course. I think I can live a little easier, knowing that my companions are happy with their new lives.”
She paused, looking out the window. The sun was still high in the sky.
“Sierra…”
The addressee looked up.
“I bet an innate part of your soul deviates towards your past life. If you ever get color contacts, go for violet.” Mana said with a smile and left the room.
Sierra got up quickly to follow, but Mana was already gone. Befuddled, she went downstairs. The dark-haired girl wasn’t there either.
“Did anyone see where Mana went…?” Sierra asked the group downstairs.
“I did see a blur.” Hayate answered. “Considering her background, it was probably your strange friend.”
