Kaila
After having coffee at the cozy coffee shop, I went back to Alicia's house. I can't forget the dream I had last night. It was confusing. I'm trying to put the pieces together for it to make sense. I wondered who that strange man was and what he was doing in Alicia's house. Was he a magician or something?
When I heard from Alicia what happened to Lil, I immediately went to the hospital where he was admitted. I was so worried about him. Seeing him lying on the bed pulled the strings around my chest. It felt like my heart was being squeezed. His face and body were covered in bandages, making him look like a mummy.
Cain told me what happened to his apprentice. He said that Lil was shot by those priests, using heavy-damage magic. It was a heart-wrenching story and a suspenseful battle. How Lil looked when his body was covered in blood. I couldn't even imagine it. I felt like I was going to cry, but I held my tears back. I couldn't keep looking at his pathetic face, so I immediately ran outside and wept there.
I know I have to be strong. Lil is the only enemy I have left, and I doubt if I could steal his life without shedding a single tear. After all the enemies I have killed, after all the punches, kicks, and blows I received, emotional damage is the worst damage ever. Physical damage might heal by time, but emotional damage stays with you forever. Maybe you think it's gone, but then suddenly, you're starting to feel it again.
"Kaila," Cain said, stopping in front of me.
I looked up and wiped my eyes from the tears with my closed hands. Cain told me that Lil is already awake and he wants to see me. That kid. He made me so worried. He's supposed to be fighting me, but look at him now. How can he fight me if he's black and blue?
I went back inside the room and saw Lil already awake, though he could barely open his eyes due to the wounds on his face. I slowly approached him and haven't prevented myself from scolding him, as he made me so worried. He immediately apologized for making me worried, though it wasn't really his mistake. It was his enemies' fault, and enemies, no matter what, will always be enemies and are supposed to fight.
And because we can't fight due to his current condition, and it'll be unfair to end him while he's helpless because I do really want to know how strong he is, I told him I'll wait until he recovers. I hugged him tightly before leaving.
I didn't show up again, as it would only make me more sad and discouraged. Seeing his pathetic face will make me lose all my courage to fight him. I hope he'll understand. I'm really looking forward to our fight. I want to show off all the hellish training I've been through and see for myself if I can be a worthy enemy for him.
While he was in his convalescent stage, I was on my extra-hellish training with Alicia. A week before the final battle, I wandered through the city at dusk. The streets were quiet. I walked under the pink and orange skies. I had no idea what led me there, but my feet took me to the rooftop of the abandoned watchtower near Alicia’s place. I was surprised when I found Lil standing there. I rubbed my eyes, maybe it was just a dream. But no, it was real. He was there.
Lil was leaning against the edge, his eyes were closed, breathing in the crisp air. Bandages still wrapped his arms, and he looked like he haven't gotten enough sleep. Just the typical, Lil—the one who always tries to prove he was stronger than he looked.
"You shouldn't be here," I said, walking toward him.
He didn’t turn around. "Neither should you," he replied as he recognized my voice.
I walked up next to him and leaned on the railing. We watched the horizon for a while. The sun was melting into the line between day and night.
"Why do you want to fight me so badly?" he asked, finally turning his eyes toward me.
"Because," I said, searching for the right words, "We're enemies?"
Lil looked away. "But we were never meant to be enemies."
"We are," I whispered. "That’s how the story goes."
He smiled faintly. "Then let’s rewrite the story then, even just for tonight." He pulled out two small cups from his coat—banged up metal ones we once used during our camp in the land of dreams. From a pouch, he poured warm tea. Maybe he smuggled it out of the hospital, I don’t know.
We clinked the cups together in silence.
"Whatever happens in the next fight," he said, his voice quieter now, "I want you to know that I've never hated you, Kaila. Not for a second."
I tried to say something, but my throat closed up. All I could do was nod, blinking back the sting behind my eyes.
After we finished the tea, we just sat there in silence, watching the sun disappear completely. That moment didn’t need words. It was peace—something neither of us ever had. That was the last time we spoke without weapons in our hands.
Until the moment has finally arrived. I'm here, standing on the battlefield, looking at Lil, who approached me. He's defenseless. I met him with my strongest blow, using the ice sword I specially made for him. He's not attacking at all, only dodging with his speedy moves, though he could barely do that. It seems like he's underestimating me, so I showed off my training.
I continued striking him until I managed to hit his leg; blood spurted out, but there was no sign of pain on his expressionless face, as if he had become so numb. But the wound made his movements slow. I continued attacking, angry that he's not fighting back. I thought I knew his trick. It was to make me enjoy my moment, to make me think I'm better than him, and in the end defeat me in my own game. That's what I thought until I stabbed him in the stomach.
His blood dripped from the tip of my ice sword, but he stayed silent. A little smile crept on his lips as he wrapped his arms around me. Then I realized he didn't really want to fight with me and offered his life voluntarily, though he's not a charity. This realization made me burst into tears. I don't know why he had to do this. He could have killed me himself by his cheat skills. He looked into my eyes and claimed my lips. A bittersweet kiss of goodbye before he fell down to the ground.
But if freedom is truly given, and if freedom is how I felt every time I'm with him, when I could be freely myself without the fear of being judged, then there's no reason for me to stay in this world. I want to go wherever he'd go. I want to be with him forever. Freedom alone for me is not enough; I badly want love, to love and to be beloved, rather than to be free and lonely in this world. Slowly, I raised the ice sword and cut off my throat. I didn't even feel the pain of killing myself. Perhaps this is the result of the hellish training I've been through.
"Kaila!" I heard Alicia shout, running toward me, but it was too late.
Before everything turned black, memories flashed back to my mind like a quick slideshow of images. People, things, places, enemies. A smile crept on my lips. I did live my life to the fullest, but the best part of it was that time I met Lil. How he painted my world with colors from black and white. How he gave me hope. How every moment counted when we were together. They were the most beautiful days of my life, and I wish that ever I'd be given a chance; in another life, I want to be with him again.
The End.