6 The Choices That Were Made

"Yes, it has. Hasn't it, Yume? You must have missed me very much, in every night and day I have been away," the man called Rafael shamelessly said with flirtatious tone.

"It seems you have been kept busy, for the last five decades. Seeing how you manage to once again appear within my sight, all ends well as per usual I see. Well, that's rather unfortunate," Shopkeeper Yume returned with sharp words, completely ignoring Rafael's teasing.

"Yume, as always your beautiful words light up my whole world. No, better than that, my universe."

"Then your universe must be filled with people queuing up to have a chance at strangling you."

"T-these two conversation could not have been more off the mark from each other as usual," thought Saaya feeling awkward, as she silently watched the volley of words being thrown from one side to the other.

"Unlike you Rafael, I'm a rather busy person. My next customer will be arriving at the shop very soon. So, if you're done with your greeting, this shop's front door is two lefts down this hallway. See you in another five decades. Though, if you're thoughtful enough, centuries will do as well." Shopkeeper Yume finally said to end their unproductive conversation as her patience began to wear thin.

"Now, now, Yume. I came here today to show you my act of true love."

"I've seen enough of it to last for a lifetime. Now, get out if you only came here because the world bored you to death lately," snapped Shopkeeper Yume.

"Well, while I'm being bored to death right here, it seems like something interesting is about to happen very soon, or rather it is happening right now..." At these words of his, the silhouette of the man behind the sliding panel had turned his head sideways to face Shopkeeper Yume who was inside the room.

"She has once again arrived, hasn't she? For them to once again walk the cursed path that they both have chosen for themselves." Since, Rafael's arrival, this was the first time that he has spoken in a serious manner.

"Yes." Shopkeeper Yume gave Rafael a toneless confirmation.

However, who was Rafael again, if not Shopkeeper Yume's closest confidante (as claimed by Rafael). Though the man was currently sitting outside, he could still easily discerned the hint of sadness that was carefully hidden behind that single word. Even more so was Saaya. Since she was inside the room with her Master, she had undoubtedly seen the Shopkeeper's sorrowful expression.

Rafael sighed softly as he guessed what was currently in Shopkeeper Yume's mind.

In the more than the thousand long years that they have known each other, he had never seen her so full of regret like how she was every time this day came.

Rafael understood that being a shopkeeper of the Dream Star Shop came with a hefty price — to have to abandon the purity of one's own soul and morality. He had found out about it the hard way, a long time ago, even before he had met Shopkeeper Yume — when the shop had a different shopkeeper.

The very foundation of the Dream Star Shop was built under the sole intention of granting all wishes — regardless of its absurdity or abnormality. If one could pay for one's wish, then the shopkeeper must grant the wish that was requested. Whether the wish will bring luck or catastrophe, shouldn't be any of the shopkeeper's concern nor was any involvement — no matter how small — with the customers was allowed.

The shop's shopkeeper one and only job was to grant wishes, and it must be done to the utmost of their capability — as long as they can and the customer paid them, then they must do it. If the shopkeeper was ever found to have violated any of the rules surrounding their responsibilities, severe punishments will be cast upon them. For, once the shopkeeper had taken up their vow to commit, they must uphold to all the responsibilities that came with the job, until the day they were dismissed — by whatever reason that might be.

"It seems like, after all those years, the shopkeeper's responsibilities had finally put a dent on her steel mind and stone cold heart," thought Rafael as he shook his head. He was worried that this old friend of his might finally crossed the line this time to help those two children.

"Yume, you do remember that you must remain neutral in every situation? Otherwise, there will be consequences to deal with later on. The things that are happening to them right, are by their own choices. Back then, you already explained everything to them — each and every consequences that they will have to face if they were to choose this path. Nevertheless, they still chose to request that wish from you." Rafael doesn't want anything bad to happen to Shopkeeper Yume, but he knew that at this moment, no warning will actually work on her. So he merely gave her a subtle warning while mostly consoling her as he tried to convince that her actions contributed little to what was happening right now.

"I keep wondering if it had been better if I didn't bring up that wish to them. Then, they wouldn't have to suffer all these [Times]," said Shopkeeper Yume full of regret.

Rafael sighed deeply this time not knowing what more could be said to convince the Shopkeeper otherwise.

"How many [Times] has it been already?"

"This will be their [Thirteenth Time]," answered Shopkeeper Yume.

"[Thirteenth Time]..." Rafael repeated before continued to say, "I have to say that sure sounds omin-"

"Cough, cough," Rafael sweatdropped when he sensed the murderous glare that was directed at him from inside the room.

Being wise for once, he quickly changed the subject of the conversation.

"I wonder if, by the end of this [Time], they will still request the same wish?" asked Rafael sounding very interested.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you've noticed it last [Time] too didn't you, Yume?" Rafael recalled what he saw by the end of the two's [Twelfth Time].

Rafael happened to be free (bored) that day, so he decided to visit (pester) Shopkeeper Yume as always. However, he accidentally came upon the moment that those two needed to make a decision on whether to once again request for the Wish of Time.

The young man with eyes full of conviction unhesitatingly had answered with a firm 'yes'. However, the young lady had paused a beat longer before she too had answered with a 'yes'.

"She. Hesitated." Rafael had seen it clearly — the young lady had both of her eyes closed in anguish the entire time and her right fist — which the young man couldn't clearly see from where he stood — had been tightly clenched. It was clear that she was distressed with their current predicament. She had merely agreed for the young man's sake — the person who had loved her far more than she had ever deserved.

Shopkeeper Yume knitted her brows when she heard Rafael's words. "Perhaps..." she mumbled, unsure of what to think.

Then, as if she already made up her mind, she turned towards Rafael's direction and said, "Perhaps, it is better for them to end this. Rather than having to suffer the same [Fate] again."

Except for the dripping sound of the heavy rain, all became silent for a while at that thought. Everyone was contemplating about what might and would happen this [Time] for those two.

(Well, at least until Rafael went and opened his mouth again.)

"Whelp, since this might be the end, I might as well go now." Rafael's melodious voice finally broke the silence. Outside, the man's silhouette showed that he was getting up from his sitting position.

"Wait! What do you mean by that? Where are you going?" Seeing that the man had suddenly gotten up and ready to leave, Shopkeeper Yume was taken in by surprise at this unexpected action of his. After all, no matter how much she asked him to leave just now, Rafael kept pestering her to let him stay. Where did this sudden willingness to leave come from?

"What now, Yume? Have you finally come to realize how empty you feel without my presence in your life?" Rafael stopped walking and retraced his steps excitedly when he heard Shopkeeper Yume calling out to him.

"No, thank you. My life is so fulfilled already, to have any space for your negligible self," answered Shopkeeper Yume dully.

"I just want to know where you're going. You're not going to cause any trouble anywhere, are you?" asked the shopkeeper suspiciously.

"I'm rather insulted, Yume. What kind of person do you think I am?" said Rafael with an obvious feigned offense.

Shopkeeper Yume simply rolled her eyes at Rafael.

"I'm not gonna go and cause any trouble..." Rafael finally said as he started to leave again.

"...I'm just simply going to go and greet those two lovebirds," continued Rafael before disappearing around the corner of the hallway.

Shopkeeper Yume became speechless for a while.

She then turned to Saaya and asked seriously, "Saaya, is there anywhere I could lodge a report regarding a planned harassment by a certain thousands years old perverted man, on two innocent children, in any [World]?"

Even as Saaya felt that her Master couldn't have asked that question seriously, she still gave a serious answer, "I'm sorry, but no. I don't think there is any, my Lady."

"That's rather unfortunate. I think someone should open up an office or something for a crime across all the [Worlds] sooner or later. After all, certain people should be locked up in jail and remain there for the rest of their lives for us general public to live in peace."

"Y-yes. Of course, my Lady," Saaya agreed awkwardly. She knew that the 'certain people' part that her Master mentioned just now, had meant Master Rafael.

"Should I hinted to those two that 'trouble' is about to approach them?" sighed Shopkeeper Yume. She then turned her attention once again towards the weather outside.

The heavy rain had finally begun to settle down.

"Well, it is good to know that someone is looking out for those two," whispered the Shopkeeper with a gentle smile on her face.

However, a short while later, she suddenly sighed loudly as she thought about the troubles that Rafael would probably cause those two.

When Saaya heard that long sigh came from her Master, she began to worry once again. She wondered if her Master still has not yet recovered from her depressed state just now.

******

[Forst World]

From the Orb Forest, if you were to ride north for another 3 miles, you will come upon a small village town called the Higgins Town. Unlike any other town, Higgins Town was quite desolated — there were hardly any people or animals can be seen walking around. This town has only two small shops — a butcher shop and a tailor shop.

Interestingly enough, if you were to continue walking through this ghost town up till the end of the street, just before the big oak tree that marked the end of the village where beyond that was a small forested area, you'll spy a lively pub — the Salem's Pub. Only when you reached the area around this pub would you truly see signs of living beings. The sound of human laughter and music playing can be heard coming from the pub. People can be seen constantly walking in and out merrily from the Salem's Pub — the place was booming with business.

Most people who stopped by at Higgins Town would all go to the Salem's Pub. Despite being situated in such a miserable-looking town, the Salem's Pub was one of the best pubs in all the three kingdoms of the [Forst World] — in fact, that was exactly why the place was so popular and lively all the time.

Moreover, Higgins Town conveniently was located on the road to the Elnea Kingdom, which was reputed to have the largest merchant market in the [Forst World]. Most of the customers stopping by at the Salem's Pub were travelers or merchants who were on the way to the Elnea Kingdom. Knowing that much, the pub's owner had taken the chance to also provide lodgings with rates based on per night.

A three-story building had been built right beside the Salem's Pub for customers who wished to stay for the night. There were some more rooms on the two floors above the pub itself, but these rooms were smaller and less comfortable as compared to the rooms in the three-story building — it was opened for latecomers and those with little money in their pockets.

At this moment, because of the heavy rain outside that had lasted all through yesterday's night and today, the Salem's Pub was especially packed with customers who had come in for shelter from the bad weather. The warmth of the fireplace, combined with the hot food and drink helped to rejuvenate the travelers who had previously been cold and tired.

Rasz was one of these people. After paying for a bread roll, a soup, and a hot cocoa, he carried up his tray of food and drink to the second floor of the Salem's Pub. He walked straight to the end of the hallway and entered the last room on the right which he had rented since last night.

The room was small and simple, yet comfortable. There was even a small brazier provided — enough to warm up the occupants in the room during the cold weather. Other than a single bed, there was no other furniture. The room was prepared just enough for the occupants to rest their body for a while before heading back on the road.

In the room that Rasz had entered, currently there was already someone sleeping on the single bed — it was a young lady in a raggedy dress. She was sweating and shaking from the fever that she had since last night. Rasz had done as much as he could to cool down the fever. He had placed a wet cloth on her forehead and covered her under as many layers and thickest blankets the pub could provide him with — which was only three still very thin blankets. Additionally, he had even positioned the brazier, which was the only source of heat in the room close to the bed.

The young lady who was laying in bed with a fever right now was indeed our main protagonist Mia. Rasz was the hooded rider who had found her in the rain in the Orb Forest.