Emma

Auric sat in the back of his vintage car, feeling the rumble of the engine beneath him as they made their way towards the town of Winding Groove. The sun was setting in the distance, casting a warm golden light over the medieval landscape of the magical world he lived in.

He was accompanied by four knights, a bunch of guards, and a retinue of servants, all of whom were dressed in the finest attire befitting their station.

Auric gazed out of the window, his eyes scanning the countryside for any sign of danger. He knew that the roads were not safe, especially at night, and he was on high alert for any monsters or beasts that might cross their path.

The car rumbled on, the sound of its wheels crunching over the gravel road. The air was filled with the scent of the nearby forest, and Auric could hear the distant howl of a wolf. He tightened his grip on the armrest, feeling a sense of unease wash over him.

And he saw a battle going on in the field

Auric's car rolled to a stop as he watched the battle unfold before him. The towering monster was locked in combat with a group of adventurers, their weapons glinting in the fading light of the day.

Auric watched intently, his eyes scanning the battlefield. The adventurers seemed skilled fighters, but they seemed to be struggling against the monster's massive size and strength.

The creature bellowed in fury, its fists pounding into the ground with a thunderous boom. The adventurers scrambled to dodge the attack, their weapons clanging against the monster's hide.

Auric could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the battle rage on. He knew that he could not intervene without putting himself and his companions in grave danger, but he longed to lend his aid to the adventurers struggling before him.

As the fight wore on, the monster began to show signs of fatigue. Its movements grew slower and more erratic, its roars growing fainter with each passing moment.

Auric's eyes narrowed as he saw an opening in the monster's defenses and with an attack from one of the adventureres the monster let out a final, pitiful groan and collapsed to the ground. The adventurers cheered in triumph, their weapons raised high in the air.

Auric smiled to himself, feeling a sense of relief and pride at the adventurers' victory.

the journey continued and then, as they rounded a bend in the road, the town of Winding Groove came into view. It was a picturesque village, with cobblestone streets and quaint thatched-roof cottages. Smoke rose from chimneys, and Auric could hear the distant sound of laughter and music.

The car slowed to a stop outside the town gates, and Auric and his retinue disembarked. The knights and guards fanned out, scanning the crowd for any potential threats, while the servants bustled about, unloading the luggage from the car.

**

As Auric stepped out of the car, he was greeted with a warm embrace from his Aunt Lu.

"It's so good to see you, my dear nephew," she said, pulling back to look at him with a smile. "I've missed you so much."

Auric returned the smile, feeling a wave of affection for his kind-hearted aunt. "It's good to see you too, Aunt Lu. How have you been?"

"Busy, as always," she chuckled. "But we're all getting ready for the festival tomorrow. It's only held once every six years, you know."

Auric nodded, remembering the tales he had heard of the festival. It was said to be a grand affair, with music, dancing, and feasting that went on for days.

As he looked past his aunt, Auric saw a man and a little girl standing behind her.

Auric's mind went blank for a moment as he stared at the little girl standing behind his aunt. She couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old, with curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. But it wasn't her appearance that had caught Auric off guard. It was the feeling that washed over him as he looked at her.

Auric's heart was pounding in his chest as he looked at the little girl in front of him. "E-Emma?" he whispered in a low voice, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing.

Without thinking, Auric ran towards Ellie and pulled her into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered over and over, "I'm sorry, Emma. I'm so sorry."

***

Memories flooded back to him, memories of a time long gone, of a life he once lived as Mark. It was a life that ended tragically, with an accident that had taken his little sister Emma away from him forever.

He closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him. He remembered the day of the accident vividly.

Mark and Emma had been playing in the park, running around and laughing as children do. It was a warm summer day, and the sun shone brightly overhead. Emma spotted a butterfly and chased after it, running out onto the street without looking. Mark saw her and ran after her, calling out her name, but it was too late.

A car was speeding down the road, and the driver didn't see Emma until it was too late. The impact was loud and jarring, and Emma was thrown several feet away. Mark watched in horror as his little sister landed motionless on the pavement.

Mark's heart raced as he ran towards Emma, tears streaming down his face. He was in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He knelt beside her, shaking her gently, but she didn't move. He called out to her, pleading with her to wake up, but there was no response.

Mark's mind was in turmoil. He felt a sense of overwhelming guilt and helplessness, knowing that he couldn't have done anything to prevent the accident. He felt responsible for Emma, like it was his job to protect her, but he had failed.

As the ambulance arrived, Mark watched as the paramedics tried to revive Emma, but it was too late. She had passed away from her injuries. Mark was inconsolable, clinging to his little sister's lifeless body, crying and screaming in anguish.

The accident had left a deep scar on Mark's psyche, and he carried the trauma with him for years to come. The memory of that day was etched into his mind, and he would never forget the pain and suffering that he had experienced.

After the accident, Mark's life took a downward spiral. Despite his parents' reassurances that it wasn't his fault, Mark couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that consumed him. He became introverted and preferred to be alone, shutting himself off from the outside world.

To make matters worse, his classmates began to bully him, blaming him for Emma's death. They would taunt him and call him names, saying that he was the one who killed her. Mark couldn't escape the constant reminder of his sister's death, and it made his life even more miserable.

Mark's grades started to slip, and he lost interest in the things he used to enjoy. He felt lost and alone, unable to talk to anyone about his feelings. He spent most of his time in his room, staring blankly at the walls or crying himself to sleep.

Mark's parents were worried about him but didn't know how to help him. They tried to get him to talk about his feelings, but he would always shut them out. They hoped that time would heal his wounds, but they could see that he was only getting worse.

The years went by, but Mark never fully recovered from the trauma of his sister's death. He still carried the weight of his guilt and the burden of his classmates' bullying. He struggled to find purpose and meaning in his life, feeling like he was constantly stuck in a dark and lonely place.

As Mark grew into adulthood, he began to mature and accept his sister's death. He knew that he couldn't change what had happened, and he tried to move on with his life. He became more social and started to enjoy the company of others, but deep down in his heart, he still blamed himself.

No matter how hard he tried to let go of his guilt, it still lingered, like a shadow that followed him wherever he went. He would often think about what could have been if he had been able to save his sister, and it would bring tears to his eyes.

Mark tried to forgive himself, but he found it difficult to let go of his past mistakes. He knew that he had to learn to forgive himself to move forward, but it was easier said than done. His guilt had become a part of him, a constant reminder of his sister's death.

But Mark had finally found someone he could trust, someone who made him happy again. They had been dating for a few months, and Mark felt like he was starting to move on from his past. But all that changed in an instant when he found out that his girlfriend had cheated on him.

He was devastated. It felt like his world was crumbling around him once again. How could someone he had trusted and cared for so deeply hurt him like this? Mark felt like he was back to square one, and his guilt over his sister's death resurfaced with a vengeance.

He cried every now and then, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He tried to distract himself with work, friends, and other activities, but nothing seemed to work. He couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak, and it only made him more vulnerable to his inner demons.

And it led to that day when

Mark was walking of the convenience store and he saw his ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend. The sight of them together made his blood boil, but even though controlling the anger the situation was led into a confrontation and a fight.

Things escalated quickly, and before anyone could react, Mark and the new boyfriend were fighting on the side of the road. It was a vicious and brutal fight, with both men throwing punches and kicking each other.

And then the accident happened when mark died.