After the War

The air in the room was full of fake sadness and grinning traitors. Everyone knew what would happen and feigned ignorance. All to use me, the sole survivor and heiress, as a puppet. Hoping that I was too naïve to see through the guise they put on after my family's death, some of my family's retainers had the nerve to try and start talking about how to distribute my family's wealth to them since they worked so hard for my family and should be repaid. As if. I would never let these snakes touch a single coin of my parents' money.

It was like that day in and day out. One morning, someone from one family would try to convince me to give them money that they so-called deserved. Another afternoon, one of the higher retainers tried to send one of their sons to persuade me to give them money thinking that since we are both the same age, we would better understand each other. I gave him a good punch in the shoulder to show his parents that I will not be giving anyone anything. It was so tiring. Everything was so tiring. Living alone on this massive, destroyed property. No one to talk to. No one to tell me that it's going to be okay. I lived every day hoping that someone... something... would give me some sort of sign that things will change.

Day after day after day. Retainers are constantly banging on my doors trying to squeeze money out of me. Watching the butterflies land on the few flowers I had left on the property is the only thing keeping my sanity together. School is no better. Children from my family's retainers continue to come up to me. Pretending to be friendly with me in order to get money. Some have even started to bully me saying that I'm stuck up for keeping all of my parent's wealth and not doing anything with it. What am I supposed to do with money when I have no family to spend it with?

Slowly, my mind has drifted almost on autopilot. Just doing the bare minimum to keep up a quiet life of suffering. It has almost gotten to the point that I have forgotten how to smile. How to laugh. How to talk. Why? Why did those traitors abandon my parents? They were fighting so hard... The workers tried their best to bring me to a safe place. I never even got to say goodbye... A valiant smile was the last thing my parents gave me before I was brought into a small room. A pained expression was all that was left the next time I saw my parents.

I was old enough... Why didn't they let me fight with them? Why didn't they prepare a backup plan just in case the deal went south? What could I have done to stop them from leaving the main house?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

In reality, I am still just a child. A stubborn high schooler with a heart full of pride and a head full of ideas. At least, back then I was. Back when everyone was smiling, and I was greeted in every hall I walked down. Now, the halls are filled with dust and debris. I am only greeted by the emptiness that is now the Winter Mansion.

A few weeks have passed, and I can feel my sanity dwindling. Every day, the same old thing happens. Fake sympathy. Fake smiles. Fake compassion. I wish it would all go away. I wish all of the traitors would disappear.

That's right!

I could just use my parents' influence to get them to disappear! I can just summon the top fighters and have those worthless pieces of mass wiped from the earth. A smile full of rage and disaster creeps its way onto my face.

"To hell with everyone!" I scream as I run through the halls. "They can all die for all I care! Shredded into pieces by an unknown monster! Mutilated beyond recognition!"

Yes... I can feel the power rushing through my - ack! What's this? My head... It hurts!

My chest begins tightening as if it was being squeezed like a sponge. I fall onto my knees clenching my chest to stop it from hurting. What's going on?! The pounding in my head is only getting worse and worse.

"Someone please!" I loudly whisper to myself as tears begin to flow from my eyes. "Help me... please..." I crawl to the nearest corner to support my body and continue to huddle myself to get the pain to go away. It keeps growing. The pain has spread to almost my whole body. "Somebody! Please! Make it stop! Make the pain go away!"

By now, my body has nearly given up all its strength. I can't go on anymore with this pain. I guess this is what I get for holding on to the past. Goodness... my parents will probably yell at me if I meet them in this state. At least I can end all this pain.

As I was about to close my eyes, a sky blue glow appears in front of me and shrouds my whole body. I can feel the tightness in my chest loosening up, and the pounding in my head is stopping as well.

"Thank goodness!"

Who is that? What is that voice?

"Viola! Oi! Viola Winter!"

Who's there? How do they know my name?

A rush of warmth surrounds me as if I am being given a huge hug from a bear. It feels nice. It has been such a long time since I felt genuine warmth.

"I am here now Viola. You don't have to worry anymore. You will never be alone again."

At this point, I don't mind who you are. Just please continue hugging me. I snuggle deeper into the warmth of the unknown source before finally going to sleep.

"I made it just in time." The being sighs as he picks up Viola and takes her to her room. "If I was just a few seconds late, she would have exploded, and the world does not need another ice age." The being places Viola gently onto her bed and undresses her. "Sorry Viola, but I will be removing your clothes. It's to help you breathe better. I will get you a new change of clothes right away."

The being looks around the desolate mansion as he retrieves some fresh clothes. "Her parents died almost two months ago. I can see why she hasn't fixed up the place. For the time being, I guess I can just fix up the main house. It will take too much power for me to fix everything." The being returns to Viola and dresses her in sleeping clothes. "I guess since you will be sleeping for a while, it's fitting to put you in sleeping clothes."

A thin section of Viola's black hair fades into a shade of snowy whiteness. The being takes notice of this change and lets out an exasperated sigh. "I guess the transformation is starting."