I Remember My Vow

Amid a forest, birds fly above a small cabin built from pieces of logs and stones.

A woman is sitting on a wooden floor while her chin is settled on his hand which is placed on an opened wooden window.

Another young woman sits in front of a woman who's sitting beside the wooden window. "Celia, is the kid still sleeping?"

Celia takes a deep breath, and she shifts her attention to the fat woman sitting in front of her.

Celia says, "Yes… What about you, Ija? Have you fully restored yourself?"

Ija moves her hand towards the cup on the small wooden board in between her and Celia. Ija holds the handle of the cup and raises it toward her lip; she gently blows the heat from the fluid in the cup.

"What an absurd response," Celia closes her eyes and looks away, "by the way, do we have news about her majesty?"

Ija puts the cup down on the small wooden board, and she remains looking at the emptied cup.

She says, "The majesty… we couldn't do a thing to aid her… instead of stopping her from fighting him, we just let her go like that."

Celia moves her eyes to the opened wooden window beside her. Her eyes begin to narrow as a fluid slowly falls from the corner of her eyes.

"Following her commands is what we'll do even if we like it or not," Celia tells her, "so please stop blaming yourself."

Ija cracks a smile. "That is indeed our job… we raised her since she was a little one, and we get to witness her developments."

Ija arises from her seat. "Today marks the ending of our life being servants."

Celia remains staring through the opened wooden window while Ija walks across her.

"If I only knew that things would end up like this," Celia slowly closes her eyes, "then I should have opposed her order."

The door near Celia begins to move forward, and a young man looks through the gap between the frame and the door.

"So… you've awoken from your sleep," Celia spoke.

He steps inward in the room while his eyes are lingering on Celia. He touches the door and gently pushes the door until it reunites with the frame.

The young man speaks, "Celia, I heard your conversation with the chubby."

"Chubby?" Celia smirks, "if she's here and heard what you spoke about her, then you might not be able to face me in a normal condition."

Afitera says calmly. "Being fat is a natural way to know that your body is happy by feeding yourself."

"A bookworm?" Celia puts down the cup on the small wooden board, "what a rare attribute."

Afitera looks down and begins to shake his head, and he stops shaking his head. "I read many books before, and one of them tells about creatures that have powers.

"Like having wings, and tricking humans into a never-ending illusion."

Celia turns her face aside. "Then what do those creatures have to do with what you're going to say? Make it right or I'll slit your throat, damn bookworm."

Afitera gulps and inhales deeply. "Those creatures, are you possibly one of them or a descendant of them?

"Having the ability to produce fireballs, is not a possible ability that a human can have; rather, only extraordinary creatures have those abilities."

Celia swings her hand on the table, and it bursts apart as utensils, cups, and wooden plates fly everywhere.

She arises as Afitera remains standing in his position while staring at her.

Celia remains facing away from Afitera, and she turns around. "So what now? Are you going to walk away, human?"

Afitera closes his hands. "N-No! I believe that–!"

Celia is pointing her fingers at him as blue particles are appearing around her fingertips.

"Your damn mouth! It is the reason our majesty began to grow warm!" Celia looks down while narrowing her eyes; her brows knitting and her lip curved downward. "If we only just prevented her from knowing you! Then all of this might not have become reality!"

Celia moves her hands downward and looks aside. "Go…"

Afitera begins to step backward bit by bit while his eyes are widened. She looks at him and yells, "Go! Go before I change my mind and blast your brain from your darn head!"

Afitera clicks his tongue and begins to scramble away from her sight.

"Majesty… forgive me." Celia moved her eyes downward.

Afitera continues to run until he reaches outside, and there his eyes feast upon a field of flowers, trees, and clear blue skies while the sunlight is shining upon the whole land.

"Afitera, right?" Ija ceased her movements near Afitera.

Afitera nods while staring at Ija who's standing near him.

"Please forgive Celia, she has been loyal to Lumina for over 300 years," Ija told him.

"To serve Lumina for 300 years, her loyalty must be solid as a crystal," Afitera looks at the palm of his hand, "please, do tell me more about her."

"Which one?" Ija raises her eyebrow, "I'm confused."

Afitera moves his eyes up at Ija. "Celia."

Going back many years ago. In a village, inside one of its houses, a girl, and a woman are humming to a tune of a song.

Both look at each other, and they utter soft laughter.

"It's nice singing with you, mama," the girl smiled widely.

The woman who's sitting beside the girl moves her hand toward her daughter's shoulder.

The woman smiles as she closes her eyes, and it mimics a smile. "We will always do this, my dearest."

Her daughter remains smiling, and she moves toward her mother; surrounding her mother's chest with her embrace.

The woman is in awe, and she moves her other hand toward the young one's head; patting it.

Presently, Ija and Afitera are walking along with the flowers.

"So Celia and her mother's bond is very strong?" Afitera glanced at Ija.

Ija inhales deeply. "Yes, but not all strong bonds stay together until the end."

She looks upward. "The village where Celia grew up was attacked by an army of humans who desired to build a factory in their village.

"Yet the village's chief declined their offer, causing a conflict to arise."

Afitera's eyes broadened. "I didn't know that people like them existed."

"Are you mocking me?" Ija smiles slightly, "the people who abused and hurt you are those not terrible creatures for you?"

Afitera looks down. "I do not know."

Ija's smile vanishes from her lip, and she takes a short look at him. "What do you think of Lumina?"

Afitera moves his eyes toward Ija and sees her calmly look at him. Thence, he looks away from her. "I see her as a family… she treats me like a brother, and I like that feeling of someone caring for my sake."

Ija utters a soft laugh. "You do want to save her, don't you?"

Afitera stops ambling and Ija stops in her footsteps, hence she turns around and sees Afitera gazing at her with his fingers that are folded on his palm.

"I will do anything to save her," Afitera announces, "right from the moment that I recovered from my injuries, it was the moment that made me realize how much I value Lumina."

Ija raises her hand and points her index finger at him. "I can't believe that I will say this, but please do save her."

Afitera nods. "Yes, I will save her."

Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Celia remains standing in front of the opened wooden window.

Her eyes are fixated on the scenery of flowers, trees, and clear blue skies. The wind soon comes over the field; moving the grass and the flowers as well.

"I don't know what my heart desires," she whispers, "or is it that I am longing for something? That child, what are your intentions toward him, majesty?"