The Soul Keeper

I stood before the charred remains of my tree. A faint, bitter smile appeared on my lips as I stepped towards it. The smell of moist earth invaded my nostrils – I loved this scent. And because of it, I loved the rain. 

The birds nested on the nearby trees continued chirping, seemingly not bothered by my presence. I could spy a few squirrels scurrying into their little homes in the trees and. 

I turned my gaze on the charred remains once again. How long had it been? Five years, more or less. 

I reached out and gently touched the charred trunk of the tree. It was wet, from yesterday's rain. I ran my fingers along the cracks of the trunk, until they reached the single green leaf. A new branch, after years of trying to revive this tree.

"It's regrowing." My uncle's voice startled me. When had he even come here? Since when was he watching me?

"Yeah," I said with a bitter smile. "I didn't even think it was possible. I thought it was dead."

On the night of that storm, uncle had promised me he'd teach me how to take care of my tree – to help it bloom once more. 

"Of course it was possible." He said with a grin. His expression turned more serious as he squeezed my shoulder. "Anything's possible as long as you put in effort. Remember that," He shuffled my hair. "Your own effort – your own dedication will never betray you."

I nodded, he loved saying that. He said that when I first took a sword in my hand, when I first began studying and when I first wanted to bring my tree back to life. 

"You seem somewhat tired though," He said after a moment's hesitation. "Did you stay up again?"

I smile flashed across my face. "Yeah, I was preparing for the exam. I don't have much time left." I looked away – I knew this was one decision none of my family supported. Not even dad did. 

"I see," I could hear his unease as he sighed. "Well, as long as you put in the effort, you can do it with ease." I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but he wasn't particularly good at that.

"I know," I said with a chuckle. "Speaking of, I should get going. I still have plenty of subjects to review." I motioned to walk towards the house, but he stopped me. "How about a spar before that?" He asked with a much more serious tone of voice than the situation demanded.

I hesitated. I honestly didn't feel comfortable – not because I didn't trust him, because I did, but because I felt like I was betraying him, dad, Mother and Aoife. I bit my lower lip, looking for a way out.

"I…"

He cut me off. "Just this once." He said, a bitter smile on his lips.

I sighed. "Fine, but let's not take too long."

Soon, we were at our training hall. Mother wasn't home and neither was Aoife. They had left for her overseas tournament. There was no doubt in my mind that Aoife would win, yet not being able to go with them saddened me. 

My thoughts began to drift, but the sound of a sword sliding out its sheathe quickly pulled me back to the present. 

"Well?" Uncle asked with a grin. I grabbed my own sword from its rack and readied myself. So far, I hadn't defeated him once. I knew this was going to be a loss as well, but that wasn't going to stop it from giving it my all. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to him. And to Mother, who taught me so much.

His posture was as relaxed as always. He was standing tall. His long hair blowing in the wind, he looked like he came out of some movie. I pushed the few loose stands of my short hair aside, then slowly approached him. I was keeping my body closer to the ground, ready to dodge at a moment's notice.

He was the first to make a move. He thrust his sword, aiming for my neck. My eyes wide, I easily dodged it – why was he so slow? I countered his strike with a simple, yet dangerous upward slash. He moved out of the way, then grinned. 

Was he trying to trick me? Was he moving slowly on purpose?

As our blades continued to clash, I became more certain. He really was slow, and I didn't believe it was intentional for even a second. Was he sick? 

"What's wrong?" I said finally as I stepped back. "You're slow."

He hesitated, then grinned. "Nah, I think you got faster though."

I shook my head, somewhat annoyed and mostly worried. "Stop that – I'm no faster or stronger than I was last time we sparred. Something's off with you. What happened?"

He hesitated, then sighed. "Nothing. I'm just tired. Too much travelling, too many hours lost going from one place to the next." He chuckled. "I thought I could hide it from you, but I guess not."

"Well, you're not a good liar." I said, laughing. "But if you're tired, you should be resting. Not challenging people to matches." I sheathed my sword, despite his disappointed expression. "Go to sleep, uncle. We can have a match another time."

That evening, he left on urgent business. 

The next week, I passed my exams with flying colours and moved in with Mrs. Carrie.

We never got the chance to have another match.

The memory soon shattered, yet my sorrow remained. I wish I hadn't stopped that match. 

I wished I didn't leave home at all. Perhaps then, I would have led a different, more normal life.

If I could, I'd be showing a bitter smile just about now. Not a single piece of my life could be considered normal. Even if I had stayed home, I wouldn't be normal. But perhaps I'd be with those I love.

With those who wouldn't betray me.

Those, who wouldn't smile as they thrust a sword into my heart.

As Alina's face came to my mind, I felt wrath well up inside of me. She had killed me. Pushed me into that trap and murdered me in cold blood. As revenge for Samantha's death. A death that I wasn't responsible for.

Wrath turned into sorrow. How had I fallen for such an obvious trap? Looking back, Joshua and Alina had been acting weird for a long time. I should have known. I should have seen this coming. I shouldn't have fallen into their trap.

I remained in the empty, cold darkness. Surrounded with nothingness, my consciousness floated in the void.

How long would this last? Was I going to relive every single moment of my life? Every single memory?

I didn't want that. There was no reason to prolong death.

I had died, after all.

This was the end of my story.

As my memories continued to dissolve, I let it happen. I stopped holding on to them, allowing them to fade into nothingness. Who was I to defy death, right?

Yet, for some reason, they refused to disappear. They lingered right at the edge of my consciousness.

I felt something. Something dragging me. Was I going to hell? Or was this something else?

I didn't get the chance to think for long. I felt something – a mild pain, almost like something stung me. As my consciousness got dragged closer to wherever my destination was, I felt the pain get stronger. With each passing moment, it grew more painful.

If I had a mouth, I'd scream.

The pain was mind shattering now. I couldn't think of anything more. It was my whole being.

Then, it stopped. 

I saw, for the first time in a while. A single word, in pale blue text.

DEATH

Ah. So, I was back at the moment of my death. 

As my vision blurred and darkened, I noticed the text shift into something else.

It was a countdown. Slowly counting from a hundred. My vision faded, then returned to me. I could hear Alina and the Divine speak, but I could make out the words. Their voices were too low. They spoke for a while, then their voices faded. I saw a flash of light – had the Divine teleported them away?

The sword was still stuck in my chest. I could see it. Why hadn't consciousness faded yet? Was that what the countdown was all about?

As the countdown reached ten, the cold that I felt before, in the void, returned. It penetrated my chest, dulling the pain of the sword.

I guess, I thought to myself, this is it.

9…8…7… 

I heard a faint voice. A man's voice. 

"I made it just in time." 

Uncle…? I thought to myself. Then again, delusions at the brink of death weren't too unusual, were they?

"Let's see…" A hand covered my eyes. Despite my closed eyelids, I could see the soft light shining from his palm. I felt his magic fill my body, moments before the countdown reached 0. The pain slowly disappeared. Was this the end?

A faint heartbeat surprised me. And so did the shallow breath I took.