The New World: Memories of a Forgotten Age (Pt 6)

“… How are you handling it?” I finally said, referencing the elephant in the room that had been present ever since we left his house. I was standing next to Rin, on a small bridge overlooking a vast stream in the middle of the forest.

“I did what I had to do. I can take solace in that.” Rin replied, gripping the rails a little tighter.

“… I still think there has to be something we can do to invalidate the contract. Tear it in two, subvert it…” I said, quietly.

“I’ve been thinking about that for the past couple of days, Naema. The only way we’d be able to subvert it is making anything we do to the Myrian’s look like an accident. The thing is, Myria’s a goddess. We can’t know if what we’re doing will slip past her.”

“There has to be some kind of way.”

“If there is, I’ll let you know.” Rin said, giving a disgruntled look. “Can we talk about something else?”

“… Illaena gave me a book.” I said, quietly.

Rin raised his eyebrows. “A book, huh? How?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Figures.”

“Anyway, this book… It appears to be memories etched in paper. A vivid dreamlike world that’s basically someone’s recollections. And… The book is of before—well… Before the Gods burst into the world.”

“… There’s history books on it. This is news how?”

“… It’s different experiencing it for yourself, that’s for sure.”

Rin simply raised his eyebrows at me with a sideward glance, before snorting, and leaning over, looking down at the rapids down below.

“The forests always seemed so peaceful, you know...” He said, quietly. The wind rolled through the trees, the leaves creating a symphony of noise. Rin looked upwards, almost wistfully, his nose wrinkling ever so slightly.

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat as I thought back. My fingers tensed a little as I felt a deep pain in my heart. Tears begun to well up in my eyes as I let out a shaky breath.

“...Naema?” Rin glanced towards me, tilting his head ever so slightly. “Are you okay?”
My legs felt a little weak and I found myself leaning to the side, beginning to fall. Rin caught me.

“Whoa, whoa, easy, easy girl...” He said quietly, the sound of surprise in his voice as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

Tears streamed down my cheek as I gripped Rin’s shirt gently, leaning into him with shaky breaths. “I don’t... I... What’s come over me...” I said, my tails twitching behind me as my ears flattened.

Rin gripped me tightly, pulling me in. “It’s okay... Alright?” he rubbed my back a little, sounding unsure of himself.

‘... You are a being of nature, Naema. This is only natural.’ Illaena said to me.

I gripped Rin’s shirt tighter. “What the hell do you mean, this is only natural?!” I shouted.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn’t say anything!” Rin protested, stumbling back a little in surprise.

“N-Not you, it was h-her...”

“--... Oh...”

‘... I’m sorry, Naema. I’m truly, truly sorry.’

“Just... Just –shut up-, for god’s sake!” I said, my voice breaking as I caught myself before letting out any more tears. I breathed heavily, shaking.

Rin was quiet. He seemed to sway a little, his breath hot on my neck.

I pulled away from him, wiping my cheek and turning away.

“...” Rin hung his head a little. “I know it’s tough, Naema. Everything that’s happened to us... Everything that’s going to... But... You’re not in this alone.”

“Don’t you think I freaking know that?!” I said, my muscles tensing as I clenched my fists. “I have a voice inside my head—no, not even that, a freaking CONCIOUSNESS! Rattling around inside my head, being all preachy and bitchy and sassy—do you have any freaking idea what that’s like? 24/7? Knowing someone’s watching you? Never sure if they’re watching or if they’re gonna comment on something you’re doing?”

“Naema, I...”

“Look, just... ... Just don’t, okay? Please... I don’t need another voice ragging on at me...” I felt pathetic as I said that, lowering myself to my knees and hugging around them, breathing shakily.

Rin’s footsteps inched nearer. The crystal clarity of those motions filled my ears, making me freeze in place for a moment. And then... Rin was sitting next to me. He didn’t say anything.

I turned around a little, my legs dangling over the rapids below. Rin moved to be next to me, his hands gripping the bars leading up to the rails as he rested his head against them, his eyes closed.

“... I’m sorry, Rin.” I said, after a moment passed. “... Everything just came... Flodding in at once, and I...”

“... Don’t speak, Naema. Let’s just enjoy the moment, alright? No hard feelings.” Rin said, slowly. I wasn’t quite sure if he meant that. I glanced down at my feet, my knuckles whitening a little. I felt bad. Was I really so self absorbed? I mean, Rin was going through a lot of crap right now too. It wasn’t right of me to explode like that in front of him. I felt like I needed some perspective right now, more than anything. I leaned forwards, relaxing my fingers, letting my hands fall to my side as tears quietly rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t dare to make a sound—the air around us seemed ever so fragile, as if it could shatter at the sound of a pindrop.

Time passed. I began to shiver a little. No more tears were able to form. There was a stillness in my heart—a lack of emotion? No... it was contentedness.  Not even that—but... An acceptance of the surrounding world. Was this what Rin was trying to do? ... I glanced over at him. He’d leaned back a little, and was staring at the clouds rolling by.

“... Hey, Naema?” he said, unmoving.

“... Y-Yeah?” I replied after a moment, my voice cracking slightly.

“... Yumiko’s totally got a crush on you.”

I blinked, staring at him. I’d barely met the girl he was talking about, but I knew she was in our house. I always felt a little awkward around her and we mostly avoided her. “... You really think so?”

“Totally.” Rin said, with a smirk.

I couldn’t help but grin, a light blush on my cheeks joining the dampened texture.

Rin started to giggle ever so slightly, snorting. I joined him, before it burst into full-on laughter.

It took a while for us to catch our breaths. My heart was pounding heavily. I gripped my chest a little, leaning over, letting out deep breaths. “... Thanks, Rin.” I said, giving him a genuine smile.

He smiled back, nodding, raising up his fist. I stared at it a moment to figure out what he was getting at, before I smirked, raising my fist as well and bumping it against his.
“You go girl. Or is it still guy?” He said, in a jesting manner.

“Girl.” I said, nodding gently. “Sure as hell not used to it, but, at this point, there’s no point in denying it. My mind’s... Slowly beginning to accept it. Best not make it painful on myself.”

“Alright, then. Girl. Does this mean you’re open for dating?” Rin said, with a wide smirk.
My eyes widened as he said that. “S-S-Shut up! I’m still into –girls-, okay?! B-besides, that’s not uncommon...” I folded my arms and gave a sigh, my legs shaking a little.

“Aw, come on, I was only teasing. Still though, I appreciate the notation. I’ll try not to make any moves on you, though, with curves like that...” He said.

“... N-nggh...” My cheeks flushed red in embarrassment as I curled up into a ball.
“You’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

My ears flattened and I let out a little whine. Rin just laughed, and patted my back, sitting up proper. “Come on, let’s go get something. How do you feel about ice cream?” He said.

I nodded, thankful for the change of subject. “Yeah. Ice cream sounds good.” I smiled gently.

We headed to an ice cream parlour, and got two three scoop cones. We then sat down, and licked at them. The day was incredibly hot, and my tailfur was getting fairly sweaty. I grimaced at the sensation.

“Man, if you ever turn into something that can’t self wash—DON’T get fur.” I said, shuddering.

Rin raised his eyebrows. “Oho?”

“Hot weather streaks will be the death of me. My tails feel like they’re on fire. And they’re so damn sweaty.” I wrinkled my nose.

“Oh, yeah, that’s gotta be a pain in the ass.”

“A pain in the tail, more like it.” I smirked. “... I wonder how Janet’s doing.” I frowned a little, as I licked at my ice cream.

“She’s still recovering from the changes. They’re disorientating for most people. Though I’m sure you know that already. The only way around that is direct mental manipulation, and on most grounds, the gods refuse to do such without permission. Any of them caught in it would incur the wrath of the others...” Rin said, with a nod.

“Yeah. I want to check up on her. – We should do that after we finish up here.”
Rin nodded. “Yeah.”

We idly chattered as we finished the ice creams, before standing up and heading out on our way to Janet’s place.

“... Rin... Myria’s appeared before me.” I said, whispering quietly, feeling a sudden compulsion to confide someone in.

Rin froze, glancing at me, a look of worry clear on his face. “... What happened.” He said, sternly.

“... She toyed with me. Nothing more. And she hinted at something in the future, some—some tests... This is all a game to her.”

Rin wrinkled his nose. “... Thank you for letting me know.” He said, darkly. “We should hurry over to Janet’s place.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”