Merry-Go-Round Second Draft: Chapter Two

Chapter Two – The Most Important Thing

As Sieural entered his house, he found his three friends waiting for him. Upon Sieural’s arrival, they all yelled, “Surprise!!!”

“Ohh… Hi.”

“We all decided to set up a surprise birthday party for you.” Oaklyn said, smiling.

“Before you can say anything… Yes, we know. You don’t care about birthdays. But we thought it’d be fun for everyone to celebrate together.” Deshael commented, before Sieural could respond.

“Wow, Deshael. You actually sound kind of… reasonable.” Oaklyn said.

“Umm, I baked a cake for the occasion…” Soriana said, blushing.

“You did? I didn’t know you could cook!” Deshael exclaimed.

“I taught her.” Oaklyn replied, smiling.

“You… You can cook?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?! Deshael?”

“Well, you just didn’t seem like the person who could cook… I’m afraid to eat this cake now.” Deshael grinned, evoking a punch from the red-haired girl.

As Deshael and Oaklyn attacked each other, Sieural commented, “I’m looking forward to eating your cake.”

“Thanks… I don’t know if it’s good or not.” Soriana replied, still blushing.

“Does it really matter?”

“There you go with that damned apathy of yours again!” Oaklyn exclaimed, still fighting with Deshael.

Soriana giggled, while Sieural sighed, and said, “Whatever, let’s just eat the cake. I’m wondering what it’ll taste like.”

Oaklyn was beginning to cut the cake, when Deshael, with his usual grin, remarked, “Probably not very good.”

“I’m holding the knife now. Shut up before I throw it at you.”

“Okay, okay. I’m done.” Deshael laughed.

“Oh, wow. It’s pretty good!” Deshael exclaimed. “What do you think, Sieural?”

“It’s good.”

“Thanks…” Soriana replied, smiling.

“I told you it’ll be fine!” Oaklyn said, returning her smile.

By the time Sieural and Soriana had finished one slice of the cake, the other two had eaten their third.

After the cake had been finished, Deshael groaned, and said, “Oh… I ate way too much…”

Sieural then stood up, and said, “Well, I need to go buy some things from the market. Feel free to stay here and… recuperate…”

“I think I’ll head home. Homework to do.” Oaklyn replied.

“Same here.” Deshael commented, standing up.

“I also need to go to the market… can I go with you, Sieural?” Soriana asked.

“That’s fine. It would be nice to have someone to talk to.”

“Okay then, see you all tomorrow.” Oaklyn said, smiling as she left the house, followed closely by Deshael.

“Let me just clean this stuff up. You don’t need to wait…” Sieural said, cleaning up the table.

“Oh, it’s okay. I’ll help.”

“Thanks.” Sieural said, as Soriana also stood up to help with cleaning up.

“I was wondering… why don’t you like your birthday? I heard from Deshael…”

“No real reason. I just don’t think it’s more important as any other day. Living isn’t that much of an accomplishment.”

“Oh…” Soriana fell silent, unable to find a response to Sieural’s comment.

“Okay, I’m done. Let’s go.” Sieural said, breaking the silence.

Sieural walked outside, and turned toward the city’s market. “You coming, Soriana?”

“Oh, yeah…” Soriana said, holding one hand in her skirt pocket.

As they walked in silence in the waning sunlight, Sieural once again stopped by the cherry blossom tree.

Soriana stood behind him, and said, “This tree is beautiful during the evening, isn’t it.”

“Yeah. For some reason, I admire this tree… as stupid as it sounds.”

“It’s not stupid… I know how you feel… If I remember correctly, this cherry blossom is the only tree of its kind in the empire, right?”

“Yeah. The only one on this continent.”

“Then, wouldn’t you think that every day this tree lives is an accomplishment? I… think so.”

“I’d assume the life of something important, like the symbol of our city and empire, would be an accomplishment. But for somebody unimportant, like me… it’s not.”

“Unimportant? You’re not unimportant… You’re important to many people… Deshael, Oaky… me… Besides, you should know what an accomplishment life is… better than any of us.”

“Maybe you’re right. But, it doesn’t feel that way to me.” Sieural said as he stood up and continued toward the market.

“I see…”

“Yeah, I’m stubborn. Sorry.”

“No… it’s good that you stand up for your ideas… but anyway… I hope you enjoy the rest of your birthday.” Soriana replied, holding out a small wrapped package she had taken from her pocket.

“A birthday present?”

“I know you don’t like your birthday… and with everything that’s happened on your birthday… I could understand. But, I wanted to give you something good to remember for once…”

“I see…” Sieural said, as he took the present. “May I open it now?”

“Go ahead.”

Sieural opened the box slowly to find a blue bracelet with what seemed to be a sapphire engraved into it.

“Is this a real sapphire?”

“…” Silently, Soriana nodded.

“I can’t take something this valuable… Why would you give me something like this?”

“… I… It’s worth it…”

“Huh?”

“After everything… It’s worth it…” Soriana replied, with a shaky voice.

“…” Sieural could not respond.

“You always say that it doesn’t bother you, that it’s in the past… But… I could never imagine it… It must be so hard…”

Sieural simply sighed.

“You lost… everyone you loved… at the same time… How can you say it doesn’t bother you?” Soriana continued, on the verge of tears.

“It doesn’t… because I have the present to look at. And the future. I may have lost my whole family in that fire, but now, I have you, Oaklyn, and Deshael.”

Soriana broke out into tears, and embraced Sieural. After a Soriana had calmed down, Sieural said, “Now let’s go. The market might close if we’re too late.”

“Okay…” Soriana replied, teary-eyed.

The two went their separate ways as they returned home. As he walked back, he took the small pink-wrapped box that he had picked up earlier out of his pocket.

“This isn’t from Soriana, then… Who could have given this to me?” He asked himself, walking into his house.

He opened the small present, and inside, wrapped in pink paper was another bracelet.

“Another bracelet?”

This bracelet was made of a material that was light and almost see-through. It seemed to trap the fading evening light, and glow with a soft radiance that seemed to fill the room.

“Well… it’s nice, that’s for sure.”

Still not knowing who the present came from, he went to sleep.

Sieural awoke once more to the light of the early morning. He awoke with his two new bracelets on his right arm. Getting out of bed, he grabbed his book bag and training sword. He walked slowly down the stairs, and into the kitchen. Grabbing an apple, he walked through the front door and into the sunlight.

The moment he left his house, Oaklyn tackled him, and exclaimed, “She gave you the bracelet!!!”

“Huh?”

“The bracelet! The bracelet!” Oaklyn continued to yell, as she grabbed Sieural’s arm.

“Yeah…”

“Who gave you the other one?” Oaklyn asked.

“I don’t know. I found it on my doorstep yesterday morning.”

“Mystery sender, hm?”

“I suppose so. It was wrapped in pink-,”

Suddenly, from behind Sieural, Deshael said “Pink?!”

“Yeah.”

“Alexis is back?!!!” Deshael exclaimed.

“Hmm, Alexis… why didn’t I think of that?” Oaklyn asked herself.

“Actually, I didn’t see her in person. I found it on my doorstep.” Sieural replied.

“Who cares?! The only person who would wrap a present in pink is Alexis!” Deshael continued to scream.

“Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?”

“Who else would give you a bracelet?”

“… Good point. But… didn’t she take a trip out of the city?”

“She was supposed to return at around this time…” Oaklyn commented, “I can’t wait to see her.”

“I know, right? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Deshael mirrored Oaklyn’s enthusiasm.

“I still say you’re jumping to conclusions.”

“Shut up, you!” Oaklyn exclaimed.

“Yeah! Stop being so pessimistic. Anyway… let me see the bracelet.” Deshael continued.

“Which one?”

“Does it really matter?” Deshael grinned as he pulled both the bracelets off Sieural’s wrist in one movement.

“What the?!” Sieural exclaimed, chasing after Deshael.

“I just want to see them, stop chasing me!” Deshael yelled back as he ran off with Sieural’s bracelets.

“You really want to die, don’t you.” Sieural yelled back, suddenly increasing his speed.

Quickly passing by Soriana, Sieural and Deshael continued running, until, finally, Sieural grabbed Deshael by the arm, and pulled him to the grass beside the path.

“Give me the bracelets.”

Without a word, Deshael pulled his sword off his back, swung at Sieural, and rolled to his feet.

“You still owe me for yesterday.” Deshael grinned, rushing at his friend.

Without even drawing his sword, Sieural moved out of the way, grabbed Deshael’s shoulder, and tripped him. As Deshael fell forward, he collided with one of the passersby,

“Aaaaah!!!” The little girl yelled, as Deshael fell into her.

Sieural, who did not notice the girl until now, ran to Deshael, snatched his two bracelets back, and pushed him off of the girl.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Deshael, standing up, replied, “Yeah, I’m—,”

Sieural interrupted, “Shut up, I don’t care about you.”

The girl replied, “I’m fine…”

“Sorry about that. I didn’t notice you there… If anything you can blame it on the idiot over there.” Sieural replied, pointing to Deshael.

“WHAT?!!!” Deshael yelled, rushing at Sieural again.

Suddenly, the girl exalcimed, “Koellis?!”

Deshael stopped his charge, and replied, “Wha?”

“Oh… I’m sorry. I… thought you were someone else… my brother.”

“Come to think of it, Deshael, you and her look alike.” Sieural commented, noting the pair’s similar hair and eye color.

“I guess. And you are?” Deshael asked the girl.

“Yukishi…”

“Ah… nice to meet you. What grade are you in?”

The school that the group attended included students of grades 1 though 14. Deshael, Sieural, Oaklyn, and Soriana were a part of the final year, the 14th grade,

“13^th.” Yukishi replied quietly.

“13th?!” Deshael exclaimed, then continued with, “Sorry…”

Yukishi could have passed as Deshael’s younger sister, easily. She looked to be at least 4 years younger than Deshael himself, however, was less than a year younger.

“Deshael!!” Oaklyn, who was standing alongside Soriana, yelled. “I didn’t know you had a younger sister!”

Sieural immediately started laughing, as Deshael frowned and Yukishi blushed.

After replaying the whole spectacle to Soriana and Oaklyn, the two began laughing.

“Sorry, Yukishi. I… well… I didn’t know you were in the 13th grade.”

“It’s okay.” Yukishi replied quietly and still blushing, following the group toward the school.

“I still wonder if Alexis is back…” Oaklyn sighed.

“Ehh?! Alexis is back?” Soriana exclaimed in surprise.

“We’re just guessing.” Sieural replied. “I got a pink-wrapped present… and them two are assuming that it’s Alexis.”

“I hope she’s back. I can’t wait to see her.” Soriana commented.

“If she were to show herself… She’d probably try to surprise us…” Deshael laughed.

As the group walked past the school gates, a voice yelled from behind them, “SIEURAL!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!”

Immediately, they knew who was behind them.

“Alexis!” Oaklyn exclaimed, turning around.

“Hey, guys!!” Alexis said, with a huge smile. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Where did you go, again?” Deshael inquired.

“I took a trip to Elleani.”

“Elleani? Ooooh, how was it there?” Oaklyn continued with enthusiasm.

“Well… besides being the capital and all… it wasn’t very interesting. It was just… big. Really big.”

“Why’d you go there in the first place? You never told us.” Deshael and Oaklyn continued to ask.

“Personal business… I actually got back yesterday.”

“Oh! Alexis… Did you give me a bracelet last night?” Sieural asked, showing his wrist to Alexis.

“Yep! I did say happy birthday, right?”

“Yeah. You did. Really loudly.” Sieural smiled.

“Just to make sure you heard.” Alexis grinned back.

“Umm… guys?” Soriana then interrupted. “Class… is about to start.”

As if on cue, the school bell rung, and immediately, the group ran to their classes. As they ran, Alexis called out, “Okay, guys, I’ll see you all after class!”

Alexis had graduated from the academy one year earlier than the others, and turned around, back through the school gates and onto the dirt path in front of it.

Flames… Huge, sunset-tinted flames engulfed the now empty lot of charred wood and earth. Remains of a house could be seen within the searing flames, and as the heat continued to grow, the flames began spreading. All around, red-hot flames as far as the eye could see… Not even the horizon was visible over the fire.

“Fire…” Sieural said, quietly.

Luckily for him, nobody in the class noticed. As Sieural sat up in his seat, his teacher continued to lecture about random historical topics.

Before long, the class ended and as Sieural walked toward the practice field, he recalled his dream quietly.

“Yo!” Deshael called out, hitting Sieural lightly on the back.

“Oh, hey.” Sieural replied absentmindedly, as he continued to think about his recent dream.

“What are you thinking about?” Oaklyn asked, approaching the two from behind.

“My dream… I saw my house burning down.”

“Oh. That’s… a little depressing.” Oaklyn replied, concerned.

“Wait, but you weren’t there to see it, right? Would you be able to dream it if you never saw it?” Deshael commented.

“I don’t know.”

“Oh… then it can only mean one thing!” Oaklyn continued, enthusiastically.

“And what’s that?” Sieural asked.

“It’s a predicting dream! Whatever you see will happen in the near future… Just kidding.”

“That was nowhere NEAR funny.” Deshael sighed.

“Sorry.” Oaklyn shrugged.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It can’t happen anyway, right?” Sieural smiled, as the three, who then met up with Soriana, walked out to the field.

The battle practice session ended quickly, and Sieural, Oaklyn, Soriana, Deshael, and Yukishi walked towards their respective houses.

As they walked on the dusty path, Soriana asked, “I wonder where Alexis is right now.”

Deshael laughed. “Knowing her, she’s probably waiting for Sieural inside his house.”

Soriana giggled, as Oaklyn replied, “You’re probably right! I’m willing to bet that she’s actually in there… right now.”

“Umm… Alexis is that girl with pink hair we met in the morning, right?” Yukishi asked, meekly.

“Ah, yeah. She used to attend the school we do, but she graduated just recently.” Sieural replied.

“Yup. She took a trip to Elleani, the empire’s capital. She just got back to Kerieal yesterday.” Oaklyn continued, smiling.

“Oh…” Yukishi replied.

“Come on… come on… let’s go see her!” Deshael continued to yell, as he began running toward Sieural’s house, followed closely by Oaklyn.

But, before long, as they turned the corner, they stopped suddenly.

Oaklyn’s voice wavered, as she said, “Sieural… I SO didn’t mean it.”

“What?”

“I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it, I really didn’t mean it.”

“… Huh?” Sieural, perplexed, asked, as he walked toward the two.

Immediately, he realized what Oaklyn was talking about. As he rounded the corner of the road, he saw his house.

Or, more accurately, what was left of his house.