I am facing the one who had disappeared for so many years.
Its smell is still the same.
But he is completely different.
Emilia: It's you!!
You have changed a lot...
Merlin...
Merlin: You have changed a lot, Emília.
Such words accompanied by a beautiful smile.
That smile…
It's still the same.
Emília: I […] eh! But how?
Although I recognized his voice, smile and features a little, he was no longer the same Merlin I knew.
Her hair color used to be natural black, so why is it white as snow?
And the eyes? They are completely red!
He also appears to be more mature than me...
How did he get like this?
Emilia: But [...] how did you [...] what happened to you? The last time I heard about you was years ago, your parents said that you disappeared the same night that [...] Well, you know.
Merlin: Well, now you will have the answer.
He sits on a brick of that ruin that we were close to and told.
Merlin: I ran away from home so as not to put anyone at risk, so when they found out I had a family, the monsters would go after them.
Emilia: the monsters? Why would they go after your family?
Merlin: understand something, Emilia.
He looked at the sky and continued.
Merlin: in order for you to become a professional hunter, you will need to give up a lot. Family, friends, lovers...
I blushed when I heard "lovers".
Merlin: everything to keep them safe.
Emilia: but why? Can't I have both? Can't I follow my dream and be a good daughter at the same time?!
He tightens his mask and smashes it.
Merlin: you don't understand! If I could, I would have done the same […] the only way for you to be a good daughter and to be a hunter is to renounce all kinship ties, to keep everyone safe from a future war.
Emília: but […]
He drops a mask and she falls to the floor.
Merlin: the truth is that "they" are vindictive monsters. If you kill one, 8 are born, these 8, if they recognize you, you will be hunted, when they find out who your family is, at the first opportunity they find a way to invade the fortress city and hunt down your family.
Emilia: this is-
Merlin: terrible? No no no […] I haven't even gotten to the worst part yet.
He looks at the floor and closes his hand in anger.
Merlin: if your family is kidnapped, they will not kill you, your family will be tortured in the worst possible way.
My eyes go wide.
Merlin: example of cases that have already been confirmed during some of my missions: strangulation; incinerations; torture and…
He turns his face and looks at me, but not in my eyes.
Merlin: they humiliate you in terrible ways. As you become a sex maid, you will be lucky if you end up being a private sex maid of just one creature, usually everyone's maid. And depending on the species, the girl may die even before giving birth to the creature. This is done with women. Now men are even worse cases. Example: they make them eat food without stopping, until they explode or die before that; they cut off the toes and hands and removed the penis and gave the rest of the body to the newborns to eat; "The fork of heretics"; they put huge spears in their anus and made them stick in their mouths.
His gaze changes, he was instantly saddened, but continued.
Merlin: a method of torture applied to both men and women who murdered members of their species, has an even worse punishment.
A tear runs down his face as he speaks.
Merlin: they apply all these methods that I mentioned, however, when you are about to die, they apply the best possible cure to you, put you through torture two more times, three more, four more, five more and so on! [...]
He takes a deep breath.
Merlinhah [...] they need to pay for everything they did to us, all species, without missing one.
He finishes.
Merlin: These and many other means of torture that I prefer not to mention so as not to make you vomit on that poor floor.
Emília: this is terrible […]
Merlin: I never said that a hunter's life is beautiful.
Emilia: But why didn't you say anything to me […] at that time?
Merlin: Because I knew you would want to come along.
Emilia: well, that is not entirely true! […] Do you know how worried I was? Did you know that I blamed myself for months because of your disappearance?
Merlin: I know that and I regret it. But I did all of this to protect you and my and your family.
Emilia: so why aren't you trying to stop me now?
He smiles again.
Merlin: why is this your dream!
After a dark conversation like that, his smile made me happy. We talked for a few more hours that cold night.
Merlin: Well, well, well! I hope you're ready for tomorrow.
Emilia: prepared for what?
Merlin: Didn't I tell you? From tomorrow you will have to pass my test.
Emilia: aaaaahhhrrr nooo!!! […]
One more test... How many more will I have to do?
I had nowhere to sleep, so sleeping in a large field nearby, I took a sheet almost my size and used it to wrap myself.
The next morning I woke up early for the next test, when I got up I looked to the side and saw a big black box. I take it and realize that it is not in the key, look at the box again and see a note stuck in it, in the letter it was written: "to: Emília." I take it and, I open the suitcase, inside it had two Katanas 'The Imperial ones' embedded in their black sheaths with golden details, the hand guard had a shape that resembled a lotus flower, the handle was normal, what stood out was a red loop on each cable.
Emilia: uuaaaaahh!! they are beautiful!
I spent about ten minutes in a row just hugging my swords.
I stop enjoying my swords. I look around and realize that those three were already gone.
I put the swords back in the scabbard and wrapped them around my waist with a cloth belt and left the box lying on the floor. And finally I go looking for those three.
After a few minutes walking through the forest, I finally found them near a huge waterfall.
Merlin: Hey, you came! I thought you would never arrive. hahaha!
Emilia: How did you think I should have started looking for them?
Merlin: Well, you came. Anyway, I don't know if they have already performed, but these are Eleanore and Stephen.
Eleanore: Good morning, matriarch hen.
Stephen: Did you sleep well, miss?
Now I can see your appearances much better. "My savior" was a tall, thin man, his hair is very short and his color is light brown. As for the "short girl", she is a girl, short, pale and thin, with big eyes and black hair with purple-colored tips, she does not look like a child, despite having a youthful appearance.
Emilia: good morning! […] Yes, thanks for the concern! [...] And what is the test?
Merlin: You will have to open the waterfall.
Emilia: ah! Yes right!
I pull one of my short swords and look at the waterfall.
Although…
Emilia: hey! What did you say?
With a smile on his face, Stephen takes the lead in reply.
Stephen: open the waterfall!
Emilia: what?! How do you open the waterfall??? Who do you think I am, huh?! HOW WILL I DO THIS?!
Stephen: With the sword, miss.
Eleanore: It's obvious.
Emilia: But that is impossible!!
Eleanore crosses her arms and says:
Eleanore: it will be impossible if you believe it is impossible.
She was looking into the back of my eyes when she said that, she unfolds her arms and walks away, she left and sat on a rock near the place.
Emilia: eh? […]
After she said those words, I encouraged myself and started tirelessly swinging one of the swords I won.
Unfortunately, nothing worked. The more I tried, the more my desire to be a hunter disappeared.
However, whenever I remembered that girl's words and the way she looked at me...
I think she believes in my potential as much as I do. So, I won't give up, even if for that I spend months just swinging my sword against the wind in hopes of cutting this damn waterfall.
And I meant it.
Two years have passed since then.
Many things have happened in the meantime.
About 3 days after I started my training at the waterfall, Eleanore invited me to come to my home. Halfway there and said the rest was up to me.
I wrote a letter to my Mother. In the letter it said: "Good morning, dear mother. I know you must be worried, but I am fine. But I can no longer live being suffocated within the walls, I need to be free. This is not a goodbye. With love, Emilia ". I used the open window of my room, went in and left the letter on my pillow and left.
This is certainly not goodbye, I intend to go back. And I will return carrying the head of the main monster behind these wars in my hands.
Another unusual event happened shortly afterwards.
Weeks after I said goodbye to my mother, Merlin also had to say goodbye, as he was called to missions in southern Japan and never came back.
His fellow hunters also knew nothing about when he was going to return. But if he shows up, I'll punch him, I'm sure of that.
The only ones left were Eleanore and Stephen, I made a strong bond with them. By the way, me and Eleanore are now great friends! I think you can even consider that we are better-!!!
SPLASH!
a bucket full of water falls on my head, soaking me up and waking me up.
Eleanore: Wake up, matriarch hen.
Emilia: AAAHH!!! Blé! Blé! [...] I dreamed that I was taking a shower!
Stephen: did not dream wrong. ehehe! [...]
My daily routine was to hunt some animals that lived inside the forest. Yes, I basically became a nomad.
How did I get used? Well, it was so long ago that I got used to eating animal meat without having a good preparation before I got used to it. I just remember that my stomach took weeks to get used to the food. From Monday to Friday I train hand-to-hand combat with Eleanore, and on Saturdays and Sundays I go to the waterfall to cut it.
Or at least try to cut it.
In those two years my hair grew a lot, it was always scattered and messy, but I refused to cut it before the waterfall.
I also learned a lot, for example: techniques for battles. The calm technique, the calmer you remain during the battle, the more chances you have of making the enemy tired without even touching him.
The lull technique if done successfully, his blows became heavier. The more concentrated you are, the stronger the impact of the blow will be.
But, it will depend on the user and I am probably not good at relaxing, maybe the only time this should happen is when I am sleeping.
How do I relax?
Later, I went to the waterfall for another failed attempt to cut that damn failed world tap project!
I swung the sword against the direction of the waterfall about 200 times and nothing.
My arm was already completely sore. It felt like my arm could fall at any moment.
I collapse on my knees on the floor and face the blue sky.
Until, after several and several unsuccessful attempts, she came back to me.
That same magical entity with a tiny size.
That Fairy from before, who actually appeared once and then disappeared for so long. What brings her here?
Emilia: you again! Who are you? […]
Itu: I am Itu, itu Sternbrand, the fairy princess and, I came here to help you, Emilia.
Emilia: Why do you want to help me?
Itu: Itu realized that you want to become a hunter, don't you?
Emilia: Yes [...] But that's my problem and not yours, now get out, we are enemies after all.
Itu: wait! […] Itu knows it can be useful […] Itu feels that! Let Itu help Emilia.
Emilia: um […] Okay, do your magic, monster.
Itu: Itu likes Emília, because Emilia's naivete charms Itu and that is why Itu wants to help Emília reach her goals.
Emilia: what-?
At that time, I was definitely not understanding at all what she meant.
A magical glow passes over me. At that moment I could feel a brief itch on my pink cheeks.
Something changed?
I don't really know, but I need to see it to believe it.
For some illogical reason, I felt stronger
Then I turned towards the waterfall, pulled the second sword in its sheath and swung the two swords hard towards the waterfall.
And as if by magic, the waterfall broke, I shared the waterfall, made the impossible possible.
My feet were shaking and, in the distance, Stephen and Eleanore were running happily towards me.
Emília: Me- No, we did it!
Itu: No, Emilia. You did it, that's all Emilia wanted.
The fairy again disappears from nowhere as it appeared.
I don't know if I'll see her again, but I wish "he" was here to see me...
Far away from the forest, overlooking the waterfall, above the mountains was Merlin. Watching the waterfall split in half.
A sincere smile grows on his face.
To be continued...