This story is part of the Wanderer series.
The two of them slipped away from the great hall and out into fresh air. Outside, however, there were still several ambassadors meandering around, talking to each other as they held their golden wine cups. So the girls retreated even further, up a zig-zagging set of marble stairs along the mountain that led to the temple.
Nozomi noticed several tall trees up at the top, and pointed to one of them. “Hey, you wanna climb that?”
Rin looked around, a little unsure. “… Here? Is this sacred ground?”
“No one will notice if we do it fast enough,” she assured with a hushed voice as she moved forward. “Race you to the top!”
There was not a person Rin could see, so she quickly worked up the courage to follow her friend.
Up at the top, they rested on a contorted branch which jutted straight out from the trunk, then bent fifty degrees upwards, forming almost a perfect bench for them to sit together. There was a small gap in the leaves that allowed them to look out over the city, past it towards the forest, towards the sea, and towards the adjacent mountain, which accompanied the setting sun.
“Wow, what a perfect view,” Rin remarked as she settled in. “What a perfect place to get away to after a big party.”
“Yeah.”
Rin dropped her smile and glanced at her friend with the corner of her eyes. Nozomi wore an unusually mild smile, making her appear much more mature. Rin silently contemplated for several moments before dipping her head towards her companion.
“Hey, are you alright?”
Nozomi turned her gaze, returning her a meek smile. “Hm? Yeah, sure. That was fun.”
Rin eyed her carefully as she further dipped her head into her shoulders, not even attempting to hide her doubt. “It didn’t look like you were having fun.”
Seeing this, Nozomi perked up on her shoulders, grabbing the trunk even tighter. “I did!” she retorted. “It’s just… not the same kind of fun, you know.”
Rin didn’t know. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… There were a lot of friendly faces, but…” She struggled to come up with the right words. “Everyone was so serious, you know? Asking all these questions we didn’t know.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Rin agreed. “They’re all politicians, after all. And this conference is big for them.”
“Yeah… I guess so…” Nozomi echoed, even quieter.
The wind picked up, brushing the leaves above their heads. The two girls rested, allowing the breeze to cool them. Rin moved to lay flat on her back against the bent branch, hands resting on her chest, closing her eyes for the moment. Nozomi swung her dangled legs back and forth, still staring at the sunset. It was a while before they spoke again.
“Hey, Rin?”
“Hm?”
“We’ve traveled to so many places, met many people, lived many happy experiences. Yet, when I return here, I can’t help but feel hollow once more.”
Rin tilted her head up. “Hm? Here?”
“No, not exactly here, but…”
“Oh. You mean your homeland?”
Some silence.
“No, it’s never quite felt that way. No matter how much I’ve tried.” Nozomi dropped her chin a little. Rin looked out to the rolling mountains of great oaks.
“Could never quite get over it, huh?”
The wind died down.
“I don’t blame you. It took several years for me to get used to it as well. Of course… I was a young child. I guess it’s harder for you.”
Nozomi laughed a little. “We’re not that old, ya know?”
“I knowww…” She drew out her tone, almost complaining. “But still old enough to remember everything so clearly. It’s easier to adapt when there’s not much to remember.”
“To remember, huh..?” Nozomi repeated, voice trailing off.
“Ah… Sorry, I misspoke.”
“No, it’s fine.” Nozomi drew her hands between her knees and let her elbows slack. “It’s the truth, no matter how you look at it.”
She reminisced a little longer. From a young age, she knew she was special. A child of boundless energy, confined to the floating world in which she was not to leave. She had been told countless stories of those who wielded powers just like hers, and then reminded she had the potential to become something much greater than them all.
“Sen… no, Chiyoko. I wonder where she is now?”
Rin let out a sound of hesitation upon these words, looking up to reaffirm her state of mind. Seeing her calm expression, Rin settled back down.
“Who knows? Hopefully in a better place.”
“I hope so too.”
The wind picked up again, brushing the leaves once more. Nozomi’s growing, vibrant hair waved in front of her face, licking the breeze. Rin closed her eyes again and took a deep breath, taking in the summer air. Across the hills, the sun crept closer to the mountains, engulfing the sky with a fiery orange.
“Hey, Rin?”
“Mm? What is it?”
“Can I ask you something?”
She opened her eyes, gazing with curiosity. Her friend was still staring at the sunset. “Of course.”
“Why do you think people die?”
The wind softened to a whisper. Rin hesitated once more. The two of them did not speak for some time.
Finally, Nozomi smiled with embarrassment, her eyes falling down. “Well, I guess that was a pretty stupid question.” Clasping her hands together, she gently wrestled them back and forth on her lap.
Rin observed her, contemplating how to respond. “Even I don’t know how to answer that,” she finally admitted.
Nozomi broke her gloom and glanced at Rin in surprise.
“They say there’s an afterlife. But I think they’re folklore and fairytales.”
Nozomi giggled a little. “Really, I didn’t expect you to take me seriously.”
Rin breathed a smile, rolling her head towards the mountains. “On a whim, perhaps.”
Nozomi gazed out beyond the leaves, becoming somber once more. “It’s just odd… Why is it that, in a world blessed by this wondrous life, there comes a time when you have to leave it all?”
Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath.
“For what reason… does such a system exist?”
Silence.
“A system, huh? I’ve never thought of it that way.”
“Eh?” Nozomi uttered, turning her head.
“Would that mean there’s a systematic way the world takes away life?”
Nozomi’s eyes widened, gazing down. “That would be horrible.”
“Yeah, I hope that isn’t the way it works.” Rin narrowed her eyes. “All those wars… Justified by such a foolish structure.”
Nozomi sighed, swinging her legs more vigorously. “Life is really too easy to destroy. Even now, from this height, if I were to jump off, I would probably die.”
Rin sat up and gripped Nozomi by the arm. “Hey, hey… Don’t do anything rash, now.”
“I’m not planning to do it!” Retorting, Nozomi ripped her arm out of her grip. Upon seeing Rin’s dead-serious face, she calmed down. “It’s… too early for me to leave.”
Rin sighed, straightening up to sit next to her. “Jeez, don’t worry me like that.”
Dipping her arm, Nozomi smiled placidly. “You’ve always been an overprotective sister.”
“It can’t be helped. I never had any siblings to fret about.” With a bashful smile, she glanced up at her friend. “So please bear with me.”
“All the more reason to protect it all, huh?”
“Ah,” she agreed, watching the sun dip past the mountains, towards the sea. “Tomorrow, we’ll board the ship and head for the summit. For everyone’s sake, we must not fail.”
Nozomi grinned. “Everyone. I wonder what they look like now.”