Hikaru Sakurai
~1541, December. Salzburg~
...What was the time of the year?
...It didn't really matter.
"That's quite a difficult question."
He was certain "that thing" felt nothing in the slightest by the fact that the words spoken through such cold lips were of a sarcastic response. Naturally, Von Hohenheim understood everything. For that reason, that is why he was facing against them. Calmly. Composing.
It can even be said that this was the perfect place for a comedy.
From the start, it was fate as the city he resided was Salzburg. The City of Salt. Hohenheim himself had said it many times in his books that salt had great significance in magic. Never would he have imagined that he would meet it at night in a cathedral in the City of Salt.
With the great Outer God.
With the great Sneerer.
"I don't believe it's that difficult."
"No. It is a difficult question."
"That thing" spoke, placing their fingers on their temple.
"That thing" had fingers made of iron.
"That thing" also had a face made of iron.
"You saying that I am 'Death'? Hm."
Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
The sound of a clock echoes throughout "that thing's" body.
"That thing" made the sound went silent for a while. Eventually, it opened its lips and speaks to him.
"So what if you humans knew of death? Will you be able to overcome that fear?"
"Of course."
Hohenhiem shrugged his shoulders.
"That is a difficult question to you, Time King."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~190X, X month. Lone Subway Car~
...When exactly did this occur?
...It didn't really matter.
"Hmm..."
Suddenly, a strange voice leaks out.
Was it from a dream she recalled from the previous night?
In a panic, she pretended that it was nothing and coughed twice to cover it up. It was cheating. Lily focused at the task at hand. She was in the lone subway car, or rather, she was in a dimly lit "back" area where the floor crisscrossed with the machine assembling itself to look like a kitchen. She didn't really like the dimness whenever she changed her clothes. Right now, it was a little brighter.
"..."
She continued to shake the covered bowl. Bubble, bubble.
"Guess it's a little strong."
"Yes," Bub, bubble. "Quite expensive."
"It's going well. Just at least until the dough forms into a ball."
She wasn't quite confident that she could completely cheat it, but that was alright.
Lily the Stranger knew that a certain degree of openness was needed to go out with him.
She glanced at the man standing beside her.
The tall man. The Conductor.
She didn't like how he would automatically glance up whenever she tried to see his face or eyes. She didn't like it as it seemed like he assumed she was being flirtatious, but he didn't quite realize why exactly she disliked it.
"By the way."
It's here!
There was a hint of something in his words. It was something like that of concern, caution or something of the sort. But even though she understood it as his duty as her Knight, she was always reproached by it. Sometimes, she didn't like it.
"I'm wondering if something had happened, Lily."
"Hmm. Well, all I need is just the fabric."
"Lily."
"If I can learn how to make this, I'll be able to do this on my own and feed it to A as well."
"...."
He went silent.
Yes, it works! Lily was convinced.
"I hope it tastes good♪"
"...Yes. Indeed, it will."
"Ah, well, what I'm giving you is a sample I gave to Mao. Okay?"
"No. Thank you."
(Yes)
The cheat was complete. Yes.
Lily clenched a fist tightly by her chest. Certainly, she felt she had managed to deviate from the topic. She nodded and thought to herself, "let's just forget about it" and moves on to the next work phase. Adding a little bit of salt and oil, then she uses a rolling pin to roll out the dough until it forms a lump. She had seen A did it yesterday, and so she remembers most of the steps. She puts the rolled out dough onto the mold and, as they said, fit perfectly onto the mold...
"That's right. I gotta lay it carefully."
"Ah."
"Hmm," His bright eyes were peering into her.
"No. I'm just trying to recall it myself. It's fine. Yes, it's alright."
"Sorry."
"Mm."
"So you can remember it on your own."
"It's something to go crazy about. I'm just a normal girl."
"No."
"Don't dislike it."
As she was about to point a fork at him, she thought, "oh, maybe I am acting a little rude". After a few glances at the man, she pokes a few holes in the dough with the fork. They were air holes. She didn't quite understand the principle behind it, but it seems the dough would rise too much when being baked if this wasn't done?
"I'm a girl as well. That's why I want to make quiche like this, and I'm certain I can do it."
"Yes."
"Though sometimes I forget."
A smile was naturally formed. She wonders about the person who gave birth to her had smiled at the person she loved.
"...I won't forget something important like that. It's alright."
...Hey, A.
...I can't quite say it, but I think of it.
...I think it was last night.
...I had a dream, I believe.
...Did you dream walk in it too?
...Did you go somewhere in the dream?
...I saw someone there.
...A girl shedding tears.
...The whole time, she was crying. The person she loved disappeared.
...Hey, A.
...My Conductor.
...If you were to disappear.
...Would I...
...Would I cry as well?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~XXXX, somewhere in the white light~
Oh fragile and ephemeral thing.
Oh ugly and weak thing.
For us, it took but a mere blink of an eye to become aware of your existence. But for you, it must have been very long. I understand.
Yes. First of all.
We must first define that of existence.
What is existence?
It has nothing to do with consciousness.
It has nothing to do with life.
Namely, it is the endless darkness that constantly fluctuates as my Lord says. My Lord's love is a brightness that constantly rewrites each parallel, continuous universe. As if they are following the Black King's footsteps, they are destroying them one by one. Naturally, space and time are meaningless to us.
Now.
What then, Lily the Stranger.
A person's tears had been shed.
What will be next for you?
Is it true that you still exist even now?
If that is the case, what will you define yourself as? What are you?
What will you think, or rather, believe of him as? Suppose by some chance he were to achieve Paradigm into the Black Prince, that the same is true for the descendants of my Lord Sanido. Is that the person whom you have in mind? That which has already been lost?
Is it even possible to truly "go back"?
Or maybe.
Or maybe.
Perhaps even for yourself as you are now. If it is something that exists at the end of your thoughts...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~1541, December. Salzburg~
...Beyond time.
...Beyond space, the conversation continues.
It could be said that leaving the window open was the right decision.
The starry sky in Salzburg was beautiful. Thus, Hohenheim spoke while staring at the starry sky through the window behind him rather than at the mechanical face of the "thing" sitting deeply on a chair behind him awaiting his response.
Quietly. Silently.
He carves his one resolution in his heart.
"If."
"Ho. If?"
"That thing" rearranges their long legs with a nod.
They were something more arrogant than a king. They were something more arrogant than a god.
"That thing" was indeed a white man. They were arrogant, and at the same time, they were an arrogant god.
"If people were to know what death is and never fear it, then they will never have their time to live stolen from them."
Bravely, he spoke one word at a time.
For the sake of those who came after him.
"Is this for someone?"
"Indeed."
"Have you said this to someone?"
"...Of course."
Silently...
Hohenheim raises a hand. A mysterious distortion of space followed by a faint luminescent phenomena that would later be called Cracking Light hundreds of years later is the reason why he was called the Great Paracelsus.
This was because he adored the illusions that once existed in the world, and it is for that reason that he became the last magician who cut and shattered them with the sword of discovery and redefinition. As his hand shines in a pale blue and white light, that which illuminated the people with the stars in a time they were without light and had not the blessing of fire, he thought not of his past life, not of the purgatory of steel, not of the end of the cursed light...but to the countless tomorrows where the descendants of people other than himself will live and grow. Of a future world where people will speak of love. What if such a thing existed?
"Hm. Interesting."
"That thing's" mechanical face makes a smile.
"Given the right methods and theory, it is certainly somewhat possible. Even you small people can tug on the threads of causality. I see. The idea behind it is to reproduce it into a mathematical formula."
It was not a smile. "That thing's" face was fake.
Wordlessly, "that thing" told him to give it a try. That is if he can really do it. That is why he chose this place to die.
"Even I might be able to banish you, Time King."
He was overflowing with light.
He was filled with light.
However, it didn't go through.
"Unfortunately, everything but the idea itself is incomplete. Nonetheless, this is interesting. That is why such genius is fortunate."
"Silence."
Hohenheim, who was even called the Alchemy King, was unable to truly master what would later be called the Phenomena Equation.
The first step is the conversion of matter. Ultimately, it was impossible for his human brain functions to process the enormous calculation of equations required to transform the world, to rewrite the world, and tamper with time. Thus, this was why Hohenheim's end was here. With the cathedral completely burned down, with his whole body shattered to pieces by the sneering "thing" with not even a single particle left behind.
However.
From the destroyed cathedral rose a light that went into the starry sky.
Indeed, there it was.
A "beacon" that signified rebellion...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~1907, December. Underground World~
"This is a promise, Lily."
This was an incident in the Underground World.
This was in Brooklyn. By now, everyone has forgotten about it.
Inbetween memories.
Inbetween thoughts.
"My curse will prevent you from remembering me and Brooklyn. Sometimes, it may even affect your memories."
The owner of the voice announced in a hoarse voice. It was the sound of scraping metal.
It was a man who released that voice. Calling himself the Knight of Brooklyn, half of his face was turned into metal. By his looks alone, he resembled the "White Man" who was the King of Violet Shadow. No, his appearance was a little more abnormal compared to the white man. Half of his face was metal. Half of his body was metal. A Metal that was not Human. A Human that was not Metal.
"Lily."
He went on.
With his eyes reflecting the image of the green witch.
With his eyes peering at the shadowy knight standing beside her.
"Indeed, you will suffer. The curse will torment you despite you saying you will never forget this."
He extends a hand. Was it the right hand? Or was it the left hand? No one remembers it. What happened in Brooklyn, that which everyone had forgotten, is now lost and uncertain. Not even those in the past. It will not be remembered.
"Thus, I will offer you a piece of magic as compensation. Take the poem that I have found in a corner of the Underground World, and reach for the End of the Violet Shadow that you desire. And."
And.
And what?
"This is Paracelsus's last blessing to you. For as long as you wish, or as long as the sky above isn't blue, your journey will continue."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~190X, X month. Lone Subway Car~
...And.
...This was the "present" moment for me.
"It's done!"
I did it.
I did it!
I did it!
She held up a giant plate with piping hot quiche on it. She had on a large smile. In retrospect, the only difficult part was putting the dough in the oven and waiting for it to bake for 15 minutes, then 20 minutes of adding ingredients and finally getting them to bake. Once it was over, she didn't think of it as particularly difficult. She remembered the steps very well and didn't make any mistakes that could have looked like failures. That was it. She was able to mix the eggs, milk, cheese, and fresh cream properly without having to whip them. She was able to cut the mushrooms and bacon into pieces that were about the same size. Even the kitchen knife from her hand wasn't dropped. She places the bacon and mushrooms onto the baked dough, then poured the mixed eggs, milk and other contents, and bakes it again.
"It's ready to be eaten☆"
Lily smiles at the man beside her.
She raises the plate over her head with both hands.
She was in a good mood!
Besides that, she recalled the dream from yesterday and made a strange voice. But somehow it went unnoticed, so there was no problem.
"Yes. No problem, at all."
"It's all good. It's alright. It worked out for me as well. See this, A! It smells so good!"
"I haven't even tasted it yet."
"Ah."
Speaking of which.
"Now that you bring it up, you're right."
"Also, don't hold it up so high like that. If you drop it, all of your hard work will be for nothing."
"Fuoh..."
She was so happy that she forgot she was holding it like that.
Perhaps she was a little too excited. Lily could only look down as her hands held up the plate. It was embarrassing. She was having fun like a kid..."
Her cheeks were warm. Perhaps she was blushing.
"Are you this happy?
"...Yes."
"That's good, no?"
"...Yes."
"Still, you're having a bit too much fun here."
"...Yes."
A sorry slips from her lips.
Since when she started to feel embarrassed about it?
She felt like crying. Her feet felt unsteady. Was she shaking?
"...I'll put it on the table for now."
"Please do."
The plate was taken from her raised hands.
Lily stared down with her hands raised.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Is it good?"
"Ish delifious."
"Don't talk with your mouth full."
"..."
A lot of things seemed to have gone wrong. Lily was secretly upset with him even as he wiped away her ketchep-covered face with a pure white handkerchief.
To start with, it was natural for her to be unable to compete with A due to the latter being able to pull anything out. It was because of that he'd give her something so even if she wanted to give something back in return, she'd have to let him provide her with the ingredients. For instance, his only favorite food or beverage was carbonated water, but she couldn't go to a store and buy it. She didn't even have money to go to the store and buy it. So she simply let's him take it out as always.
That's why he was so sneaky.
Suddenly, she turned her face away.
"You're in a bad mood."
"..."
"You've been like this for a while now."
"..."
"Even though you just had fun."
"..."
"Is something the matter, Lily?"
"..."
She turned her head away and said nothing.
No, she didn't want to say it.
Even though it felt like it was cheating, it wasn't like anything bad happened to her this time. She was just upset she couldn't do and didn't want to "say anything" about it.
"..."
She glances at him from the side.
His red eyes were staring at her.
They didn't change. Those eyes never change.
Even when Lily was angry or excited, he would continue to stare at her like this. He said he does this to protect her, but even though there were no longer Messengers around, she wonders why he was staring at her like this.
Was it because Lily was going to Dream Walk soon?
Was it because Hypno's Evil Eye came to see her?
Or maybe, it was...
"Hey, A."
"What is it?"
"A isn't upset with me, are you?"
"Not really."
"No. Of course, you wouldn't. I didn't go there while I was upset."
She knew what it was like to be angry.
Lily had experienced that in the Violet Underground World.
So she knows.
Even if A were to say something harsh to her, she knows that it wasn't because she was angry. She knows it. He occasionally would know that it's just a little girl that got a little upset. So he wasn't angry.
"Would you be upset if I said something wrong?"
...Wait.
...Why did you bring that up?
"You are allowed to do anything, Lily."
"Lie."
"It's true."
"...I don't like it. I don't want to say it."
...That's right, Lily.
...Don't say a word of it.
"But I want to hear it."
...Lie. Lie. Lie.
...I don't want you to hear it.
"You know. I had a dream last night."
...No.
...No, why did you say that?
She couldn't stop. Her lips. Her tongue. She couldn't stop herself from talking.
All because he wanted to know.
All because she thought of it.
And so Lily spoke of it.
About the dream.
Even now, she thought about the dream.
A "scary" thing she wished to erase from her mind...
"A dream?"
"Yes, correct. It was a girl's dream. Well, it was a cute girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had the same height as me."
"You're more beautiful, Lily."
"Knock it off with that."
"Sorry."
"Yeah. You see, the girl was crying. She was crying for a long time because the person she loved disappeared."
"That's a sad dream."
"It is."
"Did you walk in that dream?"
"I don't know. It's hard to say. I wish that wasn't the case. I would like to think of the girl not crying."
"But do you feel that way?"
"Yes."
"So you did dream walk into it?"
"I don't know if it was in the past or present, but..."
"But what?"
"I just know of that child's tears."
...I said it.
...I just said it.
She didn't mean to say it. Naturally, she looks down again not because she was embarrassed but because she didn't want to look him in the eye. She didn't want to see him right now.
He understands the words and its meaning.
Surely, he should be able to answer the question.
That it be. That it should.
"Please don't disappear."
"Yes."
"You..."
...No.
...Don't say it, Lily."
"...If you..."
...Don't!
"...My..."
Her words were ceased mid-sentence. She felt his fingers touch her cheek through his gloves, and a moment later, she felt her chin tilt slightly.
Right before her.
His bright eyes.
No, she tried to say. But the words couldn't come.
Her voice and words were sealed disappear within sealed lips. And in their place, there were teardrops.
Then, there was another.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
...And then.
...I went to dream.
...On that night.
...After eating the delicious quiche.
...After he hugged me.
...After looking into his bright eyes.
...After tasting the tears on my lips.
...Once again, I wandered into someone's dream.
...As I made a wish.
...I thought of it and wished in the dream.
...Strongly. Fiercely.
...What if?
...The whole sky were blue?
...For me, and that child too...
(End)
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