Ophelia'S Destiny Line
CHAPTER O6: LONG-AWAITED BRIDE

It feels good to have a home for me to live in. After a day of repair for Asael and me, or clearing the garden in the back, we decided to relax for a while.

I was making lunch, with the ingredients we had bought at the market this morning. It's nothing special, because in my world I don't really make food for myself, I just make something I've seen before, like cooking rice and pumpkin soup.

"That's soup like last night?" Suddenly Asael came and stood behind me. I could clearly feel her warm bursts of breath bursting at my nape. It makes me ticklish until my hair gets goosebumps!

"Not... Yeah, literally it's like soup last night, the difference is pumpkin soup!" I said as I poured a few drops of soup into my palm and thrust it at Asael.

He brought his face closer, and licked my hand for a bit, "It's delicious, I've never tasted this good cooking."

I was happy to hear it and wanted to continue cooking. However, instantly I heard the sound of footsteps and the sound of horses outside.

"Horse?"

"That's my horse. He can go and go home as he pleases" Asael explained.

"Oh..so..."

I let Asael out to see his horse. He really makes me nervous, I wouldn't be able to be around him if he kept doing that.

After lunch together, we will go out again to the place of Mr. Brutus, as the name suggests. I was getting ready with Asael's new clothes.

When I got out of the house, I saw the man talking to his horse!

"You talk to your horse?" I asked him to come and the big horse in front of me. Like other living things and plants that are larger in size than they are in my world.

"All creatures can speak, meet Philips, my horse."

I nodded for a moment as Asael introduced his beautiful white horse.

"I see your hand after 20 years" said my horse, staring at Asael.

"Let's go" Asael held onto my waist and lifted me up on his horse. From above, it feels so high. We left the house.

On the way, Asael didn't say much. He just said that Mr. Brutus was the elder in the village, he was the one who gave advice and other things.

After a long journey, we walked on a bridge made of rocks. Up ahead was a large house, seemingly filled with people who had arrived. It was as if all the villagers were present there as well.

Our arrival made many pairs of eyes welcome us. Asael helped me to get down even though I was always in his arms, and we were both led to a large hall decorated with trinkets.

"Wahh! It was the bride of master Eleazar!"

"The bride is coming!"

The kids followed us from behind. They seem very happy for our presence, or my presence?

I turned my head as Asael stopped his big move. In front of us at this time, there was a large stone on which was a golden cloth as a seat. On top of him was an oula, an old-looking man sitting on the end of a cloth.

Suddenly Asael dropped me on the rock, "Sit down." I sat in front of the man with Asael.

At that instant, the villagers sat themselves on the terrace of the hall, as if waiting for what would happen next.

"After more than 20 years of war, betrayal and teaching. Eleazar finally brought you into the peace he had created. There will be no more darkness in the light, no more pain in happiness. Your presence is a kindness to Eleazar" he said, making me smile unconsciously.

Then, the man took both my hands and Eleazar's hands, and put them together, "From tonight, there will be a pair bound in love. The great power that our forefathers passed down to love, cherish, and protect one another. Tonight, that bond will bind you in one immortal soul."

And instantly, the golden cloth beneath me shone. A red thread wrapped around my hand and Asael's. Then, the light disappeared, leaving behind a red thread that bound our two hands.

"HOREYYY!"

"JAYYYYY!"

"YESY!"

Everyone was cheering, whistling and clapping their hands. Then, the red thread was removed and wrapped around my left hand.

After that, we sat on a rock together. Many of the people came to feed us, or sprinkled a handful of flower petals. Many prayed to us, many thanked me for being the bride of Asael.

The night is a sign for everyone to rest. Asahel and I were sent home by Mr. Elmer flying through the sky in the form of a crow.

"Asahel?" Call me still to see Mr. Elmer up there.

"Why?"

"You guys... What..? You can turn into animals, and really how many people in the village who are human in the form of animals have body parts. You know that guy at the store this morning? He's got rabbit ears!"

Asahel sped up the speed of the horse when he was about to get home, "We're not human, you know."

"E-eh... No, huh...?"

"We are beasts. Our blood is passed down from our ancestors, they provide strength and survival ability from generation to generation. However, the current generation does not fully possess the blood of our ancestors. Therefore, some of them have to leave their beast body parts when they become humans, for example the man in the shop who had rabbit ears" explained Asael.

"Oh! That's so... Then why don't you, Mr Elmer, and the village elders leave your beast body parts?" Manya make sure.

"Elmer and them are the second generation of ancestors, whereas I am the first generation of ancestors from the remaining ones" he said.

"That is... You're the only one from the current first generation of ancestors?" I was surprised while looking back.

Asael nodded and I asked again, "But, what happened?"

"My generation doesn't trust the presence of the handle. They married each other, producing pure offspring that were considered special. They take pride in it, until they begin to break down and die simultaneously because of the energy split within them."

"Oh... That's so..."

"I almost died that night, but somehow, my heart moved to call you."

I looked at Asael, he also looked at me into those two white-eyed beads. But, I immediately turned my eyes to see the house that was getting closer.

"We're home."