Re: Turning
Dreams

"Eh! Uh!"

Shinnichi pulls the blue crystal from the Wolfsdomon carcass, almost falling over it. It's been on his chest for hundreds of years. He had to cut the flesh around him. And since the crystal was always healing him, it took time and effort to retrieve it.

“Can also,” said. He turned towards the head of Wolfsdamon. Separated from his body. He kicked it, upset. The head rolled a few meters. “B*fucking jerk.”

Shinnichi finally felt a sense of tiredness that began to attack him. He leaned himself against the Dungeon wall, panting. The Wolfsdamon's punch was stronger than it seemed. He believes there are some broken bones.

“Shinnichi,” call Schwarz. Sounds slow. “A-“

“Save that shit for yourself.” Shinnichi. Not too eager for an old dragon to thank him. He smiled weakly. “Consider this as my second payment.”

 “Heh... Hahaha!” Schwarz laughed at it. Didn't expect this young man to be able to use his own words against him. “Good. I received.”

Shinnichi could only nod while muttering, “Good...” He looked at the crystal in his hand. Its brilliant blue color was covered with blood and feathers. Shinnichi raised himself. Almost fell because his legs had no strength.

“Be careful." Schwarz's worried voice was heard again. "You're pushing your body too much.”

“I'm fine. I don't want to force my luck" he said. Shinnichi didn't want to linger there. The last thing he wanted was a monster that came from smelling blood.

With a limp step, he walked back to Schwarz's room. Hope not to meet a monster. Unaware that, the labyrinth became silent a moment ago.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Shinnichi washes Emphiria crystals in the Schwarz indoor pool. Cleans it of the blood and the remains of the Wolfsdamon. Slowly the bright blue color returned to shine. Beautiful, as if Shinnichi was holding a piece of blue sky.

“Amazing, right? Just like her color, her kindness was as vast as infinite space.”

Shinnichi wants to ask Schwarz to stop. Hearing an old man say something more appropriate to say to a high school girl is ridiculous. However, in honor of Emphiria, he chose to be silent. Manners are not among the things that are missing from him.

Shinnichi rubbed the crystal. Realizing that his hand was still shaking violently. It seemed that his fear could not just disappear. He stood up and lay on a dusty bed.

“You okay?” ask Schwarz. "Your injuries are pretty bad."

Shinnichi was also conscious. Every inch of his body screamed in pain every time he moved. Talking is painful enough. But, what was even more troublesome was the taste of iron still lingering in his mouth.

“I'm tired," he said sighing. "I think I'll sleep first.” Shinnichi closed his eyes.

“... All right then. Rest, you deserve it."

Shinnichi did not hear Schwarz's words. The drowsiness that came with his sense of exhaustion had already weighed on his consciousness. He had never felt this tired before. In an instant, Shinnichi fell asleep into the dream world.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

I opened my eyes. A strange sight lay before me. I'm standing on the beach. The sound of the waves and the salty smell of the sea water filled my nose. A familiar feeling I hadn't felt in a long time.

“Where is this?” I asked. I don't know who.

Looking here and there, there was no one. There is only a golden seaboard that is continuously kicked by sea waves. There is a high cliff in the distance. Breaking the waves every few moments. I can vaguely hear it.

The cliffs seemed tempting to approach, but my feet said something else. I feel so tired. I decided to stay and sit down. Enjoying the sea breeze blowing lightly through my hair. Tickling my earlobe.

Bizarrely. There are no other living creatures here. A bird or even a crab is nowhere to be seen. After a while, I started to get sleepy.

“Ya, stop.” I shrugged my shoulders and lay on the warm sand. The sun does not shine, so the weather is quite comfortable. Closing my eyes and trying to sleep.

Before I fell asleep, I could feel something, or someone standing next to me. It leaves me covered in their shadows.

“You were so long!” A woman's soprano voice entered my ears. Along with the sand he kicked.

“Bwah! Pfft! Uhuk! Uhuk!” I got up and coughed sand out of my mouth and nose. Not forgetting to also tilt my head to get it out of my ear. I looked towards the culprit. “Oi! You don't have a brain, do you?!”

“Haah!? Ngaca!” The girl snapped back. Kick more sand. “I've been waiting for you there! Why didn't you come?!”

The girl pointed towards the cliff in the distance. Exactly, in the distance.

“I don't want to walk there. You think this is a story where I can get straight to?”

“Basic slackers!”

“Correction, I'm a coward.”

“Which person admits to being a coward?!”

“... You deaf huh?”

“Don't look at me with that look of pity! Muu!”

Puffing his cheeks, he sat beside me. It was obvious that he was angry.

I looked at that woman. From the looks of it, it seemed like the girl was 15 or 16 years old. Wearing a white one piece, she looks like an ordinary girl who is on summer vacation at the beach. But, the one thing that was striking was not her white skin, her cute face or her appearance. But, hair.

Blue and shiny, her hair is made of water. Literally, her hair was completely made of water. It looks like a waterfall, starting from the top of his head and flowing (right, flowing) down to his back. I could even see white froths at the ends of her hair.

“You're Not Human?” I asked. “Your hair is beautiful," my praise is honest.

The girl was silent for a while before looking over with a smile. “You're the second person to say that.”

A girl's emotions are easy to change.

She brushed her hair with a happy expression. Like remembering someone, it might be the first person to say that. “And for your inquiry, yes. I'm not a human being, I'm a Leviathan. My name is Emphiria.”

“Emphiria, nice name." I nodded and introduced myself. "I'm Shinnichi.”

“I already know it.”

“Of course you already know, I just told you.”

“Not it.” He laughed, surprisingly not angry. “But, well maybe you don't know.”

I shook my head. Not understanding his words. He looked back towards the sea. I followed.

The sound of the sea dominates the atmosphere. It was like the status quo of this place. Wherever this is.

Actually, where am I? I don't remember walking here. I also don't remember what happened before I was here. Should I be worried?

“It's a dream, you know.” Emphiria answered. Like reading my mind.

“Oh, so this is not real.” I raised my head. Not thinking too much about how he could read my mind. It's a dream. "Then, you?"

“Oh, I'm real," he replied. His smile had initially turned bitter. "Well, at first. I'm dead.”

“So, you're a ghost?”

“Sort of it. I'm just here to see you.”

“With me?” I pointed at myself. Little confusion.

“But, I didn't do anything.” I was again confused by the words of Emphiria.

“Oh, don't think about it. I thank you. That's all you need to know.”

“So yeah? All right, equally.” I answered just any. Not very understanding, but Emphiria looks happy so I don't think there's any need to think about it.

The beach is quite pleasant. When I was a kid, I loved playing near the beach. Even though I'm afraid of the sea. Somehow someone who lives near the sea is afraid of the sea.

I heard Emphiria humming. Singing a song I don't know. Almost made me forget that he was dead.

“Hey, sorry if this sounds disrespectful, but how does it feel?” I asked. “You know. Death, how does it feel?”

“Hmmm, how to explain it..” Emphiria holding her chin looked hard thinking. “It feels like sleep, I guess? Or maybe fainting? I don't know, you have to feel it yourself to know.”

“Yeah, I hope I haven't experienced it in the near future.”

“Death is not too scary kok.” Emphilia continued. He smiled weakly. He looked at his feet digging in the sand. “But, a little quiet. Remembering the people you left behind, imagining their faces, their feelings after knowing you were gone. That hurts a little.”

“.... So yes.”

I can't say anything meaningful. Comforted her? I can't do that. His death is beyond my control. I don't know him very well, it's disrespectful.

The silence crept back. Emphiria looked towards the sea with a smile. However, his gaze looked distant. Looked and remembered something.

“Hei, Shinnichi.” Emphiria. His voice was slow, almost inaudible. Covered by wind and waves. ”Can I ask for help again”

“Sure.” I answered. Not expecting anything beyond my control.

“Keep with Schwarz, yes. He is lonely and complains. He's haughty, but worried. He likes to talk arrogantly, but he's actually sincere. He wants to look strong, but soft-spirited.” Emphiria smiled at me. I could see a few tears in the corner of her eye. “I wanted to apologize directly to him, but well, you know. Hehe. So, please say yes."

Emphiria tried to joke. But, the tears that started to drip from his chin said something else.

I don't know who Schwarz is. But, rejecting it looks inappropriate. As a formality, I nodded. “Good.”

“Thank you...” Emphiria could still smile between her tears. Thank you to those who know nothing. I feel a little guilty.

Isakan Emphiria sounded for a while before she stopped. He wiped his tears. Trying to calm himself.

“Sorry, I cried instead.”

"What's wrong. I don't mind." I answered without looking at him. Unable. From a long time ago, I didn't know how to respond to a crying girl.

“I think it's time for me.” Emphiria stand. Patting her dress; cleaning it from the sand.

“Oh, so yes.” I also stood up. I cleaned my pants and clothes from the sand. “Er... I hope you rest in peace?”

“Hahaha, you're a little late 200 years. But, thank you.” Emphiria laughed a little. I could only scratch my head, a little awkward about it.

“Thank you again. I owe you.” Emphiria thanked me again. “Although I'm not sure I can repay you or not.”

I decided not to think too much about it. “Not to think about.”

“You're a good person.” Emphiria smiled. “It's nice to meet you, Shinnichi. May we meet again.”

“See you, Emphiria. Ah, naw. See you later I think it's more appropriate. I might need a guide later.”

“Haha, sounds fun. I'm looking forward to that. Then, See you later, Shinnichi.”

Emphiria waved her hand, I replied. He then stretched out his hand and raised his head to the sky. He looks calm. His body began to glow blue, looking like an angel.

 “I'm still waiting for you, Schwarz. Don't worry.”

The sound of Emphiria's whispering had entered my ears. A moment later, an explosion of light. Followed by a large splash of water. Wash me like a water bottle.

I crashed. He flew backwards due to the shock wave. But my body never touched the ground. Dark, I fell into the void. Unable to achieve anything, I closed my eyes.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Shinnichi opened his eyes. Staring at the boring ash ceiling. The cold air pierced his body, making him somewhat shiver. The dust that airs makes breathing a little difficult.

Shinnichi got up from the bed. Holding his slightly throbbing head. Gathering his slightly groggy soul. It was the only sleep he needed. Insomnia is annoying at times like these.

Shinnichi felt his hand holding something. A blue crystal, feeling cold and wet. He felt something familiar from the crystal.

“Emphiria..” Shinnichi muttered the name of the water-haired girl. Remembering the dream he had just had.

 “Schwarz,” call Shinnichi. “You awake?”

“What's up?” Schwarz's annoyed voice rang out in his head. “You only slept for two hours?”

“I met Emphiria.” Shinnichi bluntly.

Schwarz was silent for a while. Surprised to hear that. A little skeptical, though. “.... If this is one of your jokes, I'm not entertained.”

“I'm not lying. A Leviathan girl with water hair, isn't she?”

“-!? How!?”!

“I don't know. He appeared in my dream. Thank me and ask me to forgive you. He's still waiting for you, Schwarz.”

“.... So yeah. Emphiria is still waiting for me..” Schwarz's voice sounded relieved. If he still has physical form, it is certain that he smiles airy. “Emphiria..”.

Schwarz was relieved. Really relieved.  Before Emphiria died, he promised Schwarz that he would wait for her in the Spirit Realm. Won't leave until Schwarz comes. And Schwarz knew the nature of Emphiria, his wife would always keep her promise. I won't break it for anything.

But, Emphiria had already left this world for over 200 years. During that time, a person's soul can be eroded from his consciousness. Turning him into a Perverted Soul, cursed to roam the Spirit Realm forever. So, hearing that Emphiria was still waiting for him gave peace to her heart.

“Shinnichi, thank you. Really, I thank you.”

“Not to think about.” Shinnichi didn't listen to Schwarz. Hearing someone like Schwarz thank him sincerely felt strange.

Wait, sincere?

“So, Emphiria was right. You're actually Tsundere huh?”

“Tsundere?? What does that mean?”

“Strong people who are originally sensitive.”

“A-what?! I'm not sensitive!”

“Oh, Tsundere special dialogue out. He also said that you are easily deserted. So, you're that type, huh?"

“Shut! Emphiria, you betrayed me!”

For some reason, Shinnichi could imagine Emphiria knocking her head while sticking out her tongue. Say “Tee★hee! Pero~!”