The War Of Gemstone: Owl & Flower
Blue Eyed Girl

Without a doubt Archie continued down the forest path, without resting. As the moon was right at the peak of its glory, Archie faintly heard the chirping of an owl that made him curious and approached him. The longer the chirp gets louder and closer. I don't know why her curiosity overcame her fear. In his mind he was not sure what he would encounter, whether it was bad or hope, or nothing. His mind went everywhere, but his steps were only one way. And that was when Archie stopped his steps, he saw the figure of a beautiful blue-eyed girl who had spent time with him, sitting on a tree branch looking at the moon. Archie was sculpted, fascinated with his face, his mind became muddled.

“Anna? You it? Thank goodness you're alive. I heard something bad happen to you. Are you and your parents okay?” His face depicts unbearable happiness and longing.

The girl was silent when she saw Archie and heard him say, then she said, “Maybe I look similar in your eyes, but I am not the figure you have known all along.”

“Oh, forgive me.” Archie's happy face slowly disappeared and came back as before full of sadness. “It looks like you're a figure who was told a lot when I was a kid. There's one I want to ask. Please, can you bring to life the dead with your power? I heard you could grant anything.”

“There is no magic that can turn on a dead person and I have no right to life and death after all.”

“I know,” He slumped his shoulders in disappointment, “I did find it difficult to let go of him. I always reject reality. And right, you're not a figure I know. And yet you have the same beautiful blue eyes as her. So, please let me make it that way. Let me remember you as the girl I love,” pinta Archie by forcing herself to smile.

The girl noticed Archie's fake smile, and then she saw a White Owl sitting on a tree branch filling the darkness of the night with a white light emanating in its fine feathers. “Tak can.”

“Why?”

“You will hurt yourself and those around you.”

“Tak what. After all, those who love me are only for their own benefit. Utilizing my status for pride and false honor.”

“Alright,” replied the girl.

“You sure?”

The girl did not answer, looking back at the moon, she considered her business with Archie was done. Silence and awkwardness were felt by Archie for a few minutes, he was confused also curious what the girl was thinking.

“Can I ask? What are you doing?” archie began a new conversation.

“Graddling the moon,” answered the girl briefly without even turning a single glance at Archie.

Archie was increasingly confused, the short answer immediately cut off the conversation. Closing all variables to read. This awkward feeling really made him die. After all, Archie saw the girl was cold and had no interest in having a conversation. While thinking hard, Archie glanced at the robe the girl was wearing, he saw the opportunity to open a new conversation, “Why are you wearing the robe?”

“I like it.”

Again a short answer. His speaking skills as a noble were now in vain. Archie was not resistant to people who were stiff and cold to him. If you always behave like that, then the relationship between someone will not last long.

The rustling sound from behind the darkness shocked the upset Archie. The figure of the village girl appeared while wiping her wet hair with a cloth, “Tenak only, its nature is like that,” said the girl who made Archie astonished.

“Who are you?”

“Greetings, my name is Rynn and the girl sitting there, Faye,” said the girl named Rynn with a smile that adorned the night.

Rynn took Archie who was still processing everything to a house in the middle of the forest illuminated by a number of candle lanterns in the corner of the house. Archie was confused and astonished. When observing the house, Archie's eyes were fixed on the vines with beautiful white flowers adorning the fence of the house.

“Ohh, this Moon Flower. Quite rarely do I see someone decorate his house with this plant,” said Archie.

“You know?” Faye appeared suddenly next to Archie who made the man's heart jump.

Archie tried to catch his breath. “Of course, herbology is one of the lessons that must be mastered for every noble family. Although beautiful, this Moon Flower is one type of flower that only blooms at night, therefore this flower is not suitable for home decoration. Moreover, this flower has a strong enough poison content, harmful to humans and animals,” he said.

“Hey, what are you doing? Come on in,” shouted Rynn from inside the house who invited Archie and Faye inside.

Archie put his lanterns in the yard. He then followed Rynn into the house and arrived at a room with 5 doors that had different symbol carvings while the robed girl turned and walked towards the trees. “Because you have decided to stay here and he allows you, then you are free to choose your own room. After all these rooms are empty,” said Rynn excitedly.

“Wait a minute, may I ask for an explanation first.”

“Did you see Rue, the White Owl?”

“I think I saw one in place earlier.” His words are not too sure.

“The White Ghost Brackets chose you. A person who is elected means that he is recognized and free to do anything in this forest, including living here. You remember scary stories where a lot of people go missing and forget memories. They were people who were not allowed by the White Owl so he rejected them by giving various punishments.”

“Simply she looks cold.” Archie folded his hands. “It turns out the girl is quite cruel.”

“Don't say it like that! He did it to protect what was precious to him. When I first met her, even though she didn't show any expression, I could feel she was just a lonely girl.”

“And when did you first meet her?”

“I've forgotten how long.” The girl scratched her head. “Kurasa when the village experienced drought due to war.”

Archie's eyes widened. “Drought? You mean the Synthetic War? Wasn't that 28 years ago? Hey, how old are you now?”

“If it's been that long, it means I'm now 47 years old, hehe.”

“47 years? But you look like a 19-year-old girl in general. If your life is very long, it means that the girl may be much older and she is always alone here for that long, bearing her own burden.” Archie lowered his voice a little. She recalled herself a moment ago when someone reached out for her but she instead rejected him and acted strong-handed. “Then what else?”

The girl replied, “Nothing. That's all he told me.”

Rynn also invited Archie to sit in the front room with a table and chairs and a fireplace. The man leaned his sword against the edge of the table. Rynn returns from the kitchen, preparing a chamomile tea to host Archie. As they chatted and familiarized themselves, Archie also sipped tea. The warmth of the tea and the fragrant aroma of the chamomile content made his restless and wondering heart calm down, as if he were meditating.

Many questions popped up in his mind, however, Archie was curious about the one thing that plagued his mind back then. What's so valuable to that girl to do all this? Archie actually knows that he should not interfere in other people's affairs, but his heart continues to fight him which makes him unsettled. Perhaps this was how Meredith felt when sincerely offering her help.

Archie then pushed his chair and stood up, he stepped his foot towards the door, but when he was in the doorway, he told Rynn, “You can I choose one of the rooms? In that case, the room with wing carving, please be prepared.” Archie walked through the forest. While looking around he still did not expect to be in the forest that people feared. Still in his place, Faye looked at the moon while stroking the head of the White Owl she had seen some time ago.

Archie climbs a tree by reaching for a twig as his handle, then he lifts his body and sits beside the girl on a branch that is thick and strong enough to support the two of them. While the girl did not turn her head or disturbed by the presence of Archie.

“Sorry, before I called you Anna, I thought it was a little nasty, thought of you as another girl. Next time I won't do it,” he said lamenting his actions.

“What's wrong,” reply Faye. The silence lasted for a moment, before the girl broke it. “Why are you still here? I told you I can't raise the dead, right?”

“Ah, no. While here, when I saw you, I don't know why I was slowly starting to let Anna,”. “I've heard from Rynn although not much. So you've been through a lot alone all this time. Perhaps, I can help you and ease your burden a little. Is it okay to add one more friend?”

When he said it, Archie looked more relieved and free, free from the pain and burden that tormented him. His encounter with Faye and the story behind it made Archie gradually start to let Anna go and now he has chosen his new life.

“You don't want to go back?”

Archie shook his head. “I think I'm tired of noble life. There's nothing in there that makes me feel like coming back.”

The moon slowly left its position, the hand that stroked the head of the White Owl slowly stopped. Although the girl did not turn her head in the least, she still heard it and it made her a little surprised. Then the girl said in a soft and slow but clear voice, “Alright.” The girl answered. “I won't force you.”