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The sun quietly setted on Vimara Village, as the only sound to be heard was those of laughters in the distance. It was one of the young lovers, or so would have they been called by the elders if someone actually saw them hanging out. But even if they always met in a secret place -if the biggest tree above the village was actually a discret spot- and never hung out in public, it was as clear as day to everyone in town without exception that Atossa and the young man in weird clothes were in love with each other.
It was written on the smiles on their faces, on his looks towards the tree when he helped the fishermen, on Atossa's constant daydreaming lately and more importantly, on her blushing when she was caught trying to speak with Rana about some private affairs. And so, everyday, they reunited at dusk.
For Atossa, it was the best time of the day, a pleasant chatting after a long day in pleasant company. She didn't mind only seeing her friend like this. In fact, it was even more romantic that way, bathed in the last warm lights of day while all the world around them was quiet.
For Caribert, it was another reason that made him always insert himself in Atossa's memories at that time. It was indeed the prettiest time to be alone, after Atossa would finish her work. But he couldn't let her be endangered if she was alone at night. Some monsters and wild animals lurked around the village, after all.
Because he wasn't real.
Their time together was merely an illusion. And he ought her to at least keep her safe while he was creating false memories inside her head. That's why he tensed after feeling a weight on his shoulder. The khaenria'hn boy didn't know it was possible to fall asleep in a memory, but he learned new things everyday since becoming a part of Vimara's daily life. And especially since he met Atossa. For someone who hadn't have the right to live, he could only figure out what it meant based on his childhood memories. He knew how it felt to not wanting to do his homeworks. What it meant to come home and be greated by his mother's arms. To play outside and imitate the grown ups. To feel sad and alone without a parent to comfort him ever again, and to be out of place. Maybe that's why he choose Vimara. It was near the place where he died those centuries ago, such a small town but so full of life. He could relate to the orphans, but he also found a second chance to discover so many new things with his adult-like mind. That's when he saw her.
She was kind, cheerful, but he felt something deeper. Something he understood way too well. The feeling to not belong anywhere, the loneliness inside of her…Even at eight, he felt the same way. He had a family at that time, or it would be more correct to say he had a mother. His father…"He is very busy at work in the higher city, so he can't live with us. But he loves you very much." Now, he wondered if every adult lied like this to children, or if his parents were specialists in the matter. But he didn't mind. For him, it showed how much he was once loved, and that they did everything they could to protect him. Other people weren't so kind to him or his mother. It was only now that he understood that people ostracized them because his father was a nobleman, and he was the product of an affair with a mere commoner. His family had always been incomplete, and he never felt completely welcomed in his own land. So surely he could empathises with an orphan girl trying to find her place in the village.
Caribert listened to her, comforted her. And something wonderful happened after a while.
He wasn't just pretending to imitate other people to feel like he was experiencing something. No, this time… With Atossa, he truly felt like he was discovering new feelings. He never knew what love was like. His parents were not together enough -and not in from of him- for him to actually have an idea on the subject. He didn't have anyone to teach him that always thinking about the same girl, smiling everytime her face came across his mind and feeling a warm sensation in the projection of his stomach was what love meant. She was his favourite person in the village, the one he was always eager to spend time with. Everything was so simple with her. They laughed like children, they talked for hours while he made sure that no time was actually passing by, and he felt happiness like never before everytime she turned around to spot him beside their hideout.
With Atossa, Caribert felt alive.
He almost forgot he wasn't.
Almost.
It wasn't right. He was only the remaining consciousness of a foreign child who died centuries ago. He wasn't a real part of the Vimara's population, only some nuisance bothering their memories. Surely the dendro archon wouldn't be too happy about it if they found out. He let out a sigh at the sight of Atossa resting against him, a smile on her face. Of course, he knew she was in love with him. And it made him feel so guilty. She shouldn't love someone like him. But it wasn't her fault, wasn't it? He was the one making her suffer. If all Khaenria'hns were sinners, then…He was worthy of this title, too. Very soon, the Loom of Fate would be completed, and his existence would fade entierely. It was time for him to start to disappear from this place, so people could return to their normal life like he didn't exist.
Because that was the case.
Oh, how much he wanted to stay like this with Atossa, allowing himself to rest with her, to see the starry sky together. To let her speak the confession she looked like she would told him anytime now, and to reciprocate her feelings. But he couldn't do that to her.
In another life, they could have lived together here. He would have picked up from work every evening, and they would go to the tree hand in hand together, talking about their day. And when it would have been time, they would have head up together to their place to have a nice dinner. His parents couldn't live together, so he would have loved to share a home with Atossa. If only tragic love stories didn't run in the family.
If only it was another life.
If only it was a life he was part of, to begin with.
Reluctantly, he poked Atossa's shoulder to wake her up. She looked a bit frustrated for a second, before realizing what was happening and jump like a bunny to part from him while a flood of excuses escaped from her mouth. Caribert's smile lightly at her, but didn't have the heart to carry on for today. It was so clear she wanted to stay with him and watch the sunset together for once, but he pretended to be oblivious and invented an excuse to go home. It wasn't that hard, because she was so embarassed to have fallen asleep on him she gladly took the chance to hide away and scream in her pillow. He made sure she went home safely, like she should be. He didn't have the right to be happy to be loved, nor had he the right to fall in love. But it would be alright soon, when the anomaly finally disappears from this world's memory and heads home to rest.
Wouldn't it?