Mia went a few more steps closer to it. She straightened up her posture, forgetting all the she had in mind before by simply looking at its sheer splendor. She moved up close for her to touch the glass like partition in the mirror like object that was acting like a between her and the tree. She moved in close and accidentally tripped. She held out her hoping to hold the mirror-like object to get a grip, but instead she was sucked in. She was inside the mirror and was standing face to face with the tree now. It was a tree after . Huge, enormous with trunks that glittered. Its leaves looked kind of succulent. They were more colorful than the rainbow.
"You decided to come indirectly. That is quite brave for a tiny little soul like you" The tree as she was about to touch its trunk. She was startled again though it wasn't for the time she was hearing it speak. The method of communication was the same between them, that of the mer-boy and herself. Though the sound was in her mind, it was loud as thunder.
"So tell me what do you seek? " It asked.
Mia rehearsed a bit in her mind before finally zeroing on her choice of words "O! Great tree of " She addressed it with a bow " as you must well be aware like you are aware of else, that I am with child. My marriage to the father of this child was shrouded in such circumstances that it happened to be a forbidden, rather cursed union. Today I beg on my knees "she fell on the ground as she continued " Please tell me how I can save my and stop the curse we ushered from destroying the world we call home. " She fell to the repeatedly crying as she spoke.
"You do not need to beg me. As you know I offer answers to your questions in return for . I do no one any favors. So don't waste your energy pleading to a tree. " It's a voice with sarcasm.
"I am willing to pay any price for the safety of my child, please tell me " Was her instinctive , forgetting completely about the part where Lin and the others had asked her to with the tree. She was standing in front of it not as Mia but as a mother driven by . She knew this was her moment and the life and death matter of her baby was to a decisive nature. She had to put in her hundred percent, if not more.
"Well, well, if you are so eager, I can tell you the answer but are you sure you will be able to the price? " It asked again.
Mia nodded eager to hear the solution to her misery.
"Well the only way for the curse to lift and your child to live peacefully after it's birth is for you to from that stream over there. " It said moving a branch in a direction. Mia's eyes followed it find a small stream leaking from a wall just behind where the tree stood. It seemed too easy a condition for the fulfillment of her wish. She looked back at the tree with confusion in her .
"That wall belongs to the tower of confinement, belonging to the original offender of the crime. It here that he was banished for eternity, slowly losing all morality and his mind. By drinking it, you too will follow his path and will be fated for the same destination. " It said with a full of malice.
Mia felt very very uneasy but she still gathered her courage and asked "I don't understand, who confined here and what exactly happens if we drink this? "
"Should I treat this as your next question? " It asked "in that case you need to offer something for these to be answered. "
Mia was feeling the sense of being cornered but she did not lose hope. She took a deep breath.
She had her most important query solved. But she needed to know the consequences of her even though she was totally ready to do it. She would still have one more question left she intended to help her mer-friend. So it all made sense. She looked at it and said "I am . What sacrifice do I need to make this time? "
"Well, well, well, if you are so in need of this you might as well be willing to lose yourself for it. "
It said.
"What do you even mean? Mia asked, literally confused as to what it actually wanted.
"What I mean is you stay here by my side forever " It said.
"Why? How is it even possible? " Mia still couldn't understand what it actually wanted.
"Because you will have nothing to live for outside after you drink that " It said pointing again at stream.
"What do you mean? " Mia asked this time, very very desperate. Her heart was beating fast and .
"I answer only if you agree, " It said.
"I agree, I agree" Mia said in desperation.
"Well, this wall is connected with the tower where one of the lovers from the two tribes who were responsible for the crime that led to the formation of the curse is confined. He went by name Jin, former prince of the wolf tribe. " It explained.
Mia had her mouth wide open. Was it Nana's Jin the tree was talking about? It had to be. They the reason the curse was formed. Now she understood why Nanako had asked her to visit immediately once she returned to the real world. Things were finally adding up. "What happens when I drink that? " She asked, pointing at the stream.
"After you drink from that, you forget completely about the love of your life " The tree answered a grave voice.
"What? I will forget Lin after I drink this? " She was in disbelief. "No, No, No, no, no, no" She in her head. She needed to think of something real quick. She thought and thought and remembered that her room for negotiation was still open. She hadn't used that card yet.
With a flicker of hope she came it once again and said "I want to negotiate "
"Go ahead!" Said the tree.
" I still have work that needs to be done, I need time. So I don't want my memory to fade right I drink from that. I want it intact till my child birth. Also, I will keep my words and come back you, only I need time for that too. I need a respite till my baby is born. I will come here by and am willing to let go of Lin's memories then. " She said in a rush. The words came out one after the other. But not soon after they were out, that they hit home. The of what she was agreeing to was sinking in. Her whole world was crashing down. But still needed to be strong. For her baby, for Lin. He was totally oblivious to what she had to their future. She needed to be strong so that she could make him strong too. She in her tears, looking up at the tree, waiting for an answer.
"You are quite brave for a little soul. I give you that. " It said, then after a pause it said "I will to your terms but you need to keep in mind, there will be no running away from this no where you hide. You were able to hide from the curse before. But there is no place in , earth or the netherworlds that will keep you if you fail your promise here. "
Mia looked straight at it and replied "I won't " It was a loud and bold sound, that pierced the of the surrounding.
*******
Dont push me away
Mia emerged from the water, completely drenched from head to toe.
"Mia, Mia! Mia are you alright? " Lin leapt in the waters, totally forgetting about the current .He swam like a fanatic and brought her back to the shore in his arms. He was literally all over her body for injury marks. But there weren't any which left him even more .
The others stood in front but no one dared ask anything, seeing Lin in such a frenzy. They were too anxious to know what had happened but wisely chose to give the couple some privacy asking for answers.
"Mia, I can't find any injury marks. Where are you hurt? Why can't I find it? " He asked.
"It's because there aren't any. " Mia said with a smile.
Her mind wandered off to the fact that she had to drink from the stream of oblivion, connecting fate with that of Jin forever. She would have to let go of the things most beloved to her in life, her little fox and Lin. She was fighting hard to hold back the tears.She couldn't risk Lin know about the truth. He would endanger his life trying to get her out of the mess.
She had to hide it from everyone and come up with a plan to make things easy for all of them.
"What do you mean by there aren't any? Didn't you find the tree of knowledge? Lin asked, Mia might have returned mid-voyage.
"You didn't find it? " Xie asked.
"Damn.What are we going to do now? So much work for nothing. Who knows what havoc the is wrecking back at our homes" Roe was contemplating herself.
"Don't worry it's all over. " Mia said, getting up.
"Mia, wait , where are you going? " Lin followed her as she pushed everyone aside and walked .
"What did she even mean? " Roe asked Boshu.
"No idea" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Isn't she, ummm, odd? " Roe told Boshu expecting him to attack back but he didn't. He stared Lin following Mia and replied "I don't know her enough to assume that. "
Xie came up to them and said "What did she even mean by it being over? Was she referring to curse ? The very existence of the tree of knowledge is shrouded in mystery. Rumors are surrounding it. Do you think she lost her mind trying to solve its riddles? "
He looked concerned.
"Don't know . Should we go check on them? " Boshu asked.
"You guys stay, I will go" He darted off in their direction.
Mia was walking away at full speed, not caring where she went. Lin pulled her by her hand "Mia!
" he yelled, looking straight in her eyes.
She looked away. She couldn't look him in the eye. He pulled her face , cupped between both of hands towards him.
"Mia, what the hell happened? Tell me. What are you not talking about? Tell me what is wrong. I there is something very wrong. I can tell that. Just tell me. Don't push me away. " Lin at her, begging.
Mia looked back. They stared for a few seconds and then Mia suddenly pushed him away with a .
"Mia! '' Lin looked at her with shock.
"Mia! Mia! Mia! Do you think I am deaf? What are you even trying to do? '' Mia yelled. She had sudden idea in her head that urged her to push Lin right away. She was fighting hard not to in to her weakness and go crying in his arms. He had always been her rock, but she to reverse the role . It was the only way she saw for their future. Her brain was telling to keep pushing him from the very start. He would not get mad immediately. He would , he would get upset. But if she continued acting distant and rough, he would eventually fed up with her, she thought.
"I think what? " Lin was in disbelief. He couldn't believe his own ears " Mia tell me please what . Why are you acting like this? " He pulled her close again.
Mia pushed him away harder this time , with all her strength.
"You are asking me what happened? Well if only you had not lied to be from the very beginning, of this sort would have ever happened. Don't you think we are in this mess because of . If only you had not deceived me, my life would have never turned upside down like this. "
Mia spilled the words out like spitting hot coal from her mouth. Her heart burned knowing that words would cut Lin like a two edged sword. She was biting her own tongue, trying to the trembling she felt from all the tears building up from her chest to the eyes. She was Lin to get upset. Or start explaining or get annoyed. But none of it happened. Instead, pulled her to his chest and squeezed her tight with all his might. It was so tight she was choking but she didn't move nor complained. It was what she needed the most at that . She wanted to squeeze him back but didn't. She feared she might give her secret . She just stayed as she was enjoying the warmth that was flowing between them. Lin released his grip and patted her hair with one hand.
"Sorry Mia. I am so sorry. I really am. " He said, patting her on and on.
Mia felt herself melting, and fast. But she could not. She had to be strong. The decision she had , she had to be true to it. She needed to face upshot of her bargain. She had to prepare for . She knew her future ,she knew how grim it was ,she just needed to prepare for it now. She if she failed to do so , the consequences would be far worse than the situation they just out of. She needed to be strong for her family. To protect them, she had sacrificed her , she hoped, because for her they were happiness and hope personified for her. Her felt dry as she gulped and took a deep breath to calm herself down. She gathered her and pushed Lin away again and said "Sorry? You are sorry. Are you really? " She said, him on his chest.
Lin did not reply, instead he kept looking at her with his keen eyes. The ones that brought the in him out. Eyes that pierced through the soul. He was pinning her with his mere gaze, trying read that, which was hidden deep in her soul.