Chapter 1

AS THE DAY was ending, the sea became reddish orange with small waves touching quietly the white shore. The sunset coming from the long horizon reflected off the water making everything stained red. The wind blew up from the east to the small town standing along the beach, slipping through the cracks of lush trees on the mountain. Branches creaked while the nesting bird cry as if someone was singing.

 

It was indeed a peaceful late afternoon for anyone but not to Xurden. He was sitting on the second-floor balcony looking vaguely at the scenery in front of him. The color of the sun mirrored on his dark black eyes. In his right hand was a cup of hot coffee. Steam danced to the cool moving air. He took a sip hoping that the cold building up on his chest would elevate. But it didn’t have even a small effect.

 

He felt heavy on his shoulders which made him more uncomfortable. Racking pain drilled into his head which he endured without moving his free hand. He wondered why he was in that state which rarely happened to him. He thought it was maybe because it’s been thousand years since the last time he caressed a woman’s glory.

 

It had been so long since the last time he watched the sun take a rest. As his stare became longer, he started to get bored. To kill the boredom that he felt, he started tapping his fingers on the wooden round table beside him miming the movement of a pianist. It made euphoric sounds with different notes echoing in his ears. His fingers only stopped when he saw someone familiar on the shore.

 

Xurden wasn't the only one gazing at the round big sun. There were also a few people staying on the sand near the two-story house where he was staying for a while. Three kids were running together with a dog chasing them which was as white as snow. They passed a group of men soaking in the water. The men were all holding a bottle of beer in their hands. A few meters next to the men was an old woman who’s been writing on the sand since the sun was still high. No one bothered her as if there wasn’t something wrong with her. She kept on drawing symbols using a long stick. Her clothes were torn and full of holes. She even sang as she moved with her weak voice cracking.

 

Several feet away from the eccentric woman, a couple was sitting on the sand sweetly. Their hands were interlocked. The woman's head rested on the guy's left shoulder while he hummed a melody. A second after, the guy received a giggle from his girlfriend because of the song. The guy didn't have the time to finish humming when they both laughed near the end. They’re both drowned in joy forgetting the issues in their relationship.

 

He wanted to be truly happy like those humans. But somehow, he couldn't seem to find those words in himself. Ever since he was born as a god, he never felt any joy in his heart. He did know how to smile, but it didn't mean anything at all. He was still the god who longed for something he didn't know what to call.

 

Xurden put down his coffee cup as he heard footsteps coming from the staircase on his back. A second later, his right hand arrived running upstairs. Sebastian wore a floral shirt that suited his build.

 

"What did you find?" Xurden asked without looking at him, taking a sip of his coffee.

 

Sebastian showed a smile on his lips as he walked closer to the table. "She was really on the island," he said to the man. He took a deep breath and sat on the empty chair next to Xurden, the effort to keep his back straight was showing in his eyes.

 

"That's good to hear. We'll go to her later," Xurden told Sebastian. He couldn’t help to look at Sebastian the way his assistant sat. Sebastian was even frowning because of the pain. "What's happened with you?" he added.

 

"I hurt my back while following the witch," Sebastian answered. He moved in his chair, as though to relieve his back. "I am telling you, Boss. She's like a different person. Her face is not like before."

 

"You're forgetting something. She can change her face," he reminded him finishing the cup of coffee.

 

"I just wonder why no one knew she was there," Sebastian mumbled out of curiosity. He turned his gaze to the kids playing on the sand with the dog.

 

"The island protects her."

 

Sebastian glanced at Xurden because of what he heard. "What do you mean, Boss?" Sebastian asked carefully since Xurden didn't like answering questions that his boss thought he could find the answer in his own. He even waited for Xurden to speak. He let out a breath of relief when Xurden finally said something about the witch.

 

"A lot of town folks ask for her help. She steals the energy from them to hide her presence," Xurden explained as he stood from his seat, letting go of his coffee cup. He walked toward the railing and stared at one kid who wore a blue shirt furrowing his forehead. Looking at the smile of the kid while he ran with the dog, an image of the kid Xurden saw fifteen years ago flashed from the back of his head.

 

"Isn't it a bad thing?"

 

"Yes. That's why we need to stop her," he said changing the subject. "Do you know that kid?"

 

"What kid?" Sebastian asked with wonderment in his eyes.

 

Xurden slipped both his hand on the packet of the shorts he was wearing. "That kid in a blue shirt, with the dog."

 

The kid was still running on the sand with his dog following him on his back. The other two kids were also on his tail.

 

Sebastian removed his weight from the chair and moved to the railing. He stared at the sand looking at the kid. "Why, Boss? Is there something wrong? Don't you like seeing him? Do you want me to drive him away?" Sebastian asked without a pause.

 

"Just answer my question," Xurden elicited him harshly.

 

Sebastian hesitated for a split second to answer. "He's the son of the baker near here." Sebastian brushed the back of his head, showing a smile on his lips.

 

Xurden looked at him with anger in his eyes which made him stop smiling.

 

"He reminded me of someone. I didn't even know why I am remembering him now. I only saw him once," Xurden said to Sebastian as he turned his back from the sand. He left his assistant as he walked toward the staircase.

 

Sebastian stood there on the balcony with curiosity written all over his face. It was the first time Xurden talked about someone that had no connection to their actual job.

 

PAIN drilled Yric's tongue after he bit on it while munching cheesecake. His pale hand caressed his right face, mumbling incoherent words that his friend who was sitting beside him didn't understand. The pain stayed for a while making it hard for him to talk. Yric had a pale complexion as if the blood didn't run in his veins. He always wore a grey sweater even though the weather wasn't that cold. That's why his sweater which was the only one he had smelled a little bad. His black hair was a mess since he didn't like combing them.

 

They were waiting inside the family mart as the bus took a stop.

 

"What did you say?" his friend, Noah, asked him even though his mouth was full. His cheeks had a bump on them.

 

Noah had a big eye looking through round eyeglasses resting on the high bridge of his nose. He wore clothes like a model.

 

He glanced at his friend removing his hand from his cheek. "Nothing. I just bit my tongue," he replied finishing his cheesecake.

 

Noah gulped before speaking again. He sat properly on the circle chair because his ass was slipping.

 

"If you bit your tongue someone was talking about you. But who would talk about you aside from us?" Noah commented. He picked up his soda and took a sip.

 

"I don't know," Yric said simply. Brushing his cheek with his finger, he gazed outside the mart because of the man staggering just right in the front where they were sitting. He could see the man clearly through the glass wall.

 

The man's feet wobbled making him fall. To save himself, the man leaned on the small light post, shaking his head while holding it. He took a deep breath to calm himself and put both of his hands on his knees. Furthermore, the man looked away to the side of the road where the green bus was waiting. After looking at the bus, the man managed to move to go the comfort room even though he was hobbling. He fought the weakness on his knees to hold himself erect.

 

As the man went on, Xurden could no longer see him.

 

"Who are you looking to?" Noah asked him. He also averted his eyes outside looking for someone there. But he saw no one.

 

"There's a man. I think he's drunk," he told him. "He went to the comfort room."

 

With just those words, his friend thought he was planning to help the man.

 

"Yric, you shouldn't worry about others. We're on vacation. You need to have some fun. Worrying about others you don't know will spoil your day," Noah reminded him. He even tapped his shoulder.

 

"I am having fun."

 

"What fun?" Noah pointed a finger at his face. "You don't know what that is."