Chapter 201 Within You (1)
From the remains of Edna's shattered body, a form of spirit slowly emerged, materializing like a wisp of mist weaving through the tranquil night air. Her face came into focus, framed by shimmering silver hair that cascaded like moonlight reflecting on the calm sea. Her eyes, profound and sorrowful, radiated a depth reminiscent of an endless abyss. She stood amidst the ruins of cracked and broken ice, her form gradually fading yet revealing a more tangible shape—like a shadow lingering just beyond the reach of reality, concealed by the veil of time.
Fitran approached with hesitant steps, his eyes fixed on the ethereal figure of the female spirit, torn between curiosity and a lingering sorrow. There was an uncanny familiarity about her, a connection that reached deep into the recesses of his long-forgotten past, echoing beyond the recent battle they had just endured.
The spirit of Edna gazed at Fitran with a mixture of sadness and recognition, her memories seemingly fractured amidst the chaos engulfing her. "Who... are you?" she asked, her voice soft yet resolute, slicing through the night's silence with an almost haunting clarity. "Why do I feel... like I know you?"
Fitran, unable to suppress the warmth of nostalgia coursing through his veins, reached into his pocket and revealed a glimmering silver locket, its polished surface catching the silvery glow of the moonlight. The locket, though simply designed, radiated an extraordinary allure, as if every delicate engraving held within it countless untold stories, beckoning forth memories long buried beneath the weight of time.
"This..." Fitran began, his voice soft yet resonant, as if he were breathing life back into a lost past. "This is the locket she once carried. Thousands of years ago."
Edna's spirit fixed her gaze upon the locket with a profound longing, her ethereal eyes seeming to penetrate through the very fabric of time and space. In an instant, dormant memories surged to the surface, swirling in her mind like leaves caught in a gentle autumn breeze. "That man..." she spoke, her voice hoarse and trembling, echoing the fragility of her awakening memories. "He always came to me... every day, waiting by the tranquil lake, his heartfelt smile illuminating the surrounding darkness. We... promised to meet again, but..." Edna's voice faltered, cracking under the weight of unspoken grief, and for a moment, she lapsed into silence, ensnared in a whirlpool of long-buried memories—those sweet recollections now mere elusive shadows dancing just out of reach.
Fitran gently grasped the locket, his fingers gliding over its smooth, cool surface as if he were caressing the very essence of the stories trapped within. His eyes, deep and introspective, remained fixed on the locket, which shimmered subtly with the weight of cherished memories. "This was given to me by the first person who ever cared for me. They offered it with unwavering hope, a hope that has endured despite the relentless passage of time," he revealed, his voice tinged with reverence.
Edna nodded slowly, her gentle gaze filled with profound understanding, recognizing a lost connection mirrored in Fitran's words. "I have been waiting for him... here, by this tranquil lake, where the water's surface reflects the fleeting colors of the sky. I've hoped that one day he would return... yet I find myself trapped between this world and the next, like a delicate fog that dances just out of reach."
Fitran's emotions swelled as he touched the locket, feeling as if a pulse from his own soul echoed within the small object. With great tenderness, he then gently handed it to Edna. "This belongs to you. It will serve as a timeless reminder of the promise you once made, of a love that never fades, even after centuries have passed, much like the moonlight that softly illuminates a darkened night."
Edna accepted the locket with both hands, her fingers enveloping it warmly, as if drawing strength from its presence. "Thank you..." she whispered, her voice a delicate thread that seemed to weave through the fabric of time. "I can't quite express my feelings, but I can sense it... there's a profound peace that envelops me after meeting you again, like a cool breeze caressing my weary soul amidst the heat of uncertainty."
Edna averted her gaze, her eyes drifting into the horizon as if she were wandering through the echoing corridors of a cherished past. "Before I leave... there is one thing I must tell you, Fitran," she murmured, her tone heavy with unspoken weight.