NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 76: Lonely Island Life…
(Lia’s POV)
Why was I here? How did I even end up here? Such questions went unanswered for… I don’t really know how many years. Supposedly, keeping track of time is one way to stave off insanity.
For me, such a thing would only make me insane far quicker. As each minute, hour, day, and year that went by were all the same. Just more time that I lost. Time that I wished to spend with Celia and my family.
However long it has been, I was proud of myself. I never lost my mind, and, of course, I never forgot about my family. They were the single biggest reason why I have survived this entire time.
Of course, I am immortal. So I could truly never die. But retaining my sanity is another way of surviving, I think… In the end, my family was all that I held out for.
Some nights, I would stay awake and wonder what they were all doing. What was taking them all so long to find me? Were they, like me, trapped in some unknown place? More questions with no answers in sight at all.
Lia: “…”
I felt like an insane person… Back in Celia’s dungeon, there was a movie where, ironically, a woman was trapped on an island, similar to my current situation. To stave off her insanity, she recreated her wife, but out of rocks and sticks.
Granted, I did the same for my family and Celia, I didn’t do it because I was going insane. I did it, primarily due to my intense, unending boredom. This island was far too small.
If just walked as slowly as possible, it wouldn’t take more than six hours to actually loop the island. Apart from trees, plants, there was nothing else but sand. Not even insects inhabited this place.
Which, if Celia was trapped here with me, would be considered a plus to her. Despite being so strong, that woman, oddly, very much hates insects of all kinds. That is actually a quirk of hers that I find to be quite cute.
It has been at least many years since I ended up on this island. As I have long since run out of things to think about. Like a deliberate trap, this island was surrounded by various sea creatures.
All of which looked like they would absolutely love to eat me whole. I wouldn’t die, of course. But I do not fancy the idea of being swallowed whole by some damn stupid large fish.
If only I was as strong as Celia, then I could fly off this island. That is, assuming that I also knew flying magic as well… A very lofty thought, actually. No magic worked on this island…
Many Days Later.
I don’t really know what I was hoping for… Like, how were a few more days going to change anything about my situation? There wasn’t a single sign of anyone coming to save me, none at all.
Looking at the sea, I saw myself reflected in the water. Normally, one would be haggard from such a long and terrible experience. But I still looked beautiful as can be. The only change was… my eyes.
There wasn’t much life in them at all. A clear indicator that, yes, being trapped here on this island has affected me very much negatively. Though, it has gotten better, rather than worse.
On this island, there wasn’t a single edible thing. For a long time, I suffered through being thirsty and starving as well. But… perhaps many years ago, I got used to those pains. Actually, I don’t know if that is a good thing…
A Year Later.
I counted this time. It has at least been a year. Like before, nothing has changed at all. My only solace, apart from my family, was that this island was at least peaceful. If I had to fight every day, I would have lost my mind long ago.
Lia: “…”
In the distance, flying above the water, was someone. I had thought that someone being here to save me must have just been an illusion, all created by my mind. Which had probably already lost it by now…
I waited, and eventually a figure appeared before me. It was Ria… Getting up from the ground, I slowly walked over to her. Reluctantly, I reached out to touch her face.
It wasn’t Celia, but it was one of my family members. The warmth I felt in my hand from touching her… it was real. There was no way that my brain could fabricate such a detailed illusion.
Ria: “…”
Lia: “…”
Wordlessly, I gave her a hug, and silently cried into her chest. Never once, even though I had been on this island for so long, had I’ve shed a single tear. I wanted their pity; I wanted my family to comfort me. As such, I saved up my tears.
An Hour Later.
Ria: “Lia… I am so sorry.” She said with a remorseful tone.
Lia: “…”
Ria gave me memories of everything… Zia, the Ria I knew, was put into a game like this, just as I was. A game to have Celia find and save us. Rigged specifically so that she would fall out of love for us.
But this is Celia we’re talking about. Ria’s mistake was not accounting for how much better this timelines Celia was. Such a plan was destined to fail from the start, and Ria just didn’t realize that.
Ria: “I understand if you hate me, Lia. But would you at least let me erase your memories of this time?” She pleaded.
Lia: “No. This suffering must stay with me forever.” I deny.
Ria: “…”
Lia: “I don’t hate you, either. Even though I should.” I add with a smile.
Ria: “Why… I willingly forced you to suffer endless loneliness for countless years. And make no mistake, the plan was for Celia to find her wives last. If it wasn’t for Sava taking Celia, then you would be suffering far longer.” She explained with a remorseful tone.
Lia: “I hate you.” I admit.
Ria: “…”
Lia: “I hate the you that decided to follow through with such a flawed plan. But the plan stemmed from your love of Celia… And now that you’ve woken up, now that you realize your mistakes, I cannot hate you.” I explain with a warm tone.
Getting on her knees, Ria had a horrible look on her face. Celia taught us the best way to cause someone true pain in retaliation long ago. Which was just to forgive them. Me hating or mistreating Ria would just make her remorse lighter.
Ria: “As I have sworn to the rest of our family, I will do everything in my power to earn your forgiveness. If you wish to kill me in revenge, even though I will not die, you can do so.” She swore with a serious tone.
Lia: “Oh? But I have already forgiven you. And if I wanted revenge, what’s the point? The Ria that hurt me like this is long dead. Celia killed her. Or rather, Celia saved her, bringing the best you to life.” I deny with a laugh.
Ria: “…”
Despite my words, I do forgive her. I know that she will do her best to make me happy, to make me love her as my family again. I honestly believe her words.
And if I couldn’t accept her, it would be a major insult to Celia’s efforts to save Ria. It might not have been a deliberate action on her part, but that is what Celia did. With this, my suffering is over, and I will have my family members to slowly heal my wounded heart and soul soon. It is just a shame that Celia won’t be there for me…