Chapter 14: 7 years ago

'7 years ago? What happened 7 years ago?' Ril wanted to voice out his question but Lilian turned her back and went back to their motorcycle "Let's go back" she said, still in a cold tone, Ril did not proceed to ask his question and kept quiet till they reach the mansion, when they arrived at the mansion, it was already dawn and they were getting cold because of the snow. They both went in to the mansion to warm their selves, and after some time, Lilian went to her room upstairs and Ril took a warm jacket and went outside to take a stroll, he still wanted to look at the floating lanterns in the sky.

While he was silently watching the sky outside the mansion, he heard someone gleefully sang a song

"🎶A bun for you~, A bun for me~, Let's sing along while the snow sway~🎶"

It sounded like a girl and he saw it was the blonde girl they met earlier, she was sitting on a bench while singing. Ril made a little giggle while he listened to the song she sang, then the girl noticed that he was watching and she ended up having a red face because she was embarrassed "W-wait, how long have you been here?" She asked while having a flustered face

Ril made a small laugh, he sat at the bench she was sitting and answered her "Ever since you have started singing... 'A bun for you~, A bun-" He got cut off because she covered his mouth while still being flustered and kept looking away from him "Haha, okay I'll stop" his words muffled while saying those words, she then pulled away her hands that covered his mouth.

"Well, that was my first time hearing that song" he giggled while stating these words "That song....was actually made by an old friend of mine that I haven't seen for years..." She said while having a gloomy face, then ril looked at her and replied "That friend must've been very special to you..." He said while smiling and she nods "Well, he was the first person I made friend with..." She said still looking down

"It's already been 7 years since I've last met him, that year was my hardest time but it was also my greatest because of him...but we got separated that day... I'm just hoping I can meet him again someday"

Then Ril, suddenly turned his face down and was deep in thoughts after hearing the word seven years, again

'7 years ago? Again with the 7 years. Well, maybe she can answer my question'

"7 years ago...Well, I know this may be out of topic, but do you know what happened 7 years ago? What war happened that led to this celebration of tranquility?" Ril voiced out his question, Her eyes then widened and made a blink while smiling "I wasn't here to witness what had happened but I can explain the whole story to you since this whole story is very popular until now, I'm actually surprised you don't know anything about this story" she stood up and continued talking while Ril proceeds to listen "About 50 years ago, The Red demon clan, one of the creation of the shadow realm, ought to make peace with the human realm and their sincerity was all there, then the humans accepted them. For once, the demons and humans were living in harmony, just until 7 years ago, the Red demon clan suddenly betrayed the humans, another war was created because of the betrayal they made, that war even led to the Vermillion's head to perish, it was Master Zeal's Brother and Sister-in-law and also, Lilian's parents. The war went on for almost a month then suddenly, all of them from the Red Clan instantly vanished like a wind, it was actually so suspicious that they disappeared so sudden and people still have no explanation about it. Amidst the outcome of the war, at the big tower on the silver oak square, there they saw a young boy who flew two lanterns in the sky. The people thought it was the sign of victory from the war and the symbolism of peace, so they also made lanterns flew on the sky like what the young boy did and they made it drift on the sky on the 7th day of the Yule month and that's how the celebration of tranquility was made and full of lanterns.... And that's the end of the story" then she bowed while saying the last words. The whole story actually made Ril speechless, he did not know what was happening in the world while staying in an isolated Island "I'm kinda surprised about this whole story, I did not know anything about what was happening in the world" he said while still being amazed about the whole story "I'm on the same boat, I just heard this story when I came to this mansion" then they both made a small laugh about it, after a while she said some words to him "Well, if it comes to this" she offered a hand to Ril while smiling "Then, will you become one of my friends?"

"Sur-...wait" he was going to agree but he stopped "How are we going to be friends if we still don't know each other's name?"

"Now that you think about it, I still haven't introduced myself, haha, silly me" she said while laughing

"My name is Claire, Claire Ann, and you are?"

"My name is Ril, it's a pleasure to meet you Claire"