And that’s their story–the story of two girls in love.
Was it love at first sight? I don’t know.
From the look on your face, I guess you don’t either. Not that a child like you would understand. Yes, yes, you’re not a child, you’re grown enough to make your own decisions, sure. But maybe I’d believe that a bit more if you ever cracked open your history books.
Well, it didn’t matter if it was love at first sight. In short time, the two grew a bond with a strength forged in molten flames. It was a short time that they grew together, but they never grew apart. For the rest of their lives, no matter how distant they may have been, they kept a shard of each other nestled in their hearts. That’s the kind of love that they built.
Hm? Come again? Oh, what happened after they parted?
Well, life ended up well for both women. Emi Khara went on to become a diplomat and inventor whose machines are still used in households today. Beatirce Ragnell became one of the most important priests of her time and revolutionized the Church’s role in health care. Their destinies did not converge again, as far as I’m aware, but they both ended up happy. That’s the important thing, after all.
As for Emi, well… I think you’ve figured her out by now. Yes, Grandma Em is the same girl from the story, what with her love of contraptions and that stupid Winter Ceremonies painting she’ll never throw away. I guess when she called me “Novi” that must have finally given it away. You certainly know what happened to her, I imagine, so I don’t have to explain.
Beatrice?
No, you’ve never met her. She passed long before you were born.
In her younger years, Beatrice provided aid to civilians during the conflict between Dannark and Doros. Eventually she founded over two dozen hospitals, all of which run to this day. But she didn’t make it through the Great War. She was helping the evacuation effort in Fathie when a bomb struck her medic tent.
But she will always be remembered as a hero. After your Uncle Reo united Tsubasa and ended the war, he placed a statue of Mother Ragnell in Fathie City, right in the center of the downtown square. Next time we go there, you ought to take a look.
Actually, wait. Don’t go letting Grandma Em know I told you about her. She doesn’t like to talk about it too much. After she heard about what happened in Fathie… she was very sad for a while. You have to be sensitive.
What? What did you say? Oh, does she love me?
Dearie, that’s an easy question.
Of course she does.
Your grandmothers love each other very much. We grew to appreciate each other’s company, and we raised a whole family together. It’s been fifty-seven years since we wed and we’re still happy. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. She loves her family very much, and we love her.
You know what? Let’s go find her. She’s probably out at the balcony watching the sunrise. We can surprise her and show her that wooden centaur you found. I have a feeling it’s going to make her happy.
What’s that? Whatever happened to that mad scientist girl?
That’s a story for another time. A very long one. By which I mean, go read your history books.
終わり
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I liked your writing style, but hated the ending. Not gonna look back on this story because of it.
Moral: Love conquers nothing, just do your job or as your parents told you... Learn to accept that what authorities tell you is better for you... Not very interesting, not an ounce of romance, even makes me want to puke.
Especially in this fairy tale like setting you would expect either doom or a happy ending. But this ending was just the pinnacle of mediocrity.
Thanks for reading and sharing all your thoughts! I really enjoy when people comment. I hope you'll look back on the story better over time; a few people on other sites told me it takes a while to appreciate it more. I'm just the author, though, so I can't judge one way or the other.
not sure how i feel about the ending...
but it has been a great read
Thank you for reading the whole story; I'm really happy about that. Please share the story with a friend or two so the book can spread across the internet!
The story is brilliant in so many ways, but like one of the other commenters, I didn’t enjoy the ending. First, it feels like Novi is almost telling the story as a way of rubbing in that she came out on top in the end—she’s not a blameless participant in the way that this story ended up. She agreed to an arranged marriage to an (underage?) girl she had never met that ultimately doomed the relationship between the two protagonists, and she didn’t suffer the way that Beatrice and Emi did (even though she spends most of the story mocking them). Second, it trivializes the sacrifice that Beatrice made to become a priestess by making it seem like an equivalent to the “sacrifice” that Emi made. Emi was ultimately too cowardly to go against her family and call off the arranged marriage. Even if Beatrice wasn’t ever going to give up her dream, Emi had the brains, ability, and resources to make a difference without kowtowing to her parents and society’s expectations. Her unwillingness to rebel is not equivalent to Beatrice vowing celibacy, forsaking worldly possessions, leaving her friends and family, and ultimately giving her life. Finally, I just don’t understand the message here. Even if you give up everything, you’re rewarded with a fiery death and a nice statue?