Chapter 10

Another afternoon in Nibelhelm. It was spring before everyone notice it. The flower started to bloom, the birds started chirping, the children started playing outside...just another pretty picture of the nicest season of the year.

But this year, there was something new in Nibelhelm. Recently, men in trucks carrying picks and shoves started to visit this small remote town. They entered the mountains behind Nibelhelm, and then came back and stay in the inn.

These people looked like miners. Their attitude and speech showed it. They are well built and they always came back with a happy smile, indicating they discovered something. Then after a few more days, more and more people started pouring in this town and all of them headed towards the mountain with more and more different tools. Just a few days ago, they had lorries coming with huge machineries and large pipes. There must be something worth digging back there. Gold maybe?

While the people that poured in started to work and construct huge machineries, children stood by to see and gaze in awe since they had never saw something like this before. The people started to recruit villagers as workers and they helped build some of the infrastructure in the mountains. This is the biggest thing that had ever happened to this small town.

But among the many standing watchers, the cold, mysterious emotionless man stood behind the others, watching and observing their every move. He sometimes followed them into the mountains by offering himself as part time labor and came home late at night, way later than any of the other workers.

It was then he realized what was actually going on. The people that came in were here to suck out the mako of the planet, where there is a leak in the mountains. This will provide energy to the villagers of Nibelhelm but it will surely strain the planet badly. But who cares? The villagers don’t even know what the thing was.

It was on one of the evening when the workers are at the bar and the villagers back with their family when he sat on top of the roof of his house and stared at the huge structure beyond the mountains that was nearly complete. It reflected a glow with it’s metallic body and made an impressive look since it was the most modern structure around Nibelhelm. But he knew that when the workers didn’t stop digging and digging, they will come over something frightful, something even he feared himself.

It wasn’t anything to do with the planet. He didn’t even give a damn about the mako being sucked out of the planet. It was something he feared those workers will release. Something so ancient, so powerful that even history doesn’t contain. It was the sleeping Jenova that was banished by the Ancient in this mountain. Jenova rests here!

Silently, he decided. He have to infiltrate the structure, blast his way to Jenova’s sleeping place, cast a destructive spell and kill Jenova that was still in a sleeping state. At first he tried putting barriers and tons of rocks between the workers and the spot Jenova rests, but nothing seemed to be able to stop the worker’s machines from penetrating through yards of solid rocks and hard materials. He had no choice but to destroy Jenova. All he need is to cast a spell. A spell that could destroy Jenova once and for all.

That spell will have to cost his life. That spell require so much energy till he had to drain all the life force from his body and could only be successful with the price of his life. That’s the only way he knew that is capable to kill Jenova.

To him, life is nothing. By sacrificing it, he can save the entire planet. People will live, the mind inside those humans will remain, they will still live their happy lives without fear and sorrow. He will be a hero without people knowing he is one. He had a whole world to save and that should be enough to give his life away, but deep down in his heart, he still had something that pull him back from doing it. It was her.

Her. That’s it. Her. He don’t know why, but suddenly he had the feeling he couldn’t bear to let her alone, not knowing what was the cause. Besides that, he don’t want to leave her. She was the only one that he felt comfortable with, or felt good being together with. He had no feelings of that toward other people. She was someone special to him. Someone that could stop him from saving the world. That was his weakness.

The man continued staring at the mountains and then he heard voices of children playing. They were so innocent, not knowing how frightening this world could be. They don’t deserve to die no matter what happened. If he don’t destroy Jenova before it’s too late, everyone will be killed by Jenova, including these children. He must kill Jenova. That’s his responsibility as a...human.

He jumped down the roof and landed skillfully. Immediately, he stared at the small house not far away from his, with that really familiar look. He walked towards it slowly and planned what to say on his way. That was ‘her’ house. Even if he had to die, he had to at least tell her he will be leaving this town...forever.

There was two knocks at the door. The girl looked towards the door and tied up her hair, tidied her dress and went to open it. Instantly, she saw that man standing in front of him, looking at her straight in the eyes. She bit her lips. This is the first time the man looked for her. All the time it was her that approached this man but this time it was different. Her heart leaped with joy. He finally could open his heart to her.

“I...say...something.”

The man said coldly and the girl’s heart raced. She knew this day would come. But not so soon. Is he really going to commit something to her? Is he finally capable of saying those three magical words?

“I... leave town. No coming back.”

The girl’s heart shattered the moment she heard this. She stared at him dumbly and couldn’t believe her ears. That was what he was going to say? Leave town? Leave her? Is he afraid of her? Is she too quick in expressing her feelings?

The girl continue staring at the man. The man kept quiet and then he turned around. Without even saying goodbye, he left and closed the door behind. The girl looked at the door that was closed and immediately opened it and ran outside. She caught up with the man and pulled him back to her. She turned him towards her and shouted at him.

“That’s all you can say? Going away? Don’t I mean anything to you?”

The man was looking at her with those cold eyes forever on his face. The girl shook him and hammered him continuously on his chest. Still nothing. The man had no reaction.

“So, after all those efforts you have poured into yourself trying to become a person, after all those feelings you had for me, you are going to let it all go away?”

The girl said with anger. The man did nothing. Just stood there being shouted by her.

“Fine! You are going and I am dumping you! We are through!”

The girl said and she tiptoed and stared into his eyes. She is wait for him to say something.

“We...no relationship.”

The man said and he walked away, leaving the girl standing alone in front of her house, looking at him leave. She expected something like “Wait!”, or “I don’t mean that.” But instead, she got a reply that crushed her heart to the bottom. She felt that she was loving someone that won’t give love back in return. She felt that she was so stupid to give so much attention to him. She felt that she was useless, when there are so many good bachelors out there but she fell for him...

She couldn’t believe he will say that. Unless that wasn’t the truth. There was something that he was keeping away from her. Something that she had to find out, not matter what.

It’s midnight already. Everyone was asleep and the mining workers had left the bar and went back to their homes or inns. The now busy town during day time quiet down, as people prepare themselves for a day’s work tomorrow.

The lonely stranger that dwells in one of the houses packed his gear, getting ready to leave. He don’t have much gear. All he need is his weapons. He don’t need food since he is going to die soon anyway. All he actually need is himself, and the spell that contained inside him. That’s all he need to save the planet from the dreaded Jenova.

Strangely, he took a long time to pack even these few items. He walked around the house and look around, as if he had some memories with it. Or he actually had feelings for this house. By living in civilization, he learned a lot from the other people. He learned how they lived, how they love each other, how special feelings can be and now that he learned so much and he wanted to know more, he had to leave this place. Forever. He wondered what will happen after his death. Will he be reborn as a human? A human that has no fears and live happy lives like the other?

He shook his head and cleared up his mind. He can’t be hesitating now! The world depends on his decision! He has to save the world! He decided firmly and walked towards the door.

Then he stopped. He turned back towards his dining table and looked up and saw the ‘weed’. He remembered her now. She is the one that he actually really missed now. He really wanted to meet her now but he know he can’t. She will only stop him. He might be too weak to fight off those feelings. He must forget about her, from now on.

But he just can’t. She was everything to him ever since he moved in. She was his only friend, and the only person he could talk to. He don’t give a damn about his job. He don’t bother what others think about him. All that made him wanted to stay in this town was her. And now he have to leave her. That’s very hard.

The man stood silently staring at his ‘weed’. He then jumped up and pulled it down effortlessly. He held it in his hand and feel it. He now remember the first kiss he had, how good it was and how magical it was.

The man shook himself again to stop his emotions from taking over him. He marched towards the door and will leave this place once and for all. He snapped his fingers and the candle that dimly lit the house was blown off. He opened the door and stepped out.

He retreated the moment he took his first step out his house. He saw ‘her’ standing in front of the door, staring at him. He couldn’t believe himself. He had very sensitive senses and could sense if someone was near. But all the while she was standing outside of his house and he didn’t even notice it. His feelings had clouded his senses! That should not be allowed to happened!

“I have been waiting here for a while. I knew you are going to leave during the night.”

The girl said. She was very, very right. She knew that he won’t leave during the daytime because he might stumble into her. He had to leave at night. How clever.

“I know you leave for a reason. Tell me.”

The girl asked and walked towards the man. The man stepped back and the girl just kept walking towards him. They plunge into the dark house but still know the whereabouts of the other. The man stopped.

“I no like you. Must get away from you.”

The man said to the girl to attempt to break her heart. The girl didn’t react like as before. Instead, she grabbed his hand and looked into his eyes in the dark.

“I don’t believe that! There must be something else!”

The girl said and then she felt something in his hands. It felt like a plant. It felt just like the mistle toe she hung in his house during Christmas. He still had feelings for her.

“You plan to take away this with you proves that you still have feelings for me! Why can’t you admit it?!”

The man still kept quiet in the darkness. He don’t know what to say. He really wanted to stay with this girl but he know he can’t! He shouldn’t!

“Let your feelings out! I really love you!”

The girl plunged into the mans arms but the man immediately pushed her away. He felt his heart racing again. This shouldn’t go on!

Her eyes was filled with tears and the man can sense it even in the darkness. She can’t believe after all she said and did he still couldn’t let his feelings out! Even though he had feelings for her! She can’t take this any longer!

“If that’s you want, fine!”

The girl said and stepped back. She then turned around and ran towards the door. She gave up. She knew she couldn’t succeed in asking him to stay. She might as well go away.

“Stop!”

The girl heard a voice she longed to hear and felt herself being jerked backwards. The man looked at her in the darkness with his cold eyes again. His hand was pulling her hand back. He didn’t know why he did that. He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t.

Suddenly, she saw something forming in the man’s eyes. It reflects the light from the dim moon light and the man didn’t shade it. She walked back towards the man and touched his cheek. It was wet. His tear was formed. For her. The man finally show a sign that he had emotions too. She brought her face towards his until they were only inches away.

“You...cried?”

The girl said will looking at the man. The man looked away and tried to shake himself away, but then he stopped. The girl turned his head towards her and then pressed her lips against his. The man felt the blending emotions flowing inside him and couldn’t bear to let her go. His mind was clouded. He can’t think. All he wanted is not wanting to leave her.

The man pushed the girl’s face slightly away from his until their lips part. The girl was shocked. Was he going to run away, again?

“Don’t leave...me...”

The man said it with tears flowing freely down his cheek. The girl was filled with joy and her tears flowed down her cheek too. She hugged him and stay in his arms, and that feeling felt like it is going to last forever.

“I won’t leave you.”

The girl said and then she kissed the man again. She slowly kicked the door, making it close slowly until a slight slam was heard. Tonight, she will bring the man to a world that he never knew existed.

The sun rose slowly beyond the horizon and the entire town of Nibelhelm became bright once again, and the streets became alive again, with people rushing to the mines to work and children coming out to play.

But in the small house of the stranger, there wasn’t one, but two person, a man and a girl that are still in bed. Together. In each other’s arms. Little can they believe what had happened the last night.

“I...don’t know what came over me. I never thought we will end up together like this so soon.”

The girl that was still in the man’s arms said, showing sign that she started wondering that whether what she did was right. Will the man leave her immediately after this? Will he not take responsibility of what had happened?

The man beside her just kept quiet, still remembering vividly what had happened.

In this dead quiet moment, many things were running through the man’s head. He was supposed to leave last night, and kill Jenova by sacrificing himself, ending this once and for all. But he didn’t, and instead spent the entire night with a girl. Now he know that he will not be able to kill Jenova. He had committed himself to this girl. He can never leave her now, maybe not ever in the future. Is this a mistake? Was it a mistake that will jeopardize the safety of the whole planet?

He can’t turn back now. What’s done is done. Now he could only stay in this town, and make sure that nobody will find Jenova. That the most he could do.

“I...won’t leave....stay...”

The man uttered silently and the girl’s expression changed immediately. The man wasn’t going to leave her. He had changed his mind and decided to stay and live his life with her. All doubts about what is right and wrong vaporized and the girl was overjoyed. She is going to spend her life with him.

“Really? Do you really mean it?”

The girl said, though she knew the answer will be yes. The man nodded slowly and the girl grip his hands tighter. It is like a dream come true. Never she thought this would happen in real life. She thought all these will only happen in stories but now she know that it isn’t so...

“I felt strange...”

The girl said. The man just kept quiet but she can sense that he is asking why.

“We had already umm...so close but it’s kinda funny that I don’t even know your name.”

The girl continued and the man just remain silent. The girl was right. They had already known for quite some time and now they are sleeping together but they don’t even know each other’s name. What kind of relationship is this?

The man at first kept quiet. But then, his lips moved.

“...no name...”

The girl was shocked when she heard this. Is this man from mars or what? He didn’t have a name? How do people address him?

“How people call you?”

The girl continued. There must be something that people call him with.

”You...”

You? That’s what people call this man? You? He either had very little social interaction until he didn’t need a name, or he somehow lost his memory and forgotten who he was. But either way, she is going to shape him into a better person, no matter what it takes.

“Hmm...I don’t know what’s wrong with you but you still need a name anyway. Let me see...I got it! You seem to strive so much just to feel love, so why don’t I call you Strife?”

The girl suggested a name and the man looked at her. He didn’t know why he need a name. But he nodded slightly, just to please her. A name may come handy in the future.

“Strife...”

The man repeated after her and the girl giggled. Then, it just happened. The man’s lips formed a smile, which was never seen on his face. It was a natural smile, not a forceful one. The girl was overjoyed again. It was like a miracle happening. The cold hearted man had finally smiled.

“Oh my god! You smiled! That’s a miracle!”

The man nodded and deep in his heart, for the first time, he felt warmness in his heart. He never felt this before. Never in his life anybody cared for him. This feeling was the best of all feelings he ever felt.

“And oh, I am Jenn by the way.”

The man repeated her name after her and the two embraced again. There is now a new couple in the town of Nibelhelm.