Trapped In Hisstory

My whole body felt heavy from the fatigue but I managed to get up from lying down on Aloy's grave to check if someone was with us in the area. I was sure that I felt someone's presence. My vision was blurred for a short moment because of the tears clouding my eyes. As I narrowed my eyes to the shadow of a figure hiding beside the tree.

I wanted to ask who he was and why he was following us but my hands made their way to my neck and my eyes slightly widened as I dazed, realizing that there were no words coming out of my mouth. I tried to speak but I could not hear my own voice, no matter how much I tried.

I could still hear the sound of the pouring rain and my surroundings except for my own voice. It was not that I could not hear it...but I lost it.

My voice.

I stared at the boy holding an umbrella and as he raised it up, I caught a glimpse of his white hair. His shining sapphire eyes caught my attention and I could not take my eyes off them. I have never seen eyes that shone like a jewel.

I flinched and my mind recalled my grandfather dying by the hands of the Clan Leader of Aranea while the royalties watched. White hair...The only white hair I saw besides this kid was one of the kings riding on the horse. I extended my hand to the side, telling him that I will not let him approach Aloy. My other hand grabbed the sword and pointed it at him while giving him a glare for him to stay away.

I could see the resemblance between the kid and the King, I was sure that this was his child. No commoner nor animalian would look like that.

My hands trembled while I carried the heavy sword, my body was still weak but all I could feel was rage. There was not an ounce of fright on the white-haired kid's face as he looked at me and Aloy's grave. I was annoyed by the look he was giving me, it was as if he was pitying us.

How could a prince like him give pity when it is the king, his father, who pushed us to this kind of state and made us become like this? He is part of royalty, a prince, I...I should kill him.

I have to make sure that everyone dies.

It was difficult to stand up like there was something holding me back. As I was finally on my feet, I tried to walk towards the boy who was watching us but I noticed a light coming from behind me. Just like that time when I was being swallowed by darkness, Aloy appeared again and he wrapped his hands around me in an embrace, causing me to stop and feel his touch.

His hands went up to my face. His gentle touch slid against my skin and he covered my eyes. I wanted it to last longer but the sleepiness has taken over causing me to drop my sword and fall to the ground. 

~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes slowly opened and it stung, it was probably because I cried the whole day yesterday, when did I fall asleep? I looked around and found myself in a small cave, my stomach grumbled as I smelled delicious food cooking on fire.

I do not remember myself making a fire but I am thankful to whoever made it for me. I still could not use my voice to yell if the person was still there. I put my hands on my head when it ached and I remembered the boy looking at us.

Aloy!

I immediately rushed out of the cave and saw Aloy's grave not too far from the place where I woke up. The grave was still there, I sighed in relief. My gaze shifted to the rock on the upper part of his grave. Did the kid put this here so I would know it is Aloy?

I stared down at Aloy's grave and remembered myself being held back by his spirit. I clenched my fist, you should have let me kill him, Aloy. Even in your death, why are you stopping me?

I brought the cooked food out of the cave and ate it while sitting beside his grave. I stayed there for hours and blankly stared at the sky, I felt like there was no point in living now that everyone I loved has died. But the only thing that will keep me going is the image of the enemies' dead bodies in my head.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I grabbed the sword and laid it down on his grave.

The prince saw me. He has probably told them that there is still a lynx in Animalia and will search for me soon. I went on my way to find another place where I could stay and left Aloy.

Aloy, forgive me that I have to leave your side, but you and my clan will be my motivation to kill those that made us like this.

For a few days I always felt like I was constantly being watched and it was uncomfortable. I decided to visit Aloy's grave but quickly hid behind the tree when I saw knights roaming around the area. There must have been an order to check whether there were still others who survived from the war.

I felt my anger starting to seep out when I saw the kid before and the knights a few steps closer to my best friend's grave. So he did tell them.

"Do not go near that."

What?

"Your Highness?"

"I said do not go near that."

"But we have to-

"It is already dead, what more do you want? Should you also join them?"

The knights bowed their heads and excused themselves, continuing their patrol. I might have been wrong that he told them, and I wanted to tell him that I am grateful, but he is part of the royal family.

Or am I just finding excuses to hate him?

I turned my back and returned to my place to grab important things, leaving to find another place to hide.

Everywhere I went, the feeling of being watched vanished as the prince showed himself. He no longer hid and always went to my place. I did not understand what he wanted for me. Maybe he was guilty because of what his family did.

I do not know why I let him stay around. I should have killed him but that was something that Aloy would hate. Especially for someone who has helped me.

And because I know that none of this is his fault anyway.

He continued to come, but as I never spoke, he also never said a word and would sometimes just stay with me in silence even while I was busy with other things.

Whenever I came back to my place after hunting, I would sometimes find him already waiting for me. Until I was not aware that I was also cooking more food so he would also have his share and eat with me.

This continued for almost a month and the prince started to become more talkative. He would sometimes tell me stories, and I would act like I was not interested so he could stop coming and just leave me. But truth be told, I was listening to every word he said.It was interesting and it calmed me everytime. Whenever he was there I felt my mind that was constantly at war found peace in him. 

My voice came back and I could finally speak, but I did not want to talk to him just yet. The stress that my mind was in lessened, causing my voice to come back, but it was my choice not to use it and stayed silent.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

I froze. For a second I thought I saw Aloy spoke in front of me, but my eyes were just messing with me. I put my hands on my face and massaged my temples as my head began to ache again.

"Are you all right?"

I sighed, "...I am fine."

I looked at him and our eyes met, both surprised that I spoke. "You...for the first time I heard your voice!" he said with a big smile on his face like he was about to celebrate.

I scratched the back of my neck and looked away. I felt his hand touch me and I glanced at him, "Thank you for talking to me." he said.

"It has been a month and a few days but...may I ask what your name is?"

There was a weird feeling after not using my voice for so long, but there was nothing bad in telling him my name. He has been coming to see me all the time anyway.

"...Alec." I answered.

He nodded and smiled, "Alec!"

"Aleccc!"

I could hear Aloy's voice shouting my name drumming in my head and it felt as if he was alive. No, I cannot see the prince as Aloy. The two of them are different.

"The reason why I saw you in Fera, was because you two have the same eyes."

Aloy, I think I know what you mean now.

Since both you and the prince have the same smile that I could never have.