Sunlight On My Face

Mm...

Where...am I?

(What am I doing here? Isn't this the place where...)

Shanie! Thank goodness you're awake!

Thank goodness you're awake!

What happened? Did you fall in the lake?

(Oh no, he saw my face! Maybe it's not too late. If I hide it now...)

Oh? It's gone?

Um... Is something wrong?

My hood, I need my hood... Where's my cloak?

Ah, my bad. It was soaking wet, so I thought I'd dry it out for you. Here you go.

Thanks...

Would you like something warm to drink? You must be freezing cold.

Um... I guess so.

(Why isn't he reacting?)

Be careful now, it's hot.

Thank you.

(Huh, I see what's going on here. This is just a dream.) (Why else would he be acting so kind toward me?)

*sniffle*

What's wrong? Are you in pain?

No. Not physically, anyway...

*sigh* I'm sorry you had to see that. I guess I just lost it, you know?

Oh, don't worry about it! I'm just glad you're not injured.

Still, maybe we should get you to a doctor just in case.

Yeah, you're right. I'll get myself checked out just as soon as I finish this drink. Actually...would you mind showing me the way? I don't really know the area.

Of course. Acteul's probably our best bet.

Acteul? Is it close?

Yeah, it's just a short walk away.

Then...does that make this Lake Tiilen?

Yeah, that's right. I thought you said you didn't know the area?

I didn't recognize it. It looks so different from the Lake Tiilen I know. (That's how dreams work sometimes, right? They mess with reality. And this is definitely just a dream...)

Well, whatever. It doesn't really matter either way.

Well, whatever. Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Shanie.

(Another Shanie? How weird...)

Nice to meet you, Shanie. I'm Aldo.

Aldo...

(Another Shanie? Maybe she's from another time layer?)

Well, it's nice to meet you, Shanie. I'm Aldo.

Aldo...

Nice to meet you, Shanie. I'm Aldo.

Aldo...

Thanks for helping me, Aldo.

That's totally fine. I didn't expect anything, I just didn't want to leave you there.

Anyway, we should get going...

(So this is Acteul? It looks so similar, yet so different...)

Shanie? Something wrong?

Nope, all good! So where's this doctor at?

To be honest, I don't really know...

I'll go ask around.

(How long has it been since I had a normal conversation with someone like this?) (I wish I could stay in this dream forever...)

Augh. Look at that thing.

What's it think it's doing in our town?

Shh! Don't let it hear you.

Good news, Shanie! I found the doctor.

Wait a moment. THAT'S your companion?

Yes, that's right. She almost drowned in the river, and I just want to make sure she's okay.

Sorry, but I cannot help you. That thing is not welcome as a patient of mine.

Why not?!

We don't want that kind of trouble in our town. Do yourself a favor and get yourself away from it.

(Oh... It wasn't a dream after all.)

Hey, Shanie! Wait up!

Stupid Shanie. Stupid, stupid Shanie. Daring to hope the curse was lifted. But it will never be lifted. I'm stuck like this forever.

Shanie!

Aldo? I don't understand. Why would you come after me?

I wanted to make sure you were okay!

I'm so sorry about that doctor! He must have misunderstood somehow.

No, it was no misunderstanding. He was right.

I should stay away from other people.

And that includes you. You should get away from me while you still can.

Don't say that! If the doctor won't see you, I'll just buy you whatever medicine you need myself.

You just wait someplace safe, okay?

Oh, Aldo. Why are you being so kind to me? Are you just a hallucination imagined up by my exhausted mind?

Not that it matters now.

I won't be here long enough to find out.

Sorry, looks like I scared it off.

Don't worry, I was just playing with it to pass the time.

Do you like cats?

Yeah, I guess. I like that they don't hate me.

So, what did you buy?

I bought you some cold medicine and some food. You must be hungry, right? Hold on, I'll get it ready.

I'll help.

*sigh* It's been so long since I've just chatted with someone like this.

You know how you said that you should stay away from other people... Why is that?

The thing is, I'm cursed. This evil witch put a spell on me to make everybody hate me unconditionally. Just one glimpse of my face is all it takes for people to get angry and agitated.

I'm like a thorn. No one wants to come near me for fear of being hurt.

I'm so sorry, Shanie. But this isn't your fault. It must be awful to be treated like that everywhere you go.

If I hide my face, people still find me suspicious, but at least it's an improvement.

Oh, if only these thorns were graced with beautiful roses. Then people wouldn't hate me so much.

I don't know, I think you look beautiful enough just the way you are. It's such a shame that nobody else ever truly gets to see you.

Beautiful? Me? No, I couldn't be...

Wait. If you're cursed, why don't I react like everybody else when I see you?

Yeah, that's what I find so strange. Why don't you hate me? I was even beginning to wonder if you were just a hallucination or something.

Hahaha. Don't worry, I'm real.

But are you, though? Can I test it out? Give you a squeeze or something?

Um, sure. Knock yourself out.

Ooh, you're so nice and warm! Say, Aldo? Mind if I ask you one more thing?

Ask away.

Would you mind taking me back to Lake Tiilen?

Sure, if that's what you want. Why, did you leave something behind there?

No, nothing like that. It's just, it's so similar to somewhere that holds a special place in my heart. I'd love to be able to go there instead, but it's too far away, I fear.

I don't mind the distance. Don't settle for the lake if there's somewhere else you'd rather be.

It's fine. I don't even know if it exists anymore.

Oh. In that case, I'd be happy to take you to Lake Tiilen.

Mind if I ask? What made this place so special?

You really wanna know?

I mean, only if you're happy to talk about it.

Sure, it's no touchy subject or anything.

You see, even before I got cursed, I was all alone. I had no relations, so things like marriage and a happy family were all just a pipe dream for me.

But there was someone who was willing to get close to me. A guy. He was well aware of my situation, yet he confessed his love for me anyway.

At first, I couldn't believe it. It felt like destiny.

And this special place was where he confessed his feelings for you?

Right. Though it was at the coast, not a lake. But water is water, you know?

Yeah, I get it. Maybe we should find somewhere with a better view of the lake.

How about here...

No. Too much stuff in the way. Let's try somewhere else.

Here is fine, actually. Looks like you'll be able to see the sunset just fine...

You wanna see the sunset? That won't be for a while, but we can wait here if you want to.

Thanks, Aldo. But you don't have to stick around for my sake. You can go if you like.

Are you sure? I don't know if I should leave you out here alone...

Relax, I'll be fine! I can look out for myself.

Go. I think I'd like to be alone.

Well, if that's what you want. But call me if you need anything, okay?

(Thank you for being so kind to a stranger like me. If only I'd met you earlier...)

Why did you have to come so soon?

But at least you will offer a more certain death than the water.

It hurts... But it's okay. I have no fear. I...

I am so very happy right now.

Again. This time, make it final.

No!

Aldo? Why...

I was worried about you, so I hid nearby. I'm just sorry I didn't get here faster.

But I told you to go! You have to stop this, Aldo! Stop being so nice to me. You're only making it worse! If I keep depending on you, how will I ever cope when you inevitably betray me?

But I won't betray you.

Yes, you will! Even eternal love withered and died in the face of this curse! Our love was supposed to be destiny, it was supposed to overcome any obstacle, any curse, but it didn't!

He didn't even try to fight it. He just stood there and looked at me with disgust, like all the others.

If even destiny can't defeat this curse, there's no way you can!

Look, I may not know a lot about curses. And you're right, I probably can't defeat your curse. But I can't just stand by and watch you get hurt as you wait for your destiny to arrive.

So hold on.

Shanie, are you okay?

I thought I was going to die. For years, I've tried to find a way to break this curse, but nothing ever worked. Every time I see someone's face, it reminds me of him, of the disgust in his eyes... And suddenly all I want to do is jump in the water and put an end to this pain forever.

Is that why you were soaking wet when I found you before?

I was so happy when I met you. You've been so kind to me. But if I can't break this curse, then you'll come to hate me sooner or later. And I can't bear it...

So I wanted to die while I still remembered what it felt like to be happy.

You shouldn't think like that!

If you really are happy right now, then why are you crying?

To me, those tears can only be a cry for help. And I told you. I'm not a hallucination; I'm real.

I may not know how to help you through all the pain you were forced to endure in the past...

But I can promise to stay with you now and protect you from any more pain in the future.

So please, don't throw your life away.

Aldo...

Shanie? What's wrong? Are you injured?

Teehee. I know you said I shouldn't be crying if I'm happy... But there's such a thing as happy tears, you know?

Oh...

(Thank you, Aldo. You truly are kind.) (But you are not my soulmate. And so, we cannot be together.)

(After all, you only fall in love once. Don't you?)