Heart of Cinders

In desolated lands, where the living do not roam, and the grass is a faded color of yellow, an unlikely pair traveled together. In this land where the sky was a perpetuated grey and only the winds made noise, this pair searched for something. He was a giant, a large man with thick and long arms. His whole head, was covered by a bronze bell. On his back, he had forty-seven keyholes, that which the insides could not be seen. Of those forty-seven only fourteen had a matching key, waiting to be turned.

The giant, who was on a small hill looking out to the distance, lifts his heavy hand. He had heard a bird’s chirping and as his palm faced the heavens, that brown and white sparrow landed. The little thing chirped, and the giant only breathed heavily. From his back, a small smiling girl, lifted herself on his shoulders and, pointing at the bird, shouted: Kill!

With might, the giant clenches its fist, squishing the bird into a mush of blood and meat, before the bird could frighten itself with the girl’s sudden appearance. She climbs off the titans’ back and with excitement goes to see his hand. She was a fourth of his size, with grey skin and disheveled red hair that was just as massive as her.

She had a plain and dirty white shirt that almost worked as a dress paired with dark green pants that were rolled up, displaying her bare feet and scarred shins.

“What you got there, Bell?”, she asks, with a silky pronunciation.

“A bird, my Princess.”, he answers with a thunder-powered voice.

Opening his hand, the bird’s guts stick to his fingers. He presents it to her.

“I’m… not hungry.”, she says, followed by a loud growling stomach. “Maybe a little.”

Moments later, the giant kept walking toward the horizon, with that slouched posture of his. The Princess used the keys on his back to lift herself and move around his back. She also finds ways to sit there and lay down to sleep. She had finished eating and cleaned the blood off her mouth. Smearing it on her hands and forearms.

“Bell!”, she yelled out.

“Yes, my Princes—”

“I’M BOOOORED! Tell me your story again!”, she asks with a large smile.

Using the keys as an upside-down bed frame, the girl simply hung there, in a strangely comfortable position.

“12 Years ago, your father, King Erofarn was on the verge of madness. A sickening Plague was ravishing the lands and all attempts to stop it had failed, killing everyone along with all hope. However, Wizards of the North were kind to pass through our kingdom.”

“Have you ever seen a wizard Bell? “

“I have, my Princess.”

“What were they like?”, She asks noticing that her arms were smeared in blood.

“There are very few Wizards in our world, and I was lucky to come across one. One covered in metal and roses. Wolderbarin, The Romancer, he was called.”

“Romancer? Romancer of what? Plants?”

“Of women.”

“Gross.” She shudders.

“And so, after much toil, the Wizards proposed to King Erofarn a way out. A blessing that could grant him his wish and eliminate The Plague. But to that, he must find 47 Keys and present them to a wizard. Then, and only then, the wizard could summon the blessing.”

“Right… Look though, we already have fourteen of them things! We will get them all soon enough!”

“Indeed, we will. If only you could remind yourself of your own tale Princess Enma, that way you could entertain yourself.”

“Hey now! I’m trying my best here!”

She rolls and falls out of his back. Running to his side. They had passed the grasslands and now walked through a parliament of purple trees and cyan grass. Enma ran in first. Feeling the silky leaves and mushy floor, giggling as she ventures ahead. She stops abruptly and hides in a bush. Just ahead was a fountainhead, gold and green. But perhaps more interesting than that, a lone wanderer.

They readied themselves, packing their belongings and adjusting their vests. Enma spied quietly, wondering to herself all sorts of silliness about this character with a white hood and cloak. Her guardian arrives, with heavy sounds to his feet, alerting the traveler. Warned, they grabbed their staff and aim at the giant. Bell groans, annoyed but ready to butcher another threat, and charges forward toward the adversary.

Enma jumps out from the bushes and stands between the two.

“Bell stop!” She ordered, and the giant obeyed.

The other one quietly lowers the staff and prepares to escape.

“You stop too!” She quickly turns

“Damn me…” They whisper.

Enma turns to the stranger, “And you are?”

“Anri of-- Daughter of Kors.” The lady removes her cloak. She had smooth black hair, freckles, and blue eyes with slightly different tones. Enma speaks with a smug act. “Nice to meet you Anray, Daughter of Kors. I am Princess Enma, and this is my friend Bell. Because he got a big bell on his head.”

“I… see that.”

“And what were you doing here, Enrey?”

“You see, Lady Enma, Bell the Giant, I am seeking medicine for The Plague which haunts my father.”

“A cure for The Plague…” Her smile and attitude fade. “…For your dad?”

“Yes, I’ve traveled far but found nothing.”

Enma then informs Anri that they are in search of the cure too. But unlike Anri their method was absolute. Bell harshly explained to her, as Enma commanded him to do so, how the 47 Keys could save them all.

Excited and with newfound hope, Anri agrees to travel with the two of them. Before they could resume their travel, Enma began coughing. Dry, guttural bursts, too strong for her little lungs. She covers her mouth, dropping to her weakened knees, she cannot catch her breath between the constant coughs. Bell remains still and silent, as Anri rushes to her aid:

“Lady Enma? Are you well? What is this, Guardian?”

Enma feels her chest ache as the coughing fades away and she manages to breathe again.

“Princess Enma has a sickness of her own. Pain and weakness strike her without warning.”

As Bell explained it, Anri helped Enma get back on her feet. Looking closely Anri spotted watery eyes and a vulnerable expression of fear. Enma quickly wipes her eyes and smiles again.

Are you well Lady Enma?”

“Well? I am expellant!!!” She says throwing her fist in the sky.

“Does the little Lady mean excellent?”

“Quiet Ingrid! We have no time to waste! Bell!”

“Yes, my Princess?”

“Pick me up!”, She says seriously.

Lively again, the child orders the giant to carry her on his keyed back.

“Forward!”, She commands.

Anri laughs. Enma feels flustered and asks what she was laughing about.

“You’re incredible Lady Enma”, Anri smiles.

Not used to compliments, Enma laughs her embarrassment off and avoids looking at Anri. The giant paces forward, with the girl lifting herself with his keys. Anri follows along, just to their right. With the end of this purple-colored valley in sight, The Daughter of Kors, asked things about the strange pair, given a natural curiosity.

Bell had informed her that this had been their 3,426th day of travel. During this time, they had found 18 Keys, only. He spoke about being given a Key for the start of the journey.

“From the King… and what happens then?”

“A flower will be unlocked. That is the artifact.”, Bell remembers his mission.

“A flower is the answer to our problems?”, Anri felt skeptical.

“A Divine Flower! Said to only be picked by those with gentle hearts!” Enma answers her.

“A Divine Flower huh? And Wizards told you this? I wouldn’t trust them if I were you.” Anri speaks, using her white staff as a walking stick.

“What’s that you got against Wizards, Andrea?”

“It’s pronounced Anri, Lady Enma. And Wizards are known for their trickery and dishonesty. They are as powerful as they are selfish…”

Enma rests her head in her hands, on top of Bell’s bell head, in sudden deep thought.

“Bell said that Wizards are some of the greatest of our time…” Enma spouts, to which Anri responds with an angry glare towards the giant. “I will reserve judgment to when I meet a real Wizard!,” Enma continued.

Anri smiled at the girl’s nature. Her smile quickly fades to a frown of sadness and regret:

“You might disappoint yourself when the time comes Lady Enma.”

They step out of the woodworks, greeted by the creeping night and dusky rocky lands.

“Night already? Let us find a place of rest and — ”

“Rest? Priscilla, please! There is no need to stop for that!”

“Bell might carry you Lady Enma, but I still need to sit down now and then.”

Bested by logic and by the fact that she did not want Bell to carry both girls, the princess agrees to settle down. Around a small cove with large rocks, Anri made a bonfire for them. Bell had sat down on the entrance to this cove, with Anri and Enma on the deeper end. The princess was mesmerized by the fire, watching it closely and taking pleasure in its warmth. Anri looks at the girl, curling up by the fire, and could not help but smile.

“Say Lady Enma, do you like the flame?”, Said Anri, fiddling around with her bag.

“No…”, The girl spoke without movement.

“No?”, Anri had to confirm what she just heard. “Why are you so close to it then?”

“I don’t know…”, Enma reaches out and touches the flame.

She squeaks in pain and recoils immediately. Anri rushes to her aid and hugs her from behind, bringing her close.

“Enma! Do not do things like that! Let me see!”

Upon inspection, Anri sees that the girl’s finger had burned due to frostbite. In disbelief, Anri still took care of her injury with some tricks she had picked up with her father. Sometime later, Enma had fallen asleep, right in Anri’s lap. As the ash-skin child rested, Anri questioned her guardian.

“Bell. Who is she?”

“The Daughter of King Erofarn, The Mad.”

“He died eleven years ago, right? How old is she?”

“Eleven.”

“And the mother?”

“Died eleven years ago.”

“So, she doesn’t know what having a family is like? Poor girl.”

“All my princess knows is pain and solitude.”

Anri observes the slumbering princess. Imagining herself in the girl’s place, growing up without her beloved father. Without those precious memories to comfort her. Without his wisdom to guide her. Thinking about him and Enma gave her strength. Surely, she must save both of them. Once all is said and done, perhaps Enma and Bell could come home and live among them. The more the merrier, after all. Anri continues to talk with the giant protector.

“This sickness you mentioned, it’s not The Plague… what is it?”

“A curse, from the world that confronted Erofarn.”

“A curse?”

“If all sickening efforts backfire, you will pay.

Compromises must not be made, even on darkest day

That which you love will become heart of flame

And the dark eye of the sun shall ignore your pray.“

Bell cited the curse. Anri listened carefully to those thundering and vengeful words, understanding the meaning behind them. Even if Bell meant no evil, Anri couldn’t feel any less worried. She knew better, but it was like those words were meant to hurt everyone. She continues:

“I get that he did everything he could think of to cure The Plague, as vile and insane as they were… but he is gone. And curses don’t work on the undead. What’s the point of staying angry at the dead?”

“That is what he thought. But the curse was made to make him suffer great loss.”

Anri looks down. The girl, gently sleeping. Her massive red hair served as a comforting blanket. Her head and arms sought the warmth from Anri’s body.

“The time of my princess runs short, Daughter of Kors.”

Anri gently caresses Enma’s head, passing her hand through her hair.

“I will do what I can to aid her.”

“Your aid is greatly appreciated…”

They stay silent for a moment. Even if the giant had no mouth, or face to demonstrate emotions, it was clear that he had a long, patient, and grateful smile. In these three thousand moons, how many people had aided him, for Enma’s sake? Anri was heaven-sent, most likely. It even made this dull block, act differently. He was curious about her.

“If you do not mind me asking. What is that stone you carry on your neck?”

“Oh, this?” Anri pulls out a small crystal necklace she wears. The emerald has a faint green glow to it, that pulsates like a slowed heart. It was created to track the life insignia of another being. And like the druid merchants that sell this item say, It will always guide you home.

“It is a Soul Lamp.”

“Who is it linked to? Your father, I presume?”

“I would rather not talk about it.”, She hides under her robes again.

“I will respect your wishes, Daughter of Kors. But I dearly hope that you will not disappoint my princess and abandon her in a time of need. She has you too now…”

Looking down again, seeing that soft and light expression on Enma’s face. Anri feels the girl cling a bit harder to her, and a half-conscious word escapes her mouth. “Dad….” Anri feels her heart shatter with a strange and powerful feeling. This child must be protected.

As dawn breaks, Anri and Bell wake the slumbering princess and set off toward the Keys. Five weeks go by. During this time, the lands were explored in depth under the scorching sun and whimsical moon. They arrived in the Great World Desert and were met by its only inhabitant, the Desert King. A being formed after absorbing all the life of the region, which then became sand.

He was a slouched figure covered in cloth and possessed great power. Only his purple eyes and wrinkly hands were visible. Naturally, he was befriended by Enma, and that perverse entity was quick to dismiss any malevolent plans against the wanderers. The band is guided to a Key and then safely taken out of the desert. Anri felt both happy and sad to know that the Desert King would not accompany them out of his home.

The next week, exploration of the Unquoma Archipelago began. It was a march of blue and yellow trees with loads of orange rivers coursing through the islands. Bell could sense a great deal of keys within that land, but they were quick to encounter another group. The Yonghess Troupe is a group of bandits cursed with a hive mind. Strangely enough, they were in possession of three keys, and it seemed negotiation would be a dead end. Using a spell, Anri stole the keys from them and then ran away.

Bell fought off the bandits to give time for the girls to get away. Near the edges of the archipelago, they meet up with the giant and leave for simpler and safer marshes. Eventually, Anri gave Enma an intensive bath, and even, so her hair refused to take another shape. While in the river, Anri spotted a most unfortunate thing. On Enma’s bare chest, exposed flesh and heart, cracking like dry coal and sizzling like a flame.

During all that time, Enma had eight episodes. Each is more intense than the last. To make matters worse, somehow, only four keys were found. Following the Giant’s words, all keys must be tested. The girls had just exited a cave, bringing a chest with them, as the Guardian kept the gate of the dungeon up. On the side of a mountain, Bell drops the stone gate, causing a tremor, as the girls set the chest down. Enma excitingly opens the chest and reveals its content. A broken sword, an old medal, a letter, and a green scarf.

“AH! COME ON NOW!”, Enma shouts, putting the scarf around her, “Nothing again…”

Anri rips the envelope apart, and the key that was inside drops to the ground.

“Not so fast now…”, Anri takes the key and tests it on Bell. Eventually, it found a match. “Good, now we have 19… only 28 more…”

Anri sighs. She looks at her Soul Lamp; the color had faded quite a bit in the past weeks. Looking ahead, the girl chatted with the giant, sharing a big smile, and twirling around to show off her latest look. That night, Anri entertained Enma with golden lights from her staff. As the night quieted down, Anri sits next to Bell. They watched the girl in a gentle sleep.

“Answer me this Bell. What are you? You might be big, but you’re certainly no Giantkin.”

“Her guardian. Made to seek out the keys.”

“For a guardian, you sure know a lot of things. You’re not the only one I suppose…”

“I am and am not.”

“Explain?”

“The Wizards created my kind for King Erofarn. To roam the earth and seek the keys. But connected by our bells, I sensed them fall through the ages. I am the Last Seeker of Keys.”

“Why haven’t you told me this?! It would have been so much easier, instead, we’ve been hopelessly walking around with no path! That’s why we found nothing!!”

“What is it that you mean? Have you, a proposition in mind?”

Anri gets up, and with her staff, she conjures a circle made of mist and lightning. She whispers some words into her hand and blows air into the circle.

“I created a spell for you and Enma to track the bodies of your kin, they must have collected keys themselves, before perishing.”

“I see…”

“Find your brethren, take their keys, and put an end to this.”

“You do mean to come along. Correct?”

Anri looks at her emerald again and it's diminishing light.

“It seemed I was right. The Lamp is linked to your father.”

“Silence.”

“And his strength is fading.”

“Silence, Giant!”

“You wish to be at his side.”

Anri gets up and walks away. “Of course, I want to!! I thought finding the keys was going to be a greater answer. But we have done nothing, accomplished nothing. She has lived for 11 years with this curse. As painful as it may be, she still has time, giant.”

“Shame be on your name for abandoning this duty, Daughter of Kors.”

“I came to save my father Guardian! As much as Enma deserves happiness, I did not come here for her. I have nothing to offer. I am a shameful fool, Giant, but the kind man who took care of me is dying, and I will do what I must to repay his love!!!”

“You’re leaving us?”, now awake, Enma walks close to Bell, coughing slightly.

“Lady Enma…”, Anri stiffs her posture.

“You are only here to help your dad? But what about us?!”

“That was our agreement, Lady Enma.”

“Liar! Anri, stop lying!!!”

Enma begins coughing harshly. She still stands, trying to stand on equal terms to Anri. Her chest burns and the cracks of soot and stone spread to her neck, arms, and waist. It appeared as if she was burning softly, with embers floating off from her. Anri could not fight against her instinct and worry for the child.

“Enma!”

“NO! GO AWAY! GO HELP YOUR DAD! I DIDN’T LIKE YOU ANYWAY!”

“You wouldn’t get it Enma…”

“OF COURSE, I WOULDN’T!! EVERYONE HATES ME… AND MY DAD!! WHAT DID HE EVEN DO?! WHY DOES EVERYONE KNOW HIM WHEN I DON’T!!!”

Anri takes a step back. The blazing girl shouted and cried, those tears going down her ashen skin. Coughing dust and fire as her whole body felt agony and her lungs collapsed with cinders. Anri walked towards her. But the girl ordered the giant to take her away. Bell grabs Enma and places her on his shoulders. Causing some craters with the initial burst. The giant runs on four legs as fast as he can. Getting away from Anri, forever.

She sees the duo disappeared into the night. She sheds a tear and lifts her hood to hide her expression. Anri walks in another direction. Enma holds tight to the keys and cries. Wailing between pained coughs and suffocating wheezes. Scorching.

Far away, a week later, the giant and the princess walked in a vast desert of ice and stone. The spell had worked. As they traveled, Bell sought the bodies of the fallen giants. Surely enough they all had the missing keys. Bell could not sense them originally, because they had already been used, so to speak. In just two weeks, they had found 21 Keys placed upon four other guardians. Now with 40 Keys, they were closer than ever.

“Bell…”, She spoke, on his back, with a limp body.

“Yes, my Princess?”

“Are we close…?”, Her voice was raspy, and her body was dry. Her skin had grown darker. Even grayer ash, while the cracks and wounds grew all over her, with sizzling flame emitted from them. Her lips, eyes, nails, and back, were all ruptured.

“We have arrived.”

She drops from his back, smacking her sides against the hard ice floor. Her heating body thaws the ground slightly. Ahead of them, was the body of a fallen guardian. The closest that Bell could sense. The others were spread across even further lands, across the entire earth. Enma stumbles around him, to see his back.

“One… two… three…”

Enma began coughing. A violent episode began, bringing her down to her knees. The fire consuming her was visible and she could feel it, eating her away.

“Four… five… s-six…”

The princess curls up and cries. Bursting fire and smoke from her lungs and heart, the girl loses hope. The giant carried only six keys. Not enough to end the journey. Bell watched over the girl wish death upon herself. The tragedy that befell her was beyond comprehension. Why was she suffering in the first place? Why was the youth blamed and punished for the sins of her ancestor?

“Don’t cry, Lady Enma.” A soothing voice came from behind them.

Looking behind her, with a desolated expression, she sees Anri.

“GO AWAY YOU!!!”

“I was going to… but as I walked, my mind wouldn’t stop racing.”

“What…?!”

“By the light in my lamp, he had very little time. Even if I walked without rest, I would not make it… I wasted my time and failed him. Now with less than a day, he will die alone… But he will be the only one.”, Anri shows a comforting smile.

Enma looks down, embarrassed and angry, still burning away.

“Giant, what can I do?”

“We are missing a key, Anri. And we have run out of time.”

“The curse… What do you mean?”

“The Dark Eye of the Sun is here. That is what they meant…”, Bell pointed outward.

Looking up, they see the moon heading toward the sun. An eclipse was bound to take place. Anri and a burning Enma hastily place five keys on Bell’s back. And as Enma goes to place the sixth, Anri takes the key from her and snaps it in half, destroying it. Making it useless.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” Enma screams, and her hopeless tears turned to steam.

Anri makes a prayer, holding the pieces in her hands.

Light emerges from between her fingers.

“A Restoration spell…”, She smiles at Enma as the two pieces slowly grow into two full keys. “I hate myself for only coming up with ideas on the spot…”, Holding the bottom half of the key, Anri places it as a remaining spot. The key grows and takes the shape of the missing key.

“For someone who dislikes Wizards, you are quite full of tricks yourself.”, Bell said.

Enma places the last key. They all turn upside down, emitting a white glow. Unlocking something celestial, that the Wizards sought. But now only a wizard could push this unlocked door.

“But… we need a Wizard, Bell! We haven’t… found one… to give the keys…”

“Daughter of Kors, The Betrayed. Your father is a forlorn Wizard, pushed away by his own.”

“You do know so much…”, Anri admired.

“No wonder you despise them. Your father was one of the few that despised Erofarn’s madness. He refuse to aid the Wizards and was considered a traitor. You are his successor…”

Anri gets up. She takes her white cloak and hood off. Showing off the dark blue vests from underneath. She was Anri of The North, daughter of the Wizard, Kors, The Betrayed. And a Wizard on her own accord. Enma’s eyes, even while in flames, had an innocent glow to them.

“A Wizard…” she awed.

“Repeat the casting, Anri of the North.”

Bell speaks an ancient tongue, and Anri repeats after him. The sky darkens, as the eclipse begins. Enma bursts into more intense flames. As the hymn ends, Anri prepares to finish the spell, with energy flowing off her staff. Bell turns to his princess.

“Enma. You will be given the Divine Flower. Speak your wish to it and destroy it in your hands, to make it a reality… It was the greatest of pleasures to guide you through life.”

Anri hits her staff down.

“Goodbye Princess Enma, may your kind soul know true peace.”

Bell’s body collapses. Expunging him, turning his mass into soil.

“Bell?”, Enma cries and realizes the death of her lifelong companion. It had never crossed her mind, what collecting all the keys would entail. She never imagined a world without Bell. But as the Eclipse reaches its peak her whole body turns to flames.

From the soil, a pale flower with blue leaves emerges.

“The flower Enma! Erase your Curse!” Anri rushes and kneels next to her. She takes the flower effortlessly and presents it to the girl. Her faint emerald necklace was next to Enma’s face, almost without color. Her skin, was now dark and dry as char, with gashes of blaze coming from her entire body and tearing her apart. Enma grabs the flower with difficulty.

“Now speak your wish!”

“I wish… for a long… happy life… without sickness…”

“Now crush it!!”, Anri pleaded.

“…For those who have The Plague.”

The flower was crumbled by the princesses’ small fists. In pure disbelief, Anri sees her emerald light up. The Plague no longer existed in that world. Everyone was free of that curse. In a desolate ice desert. With the dark sun behind them, Enma turns to Anri.

“Enma… why?”

“Because… I don’t want you to lose something… dear to you.”

“Oh, Enma…”, Anri hugs the girl. “I still am losing something very precious today.”

Enma cries but her tears do not even form anymore, “Quiet Anri!”, she hugs Anri with all her fading strength. Gripping the wizard’s vests tightly. The girls stay together. The raging fire did not faze Anri. The ice reflected their image and the dark eye of the sun shone its shadow upon them.

“You’re not leaving me again… right?”

“Never again… and neither your memory will ever escape my mind.”

“I don’t want to go Anri…”, Her voice fails as the flames get stronger.

“You traveled so much… How about resting for a bit? I will be here when you wake up.”

“Will you really?”

“Of course, my princess…”

“Anri…”

The flames stop.

Enma’s body turns to ash.

Carried away by the wind. Anri sees the scarf fall to the ground. The Wizard collapses on her hands, sobbing endlessly. She takes the cloth and wraps it around her, to bring her comfort.

“There will be another time for us, and we will laugh together again… I’m sure of it.”

Anri of the North travels back to her home. Carrying the scarf and memory of two companions for the rest of her existence. She smiles softly, knowing that at the end of the road, there would be love and warmth awaiting her in her birthplace. A loving person, healthy once again. Only such kindness to comfort a Heart of Cinders.

“Goodbye, my dearest Enma.”