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cw: implied abuse
You're fourteen years old, and even though you know you're not allowed to leave the village except once a year, for the dedication ceremony... but every so often, your mind wanders to the ocean, so beautiful and vast. Your sister took you there, once. Years ago... before she left.... all you have to remember it is the giant seashell she gave you, and a picture.
Pearl, your little cousin, is so enraptured by these two things. You explain that all life came from the ocean, and her little eyes light up. You decide... you want her to have this kind of happiness, too. That kind of memory. She's never left the village, her mother (your aunt) has told her nothing exists outside of it...
So, as much as bothering your aunt makes you nervous, you decide to go for it. Kneeling respectfully, you ask her if you can take Pearl with you to this year's dedication ceremony.
Her eyes are hard. She reminds you, voice hard, that only the Master may leave the village, and only once a year. She tells you she shouldn't have to remind you. Your heart drops, a little.
"Mother and sis said it was important to learn about the outside world..." or at least, that's what your sister used to tell you.
"This discussion is over," she snaps, no longer even looking at you. "If you wish to become master in the future, you'll never again speak such nonsense."
After she leaves, Pearl apologies to you and flees, tears in her eyes. She says she doesn't want to see the ocean, after all.
.... You can't stand to see such pain.... so you decide, to take her anyway. It'll be your secret. If your aunt finds out, you can take the brunt of her anger... as usual.
But if you just slip away, that should be fine, right? It's just for a few minutes.... to the ocean.... Pearl would be so happy, and no one would ever have to know. You just ask her not to say anything, and you make a pinky promise.
The ocean is as beautiful as it was the last time you saw it, and Pearl's little eyes so wide and round it makes your heart soar.
"I really wanted to show you this," you say, smiling widely. The source of all life.... the ocean.
---
Your aunt found out. You're once again on your knees, awaiting punishment, as the full force of her derision and resentment bears down upon you. Head bowed, you apologize -- worse, Pearl is there, and she's seeing this. You can't do anything that could jeopardize her. This is your fault, after all.
"Good grief," your aunt spits at you, "I see the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree." She's said things like this before--- you hear whispers of it throughout the village. There is no love here for your sister and your mother, aside from you, the only one left behind.
"Just look at your mother," Morgan is hiding her mouth behind her sleeve, and she knows this is a painful subject for you. After all, your mother is the one who up and disappeared, leaving you in her care. "Remind me," she continues, "What happened when she broke the rules and got involved with outsiders? Not only did she ruin Kurain's reputation, she went and disappeared!"
You never talk back when she's speaking ill of you (isn't she right, after all?), but you can't stand to hear her insult your mother. She was only trying to... She was only trying to.....
(But deep down you know, that you were abandoned. Left behind. Discarded.)
"That was for the village's betterment--"
She cuts you off.
"And Mystic Mia too," she says, twisting the knife in a little further, "She left the village, saying she wanted to become a lawyer. Of all the selfish acts!"
"No!" you squeak back, "Sis is trying to find leads on mother's whereabouts!" Your voice is almost pleading.
"You women of the main family are an embarrassment to Kurain!"
Despite yourself, you can't keep your composure. Your eyes start to well up with tears.
"Mother!" protests little Pearl, "Mystic Maya did it for me!"
Your heart stops -- the thought of Morgan punishing her is too much to bear -- but Morgan just kneels down, and soothes her. "Oh, don't you worry about a thing. You did nothing wrong."
Despite your relief, the tears keep flowing.
"Her powers are superior to yours," snaps Morgan, at you, "It's only because of your blood that you stand above her! Never forget that."
Pearl is crying, too, and you wish you had the strength to comfort her at that moment.
--
Soon after, you're in your room, and you stand up to try to find Pearl. But the soft pitter patter of her little feet alert you to her presence, and you slide your door open.
"I'm sorry, Mystic Maya," she says tearfully, "It's all because of my selfishness..."
"No," you smile at her, "I'm the one who invited you. You have nothing to apologize for."
The pain doesn't leave her face. Suddenly, an idea comes to you.
"Oh, right. Hang on a sec."
You give her your most prized possession, a special seashell you can only find at that beach. "Here. Try putting it to your ear."
"Oh, I hear something....."
"It's the waves," you tell her gently, "The shell is filled with the sound of that ocean."
Finally, the stricken expression leaves her face entirely. "Wow... that's amazing!"
"Right? You can have it."
"What, really?"
You grin with all her power. "Really. To remember this day. With this, you can hear the ocean anytime you want."
Her eyes sparkle, and your heart finally feels a bit lighter. Thank goodness...
Pearl, your little cousin, is so enraptured by these two things. You explain that all life came from the ocean, and her little eyes light up. You decide... you want her to have this kind of happiness, too. That kind of memory. She's never left the village, her mother (your aunt) has told her nothing exists outside of it...
So, as much as bothering your aunt makes you nervous, you decide to go for it. Kneeling respectfully, you ask her if you can take Pearl with you to this year's dedication ceremony.
Her eyes are hard. She reminds you, voice hard, that only the Master may leave the village, and only once a year. She tells you she shouldn't have to remind you. Your heart drops, a little.
"Mother and sis said it was important to learn about the outside world..." or at least, that's what your sister used to tell you.
"This discussion is over," she snaps, no longer even looking at you. "If you wish to become master in the future, you'll never again speak such nonsense."
After she leaves, Pearl apologies to you and flees, tears in her eyes. She says she doesn't want to see the ocean, after all.
.... You can't stand to see such pain.... so you decide, to take her anyway. It'll be your secret. If your aunt finds out, you can take the brunt of her anger... as usual.
But if you just slip away, that should be fine, right? It's just for a few minutes.... to the ocean.... Pearl would be so happy, and no one would ever have to know. You just ask her not to say anything, and you make a pinky promise.
The ocean is as beautiful as it was the last time you saw it, and Pearl's little eyes so wide and round it makes your heart soar.
"I really wanted to show you this," you say, smiling widely. The source of all life.... the ocean.
---
Your aunt found out. You're once again on your knees, awaiting punishment, as the full force of her derision and resentment bears down upon you. Head bowed, you apologize -- worse, Pearl is there, and she's seeing this. You can't do anything that could jeopardize her. This is your fault, after all.
"Good grief," your aunt spits at you, "I see the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree." She's said things like this before--- you hear whispers of it throughout the village. There is no love here for your sister and your mother, aside from you, the only one left behind.
"Just look at your mother," Morgan is hiding her mouth behind her sleeve, and she knows this is a painful subject for you. After all, your mother is the one who up and disappeared, leaving you in her care. "Remind me," she continues, "What happened when she broke the rules and got involved with outsiders? Not only did she ruin Kurain's reputation, she went and disappeared!"
You never talk back when she's speaking ill of you (isn't she right, after all?), but you can't stand to hear her insult your mother. She was only trying to... She was only trying to.....
(But deep down you know, that you were abandoned. Left behind. Discarded.)
"That was for the village's betterment--"
She cuts you off.
"And Mystic Mia too," she says, twisting the knife in a little further, "She left the village, saying she wanted to become a lawyer. Of all the selfish acts!"
"No!" you squeak back, "Sis is trying to find leads on mother's whereabouts!" Your voice is almost pleading.
"You women of the main family are an embarrassment to Kurain!"
Despite yourself, you can't keep your composure. Your eyes start to well up with tears.
"Mother!" protests little Pearl, "Mystic Maya did it for me!"
Your heart stops -- the thought of Morgan punishing her is too much to bear -- but Morgan just kneels down, and soothes her. "Oh, don't you worry about a thing. You did nothing wrong."
Despite your relief, the tears keep flowing.
"Her powers are superior to yours," snaps Morgan, at you, "It's only because of your blood that you stand above her! Never forget that."
Pearl is crying, too, and you wish you had the strength to comfort her at that moment.
--
Soon after, you're in your room, and you stand up to try to find Pearl. But the soft pitter patter of her little feet alert you to her presence, and you slide your door open.
"I'm sorry, Mystic Maya," she says tearfully, "It's all because of my selfishness..."
"No," you smile at her, "I'm the one who invited you. You have nothing to apologize for."
The pain doesn't leave her face. Suddenly, an idea comes to you.
"Oh, right. Hang on a sec."
You give her your most prized possession, a special seashell you can only find at that beach. "Here. Try putting it to your ear."
"Oh, I hear something....."
"It's the waves," you tell her gently, "The shell is filled with the sound of that ocean."
Finally, the stricken expression leaves her face entirely. "Wow... that's amazing!"
"Right? You can have it."
"What, really?"
You grin with all her power. "Really. To remember this day. With this, you can hear the ocean anytime you want."
Her eyes sparkle, and your heart finally feels a bit lighter. Thank goodness...