Chapter 148: Vita's summoning

Cathy sees none of them moving. She tightens her jaw and rushes to the sea. However, she stumbles back when a sudden pull on her arm unbalances her. 

"Do not meddle in other people's business."

There is anger in Laurel's voice and no filter of the annoyance she feels towards Cathy. How could Laurel forgive Cathy? She has spent a year resenting for nothing.

Cathy flinches from those harsh words and remains silent while looking towards the sea.

---

Vita has called for Kyrie. Now, he stands on the sand where the smoothing cold water reaches to his toes. He tilts his head down, feeling the sand that his feet picked up washing away as the tides grow stronger. He steps towards the welcoming tides, and the seawater embraces the bottom of his feet, making him float on top of the water. He walks towards the ocean with a trembling heart. All his thoughts make the situation feel ominous, and his heart grows untrusting to where he is heading.

Kyrie opens his eyes again. He recognizes the wide sky and ocean that reach infinity. However, the colors of the ocean are starting to change. As though someone has poured red ink, the ocean is turning into a cold violet. Something deep within the ocean is boiling. Nonetheless, when Kyrie looks at the surface of the ocean, his mind still registers that the ocean is not violet, but the sky reflecting on it. Only when he lifts his head can he see the clear and expansive blue sky that relieves just a bit of the tension inside. The air entering his lungs feels cleaner and fresher.

Vita appears in front of him. Her appearance looks the same as the first time Kyrie has met her at the temple in the Kingdom of Aria. However, her aura feels peculiar after losing contact for a year. Vita has called him in his sleep and asked him to walk into the ocean. 

"Long time no see, brat," Her expression softens once her eyes land on Kyrie.

The previous heavy atmosphere vanishes like it does not exist. Nonetheless, her gaze is sharper, as if she is looking within.

"..."

[Damn it! Looking at her makes all the information float to my mind…]

Vita looks at Kyrie for a while before finally taking her eyes off, "It seems like you have met with someone special. There is an overflowing amount of essence within you that is strong enough to protect you from people prying into you."

Kyrie remains silent because Vita's words always have an element of doubletalk. Everything she says seems always to have meaning, whether hidden or plain in words. Kyrie gets caught in bad timing again and gets summoned when everything feels obscure. His mind is still filled with questions of who is the friend and who is the foe.

Vita huffs, "You don't need to be so alarmed. I am not going to do anything to you. But it seems like you have found out a little bit of history."

Kyrie's heartbeats are ramping up, making him feel like his rib cage is getting punched at. However, he is quite relieved to hear that Vita can no longer listen to his thoughts. At least, some of his privacy is spared from becoming public to every god he encounters. 

"I am not used to seeing you so silent, Kyrie. Or, maybe it is because I can no longer hear your thoughts?"

Where should he start? What should he say? These questions run in his mind repeatedly because he is no longer sure of Vita's true objective. He just knows that she is involved with Phanes's situation. 

"Why me?" Kyrie furrows his bows, "Or was entering this world out of pure coincidence?"

Vita lifts a corner of her lips, "Guess you found out about it..."

"Are you the one who chose me?" 

Vita presses her lips, and her hands tighten on the long sleeves of her hanfu, "Yes, but it is still meant to be. You will have to get to this world whether through my involvement or not."

Kyrie tightens his fists and muscles and lets them go at the same time. He smiles at Vita.

"Then… You are the one that I should thank for bringing me here."

Vita flings her eyes open into circles. She expects at least some resentment, a lot of doubt, maybe some questioning, and anger - a lot of anger. Yet, that is not what she is receiving, so she is thrown off. 

'WHY?'

She looks at this human being that could turn into one ocean drop in this infinite place in a blink of an eye. Yet, she feels something more expansive in his heart than this place. 

"Why are you thanking me?" Vita narrows her eyes as if she is attempting to take hold of what is inside her from coming out. 

"I don't know what you are trying to do, Vita. I don't know how all this involves Phanes. I don't know your history or your motives. However, coming to this world was like a gift. Living my life as if it is a gift has made all the difference. I am no longer a coward that relies on the words of a novel to live. I am making my own decisions and living my life on my own terms."

Vita looks up at the sky and lets out a shaky laugh, "I think you are thanking me for something absurd from your imagination. Things have yet to happen, and when those nightmares turn into reality, I wonder if you can say the same."

Vita tilts back to lock gazes with Kyrie, "You will resent me, hate me, and even wish to purge me."

"Then… I will do so when the time comes."

Vita looks at Kyrie's amber eyes shining like jewels behind his long fringes. Unlike his usual brushed-up hair, his bangs hang on his forehead, and his hair reaches to his shoulders.

Vita can see the unsurmountable faith within him, but she believes it more that such strength is naivety than courage. Faith that produces hope but also despair is something she knows all too well. However, even in the slightest of chances, she might see a different ending for someone like Kyrie. Although the pursuit is different, maybe that faith would not break into… 

The image of a child comes to her mind. She remembers the day she carried that child in her arms.

Resentment.

That terrible feeling tightens her soul every time that child came to her sight. So, she turns away. She runs away.

Vita's eyelids flicker when she notices Kyrie walking closer.

"I don't think you have summoned me just for small talk to catch up," Kyrie crosses his arms.

Vita quickly regains her composure and smirks, "I like you because you catch on quick…"

---

The sun is slowly peeking out from the ocean, outlining Kyrie's figure like enveloping in flames. The ocean waves blow towards the land, and those facing against the waves feel their cold caress. Kyrie finally moves from the place he is standing on, and he turns towards those waiting for him on the shore. He walks back with his clothes gently rustling from the wind. His floating hair is tinted from the warm sunrise. 

Laurel quickly meets with Kyrie, "Well? What did the goddess say to you?"

Kyrie shivers from the cold since he is in his nightwear. Federline puts a coat on his shoulders. 

"Let's go back and talk."

Laurel tabs on her arm as she waits for Kyrie to sit down on the couch after changing to proper clothes. He pours himself some tea to warm his body. While drinking a warm cup of tea, Kyrie sniffs his runny nose. 

How could Vita just call him in the middle of the night to stand on the ocean? It's not like this is an anime that requires extra points of coolness. 

Sensing that Laurel is going to snap from impatience, Kyrie goes to the point.

"Vita ordered me to kill the Fairy Queen."