Kin no Inori centers around Tear and Guy, the effect Luke had on both of them, and on pre-game history. What I"ve got here is the prologue, opening with both of them dreaming, and the first couple pages of chapter 1, which is the death of Van and Tear"s mother. Enjoy! ♥
Tales of the Abyss Kin no Inori (pg 8-20).
Story by: Yajima Sara.
Ill.u.s.trations by: Nakajima Atsuko.
Translated by: Matcha.
Proofread by: Sage.
７
Prologue
８
Where am I?
It seems like I"ve been here a long time, standing motionless. Alone.
Oh, that"s it: I"ve been waiting. For what? For whom?
"Isn"t it cold, staying in a place like this?" I hear a voice say.
"No, it"s not cold..." I answer, looking down at the stuffed animal in my arms, one my brother chose for me--
That"s right. I"m waiting for my brother in the garden of selenia flowers.
The stuffed animal has grown warm from my body heat; my fingers stiffen on its back. When I hug it tightly like this with my small hands, I fall into the illusion that it"s the cloth toy keeping me warm instead.
９
If I hug it more tightly, will I become warmer? Just like when my brother hugs me...?
I"m five years old. Or maybe about... five years and ten days. The stuffed animal my brother bought for me on his way home from Daath was a birthday present. It has an odd face for a rabbit, but it is still very cute and is like a friend to me. My stuffed animal friends will help me keep on waiting for my brother as long as I need to.
But is that really it? Am I really just waiting for my brother?
I"ve always, always been waiting. I am always, always waiting. The truth is that I"ve been waiting in hope of seeing someone just once more.
１０
The air behind me moves. I turn with a sigh, and just then, the room I"ve grown used to seeing comes into view, lit by light of my lamp. I"m lying on my bed; I was sleeping.
I hadn"t been hugging a stuffed animal at all; I had been hugging myself, and I know, my brother will never come home. I gaze out the window, trying to escape the reality surrounding me. Outside is the selenia garden my five year old self was just sitting in.
As I move off the bed, I remember just who it is I"m really waiting for.
１１
No matter how far or long I ran, I didn"t get tired. My body was light and agile, overflowing with youthful energy. If I were to be honest, it was almost a little too young.
I just turned five years old today.
My birthday party is about to start over in the manor. The reason why I look stuffier than usual is because of the new clothing my mother and sister gave me to make me look more regal, like a n.o.ble.
"Gailardia, you mustn"t get them dirty!" I remembered my sister"s words on the way back to the manor. I can"t remember why I had even gone out, but anyway, I had to get back.
I kept running and realized something was off. Not a single person was there. Though nothing else about Hod had changed, it was enveloped in perfect silence.
It was frightening.
１２
As soon as I arrived at the manor, I burst into each room, but they seemed cold and empty, devoid of any signs of life.
"Mother? Mary? Father!?" I yelled like a mad man before running back out into the empty city.
When I came to, I was no longer on Hod. I... I was searching. Even now, I"m still searching. I have to find--!
My eyes opened right when I was about to scream the name of someone who was not a family member. My throat"s really dry. I probably wasn"t actually yelling. His name has dried up on the tip of my tongue; I can"t say it.
I have to open the window, have to call for him. And one day, as soon as possible, I have to see him again and smile.
１３
In truth, he should be coming of age tomorrow. Until I see him again, I"ll probably keep on having that dream.
Bathed in the bright light of the moon, Tear and Guy stood near their own window. "What remains of Hod is beneath this light..." The ruins of the city and the image of a young man weighed on their hearts, and it wasn"t because the bright light that they closed their eyes.
They both thought back to the very reason they stood where they were now.
１４
１５
Chapter One
１６
In a small corner of the Qliphoth, a woman"s death was drawing near.
"Jessie... Thank you for everything until now. I am... indebted to you."
"Please don"t talk like that, Milia..."
Jessie Talbath held the hands of Falmiliarica Satys Fende, who lay p.r.o.ne on a bed, with tears in her eyes. The pregnant woman had done her best since the fall of Hod. Though she had safely given birth to her daughter, she had been pushed to her limits, and from her expression, it was clear she did not have much longer.
"Vandesdelca..."
"Yes, Mother."
Her eleven year old son approached the bed.
"One day... when you think the time is right, please... give this to Mystearica..."
Milia pointed with shaking fingers at the sparkling pendant around her neck.
"I will."
"It"s a good thing that... we decided on a name for her..."
Seeing Milia"s weak smile, Van clenched his teeth.
１７
"Mother, I... about Father..."
"Vandesdelca," Milia interrupted her son, "your father fought bravely alongside the House of Gardios. I"m sure he is no longer alive. But you... Live thinking only of the things to come, and... please, don"t blame yourself."
"Mother..."
"Promise me that you"ll protect Mystearica. That the two of you will... be happy..."
Van watched fixedly as the color in her beautiful face gradually faded away.
"Vandesdelca... your power..."
Milia"s words stopped midway.
Jessie buried her face in her hands, then glanced at Van once with red eyes.
Mother... I promise to protect my younger sister. But I do not blame myself at all. I am not the one at fault. You knew this yourself, didn"t you, Mother...?
At that moment, a baby"s cry could be heard from the next room. Mystearica was crying.
１８
"I"m waiting for Luke..." Tear Grants spoke to herself, repeating the words in her heart aloud.
It felt like she had finally arrived at peace after a long journey. But in truth, not much time at all had pa.s.sed since she and he first met. Especially not when compared to the long days spent waiting for her brother...
"Luke..." Suddenly afraid of his name leaving her lips and disappearing into the night, Tear lifted her fingers and covered her mouth.
The mission that led to meeting him, that hyperresonance they caused... all that of was due to the fundamental properties of the Seventh Fonon. And it was thanks to her brother, Van Grants--Vandesdelca Musto Fende.
１９
２０
I"m pretty sure that...
Tear searched deep into her memories.
Stay tuned for the next part, wherein we see Tear deal with being an outsider living in the Qliphoth and Van being a good older brother until he breaks out his crazy face. :|b
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