The Dream of the Wind
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Far from her home, on a distant shore. A young woman stood in front of an old man with white hair and eyes that shone like stars; he was dressed all in black, his face hidden behind dark glasses as if it were too bright for him to bear. He had come here without warning or explanation—and she did not know why. She could only stand there silently waiting for whatever would happen next.
“You came,” said the old man softly when at last they met, “to ask me something.” His voice seemed far away: even so, somehow familiar. The girl’s heart beat faster. Now she knew who this must be! But still…
She took one step forward, then another, until finally, their faces were close enough together that she could see them clearly. Her father looked exactly like how she remembered him—but also completely different: his skin was pale instead of brown, and though he wore no beard, stubble covered his cheeks where once he’d been clean-shaven.
And yet, despite these changes, she recognized him immediately. It didn’t matter what he now resembled physically; his spirit remained unchanged.
And I have changed, too… This realization made her feel both happy and sad at the same time. Happy because she loved him dearly, and sad because she felt such sorrowful longing toward him that it hurt. As always, he greeted her with kindness but little warmth. How much longer will we meet like this? she wondered. Will our lives ever cross again after today…?
He spoke first. “I am glad you’ve returned safely,” he told her gently. Then he added more forcefully, “But don’t think about going back.”
She stared up into those cold, clear blue eyes and saw nothing there. No hint of emotion showed through the darkness of his gaze. He continued speaking quietly, almost soothingly, but he never glanced down at her. “There is no place for us anymore,” he explained. “We can’t return to your homeland. Not just now. So please stay here with me.”
Something inside her broke apart. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find words. “What do you mean?” she asked shakily, unable to hide the pain in her voice.
Her father sighed deeply before answering. With each breath, his body grew smaller and thinner. His hands trembled slightly while he held hers tightly. “This world has become very dangerous lately,” he whispered sadly.
“How long ago was that?” she gasped out.
“Ten years…”
A decade since he’d left her alone. Ten whole years without seeing him, hearing his voice, touching him. They had parted under such terrible circumstances. Yet neither of them had known what lay ahead. In the end, they ended up separated by fate itself.
“It seems like a lifetime already… doesn’t it?” he murmured, gazing off into space as if searching for some answer.
For the second time that day, tears began streaming down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry!” her father scolded sternly. “Please stop crying. You’re making my headache.”
She couldn’t help herself. All she wanted was to cling to him—just for one moment—so that she might hold onto him forever. But he had vanished from view.
“Father…”
His name echoed faintly across the vast expanse of water.
Then everything went silent. There was no wind, nor any sound other than her own faint sobbing. For several minutes, she simply sat there, clutching her knees. Eventually, however, she realized that she hadn’t heard his footsteps leave. Was he still standing right beside her? Or perhaps he had gone somewhere else entirely. What should she say to him now? Should she tell him the truth?
No, she decided. The moment she opened her mouth, she would start bawling like a baby. Instead, she turned around slowly, trying to keep her emotions in check. When she faced him again, she found herself staring directly into the depths of his eyes.
“Why are you doing this to yourself?” he asked abruptly. “Stop hurting yourself like this…”
She nodded silently. Yes, she agreed. That’s exactly what she needed to do.
“Good,” he responded, smiling warmly. “Now let’s go home.”
They walked side by side along the path leading to the ocean. At times, they paused to admire the scenery, which was filled with lush greenery and sparkling streams. On occasion, the old man stopped to pick a flower for her or pluck fruit from trees growing among the rocks.
After a few days, the sun set over the horizon, and night arrived. She fell asleep on a blanket spread beneath an enormous tree and dreamed of the past.
When she awoke, the sky above her was brightening. A gentle breeze blew through the branches, rustling leaves and grass. Birds chirped happily in the distance. The scent of flowers filled the air. To her surprise, she discovered that she wasn’t lying underneath the tree; rather, she was sitting next to him.
The old man smiled at her sleepily. “Wake up,” he said. “Come, eat breakfast with me.”
As soon as she woke up properly, she noticed something strange: Her father had grown so thin that she could see every bone in his body clearly. His skin looked pale and waxy, as though he were already dead. His hair had faded to white, and his face was wrinkled and hollow-looking. It was impossible not to notice how frail he appeared.
“Is this really you?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” he replied calmly. “That’s me all right.”
She reached out and touched his cheek. It felt cool to the touch, yet somehow familiar. As she did, she remembered the last time she had seen him alive. He had been wearing the same expression then too. She recalled the day when he had given her away to another family. And even now, after ten years have passed, it seemed as if he was looking straight into her soul.
“You look tired,” he observed. “Are you feeling ill?”
Suddenly, she knew why he didn’t want to talk about their separation. Because it hurt so much. Of course, he must be aware of just how painful it is to remember those final moments together. So instead, he chose to pretend nothing ever happened. Just as he always does.
“I’m fine,” she answered quickly. “Just a little worn out.”
“Well, don’t push yourself,” he advised gently. “We’ll take our time returning home today.”
He took her hand in his own and led her back toward the village where they lived. Although it was only a short walk, they made sure to enjoy every step. Every leaf, each blade of grass, and every bird flying overhead was a new discovery. By the time they returned to the house, the sun was high in the sky.
Her parents greeted them joyfully. It was obvious that they had missed her terribly while she was away. Overjoyed, they hugged and kissed her repeatedly before preparing lunch for everyone. The old man helped make the meal, but when he saw that she was getting upset, he ordered her to sit quietly.
It was almost evening by the time they finished eating. They washed and changed clothes. Then, as the moon rose higher in the heavens, they gathered around the campfire to share stories. Everyone laughed heartily, as though the world itself had suddenly become brighter and more colorful.
Afterward, the old man leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree and closed his eyes. “Would you sing for us tonight, dear?” he asked.
She hesitated briefly, wondering whether to refuse. But no, she told herself firmly. This is my chance. I can finally tell them everything. So she stood up and began singing a song she had learned long ago.
As she sang, she thought about her childhood. About the first time, she met the old man. How he had promised never to leave her alone again. And how happy she had been. For the longest time, she hadn’t realized that she’d fallen in love with him. Not until one day, when she confronted him and demanded answers.
But he refused to answer. Instead, he simply turned and left without saying anything else. Only later did she realize that he had probably known all along.
So here we are, she mused to herself. Ten years have gone by since then. Now it’s up to me. If I stay silent, there will be consequences. But if I speak…will anyone believe me? Will my words change things? Or am I merely wasting time talking to myself…?
And then she heard him clear his throat behind her. “Well,” he said, “you certainly have a beautiful voice.”
She stopped singing abruptly. Had he actually spoken to her directly? No—it couldn’t be! Yet strangely enough, she found that she wanted to turn around and see what he would say. Perhaps it was because she was afraid of hearing the truth.
Slowly, she turned to face him. He gazed at her silently, waiting patiently.
“Why won’t you let me go?” she whispered.
His expression remained unchanged. “Because you belong to me,” he replied simply.
Then he added, “Besides, you’re mine now.”
“Mine!” she repeated angrily. “What do you mean ‘mine’?! What kind of sick joke is this?!”
“Don’t get angry,” he warned. “If you keep going like that, your voice might break. You wouldn’t want to ruin such an important night, would you?”
“How dare you…” she seethed, clenching her fists tightly.
The old man smiled slightly. “Now, now,” he chided lightly. “Let’s not fight. We’ve got plenty of time ahead of us, don’t we? Why rush off to bed early on a nice summer day?”
“Enough!” she shouted furiously. “This isn’t funny anymore! I hate you!!”
With that, she ran from the clearing and disappeared into the woods.
***
In the end, she decided not to return home. After all, she reasoned, she could always come back tomorrow. Besides, it wasn’t as though she needed to sleep in her own bed. She could find someplace comfortable to lie down right here in the forest.
So she set off through the trees. A few minutes later, she came upon a small cave hidden deep within the undergrowth. There were several large rocks piled up outside the entrance, preventing anyone or anything from entering. Curious, she approached the pile of stones and pushed them aside. Inside, she discovered a narrow tunnel leading deeper inside the mountain.
Puzzled, she followed the passage downward, farther than any ordinary human should ever venture. Eventually, the darkness became so thick that she couldn’t even see her hands in front of her face. Her footsteps echoed loudly throughout the cavernous space.
As she walked, she tried to imagine just how far beneath the ground she must be. All she knew was that the ceiling seemed very low.
Eventually, after walking for quite a long distance, she reached something unexpected: sunlight shining in through cracks between the rocky walls. The air felt warm and dry. To her surprise, she also noticed that there appeared to be a river flowing nearby.
Following the sound of running water, she soon arrived at a large pool surrounded by tall grass growing out over its edge. In the center of the shallow basin sat a wooden platform made of planks fixed together with rope. On top lay a single piece of cloth, which looked rather worn and tattered. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was, indeed, a blanket.
Suddenly, she remembered where she had seen similar blankets before. They belonged to a certain person who lived all alone in a cottage near the lake. It had been many months since she last saw him, but she still vividly recalled his friendly smile. His name was…
No, she told herself firmly. That can’t be true. I’m imagining things. My mind is playing tricks on me.
At least, that’s what she kept telling herself. Even so, however, she continued staring at the blanket, unable to tear her gaze away. Finally, she sighed deeply and began climbing onto the platform. Then, once she’d taken a seat, she folded the blanket neatly across her lap.
It took her a while to fall asleep. When she finally managed to close her eyes, she dreamed about the past. About a boy named Rintarou Satomi who wore a black coat and rode a white horse. And a girl called Laila Kurosaki danced in the moonlight.
When she woke up, she didn’t know whether it was morning or evening. But when she glanced upward, she saw that the sun was already high overhead. She slowly opened her eyes.
There stood a young woman dressed in an elegant gown. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her skin was fair and smooth. She had delicate features, and her lips were full and red. Her dress was of vibrant blue color, trimmed with gold thread. From the waist down, she wore only thin silk stockings.
All of these details are registered immediately. However, they weren’t particularly remarkable. No, what caught her attention most of all was the fact that the woman standing next to her bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one she met earlier.
She stared intently at the other girl, taking note of every detail. This new arrival was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a pair of loose pants. Like the first, she too was barefoot. Yet unlike the previous stranger, whose eyes had glowed brightly, this one’s shone dimly—as if she hadn’t slept well last night.
Her expression was serious and stern. Every part of her body was covered in a layer of sweat. For some reason, she carried a sword strapped to her hip.
As she gazed at the two women, the older girl spoke quietly. “I am Princess Shizuku Tendo.”
Shizuku had never heard of a princess named Shizuku. Nor did she recognize the name of the country that this woman claimed to represent. Still, she nodded politely. “My name is Laila Kurosaki,” she replied simply.
“Good. Now then, let us introduce ourselves properly. Please allow me to present myself. I am Princess Shizuku Tendo. You may call me ‘Princess.’ Likewise, you are free to address me as ‘Lady’ or, better yet, ‘Your Highness.'”
Laila tilted her head slightly. “‘Highness’? Is that supposed to mean something special?”
The younger girl smiled wryly, shaking her head. “Please don’t make such a fuss. There isn’t much difference between calling someone a prince or a princess anyway.”
Still smiling, Shizuku sat straight up. “How rude! Don’t speak to me like I’m inferior!”
Then she turned toward the older girl. “Who exactly do you think we are? What makes you believe that we’re royalty from another kingdom?”
The princess raised an eyebrow. “Oh, please forgive my rudeness. Are you not aware of your own identity? It seems that you’ve forgotten everything. Am I correct?”
“What?”
Before she could answer, the princess held up a finger. “In any case, I have come here today because I need help finding someone very important to me. A man called Rintarou Satomi.”
***
RINTAAROU SATOMI WAS SITTING IN HIS ROYAL CHAMBER, LISTENING TO THE MUSIC THAT PLAYED FROM WINDOWS ON EACH side of the room. He was deep in thought, lost in his memories.
He couldn’t remember how long he’d been sitting there. Hours? Days? Or perhaps even weeks? Either way, time seemed to slip by without him noticing. The music played on and on, forever.
His thoughts drifted aimlessly through space, moving over countless years. All those precious moments that made up the fabric of his life flashed before his eyes.
They were fragments of memory, each one different from the others. Some were joyful, some sad. Others filled him with regret. They came and went, and vanished into oblivion. Each one left behind a trace of warmth.
But just like a flower wilting under the scorching heat of the sun, they eventually faded away. As the days passed, the world around Rin became increasingly harsh and merciless. His heart grew colder and more distant.
One day, after returning home, he found himself lying face up on the ground outside of the castle. He remembered nothing else until waking up inside a dark cave, surrounded by stone walls.
A person appeared out of nowhere, looking down at him. He was tall and slender, with blond hair and blue eyes. When he walked closer, he revealed a handsome countenance and a kind smile.
“You must be tired,” said the boy. “Why don’t you rest here for a while? It’ll only take a few minutes.”
That voice…
It was familiar. But where had he heard it before? And who was this strange young man?
“Where am I?” asked Rin.
“This place is called the Underworld,” answered the boy. “We’re both dead people now. We won’t wake up again once we leave this realm.”
“Dead…”
At that moment, Rin realized that he wasn’t alone anymore. Someone stood beside him. She wore a black dress, and her skin was pale white. Her lips were bloodred, and when she opened them, a sweet fragrance wafted forth.
She looked just like the girl in his dream. Only she didn’t seem so far away—she felt right next to him. He reached out and touched her cheek. Then, slowly, he leaned forward.
Their lips met. Their embrace tightened. This was no ordinary kiss; their bodies melted together, becoming one.
And then, Rin awoke.
The chamber was dimly lit, illuminated by flickering torches. He noticed that he was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn during his last battle against the Demon King.
When he got to his feet, he saw a figure standing near the door. He recognized the boy’s face immediately: the mysterious stranger who’d brought him back to life.
But why hadn’t he seen him before? Wasn’t he the one who saved him? Why would he save a demon like him?
The boy approached Rin and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I guess. Where am—”
Suddenly, the floor beneath Rin gave way and fell away, sending him plummeting into the darkness below. In a matter of seconds, he plummeted past the ceiling, falling deeper and deeper underground.
He hit hard, rolling across the rocky surface. Cracks began spreading along the rocks as he slid farther down. An enormous hole opened up in front of him, and he tumbled into it.
There was no end to the tunnel—just emptiness. After what felt like hours, he finally stopped sliding, coming to a stop at the bottom. The air was thin and dry, and he coughed violently.
As soon as his lungs started working properly again, he took stock of his surroundings. There was a small river flowing nearby, and several trees growing out of the earth. Everything was bathed in golden light. The sky above glowed bright orange.
Then he spotted something glittering in the distance. Something shining brightly enough to illuminate the whole cavern.
Something red. That was the first thing he noticed about this strange land.
He followed its path, walking toward the source of the dazzling glow. At length, he arrived at a large tree covered in crimson leaves. He climbed up onto it. From there, he could see a beautiful woman seated on a rock overlooking the valley.
Her hair shone silver in the sunlight. Her dress was the purest white, embroidered with gold thread. A crown rested upon her head, twinkling like stars.
Rin gazed at the beauty in awe, unable to speak. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the words. Instead, he simply stared at her, spellbound.
In an instant, the girl turned around. Her gaze met with his own. For a brief second, their gazes locked. Then she smiled.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
His heart skipped a beat. All thoughts fled his mind. He forgot everything except the girl before him.
“Who are you?” he managed to ask.
“My name is Alka Ylisse. My father created this place.”
Alka. Father…?
“What happened to your mother?” he asked hesitantly.
The princess shook her head sadly. “She died giving birth to me.”
“Oh…”
For a long time, they remained silent, lost in thought. Finally, Rin spoke again. “Do you know how I came to be here?”
“No,” replied Alka. “I’m sorry.”
“…So you really do remember nothing from before? You have no idea what’s going on?”
“Not even a hint.”
Rin sighed. “Well, I suppose that makes sense,” he muttered.
He glanced over at the distant object gleaming in the sunlight. It was a ruby-like stone, larger than any he’d ever seen. Its color seemed almost unnatural as if it belonged to another world entirely.
He walked closer to the gemstone, trying to get a better look. As he did, he felt a sudden chill run through his body. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled. He collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness…
The End