Work Text:
Azik still lay inside his coffin as he had been for a long time. His consciousness was now fleeting, a small flame barely keeping itself alive. A suitable metaphor for his wooden confinement felt icy to the touch of his fingers, mimicking the cold from the storm outside.
Between that daze, trapped inside dream and reality, he heard a pitter-patter from outside. They brought forth memories from another life. If he kept his eyes closed, he could pretend to witness scenes from those times. His daughter probably woke up early once again. Later he would see her wrapped up by the window, eager to go outside and play.
Snow wasn’t commonly seen back in the Southern Continent because of the climate. She felt fascinated no matter how many times she saw it. Like those snowflakes could never lose its luster. Even after becoming used to it, seeing her enthusiasm always brought mirth to his eyes.
Azik’s lips curled up in sweet sadness, knowing opening up his eyes would break such a precious fantasy and leaving his coffin would end the warmth settled in his heart.
Yet, the sound had never left. Something in this world called for him.
❄
“I don’t like the winter. It feels sad.”
“My daughter used to ask me if the Sun felt lonely with all the creatures hidden away.” Azik mused with his gaze fixed outside.
“I’m sure Aucuses has other things in mind.” Klein laughed to ease the mood, causing Azik to arch his brows.
Klein looked back to say “‘He’ can’t hear me now and… maybe some fire would do well at this moment.” Earning a small chuckle from his teacher.
“What did you tell her?” Klein finally posed.
“I said we could go out and play to make it company after lunch, so it wouldn’t be lonely anymore. Of course, I didn’t have the memories I have now.”
“And you? Do you feel lonely?”
❄
“Do you feel lonely?”
Azik was taken aback by the sudden question.
Even after months had passed, that simple yet thorny question stuck with him. Until now, it was something he was asking himself. It was somewhat funny it came from Klein of all people.
Klein had unexpectedly appeared in his life and reached heights far beyond anything he could imagine. Most surprisingly, Klein also turned out to reach a deep place in his heart.
Azik had lost everything. Over and over and over again. He still felt sad and lonely, but he now had someone to share it with him. Someone who he could trust after he inevitably would lose everything again in the future. Someone who knew of his pain.
The winter vanished while Azik started writing a new letter to his friend.