Leuko - Blind to the Sunlight

The moonlight phased through the room, barely illuminating it. Yet I could still see with no problem, Pandora was never affected by the light of the sun, contrary to me.

Usually, I would go out at night to try to find any remaining food, tissue, or any kind of useful stuff.

The blessed never leave their house at night, and the sun isn't monitoring the ground, so it is the only time when I'm safe.

No wild pokemon try to fight me as well during these times, they usually run away from me because they find me so disgusting that simply having me in their vision is enough to make them die from terror.

Well, according to my progenitor.

But this night was a special night because I didn't have to go out!

Someone else prepared me food! And it was very tasty food!

I even feel less pain than usual! It's amazing! This place is amazing!

I just hope what they will ask me in exchange won't be too painful.

I briefly looked out the window, shortly thinking of escaping before forgetting about it.

If I try to run away, Volo will catch me again, and this time he might not be so merciful. They might even take away the bed and let me rot on the ground. Worst, they could also not give me any more of these delicious poké puffs as a punishment.

I let these scary thoughts out of my mind and refocused on Pandora's costume, which was currently in my hand. Its neck was damaged, the result of Spiritomb attack.

...bastard.

"Kyu."

"Oh don't worry Pandora, I will fix it."

"Kyu?"

"Yes there will be no problem, I will do it as fast as possible."

"Kyu!"

I reached my hand in the air, and slowly, a dark tendril slowly deposed a pin in my hand.

"Thank you, Pandora." I reached my side to take a very thin thread in my hand and carefully put it in the small hole of the pin. I raised Pandora's costume and put it on my lap in a straight position.

Pandora deployed some tendril to hold the costume head and bring it closer to the lower part.

"Thank you, Pandora."

I inserted the needle inside the cloth, piercing it but also allowing the thread to pass inside it. I then pierced another hole a little farther from the first and continued to do so until I was able to close the gaps.

I took a deep breath, before raising the pin the highest I could tighten the thread. I let it high for a moment before Pandora took action and used a claw to cut the thread.

I let go of the wire I was holding took the one still attached to the costume and tied it.

''All good!" I raised the costume with pride. "It's your first mark of patchwork Pandora, we have gained one more point in common now!"

"Mimi!" I could hear the joy in Pandora's voice as he jumped down off my head, his matter slowly leaving my face.

He usually sits there when I create my handwork, he covers my whole head, but I feel comfortable when he does that, so there's no problem. He even stoked my head at the same time!

He's the best.

Pandora took the costume in his paw and entered it. He was so happy he even mumbled a little song. It sounded

Satisfy with my work, and reached beside me to take my blindfold and put it once more to cover my eye.

I then started to lay my back against the bed, enjoying its softness.

"Kyu?"

"I just want to enjoy this bed the most I can, I don't know when they will remove it from me."

"Kyu!"

"Ehehe, I know you will. So come here so you can protect me in my sleep." I raised my arm in a hugging position as I waited for Pandora to nestle between my arms.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Pandora turned back in surprise to look at the door.

...my hug.

Despite my sadness, I still stood up, expecting Nurse Joy to visit.

Is she there to put more of this healing cream on my leg?

I waited for her to enter, but even after waiting, she didn't.

*Knock Knock*

What is she waiting for? Is her hand filled with something?

"Pandora, could you help open the door please."

"Kyu." Pandora deployed one of his claws that took the door handle and twisted it, revealing the person on the other side.

But instead of Nurse Joy, what stood on the other side was a little girl with golden hair that flowed behind her back. She wore a blue dress with a white collar, and there was a yellow line at the bottom of her dress.

She was currently standing still in front of the door, not even moving a muscle

She looked at me with wide eyes, I could even see some sweat dripping down her forehead.

I observed her in confusion, despite never meeting her, I still felt a sense of familiarity. "Hello...do you need my help?"

"Eh?" She seemed to wake up from her support and looked at me worriedly, her hand even hovering over her waist, preparing to grab a strange ball.

"I'm...I'm sorry but is there anything you want from me."

She still didn't respond, and I started to get worried, even Pandora put himself in front of me. But before anything could happen, she took a deep breath.

She then looked at me with more confidence than before, but I could still see her hand trembling. "Hello Luciel, my name is Cynthia Golwind! Merchant from the Goldwin company, nice to meet you."

She raised her hand and presented it to me.

But I didn't know what to do, so I only looked at her hand.

After some instant, she took back her hand and put it toward her back. But she kept her silence but looked less confident than before.

Did I make a mistake? What should I...oh right, she introduced her name, I must do the same, that's what Nurse Joy said. "My name is Luciel...Luciel Solarium."

"Solarium? Do you mean you're from the ruling family of Danu?"

"...I was born in it."

"Wonderful." All the previous hesitation seemed to leave her as she approached me with wonder in her eyes before climbing the bed to sit right beside me. "I have a lot of questions I wanted to ask."

"Eh?"

"Don't worry, I know this information can't be offered for free! So in exchange for your answer, I will answer yours!" She said with her eyes filled with passion.

"So you want to know more about the Sanctuary to become even stronger?"

"...I'm sorry, but I don't know much about the island...just common sense, and maybe even less than that."

"Oh." She looked disappointed. "Well...it better to hear it from someone who lived it."

"I will try my best to answer your question."

"Aaah, thank you." She could barely stop herself from moving with how happy she seemed. "First, I want to know why are you called Danu the Sanctuary?"

Oh, I know the answer to that, my progenitor liked to told me this story, and also how I ruined it.

"The Sanctuary was how the first habitant named it. This island was where multiple refugees escaped from the Broken war..." I looked at her to see if she was following me. "You do know what the Broken War is?"

"Hmm, of course, I don't think there is anyone who doesn't know what it is." She looked at me in confusion before suddenly having a flash of illumination. "Oh, you don't know what the Broken War is? If you want, I can give you all the information about it in exchange for your!"

"Ah, no. That wasn't the reason why I asked, I was just concerned if you knew it or not."

"Oh." She almost looked disappointed...maybe I should ask her for more?

"So what's the rest of the story?"

"Eh, ah! Refugees from all regions of the world navigated here because it was the only place that they knew was in peace. It was the only place they felt peace, that is why they called it the Sanctuary."

Despite my explanation, Cynthia looked at me confused. "My late uncle said that Danu is probably the most dangerous island in the world, so how could this place be considered a sanctuary? The war was certainly horrible, bu"

"Because of the Chosen of the Sun, he's the one who led the refugees. He was an extremely strong pokemon wielder and was able to push back all of the wild pokemon attacks to the town. Because of him, the townsfolk were able to live in peace."

"Are you alright?"

"Eh?"

I looked in surprise at her, what does she mean if I'm fine? Did I do something wrong?

"You sounded very angry when you spoke about him."

I...I did?

"But how is this possible, I don't have the right to be angry?"

"Eh?" This time it was Cynthia who was confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well you know, since I was born cursed, I don't have the right to feel emotion."

But my explanation didn't correct her confusion, in fact, it seemed only to have been amplified. "You were born cursed? Who said that?"

"My progenitor."

"Your father?"

"He doesn't allow me to call him that."

This time, she didn't seem to be confused, I only sensed...anger.

I immediately put my arm around my head, expecting a hit.

But contrary to my expectations, I didn't feel a single thing.

"What...what are you doing?"

"Ah, I was just protecting my head...because...it hurt a lot when I get hit there." Her anger sifted completely to a look of...concern. No, it must be fear. "Wait, I didn't want you to hurt yourself by hitting me, I just wanted to pro...I...you can hit me if you wish, I won't make the same mistake."

"I don't want to hit you."

"Eh? But I made you angry? Shouldn't you want to hit me?"

"You aren't the one who makes me angry, I'm angry against your dad. And even then, why would I hit you if I'm being angry?"

"...because...you're angry?"

She only throws me a deadpan look before sighing. "I wanted to ask more questions about Danu, but I can't just ignore that." She started to approach me with a serious gaze. "Alright, I will help you alright! Then I will ask more questions!"

Help? About what do I need help?

"Luciel, what do you want?"

I didn't even think about what to answer and it immediately left my mouth. "I want to survive."

"Everyone wants to live, find something else!"

"Eh?" What does she mean? Isn't that already something extravagant to ask? She wants me to be even more selfish.

"Kyu."

Even Pandora agree!?

"I'm asking again, what do you really want?"

"I...I don't know."

"What do you want to do with your life?"

"...I..."

What do I want?

I was never allowed to desire something.

The only desire I wanted was to remain alive, but why?

Why do I want to live?

I'm worth nothing, I am nothing more than a pest.

No one ordered me to live...

...but Pandora would be sad if I die.

And...I do not want to make him sad. He already helped me a lot, I do not want to make him regret that.

My life may be a curse, but as long as it is a blessing for someone, then I must continue to live.

"I don't want to make anybody cry...anybody I care about."

She seemed disappointed with my answer but still tried to maintain her confident look. "...I suppose it better. You can find an objective for that"

"It not over!?"

"No, that's only what you wish for, you need an objective to work for." She pointed at herself. "For example, I wish to be able to get whatever I want whenever I want, and to reach this goal, I need to become powerful, extremely powerful!"

"Then...I need to find an objective to never make anyone cry?"

"That's why it is hard, because that is barely a challenge, but you can find a better one after you succeed in your first objective."

I looked at Pandora who looked back at me, letting me see my face. "Pandora, what should I do to not make you sad?"

"Miky yu."

"Really?"

"Kyu."

"But...alright." I made my face look toward Cynthia. "My objective would be to be living better."

She looked at me in surprise, then at Pandora, only to look at me again. "You can understand him?"

"Eh, of course...can't you?"

Her gaze radiated with fascination. "No...but that's awesome!" Her gaze radiated with fascination.

"Rea..really?"

"Of course!"

"I'm going to test that later, but let's come back to your objective."

"Oh, alright."

"So if your objective is to live in better conditions, then you must work toward it!"

"How many parts are there..." I wanted to say more but she interrupted me.

"As much as it takes. But living better isn't simple, it depends more on luck than skill..." Cynthia paused, deep in thought. "Oh, I know! You should join the Zenith Academy!"

"The what?"

"You don't know?"

"No. Should I?"

"This was a project four years in the making, and the institution is right in the heart of Danu!"

"Oh, that explains all the newcomers. I thought they were just new refugees."

"Forget that for now. Are you interested in joining it?"

"You didn't answer what it was."

She looked at me blankly. "Oh right, I didn't." She rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "Well, the academy will allow you to live quite well, it's incredibly affluent, to the point where my uncle says it reeks of money.

"But how can something smell like money? I don't have any odor?"

Cynthia smiled smugly as if she only waited for this instant to present her deep knowledge. "It's extremely simple, it's because there is a lot of it."

Oh, that makes sense.

If there is so much money in it, then maybe they wouldn't mind spending some on me. It is an academy, maybe they would accept to give me a floor to sleep on if I do their task for them.

"Alright, I will try to join this academy."

She looked at me in surprise, before smiling at me. "Nice, then I can't wait to see you as my classmate."

Classmate? Why would I be her classmate? Does she not know what a classmate is?

I can't be a classmate to her! It would just humiliate her.

But before I could tell her, she left the bed with a giddy smile and patted down her dress. "I'm so happy that I made myself a new friend today!" She turned back to look at me. "I will see you soon, friend."

FRIEND?! How are we, friends? What does she mean? She's clearly a distinguished, intelligent, and funny girl, how could I be her friend?

"Bye Luciel, we will talk after we join the academy! We will show all of these snot-nosed brats who's the real boss here."

What does she mean!? What kid? Do I need to help her? Doing what?

But before I could ask more, she already opened the door to leave.

"What do you mean?" I called out, but the door shut before my words could catch her.

I looked blankly at the door, before laying on the bed. Pandora left my arm so he could install himself just beside my face. Understanding what he wanted, I raised my hand and slowly pated him.

"Kyu <3"

Seeing him satisfied, I put my focus back on the door before talking in a depressed tone. "She didn't even stay to ask more questions. I had so much more to tell her."

***

I made a friend!

And it was even before my first day of class!

But the best thing of all is that he was cute!

And he seems to know a lot of things!

...I think I forgot about something.

I closed the door behind me, with Luciel fixing me with his blindfold, even after all our conversations, he never changed expression.

Yet, he still looked like he was happy.

"Aaawh." Against my will, I pushed a yawn.

Oh right, I forgot it was almost midnight, I should go to bed.

It would be bad if uncle Volo found me awake way past my bedtime

I tried to move, but the moment I stood up, my leg gave out beneath me, sending me crashing to the ground.

A sudden wave of nausea hit me, and I nearly vomited, forcing it back down just in time.

What... happened to me?

I tried to stand, but once again, the nausea surged, and I nearly vomited right there.

My heart pounded wildly, and I could feel my eyes begin to well up. I couldn't even feel my leg, and my arms barely obeyed my commands.

But before anything worse could happen, I felt a delicate powder fall over me, soft and calming, easing my body into stillness.

I looked up only to see some brown boots.

"Hello Cynthia, how are you doing?"

"Uncle Volo!"

I stood up rapidly before looking at my uncle, as usual, a mocking smile plastered his face.

Oh no...I'm doom

"If I remember well, I specifically told you to not interact with the lost boy. Yet, here I found you lying right outside his room, can you explain that to me?"

Oh no! I forgot about that!

Let's find a good excuse...Oh, I know!

"I was lost."

Great job Cynthia, he will never find out with this lie!

"The worst is that I might really believe it." I tried my best to look calmly at him, but he only returned my gaze with a smirk. "But sadly, you will need more to lie to me."

How could he tell?!

I looked at him in stupor, only to see him shrugging before taking one of his pokeball to call back his Togekiss inside it.

So that's how I suddenly recovered!

Wait, wasn't Togekiss only able to calm down his patient?

Does that mean I crashed down because of a mental problem?

Am I that tired?

"Uncle, why did I suddenly get sick?"

"Oh, you're not sick. Your body just went through a lot of stress, and now that the danger's gone, it relaxed all at once, causing you to lose control for a moment."

Oh, that makes sense...wait?

"I don't remember experiencing any danger?"

"Really?" He asked in such a way that made it clear he didn't believe me.

"Hmpf! I'm not lying"

He was dumbfounded by my answer before sighing loudly. "You don't even remember the feeling of dread when approaching him?"

Him? Is he speaking about Luciel? And what dread is he speaking about? How could my new friend make my body so scared of him? He's so cute after all!

Noticing my lack of answer, Volo simply waved his hand. "Alright fine, it doesn't matter, you wouldn't understand it anyway. So this kid radiates a halo that makes everyone fear him if they look at him."

"Eh? But why?" How could something so timide be considered as a natural danger by the world?

I looked at him for an answer, but he only smirked at my question.

This caused me to furrow my brow. "You won't answer it?"

"Can you afford it?" He responded, with the same condensing air as he always does. And I was forced to answer the same answer I always did.

"No, I cannot."

"Then don't ask."

One day, one day I swear I will make him give up all the answers all the answers I want!

"Nice eye, I had the same look long ago." He smirked before lowering himself at my level and grabbing my head.

Oh no!

I tried to struggle, but I couldn't make him budge. Instead, he gently began stroking my head. "My dear little Cynthia, greed is a wonderful thing—it makes people grow, and it makes them fall. It brings death, and it gives life. But remember this one small detail." His voice was calm, so calm it could've been used to sing a lullaby. Yet I felt no comfort, no peace, only fear.

I hate this feeling, I'm always doing my best to always stand on top of everything so that nothing below can scare me.

I threw a single gaze at Volo's eye, but it was enough for me to remember why he dare stood at the very top of the sky. His eyes were devoid of any light, to the point that they seemed dead. And these eyes were looking at me as if I was too.

"When you want something, make sure I didn't desire it first!"

I could only fix him in fear, but he suddenly removed his hand from my face and looked at me back with his usual smile. "Now Cynthia, if you would be so kind as to leave, I have something to do."

What? He never cared about rules, why does he... "You want to talk with Luciel."

He raised an eyebrow at my declaration. "Well, what happened to you? You aren't that perspective usually."

"What do you want from him."

No way in the distortion world I'm letting him scare my new friend!

"Oh nothing complicated, I will just force him to participate in the exam tomorrow. I wanted to do that earlier, but the nurse didn't allow me, so I had to wait for her to leave."

Oh? That's all?

"I already did it."

"Oh, splendid! How did you convince him?"

"Can you pay the price?" I responded in mockery.

But before I could bask in my victory, my uncle responded. "I will forget about the fact that you aren't in your bed at midnight."

"...cheater."

"It's a world of cheaters, you just have to cheat them more than they do."

I looked at him indignant, but I could only open my mouth to explain, or else he would probably confiscate my ice cream. "Luciel just wants to live well, so I proposed that he join the academy to have the best accommodation."

"Ah, the desire for comfort, a rather normal desire." It was a normal sentence, but the way he looked at the door beside me, made me think otherwise.

"You won't harm him right?"

"Stop me if you can." He casually dismissed me.

I immediately reached for my pokeball, but before I could, Volo's hand reached mine. "I was just joking, don't worry."

I looked at him with doubt as he retired his hand. "I won't harm him, I can't even if I wanted."

Despite what he said, I still hovered my hand over my pokeball.

*sigh* "I will offer you an ice cream if you believe me."

"Ice cream?" I immediately relaxed my hand and approached him with expectation in my eye.

"However, I will give it to you tomorrow." He casually answered.

"But I want it now!"

"No sugar before sleeping, it bad for you and your teeth."

Traitor! He promised me ice cream! Just for that, I will ask the most expensive one!

He will know pain!

...why do I have the impression of forgetting something again?