Part One
story concept: LAREINE
photos by: Hideaki Imamoto
written by: Fuzuki Watanabe
translated by: Bronny
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The edges of the sky began to be tinted a light shade of crimson. As the minutes passed, twilight drew nearer. It was this which had just begun to worry the girl walking alone along a continuous path through the heart of the woods.
Her name was Lillie Charlotte. She had graduated from the innocent period of childhood years earlier, and was at a delicate age where she had just taken the first steps to becoming a woman. She was not typically beautiful, but her long hair was perfectly straight, like the impressively slender line of her back, and if she was to be described in a single word, it would be graceful. However, in her large emerald green eyes, it was always as though a darkness dwelled there.
However, Lillie's reason for going into the woods was not due to this 'unrest'. Hidden in her heart lay an important feeling, and it was in order to eternally hold on to this that she proceeded. In the heart of the forest was a special place... a 'Lake of Reminiscence', and only those chosen were permitted to enter - it was here that she was heading.
Naturally Lillie's lonely journey had a reason for beginning. It was out of desperation, and possibly hopelessness, that she had come this far, but now once more she carried an immense hope.
The beginning of it was an infatuation. We'll open the curtain on this tale, from the point where Lillie had feelings for a certain young man....
This man's name was Jérémie florence de Jarger. He had blonde wavy hair which he wore loose to his waist, and his eyes resembled the color of sapphires - it was this gorgeous, gallant appearance that drew the attention of others. Lillie's heart was taken at first sight - being deeply enchanted by this man was entirely natural.
If he had been bewitched by Lillie, then I imagine this tale would settle into that of a typical love story. However, the woman that Jérémie had his eye on was not Lillie at all. Even so, if Lillie had only had the courage to confess her feelings for him, then we might have been greeted with a different course of events. But as it was, she had no desire to push her feelings onto him. She was content just to gaze at him, while at the same time praying that Jérémie would take notice of her.
If that is so, then why did Lillie cease gazing at Jérémie and make the decision to embark upon this journey? The answer to this lies in Lillie's pure soul.
Her infatuation had changed earlier than expected into love. Consequently she wanted to avoid having her emotions, which were becoming more and more serious, spoil to jealousy. Watching Jérémie besotted with someone other than herself was something like trying to swallow a wafer of happiness with pain and agony in the centre. It is only a matter of time before the wafer melts away and the agony soaks into your heart.
That pain in small quantities can be a good thing, but if it accumulates and is ignored, with no means of release, before long it becomes concentrated and jealousy is born. Jealousy distorts the mind, and stains love that should be pure. For Lillie, it would not have been endurable. She decided that to get through this love, rather than merely continuing to stare at Jérémie she would protect the feelings that she held for him.
That resolution became the turning point in Lillie's way of life. So far in her life she had been shown no mercy; from a young age - however you choose to say it - her life had been full of misfortune. Pain and suffering and sadness were all connected; words such as "fate" and "destiny" were endlessly bound to her heart. Even whilst holding on to dreams, she did nothing to make them come true; she merely let herself be led by the current. She thought she would not be free from this until death.
However, meeting Jérémie brought about a change in Lillie. By loving Jérémie she became a little stronger, acquiring the power to face what was in her own heart. Shaking free from the feeling of wanting be by Jérémie's side was painful, but she did so. The love which remained filled Lillie's heart with the energy to walk along this unknown path.
Today she had nothing to lose. In order to protect a love more precious to her than anything else, in a place she had yearned for since childhood, she felt she could break through any wall.
She forgot her anxiety and fatigue, and as if to aid her further in the skies the dense forest pushed back the approaching dusk. I imagine that soon, and after much effort, Lillie was able to reach her destination...
...the place where only those chosen were permitted to enter - the Lake of Reminiscence.