Reiken tried to get his mind to focus again, but he just did not have the energy to do it anymore. There was a throbbing in his head that made it hard to keep his thoughts in order.
Words flickered over his mind.
He knew that he had to wake up, but he was to tired. Everything seemed extra difficult. Slowly his mind started slipping. It felt like he was going pulled back through time. He could see the images flashing through his mind.
Images that he’d rather ignore and forget about completely.
But he couldn’t do it anymore. The words echoed in his mind and pulling on his mind.
This... He knew what this was. It was a curse... One of the high level demons must have cursed him. How? How did he let his guard down to let this happen? It shouldn’t be possible.
On the other side. It might be because he was so exhausted and weak at the moment.
He tried to fight the off the curse. Since it was almost like a virus or sickness.
Fear shot through him. He did not want to remember the past. It scarred him to much. He could feel his heart beating erratically against his chest.
NO!
Please no... He did not want to go there...
Please...
Please...
Not there....
He didn’t want to remember.
***
Reiken sighed where he was sitting under the tree, in the shade. He pulled his knees up against his chest, just closing his eyes for a moment.
It was a calm day. Clear blue skies and a few clouds in the air. The grass was green and the sun casted a beautiful shadow on the grass. He liked it outside, under the trees. The best part was when it was a fruit tree.
Acheron would yell at him if he saw him now.
He sighed again before slowly getting up and folding his hands behind his head. Before he could start walking, a blur of golden hair ran towards him, jumping into his arms, forcing him to catch her.
Reiken stumbled back slightly, wrapping his arms around the petite figure. With a slight smile he gently put the girl down again.
“Misha” he said with a smile.
The girl laughed as she looked up at him. “Hey, Rei-Rei” she said “I thought you could use some company”
“Is that so?” Reiken asked, the dimples forming in his cheeks as he he grinned.
Misha smiled up at him, her silver eyes gleaming brightly. She poked Reiken’s ribs, making him squirm and laugh as she started tickling him.
“Mia....” Reiken laughed, trying to get away from her “S...s... st... stop... Mia...”
The girl laugh before pulling away from Reiken, folding her hands behind her back. Her soft pink hanfu swirled around her legs.
“So what do you think?” she asked, giving a twirl.
Reiken looked her up and down. “A new one I take it?” he asked with a smile and Misha nodded smiling brightly “You look really pretty”
Misha grinned at him. “Thank you” she said “Lea helped me to make it”
“Kaelah helped you to make it?” he asked, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah well...” Misha said with a pout “You know that I’m not good at needle work... So you don’t get to laugh at me”
Reiken pressed his lips together, the dimples going deeper in his cheeks.
Misha narrowed her eyes at him. “You are laughing at me” she said pointing a finger at him “Don’t you dare.... Rei-Rei, I swear I’m going to smack you on the head if you do”
“I’m sorry...” Reiken said with a chuckle “I wouldn’t laugh I promise”
Again Misha smiled at him and gave another turn, showing of her hanfu.
‘All of those you love will die’
Reiken tried to ignore the voice, to pull away from memory, but it kept on echoing in his head.
‘You are cursed.... Everything you touches dies.... That is your curse...’
He tried. He wanted to get away, but the demon’s curse voice kept on whispering in his mind. This was the one thing he did not want. The memories that always came back. He didn’t want to remember them.
Reiken gently picked Misha up and carried her into the cottage. There was a worried expression on his face as the girl snuggled into his shoulder.
“Why didn’t you tell me, you weren’t feeling well?” he asked as he gently lay her down on the couch.
Misha looked up at him, smiling softly. “I’m sorry, Rei...” she said quietly.
Reiken sighed and brushed some of her golden hair out of her face. “Mia... You need to tell me, if you’re not getting better, we need to let Acheron know... Maybe he can help you”
“Rei, Ash isn’t as all powerful as you wish him to be” Misha said quietly.
“He can still help you”
“And what if he can’t?”
“Then.... then I’ll find another way”
Misha smiled at him, putting her hand against his cheek. Her hand was cold, so he covered it with his. “Don’t be an idiot, Rei” she said softly “You cannot save everyone”
“I don’t want to save everyone...” Reiken whispered and closed his eyes “Just you...”
Misha sighed and pulled Reiken’s hand closer, gently pressing her lips against his knuckles. “Oh Rei” she said softly “Don’t do anything stupid...”
“Mia...” he said softly.
‘Do you see that? You’re the one that did this’
Reiken shook his head. “NO!” he called out “This wasn’t my fault... She was sick... I didn’t.... I didn’t make her sick...”
‘Being near you killed her. Being near you made her sick’
“No.... please... You’re wrong... That’s not true...”
“What did you just say?” Reiken snapped as he grabbed Acheron by the front of his robe.
Acheron took Reiken’s wrist and pulled his hands away. “I said... There’s nothing I can do for her” he said through a clenched jaw “I can’t heal her... It’s to late...”
Reiken stared at him, his eyes wide as tears started running down his cheeks. He started shaking as he sank to his knees.
“No.... please....” he whispered “Ash... No... Please...”
Kaelah knelt next to Reiken pulling him into her arms. “Rei” she said softly “I’m so sorry...”
Gently she brushed Reiken’s red hair back, before starting to stroke his hair, rocking him from side to side. She just held him as he sobbed.
“Reiken” Acheron said softly as he knelt next to Reiken and Kaelah “I’m so sorry... You know I would do anything for her... and you... You know that... There’s nothing I can do”
His voice were strained, like he was having trouble keeping his own tears from falling.
Reiken nodded, but didn’t say anything.
“I’m so sorry....” Acheron said.
“Why her...?” Reiken whispered, just holding on to Kaelah “Why...? She doesn’t.... She doesn’t deserve this...”
“I know, Rei-Rei” Kaelah said softly just stroking his hair back “I know...”
***
“He’s not waking up....” Hein’s voice said.
Reiken could hear them, but the memories kept on coming back.
Over and over again. Overwhelming him each time.
“What are we going to do?” Gruen’s voice asked “He’s been like this... for days... What are we supposed to do?”
“That healer...” Leia’s voice said quietly “We need to get him.... Maybe he can help...”
“He’s to far away...” Saffron’s voice.
“There has to be something we can do...” Hein’s voice said again.
Reiken felt himself finally drifting into darkness and silence. The memories slowly fading.
Leia gently wiped away from of the tears that’s been running down Reiken’s face. They found him, barely conscious in the middle of the road, surrounded by the corpses of demons.
Slowly his eyes flickered open.
“Leia...” Gruen said, leaning over Reiken “He’s waking up...”
Leia gasped. “Rei...” she said softly as Saffron and Hein also gathered around the bed.
“Hey...” Saffron said softly.
It took a moment before Reiken’s eyes focused on them. “...hallo...” he whispered.
“You’re back...” Saffron said and just pulled him into a hug “We were so worried...”
Leia nodded as she also hugged him and then Gruen and Hein joined as well.
Nova and Amilia crashed to the ground. Slowly Amilia sat up, coughing. She looked around. It took her a moment before she noticed Nova on the ground not so far from her. He was curled up on his side, arms folded around his middle.
“Nova?” Amilia asked.
He groaned and just lifted his head slightly his head slightly.
“Amilia?” he muttered, winching, pressing his hand against his ribs. It hurt more than he wanted to admit. He was sure that he had more than one broken rib, going by how hard it was to keep breathing.
“I’m here” Amilia said as she struggled to her feet, looking around “What happened? Where are we?”
Nova groaned as he slowly sat up. He tried to take a deep breath, but a sharp pain shot through the right side of his chest. It caused him to gasp for breath. His chest felt tight and he couldn’t take a proper breath. So he just settled for short gasping breaths.
He looked around, keeping his hand pressed against his chest. It looked like they were in some kind of industrial area. He did not recognize anything.
“Shit... I don’t know” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his eyes. His vision blurred, going out of focus for a moment.
Amilia stumbled towards him, going down on her knees. “Are you alright?” she asked softly.
Nova blinked a few times before looking over at her. “I’m fine...” he muttered.
She bit her lip. “You’re lying to me” she said softly “But that’s fine... “
Clenching his jaw, Nova slowly got to his feet. The world around him turned slightly and Amilia caught his arm.
“You idiot” she said. His breathing sounded off, a bit to irregular and shallow for her liking. “You’re not alright... If you need help... You need to tell me. I’ll... I’ll do what I can...”
Nova just placed a hand on her wrist.
“I’m alright...” he said, his breathing wheezing through his chest.
“Like hell you are” Amilia said “Your breathing’s off. Meaning you injured yourself somewhere... I’m not an idiot, Nova”
***
Nova groaned as he and Amilia slowly walked through the industrial area. He was keeping his arm pressed tightly against his chest, trying not to move very much.
“This is crazy...” Amilia said “We should just fly out of here”
“Be my guest” Nova muttered, feeling his heart beating rapidly against his chest. He was starting to feel kind of light headed.
“I’m not leaving you here, Nova” Amilia said sternly “And you know that”
Nova sighed and flinched as a bolt of pain shot through his chest, making him stumble. Amilia caught his arm.
He gasped, struggling to keep his breathing under control. Coughing, he felt another bolt of pain going through his body as his chest constricted. He tasted blood and spat it out, just allowing Amilia to keep him up.
“I’m fine...” he muttered.
“Fine my ass” Amilia snapped “You look like death”
“Broken ribs...”
Amilia groaned and shook her head. “And by the looks of it, a punctured lung” she said “Am I right?”
“Maybe...”
“You are impossible”
“We’re going to... need a place to stay” Nova muttered as he glanced at the setting sun.
Amilia looked around and nodded. “We can’t be out in the open like this”
Nova’s eyes flickered over the area around them. “There” he said nodding towards a building to the side.
“Looks alright” Amilia said and slipped under Nova’s arm “Come on, and don’t tell me that you don’t need help. You can barely stay on your feet”
Nova clenched his jaw, and allowed Amilia to help him. He picked the locked for them before they slipped inside, looking around. It was some kind of office building.
Amilia went through the building, leaving Nova leaning against the wall, next to the door. When she came back, Nova was on the ground, holding his ribs. He looked much paler than before, his breathing coming in a short struggling breaths.
“Let me take a look at you?” Amilia asked softly as she knelt in front of him.
Slowly Nova lifted his head slightly and nodded. “I’m.... please...” he muttered.
Amilia nodded and carefully placed her hand on his chest and closed her eyes. A soft glow appeared around her, before focusing around and on her hand and he his chest.
Nova gasped, his eyes widening slightly.
“Hold on a bit longer” Amilia said softly “I can’t... heal it completely... but this should help”
For a moment Nova held his breath, before groaning and closing his eyes for a moment. As Amilia pulled her hand away, Nova finally took a deep breath. The relief on his face was clear as he opened his eyes.
“Thanks” he said quietly.
Amilia smiled at him as she sat back. “That’s good” she said “You had me worried there for a moment”
“You worry to much...” Nova said winching. The pain wasn’t gone, but he could breath again “I’ll be fine”
“You’re never fine when you say that” Amilia said.
A slight smile pulled on his lips. He hesitated for a moment before pulling something out of his jacket pocket. It was a small box.
“Here” he said slowly “This is for your birthday”
Amilia blinked at the box for a moment before taking it. “But...”
“Yeah, I know... You birthday was last week” Nova said “I just... Couldn’t give it to you then...”
“You wanted me to remember you?” she asked softly.
Nova closed his eyes and nodded, just sitting exhausted back against the wall. “Yeah...” he muttered “It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t remember”
Amilia looked at him. “Can I open it?” she asked.
“It’s yours” he said “You can do with it what you want”
“Don’t be an ass, Nova” Amilia said, slapping his shoulder.
She made herself comfortable in front of him, sitting cross-legged as she slowly opened the package.
“Oh... Nova...” she breathed “It beautiful...”
Nova opened his eyes tiredly and just watched her for a moment, smiling slightly. “You like it?”
“I love it...” she said as she took out the aqua colored, hiking bracelet. She pulled it over her wrist and lifted her hand, smiling happily. “When did you...?”
“Iya helped out...” he muttered, eyes starting to close again “Back then...”
Amilia blinked. “But that was...” she started before shaking her head “Thank you... Dominic”
The corner of Nova’s mouth pulled into a slight smile as his eyes fluttered closed and he just slumped back. His breathing still slightly off. There was even a slight blue tint to his lips as his breathing wheezed through his chest.
Amilia sighed, putting the small box down next to her. Gently she brushed some of the dark blond hair from his face. His skin felt cold and clammy. She knew that he wasn’t in good shape right now.
“Please hold on...” she whispered “You cannot leave me, now that I’ve just found you again”
***
When Amilia woke up, Nova was gone. She quickly shot to her feet, looking around. If they were under attack, it wouldn’t do her any good to call out to him. That would just get both of them into trouble.
Before she could move again, Nova dropped drop from the second floor. Landing lightly in front of her.
He still looked pale. The bruises on his face were now even more visible than last night.
“Nova... What’s going on?” Amilia asked softly, she could hear movement outside the building and it did not sound good.
“We’re surrounded” Nova said, pressing a hand against his chest.
“I gathered that” Amilia said “Are you alright?”
Nova winched. “Better than last night” he said quietly “Still hurts to breath, but at least I can”
Amilia nodded. “I can try again” she said softly.
“No... You’re going to need your strength for us to get out of here”
“What are you planning, Nova?”
Nova titled his head slightly, the morning light that filtered through the high windows caught his hair, making it almost look like gold. His hair were ruffled and messy. Then he smiled slightly.
That moment froze for Amilia. It was the most human he’d ever seem, his eyes sparkling, albeit tired, hair shining in the sun.
“What are you doing?” she asked softly.
“I’m asking you... To trust me” Nova said, his eyes flickering to the bracelet around her wrist.
Amilia breathed out and watched him for a moment longer, burning the image of him into her mind.
“Let me take care of this, alright?” Nova said softly “I don’t want you getting involved in all of this”
“I already am, and you know that”
“Please... Amilia” Nova said almost gently.
She sighed. “You’re the one that’s injured... how do you want me to let you go out there on your own?”
“I’ll be fine” Nova said “You don’t have to worry about me”
“I will always worry about you” Amilia whispered and Nova smiled slightly.
He took a deep breath, winching at the pain in his chest before his eyes slowly turned vertical slit, feline eyes.
“If I get even the slightest idea that you are in trouble...” Amilia said “I will interfere”
Nova nodded slightly as he walked towards the door.
“Nova” Amilia said just before he could open the door. With two quick steps she was in front of him. For a moment the two just stared at each other, before Amilia threw he arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Be careful”
Nova stiffened for a moment before his body relaxed slightly and he hugged her back.
“I’ll do my best” he said before pulling away.
Without hesitation, Amilia went out after Nova, the moment she noticed that he was going to fall behind. He was going to get hurt even worse if this kept up.
When the fighting finally stopped, Nova could barely stay on his feet. His breathing wheezed through his chest as he struggled to draw in enough oxygen.
Amilia caught him before he could fall.
His eyes seemed confused, and unfocused.
“Nova...” Amilia breathed “Hey... You went overboard again”
A slight smile formed on Nova’s face as blood dripped down his chin. “You’re save...” he whispered, coughing, groaning at the pain in his chest.
Amilia sighed. “Oh Nova...” she whispered, brushing his hair from his face “You idiot. I can take care of myself. Let’s get you to a hospital...”
- Traditional playing card made with pattachitra technique from Puri, Odisha, India. The cards are depicted motifs from the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic poem.
– Here the playing card is placed on a beer coaster for the brand Lucifer, brewed in Mechelen, Belgium. Lucifer is medium-light, ‘the flavor is big for the style, relatively rugged, earthy and rustic, has a distinct hoppy accent that meshes well with the peppery notes, banana, honey and pear flavors, and grainy malt backbone.’
MINISTÉRIO DO TRABALHO E EMPREGO SECRETARIA DE INSPEÇÃO DO TRABALHO
PORTARIA N.º 202 DE 26 DE JANEIRO DE 2011
(D.O.U. de 27/01/2011 – Seção 1 – pág. 104)
Altera a Norma Regulamentadora n.º 22.
A SECRETÁRIA DE INSPEÇÃO DO TRABALHO, no uso das atribuições conferidas pelo art. 14, inciso II, do Decreto n.º 5.063, de 3 de maio de 2004 e em face do disposto no inciso I do art. 155 da Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho - CLT, aprovada pelo Decreto n.º 5.452, de 1º de maio de 1943 e no art. 2º da Portaria MTb n.º 3.214, de 8 de junho de 1978, resolve:
Art. 1º A Norma Regulamentadora n.º 22, sobre Segurança e Saúde Ocupacional na Mineração, aprovada pela Portaria MTb n.º 3.214, de 8 de junho de 1978, passa a vigorar com as seguintes alterações:
“22.8.1 No dimensionamento, projeto, instalação, montagem e operação de transportadores contínuos, devem ser observados, sem prejuízo das demais exigências desta Norma, os controles especificados nas análises de riscos constantes do Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos previsto no subitem 22.3.7 e as especificações das normas técnicas da ABNT aplicáveis, especialmente as NBR 6177, NBR 13.742 e NBR 13.862.”
“22.8.1.1 Os transportadores contínuos de correia já em uso e que foram construídos antes da vigência do estabelecido no subitem 22.8.1 devem possuir medidas de controle para mitigar os riscos identificados na fase de avaliação do Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos.”
“22.36.7 ......................... ............................................................ g) realizar reuniões mensais em local apropriado e durante o expediente normal da empresa, em obediência ao calendário anual, com lavratura das respectivas atas e nos termos da Norma Regulamentadora n.º 5.”
Art. 2º Esta Portaria entra em vigor na data da sua publicação, exceto quanto ao disposto no subitem 22.8.1.1, que entrará em vigor no prazo de sessenta meses contados da publicação deste ato.
