by Isu Yin
“It is certainly improbable. The assault fits our perpetrator’s methods. If that person is moving again, it means there is going to be another shift in the plan. Something must have gone awry.”
“I’ve been meaning to mention this for a while, but do you think Mortis could be working under the perpetrator?”
“Kyou said that too. At first, I thought it might be a coincidence, but when Abyssus died... it seemed too suspicious to overlook. Since I am certain you will ask, I do not think that Neco or Niteo know enough to be directly involved. I would not be surprised if they helped without knowledge of their own actions... but none of this matters right now.”
“Huh, it doesn’t?”
“Not until you are fighting fit. Hero was quite shaken. As you can see, he finally fell asleep. You rested for a day and a half, so I am sure you will feel some weakness in your muscles.”
“So long....”
Chi left for a moment and returned with her own mug. “Akira came to visit too, though he mostly came to poke fun at Hero. Maybe that was his way of cheering him up.”
“I don’t really know him, so I guess it would be weird for me to say that sounds strange.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “They do not really get along.”
“Have they known each other long?”
“I am not sure that Hero remembers. They met when he came here to study for half a turn. Akira sometimes visits me and he often assists Heqet, though I am not sure what he does, to be honest.” She flapped her hand at Fate. “Anyhow, right at the start of Hero’s mentorship with Heqet, his father sent Isis to collect him. He really did not want to go so he ran into the Ussan.”
“What? No one stopped him?”
“He took everyone by surprise and jumped in. The trees radiate a lot of anima, so he was blinded for a while, and Akira came to help him. At the time, they seemed really close, but now....”
“Anima?”
“Oh.” Chi lowered her mug to reveal another smile. “Anima is the light that is emitted by beings containing the Albedo gene. It also exists in natural elements of life, like plants, water, fire, and crystal. It is the opposite of darkness, so I hear it is toxic for the two elements to come together. Though, explosive might be a better word.”
“The trees have it? How?”
“Crystal not only emits anima, but absorbs it, which is why it glows.”
“I’m already learning things and I’ve only been awake for a moment. I like the Capital.”
“You can like it more once you have recovered. You sure bounce back fast.”
“Yes, I’m often told I’m like a boomerang.”
Chi held her stomach and laughed harder. “I can see why. Hmm.... you can try to speak with Hero. He has not slept for long. I would hope that he could rest a little longer, but I know he will sleep better if he knows you are well. I have some business to attend at the gate. You will have the cottage to yourselves for a while.”
“Thank you, Chi, for everything.”
“Honestly, it is my first time seeing Hero save anyone he cares about. I think he will try to brush it off with an excuse, but really, he saved your life.”
“I’m grateful for your honesty. In terms of friendships... this is actually the strongest one I’ve had aside from my sister, Tori, and of course, Abyssus.”
“Now that you mention it, as his aunt I feel obligated to ask.” Chi checked to see if Hero still slumbered, and put a knee on the bed covers. “You said friendship?”
“I think I get what you’re trying to ask. Akira said we’re Bound, but I don’t know anything about it. I’m not sure how to explain this to you, but our relationship is a little weird. I think we started off hating each other—at least it was that way for me. Now, we’re close friends, and I’ll admit that I already expressed my feelings towards him. However, I don’t think it makes sense to suddenly forge a romantic relationship between us.”
“Forge?”
“I think the best kind of relationship is one where you and your partner are good friends. I wouldn’t want to forcibly alter our bond to fit others’ ideas of how a romantic relationship should be. If it happens then it does, but I’m going to let it happen naturally.”
“My, you certainly have a lot to say on the subject. Is it eating at you?”
“A little. I don’t really like the idea of changing our current relationship just because someone said it was predestined. From what I’ve heard, Hero may have been watching me for a while, but I wasn’t like that at all. The feelings I have now are from the bond we’ve built over several turns. Sometimes he makes me so angry—he can be childish and compulsive—I just want to punch him, but I think all of it is just part of what makes me fond of him. I’m worried that things are going to get harder, and he’s going to feel obligated to behave a certain way. I really don’t want to lose our bond.”
“I am happy you said that.”
“You are?”
“Yes, it means you are honest and that you are looking at him properly. He said a lot about you while you slept.”
“What did he say? He didn’t rant, right?”
Chi took the mug from Fate’s hand. “No, never, but it is our little secret.” After a wink and smile, she exited the room and eventually her cottage.
Fate had heard what Chi said about waking Hero, but chose to leave him alone and explore the cottage instead. She walked through two doorways to a small front room with a stone fireplace, and a large square table that sat before a window on the right side of the room. On the far left, there was a door and, though it was rude, she gave into curiosity to explore beyond it.
The room on the other side had been filled with ball joint dolls and built-in shelves full of books. Another door lay straight ahead, leading to the outdoors.
In the lounge area beside that, Akira sat on the floor, leaning against a long pillow that rested against the window seat. As before, he wore a fox mask and a polished suit.
Fate quickly stepped back to retreat.
“Oh?” His eyes lit up and he closed his book. “Wait.”
She spun on her heels to leave and ran into his chest. “What! How?” She confirmed his disappearance from the place by the window as she backed into the room. “How did you do that? You just—”
“You called me Solaris.” He eased the door shut. “Did you remember something?”
“Huh? No. What do you mean? It was just a slip of the tongue. I didn’t mean anything by saying that.”
“Lying isn’t your area of expertise.”
“Only you and Hero have said that. Everyone else seems to take to it just fine.”
“So you’ve admitted to lying. Real liars know the difference.”
“Hero isn’t a liar,” she defended.
“Is that a fact, or your opinion? Opinions are rarely reliable, as they’re easily swayed by emotion. For example, it’s my opinion that my information is more reliable than Hero’s word.”
“That is an opinion.”
“Yes, weren’t you listening?” He put out his hands to each side. “So, you say that you don’t know anything.”
“I don’t. At least, nothing reliable. If you’re so worried about it, why did you admit you were Solaris?”
“I admitted to nothing. You are indeed misguided. Solaris is merely a fictional character based on a real person.”
“Who are you, anyway?” She watched from a careful distance. Since Akira’s presence was masked off, he let off a vague and discomfiting aura. “I know you’re Chi’s cousin, but that’s hardly an identity.”
“Ah.” He lifted his head. “Who I am is a conundrum, even to myself. What I am is a representative for the Grim. Where I am is nowhere and everywhere. When I am is another matter altogether.”
She blinked slowly and let her mind process his response. “You could’ve stopped at conundrum. Is that line rehearsed?”
“Killjoy.”
“I came in here to investigate, not chat with you.�
� She still felt uncomfortable, but hid it as well as possible to deter his previous comment about her lies. The statement simply irritated her to the point of being numb. “If you know something useful, that will make this conversation worthwhile.”
“Ah, yes, now I see. You’re bluffing.”
“I’m curious to know, is your mask branded?”
“Onto the next with you,” he said, pausing. “What do you think? I say they’re offended.”
“Do you mean the Council? By what, exactly?”
“My face. I’m dangerously attractive.”
Her mouth hung open, fumbling for a response. “Do you have anything else to add?”
“I need you and Hero to visit the palace tomorrow afternoon. We will be reforming your pact. I suggest you take the day to recover from your catastrophe in Nex.”
“I’ve been recovering for over a day. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
“Then, that will be all for now.”
“Wait, I was given the name Solaris in a vision. Would you know anything about that? Were you perhaps... aware of it?”
“Aware of what? Do you think I can see inside your mind?”
“Are you saying that you’re not Solaris?”
“I haven’t said anything.” He turned his head as though looking at the ceiling. “What I mean is, I haven’t said anything about that. I’ve said a lot, of course.”
“You talk a lot. Can’t you answer directly?”
“No.”
“You just did!” She seethed, which reminded her that he may have provoked her to distract from the questions she sought to ask. After a brief eruption, she exhaled and regained composure. “If nothing else, what are the Grim like?”
He hesitated for several seconds. “Big.”
“I’m being serious! Don’t make me mad.”
“So am I. Your question was vague.”
“How so?”
“Which part of the Grim?”
“Anything. All this time I thought they might be a myth, so if you’re a representative, I’d like you to give me reliable information that I can believe in.”
“If you want reliable information, then look in a mirror.”
“I’ve never wanted to hit someone more.”
He paused again for a longer interval. “The Grim are often misunderstood. Most will say they’re horrific skeletal beings seeking to punish the wrongdoers of the universe.”
“So I’m guessing that’s untrue?”
The pause returned and he chuckled. “Maybe that’s true. For me.”
“You? Are you a Grim? I thought you were just a representative.”
“I was referring to the concept of punishing wrongdoers. I have a refined sense of justice. It is one of the joys of living.” He continued his answer after another pause. “As I’m sure you already know, the Grim left this realm to dwell in the Abyss. It’s true that they watch the events occurring outside of their world of darkness, but if they can avoid stirring up trouble, they usually do, hence, people like me become representatives.”
“People like you.... Tainted people?”
“That’s a perceptive assumption.”
“I see. I heard Solaris was taken by the Council. Since you’re not denying that you’re the same person, did the Grim take you from them?”
He paused. “You said you saw this in a vision.”
Some of his questions lacked an inquisitive tone, so Fate determined they were rhetorical. “I see many things. I’ve spoken to Leoht and Solaris separately. They’re very different, but I hope to understand both of them.”
“So you think I’m Solaris.”
“I do. Your aura is the same.”
“Hmm.... this is beyond my control.” He drifted off into deep thought, then finally returned after his habitual pause. “It’s hard to say what you’re experiencing. Oracles travel the Realm of Spirits to uncover truths about their reality. Where or how that falls in time is difficult to say. I don’t suggest you trifle with it. Because you have no say over where these visions fall in time or space, you might alter events by saying or doing the wrong thing. The temptation is strong. An Oracle must remain focused on a goal in order to keep their attachment to the present. Don’t go too far.”
Fate considered his warning and acknowledged her own surprise about him issuing one. “Akira, is what Solaris said true? Do you feel abandoned by the Spinner? Did you know her personally?”
His pause extended for so long, she thought he might not reply at all.
A while later, he folded his arms. “If what fractured Leoht was his father’s disappearance... then I might say Solaris was fractured by the Spinner.” He paused again. “I’ve been here too long. Remember to visit the palace tomorrow. I’ll speak with you again soon. If you have time, I suggest you do your own research. There are matters I’d rather not discuss.” He took several long strides towards the door at the back of the room.
As he passed by Fate, she spotted trails of miasma emanating from his body.
The air lightened once he left the cottage, and Fate took a deep breath to relieve her lungs of the stress. His mask may have suppressed his presence, but she still felt unsettled by him. In the end, she praised herself for managing to speak with him for so long.
So, he’ll talk about a lot, but the Spinner is hard for him to discuss. Then I should research her and approach him more carefully. If I can learn enough, I might be able to ask more.
She eased her nerves and went to the guest room to check on Hero.
The chair by the bedside was empty. He had moved to the bed to continue sleeping.
She wondered if he even knew that he’d moved. One thing was certain: they were alone and finally at peace after the scare with Lara. She sat next to him and pulled up the blankets, then gently stroked his head as she recalled the Madam’s care.
But what about Lara? Did someone find her? Do I really have to keep this a secret? I should at least tell Hero.
He used the blanket to cover part of his head and nestled against her hand.
“You’re like a child,” she said, then uncovered his feet and sighed. “Damn it, take off your shoes!”
He grumbled in his sleep and rolled onto his back.
She tossed her hands onto her hips, though she knew he wasn’t watching. Instead of crawling back over the bed to her old spot, she went to the chair and plunked down. Her body still lagged from the attack. She peeked through the curtain of a window at the head of the bed, viewing the bustling and chatting Ancients preparing for a festival. Stands lined the circular stone region, the Centre, the place rumored to hold special performances.
She wanted to share her excitement with Hero, and smiled as she glimpsed at him. The light from the window streamed faintly onto him and reflected off a silver object falling out from beneath his scarf.
She wrinkled a brow and gently fished it out from the knit pattern. Her eyes widened as she took a small hourglass into her fingertips.
“Leoht?”
Fate placed the hourglass underneath Hero’s scarf again and sat down on the chair to think about what she saw.
If he had that, why didn’t he tell me? Didn’t I mention he was like Leoht? He didn’t find it unusual? Unless... Akira was right. Is Hero hiding something from me?
She never imagined believing Akira’s word over Hero’s. Still, she couldn’t let something so small sway her opinion. Hero might have kept the artifact as an admirer, or simply received it as a gift, possibly even from her brother.
Instead of waking him to ask about it, she resumed the investigation that Akira had interrupted. A lot of the titles in Chi’s library held knowledge of lost history, and much of it pertained to the Old World, Undal. She picked out a few and sat down on a stool to peel through them, only to discover that they were written in another language.
“Is it fate that I am unable to uncover the truth, or did I do something to someone in another life? This is a pain.” As she placed the books back, a red spine caught he
r eye. She slipped the book off the shelf and read the gold print: Ulnaire.
She released a string of incomprehensible shouts, then regained her composure. “Hero! Journal!” She darted through the cottage and pounced onto the bed of the guest room shrieking, “A journal! I found it! It’s here! Your favorite place!”
He groaned. “You’re loud.” His eyes snapped open, and he gripped Fate by the arms. “You’re awake!”
“Yes, and I found a journal. Look.” She held out the journal, and he set it down on the covers. “Hey, what are you doing?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m relieved.”
She held her breath, as she felt his face press against her neck. “Um, Hero, I’m fine. See? So, you can let go.” Her body tensed, and her cheeks blistered.
His embrace tightened. “I’m really relieved. You kept your promise and came back.”
“Came back? Hero, I only survived because you found me and brought me here.” She rested her hand against his back. “Thank you.”
He released his grip and sat back, beaming. “You may not fight well, but you have your own strength. I’m sorry for chastising you in the past. You’re very impressive.”
“Do you even know what you’re saying, or are you delirious?”
“Ye.”
“Yes?”
“That’s what I meant.”
“To which?”
“The first part.”
“You’re definitely delirious. Is that the Language of Ages?”
“Yes. I try not to speak it around you. I’m just tired, but I’m also happy. Sorry.”
“What is sorry in the Language of Ages?” She liked the sparkle in his eyes when he was happy.
“It’s vien, but that’s informal, so you shouldn’t say it to your elders unless they’re Caeles.”
“The Caeles are informal?”
“Ah, well, it’s not just that. Our dialect is different, so we’re not careful about formalities.” His explanation about the language inadvertently explained his informal mannerisms as well.
“So, if it’s vien, then what is your dialect like?”
“It’ll confuse you.”
