Act II: Those Who Remember
Trigger warning: alcohol consumption
"I'm quite positive, my lady. There is no such thing as a Star Station on this planet. Whatever you've seen, my lady, you're mistaking it for something else."
Kisler's assured words echoed in CK's mind, repeating over and over while she walked back and forth in her room. They left Blue Lagoon as soon as CK's transaction with Kisler concluded.
How many bags of jewelry had she handed over only to receive no real information from the broker? She didn't know, but she can't afford to be upset with it. There was something else that's bugging her.
"That can't be right. Either that man is lying or I'm tripping on my own memories," she muttered and turned around, "Mel, what are the chances that your contact is lying to me?"
"Zero. Once paid, brokers provide nothing but legitimate information to their clients. Whatever he said is likely the truth," Mel sighed and picked up the cloak she ditched on the floor.
"You don't look very convinced," CK pointed out. "Because I'm not," Mel said, "The moment you mentioned a 'Star Station', it's like I have an itch in the back of my brain that I can't reach."
"Oh, come on, don't tell me you don't know what a Star Station is either," CK rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you've been telling me about it the entire trip back. It's some sort of train station that will let people travel outside of the planet and go who knows where," Mel said.
"And every planet in the LaCroix Empire has at least one of them. That means Kelter has one, too," CK said. "Kisler says otherwise," Mel replied.
"I can't believe you. Sasha and I left for the Nonaphrontistery on that very station. How else could we have left Kelter?" CK frowned.
Mel sat on a chair and fell silent. His leg bounced in anxious thought and CK did not say anything to interfere. After a while, he spoke up.
"When I think back on it, I also couldn't help but wonder how Sasha left. I remember sending her off, yes, but I don't remember where I brought her to. It's...my memories become foggy every time I think about it," Mel muttered, "All I know is that my parents and I were there to see her off."
"Can't you remember what the Star Station looks like?" CK asked. "I can't even tell what it's supposed to look like," Mel sighed tiredly, "If you're right, then for some reason, I can't remember anything about the Star Station. If everybody's like Kisler, then no one knows anything about it, too."
"...Something is wrong here," CK said and sat down on her bed. She remembers walking through an archway leading into a lone train waiting on nonexistent rails.
Surrounded by crystal structures, the train engines revved as it prepared to send CK off with her luggage and a letter of invitation written by a nameless sender.
'Four years passed and I still remember it. But Mel... it's barely a year since he went there and he can't remember anything,' CK thought. Malphas hummed.
"Or my own memories are screwing me over," CK muttered mindlessly. "CK?" Mel turned to her in confusion, causing her to shake her head at him.
"Nothing. I'm thinking out loud," she said and got up, "I'm going to sleep. I'll be looking for more information tomorrow before we leave."
"All the merchants and brokers who attended the auction will be leaving before morning," Mel said. "It's not them I'm after. I'm going to visit the information centers and confirm something," CK replied.
"Right... I need to rest. This night has been exhausting," Mel said. "Thank you for helping me with tonight. If it cheers you up, we'll wander around idly tomorrow," CK proposed.
"I'd like that. I've been working overtime just to do you a favor," Mel chuckled and bowed, "Have a good night's rest, CK. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, Mel," CK nodded. The door to her room clicked shut and with a lock. CK undressed and stepped into the hotel room's luxurious bathroom.
The bathtub was almost the size of a king's bed, with a few stairs one had to climb up before entering. Blue lights were lit at each corner of the bathroom. They cast a faint glow on CK's soaked skin while the bubbles protected her submerged body from view.
CK breathed in deep and submerged her whole body into the water. The scent of candles and the faint lights faded under the water. For a while, CK ignored everything around her and basked in the night's silence.
The midday sun was staring down at Never Isles by the time CK left the Turtleshell Inn. Mel was still asleep, so CK left a note for him, telling him to meet her at the Daydrinker's Corner in the late afternoon.
CK adjusted her sunhat as she stepped outdoors once again. Malphas manifested in his crow form and landed on CK's arm with a caw.
"I have a task for you, Malphie," she said.
"Why does it sound like you're contemplating whether to listen to me or not?" CK deadpanned, then shook her head, 'Never mind. I need you to pose as a tourist and look for information on the Star Station subtly.'
'As long as you can relay information to me, I really don't care what you're up to. In case you commit mass murder, do try to keep my name out of it,' CK said disinterestedly.
The crow's reflection on the store windows disappeared as CK passed them by. By the time she passed the next window, a man was walking behind her, his vantablack clothes morphed into something more formal.
"I'll see what I can find. See you later, little mistress," Malphas smirked and turned at the next corner they passed by.
CK did not bother to look over her shoulder and made her way towards the city libraries. With the charms of his human form, Malphas will be attracting people. It was perfect for getting information from those who want his attention.
The libraries in Never Isles were located at an islet some distance away from the main island's shores. CK rented a boat to get across the glimmering seas trying to blind her with sunlight.
Compared to the bustling main island, the islet was somber and peaceful. There was nothing to the islet except the large white dome at the center, surrounded by a courtyard fenced with trees and walls.
CK was given a library pass before she was allowed further in. She didn't have to scour the shelves to look for information. She only had to go to the geography and history sections if she needed information on transportation.
The wordsmith took a couple of books and skimmed through the relevant pages. Two hours passed by and CK emerged unsuccessful in her search.
Her frown got deeper the longer she spent time on the books. CK knew that the Star Station was built five or six years ago, but none of the pages could prove what her memories were dictating.
Even the travel brochures available did not mention any Star Station, which could have served as a probable tourist attraction. Even magazines focused on the Marchen's activities made no mention of anything relevant to the search.
It was unbelievable. It's as if information on the Star Station she knew has completely disappeared. Could she have misremembered and mistook the Star Station's location for somewhere else?
'Something is wrong either with me or this world,' CK thought in annoyance. She spent another hour on one last attempt, but her efforts bore no fruit.
Her hope was now on her renegade familiar–wherever he might have went. CK sighed in defeat and left the library islet to meet Mel at the tavern.
CK returned to the main island and walked towards the shores of the lagoon, a little more exhausted than she was in the late morning.
She descended the staircases leading down the edge of a waterfall, a doorway hidden under the waterfall and shielded by the canopy. There it was, lettered in fine curves and print: the Daydrinker's Corner.
CK pushed the doors open, her eyes widening at the vast, blue interior waiting inside. The ceilings were made of glass, allowing the customers to catch a glimpse of how the waterfalls splash from above.
Similar to the Turtleshell Inn, the walls were made of glass, and the floors were a polished black marble. Coral lanterns were placed at corners and tables were scattered across the floor, most of them occupied by groups large and small.
At the far edge was a wall dedicated to shelves of liquor, each bottle more decorative than the last. At the counter were two bartenders, serving drinks and idle chatter to the customers.
The chatter was loud, but not loud enough to overpower the choir-like voices echoing from deep within the glass chambers. Beyond the glass walls were mermaids dancing beautifully to the rhythms they sung, their songs luring customers to listen to their foreign language.
Their tails were prisms and gradients of colors. Sometimes sea green and fuchsia, while others were yellow fading to royal blue scales. Bejeweled chains decorated their waists and wrists, the lower halves of their faces covered in semi-translucent masks.
Their voices were mellow, yet the echoes could carry the melodies far into the deep sea. If there was a reason to even go to this tavern, the mermaids would be the very first reason why.
CK gazed around until she found Mel at the corner table for two. He raised his hand to wave her over, making sure not to knock over his glass.
"Starting without me?" CK asked amusingly. Mel snorted, "Please, you're not even allowed to drink yet."
"But will that stop me?" CK smiled mischievously and sat across him, "No, it won't."
"No, it won't," Mel repeated with a smirk and offered his glass, "Here, take a sip. It's not strong, but not for beginners either. Let's see if you can handle it."
"Sounds like you're challenging me," CK said and downed the glass without hesitation. She felt her tongue for a few seconds before nodding. The burn was there, but so was the sweetness and tang.
"No, not really. You like you could use a drink. You had a sour face when you walked in, in case you didn't know," Mel said. CK scrunched her nose.
"I went to snoop around the libraries and had to confirm your... friend's words. It's as if the thing didn't exist at all," CK stated.
"Is it important for you to figure out whether you're right or not?" Mel asked. "Of course, it is. If the station is gone, then I have no way to leave Kelter," CK grimaced as she spoke quietly.
Mel sighed. "Then I guess that really is a problem. If there's no Star Station, then you can't leave and Sasha can't come back," he said, "Should we request an audience with the Marchen?"
"Do you think they'll indulge people of our ranks?" CK smiled wryly. "My sister is my ticket. They ought to be on good terms with my family if they want Sasha to work with them when she comes back," Mel shrugged, "Why don't you reveal yourself as a wo–"
"I'd rather not. Let's consider that a last resort," CK said, "A title like that shouldn't be thrown around recklessly."
A waitress laid down a few more glasses in front of Mel and CK, which CK immediately took and finished in one gulp.
"Damn. You've practiced drinking, haven't you?" Mel said in disbelief. CK only smirked before finishing another glass.
"What's the plan after this?" Mel asked. CK placed the glass on the table with a thud.
"I think you should go back home, Mel," CK said. "Just me? What about you?" Mel frowned.
"I'm also headed home, but I'll take a quick detour around Pentamerone. I need to see the Star Station for myself," CK replied.
"I should still go with you. If something happened to you during your questionable 'detour', my head will hang the next day," Mel said. CK rolled her eyes.
"Nothing of the sort will happen. Besides, you still need to cover our tracks here and make sure no curious person will sniff out whatever we came here to do," CK said.
"That's true... But are you really sure you'll be fine on your own?" Mel asked worryingly. "Mel, I've managed to travel light years all by myself. This one's a piece of cake," CK reassured.
"I just had to make sure. But fine, we'll go with your plan," Mel said and drank his own round of shots. The mermaids' songs filtered the silence of their conversation.
Mel looked at CK's face and squinted. "You better take a rest at the inn. You're getting drunk," he said. CK waved a hand dismissively.
"I'll take a walk to sober up," she said. "I won't leave until you're back at the inn. Something tells me if I leave you here now, drunk, your face will appear on the front page of the magazines," Mel grimaced.
CK snorted in amusement. She could feel her head getting lighter, urging her to limit her drinking. Soon, her bladder began to protest and warn her of limits.
"I need to go pee," CK mumbled sleepily. Mel sighed upon seeing her tipsy face, "Do I need to walk you there?"
"I'll be fine. Watch the table and our stuff," CK slowly got up and walked off. Mel watched her carefully, wincing every time he thought CK would stumble.
"Her tolerance is something else," he said, impressed. He finished the rest of the drinks, remembering that the alcohol percentage per glass was six percent.
CK finished her business in the restroom and decided to take a walk and sober up. She wandered around until she saw stairs that led up to the water pools above the inn ceilings.
CK stumbled on her way up, but the view was rewarding. She was greeted by a waterfall pouring down against a small lagoon, whose depths were the ceilings of the tavern itself.
Flowers decorated the shores as well as white statues of fairies and animals. CK thought about dipping into the lake. But the idea of her being visible to the customers below stopped her from entertaining her thoughts.
"Hmph," CK muttered sulkily and sat on the shores instead. She stared at the skies, feeling the warm winds blow while the sun was seeking refuge in the horizon.
She saw movement in the corner of her eye, causing CK to turn in alert. But she was only greeted by the view of the vast sea at the other side of the lagoon's boundaries.
"Hm..." CK mumbled. She got up and walked towards the edge of the lagoon and the sea.
There, she spotted a small white statue of a rabbit. CK's eyes glimmered. She got down on one knee and touched the statue, turning it brilliant gold.
"If you stand out like this, no doubt others will try to take you out," CK touched the nose of the statue and smiled, "How much will they sell you for, I wonder? Hehe."
"A human conversing with a statue... Hm. It seems I have plenty to learn about your kind."
"Hm?" CK turned to the water. Submerged halfway through was a young man with long, aquamarine hair with selected strands of blue. His face shape was as sharp as the fins protruding from his ears and the sides of his forearms.
Aquamarine scales dotted his collarbone, his cheekbones, and sides of his naked torso. CK blinked in astonishment. A merman?
Unbothered by her inquisitive gaze, the merman's amber eyes glimmered and he swam closer, leaning his arms on the shores and almost touching the hem of her dress.
"You turned the statue into gold without magic," he said and smiled, "How did you do it?"
"How can you be sure there's no magic involved?" CK asked. "I just know," the merman said amusingly, "How can you tell if a person is breathing?"
It was a rhetorical question. The merman studied CK with innocent curiosity and hummed.
"You're just like Ailani and Thane. Curious," the merman mused. CK, now sober, got confused. She's heard those names before...
"Thane? Who was that again?" she asked. The merman only smiled.
"I'll be careful not to use spells if I were you. Like that golden critter, you'll be attracting envious and hateful attention," the merman said, looking at the golden rabbit next to CK.
"Sea you around," the merman smiled mischievously and dived back into the sea. CK stared, unaware of how to feel about the situation.
"Was that a pun?" she muttered with a frown. Having sobered up, she rejoined Mel's company and returned back to the Turtleshell Inn.