"Since we met in the ruins of Pladtioa, I've kept to myself. Talking to people isn't easy for me. But I want—no, I need—to understand your world, even if it makes my heart pound every time I try," Telos said, clenching his fists, frustration edging his voice.
Asahi scratched his head in confusion. He remembered only closing his eyes in his previous surroundings, yet as he opened them, he found himself now standing in a vast, open space filled with pink and white clouds and a glowing ball of light on the horizon. He blinked rapidly, trying to process the abrupt transition and take in where he was. He struggled to piece together answers, all while uncertainty about his sister loomed in his thoughts.
"This isn't a dream. Was I asleep? What about my sister? Where am I?"
In a panic, Asahi sprinted across the shallow horizon, his chest tight with fear, and slammed into a tall man with dark hair, blue eyes, and chalky skin.
As Telos turned to face him, Asahi hastily brushed away dust from his metal arm and quickly asked a question.
"Do you know where we are now?"
(Asahi ignored me. Maybe this is more urgent than I thought.)
Telos shrugged and observed Asahi, glancing first at the clouds under their feet before shifting his gaze back to Asahi. Although much time had passed, Telos felt a jolt of surprise at the sight of Asahi's brown boots pressing into the soft white ground. "Water was rough—one not easily forgotten."
"Eh?"
Asahi's eyes widened. The memory of swimming in the deep blue abyss surged up—cold, suffocating, and relentless—making his weakness raw and glaring, like an open wound.
As the memory faded, Asahi scratched his head, struggling to quell the thoughts. He replied to Telos, unsure.
"Yeah. That left its mark. I still can't believe my powers vanished so fast," Asahi said.
Asahi froze, his breath catching as he stared at Telos, suspicion and confusion flickering across his face.
"How do you know that, Telos? Were you there?"
Telos answered quietly, looking over to the sky above him.
"No, not at all. Here, Asahi, if you want to know so badly how I know..."
Telos pulled Asahi closer, gently guiding his head upward so Asahi could see the massive expanse of what looked like ceiling lights above them.
"What is this?"
Asahi saw long white rectangles shining high above, stretching for kilometers. They hovered over the clouds, illuminating the ground like spotlights. Telos spoke as Asahi looked on in awe.
"These are what I call windows. They show your drowning memory."
He took a deep sigh, stepping back as Asahi grew attentive.
"When I came here, I saw these 'windows' show a shiny, see-through surface with pictures, like a twisted tree or a huge beach. These windows show how you see your memories. Some are blacked out because of things in your mind you haven't worked through. There's something else I have to say."
"And?" Asahi pressed.
"I never knew you were a world traveler."
Avoiding Telos's comment, Asahi ran his fingers along the 'windows', focused on the images, and pressed Telos for answers.
"So, you're saying all of these are my memories?"
Avoiding Telos's comment, Asahi ran his fingers lightly along one of the 'windows', his focus intent on the images, and implored Telos for answers. The Ruler of the Forgotten vanished; he could recall memories. But that hadn't mattered to him yet.
Telos scratched his head.
"Basically. Most windows are black; I can't see past them. Others are clear, like water," Telos said.
Thoughts drifted through Telos and Asahi as each pondered in silence.
As Telos thought, he was amazed at the number of memories Asahi had. Most of the places he saw didn't seem like Asahi's world. They looked like lands Telos had never seen before.
They stood in silence, each lost in thought as the shimmering expanse stretched before them.
"Black. That word reminds me of someone."
. . .
And then, in that stillness, he remembered.
He saw her now: a tall woman with black hair holding a worn spear. He never knew who she was. When she talked about a dragon and Kali, it left him shaken and confused.
Reacting quickly, Asahi stepped forward and, as Telos sat down on the glassy, transparent floor, questioned him.
Reacting quickly, Asahi stepped forward toward Telos. Telos, who had just sat down on the glassy, transparent floor, looked up as Asahi questioned him.
"Please, calm down. The one you saw was my lover long ago."
Shock shot through Asahi. His heart skipped, a cold wave of disbelief crashing over him so hard the world seemed to vanish beneath his feet.
"Huh?!"
Telos chuckled softly. He gently picked up one of the clear white windows, placed it over the shallow water, and brushed away the mist that hovered above it. He spoke as Asahi leaned in to look.
"Before you fainted, my soul saw her face. This was the first thing I found. Take a look," Telos said gently.
Asahi gazed into the shining white window, letting its bright light engulf him. Suddenly, the surroundings dissolved, and he found himself seamlessly transported into a vivid memory from his past.
* * *
Morwenna watched her weakening powers consume everyone; she grabbed her chest, stepped over to the fainted Asahi, and bent over to the tattoo on his chest, whispering to the soul behind it.
"I know you're there, Telos. I can still see that young face plastered onto you, that powerful, dominant strength in your soul, and azure blue eyes. You look afraid, scared, and terrified, looks that don't match you...." Morwenna whispered.
Telos' soul tried to speak to Morwenna, but nothing worked. His face was in disarray as he saw his love pass through her like a distant mirage.
(Dear, why are you doing this? We've been apart for so long, we've forgotten who we were. All twenty-one of them. You shine like before, but your heart feels far away. I need to know why you seem so distant now.)
Morwenna's fringed, sharp eyelashes lowered downward in guilt, her lip biting and eyes closing. Her mind flickered with distorted memories so long that it could well just be identified as nothing but a void.
Morwenna's long black hair swung like a tail as she gripped her spear. She gritted her teeth, feeling her heart wither. As Telos' voice echoed in her mind, Morwenna snapped her fingers, and black particles surrounded her and the others.
"My dear Telos, how much have our souls been intertwined. How many souls have we formed with our unchained adoration, I do not know. But like the feeling of creating, I, too, can't stop yearning for hedonism," Morwenna confessed.
Though Morwenna couldn't hear Telos' voice, she knew her lover was listening.
(Darling, I've been seeking your soul for so long that I forgot where I started. If only you understood the consequence of our actions, the outcome of the deceitful essence of Angel Factors, and the beauty of the heavenly creatures we made.)
Morwenna sighed and closed her eyes, speaking fragments of truth from her echoing voice.
"I'm trying to fix this world. I need to keep it safe from The Outside. Time's broken in Gincad, deep within two beings. For now, goodbye. We'll stay apart until my goal is reached," Morwenna said, determined.
(No, please... listen to me!)
The memory dissolved, fading away. Once again, Asahi and Telos found themselves in the heavenly abode above the sea of clouds. A glistening ball of light rose, illuminating the realm. Telos let out a sigh of dismay as Asahi's stunned reaction echoed the gravity of what they'd witnessed together.
* * *
"So you see, Asahi... Morwenna's changed. The woman I knew is gone. We created twenty-one children. Now, most are missing. I've searched everywhere—none can be found."
Telos clenched his fists and forced his eyes shut.
"Our love started in harmony, simple and beautiful. But now I've lost it all—her and our children. My heart hurts for the past, but fate says no. It's strange that Morwenna has her own goal, just like I do. But how are hers different from mine?" Telos mused.
Asahi scratched his head, emotions stirring. None of his thoughts felt right. He noticed distant sounds and nodded before answering Telos.
"I get what you feel, Telos. I understand."
Asahi put his hand to his chest, his face showing pity.
"I've lost everyone but Aletha. There's still hope. Hold onto it, too," Asahi said.
Telos collapsed to his knees, his whole body shaking. Grief and longing drowned him, choking his breath and soaking his heart in aching sorrow.
"Oh, Asahi, your kindness means a lot, but nothing can fill the emptiness left by those I've lost. My sorrow runs too deep, but I appreciate that you care," Telos responded.
Telos relaxed his body onto the ground.
"This conflict is different from yours. When I'm outside the world of Gincad, my sight gets blinded, obstructing my pathway to find my lost children. Morwenna is someone different. That's why I arrived here. If only you knew," Telos said, his voice heavy with longing.
Asahi backed up. After what Telos had just explained, he became even more confused.
"Knew what...?"
"About--
Before Asahi could hear more of Telos' voice, a loud shout sounded outside the heavenly abode of Asahi's mind.
"Bro!"
* * *
Suddenly, the vision ended. At an instant, Asahi's eyelids opened to the sight of the same ceiling, seeing a youthful, fair-skinned face leaning toward the corner of his eye.
Her face and blemished, rosy cheeks shone with the vibrant sunlight shining through the window, touching the floor, revealing his sister standing on the right of his bed. She asked.
"Brother, are you okay? You have been asleep for more than an hour now. I'm just checking with you if you're alright."
The corner of Asahi's mouth quirked up to a soft grin. He couldn't feel more relieved knowing his sister had made it to this building with him.
He thought he had lost Aletha or was separated from her once again.
Remorse clouded his face. He felt his energy increase and quickly pushed himself up, answering.
"Yeah, sis... I'm fine."
Aletha rolled her eyes and backed away.
"Good. You look healthier, too! I'm guessing you have no clue where you are, either? I have been walking from counter to counter in this building, but no one responded to me."
A girl who resembled a nurse, with long, light-black hair, crystal turquoise eyes, and wearing two-layered clothing, stepped into the room and joined the conversation with a friendly voice, bowing and introducing herself.
"You're located in Oksanna Village's hospital. My name is Emine. It's a pleasure to meet you two."
Though her greeting sounded friendly at first, her voice and face continued to part away from each other's tone, not matching the emotion.
. . .
An awkward silence dawned in the room. Emine shook her head and sighed as she tried to keep her smile.
"Oh, both of you are fine, don't worry. If it wasn't for me, you two would still be stranded in the forest, without anyone to guide you."
Asahi scratched his head nervously, feeling anxiety glowing inside him. He thanked the girl, his expression one of relief.
"I show you my greatest gratitude."
Emine sneered and looked away.
"Oh! I forgot to mention! Now that both of you are all reinvigorated and healed up..."
What once seemed like an act of a friendly girl shifted to the tone of a serious businesswoman. Her posture, stare, and voice all intimidated the wanderers.
"... to compensate for me saving both of you, the two of you will have to participate in a foot race, within the upcoming days. You must be trained by me, informed by the books I have prepared, and fed healthy proportions to induce calorie intake and hydration."
A look of worry slowly crept on the siblings' faces.
Asahi and Aletha thought the nurse was joking, but as they looked closer at her, that serious expression didn't match her appearance.
Emine wore a dark lavender shirt, another layer dangled with fuzzy white latches, and an oddly made azure, cyan skirt slumped to her toes. Her appearance matched a look of authority and casual, but mostly somber.
"So..."
Emine's tint on her skin was a faint blue-green hue resembling a ghoul's face with proportional human features, except for her pointed ears.
Asahi positioned his body against the clear window on the wall, tightened his fist, and asked, trying to maintain the mellow aura of the room.
"Why do we need to participate in a foot race?"
Emine leered with her turquoise eyes, arms, and scrunched her face, releasing a sigh of irritation at him.
"Just go along with it!"
As an eerie silence flooded the cozy room, Aletha placed her two hands on her sides, drew back a snarl, and responded to Emine with a sarcastic smirk.
"And so what...? What if my brother and I resist?"
It was at this moment that Aletha realized she had made a mistake.
Emine forced Aletha up the wall, tremblingly pulling out a gleaming silver dagger from one of her pockets and pointing to the tip of Aletha's throat.
The poor white-haired girl struggled and wheezed, unable to comprehend the sheer speed of her action.
"Ack!"
Asahi quickly jolted over but was stopped by Emine's other arm.
"Get your hands off her!"
Emine ignored him and frenziedly leaned over to Aletha, whispering at her with a blend of intimidation and despair.
"I-If you dare to run away, I will track you two down until both of you are slain by either my dagger or my minions."
Fear touched Aletha coldly. She gulped a breath of panic and looked to the door, noticing that a man was passing by. Asahi pushed Emine's arm and gritted his teeth, aggressively and angrily shouting as the man in the hallway saw.
"Don't you dare!"
The young man's crimson hair waved back, alerting him and causing him to scamper to the door.
"H...Huh?"
Emine's ice-chipped eyes darted at Aletha slowly, looking back at the dagger and realizing what she was doing.
"W...What? N-no, I'm not supposed to do this. What am I doing?!"
Guilt touched the woman coldly, noticing Aletha's trembling gray eyes and reading the room around her. She knew this wasn't intentional, but rather instinctual.
But soon enough, before the tip of the blade touched Aletha's skin.
"Nurse Emine! Not again..." A masculine voice sounded out.
Suddenly, Emine felt her wrist being clenched, and she was forced back by Aletha, dropping her dagger onto the floor and onto the bed. Asahi swiftly grabbed the two blades and tossed them to the other side of the room, confused and scrambling in disarray.
He gave the monster girl a fiery exclamation of wrath.
"What were you thinking?!"
Emine's shiny eyes flashed up in remorse, loosening her fists and blowing out her cheeks with an expression of relief.
"N...No. I wasn't supposed to do that." A glistening, innocent tear formed in her eye. "Please, forgive me. It's... it's an accident..."
Asahi sneered at Emine suspiciously.
"Are you sure?"
A soft but masculine voice sounded behind his back.
"Yes, it is one of Nurse Emine's flaws. I'm dearly sorry, my patient. I promise it won't happen again."
Who had barged into the room and pushed Emine away was a reasonably appealing, elegant young man with nearly short, hot pink-crimson hair, sharp, red-rimmed ruby eyes, and milk-white skin. His attire consisted of a fancy suit, featuring a red tie that hung over his chest, dark pants, and thick eyebrows.
The man presented himself as a gentleman, kindly escorting Emine out of the room without bearing a word to the others.
But as he stepped out, Aletha raised her arm and hollered at the man.
"Hey, who are you?!"
The bright-haired man stood still, kindly pushing Emine to the hallway as other people tried to barge into Asahi's room, asking what was happening.
"What is happening? Let us through!"
"Is that Asahi's room? What is he doing?! Let me in, please. I know him!"
"Come on, let us in! I've been trying to find that guy all afternoon!"
Several people started rushing in and pushed the crimson-haired man back, hollering while Asahi and Aletha cowered in the corner of the room, trying to find a way out.
"Please, let us in!"
"Were they the ones that saved Pladtioa from disaster?"
"Let us through!"
The crowd immediately fell silent as a purple-green-haired girl with glistening, jewel-like cyan eyes made her way through the group, waving her hand and warning everyone.
"Will you please excuse me? I must speak with that boy at once."
Everyone in the group, including the gray-haired boy, stepped back to create a pathway for the girl to enter the room, praising her long, untied hair, which glistened under the ceiling light.
"Yes, Queen of Linuxinia!"
"Understood, your majesty!"
"With much love..."
. . .
"Will you please shut the door?"
The elegant crimson-haired doctor quickly nodded his head and slowly exited the room, closing the door and allowing the Princess to pass.
Her soft, purple-green, luminous, and lustrous straight hair followed the rhythm of her bright lime-colored dress, stretching down to her ankles.
The girl's face looked as soft and smooth as a baby's, with a faint copper tint on her skin. She mumbled while approaching the wanderers.
"I can't believe this appearance is the only one that can make me identify as The Princess of Linuxinia. They wouldn't even bat an eye if I tied my hair or changed my dress."
The moment Asahi's eyes caught a glimpse of the dazzling girl approaching him, his heart raced and pounded heavily in his chest, wheezing as he saw the glittering light on the girl's neck.
"I recognize that face..."
Disbelief flew in him. Words trembled out of his lips as the girl pulled her high heels off her feet.
"K...Kali Leila? Is that you?!"
She quickly replied, with sweat sliding down her face.
"Shh! Don't holler out that name!"
Aletha stood still in shock, staring and admiring the fancy patterns on the girl's dress. Even she thought the girl was a completely different individual. She slightly nudged her elbow at Asahi with a smug look on her face.
"Ooo, so is that your CRUSH, bro? She looks gorgeous!~"
Asahi's face flustered red.
"N...No. I don't know who she is!"
Kali Leila made a pouty face and squinted at Asahi with disbelief.
"Come on, I thought you were smarter than that! Of course, I'm Kali Leila! Remember?"
Asahi gulped and trembled, feeling heat and sweat sliding down his anxious face.
"W...Why do you look like that? You look so..."
Aletha added, with her smugness growing more powerful with each second.
"...preettty...?"
"N-NO!"
Unexpectedly, Asahi slapped the back of his sister's head, forcing her to whine and rub her bruise.
(SMACK)
"OW! That hurts..." Aletha whined while jumping up and down like a baby.
Kali gasped in shock.
"Asahi? What are you doing?!"
"N...Nothing. It's no big deal. It's just... that you look really different, Kali."