"Master, you should go to sleep."
"Don't call me that when there's other's around. Who knows what they'll think."
"Oh, but. That shouldn't matter, we won't stay here for that long. So it shouldn't matter if they hear me or not."
". . . Don't oppose me. You've been stepping out of line lately. You've never done that before, are you, broken? "
Plunko looked at me with an upset expression.
"No."
"I have my reasons to do so. And if I feel that something is a threat, I'm programmed to exterminate it."
" I'm aware but why Sylvester? He's just a human."
". . . He's not completely human. He's something else. Anyways, You still can't see well, and your mana is still low. You'll be at full recovery once you wake up."
How odd, how is Sylvester not completely human?
"Rest is something that I don't like to do. It takes up too much time from me. It's not fair."
Plunko patted my shoulder. It felt like I was being treated like a little kid. It felt humiliating. No-one, like no-one would ever want to talk to someone who's being treated like a kid. They'll think that I can't do anything by myself.
"Just rest, you'll go out tomorrow."
" .. . "
As I laid there, Plunko left the room looking satisfied with himself.
"What utter bullshit, I must look weak or something to them now."
" Weak? No. That's not the right word. It's more like you just look like you're very tired, nothing else."
I sat up quickly after hearing someone else's voice. How did they come in here without me noticing?
"Uh?"
" Who's there?"
As I looked around my eyes adjusted. There was someone at the end of the bed, that figure again.. It was Sylvester.
" You know. I've been thinking about something from earlier, when I saw you again."
"Again?"
"Yes, again."
From what I could see, his facial expression didn't seem happy in any way. My heart dropped. Did he recognize me from that fight we just had? There's no way he would hit me while I'm weak and defenseless right? That would be so cruel. Should I look at him with a sad expression? Would that save me from a hit. I don't want plunko sticking to me 24-7.
As I sat there thinking about all the possibilities of him hitting me he sat next to me. I looked at him with the most pitiful expression I could do.
"Oh, w-why are you looking at me like that? I haven't said anything offensive to you, have I?"
"No I'm just thinking about something."
". . ."
"From the look's of it, it seems like you don't remember what you did."
As he got closer. I just closed my eyes waiting for the punch. But it never arrived. Instead, he just patted my back and laughed at me.
"Let me refresh your head. You." He poked my chest hard " you, threw me like some kind of doll out the gate before it collapsed with the monster wave. That really hurt my feelings, you know. I could have helped out."
" I'm glad you got out of it and got my friend out as well, but you never got out of it. That's something i been wanting to ask since i saw you."
I looked at him now at ease, knowing that I knew I wasn't going to get punched.
"How did you get out?"
"I walked out after you."
" No you didn't, that gate was livestreamed until it closed and you didn't come out of it. No-one saw you."
"Just because you didn't see me doesn't mean I wasn't there."
"Why are you repeating what that guy said earlier?
"What are you talking about?"
"Wait. Are you talking about Paxon? "
"Who else would I be talking about?"
" Do you not like him? You seem to be at odds with him."
"Of course not." He crossed his arms looking displeased with the question. " I'll be honest, he seems more of a monster than human. He rubs me that way. Same goes with his other friend that was with him."
"Uh? Why? What makes you think that way?"
"Don't know. They feel so inhuman."
That's strange. How could a hunter tell that he wasn't human and a crafter couldn't? Could plunko be correct when he said ' not fully human?'.
"What about me?"
"You? Well, you give me vibes of needing to go to sleep. That's what you need to do."
" Go on, time to lay down and sleep."
"What?" Sylvester grabbed my shoulder and pushed me down. Wrapping me like a cocoon only my face was exposed."
" oh my, well you look at that. You really do look like a worm wrapped like this." ^***
" (°ο°) . . . "
Sylvester was getting on my nerves. He was starting to act just like Plunko does. How could 2 different kinds of people act like that?
"Calm down will you. You'll actually start sprouting wings and might fly away if you keep that temper up."
"Why don't you just shut up instead."
" naa- this is nice. If you can't sleep I'll tell you a short story." ^*^~
"You must be out of your mind."
"No, Have you ever heard of the story of the smallest sweetest star?".
Astor nodded. "Of course I have. And it didn't end well for 'it'."
Sylvester smiled "well, It doesn't matter if you already heard it. l'll tell you about it again."
" Sure, whatever. I'd like to hear it out again."
Sylvester seemed pleased with the response.
***
"There was once a beloved sweet star in the sky who had many older siblings. He was the last star ever created in the sky."
"Being the youngest he was always protected by others who've loved him dearly."
"He was one that no-one could turn their backs at."
"He was loved by everything and every-one, even knowing this, he knew his place and power he had and he never abused it, he wasn't like his many siblings."
"He wasn't flashy like his many brothers and sisters, instead his plain looks and good deeds were what brought comfort to everyone when he was around, unlike his brothers and sister who everything and everyone hated."
" But, because The Star was sweet he, put himself in front of danger for others."
"As strong as he was, he was still weaker than others and lost one of his precious beautiful wings. protecting what he claimed was the ' most beautiful thing ' he'd ever seen. Leaving him weaker than what he was."
" Many cried over his loss and sent many gifts to him to comfort him but he always returned them back."
" Many started questioning what he was protecting so much, what was so precious to him, for him to be fine with losing what showed his status as ' the sweetest Star ' in the sky."
"Until, a war broke down with Solaris because of him."
" The small star couldn't bear the thought of war. He spoke and talked to every single one of them, but they all refused to listen to him."
" So, he made a decision and went against all of them, destroying many solar system, galaxies, crating black holes in the many skies."
" Taking most of their powers and strengths away. But, not leaving them so weak that they could die."
****
Sylvester paused. Trying to remember the rest but couldn't.
"Is that it?"
"Yup, it seems like I have forgotten the rest. It'll come back to me later."
"Anyway, go to sleep. You need it".
"You should as well. Everyone deserves to sleep."
". . . Yah. . I'll take a nap. That sounds nice."
As I looked at him, he was just blanked face looking out the window. He seemed to be the odd one out in this place. More than us.
"Alright then, good night."
With that Sylvester got up and walked out the room.
"Night."
'Thank god that's over with. I hate the story.' Aster turned to look outside. Looking at the sky.
"..."
**---
"Aster, look."
Plunko pointed at the sky. "If you ever feel lonely just look up. There's so many stars that'll give you anything and everything you'll ever want. So you won't feel lonely."
"Why would they do that?"
" Because, —-- —--"
**---
'What did plunko say that day? Lately it seems like my memory has been foggy, whenever I try to remember things from the past.
Was it because I was tired?
Maybe I really do need to sleep.
With that I slept through the night peacefully until the morning.
*******
As I woke up, I heard the birds chirping and the wind blowing, outside the window. It was very peaceful. Until, I heard yelling from outside the room I was sleeping in.
"MOVE IT WILL YOU!!"
"I have a name you know. And it's way better than 'paxon' that's such a fake name. And for your information you're the one in my way! move aside!! You freak!!!"
"Freak??! You must be talking about yourself."
It seems Plunko and Sylvester weren't getting along, It looks like today will be a long day for us.
"What are you guys doing??? you're messing up my new kitchen!!!"
And it looks like harrie had also woken up from their fuss.
As I stood there pondering if, I should go out to them after using the bathroom or too just jump out the window and go for a walk. . . I heard Sylvester's voice yell out.
"Aster if you're awake come out here. It seems like 'your' Paxon needs you to do anything right."
At the end, after thinking it over for a very short time in the bathroom. I jumped out the window and ran away without looking back.
It was humiliating. Even though I knew, I just knew plunko would find me and drag me back, like always.
That was just too humiliating to hear. Those two must really be trying to murder me with their stupidity. Or they just hate me in general.
While walking everything seemed dull, it might have looked like that because it was still winter time. I wonder if my friend is doing well, I hadn't seen him since I woke up. Last I heard he was still helping some hunters in a gate. I've never thought that Varyx would ever help humans out, not after how they killed and destroyed his home.
As I looked around there wasn't anything interesting to see, everything seemed 'ugly'.
"What a shame. Why was it nice when I first came, and know it now looks dull,and boring."
" What's the matter?"
There aren't many things to see in the winter."
"No, there's a lot to see. You're just in the wrong place to see it."
"!!"
"Wait, who's talking to me??"
Are my powers still so weak that I couldn't notice others walking up to me? How much more do I need to wait to be fully recovered.
I turned to see it was Noah, and that young lady. Emma, the one I once saw in the bus that one time.
"Ohh my. You're the second person I've seen that has those beautiful eyes. Are you related to Theodore?"
"Theodore? No."
"Oh."
"…"
"But your eyes. There's so vibrant and—" she extended her hand, but before she could touch me.
"Emma." Noah grabbed her hand before she could touch my face. " You shouldn't go around touching others without permission. They might not like it."
" Right,." Emma turned to look back at me "can I touch your face to take a better look?"
Noah covered her mouth with his hand. "Please forgive her, she's always in other people's personal space."
"It's fine."
" By the way, are you heading somewhere?"
"I thought about it for a bit. Then 'work' popped out in my head. It's not common that people are looking for a job, so I could lie and say I'm looking for work. Either way, I need to find something to distract me. I don't want to turn insane from not doing anything like before."
"I'm looking for a job. But I'm having trouble finding one. Are there any that you guys know of."
Both of them thought about it.
"Oh" Emma exclaimed.
"There's a small flower shop that just opened up recently. You should try asking there. but they don't make much."
" Well Actually, in the guild I'm working in, I believe they are also hiring for different positions, you could also try there." Noah pulled out a guild card and gave it to me.
"Try it out. they. have many departments open at the moment."
" Pay isn't bad and they have many good benefits."
"woow, why didn't you tell me about this Noah?? I needed a job a while back and you just straight up told me to fuck off."
"looks like were really aren't that close," she looked at him with a face of betrayal." If you could tell a stranger to work at the hunter's guild department and not me you must not trust me at all. "
" Well, you in the first place never showed up to the one I vouched for you, and showed up late for the second one you dressed up like you were going clubbing. and- bla, bla, bla."
It seemed everywhere I went, there was always someone arguing. But at least they seem to know each other and can talk it out unlike the other two I just avoided.
The more I looked at them, the more they seemed like siblings. Then all of the sudden Noah grabbed my arm. I wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about but it seemed like that started a bet on whether I would get the job or not.
"Alright then, I'll take you to the guild right now. I know for a fact that they'll hire you. But first we need to change your hair. They like natural colored hair. We need to change that navy blue off you."
"My hair?"
"Yes, Here." Noah pulled out a ring from his inventory. "Put it on and change your hair color to a national one."
"That ring, how did you get that ring?"
A simple silver ring with a flower ingrained on it. It looked similar to one that my father made for my uncle. He hated when people didn't leave him alone after work so he used the ring to have his own free time.
"The ring? It was a gift from my mentor."
"You see I'm not a very good fighter, I lack in skills so, I decided to learn medicine. It turned out to be the best decision I've made. I'm now one of the top healers. A lot of guilds used to scout me out trying to make me join their guild, so my mentor gave it to me so I could have some peace."
"It was really nice of him to gift it to me, something very precious."
Anyways, you know what they say, having privacy is luxury. Let's get back to what we were doing. Just imagine yourself with brown hair."
"Just imagining it? Ok."
As I did as I was told and my hair really did turn brown.
" Wow, amazing. My hair really did turn brown"
"Yeah, it suits you as well. You kinda look like someone I met before."
Emma pushed Noah to the side " so boring, I still think the flower shop is way better. If you're looking for a calm job."
" In my opinion the flower shop would suit him better than a guild job. He looks to me to be more on the softer side."
"Noah looked over at Emma. "no, I don't think so, he looks more of a fighter type. I wonder if he's an awakener."
"You know what, why don't we just ask him, sr, where do you want to go get a job?"
"I think, gardening."
Emma smiled ear to ear. "Did you hear that?"
"Well in the guild they have a research team on the plant side. Because of the gait's opening. So he could still get a nice job there.
Emma rolled her eyes."Whatever, it's not your choice anyways."