Despite Orion being his Keeper, Zye finds that he spends more time with Ilista. She’s the one that takes him out to train as well as fight Nether. All she asks for in return are countless tales and trivia about where he came from. It’s as important to her as breathing to mortals.
All they do is train in an attempt to hone his sword capability. Something he’s never had to deal with before. Using his fists, sure, but not a weapon. It strikes him as odd that whatever chooses their powers would give him this.
Zye huffs at the sight of his sword spinning out of his hand. It’s already vanishing before it can hit the ground. “Shit,” he murmurs to himself as he holds up his hands in defeat. Going another round would be torture.
“Done already?”
“It’s almost dawn.” He gestures past the dew-soaked grass, the part that hasn’t been ripped up from their spar, and to the horizon. The tiniest streaks of color are beginning to appear.
“Hm, I still want to call you soft. But sure, we can stop.”
Zye is more than happy to hear it. Especially when it means he can drop to the ground, tugging his legs into a criss-cross formation. He fusses with the long bangs, trying to sweep them off a sweat-slicked forehead.
“Just curious, is that rule a hard rule? Or just one you listen to but don’t follow?”
“Which?”
“Visiting where you’re from.”
Ilista twirls the spear around until the two prongs stab deep into the ground before him. She leans against it, humming to herself. “Well, for me and Aster, we kinda do what we want. But you little ones shouldn’t go back until it’s been some time, it’s safer for you that way.”
“What if it could help me fix my memory? You know, just seeing old sights or people. Everyone here kind of sucks.” He stammers at the look she gives him. “I mean, aside from you.”
She chuckles at that. “I can’t really blame you there. No one is supposed to. We’re given zones far away from where we came from for a reason— says Orion.”
“Easy for him to say.”
“Okay let’s play a game. Tell me who you want to go see.”
Zye huffs and looks down. Who he really wants to see? That’s a hard question when there are so many. Is Kass still around and managing Ruby’s Light? How is Shae doing without him? What about Dr. Len? Not to mention the two he can’t recall very well.
“A kid I made a promise to. He was always around me so he should know who I don’t.” Zye’s hands fall to his knees, clutching tight at them at the thought. “I didn’t leave things off real great and he didn’t know a lot about standing up for himself either.”
“And you really care about him?”
That’s what has him looking up into those golden eyes. He does care about Xerxes. A lot, in fact.
“What if you went to see him for me? Just to check up on him.”
Ilista shakes her head. The ponytail swishes back and forth behind her as she does. “I wouldn’t know where or who. I can’t just pick a place and go based on what you call it.”
He glares at her. “Really? I can somehow understand you without having to learn. We don’t have to eat or anything. Oh, and you have magical weapons and little creatures that tend to your needs. But that’s a hard one?”
“Um, yes, actually.”
Zye’s shoulders sag at that. He deflates quite a bit and stares at the grass bent underneath one of his legs. “Shit…never mind then. Let’s get back.”
As he stands up, dusting grass from his pants, Ilista tugs her weapon free from the ground. “Let me think about it, alright? Next time I’m training with you, we’ll figure it out and see what I can do.”
“Really? Thank you!”
She doesn’t expect a burst of happiness from him. The bright eyes and a large smile. It has her letting down a metaphorical wall or two. There’s even a tinge of color beneath her eyes as she waves him off, “It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a very big deal to me.”
Ilista lifts her spear and holds it out toward him, the points hover dangerously close to his chest. “Alright you big softy, as payment you need to go another round. Hold that sword form longer than last time and maybe you can earn bonus points.”
It takes a moment for him to call it forth. Once he does, he raises it to knock her spear aside and steps back.
“Deal.”
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Leaving Orion’s area the next day, they stop just before the stairs. The very thing that is blocked by a man with dark blue hair. Throughout the shaggy hairstyle are several little star-shaped adornments clipped in. Something about him looks so familiar. As if it’s not the first time he’s come across this very loud individual.
Orion stops beside him. “I’ll be going up to see Celeste with Aster. You can keep yourself busy until I’m done.”
“Sure, whatever.”
Aster straightens up and steps up to Zye. Toe-to-toe, he still has to look up that hair of a distance between their eyes. “I’d like to know what some weakling can even do to help you, Orion. Why not just let this one go?”
“Aster, not now. We’re a team. Act like it.”
Zye already wants to grab the man by the countless necklaces and tell him to shove it. Instead, he tries to swallow it down. There’s no sense in making enemies.
“Fine. Sorry about that,” Aster says with a huff.
That is until he sees Aster offer a hand to shake. Bright green eyes meet his purple and blue ones. A gaze he holds as he shoves his hands into his pockets. “I’ll just wander around ‘til you’re done.”
Orion slips around them and begins up the stairs. “Let’s go, Aster.”
“Right behind you.”
Except he’s not. He’s not moving an inch until Orion is out of sight and beyond hearing as well. The glare doesn’t have Zye reacting at all. This is nothing compared to what he’s had to deal with before.
“You’d better watch it. If you make any trouble for Orion, you have to deal with me. Got it?”
“Ah, right. I’d hate to have to deal with some boy band reject.”
Aster grits his teeth. “I may not know what that is. But what I do know is that you’re lucky he felt sorry and brought home. Do better so he doesn’t have to cover for you and do your job, too.”
Zye’s lips part, the breath catching in his throat, right as a hand settles on his arm. He whips his head to the side to see Iris smiling up at him. Her ears fold down a little yet try to perk up when he looks at her.
“H-hey, I was wondering if you, um, wouldn’t mind telling me more about your home? Like you promised?”
The reply isn’t needed. Iris’s interjection is enough to have Aster turning on his heel. The off-white coat flutters behind him as he hurries up the stairs. Those soft pink ears perk up the second that Aster is gone.
“Sorry, about him.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to assholes like that.”
“I guess he can be an…asshole…”
Zye can’t help the smile or the laugh that bursts out of him. The laughter has him doubling over with one hand on his knee. The only problem is that Iris is flushing a deep red as she clutches her hands together in front of her.
“U-um, did I not say it right?”
It’s the one moment that he realizes he doesn’t have to breathe. It’s painfully easy to straighten up without having to catch his breath or let his lungs relax. The lack of sensation is unnerving.
“No, I just didn’t expect to hear you say something like that.”
“Why’s that?”
Zye gestures with his hands, aimlessly at that. “Well, I mean, you said you were a seer and I’m sure you didn’t talk like that around your people. And you’re so small and cute that it caught me off guard.”
The blush deepens and she cuts her eyes away. Fingers fiddle with the hem of her dress. “I-I guess so. I’ve never, uh, said it before.”
“Then you should make sure to tell him next time you see him,” he replies with a wink.
“N-n-no! I couldn’t possibly do that!”
Another chuckle is drawn out of him. “I’m just kidding. You know…Ilista is helpful and Aster is a di…going to be hard to get along with. What’s Vespera like?”
“Hmm…” Iris hums a bit as she tries to put it all into words. “Vespera isn’t very strong compared to Ilista or Aster. Not overly strategic like Orion. But she puts everything she has into what she has to do and she cares about Celeste so much.”
“Ah, gotcha. That explains why she’s always moving about and doesn’t stop to talk.”
Iris nods, her tail beginning to swing slightly. “Correct! I admire how she manages to get everything done and then some. She’s always going around helping others.”
He’s about to ask her a bit more about the blonde in question. Except she glances at the floor and then back at him.
“I’m really sorry, I have to go.”
“It’s fine, be safe out there.”
Watching her hurry off to a portal she summons at the last minute is upsetting. He wants to do that— anything to not be here at the moment. Perhaps that’s why he makes his way to the corridor that leads to Ilista’s room.
It takes a moment to finally swallow past any nerves and knock on the door. The glossy white door swings before he can even take his hand off it. Standing there is Ilista in a light pink skirt and a white bodice with no sleeves.
“Hey there, I thought you were with Orion today.”
“Change of plans. He’s up there with Celeste and Aster.”
Zye doesn’t expect a sudden change in her mood. He can feel how the energy she usually exudes like sunshine, darkens considerably. She seems a bit more than just upset.
“Figures! They preach teamwork and unity— liars.” Ilista scoffs and spins around, marching back into the room. It leaves Zye to follow after her and shut the door. “I hate being kept in the dark. I’m a Keeper, too!”
“They do it often?”
Zye moves over to the glass table that sits on a large, white rug. Against the wall is a slender couch with a low back. It’s the very thing that she drops down onto with her hand smacking at the cushion in frustration.
“Ugh! They’re so annoying. It’s not even that Aster looks down on me— because I could take him. But his bond with Orion has him putting everything else on the back burner and he won’t tell me anything. Ever.”
“He didn’t seem great to talk to if that makes you feel any better.”
Ilista laughs at that and pats the seat. “Not really. I knew that already. Me and him, we just butt heads. Don’t mind me. I just feel like the muscle sometimes. Follow orders, don’t think about it.”
“You know that’s probably not true, right?”
“I do.” Sock-clad feet lift and prop against the edge of the table. She leans her head back against the wall and smiles at him. “So, you came here because you’re bored?”
Zye glances away. “My feet just brought me here. I do have a question if you don’t mind.” The nod encourages him to continue. “Who is Celeste?”
“Oh, well this is a good time to really explain things then. Mr. Difficult probably won’t get around to it unless you beg him.”
“Heh, probably.”
Ilista begins waving her hands around as she explains. It’s almost more distracting than the explanation. “Orion and Celeste are at the top, they’re Celestials. They’re different from the rest of us in the sense that they haven’t lived a human life before. They’ve only known this.”
The wide gesture gets across her point.
“I don’t know the full story, okay? From what I’ve heard, Celeste was getting friendly with a Dark Star. She’d been trying to work with Solis in getting the problems taken care of.”
Zye goes to speak up and she waves him to hold on.
“This Dark Star, he ended up being the leader of the Surge and tried to take them out. Celeste is lucky to have survived. Vespera is distraught it happened to begin with. The attack was so thorough that Celeste couldn’t fully heal their eyes… Meaning Orion has been heading everything since.”
“That’s…what?”
“It’s a lot to take in. I know and it probably doesn’t help I can’t do a puppet show to help you remember.”
“Please, no, I’d rather not.”
“Hey! I can do voices of them just fine.” Her laughter is soft and airy. “I can always explain more later as we go. Little lessons about everything. Thankfully the job is easier than the explanation. Payment for not dying.”
Zye begins to lean back, relaxing ever-so-slightly. “What do they look like, by the way? Just so I don’t make an ass out of myself if I run into them.”
“I’m sure you’d be fine. They keep their eyes covered, so they’re easy to spot. Long pink bangs, that’s your identifier. Just remember, they might be blind but that doesn’t mean they can’t see you.”
There are so many questions he has and so little time to figure out which one he wants to say first. Not that he can get a chance when the door to Ilista’s room slings open. Smiling wide with a hand on her hip is Yue.
“Ili! I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“You’re not. I got a plus one with us.” Ilista grins over at Zye. “That is if you don’t mind us painting your nails while we do ours.”
He doesn’t get much of a choice as Yue comes over. Instinctively, he begins to scoot over not realizing she sits down right as he does— trapping him there. They’re bantering a mile a minute on what color would look better.
Yue nudges her arm against his, “What’s your favorite color?”
“Uh…” He blanks, to be honest. A color? It’s a basic question and yet he can’t seem to figure out what he should say. For some reason, he blurts out the first one that comes to mind. “Purple.”
She watches him as he says it. “I don’t buy it but that’s fine, you can have purple. So, Ili, next time you’re free remember we’re going out for lunch. Dress casually this time.”
Yue stands up while Ilista laughs at the memory. The taller woman gestures with her hand to summon her Mark. The creature slowly manifests next to her and Zye’s surprised. It looks so different from Orion’s.
This one has to be as tall as Ilista, if not more so. It’s skinny, almost comically so, with long fingers. Even the eyes are different; short, vertical black slants that certainly don’t look like eyes. When it turns to walk around the table, meeting Yue halfway, Zye can see the orange diamond on the back of its head.
His gaze sweeps from Yue to Ilista. “Have you been friends for long?”
“Practically forever. We’ve been joined at the hip since we were both starting out as Stars. When I saw Yue, I just knew I had to talk to her. She’s so pretty, you know?”
Yue giggles at that. “Shush you. If anything I don’t think I’d have made it through training without you. I’m glad I got to be on this side. Although…it was a big change when you got promoted to Keeper.”
The comfortable atmosphere is vastly different than what he’s had before today. It makes it hard to not relax back against the couch, hands in his lap and eyes glancing between the two.
“Is it rare to be a Keeper?”
Ilista nods, “A bit. Aster and I were first on this side. Vespera came about a little later.”
“This side?”
“Yeah, silly. We’re the Stars that protect beneath the light of the moon. Dark Stars are the ones that heal under the light of the sun. Blah, blah, blah.”
“Right…”
He tries to pay attention as they begin to talk about what they’re planning to do. Hairstyles. Clothes. Makeup. It’s all jumping around. Not that he can’t follow, because he can if he tries.
It’s the buzzing in his ears. Low and able to be tuned out, but it’s there. The chill that tingles up his spine and makes his fingers twitch is no better. All he can do is sit there, follow along, and try his very best not to react to it.
Pretend it’s not there. Pretend he doesn’t feel as broken as he probably is.
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Throwing his hands up into the air, Zye spins and begins to walk away from Orion. The man stares after him. There’s no sense in following after. Not when Zye is pacing to try to keep from wanting to kick the ground.
Which he doesn’t want to do because then the field of wildflowers would be slowly ruined. Especially considering he can’t get this to work. Being able to open up doorways— portals, tears, and whatever else they’re called— is the most essential part of what he is now. He has to be able to move through time and space with ease.
It’d also mean he can return to his home and get rid of that gnawing feeling.
But also because he can’t do it and it’s driving him crazy. Never before has he hit such a wall. Being bad at something, he can handle it. Not being able to do it, to begin with, even if it’s terrible, is frustrating to the highest degree.
The dream from this morning isn’t helping either. Not that dream would be the right word. Provocative memory would be closer.
Pent up. Frustrated. Done with all of learning about this new “world” he’s been thrust into.
Orion calls over to him, “Zye, it’s alright. You can keep practicing as—”
“How about tell me why I can’t get this to work? What am I doing wrong?”
“Calm down. It’s fine that you can’t.”
“Like hell it is. It’s like not being able to go somewhere on my own. I’m not a child.”
“I said it’s alright. You’re still adjusting.” Orion begins to walk over. As he does, he’s pulling something from his jacket pocket. “Until you can do it on your own, you can use this. It’ll allow you to return to Noctis if you concentrate on your connection to me.”
Zye gives him a look, one that says he doesn’t believe a word of it. He really doesn’t. If there’s something that can do it, why not say it in the first place?
“It’s full of blessed water that I’ve poured my own power into. Every so often I’ll re-enhance it for you until you can open a door on your own.”
He holds out his hand. Waiting for Orion to give him the silvered necklace with a jewel that dangles from it. The surface is rounded and smooth as it hits his palm, gliding easily against his sleeve. “So it can only bring me back, I can’t leave with it?”
“No, if you were to go on your own, I’ll open the portal for you until you can do so and you’d use that to return. Otherwise, you can always use the mirror to let it take you to your next mission.”
“You mean that floating thing by the stairs?”
“Yes. Now I have a mission to go on but I’ll be back soon. Stay here and wait for Ilista for further training.”
“Shouldn’t I go with you?”
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
Zye watches him leave through a portal. There’s nothing else he can do aside from sink to the ground. Sitting in the grass, he sets the necklace aside. He plucks a wildflower up from the grass and twirls it between two fingers.
He’s always loved them. More than he’d care to admit to anyone out loud. Now that he’s got some peace and quiet, he lets out a long breath. Zye doesn’t know what he’s to do.
Not being able to do what he’s told he should be able to is frustrating. Having to suffer through dreams that tease him each time he closes his eyes is too much. Then having to deal with Orion dodging his questions is exhausting.
Slowly, he falls backward onto the grass. The flower is let go and sent up into the breeze that catches it, carrying it away. For a moment he watches it float. This world he’s been brought to for training is so peaceful and quiet.
Not once has he seen any Nether or people for that matter. It’s serene. A place he wants nothing more than to bring him to.
His eyes close as he lets out a frustrated groan.
Only to receive a laugh in response, “Thinking too hard again?”
Zye opens his eyes to see the long ponytail draping over her shoulder. A split second and she’s someone else— pale green hair and the brightest tangerine-colored eyes he’s ever seen. The next, it’s merely Ilista with a curious look on her countenance.
He recovers as best he can. Not that he realizes she can see right through it. The strange look on his face isn’t something she can forget.
“No, waiting on you.”
“Sorry about that,” she replies while standing up straight. “Aster didn’t agree with trading me missions for the day so that I can train you. Had to convince him.”
“With your fists?”
Ilista hums a response at first before laughing some more. “Maybe. He knows he can’t beat me. Just a little pinch usually does the trick.”
Zye sits up with hands sliding over the soft blades of grass. They slip between his fingers as he grasps at them. “And what are we doing today?”
“So, here’s the deal and I swear to all the cosmic powers if you say a word about this I’ll have to kill you.” She strides around to stand next to him. Extending her hand, she waits for him to take it. “I was thinking of, well, escorting you to where you came from.”
Eyes widen and his breath catches in his throat. Staring up at her, he’s dumbfounded.
She’ll…help him go back? The one thing that Orion profusely forbids him to do, she’s going to let him?
Zye doesn’t take the offered hand. Standing up on his own, he glances at her from the corner of his eye while pocketing the necklace. “How do I know you’re not baiting me so you can rat me out?”
“Really? I thought you knew me better than that. Come on, please? There’s only one catch.”
“Figures.”
“You can’t ever go there alone.”
“Because I have to have a babysitter? I’m a grown man, I can handle—”
“It has nothing to do with that.” Her tone hardens, refusing to play any games. “You’re still not ready and from what I’ve overheard, where you came from is crawling with Nether. Not to mention if you accidentally make yourself visible and someone that knew you sees you?”
“I get it.” Zye turns to her. “Then let’s go before he gets done with his mission.”
Ilista grins from ear to ear. “Got to hurry then, he’s pretty quick.”
The portal she summons springs up as she’s grabbing his wrist, yanking him towards it. Through it and back into Noctis, she takes him straight to the mirror. Her free hand presses to it while she brings his up next to hers.
The surface is the same as always. Smooth. Cool. Yet there’s a warmth tingling beneath his fingertips at the touch.
Ilista glances about before lowering her voice to a whisper. “Alright, just think about your home or someone there. Xerxes is a good target since you remember him. When you do I’ll focus as well, it’ll help pinpoint him better.”
It’s a bit fast. So much so that the butterflies kicking up in his stomach are worse than he’d have thought. Being able to do this is nerve-wracking. Still, even with the anxiety creeping up he refuses to let this chance slip away.
Focusing on Earth is easy. Civicus is even easier. And Xerxes? Just the thought of the young man has a smile on Zye’s face and the surface beneath his hand growing hot.
What he doesn’t expect is to blink and the mirror is gone.
Their hands are still outstretched toward where it would be. Ilista is already lowering hers and guiding his down as well. Not that he notices how her hand slips down, fingers brushing gently over his and cupping palm to palm.
All he can think about is he doesn’t know where this is exactly in Civicus. It looks a bit more uptown from how the apartment building is a bit nicer looking. Across the street from it, he watches as people walk by them. One young lady running at them even goes through them.
“What…that felt so weird.”
It’s almost disorienting as if his equilibrium is suddenly off and he feels like he’ll tip over. A feeling that goes as quickly as it comes.
“They can’t see us or hear us. If we put forth the power to make ourselves present, they can. Otherwise, we’re no different than a specter.”
“Right…”
“Do you see him?”
Scanning up and down the street, he tries to spot what he remembers Xerxes to look like. In fact, it’s not hard when he sees a familiar head of slate-blue hair. It’s the only thing that looks the same.
Xerxes is taller, to start. A streak of green is dyed into his shaggy hair, pulled back at the nape by a hair tie. The brown jacket he wears is far too big, engulfing his slender frame and the t-shirt and jeans he wears beneath it.
The unnerving part is how much older he looks compared to the last time Zye saw him. To Zye, he was practically a kid— small, sweet, kind, and innocent. Now he’s not and Zye has missed it all. He can’t even begin to guess how many years have passed.
That scares him more. That means time has passed for everyone whether he remembers them or not.
Are they okay? Are they even still out there? Do they even think about him?
Does he miss him?
Zye doesn’t even realize he’s squeezing the fingers that hold onto his. At least, not until he’s yanking his hand away when Ilista gives a comforting squeeze back. Zye stuffs his hands into his pockets and pulls the necklace out.
“What’s wrong?”
Her eyes follow who he was looking at, memorizing details about him. Ilista hurries to follow Zye with her hands falling onto his shoulders.
“I’m ready to go back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll take you back. No need to use that.”
She tugs him toward a portal she summons up near a shop’s window that shines out onto the dark street. He allows her to guide him through and into her room. Not that he wants to be there either. He steps toward the door the second he’s able.
The only problem is Ilista catching his wrist, urging him to a stop. Something he does even though he wants to run— wants to yank away from her and run until he can’t anymore.
“If you want I’ll…I can keep an eye on him, the boy that was in the brown jacket and blue hair, right? See how he’s doing if you want. But I promise I won’t say a word about you or anything.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s too shy to open up to someone he just met.”
“Hah! Do you even know who you’re talking to?” She releases him, fingers gliding away and giving him an out if he wants it. “Besides, I know where you come from and I’d like to try some local cuisine. Maybe get a new outfit.”
“You don’t have to…I mean…You know where to go now anyway, have at it.”
Two steps away from her and she’s realizing she can’t force him out of the funk she’s helped inflict. It has her smile faltering now that he won’t look at her. A tinge of regret begins to form as Zye keeps his back to her as he makes for the door— slow footsteps, but he’s trying to leave as casually as possible.
“Zye…I…I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it. I should have explained just how differently time works.”
“It’s fine.”
“If you want to stay in here any time, even now, you can always have the couch. Or the bed! I’ll stay on my side, promise. I only kick a little.”
His hand falls onto the handle. It’s cold against his clammy palm. The subtle shock it gives is comforting. No different than stepping into the ocean tide right before summer. There’s a piece of him that wants to stay. It feels safe in here with her. Yet at the same time, he’s drowning.
“Thanks, maybe next time. I’d hate to not run it by Orion and get you in trouble.”
“Sure, I understand. Get some sleep, okay?”
“You too.”
The door clicking shut behind him threatens to unravel him inside. The emotions are a tidal wave being stirred up by the typhoon of anxiety and worry.
He’s devastated— sad— angry— unsure— and it all has him wanting to pull his hair out at the same time as sinking to his knees. It’s not fair that time has passed so much when it only felt like a blink and he was waking up here. It leaves far too much open-ended.
Kass was already getting old. Shae was the same age as him, meaning he could not be around already, too. Not to mention the ones he can’t remember.
He misses them all so much. From the days of walking through the city to the nights of sitting around the table playing cards.
Zye is glad that Orion is nowhere to be seen when he returns to their shared chamber. He hurries past the Mark and straight to his room. The door shuts a little harder than normal while quivering palms press to the surface.
It feels as though there’s a solid weight on his chest. If it could drag him to the floor and then through it, he’s sure it would. Instead, he leans against the door with his eyes locked to the ceiling. The dark of the room is comforting for once— if only because there’s something far scarier for him to worry about.
Maybe Orion was right.
Maybe he shouldn’t have tried to go back.
ns 15.158.61.7da2
