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The day before the meeting with Castit's mother.
_ Winter _
I leaned on the fence, right outside of a house with my arms crossed. I was waiting for Carla. Where was she? She had to take care of some business with her new friends. To be honest, I think I shouldn't even be waiting for her, I don't see any purpose in staying around them. They're trying to do something good or some change to this place. I think they should listen to a rule I've always followed: "Don't get involved or interfere with anything." Perhaps I should have continued training with "Bland" and forgotten all about it. But my stupid brain is afraid of even going back to meet that demon again. I could just freeze the guy into a solid block of ice, taking that weird folk's advice, but I know that'll be taking huge risks towards an unknown creature.
I let a sigh slip through me as I lifted my head up to the fog far up above me. I do wish I could see the sky again, to tell the time instead of hiding like cowards. I smacked the side of my head, shaking it. No, maybe they did hide in these woods for a reason. Ugh, I can't wait to go back to my homeland. Speaking of which, how long was I on this mission? ... Ten years?
That seems correct. I nodded my head slowly. It's been ten years since I was sent on this mission under my parents' orders. I was trained before getting sent out into the dangerous world at age 14. At that age, the world didn't scare me, however, when I heard about the kidnap of my four brothers, I surely wanted to go beyond the hatred I felt on that day. When I was told the news, my parents insisted me on taking the job right away, ignoring what the elders would say. The elders mentioned it was dangerous for a 14-year-old girl to venture out on her own with no training or any protection.
A vein popped in my forehead, anger was building within me as it boiled to my central core. I despise those damn elders, always thinking about what's best for women in future generations. They also mentioned that my four brothers would have already been long-dead by now. The villagers believed that story too and ... well, I did as well. But when I remember how one of them wasn't like the other three or the rest of the family, I wanted to bring him back right away.
My family is full of strict people, and the type of people who are thirsty for power. They created the five of us with their biology, hoping that one of us, or at least ... five of us would have both casting and shifting powers. I only ended up having both of those abilities, making me and those called Castshifters. Castshifters are shifters who can cast their element and shapeshift into many different kinds of creatures--- even creating one just like the original shapeshifters. We also tend to be much stronger, but not as strong as enchantshifters.
Back in my family, only three of my brothers gained the ability to cast their elements, making them Casters. While one of them was born with the ability to shapeshift. Though ... I believe there is a way to become a Castshifter without having to be born as one. Alaska attempted to become just like me, by readying his fist where ever I go. He wanted to cast our element so badly as he didn't want to feel left out. I feel pity for him whenever he gets scolded by the rest of our brothers. So, one day, during the night when I was 12 and he was 7, I would teach him what the trainer had been teaching me.
It was a rocky start, but eventually, little ice shards came out of his hands a couple of months later. He was so happy that he could have the ability to cast our element. I was proud enough, to say the least, but I was grateful and ... happy that he could become one. And so, my theory has been proven that he can become a Castshifter like one of us. But, becoming one without the ability to be born naturally is a difficult journey. Those who learn to cast have a hard time keeping up with natural Castshifters.
Natural Castshifters have it easy as they can learn everything at ease, while Non-Natural Castshifters cannot. They have to train for years to master it. That's why you don't see most elemental folks train to cast their element on their own. They don't want to go through all of that pain, but Alaska wanted to. He wanted to become just like me in every way of my powers. So I trained him in secret, up until he disappeared one night and never returned, only to hear about his kidnap 2 years later.
I bit my lip and glared up at the sky of the foggy mist. I'm starting to think my parents got rid of him just so I could focus more on my training. I didn't want to. I wanted to train my youngest brother alongside me. So, I happily took their mission and venture off to find "my brothers" when in reality, I'm only trying to find Alaska. He's the only brother I care about since he acts just like me--- without the bloodlust or power-thirsty my family is. They only cared about power and themselves, especially Aubin. He is the oldest and the "alpha" he so calls himself of our "siblings pack."
Aubin always, ALWAYS wanted to show how tough he was and how powerful he could become. He inspired his two other brothers: Aspen and Tuna to become just like him one day. He failed to inspire me when we trained together by force with our parents' permission. I just didn't want to become like my parents like he was trying to do. As I didn't, I became much stronger than him and he grew jealous of my power.
Glad to say he's gone, but sometimes, I do miss kicking his ass every single time. I smiled before looking down. But when the future comes, I hope that Alaska is alright out there when I come looking for him.
"Heeeeelllo---" I froze a head solid out of instinct as I turned over to the still facial expression of Carla. She was mid-sentence of extending the word "hello." I sighed as I could see her hands trying to push the ice block off. I placed my hands on it, took all the ice away from her, and moved it somewhere else. I turned and manipulated it over to the fences, where it fell down into the fog below.
I turned back to Carla who rubbed her face repeatedly. "Stop freezing me!"
"It was ..." I trailed off, looking away as guilt was rising within me. At least I think it was guilt.
"It was self-defense? That's what you were going to say?" Carla guessed, folding her arms incorrectly. "Winter! You know I won't do anything to you."
I kept my mouth shut, not responding to her with that statement. Past memories of ... the incidents are coming and I don't want to remember them. "What took you so long to get out here?" I asked, changing the topic.
Carla stared at me, blinking her eyes before sighing. She turned and rubbed the back of her head with a nervous expression. "Setchi was arguing with me so our conversation lasted a lot longer than before."
I narrowed my eyes. Don't ask. Don't ask. Don't ask. "Seems worthless to stay any longer in there."
"Well, I ... well ..." She smiled nervously at me. "I started the argument since ... he was looking all red all of a sudden and I just had to rescue him from the others. To, ya know, know what was going on! And what was going on is thaaaaat." She placed her hands on her hips, grinning widely up at me. "Our gonolk has a CRUSH on someone!"
"I don't care."
"I KNOW YOU DON'T, WINTER. But ... PRETEND YOU DO." She huffed at me. "I can't explain this to anyone but you and I doubt you'll care what I'll talk about. You'll ... you'll forget all about it like you usually do." She frowned, looking away from me. Something stabbed my heart as I placed my hand on my chest. Was that a sharp pain of guilt? I bit my cheeks, holding back a frown as I sighed through my nose. "Come on, let's go over to the T-Section like you wanted to be at."
I glanced over at her, watching her walk forward. I allowed a frown to slip on my lips as I followed behind her. I don't know if it's the right moment to be guilty of those moments. It's not my concern, but I can't help but feel it. Did I really do wrong in my life? My parents would encourage me to continue those decisions but my friends ... my "friends," would say otherwise. I squeeze my hands tightly, letting out a cold sigh. "... If you want, you can continue talking about the gonolk's crush," I said.
Carla slowly turned her head over at me, smiling softly. "You know ... experiencing your first crush on Tyler was waaaaaaay different than how Setchi has it."
"We don't talk about that," I said quickly, glaring at her.
"Hey. I can't help but cherish the cutest moments when you went up with a blue face! It was adorable!" Carla chirped with a smile of joy.
"Carlaaa." I hissed, feeling the rush of warmth gathering on my cheeks. I was becoming embarrassed and it was enough for the redhead to continue teasing me about it. Why does she do this to me anyway?
"Hey. Without my help, you wouldn't have the love from Tyler's heart. So don't go and be angry with me." Carla said, sticking her tongue out at me.
I hate how she is right about that, but why did she bring this up?! "What does this has to relate to whatever Setchi has with his crush?" I asked.
"Well, unlike you saying, "What is this feeling?" , "Why am I feeling so warm and cozy, shouldn't I feel cold and cruel?" He went on and said it was ALIEN to experience the crush he was having. He also screamed when I continued talking about it so both me and Paradise had to shut him up before making the others worried. Man, Setchi is weird when it comes to crushes." She answered, shaking her head slightly.
"Maybe he had a bad experience with one," I suggested. Why do I care about this damn pathetic--- no ... weird gonolk?
She frowned, "... Yeaaah, I wanted to continue talking about it with him but he soon threw a fit and retreated to his room where Paradise told me to leave him alone. So I did and now I'm explaining this to you. Do you see how weird that is? Why would someone complain about feeling a crush is alien to them? They should feel joy and happiness that they found someone to love."
"Maybe he doesn't want that to happen," I suggested. Why ... do I even bother?
"Regardless, he cannot ignore crushes like that. If he's around the one that makes crushes appear, then it will drive him mad and he might end up avoiding that person. Speaking of which, I need to find out which person he loves." She said, halting by the pole in the center of the T-Section. "Which won't be ... hard as I am an expert of seeing the signs of "love.""
I stopped my pacing and stared up at the signs before looking down at her. Some thoughts wanted me to continue the conversation but I didn't want to as I deem it unnecessary to continue further. I looked away and over to the place where we first came in, only to realize it was crowded. I narrowed my brows, becoming suspicious of the area. "What is going on?"
"Oh! There must be another rescue party that returned! We should go to see who they have!" Carla answered, bouncing right beside me.
"Why? We have everyone here." I said, giving her a look.
"Everyone except, Tyler. Why do you keep avoiding talking about him?" She asked, staring at me with a frown.
I frowned and turned my head away from her. I kept silent as the memories swept over me like a wave. The good ones were we traveled in the wilderness, the ones where he helped me up on my feet after my capture from the humans, and how he nursed me back to health and won my heart. "... It's ... hard to talk about him, isn't it?" She spoke up again. I slowly turned my head back to her, keeping that frown.
"... He meant everything to me. It's ... it's ...--- I just don't want to think about him. I don't think he'll like it if I were to mope all day with him missing." I answered sadly.
"Oh. Sorry. But ... don't you believe he might be out there, escaped from the humans and trying to find us?" She asked. "I believe that he did and we need to find him to join up. All five of us."
"... I suppose," I said quietly. A part of me wants to say that It didn't matter if he escaped, he shouldn't have let him get captured. But the other part believed what he did was brave and that he couldn't do anything against guns. It also believed that he was out there, trying to find all of us again. I glanced over to the crowd and sighed through my nose. "Fine, let's go."
Carla smiled widely and led the way to the crowd.
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...
We entered the large area, parting a way through the crowded place. We reached the front line of the crowd, hearing whispers about our appearance before quieting down when I shot them a glare. I turned back to the center, seeing a large basket stationed with a giant bird on top of it. I glanced down to the basket's level, seeing leaders and folks gathered around it as doctors were there too. I widened my eyes at each injured folk who was forced on these roller table thingies. They were shouting out words out of fear and terror while others wanted to be put down for good. I could say they were losing their mind, going insane but that would've been wrong for me to assume what they went through.
The crowd and I made a way for the doctors to carry them through. Once they exited, the crowd returned to its shape. The ones that passed, four of them to be exact, looked like they were horribly bruised or tortured in some way. The silver-haired man, Rock rushed back into the basket. He soon was seen guiding someone out of it gently. As soon as the last injured folk's face was revealed, my eyes went wide and I immediately recognize him. Rock was guiding a startled Tyler out of the basket and over to the leaders. He looked all bruised up with a broken leg, perhaps even more broken bones hidden deep inside of him.
One of the doctors came back with those roller table thingies as the leader dismissed us all. I stood in place as the others left, along with Carla who never left my side. I gazed over at her who had a shocked expression. Yeah, that is the exact reaction I would be excepting. "... T-Tyler? W-What ... what happened to him?"
I frowned and glanced back when there was no sign of that large basket and a giant bird. "Humis ... with their experiments, what else did you think?" I answered.
"Cruel assholes!" She hissed in a whisper. I nodded my head, spotting Aurora who approached us.
"In case you didn't hear, you guys may go now. The folks who were brought here will be checked firstly by Peruvian." She told us.
"But---"
"It is for safety in case they have any form of disease," Aurora said, looking at me with a sorrowful look.
"We know someone who was in that group, mother," Carla spoke, waving her hand in the air to get her attention.
Aurora turned towards her, nodding her head slowly. "Ah, I see." She turned to stare at us both. "Then you will have to wait at the hospital for them."
"... But---"
"Come on, Winter. We will see him in no time." Carla told me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me away with rushy steps. I stared at the last placement where Tyler once stood before turning over to the redhead. I glared at her as she let go of me. We walked on the wooden platform in the direction of the hospital. "Sorry."
"... I don't even know what to say. I ... I can't believe he's alive." I said, dropping my glare as my shocked expression remained untouched.
"I told you!" She smiled at me. "I told you he was alive."
"... This feels like a dream," I whispered quietly, holding back a smile.
"Well, hurt yourself, or better yet, freeze yourself if you think or feel like all of this is a dream," Carla told me.
"No. I won't. I know this is reality but seeing him ... in so long ... makes ... me feel weird." I said, holding both of my hands out forward. I stared down at them, flexing them in and out. Is this what true happiness feels like?
"It's called happiness, Winter." She chined in. "Feel excited! Smile for once! You're finally seeing him after all of these past weeks."
"It seems too early."
"WINTER." Carla huffed. "It's never too early to smile. You have plenty of time to smile in the world. You don't need a time when you need to smile, just smile whenever you want to. Nothing is stopping you now."
I stared at her, narrowing my brows before sighing. "Maybe," I said, looking forward. I saw the redhead smile in the corner of my eyes without saying a word. She did the same as we approached the hospital a couple of minutes later. We stood by the bridge before a group past us and headed on into the building. We soon followed afterwards when minutes went on by. We told one of the doctors that we were here to visit someone and they allow us a couple of minutes later. The waiting was getting unbearable as this "excitement" within me was driving me up the walls. But Carla told me, "We'll see him, don't worry, and don't rush in either. You'll scare him!"
Fine. I won't scare him then.
I grumbled quietly to myself before we were led down the hallway and into one of the rooms. The assistant opened the door and dipped their head, allowing us into the medium-sized room. I stepped in first before rushing over to the bed where Tyler lay, lying down and facing the window with an odd-looking face. He looked like he was still startled by something--- more so afraid of something. I frowned before quietly pulling up a chair and sitting right next to his bed.
Seeing him like this ... makes me sad and it makes me want to go after the person who hurt him. I cleared my throat and opened my mouth. "Tyler."
I flinched when I watched him immediately sit up and face me with wide eyes, staring at me intensely. He slowly scooted away, appearing to be afraid of me. I frowned deeply, feeling a painful sharp object tearing into my heart. Who, the fuck did this to you, Tyler? "... It's Winter." I said softly, keeping my behavior as calm and ... "friendly" as I can be. "Don't you remember me?"
"Annnnnd, Carla!" Carla announced, making him flinch and turn his head over to her. "Sorry." She smiled nervously.
Tyler slowly blinked and leaned back, shivering before gripping the sheets of his blanket. "... I-It's ... really y-you guys ... I am ... not d-dreaming, am I?"
"No. You're not, this is real and you are alive." I told him. I also can't believe this is happening and I am trying so hard to keep myself from smiling. But ... Carla said nothing was stopping me from doing so. But ... won't me smiling be different? Smiling, as told by my parents is a weak sign, not a strong one. So ... I don't see why I should be.
"... I-I thought ... I was a goner. Captured ... by the humans and ... be killed by the end ... of it." He begins, gulping down bits of his fear. "... But I was so ... wrong. The faith that ... I was temporarily given was ... worse than death itself. It was like an army ... humans ... with armor ... humans with ... metal parts in them. ... All too terrifying to ... say the least..." He shut his eyes before quickly holding his head lower with his hands.
"Hey, if it's too harmful to remember or recall those memories, don't force yourself to tell, Tyler," Carla spoke softly. "All that matters is that you are alive and ... Castit owes you one for saving him."
Castit?
"For saving...--- Oh right. He ... He doesn't have to! H-He was part of the g-group, of course, I saved him from ... from getting c-capture by him." He said, breathing in and out. "... He's... he's not here, isn't he?"
"No... he's back at the--- ..." Carla stopped, looking over to me as I sighed. She's asking for help, I know that face of hers.
"He's with the others and ... there are new faces to greet when you get checked out of this medic building," I answered.
"... New ... faces?" He asked, looking at me with a nervous look.
"Don't worry, we'll take our time with you," Carla said, smiling.
I nodded slowly, forcing a small smile to slip on my face. Tyler stared at me before looking over at Carla and nodding. "W-Well ... I-I can't wait to ... m-meet the new faces." He said, smiling softly though his expression was filled with pain and hurt.
I frowned and looked back at what he mentioned. Metal perks in ... the humis? I... I don't he doesn't want to go further but it makes me curious about what the humis are trying to do. "You mentioned humis with metal parts in them, what was that about it?"
Tyler slowly looked over at me, looking nervous. "... Oh ... Sutato told me about them. Humi experiments." Carla answered, making our heads turn in her direction. I widened my eyes. She shook her head with a frown, "I want to know why the humis are using their own kind to experiment on them."
"... Best not to get involved with ... h-humans lives," Tyler spoke, looking a little wary.
"... yeah, I know but ... if we were to assume that all humis are the blame for this war against us, I think ... we'll be the monsters like they are," Carla said, having her hands on her hips. "There's only one huge group after us, at least I think there's one group. My vision ... never told me what will happen shortly."
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...
"About visions ... have you got any of those ... visions since the ... ambush vision?" He asked.
"I have." She nodded. "Three more after the ambush. The second one was a vision of the past about someone's ... possessed life and this colony. The third one was ... a bit difficult to ... decipher. Though ... the third one is ... two visions in one since I feel like they connect to one another in some way-"
"Describe it, Carla," I told her. I always despise her visions as they take us to silly outcomes. However ... I'm starting to think this may not be a bad idea to start. Ugh. I'm just trying to force myself to be as "good" as the others. I don't know if I'm doing it right. Should I ask for some guidance from them?
"... Well, the first vision ... it was scary. There was a man, who stood tall in the light in front of me. He was just a silhouette, but something told me, he shouldn't be trusted. And then I see him turn around to face a wolf, looking large enough to become one of those dire wolves. Eyes glowing and all of that before the vision faded away. I don't understand that vision at all as I only receive it when we were entering the colony." Carla explained.
"... Large wolf?" I tilted my head.
"Yeah ... it also had ... multiple tails..." Carla slowly widened her eyes, trailing off. "Wait. Don't tell me that wolf that follows Castit around is the one in my vision?!"
Tyler tilted his head, curiosity filled his eyes. "... I didn't see no wolf there when you introduced me to the group, Carla," I told her.
"Neptune. He has two true forms, one is his humanoid form while the other is the large wolf with six tails." Carla said. "... Don't tell me he's part of my vision. I was starting to trust him, ya know."
"I don't think you should trust him anyway," I said, turning my gaze away. "But continue on with your vision."
She slowly nodded, continuing. "... Before the vision ended, both of their eyes were glowing, the wolf's eyes were turquoise while the man's was red. Though ... with the man's eyes, it only looked like a red dot in his eyes, making the vision ... creepy." She answered, shivering. "The other visions ... was mixed with chaos and a lot of action. There was smoke, fire, and even death. And soon, I saw the two standing on broken wood. The place itself ... looked a lot like this colony."
"But before it ended, it shifted into another vision ... within the vision ... you get the point. The change where the wolf with six tails is now with a familiar person ... Castit. The two were standing with the rest of us in front of a new place that I have never seen before. I couldn't view it quick enough as the vision ended there." She finished. "I believe this last vision was showing me two endings of this wolf's faith."
I turned my gaze back to her, narrowing my brows. "How ... Why was it showing you Neptune's faith?"
"... Maybe because ... he doesn't even know what to do with his life. Maybe this unknown person with red dotted eyes is controlling him and he ... he is just lost. And since he's lost, he needs guidance to show him the path of goodness. Which is us." Carla answered.
"But back to the first ending ... is ... is this colony gonna get destruction upon its ... doors?" Tyler asked quietly, tilting his head.
"... I'm hoping it doesn't go that way," Carla said. "We need to take a break from disasters, ya know? But I know how it goes. Nothing can ever go peaceful, huh?" She folded her arms incorrectly once more. "So, I'm believing it's a false vision like the last ones."
"Then let's focus ... on the large wolf." He said, looking tired.
"We'll come up with that while you rest in the hospital," Carla said as I nodded in agreement.
He nodded, "Tell me when you are done and ... bring Purity and Castit next time you visit me."
"We will." Carla nodded before turning and leaving towards the door. I stood up slowly and stared down at him. I frowned as he gave me a gentle smile.
"I'll be fine, dear. Go on." He whispered as gently as a swan swimming across the lake. Whatever that description was.
"Alright," I said, setting the chair back in place before turning and following after Carla. We exited the door and stood outside it. Carla turned towards me with a frown as I tilted my head. "What is wrong?"
"He mentioned Purity ... do we tell him what happened?" Carla asked, looking nervous.
I blinked and remembered what happened. "... We might have to. He'll be mad at her."
"But ... by then, Purity will be a different person."
I folded my arms, leaning on the wall. "... We can explain it all to him. We'll just have to tell the others about his arrival. Who is just ..."
"Castit." Carla finished for me. "I think having him explain everything is ... a good idea. He might have a better grip on it than us since he's the one where he discovered Purity's whole ... fake persona, ya know?"
"And the whole enchantment with his aunt," I added on, nodding in agreement. I see so many good traits appearing in this man ... why did he hide them from us? He could have proven himself in the wilderness instead of being useless. So, why is he showing all of them now?
"Yeah. Hope by then, Tyler can understand." Carla nodded.
I'm sure he will.
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- End of Chapter 26
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