The sky is crystal clear. The fluffiest white clouds drift lazily through the sky from the gentle breeze. Everything about this small village looks so peaceful and happy.
And old.
Zye can’t fathom what he’s looking at or where he is. Not to mention how he got here.
All he knows is that the field of flowers is beautiful. It’s a sea of flowers dressed in a rainbow of colors. They all stare up at the sun, seeking its warmth. What catches his eyes more than the beauty are the two figures standing at the edge.
One of them is a bit taller with black hair swept back out of his face. His orange eyes gaze at the other man with a tenderness Zye understands all too well. There’s a love there, regardless of the type, that burns bright. He doesn’t try to hide it whatsoever.
The other man, however, looks far too familiar to Zye. In so many ways he reminds Zye of Orion. From the light blue hair cut just like his to the pale green eyes. The only difference is he seems to be a bit paler.
Well, that and his clothing. The white shirt goes from around his neck to the black sash with dyed green ends. The shirt itself has normal sleeves that have detached sections going well past his fingertips. The strangest part is the opaque section diagonally cut from his right breast to his left hip.
Otherwise, it reminds him of the attire someone else wears. A simple pair of shorts billowing about his knees, black tights beneath it, and a pair of white slip-ons.
Not to mention that breathtaking smile he flashes up at his companion. It then shifts and he’s looking in Zye’s direction.
That’s when he can hear it— he can feel it.
These feelings aren’t his own.
The jealousy of how Haru is so easy to approach while he waits on the sidelines. The people give him a wide berth even after all this time. Not to mention the love that boy holds for Haru.
Envy.
The thoughts ache for the same thing. A different type of companionship than what he’s saddled with. A different kind of life that these people get to enjoy.
Haru.
The name resonates with Zye just as the person it belongs to runs toward him. As he does, he goes to the spot where Zye is standing next to. Zye regards the person to his left.
His eyes go wide and his mouth slacks.
He knows this man. He knows he does.
The orange and reds of his outfit. The bright yellow hue of his eyes. The smile that doesn’t ever quite reflect his true emotion.
Haru lifts the crown of flowers he holds in his hands. “Do you want to join us? Nihl said they’re having a cookout tonight and we could come.”
“You know we shouldn’t. Besides, they look at me strangely.”
Soft whimsical laughter is Haru’s reply at first. “Of course, they do, silly. Suppress your power more. Your horns and eyes are strange to them.”
“I shouldn’t have to change who I am to please them.”
“But…H-Hax, you’re not. It’s not like that.”
“Haru, go ahead. I need to finish a few things anyway. Otherwise, Charmilla will have my head.”
Zye watches the taller man pluck a flower from the circlet Haru has made. He tucks it into the strands that almost appear white under the glare of the sun.
“I’ll join next time.”
Haru puffs his cheeks and frowns up at Hax. A second later he lifts one hand, pinky finger extended with the others curled toward his palm. “Promise? Please?”
Hax chuckles and hooks one of his fingers around the one Haru thrusts toward him. “You’re such a child sometimes. Now go, I’ll make sure the others think you’re on a mission.”
“Thank you, Hax!” he shouts out as he turns, running back over to the one he left.
Once Haru has returned to his friend, Hax closes his eyes.
Zye observes him closely. When those eyes reopen, Zye’s vision swims. Suddenly, he can see what he’s been trained to feel for.
The world is darkened and yet he can see a small orb of light in the center of the man’s being. Next to Haru, however, it’s nothing but a dim shimmer.
Haru is glowing. His entire body is a powerful light.
He’s not human.
Hax mumbles to himself and turns, opening a portal to walk through. Zye can do nothing but follow, tugged along as the man continues muttering to himself.
“We keep trying…but we don’t belong here. Perhaps Orion is right this time.”
As Zye goes through the portal everything fades to black. It snuffs out any and all light around him. For a moment, he can feel the panic surging up through his chest. He doesn’t know what is happening.
Until it all snaps back into focus with his next breath.
It’s the same scenery— the same place.
Yet it’s different.
The moonlight is shrouded by the dark clouds crawling across the horizon. There’s a chill in the air and a somber tension that ripples through the growing crowd of villagers. It’s all for Haru as he approaches the man rushing up to him.
Zye moves along with Hax. He only gets closer to hear the panicked ramblings of the man. A man that resembles the youth that had gazed at Haru with such pure affection.
“I…I know you haven’t been here in some time. And I…I don’t know what else to do but ask. Can you, can you help my daughter at all, Haru?”
Haru smiles down at the way the man cradles the small girl. She can’t be more than ten with how her frail body is wrapped in a blanket and held on the man’s lap. He clings to her with tears in his eyes.
“It’s okay if you can’t I just—”
“Nihl, it’s alright. It’ll all be alright.”
Haru kneels in front of him. He places a hand on the girl’s chest. She doesn’t so much as look at him. Then again, she’s so pale and feverish in appearance that they’re all lucky she’s still around. Whatever sickness ails her is only growing with intensity by each day.
“Thank you Nihl, all of you, for showing and teaching me so much. I can promise this will at least keep her safe. I’m sorry if it doesn’t heal her completely.”
“No, Haru, it’s fine I don’t even—”
“Shh, it’s fine. When you love someone, you do all you can for them. Isn’t that right?”
Slowly, Nihl begins to nod. He watches with tear-filled eyes as Haru concentrates on his hand. Watching as Haru pushes his power outwards to surround the girl’s body, Zye can’t help but try and leave Hax’s side.
He wants to see more. He wants to get closer.
Yet he’s tethered to Hax.
Considering he feels as though it’s connected to this man, it makes a bit of sense. Maybe.
His mind is reeling when he watches Haru bend over, his head bowing low over her.
“H-Haru? Are you okay?”
Panic and fear echo in Nihl’s voice. He clutches his daughter close with one arm while the other reaches out, his hand clapping onto Haru’s shoulder.
The very thing that begins to grow see-through.
Hax tenses as he watches it. It seems strange to the mortals gathering around but to him? He can see it all. He can see the highlight of the soul growing dimmer inside of Haru with each passing second.
On the other hand, he can see the child’s once small brilliance in her chest becoming brighter. It can’t rival that of their own. Still, it’s far more than any mortal should have normally. He’s never seen it before.
More than anything, he’s jealous as he watches the exchange.
He can’t dare stop it. It would upset Haru.
The love he’s giving is unconditional and beautiful. Haru expects nothing in return and will receive nothing, for giving his life to heal the child’s afflictions.
“No, Haru, please!”
The man’s cries are torture. The agony in his voice is palpable as he’s torn between his love for his child or friend. It has him shaking while clinging to the small girl. All with his last gift being Haru’s smile.
Even that becomes transparent until gingerly it’s gone. All that’s left of his form is a small glowing orb. From it, a much smaller one floats up into the sky.
Hax watches after it, “The soul…is separate from the core?”
“Haru!”
The scream from behind him is no different than the one that had left Nihl moments before. Hax steps aside in an effort not to get run over by someone rushing by.
Zye’s eyes widen at the sight of Orion skidding close. Strings sling out and wrap around the orb. He yanks it close to his chest, glaring down at the mortal.
The very one that lifts his head with red-rimmed eyes. “Please! I didn’t mean for this to happen!”
Orion can only take a step back.
They’ve all lost something.
When Orion doesn’t regard him and simply turns away, the man doubles over the child beginning to rouse. An older man steps next to him, a hand on his shoulder.
Hax doesn’t move until Orion is gone. It’s only then that he moves over to the scene. A few elders take the child from the man to bring her back to the healer. The man, Nihl, is left on his knees with fingers clawing at the ground.
“Raise your head.”
Nihl has always been the one that doesn’t scurry when Hax comes by. The only one that will meet his golden eyes rimmed in dark sclera. Hax regards with a somber smile.
“He gave you the greatest gift he could. Live for that gift and honor him.”
The others are beginning to step away. All to give Hax a wide berth. Nihl doesn’t. He struggles to stand up.
“I…please, I didn’t want him to go. I…I didn’t…”
“All things come to an end. Even beings like us.”
Hax extends his hand, an offering of stability that the man is quick to take. He steadies himself and looks up at Hax with surprise.
“You’re so…warm.”
“Haru may be gone, but I remain,” he begins in an effort to ignore the man’s comment, “and I will watch over your family in his stead. You might not see me as easily as him. Still, you’ll always be protected.”
“Then…what can I call you? Please, just a name is fine. You’ve never even told me and you’d do this?”
“It’s my duty to protect.”
Hax chuckles at that. It’s quite obvious this isn’t how anyone thinks he should do it either. Regardless, he bends at the waist and whispers to the man.
“My name is Hax.”
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Gasping for air, Zye shoves himself upward. His fingers claw at the blanket draped over him as he tries to gather himself. The disorienting feeling slowly ebbs away as he realizes he’s in his room— his room connected to Orion’s.
He’s still in Noctis.
“Fuck…a dream?”
Zye flops back down against the mattress. Glaring up at the ceiling, he wishes it had been anything but whatever that was. If it’s real then wouldn’t it be a glimpse into whatever has been going on?
“Even if it is, I don’t know what the hell it means.” He rolls over and kicks the blanket off. “This is so stupid.”
Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he drags a hand up over his face. Bangs are pushed back until he sees it— his right arm. Scrawled across his skin are thick, dark gray markings. A collection of dots and curves and lines.
He can only stare as they begin to fade.
“What…?”
Nothing has been as strange as that. The memories, the wet dreams, these memories that aren’t his, this afterlife in general— those are all things he can handle. Whatever this is, he can’t help but be worried.
Worse yet when he drags a hand over the skin where they were. Not a thing happens and that has him wondering if he should tell Celeste. They’d want to know if anything strange is happening, right?
A sudden knock against the door has him nearly jumping out of his skin.
“Dammit, hello? Who’s there?”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I woke you.”
The soft tone is clearly Iris. Zye vaguely remembers Ilista mentioning that Celeste took her on as a Guardian now that Vespera is demoted. A good thing considering he’d hate for her to have to leave, too.
Then again, she shouldn’t be able to come in. Unless Orion being down and out has anything to do with that. His recollection is fraying at the edges.
“It’s fine. I was already up.”
“Good, good. Celeste is waiting for you once you get yourself together!”
“Thanks, Iris.”
Hands on his knees, Zye hesitates.
He tells himself that Celeste is going to help. That everything will be okay.
If it is, why does he feel so hollow and alone? He’s just been swept along from point to point to point without having a say in any of it. The only thing keeping the hellish thoughts at bay is the love that he remembers.
The warmth burns away the fear until he can stand. The courage pushes the anxiety down beneath his feet as he gets dressed. The desire to remember those who gave him this allows him to walk out of the room.
It’s times like this when he misses Shae the most. The other man would grab his hand and grin so wide, telling him that it’s okay and he’ll lead the way.
The thought of the blond has regret prickling up along his back. He wishes he had told Shae how much he cared about him— how much he loved him and cherished their friendship— more.
Something he has to shove down to make it out of the second door and up those stairs that curl up and around to the next level. He’s not expecting anything as he comes off the landing either. Although, it does still unnerve him that there’s no door.
It has him wondering if he’d just get knocked back down the stairs if their room isn’t open to visitors.
Standing there, he feels a bit overdressed. He’s in his usual attire that he’d go out in— might as well be prepared. Not to mention he’s most comfortable in it. Celeste and Orion, on the other hand, are in matching pajamas.
A pair of bright pink slacks and a matching sweatshirt. On the breast of the shirt is what Zye can only imagine is a squished-down version of a white flamingo with sunglasses. A part of him wants to ask how they got him to dress in that.
They sit side-by-side on the couch with Orion scooting closer to the armrest on his end. Celeste smiles and gestures for Zye to sit on the opposite one. He does, trying not to stare too much at the clothing, and sinks against the lavender cushions.
He nods toward Orion, “How’s he doing?”
Celeste smiles wide at that. They’re a bit amused that Zye didn’t ask Orion himself. “All better for the most part. He just needs to recover his energy now. You’ll have no problem going out on missions if you so choose to keep from getting rusty. However, I encourage you to go with someone at all times.”
“Because I’m still broken?”
“Oh, no, no. I wouldn’t say that. Actually, let’s get started. Orion?”
The man beside her huffs at that. “I don’t see how this is going to help anything.”
“I believe he deserves to hear it from you, not me. I might…forget a detail or two.”
The deadpan look he gives her almost has Zye laughing. He bites back the chuckle and tries to meet Orion’s gaze. After all, the man did come to rescue him. He owes him some kind of thanks.
Maybe. Maybe not just yet.
“I brought you here because you were showing signs of becoming an Infernal. Which shouldn’t happen and isn’t allowed.”
“That we know of,” Celeste interjects.
“It. Shouldn’t. Happen.” He bites back at them. “That’s not how things operate here.”
Zye dares to slip into the conversation, he wants to keep this on track and get as much information as he can. “Anyway, what does that mean that I am?”
Celeste chimes in, “An Infernal. Or…you will be.”
Orion shoots them a glare for interrupting— for pandering. “I did it to keep an eye on you. By making you my Guardian, I was able to use my power to repress the Solis-based energy that was inside you. I had to use a lot of mine to do so and it allowed me to mask some of your memories related to—”
“You piece of shit!” Zye is up off the couch with clenched fists at his side. “I knew you were doing something!”
“You’re not meant to exist like this. You should have died that night and that was it. It’s bad enough I could never figure out why you had a Nether watching over you.”
“The…one that killed me?”
Orion sits back against the cushion, an easy way to put distance between them aside from the table. “No. Although I did cleanse that one. I could never catch the other.”
The thoughts are bubbling up. The memory of that night and what happened. He wasn’t dead when he felt someone there, not yet. He watches Orion’s face as close as he can.
“If you killed the one attacking me, then did you finish me off?”
Celeste is reaching up, fingers brushing over Zye’s wrist. They don’t take it personally when he shifts away from them. Instead, they keep a gentle smile on their countenance. “I have a suspicion that the one watching over you might have been assisting in keeping the others away.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. I mean…It, did you chase that one off and that’s when that thing got me?”
Orion glances away. “I wasn’t there at first. I don’t know why it attacked you. All I know is the one standing guard ran off when—”
“Tell me it isn’t your fault that I died then! Do you even know how terrifying that was? I can still see it. I can feel it when I close my eyes. When I have to fight them sometimes I don’t think I can move.”
Celeste glances between them. They can see the way Zye’s body trembles ever-so-slightly at the memory. They worry their bottom lip as Orion speaks up before they can calm the tension.
“I understand it was traumatizing, however, I couldn’t have known that’s what would happen. You told me yourself you were dying regardless—”
“That’s not the point! And I was, but it didn’t matter. He was going to make me like what I already am!”
The silence settles.
Zye is reaching up to cradle the side of his head. The pain is throbbing in his left temple and it’s only getting worse. It’s spreading liquid fire through his skull and he just wants it to stop.
Celeste scoots to the edge of their seat. “Who was?”
The question only makes it worse. He drops down to the couch, not trusting his knees to keep him up. “Fuck…I don’t know. I can’t remember, now.”
Orion begins to stand. Not that he looks very imposing in his current getup. Still, he looks down at Zye with a calm facade. “I may have ‘killed’ you, but the Nether was what did it. It shouldn’t have even attacked you, to begin with. Going that far is a new behavior.”
Zye hangs his head at that.
Of course, it’s something different.
That’s been the story of his life. Always something a little different from the wrong people to the wrong circumstances. Just a little different than they should be.
Celeste watches Orion scoot past her and around the table. “Can we fix his memory, at least?”
“I’m not sure.”
Orion doesn’t look at either of them. He can’t— he doesn’t have an answer. Just because he did it doesn’t mean he knows how to undo it. Not that he’s going to get away with it.
Zye leans over, grabbing at the back of the silk shirt. Orion can’t help glancing over his shoulder. He immediately regrets it. Zye’s eyes are pleading with him to have a different answer.
“I don’t believe you. Between the two of you, there has to be something.”
“When I find something, you two will be the first to know.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“It’ll have to be.”
Orion tugs away from Zye and heads for the stairs. He’s eager to get away. Just as much as Celeste is to stand and move to Zye. They pat his shoulder in hopes of watering down the anger they can see rising.
“It’ll be alright. I won’t give up trying to do it on my own. When I healed you, I tried to focus on your energy in particular. Your core is…let’s say it’s cloudy. Where it should be bright and shining, it’s dim. I think last time I did make some progress.”
Zye sighs at that. “I…thanks. I appreciate whatever you want to try.”
“If it helps and you start noticing anything different, do let me know. As for right now, are you busy? We can give it a go!”
“Uh, well, I don’t really have anything planned. My boss just kinda ditched me.”
Celeste chuckles at that and pats his shoulder again. “Come, come. Let’s get started then. The water is where I’ll work best. Your base energy might be the sun, however, what’s around your core is not. That’s where my specialty lies.”
Guiding him from the couch to the only doors in the room has Zye a bit worried. There are a few last-second feelings about all of this. It’s unknown what will happen if this works.
Or if it doesn’t.
Inside the room, Zye can’t help but take it all in. It’s nothing like Orion’s chamber. Where that felt sterile and regal, this place is brimming with life and warmth despite the cold atmosphere. Towards the back of the room is a large, oval pool of water.
Potted plants decorate away from the doors and around the circular room to the edge of the pool. The cream-colored tile is cold against his feet as he steps inside while Celeste closes the double doors behind them. Doing so has the yellow curtains, that cover the ceiling-to-floor glass in them, fluttering.
Celeste gestures to the left where a few robes hang off of hooks in the wall. “Get changed if you’d like.”
Unlike Zye, they move over to the edge. Slippers are kicked off as they step down the two steps and into the water. It doesn’t bother them at all. Zye, however, would rather not have to get the Mark to dry these after just putting them on.
It takes him a moment to slip out of his clothes and place them in a neat stack next to a plant. He ties the sleek robe around his body and takes a deep breath. Turning around, he finds they’ve got their back to him to give him privacy.
He joins them in the water. The first few steps in have him trying not to hiss at the feeling. It’s cold. Not unbearably so. It’s just enough to have the hair on his arms standing up.
Celeste glances over at him. “Is everything alright?”
“It’s kind of chilly.”
“Ah, that’s…not a good sign. If the water doesn’t feel good then you might not be able to heal as well from it.”
“I don’t get it.”
“The waters in Noctis are cleansed by the moon. In Solis, it’s done by the sun. However, you’re still under Orion’s command so I can work on you for now. Come here and float. Then, close your eyes as if you’re sleeping.”
Zye doesn’t mind it. Water is one of his favorite things— swimming more so. To lay on his back in the water before her is the easiest thing any of them have asked of him.
As he does, Celeste raises their hands and summons their weapons. Although to them, it’s but a tool to use.
In their hands is a bladed fan. Each section is painted in the softest, pale blue with splotches of white. It’s only when they’ve fanned out that the painting comes to life; a moon in a pale sky with clouds along the bottom, brewing up to where it’s aloft.
Each motion is with the softest touch. Never do they sweep the fans too close to Zye. The sharp tips drag through the water as they move in circles, stirring the water around him. The current is subtle as it shifts around his body with ripples rolling out to the edges of the pool.
By doing this, Celeste can see the way his soul is glowing inside of him. Not as much as it should at that.
What they don’t expect is for Zye to fall asleep. Then again, it does make it easier to allow him to sink into the water bit by bit until he’s beneath the surface. Not needing to breathe allows them to make sure he stays submerged so that they can increase the swirling current until it’s quick and unforgiving.
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The main hall of Noctis is a normal occurrence for Zye. He’s not surprised that he opens his eyes and he’s standing there with no one around. It’s disconcerting only because he was just with Celeste.
Then again…this Noctis looks different. The stairs and mirror are still there. The corridors are what’s different. There are only two; one to the left and one to the right.
He glances down at himself and he’s still in the robe. Not just that, it’s like those other dreams. He’s not quite…here. The slight transparency to his body tells him he’ll be rendered a silent observer once again.
To what, he doesn’t know until a portal opens near him. From it is the man he saw last time, Hax. He strides out and glances to his right, straight down Orion’s hallway. A smile touches his lips as he nods to the person coming down it.
“It’s nice to see you, Ori. How are you doing?”
“Hax. And I’m fine. Are you avoiding your missions?”
“Of course not! I do all my work quickly so that I can relax and enjoy you all.”
Hax steps toward Orion where the man idles at the mouth of his hall. “You should come with Haru and me next time we go to relax.”
Zye immediately glances between them. After what he saw previously…this must be something that happened prior? His only gripe, they could at least be in order.
“I don’t have time. There are too many things to do at the moment. The influx of Stars means we need those with seniority and skill to train them.”
“And you’re to select them? I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified on this side.”
The compliment has Orion blushing ever-so-slightly. He glances down to avoid Hax’s gaze. It has Hax raising a brow at that. The feeling that crosses through Zye is a question of whether Orion cares for Hax or not. Perhaps they’re not friends just yet.
Hax places a hand on Orion’s shoulder. “Well, next time, come with me. Haru will be there.”
“Maybe…I should go.”
Orion hurries away and into a portal. Left alone, Hax sighs and makes for the stairs. At the top, he’s greeted with a lovely sight and an even sweeter sound.
Sitting around a coffee table between the two couches are Celeste and Haru on one side with Charmilla on the other. Celeste is leaning against the arm with a whimsical look on their face. Unlike in the present, Celeste has long hair that curls down around their shoulders. Bangs are held to the sides with a series of clips with adornments on them; strawberries and bananas.
Next to them is Haru with his hands folded against his legs and his chin tilted up. His eyes are closed while he sings a soft melody. The high pitches he can reach compliments Charmilla’s deeper tones so perfectly.
Together, they sing as if no one is there.
Hax doesn’t listen to the lyrics. He doesn’t need to. The sweetness of their voices mingling together is enough for him. He can feel the emotion in the song without having to know. Not to mention the sight is enough to make him happy. They’re spending time together.
Oh, how he wishes he could get Orion to join in more.
Noticing his arrival, they end their song and glance at him. Charmilla pats the couch to tell him to sit. That is until she smiles, “Or did you come to collect me for a mission?”
“No, not quite. It’s a briefing about a new world that we’ll have to direct forces to. It’s begun to show signs of life and it needs monitoring.”
“I see, then we’d better hurry. Try not to play around in this one.” Charmilla winks at Haru who turns bright red at the tease. “I’ll let you know when I can come next.”
Celeste sits up at that, “We’ll come to see you then.”
“I’ll make sure to have that…tea? I’ll have tea for us, that’s what Haru brought back last time wasn’t it?”
Haru giggles, “Yes, it was tea.”
“Please be careful. Even at the beginning, the energy can still be dense,” warns Celeste.
“No worries, dear. I’ll call for you if something goes wrong.”
“There’s nothing to worry about with Charm there,” Hax adds.
Charmilla strides around the table to Celeste. She gives them a brief hug and a kiss on their cheek before waving to Haru. Moving toward Hax, they don’t speak until they’re at the bottom of the stairs. Once they are, Charmilla loops an arm around Hax’s. Doing so allows her to tug him close.
“Such flattery back there. Did you perhaps forget to get Kerse ready and need me to fetch her?”
“She’s still training is all.”
“Well, she’ll be sad if we don’t pick her up. Even if it does take her from her training. Besides, I need someone to keep you from wandering off.”
Charmilla calls for a portal before them. All the while, Hax is trying to redirect away from himself.
“You learned the song rather quickly.”
“Haru is a wonderful teacher. I just wish he’d be more careful. Not everyone is as sweet and innocent as those children.”
“That’s why I go with him.”
“Haa…and you shouldn’t either. That’s not what we’re supposed to do, Hax.”
Hax slips away from her grip. She turns back immediately to see his smile. “We don’t know that. We were told to guide and watch over. Cleanse and stabilize. Nothing was said about not enjoying ourselves and learning about what we protect.”
“Hax, you know that there are boundaries for a reason,” Charmilla states as she shakes her head.
“We’d better hurry as you said.”
He strides past her, stopping at the edge of the portal. He watches the colors flicker and blend together like flames. From behind him, he can feel her staring.
“If you keep rushing off to—”
“I just want to learn.”
“And is knowing worth the risk of your life, your station, and what you’ve been created to do?”
Silence as he turns his eyes to his feet and the anklet draped over one of them. The reply comes from his lips as soft as a whisper on the wind.
“I don’t know.”
The click of her high-heels tells him she’s moving closer before he feels the hand on his shoulder. “My dear, please, listen to me. We’ve kept things running like clockwork. What would we do if you got hurt, hm? I can’t protect you from everything.”
She squeezes his shoulder and then runs her palm down his back. Her fingers brush through the long hair tied back in a low ponytail.
“Surely Kerse and Haru would be distraught. You shouldn’t worry them like that.”
Hax swallows hard. “I won’t get hurt from observing.”
Another sigh from her as she begins to move into the portal. “We’ll discuss this later. Please, I know you all enjoy bringing back souvenirs, but too much folly will lead you astray.”
His toes curl against the floor as he refuses to look up. He waits for her to step through completely before pinching his eyes shut. Fingers curl into fists at his sides.
“You’ll never believe me…will you…?”
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Zye splashes up through the surface of the water he didn’t realize he was under. Sputtering, he gasps for air while Celeste dismisses their fans and grabs onto him.
“It’s okay, Zye. You’re fine, you’re with me.”
He slowly gathers himself. Zye looks at them and then the water rippling out around him from the motion he’s made. His feet settle flat against the bottom of the pool as they move to the steps for him to sit down.
“Did something happen?”
“I…yes? The hell is going on.”
“It’s alright. Get dried off and tell me about it.”
Celeste remains on the edge, water dripping from them, as Zye staggers to where he left his clothes. He hadn’t seen the little basket of towels before. Scooping one up and dismissing the robe, he’s quick to dry off to fight back the chill.
“Did you recover any memories?”
“No…I don’t think that was my memory. I know that sounds weird.”
“Who did you see, then?”
“You, actually.”
“Excuse me?”
Zye buttons his pants and steps into his ankle boots. He grabs his shirt before taking Celeste a towel. “There were other people, too. Hax, Charmilla, and Haru.”
“That’s…strange. I need to get in touch with Hax, in that case. In the meantime, I’ll see you later for another session.”
Celeste takes the towel so that Zye slips his shirt back on. He tugs the sleeves down to where his thumb hooks into the hole in the sides. He glances down at the way they seem to grip the towel.
“That’s it for now? I know I’ve seen him before and I don’t mean in my dreams.”
“It would make sense that you have. Let me see what I can find out and I’ll see you later. Perhaps letting Xerxes talk about your world will help now that I’m weakening the binds on your core.”
“Yeah, sure. Thanks, I’ll see what I can do on my end.”
Zye tries not to let the irritation show in his voice even if it probably did. He’s glad something is coming out of this but it’s not his thoughts or memories. It’s someone else’s.
Heading downstairs to meet up with Xerxes, he can’t help but realize there’s one person in common. If he could just get his hands on him, maybe he’d get more answers. Hopefully, Celeste can get in touch with this Hax.
At the bottom of the stairs is Orion. Out of Celeste’s sight, he’s changed into a pair of gray pants tucked into darker thigh-high boots. Around the tops of them are yellow chains with large beads throughout.
He removes his hands from his pockets and rolls the sleeves of his dark green jacket back up over his elbows. The inside looks to be a much brighter green than the outside. It hangs low over a white belt and a shirt diagonally sectioned in white and black.
What catches Zye’s eyes as he comes off the stairs is the fact that Orion isn’t wearing any gloves. It gives him a chance to see the white markings after each knuckle and around each joint.
“How did it go?”
Zye shrugs, “Fine, I guess. It’s not my memories I got back so I guess it was a bust if you think of it that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t you rather talk to Celeste about it?”
Orion turns and directs his gaze up at Zye. “It was a man named Hax, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, you were there, too. A lot cuter whenever that was.”
“That’s— You need to be careful. No missions until we get this figured out.”
Zye begins toward Ilista’s corridor. “Celeste said I could.”
“I don’t care what they said. You’re my Guardian and I say, no.”
“Fine, whatever you say, boss,” he replies while giving a wave over his shoulder.
Zye doesn’t need to turn around to hear the boots click and clack up the stairs. He’s going to ask Celeste about what happened. In fact, Zye would rather he did. He doesn’t want to talk about any of this.
He’s tired.
Hopefully Xerxes isn’t busy with Ilista. He’d hate to have to track down Aster to try and have a distraction.
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