The public ship arrived at Hailstone's small port and the few passengers walked down the gangway. There only seemed around ten people, five of them being Timothy and his companions.
The snowflakes fell from the clouds gracefully, and the path carried them inside a small, snowy village with a pine tree in the middle.
It didn't feel too cold and was rather soothing.
The buildings' walls were constructed from pine wood, and their sizes seemed small compared to Acropolis. "This is something I'm more used to, no vehicles and crazy people," Timothy answered, observing the scene around him.
"Here in Hailstone, we live our own lives. We constructed these wooden cabins ourselves and the pine tree as well. People here worked hard to build such a village and decided to live in joy, silence, and tranquility. We prefer walking on our feet to driving around. In short, we're extroverts," She explained, gaining others' attention, "Of course, I can't exactly say the same for me because I spend more time inside due to schoolwork and studying. I can only go outdoors for a couple of hours to take photos, but that's pretty much all."
Timothy glanced at her, "I understand how essential schoolwork is, but you need to figure out how to divide your time between being inside and outside. If you can find a method, you'll realize that spending time both indoors and outside will benefit you more and make things easier for you. Take your books outside to study while taking in some fresh air if you're really serious about it. Find a quiet area with little noise, and things will start to shift." He explained as nicely as possible.
"It's fine, really. I love the outside world, but sometimes I need something else than fresh air. After I'm done with school, I'll have more than enough time to take photos and explore nature. I have two years left at the academy, and I'm sure if I keep going about things in this routine, things will work out. But thanks for the advice, Tim." Aurora smiled as Timothy gazed at her.
"I didn't see you as a therapist, big bro," Trinity bumped Timothy's shoulder, "Good for ya." She claimed with a silent, gentle and warm voice. "I had to deal with it the same way as she did when I was in school. I struggled the last few years because I couldn't get fresh air and barely made out of it alive."
Trinity looked at him, "Speaking about school. Shouldn't you two *be* in school?" Cassidy interrupted him with an unimpressed stare, "We're stuck in the Vast Expanse! How do you expect us to partake in school when there's no school we attend in this part of the world? We could be miles, years away from where our school is." She crossed her arms, embarrassing Timothy, "Come on, Cass. When you put it that way, I feel stupid." He clutched the back of his head.
"Aurora! Oh, I haven't seen you for so long." It was a masculine voice with a man stepping in front of her, "Uncle Glaze!" They hugged each other, "It's so good to see you again!"
"How's my little cousin doing after so many years? Are your schoolmates and teachers treating you well? And, are you planning to stay here for a while?" He straightened up, holding her shoulder while looking down at her face with a smile, "It's been going well. I almost finished school, but I took some time for myself. I'll be leaving again in one week to return to the academy."
Glaze raised his head and looked behind her, "Oh... Are these your friends you've brought?" He inquired, looking at Timothy, his sisters, and Chiaki. "Yeah... We met one day ago after they arrived in Acropolis. This here is Timothy, his sisters Trinity and Cassidy, and lastly Chiaki. They were sent here by administrator Forest so that you could help them."
Aurora stepped next to Glaze and glanced at them together with him, "You came here because of me? I'm fascinated. My name's Glaze. I'm joyful to meet you and welcome you to Hailstone."
Glaze seemed rather tall, having a darker complexion with blue eyes peeking from beneath his eye sockets. He wore warm Inuit clothes, unlike Timothy and the others, who mostly wore warm jackets.
"Um... That's correct. I'm the daughter of Yasuda Mia. I'm the final female member, and if I can learn more about soul-linking, I can keep our family's tradition. Administrator Forest told us you were familiar with the soul-linking phenomenon, so Aurora brought us here. I have one year to learn more professional skills in linking." Chiaki explained, keeping steady and confident.
"I see, I see. But before I agree to teach you, I would like to ask you an important question. Soul-linking requires a heart you bonded with and knowledge of how its body works. I'm sure you already know that the soul-linking phenomenon relies on the "vessel" and not the heart you linked with, Chiaki. I need to know which heart you wish to bond with is." Explained Glaze, composed and polite.
"I need to analyze that heart and see if it's compatible with your soul-linking powers. If it is, I can teach you without a doubt, but if it's not, then I'm afraid I cannot help you." He explained as Chiaki looked at Timothy for a moment, "Analyze? Do you mind giving me more information on what you mean, Glaze?"
He crossed his arms, nodding, "I would need you to link with the heart and see how long you're capable of staying in the soul-linking perimeter." He answered, troubling Timothy's brain from understanding, "I need to analyze the condition. If you're able to move in the physical world and not only inside the heart's mental world while in the middle of linking, then it'll be evident that the heart is compatible."
Chiaki seemed astonished, "Does the thing involve the heart feeling the pain if she were to get attacked?" Timothy questioned, drawing Glaze's attention, "That is a passive effect, but it does show that the vessel has a great chance of making its link work. However, the heart's job is to feel the same touch and nerves as the vessel. If the heart can only feel rougher touches, it means the link isn't fully complete, but it proves the vessel's on the right track to mastering it."
Timothy blinked, speechless, "As for the vessel. In this case, Chiaki... she's required to see through the heart's eyes. Understand the heart's limit and learn their emotion. If she's able to feel every emotion the heart expresses, and the worse that emotion becomes, the weaker her link becomes. One excruciating point in mastering the soul-linking phenomenon is for her to reveal the same emotion, feeling, or persona the heart creates. In short, the vessel and heart require to be intertwined, but that relies on the vessel, as I mentioned previously."
He took some time to breathe, "While the heart's job is to accept the vessel soul into their body and mind, the vessel requires to improvise the power of their link," Explained Glaze.
Chiaki grabbed her chin, "That means... The heart doesn't require training, while the vessel does. The vessel needs to control the linking, while the heart needs to be durable and stable, as well as to accept the vessel into their body." Chiaki believed, "It's like a mother and her children. The mother takes full responsibility in keeping her children safe, while the kids merely require to listen and accept her commands." Chiaki explained, sighing.
"If that's how you'd like to put it, then so be it. But unlike the children, the heart is expected to feel more pain than the vessel. However, the heart is also required to protect the link from getting damaged because that could create a mental breakdown, and the link could shatter the first second they get struck. But how about I invite you to my home first and treat you to dinner and warmth? We can continue this discussion tomorrow morning as long as you don't mind sleeping in Aurora's bedroom. Though, I'm afraid some of you will have to sleep on the floor. We only have three beds." Claimed Glaze, awkward.
"It's all right, uncle. I'll sleep in the living room. I think Chiaki should sleep on the bed to be ready for tomorrow." Aurora answered, putting her hands on her hips, "Aurora, it's okay. I can sleep on the floor if you'd like."
Aurora became grumpy and complained, "None of you will sleep on the floor! I'll make sure to give the person on the floor something to sleep on. I don't mind sleeping in the living room for this one week." She called, leaning her palm on her chest. "Besides, there are three beds, remember? They are next to each other but far enough from coming in contact."
"I call bids on the right bed!" Cassidy shouted, "I'll take the left bed," Trinity finished, leaving Timothy in silence, "Whoa! Hold up! Why do I have to sleep on the floor?" Timothy asked, looking at his sisters.
"That's simple. We are girls, and if Aurora's willing to sleep in the living room, I'm sure you could sleep on the wood." Cassidy answered. "That's... that's just unfair. I'm the oldest one here! I should be the one to choose!"
But nobody accepted Timothy's arguments and instead laughed in his face, "If you want, Tim. You can sleep next to me." Chiaki called, trying to be polite, "Do you hear what you're saying, Chiaki? Think about how strange that would be! Two of us in the same bed! It's inappropriate!" He claimed as Chiaki instantly became red in the cheeks, shaking her hands and head, "T-That's not what I meant! T-Tim! H-How could you even think about something like that?! I didn't mean anything inappropriate! I just wanted you to rest up for the next day."
Timothy crossed his arms, grunting, "I am taking the floor then!" He called, walking past Chiaki, who remained embarrassed, "Ohhh... I should've thought about it more before saying it. Aaaah, I'm so embarrassed." Chiaki called, burning into her cheeks, yet trying to hide it.
"Don't worry, Chiaki. I'm sure he's gonna have a great time snuggling with the floor!" Cassidy called, rubbing her shoulder, "N-No! I-I didn't mean to-! I-I... please stop making me feel uncomfortable." Chiaki begged, terrified and scared, "I'm just teasing you!" Cassidy laughed and gently placed her arm around Chiaki's shoulders, "Now, let's go and see where Glaze takes us." Answered Cassidy, hearing Chiaki mutter next to her.
"This is so embarrassing..."
To be continued...