Chapter 11
Abel tilted his head toward Fleur, his voice just loud enough for Hoku to hear.
"Do you think it's Juno?"
Fleur flipped her hair, the brown curls tumbling over her shoulder.
Abel leaned back, wrinkling his nose as he frowned at the strands.
His contempt dissolved as a boy rushed out from behind a tree, his arms spread wide.
Hoku paused, his gaze drifting to Fleur. She was drawing a bow from beneath her hair.
"Oh."
"You can calm down, Fleur. You know I mean no harm," the boy said, his voice lighter than Abel's but carrying a warmth and composure that felt disarming.
"Mars—you nearly scared her half to death. She froze like prey in front of a hunter," Abel remarked, his tone laced with mockery.
Mars?
"I froze?" Fleur scoffed, tucking her bow back into the hidden space from which it had appeared. She nudged her brother as she passed. "If anyone here is prey, it's you."
Mars stepped forward, a faint smile on his face. "Had I revealed myself a second later, I imagine that might've been true," he said evenly, as if the thought didn't trouble him.
His gaze shifted to Hoku, studying him for a moment. "You're quiet. Though I suppose that's to be expected. Out of everyone here, you seem the most afraid."
It was true.
This was the first time in nearly two years that Hoku had spoken to more than one person.
He had been led to believe that interactions were optional, something he could avoid until he felt ready. But now, with the unknown standing right before him, that illusion crumbled.
When he finally found the courage to speak, the words that came out weren't the ones he intended.
"What's wrong with your eye?"
The twins froze, startled by the question as much as the one it was directed at.
Hoku stiffened, his thoughts scrambling for a way to recover. Nothing came.
Mars broke the silence, his smile faint but composed. "I'm partially blind," he said, gesturing toward his left eye. "I assume you're referring to the lack of a pupil. My right iris is my natural color," he added, lightly tapping beneath it.
Both eyes could see, but one appeared vibrant, while the other seemed veiled in a dull mist.
"Is that why your more striking eye looks like a mix of silver and hazel?" Fleur asked.
"My natural eye color is brown," Hoku replied.
Mars glanced back, a moment of quiet passing before he spoke. "Do you have any hobbies or occupations?"
Hoku thought a moment before answering, "I like to read. What about you?"
"Art is my primary occupation," he continued, striding slightly further ahead of everyone else.
"Where are you going?" Hoku asked.
"I knew those two would cause some delay," Mars said, glancing back with a faint smile. "Someone suggested I follow them to ensure you arrived safely."
"Does that mean we're in a safe space now?"
"We are," Mars replied without hesitation. "Welcome to the nucleus, Hoku. Juno will be back soon, so we won't need to wait. For now, let us guide you until you can navigate on your own."
"I'm glad," Hoku said, pondering to himself for a moment. "She mentioned there were others, but not how many…"
Abel lingered behind, trailing at a distance.
How do they know they're inside the nucleus? Hoku wondered. There's no sign of it, no barriers. Is it just a feeling?
As they sauntered further in, Hoku's eyes caught hold of a person kneeling with his back turned toward where they had come from.
A rather tall man stood over him, motioning his hand at something on the ground.
"Who—"
"Li! Yu-ze! We're back with the kid!" Abel interrupted, yelling with a chuffed cheer as he sprinted past everyone.
'He has a knack for being loud.'
The man standing turned halfway, appearing pleasantly gratified.
The person on the ground, however, remained nested near the outline of trees.
"Not all at once, Li. We have a visitor—you know the protocol," Mars said.
There was sunlight and grass. He hadn't noticed it before, but the forest seemed to change in different areas.
Especially now, without the shade and detritus, he was able to see a landscape filled with rich brown hues and the green leaves that clung few to a branch.
When Hoku first awoke, the forest had been draped in a dreary state, with freshly fallen white.
Upon departing the manor, he had been in an extensive garden of white flowers—like spring.
Now… the forest favored the traits of late autumn.
"Are the seasons changing before my eyes?" Hoku mumbled.
"The seasons in this universe have no concept of time, so they are irregular."
Hoku raised his head to acknowledge who had spoken.
The person's head was half-turned, and as he got much closer, he also saw the small black cat in front of him.
'Why do I feel like I've seen that cat somewhere?'
"Are you Li?"
The man's hand reached down and caressed behind the creature's ear.
He pushed himself up before rubbing his palms together.
"You are?"
"...Hoku." Hoku hadn't expected him to stand, nor had he envisioned the apathy in his drawn-out eyes.
'His aura makes me feel uneasy.'
Li was momentarily silent.
Finally, he said, "I take it someone else has mentioned me then."
"Juno—your name is the only other name she mentioned." Li raised his eyebrow.
Hoku glanced down and noticed something protruding from his hip.
"Do swords scare you?" Li asked, tilting his head.
His thumb rubbed the shaved end of the hilt.
Hoku opened his mouth, prepared to answer no, but Li swiftly precluded his answer.
"If so, get over it—you'll acquire one of your own whenever Juno returns."
"I beg your pardon...?"
Li drew his sword without a word, and a dense substance trailed from the blade and spilled onto the grass, leaving a dark red stain.
A pungent stench drifted toward Hoku, crawling up his spine as he breathed it in.
'Is that blood??'
Li focused on his sword, with a neutral expression.
His gaze swept the forest, lingering just enough to hint at his wariness.
"Anyone have a cloth?" He asked.
Hoku brushed a hand over his throat.
'Must be from those things Juno was fighting,' He thought, his stomach stirring.
"Fleur might," Abel offered, shrugging.
"Nope," Fleur answered, shaking her head.
Before Hoku could piece together his thoughts, Li moved. His blade arced toward Hoku's shoulder with alarming speed.
"This will do," Li said, his tone casual as he used the blade to slice a strip of fabric from Hoku's sleeve.
He flinched, stumbling back, but quickly regained his balance, digging into a dry patch of dirt.
A faint red line appeared on Hoku's forearm where the blade had grazed.
Fleur rushed over and grabbed his arm with one hand. "Are you hurt?" she asked, inspecting the cut.
"Does the sight of blood make you sick?" Li taunted.
Hoku's face hardened, momentarily taken aback.
"Where are your manners, Li?" Abel asked, shaking his head
"I asked politely, didn't I?"
'Rude bastard,' Hoku bitterly cursed.
Fleur steps away from his arm and presses her fingers against her palm.
"Have you considered getting your eyes checked by Juno? Why waste time asking if he approached you with nothing in his hands?"
The man garbed in the black robe, stepped forward, and his presence quickly silenced the group.
"Enough." He continued sternly, "Fleur, you are not his mother, and Li, you are not nine. Either get over this matter or sit out from the recess'."
Li exhaled and turned away—sheathing his sword.
As Fleur made her way back toward Abel, she muttered, "He called him nine."
Abel laughed under his breath, discreetly bumping her fish.
Mars walked over from behind them, and spoke sincerely, "Juno should be on her way back. Pull yourselves together, she did us all a huge favor today."
Mars' presence had somehow slipped past Hoku, however, fortunately, he had remembered greeting him earlier.
"Does it count if I say speak of the devil?"
Pulled from his reverie, Hoku straightened his posture before shifting abruptly in Mars' direction.
"Juno...?"
The Memoir Chapter 8
Rule 13
Pure energy is required to dismantle any non-human life form that resides in the stream. Be vigilant of what you utilize, and leave behind in the mantras, as ordinary possessions from the separate worlds can damage or even inhibit the course of time in the sequel.
Objective 6
Find raw materials to invent an elixir. There are copious regions of design, however, each mantra will have only a single place to acquire the core agent.
Your impending journey subsists in the Recess Of Life.
-The Memoir Chapter 8 End-