Chapter 13
'Man-made weapons are useless against the creatures in this universe. But what purpose do they serve?'
'If "threads" are the key to destroying them, do they offer any other benefit to their surroundings?'
It was too overwhelming. Hoku's mind barely held onto any thought before it slipped away.
Each new question, each new idea, came in quick succession, only to vanish before he could grasp it.
"This universe is a failure," Hoku mutters, assuming his words go unnoticed.
But someone hears.
Yu-ze responds, with a serious expression, "That it is. However, no one entirely understands why only certain humans were chosen from Earth. There are even more who come from distant worlds."
He arches an eyebrow in Hoku's direction.
"Which could mean that those people have been around for longer, but were never acknowledged by humans since we were reasonably unenlightened toward additional existences."
Yu-ze tilts his head from side to side.
"My theory sounds just as good as yours; however, it is merely that. These deformed things could have come from anywhere. Although, discovering where they come from will eventually become essential—at present, it resides as our second-to-last concern."
"Hopefully with prominent reason, amassing the ingredients to enhance our elixirs has the highest priority," Li resumes Yu-ze's remark.
He looks at Li, crouched low, with his hand pressed to his knee for support.
His hand brushes the grass, which bristles stiffly under his palm.
'Why not search for those people then? If they've been around longer, wouldn't they also have more knowledge?' Hoku furrows his brows as he contemplates to himself.
No one else acknowledges Li, drawing their attention to Juno as she speaks.
"Let's get moving, we can try to explain more later."
"We need to equip you with basic defenses before we cross into another mantra. Universes are vast, but this one's particularly unstable. We'll be walking on burning coals."
"Why?" Hoku asks, barely keeping the edge from his voice.
"The longer we stay in one thread, the faster the defense systems degrade. It lets us move to other 'planets' without a rocket; mocking time limits. But instead of sustaining safe zones, they decay."
Abel says from behind him, "That's not the worst part. The creatures can sense environmental changes. Stay too long, and we risk drawing an army."
"Deformities won't be your only obstacle if you get past here and the next station. Many will seem ordinary, but their goal is always the same: capture and kill."
Li interjects, emphasizing the 'if.'
He squats, a black cat at his knee, drawing everyone's attention.
"Does it have a name?"
Hoku shifts focus, moving past the threats for now.
Li waits a moment before answering. "Cheshire."
Hoku tilts his head in surprise.
"You've read Alice in Wonderland? That's where the name's from."
"..."
"It's a good story," Hoku continues with a small smile.
"He's not mine. And I don't know what you're talking about. It's just his name."
"Don't tell me you've never heard of it? Naming a cat Cheshire without knowing the story—ironic," Hoku says, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Li shrugs. "You'd know better."
"How is that possible? I've only seen this cat when I first met you."
Li pulls his hand from his knee, then places both palms over Cheshire's ears.
A small smirk appears on his lips.
"Can't recognize your guide, Hoku? He's been with you all this time, and now you deny him? Not very kind."
Hoku scowls at him, 'The nerve to lie about something so simple.'
"What are you talking about? I asked how you didn't know a well-known tale like his name. Now you're gaslighting me? If anyone needs compassion, it's—"
"Can't you recognize him?" Fleur suddenly asks.
Hoku blinks, as more confusion settles in.
Her twin adds, "How did he get here? Cheshire can't cross the barrier without the watch."
"I've never met this animal. Unless you knew me before the accident, I haven't had any dealings with cats."
"You met him at the start of your sequence," Fleur adds. "His memory loss is likely from the 'atonement of memory' caused by the Mantras."
"It's a small price to work with something this complex," he continues. "You lose one memory, and others fill in the gap. You move on."
"Why pretend that isn't a bad trade?" Juno interrupts, her frown deepening further.
So, essentially, a fragment of memory dies when someone crosses another path? And causes certain sentiments to become distorted, or lost...' Hoku struggles in vain to make sense of their conversation.
'Intervening seems pointless,' Hoku decides silently.
"If we weren't stuck here, I might understand why you accept this," Juno says curtly. "But we're trapped. Shouldn't that earn us something?"
Her frustration falters as her tone shifts.
"That's just how it is," Li says. "You get cut, you bleed. Our memories leak through when we cross barriers."
How much had Hoku lost by crossing those barriers?
His trust in their remarks eroded with each passing word.
"I'm... sorry," Hoku's voice was quiet. "This is all overwhelming, why is it all so demanding?"
Li rises, his face impassive. "It's understandable. Just keep moving forward."
Hoku hadn't expected reassurance from him.
Whether it was genuine or just another open sentiment, he was unable to tell.
"I have one more question before we leave."
Juno and Yu-ze offer him a subtle nod.
"Can I rely on you for protection, at least for now?"
Yu-ze's response is calm. "We waited for you, Hoku. If we hadn't, we'd be farther ahead. We won't leave until you're ready to fight and know your enemies' weak points."
'Waited for me?'
Hoku forces a strained smile as they prepare to leave.
"The route to the Recess of Life is an uphill battle," Fleur says, moving past him. "Better than walking into an infestation."
Once they moved beyond the nucleus, the air grew dense, and a palpable pressure settled around the group.
A gust of wind swept past Hoku's face, followed by a blunt discomfort.
He barely registered it before Li, without a hint of concern, remarked, "It appears something found us very early."
The Memoir Chapter 11
Objective 6
Steel will aid you as a temporary armor from the simplest life forms. Consume the knowledge of your second elixir with critical determination. Although it does not extract fluid, or bestow wounds, it will be capable of much more. Eventually, you will hold control over birth and decay.
You must locate the abyss where the birch is growing among walls of blue vines.
Rule 16
Refrain from stealing back your fragments. Once you have settled on the decision to journey further, your sacrifice will be sealed.
-The Memoir Chapter 11 End-