Thud!
A glass of water rested on the wooden counter, its surface ripples gently trembling before settling. Yao Ming, the merchant, had placed it there, signaling Kyorin to accept it as he sipped from his tea-filled cup.
Kyorin took it with both hands, his breath uneven, the echoes of his hurried steps still rattling in his chest."Thank you very much, Uncle Yao," he murmured, swallowing down both gratitude and exhaustion.
The sprint earlier had drained his small frame, leaving his limbs weak as reeds bending in the wind.
Yao Ming studied him for a moment before offering a faint smile. "No need for such formality over a mere cup of water," he said, though his eyes held curiosity.
"But why the rush, boy?" He questioned, and in a voice laced with the wisdom of experience, he chided, "Haste is a reckless beast—it turns effort into waste."
Kyorin exhaled, calming his breath. "Uncle Yao, I have something to ask."
Yao Ming's brow lifted. "Go on."
"Do you know of figures clad in crimson? Wrapped in bandages, their faces masked?" Kyorin's words were innocent, curiosity flickering within it like the wick of a lamp just before it catches fire.
Yao Ming stiffened, the cup in his hand suddenly feeling heavier. A tremor passed through his eyes, a shadow of recognition. "Why do you ask?" His voice, though measured, betrayed the unease tightening his spine.
Kyorin, sensing the merchant's apprehension, answered plainly. "I saw them."
Silence stretched in the room, thick as storm clouds before the downpour.
"—!!?"
Yao Ming rose abruptly, his face darkening. His voice rang through the shop. "Kun, Ji, Li, Fang, Hei—everyone, come here!" At his call, his workers appeared, their hurried steps echoing in the room.
Yao Ming's next words were grave. "The Fractsidus."
Gasps rippled through the room. Eyes widened, fists clenched. Some trembled, others grit their teeth—not in rage, but in fear.
"They're here?" someone muttered.
"We have to warn everyone," another said.
Yao Ming nodded. "That would be wise."
Suddenly, Kyorin spoke, his tone soft but questioning. "Why?"
All eyes turned to him. Someone almost scolded him but held back—he was just a child, unaware of the weight of his words.
"It's because—" Yao Ming started, but Kyorin interrupted. "Are they famous?"
"Famous?"
The word felt almost absurd. The Fractsidus weren't famous—they were dreaded.
but before anyone could speak Kyorin spoke. "If they're so well-known, wouldn't the villagers swarm them when they arrive?" He asked.
"Who would dare go near them?! " the adults thought as Yao Ming began to explain, "No, Kyorin, I think you misunderstood."
"No, I am not." Kyorin insisted, "Look at Miss Peng—she has a lovely voice, a singer by nature—but she rarely leaves her house. The moment she steps outside, the villagers swarm her like moths to a flame," Kyorin remarked.
Yao Ming hesitated, his mind drifting to Peng Yin, the woman he once loved. Her name was a whisper from his past, yet it still carried weight in the chambers of his heart.
Sensing the pause, Kyorin continued, his voice calm but edged with meaning. "She only appears twice a year, and every time, the village erupts into a frenzy. It's as if her presence alone bends the flow of their lives."
The other personnel exchanged glances, the weight of Kyorin's words settling in. 'Uproar'. 'Presence'. The terms lingered in the air like an unspoken omen.
If the village knew about the Fractsidus, the reaction would be the same—panic, chaos, a wildfire spreading through dry grass.
"I mean, Miss Peng never announces when she'll appear." Kyorin continued, "Like, whenever her presence is anticipated, she avoids the streets because the crowd is already waiting for her."
Kyorin's words, like his flickering gaze, spread across the room, his casual action spreading a sense of clarity.
The adults, realized that the village could not be allowed to fall into hysteria—because if it did, the Fractsidus would know. And once they knew, the situation would spiral beyond control.
Suddenly, a shift occurred as Kyorin seemed to have a question bloom in his mind. He turned to Yao Ming. "Say, Uncle, do they come to the village often? I haven't seen them before."
Yao Ming's reply was curt. "No, they don't."
Kyorin tilted his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "So they're not regular visitors?" His voice lowered slightly, his thoughts treading into uncertain territory. "Then… why are they here now?"
A silent exchange passed between the adults. The same thought took root in each of their minds, a single phrase threading them together. The Sacred Tree.
Kyorin tugged at Yao Ming's sleeve, his voice turning small. "Are they debt collectors? Loan sharks?" There was a tremor in his words now, the creeping fear of uncertainty.
"Can we chase them away? My mother and I are already financially struggling." His shoulders hunched, his frame trembling like a leaf caught in an unforgiving wind.
Yao Ming looked down at the boy, reading the fear in his posture. With a steady hand, he placed his palms on Kyorin's shoulders. "Don't worry. Leave it to us elders."
The moment the word elder left his lips, his expression hardened. A silent understanding passed through the room like the shifting of unseen gears.
The only ones who should be informed, were the elders. At that instant, every adult present arrived at the same conclusion. Yao Ming's eyes met one of his men's, and with a subtle nod, the message was received.
The next move had already been decided. The air in the room shifted, a current of unspoken understanding pulling the adults into action.
Kyorin, sensing the tension ease ever so slightly, allowed himself a brief moment of respite. But one question continued to gnaw at the edges of his mind—'Why were these so-called Fractsidus here? '
He glanced at Yao Ming. "Uncle Yao."
Yao Ming turned to him, his gaze steady. "What is it, Kyorin? Are you still afraid?"
"Afraid?"
The word echoed in Kyorin's mind, unsettling in its weight. He had already achieved his goal—a small group was now acting upon the crisis.
That should have been enough. And yet, something within him clawed for more. More information. He needed more information. But why?
The realization pressed against his thoughts like a creeping shadow—he was afraid. Not of the Fractsidus themselves, but of what he did not know about them.
Fear of the unknown was an abyss, and he teetered at its edge. If he lacked the knowledge to understand their purpose, would that ignorance seal his fate?
Yet, even if he did uncover their goal, what good would it do him? Their motives had nothing to do with him. Nor did he had the capabilities to stop them.
His sole concern had been survival, but now he found himself straying beyond it, peering into the ambitions of others.
A mistake. A unnecessary worry from his point.
'How foal-like of me,' he muttered under his breath. {A/N: An idiom, restless like a foal (young horse).}
He shook off the thought and reconsidered. Soon, another proper question bloomed in his mind. "Do they want something from us?" he asked, his voice carrying a curious tone.
"You can say that," Yao Ming replied, as Kyorin declared, "I knew it! They're after money!" He shouted, but the others merely shook their heads. Yao Ming smiled, feeling a new responsibility to ensure this ignorant kid didn't get into trouble.
'They want something, but not something that can be possessed.' Kyorin's mind quickly analyzed Yao Ming's words.
Yao Ming neither denied nor confirmed the claim, which meant Kyorin was both right and wrong at once. They were here for something—but not for something that could be taken as a possession.
With that clarity, Kyorin's next move became clear. "Uncle, you'll chase them away, right?" he asked.
Yao Ming pounded his chest with a grin. "Leave it to me, kid."
Kyorin smiled. "Uncle Yao is admirable and strong." He then grabbed his basket and sickle, heading outside.
Maybe because Kyorin always went home after visiting the shop, Yao Ming hadn't worried. But as he set his men to work notifying the elders and preparing, a question struck his mind—'Did Kyroin really went back home? '.
He tried to reason—Kyorin would go home, not wanting to work. But the words from earlier haunted him: "My mother and I are already financially struggling."
Those words echoed in his mind, and without a second thought, Yao Ming dashed into the forest, frantically chanting in his heart.
"Please be safe."
"Please be safe."
"Please be safe."
The silent mantra repeated in his chest as he walked through the clearing and foliage of the forest. Soon, he spotted the small figure with auburn hair, bending down to gather herbs from the ground. He called out, "Kyorin... haah..."
Kyorin turned at the sound of the voice, his eyes widening in surprise at Yao Ming's sudden appearance. "Uncle Yao?"
Breathing heavily, Yao Ming sighed in relief as he approached Kyorin and said, "Let's go. We need to leave here."
"But the herbs..." Kyorin started, but Yao Ming placed a hand on his shoulders. "Listen to me. We need to get out of here before those Fractsidus show up."
Kyorin paused, his mind processing the new piece of information. 'So, the forest shelters the thing they're after.' He looked at Yao Ming, then asked, "Then why are you here, Uncle?"
Yao Ming exhaled and replied, "I was afraid you might encounter those hooligans." Kyorin paused, his thoughts whirling. 'Is this empathy?'
"Empathy." The term was foreign to Kyorin, a concept he had never really understood. He'd never worried about others, always focused solely on his own existence.
But now, seeing how Yao Ming was so concerned about him, Kyorin wondered, 'Perhaps empathy has its place in the world.'
Kyorin had been saved, given crucial information, but now he faced a dilemma. He had two options: return to the village or continue exploring the forest.
However, unlike other times when he was in control of his own actions, this time he needed permission from someone else—Yao Ming.
Surprisingly, Kyorin didn't find this discomforting. Instead, he wondered, 'Is this how society works? '
It wasn't just an independent action now, but one that required independency—his choices were dependent on Yao Ming's response, whether to forcefully take him home or listen and consider his options.
"Uncle, do the Fractsidus also look for herbs?" Kyorin asked. Yao Ming, growing impatient, replied, "No, let's go home first." However, since Yao Ming wasn't using force, Kyorin still had a chance to sway his decision.
"Uncle, do they want to take something from this forest?" Kyorin pressed, his tone measured and probing.
"They wouldn't be able to take anything, so let's just go home," Yao Ming said, his patience on the edge. Kyorin knew that this next question had to shift Yao Ming's decision, or he would be taken back to the village.
Kyorin, sensing the shift in Yao Ming's demeanor, pressed on, his voice calm yet purposeful. "Uncle, is there a reason the Fractsidus came here? Is it just the forest they want, or something more?"
Yao Ming, no longer willing to entertain the questioning, snapped, "Enough." His grip tightened, and without another word, he moved toward Kyorin, grasping his cuffs firmly.
Kyorin tried to pull back, but Yao Ming's force was too much. He was dragged along, the weight of the decision sinking in. There was no room left for negotiation.
"Uncle, please," Kyorin muttered, but the words were drowned by the heavy silence between them. Yao Ming's determination was unshakable. He was taking Kyorin back to the village, no matter what.
As Yao Ming pulled Kyorin along, the tension between them thickened. Kyorin's mind raced, still clinging to the notion that the present wasn't set in stone.
'I haven't lost yet. I still have time, and I can change this.' His optimism flickered in the back of his mind, the belief that he might still sway Yao Ming, that this moment hadn't yet passed.
Yao Ming's grip on Kyorin's cuffs tightened, but Kyorin's eyes remained sharp, watching for the slightest crack in Yao's resolve.
He had seen enough in their interactions to know that Yao Ming wasn't entirely invulnerable to his words. 'One more question. One more push.'
His heart raced as he tested the limits, but the possibility that he could alter the course of things remained—like a thin thread of light in an otherwise uncertain situation.
"Uncle," Kyorin said softly, his voice calm but carrying a sense of urgency. "The Fractsidus might be alerted," Kyroin said.
Yao Ming paused and replied, "They wouldn't dare do anything during broad daylight." Yao Ming paused again, realizing it was still broad daylight, and like he said, the Fractsidus would not act now. This meant—
"They are going to act when the village is asleep."
Meanwhile, in the village hall, Elder Tao Zheng spoke, his voice low as he rationalized, "The Fractsidus will likely keep their movements hidden until the village is deep in sleep."
Another elder nodded in agreement. "Yes, that sounds plausible—and more likely."
But then, a third elder spoke up with a skeptical frown. "Hmm, but those mindless fools wouldn't be so patient," Old Fan Hui muttered.
Tao Zheng turned his gaze to the elder. "Old Fan Hui, I believe someone is helping them."
The second elder, Yang Fei, gave a thoughtful hum as her eyes lingered on an empty seat, one that belonged to Tang Yi. The other elders followed her gaze, and a collective realization dawned on them. "She betrayed the village."
Back in the forest, Yao Ming was a bit calmer now, but a sense of urgency still hung in the air. He decided to share the main root of this urgency. "Kyorin, there's something you should know about our village." He began.
"Our village, it is protected by the Sacred Tree," Yao Ming said, making Kyorin's gaze flicker with interest. "The tree holds immense power and keeps us safe from harm."
"The Sacred Tree?" Kyorin repeated.
"Yes," Yao nodded as Kyorin's eyes flickered with interest. "Where is it? I want to see it. Show me."
Yao Ming hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing on him. "I cannot take you there. It's too dangerous. The Fractsidus may already be there."
Kyorin frowned, frustration creeping into his voice. "But 'what if ' tomorrow the forest is destroyed, how will I ever see the tree?" he asked as Yao pondered, 'Are they really going to lit-up the forest?'
But Kyorin's words brought him back. "You know, my mother keeps telling me she'll take me somewhere but doesn't." He continued, "Honestly, I think she's not doing it since the villagers say this place is a sanctuary."
"Sanctuary."
The word stuck out as Yao recalled, 'The village... it is under the protection of the Sacred Tree.'
Yao Ming thought, his mind steady and adamant. 'No one dares disturb it. Even the Fractsidus know not to go near it.'
That's right. The Sacred Tree was the answer, as it was the one protecting the village and its inhabitants, and the Fractsidus would not be near it—not now, at least.
He looked at Kyorin and considered his wishes.
"Tomorrow." It may never come, but right now, he could at least fulfill Kyorin's wish and with the worry of the Fractsidus being present near the tree alleviated, he made his decision.
"Alright, Kyorin. I'll take you to see the Sacred Tree. But stay close and be careful," Yao Ming said, his voice firm but gentle.
Kyorin's eyes flickered with interest and anticipation as he asked, "Really?" Yao Ming nodded, his gaze unwavering, and without another word, they changed their path.
They ventured down a dense, hidden route, weaving through thick undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of earth and the quiet hum of the forest. The world seemed to hold its breath around them.
Eventually, they reached a clearing. There, standing alone in the center, was a withered tree. Its branches twisted like gnarled fingers, stretching toward the sky in a desperate, silent plea.
It seemed ancient, but not in the way that a tree should be—there was something wrong about it, something empty. Yet, beneath that emptiness, Kyorin couldn't shake the feeling that it held something more.
'So this is their target,' Kyorin thought, stepping forward to get a closer look. But then— "!!?"
His paused, the air suddenly thick around him. He turned back in confusion to find Yao Ming standing completely still, as if rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the tree, unmoving.
It was as though the world had its clock stopped ticking, yet Kyorin was able to move as if he was given permission to. His gaze returned to the tree, realizing, 'This wuthering tree is not ordinary.'
Groan!
Suddenly, the old wood groaned and a voice rumbled from within the tree: "I have been expecting you, dear Resonator."
To be continued...
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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter! Feel free to rant.