Zeldritzon [Cycle 25] - Morning

  ??? ??? ???

  Zeldritzon [Cycle 25] - Late Morning

  Current Location:

  [Outside of the Crystal Shelter's Glade]

  ??? ??? ???

  "Yae flowers..." I repeated, as Mina's thoughts drifted to the mythical tales surrounding these blossoms. They were said to bloom only in the most serene and tranquil environments. Strangely, I found myself recalling a journey with Jalkra to the place closest to Shuten-Doji's garden. And although that Sovereign was as terrifying as they come, those petals were believed to hold the power to heal emotional wounds and draw people closer together.

  Shuten-Doji… that was her title, the Sovereign IX of DreaGoth… yet another benefactor of Jalkra.

  I shook my head in wonder, admiring the delicate petals. "They're amazing, GamaGen. But why are you here? And what do they have to do with anything?"

  GamaGen regarded me for a moment before speaking again. "You see, KiAera, these flowers represent the strength of bonds. The bonds that bring us together and give us hope. But I'm certain you have more pressing questions for me."

  "More pressing? You mean like how we're merged and I can't seem to separate us?" I laughed bitterly.

  "Ah," he replied, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "That is indeed a pressing matter. Your bond with Mina is stronger than you think. She has given you her power, and in doing so, she has entrusted you with something very precious: her heart."

  I blinked, trying to wrap my mind around what he was saying. "Her heart? I don't understand."

  "Merging with another being isn't something that wears off easily, KiAera. You carry part of her essence now, and she carries part of yours. It creates a link that can be difficult to break, especially in a world like this." GamaGen took a moment to let his words sink in. "It's a bond that can make you stronger or weaker, depending on how you choose to use it."

  I nodded slowly, absorbing his words. "So, what you're saying is that I should learn to embrace this and use it to my advantage?"

  He smiled faintly, the creases in his face deepening. "If that's how you want to see it, but it's not as simple as you think."

  I sighed, trying to understand what he meant. "I don't know, GamaGen. I just want to be me again. I feel like I'm wearing Mina's skin, living in her mind, and I can't tell where she ends and I begin."

  "Oh, but do you truly wish to be apart from her?" He asked. "You have only begun to glimpse the depth of her strength and her heart. There is still much for you to learn. You cannot afford to lose sight of what you are fighting for, yes?"

  My frustration evaporated, leaving me feeling hollow inside. "You know you can be very verbally annoying sometimes. Mina said that, not me," I smiled faintly, remembering how she would often say that about GamaGen. "But I understand what you're saying, and I appreciate the advice."

  "Now then, KiAera, I have one more piece of information you may find useful," he said. "I have sensed the presence of the MereChieftain."

  "The MereChieftain?" I repeated, feeling a surge of excitement. "Where? How do we find him?"

  GamaGen held up his wing to silence me, and I noticed a shimmering mist gathering around us. "I'll advise you to not seek him out. If he's still as he was since I last met him, he is a... rather volatile creature, especially when confronted with outsiders. He prefers to remain isolated from the rest of the world. And, he's an unpredictable being. He may not be kind to you, even if you try to approach him with good intentions."

  "But how am I supposed to prove myself worthy of the trials then? We need to convince him to help us!" I protested, my frustration rising again.

  "It's… possible for me to undo the merge between you and Mina," GamaGen said carefully.

  I felt a strange sense of disappointment at his words. "Really? Why didn't you mention that earlier?"

  "Because I knew it wouldn't be your choice," he said. "You need Mina's acceptance to separate, and she is far more stubborn than you think."

  I frowned, unsure of how to respond. "So, what do we do then? If she won't agree to separate, we can't do anything about it, right?"

  "That is correct," he replied, his expression solemn. "However, there is another way. You could convince her to accept the demerging."

  "Wait, you mean we could convince her to let go of the merge? How?" I asked, feeling a wave of frustration and anxiety wash over me. I did not want to split. The Mina inside me hated the idea of separation. But I had to try. "You said she was stubborn. What do you mean by that, you jerk?"

  "Well, you see, KiAera," GamaGen began, "Mina is very loyal and protective. She can be quite determined when she sets her mind to something, which is why it's important for you to find a way to convince her to accept the separation—"

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  I turned away without a word, not wanting to hear any more. I knew he was right; this was the only way to separate, and I couldn't afford to waste any more time. I had to try, for everyone's sake. But it wasn't going to be easy.

  I started to run back toward the Crystal Shelter.

  "KiAera?" GamaGen called out, but I ignored him. My heart was racing, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions.

  The thoughts that flooded my mind were a barrage: "Don't let him do it. We're stronger as one. We'll never overcome that one. Don't let him take me away from you."

  But it was no use; I could feel myself slipping away, as if I were being dragged into an endless abyss.

  "No!" I cried out, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Please don't leave me! I don't want to be alone!"

  I felt a sudden tug on my pants and turned to see Liozel standing beside me. He reached up with his small hands and wiped away my tears. "I'm here," he said. "Don't be scared; I'll never leave your side, no matter what happens."

  His words soothed my soul, and I was captivated to smile as I embraced him. "Thank you, Liozel. You've always been there for me, and I couldn't ask for a better brother."

  A shadow loomed over me while I knelt. I looked up to see Loa staring down at me. Her eyes were tired, but they held a glint of curiosity. "Why are you crying? Are you in pain?"

  "It's nothing," I replied, my voice muffled against Liozel's fur. "I'm just… overwhelmed by everything."

  "Overwhelmed?" Loa repeated, her brows knitting together. "Toughen up."

  I felt a pang of annoyance, but I swallowed it down and tried to maintain my composure. "I'm sorry, Loa," I said, wiping away my tears with my hand. "You're right. I'm just not used to feeling this way."

  Loa's gaze softened, and she sighed. "Listen, I know it's been hard for you." Her gaze trailed off. I followed her line of sight, and it seemed she had forgotten how to speak, her mouth agape as she peered at GamaGen like she had short-circuited.

  GamaGen was perched atop a nearby branch and bowed in greeting. "Do not be afraid, Miss Loa. I am merely here to offer guidance to our friend, KiAera."

  Loa snapped out of it and crossed her arms, her voice still cold and detached. "Well, then tear her free from Mina and get this over with. She can't be sitting around crying while Jalkra is still on the loose."

  GamaGen's eyes crinkled, and he chuckled softly. "I'm afraid it's not quite that simple, Miss Loa. The process of separating two souls is delicate, and it must be done with care."

  Loa rolled her eyes. "Fine, do whatever you have to do, but just hurry up. We can't afford to waste any more time." With that, she turned away, muttering under her breath. I noticed the tremble in her form as she walked off.

  GamaGen watched her go, then turned to me, his expression sympathetic. "As I was saying, you must convince Mina to accept the separation. She won't do so willingly, but if you can help her see that it's what's best, she may be more inclined to listen. That said, I don't want to rush into anything without considering all the possibilities."

  "Why are you so insistent on separating us?" I asked, feeling a surge of defiance. "Can't we just stay like this?"

  "You know as well as I that you cannot remain in this state indefinitely," his voice held no edge. "It is only a matter of time before the strain becomes too great, and you will both lose your minds. You must make a choice now, KiAera."

  That was the final blow—sharper than any rebuttal I could muster. The ripples inside me, already disturbed, finally fractured. I had no argument against GamaGen’s claim. And strangely, neither did Mina. Though she’d spent little time with him, even she had no reason to distrust his wisdom.

  "I need a moment to consider this," I said at last. Neither of us wished harm upon the other. Mina had to accept that separation meant we would be weaker on our own—for a time. Somehow, that thought was enough to settle me, if only slightly.

  "Oath Orselith see's KiAera. Oath's happy to see her." The familiar voice tugged at my attention.

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  Creature: Oath Orselith

  — Species: Osseod

  — Faux Nym: [Oath]

  — Sobriquet: "Giant Odd Crystal Mouse"

  — Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  — Variance: [Abnormal]

  — APU: [22,540] Particle Units

  — Attributes: [Ore]

  — Faction: [Anomalies], [Chimera Crew]

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  My gaze shifted to the massive crystal mouse waddling delicately between the trees. She was our Oath, her ankylo-like tail swaying so enthusiastically that it clipped a crystalline trunk, shattering it on impact.

  "Glad to see you again, Oath," I said, meeting her halfway while cradling Liozel.

  Oath purred and nuzzled her head against my shoulder. She then did the same to Liozel, the infant tyranno-kitten giggling when their noses touched.

  "That tickles, Oath," Liozel said, giving her head a playful lick.

  Oath beamed and returned the gesture. My heart warmed as I stifled a laugh, watching Liozel crinkle his face before smoothing his reddish fur and wiping it against my shirt.

  "Hey—quit that! I just made this," I said, teasing more than scolding.

  "Oath's fault," came his muffled reply.

  Oath blinked, but kept smiling. "Oath did no wrong."

  I eyed her. "You recognize us?"

  When I said that, Oath simply tilted her head, as darling as ever. "KiAera is KiAera. But feels like Mina too. Liozel not egg anymore. Cute little one now."

  "Precisely," Liozel said, leaning forward in my arms to reach for her. "I want to ride on her back."

  I ran a hand through his hair. "Not only would that be rude—you're perfectly fine in my arms."

  Oath let out a soft chirring sound, somewhere between a purr and a coo, then gently laid herself down beside us, her massive crystal body casting fractal light across the clearing. She made no complaint about Liozel's request. If anything, her eyes seemed to shimmer with amused indulgence.

  "I think she's letting you ride her anyway," I muttered, shaking my head. I went ahead and placed him on the ground.

  Liozel beamed and scrambled up with the grace of a kitten who thought he was invincible. He wobbled, arms out for balance as Oath patiently adjusted her body to compensate for his weight. He sat like a princeling upon her back, legs tucked under, tail flicking with quiet pride.

  "Commander Liozel," he declared, "ready for patrol!"

  That finally made me laugh. Not the brittle kind I'd been giving lately. It was like breathing again after being underwater for too long. I watched as Oath wiggled her stony haunches with a rumble that might've been her version of laughter.

  GamaGen tilted his head slightly. "That child's presence… still surprises me."

  "You're not the only one," I said.

  GamaGen chuckled low in his throat. "Ah, but young Liozel is growing into himself quite well. He reminds me of the dreamers from before the Sundering. They were bold and sweet."

  Liozel blinked up at him. "What's the Sundering?"

  "Another tale," GamaGen said, his dark plumage bristling slightly with age-old memory. "One I'll tell when you've earned your wings."

  "I don't want wings," Liozel said with a slight frown. "I want claws."

  "You'll want both someday," GamaGen replied dryly. "All worthy beings do."

  My emotions had scattered as I resonated with what he had said. I knelt, staying vigilant as Liozel rode atop Oath's back with a triumphant little chirp, and watched the Orselith's tail sway with care this time. She was trying to be extra delicate now. She always tried. Maybe we all were.

  GamaGen turned his gaze to the branches above, then shifted. "I am not the only presence stirred by your questions, KiAera."

  "Wait—what?" I stood sharply, suddenly tense again. "You mean someone's watching us?"

  "Not watching," he said slowly. "Approaching."

  That's when a faint shimmering wind brushed through the clearing. The trees gave a low creak, and a strange scent—something like metal and moonlight—coated the back of my tongue.

  Liozel, likely sensing the tension as well, wrapped his arms around Oath's ear. "What's that?"

  I stepped forward, pulling him gently off Oath's back. "Stay close, alright?"

  My ears pricked up on their own, twitching with some primitive alarm. Mina stirred inside me. Her complicated ache of everything she'd buried rushed to the surface like a scalding spring. I staggered, clutching my chest as if to hold the whole fusion from ripping.

  "He's here."

  I didn't need her to say his name. I knew it.

  The trees parted as someone crimson-horned emerged from the woods without permission. Gold-lined eyes. A grin that didn't belong on something that sentient.

  Of all things, it had to be Jalkra.

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  Creature: Minokaurbo

  — Species: Oni

  — Faux Nym: [Jalkra]

  — Title: "Crimson Bull", "Warlord"

  — Sobriquet: "Oni Minotaur"

  — Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  — Variance: [Elite]

  — APU: [404,210] Particle Units

  — Attributes: [Brawl], [Chaos]

  — Faction: [Aggressor], [Chaos Scion]

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  Behind him floated a crystalline carriage, its wheels not quite touching the ground. A gentle chant lingered around its surface. Pzion's work. Inside, swathed in silks and sighing breath, sat a woman so radiant it almost hurt to look at her. Her horns curled delicately. Her skin, flushed from exertion, seemed carved from dusk and honey.

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  Creature: Minokaurbo

  — Species: Oni

  — Faux Nym: [Diantha]

  — Title: "Merchant of DreaGoth"

  — Sobriquet: "Oni Minotaur"

  — Evolution Stage: [Emergent]

  — Variance: [Elite]

  — APU: [160,160] Particle Units

  — Attributes: [Brawl], [Cryptic]

  — Faction: [Merchant], [Jalkra Clan]

  ??? ??? // ??? ???

  Mina stirred violently within me at the sight of her. "Diantha…?"

  It wasn't me. My mouth moved, but the words were hers.

  "KiAera…" Mina's voice trembled in our shared mind. I felt her heart rise against my ribs. "That's her… That's my sister…"

  When my gaze met hers, Diantha gasped and almost stumbled forward. Pzion barely caught her arm before she could fall. "She's still… by the omegas… she's here. Mina—!"

  I lurched as I made my move. It was like opening a door inside myself and being pulled halfway through.

  "I don't know what to say," I managed, choking on the way I hated Diantha. The way she'd—Mina—hated her. Loved her. Missed her.

  I barely held myself together.

  Mina tried to say something. She couldn't, but she just... watched through me. And I let her.

  "You came all this way with a child inside you...? Why?"

  "Well then," Jalkra said, placing himself between us. "So this vessel still walks after DreaGoth's little nightmare." His gaze dipped slightly. "KiAera… wasn't it?"

  I nodded, swallowing the heat rising in my throat. "You weren't invited here."

  "Hm? But Mina," he added.

  Something in my core twisted. The way he said her name. Like it was still his to shape. I didn't reply, yet behind me, GamaGen dropped lightly from his branch. The sound was soft, but Jalkra turned.

  His gaze slid over the crow with a subtle drop in expression. Amusement evaporated and for the first time, I saw something flicker in Jalkra's eyes that hadn't been there before. It was quick. But it was fear.

  He bowed slightly. "So. You're the legendary GamaGen."

  GamaGen chuckled. It was dry, not impolite. "And you're the young warlord who carves the world in his name."

  Neither moved. No wind stirred.

  "Good company," Jalkra said coolly. "I brought none here to threaten."

  "I know," GamaGen answered. "You brought her." He flicked a wing toward the carriage.

  "Sincerely Lord GamaGen, she wanted to see Mina."

  My body stiffened, but it wasn't out of suspicion. It was something far stranger. Because when Diantha stepped down from the carriage, hand held by Pzion, I felt her and the unborn little one.

  And darn, it was not just me. Inside me, Mina screamed.

  "MINA—!" I cursed the word out as the connection launched itself. Like tectonic plates slipping under each other. Pain flared across my back and through my limbs as Mina clawed against the tether keeping us together. Not to break free—no.

  She wanted control.