Third day.
“Good morning, Kaeron!”
“Hi.” Kaeron nodded to Shiria as they both walked into the lobby. Shiria was wearing a blank t-shirt and comfy shorts, while Kaeron was dressed beautifully as always, with her chain accessories, her long coat, and her exposed midriff. She really did want to stick out, despite her cold, reserved personality.
Speaking of people who stuck out, Noir the quiet, gothic, and dark girl was kneeling and leaning against the fountain, holding her hands together as if she were praying.
“Hello Noir. What are you doing?” Shiria carelessly interrupted her. Kareon immediately put her hand on Shiria’s shoulder, pulling her backward gently.
“Do not disturb her, Shiria. She’s a follower of Nares.”
“I know her vocation,” Shiria replied, brushing her hand off, “so what? It’s not her fault she was born under his star, right?”
Kaeron widened her eyes a little, but then she shook her head and walked towards the elevator after a sigh. “Whatever. I’m going to eat breakfast.”
Shiria looked at Noir for a couple of seconds.
“Maybe it’s best I don’t disturb her, yes,” she thought, following along with Kaeron.
They reached the dining hall, every little group in its own world. Lilin and Azrael together at a faraway table, Alicia all by herself, Tsukasa and Servalia chatting together at another table, Youma and Lan’en looking at Shiria and Kaeron with a smile, “Hey, you two! Wanna have breakfast together?”
“Sure, why not?” Shiria smiled, sitting across the two, Kaeron followed suit. The little waiter-robot arrived and took orders, leaving immediately to bring the food as soon as possible.
After not so long, everyone was digging in.
“Did you have a good rest, Shiria?” Youma asked, carefully sipping on her cup of coffee.
“Yes I did!” Shiria chuckled, “How can you not with those comfy beds, after all?”
Kaeron remained quiet, her eyes scanning the room with her usual guarded expression.
“So, what will you do today?” Lan’en asked, stretching her back and arms as she munched on a cookie.
“I was thinking it might be nice to do something as a big group,” Shiria replied, “you know, that thing Servalia wanted to do in the theater.”
“Oh, right!” Lan’en nodded, “we should definitely do that.”
“What thing? What’s up?” Kaeron asked, leaning into the table with an elbow and holding her head.
“Servalia is a famous singer. She told me she wanted to do a concert at the theater if people were to come to listen to her,” Shiria explained to Kaeron.
“Oh yeah, she did tell me she sang and played...I didn’t know about her honestly,” Kaeron replied, sipping her glass of water while holding her apple on the other hand
“You always eat almost nothing at breakfast. Don’t you get hungry?” Lan’en pointed out.
Kaeron shrugged and straightened her back, “I like tasting the simplicity of life in the morning.”
“So? Would you come to listen to her, Kaeron?” Youma asked curiously, finishing her cup of coffee in a couple more gulps.
“I guess it’s something different to do. Honestly, we still have a week and a half and I’m already feeling bored. Why not?”
“Why, of course. All you do is stay in your room and read books, silly!” Shiria chuckled, shoving her elbow on Kaeron’s side.
“Well then! We’re already at four listeners! Servalia will be happy!” Lan’en clapped her hands, “Leave the advertising to me! I doubt Kaeron’s sad face or Youma’s overly calm voice will convince the others.”
Lan’en stood up without even finishing breakfast, walking over to every table to ask the same thing.
Meanwhile, Noir entered the dining hall, sitting at a far corner. She ordered a steamy cup of chocolate milk and a dark chocolate slice of cake. Shiria stared at her with interest.
“Was she still praying when you two got to the elevator?” Youma asked the two, setting aside her cup of coffee. She joined her hands, bringing them to her chin as she leaned into the table.
Stolen novel; please report.
“Yes, she was,” Kaeron was quick to reply, adding a judgmental sigh thereafter.
“She is a follower of Nares, correct? I don’t see her much around,” Youma says, “I wonder what got her to start praying at the fountain this morning. Alicia got here first at 7:00 AM and asked us the same thing I asked you just now.”
It was 9:12 AM. That meant Noir prayed for at least two hours.
“Who knows, probably something she does usually,” Shiria shrugged and stopped staring at her, “let’s just leave her alone. I doubt she will destroy the ship of whatever.”
“She doesn’t have any power to do so!”
Suddenly, Shiria heard a voice and looked at Kaeron’s right. Tsukasa sat down with the three of them, smiling as her tail gently swayed around, relaxed.
“What do you mean?” Youma asked the fox woman, who chuckled at her question.
“I have a power...I can read people’s strengths and weaknesses through ‘’gaps’’ in their souls. Noir has...many, many weaknesses and no powers.”
“What? She was born with Nares’ blessing and she wasn’t blessed by any ability?” Kaeron’s demeanor suddenly was less stare and cold, her tone genuinely curious.
“Apparently not!” Tsukasa snickered, “Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m getting too old! Haha!”
“How old are you miss?” Shiria asked the woman.
“I am 332 years old!”
Shiria’s mouth was immediately agape upon hearing that. “W-What?!”
“Demi-vulpes, Shiria,” Youma smiles softly at Shiria’s reaction, “they’re called kitsunes in the waning-sun federation. They live up to 500 years due to their genetic build.”
“Oh wow...that’s…that’s impressive!” Shiria smiled excitedly, “Don’t you get bored after so much time?”
“Eh... life gets stale after a while, yes,” Tsukasa bitterly smiled back, shrugging, “but as long as you find the right pleasures of life, you carry on.”
“Such as?”
Kaeron shook her head at Shiria’s question, “You’re way too innocent, Shiria.”
“I think it’s best for you to discover them by yourself, young girl, hahaha!” Tsukasa laughs at Kaeron’s remark, “So! I came here to discuss Servalia’s idea. Did Lan’en tell you yet?”
Youma nods, “we thought it’d be nice to listen to some live music.”
“It will, indeed, be very interesting!” Tsukasa chimed, “Okay then. I am glad we will be plenty already. Let’s hope everyone else agrees! The more, the merrier!”
Breakfast time was over and everyone was back in the lobby to let the robots clean and prepare for lunchtime.
Tsukasa, Servalia, Youma, Shiria, and Lan’en were in front of the elevator talking. Everyone else was heading to their specific destination of the morning.
“So? How many fans will I have? Haha!” Servalia chuckled. She held her hands together as she jumped slightly up and down with the tip of her toes. She was definitely excited.
“Well!” Lan’en crossed her arms triumphantly, “Everyone accepted! Except Noir. But that was expected.”
“What did she say?” Servalia asked as she looked with pity at Noir herself, who knelt at the fountain and went back to pray.
“That she has to pray for Nares’ salvation and some other gibberish,” Lan’en sighed, “whatever. She’s weird.”
“Yeah, I’m happy everyone else agreed!” Servalia smiles excitedly, “Now then, I will need two more days to rehearse and prepare everything.”
“Okay!” Shiria nods happily, “Can’t wait to hear you!”
“I’ll go to meditate,” Youma suddenly said, leaving the scene.
“Let’s go to the arcade Shiria!” Lan’en tugged Shiria’s shirt.
Tsukasa stood there, staring at Noir.
“Go ahead. I’ll catch up,” Shiria nodded, staring at the praying girl as well.
“Okay! Don’t make me wait! Hehe!”
The two stood there in silence, one looked contemplative, the other confused and worried.
You know,” Shiria mused, looking at Tsukasa, “I never imagined meeting someone who’s lived so long. It makes me wonder what I’ve missed in my life by being born so late…or what I’ll miss out on by dying so soon.”
Tsukasa seemed surprised by Shiria’s remark. She quickly shifted her gaze towards the girl, a bitter smile painted on her beautiful face, “there’s always something new to discover, no matter how long you’ve lived. Life has a way of surprising you, even after centuries."
“I wish I wasn’t human,” Shiria frowned, shrugging. By losing her memories, Shiria also lost everything she had experienced until now. How long would have she lived after the trip to the Elysium? Would she ever catch up on everything before dying satisfied? “I just hope I can get my memories back,” she added.
Tsukasa’s bitter smile deepened, her eyes briefly clouding with an emotion Shiria couldn’t quite place. From her lips, an imperceptible sigh escaped, “memories are a tricky thing. They have a way of returning when you least expect them, sometimes in ways you wouldn't imagine," she said softly, her tone almost wistful. “we hold onto them so tightly, but…we might find that losing them is not the worst thing that could happen.”
She paused, her gaze lingering on Shiria for just a moment longer than necessary, “but then again, not everyone is meant to be inhuman, Shiria. And not everyone is meant to remember.”
Shiria stares at Tsukasa’s puzzling expression for some time. Before she could open her mouth, Tsukasa chuckled and her smile came back, “Now go, Shiria. Do not make your friend wait.”
“Okay…”
Shiria left Tsukasa, her words lingering in her mind.
----------------------------------------
As soon as the kitsune made sure she was alone with the girl, she approached her slowly. She didn’t say anything at first, carefully kneeling beside her at the fountain as she stared at her lips, moving in silence as the girl spoke to Nares.
“Do you ever get tired of all the prayers to your god?”
The girl stopped. She didn’t lift her head or open her eyes. For a moment, Tsukasa feared she had angered the girl. Then, suddenly, she spoke. Her voice was low, barely audible, “I pray because I must. It’s the only way to find peace.”
Tsukasa crossed her arms, smiling after a dismissive sigh, “yet you seem restless.”
Noir’s shoulders tensed slightly, but she didn’t respond immediately. When she did, her voice was tinged with a sadness that Tsukasa hadn’t expected. “The peace I seek is not for myself, sly woman. It’s for others...for those who suffer. I have to protect myself from their contagious curse.”
“And who is it that suffers, Noir?” She asked her, her sharp eyes narrowing.
Noir’s hands tightened together, her white gloves tightening on her hands. “All the souls upon this vessel suffer the curse. But Nares guides me, and I must follow His will. For I will be spared by their curse.”
“So, you are saying we are cursed, Noir.”
The girl didn’t respond, she hung her head, holding her blank expression. Tsukasa wasn’t going to let her go so easily, however. So, she asked her one more question.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m26dxj0o4defo7ws517ho/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-dark-background-s-1228375980.png?rlkey=aud6x0792ou9o72j3syt5wapm&st=cg68ewai&raw=1]
“What is this curse, exactly?”
The girl’s red eyes raised once more, fixing themselves onto Tsukasa’s vulpine, sharp ones.
image [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hawyzyqfp1c08d1u2cetc/artist_missile_228-amazing-quality-very-aesthetic-absurdres-dark-background-s-2860751408.png?rlkey=6bpeujqhi0ddakl1ndqaihwr0&st=wk426i4z&raw=1]
“Death.”