Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

“Choo!”

The tiny, high-pitched sound that sounded within the walls of Dama's cabin was almost too adorable to be real. The culprit, a shivering Giona, wrapped in a blanket as she sat at the table.

Tsubasa's ears perked up at the sound, before pulling back. “That’s what ya get for standing outside with just a dress. You have to be more aware…” She said, pouring some tea into two clay cups, which were both adorned with Enohayen markings. “Here you go, dear.”

Tsubasa placed a piping-hot cup of tea in front of Giona as she herself went about sipping her cup.

Sniffling the drop of snot that started to peek out from her nose, Giona looked down at her tea, being hit with a face full of steam in the process.

Opening her eyes back up, she could see the golden liquid below was flecked with tiny chamomile flowers, their petals gently swirling upon the surface.

A hint of honey glistened at the surface, adding a noticeable swirl. Grasping the cup with both hands, Giona took a moment to let the warmth seep into her fingers before indulging.

As she took her first sip, she felt the calming blend spread through her entire being, easing the tickles within her nose and making the cold dissipate.

Before Giona knew it, a sense of tranquility and peace had enveloped the cabin’s atmosphere. Taking another sip of her tea, her eyes eventually wandered over to her granny.

Tsubasa sat across from her, poised and serene, her back straight and her movements graceful. She held her teacup with an elegance that seemed regal, her slender fingers wrapping around the cup as her non-dominant hand served as a platter for the cup to rest on. The flickering light from the fireplace behind her cast a soft, golden glow, illuminating her silvery hair and ebony skin, which only further complimented her beauty.

“Granny Chewbasa… You are…so pretty…” Giona said, mesmerized by her grandmother figure's elegance.

Tsubasa's ears twitched in response, opening her deep and knowing eyes as she gratefully smiled. “Why thank you for the compliment, dear, I really do appreciate that. You're quite beautiful yourself, you know.” She remarked, taking another sip.

“Beautiful?”

“Mhm, do you know what it means?”

“Yes ma'am… I do…” Giona said as she couldn't help the hesitation she felt creeping out from her voice. “But, me…beautiful?”

Tsubasa replied with an unconcerned chuckle. “Indeed you are, dear. Seems Dama doesn't give you near enough compliments as he should, being all alone up here with you and all. I guarantee, if the folks down in Enohay Village caught sight of you, you'd be the talk of the town for months!”

Finishing her cup of tea, Tsubasa's eyes sneakily lowered to Giona’s chest, which was quite ample for her age. “Especially with how fast you're growing. You already have the chest of a young adult, though just below the average full grown woman, and showing no signs of stopping to boot… Such genetics would get her attention from both boys and girls, for differing reasons though…”

Giona noticed Tsubasa’s stare and cupped both breasts. “Is…something wrong, Granny?”

Tsubasa spat out some tea in response to being caught. “Eh? Oh, no, nothing's wrong sweetie!”

“But, you were staring… Dama does too.” Giona commented, touching her chin as she remembered the few times she caught Dama doing the same thing. "He even says the same thing…”

“I-Is that so… Nevermind that,” Tsubasa said as she waved her hand casually, expressing her hope in steering the conversation in a different direction, “let's answer your question about the stars!” She half-heartedly laughed, barely being able to hide the nervous tremors within them.

"Really!?"

Though, it was enough, as Tsubasa opened her eyes to an enthralled Giona. Leaning forward, her intrigue was practically exuding from her focused stare, eyes sparkling with anticipation, whilst still sipping her tea.

Giona's giddy reaction softened the tension of embarrassment on Tsubasa's face almost immediately. When Giona lowered her cup and revealed a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts, Tsubasa couldn't help the same smile etching itself onto her own face.

As the wave of warmth and comfort crashed over Tsubasa, making her shoulders droop in relaxation, she cleared her throat and began the age-old folk tale of ‘The Star of Desires.’

“Once upon a time, the world was torn apart by a devastating war: The Holy Catalyst War. You're familiar with ‘Tales of the Cataclysm', no?

“Yes! It is my favorittess book!”

“Alright, then you should remember that it is said this ruinous conflict saw every race—humans, elves, celestials, devils, and others—engaged in a brutal struggle. For what? We still don't know.

The land was scorched, and the skies were filled with nothing but smoke and sorrow, blocking out even the brightest star in our sky—the sun. Darkness and Despair blanketed the land.

However, amongst the chaos rose a man named Adam Godson, known for his unwavering strength and determination for peace. With a heart full of hope, he embarked on a journey to unite the warring races.

Through arduous diplomacy, countless battles and self-sacrifice, Adam managed to forge fragile, yet standing alliances. His main weapon throughout all this wasn't his sword though, it was his dreams and words that spoke of a future where different races could coexist, a world where the strengths of each could build a better tomorrow. This brought him many allies by his side, including his most trusted, and soon to be more, ally—Giona Evelyn Tamaki.

With their help, Adam defeated a being that was stated to be Evil Incarnate, The Darkest One, who is thought to have started the war in the first place, and sealed those who followed in its ideology away in their own separate realms.

His tireless efforts finally started to bear fruit. The warring factions, exhausted and moved by Adam's vision, laid down their arms. The Holy Catalyst War came to an end, and a tentative peace settled over the land once more, as so did the light from the sky bound stars. This was the birth of Eranovum.

Unfortunately, the scars of the war ran deep. The land, marred by and soaked in years of mortal misery, gave birth to monstrous creatures that rampaged across Eranovum, threatening the newfound peace.

Adam, now older and weary from his struggles, continued to fight these new threats with his allies. But he knew his time was limited.

As he lay on his deathbed, surrounded by his four sons, only daughter, and the leaders he once united, he whispered a weak, but determined final plea to the gods.

As if a power that rivaled the Darkest One was listening, moved by Adam's selflessness and unwavering spirit, it granted his wish. Once his mortal life faded, Adam ascended to the heavens. There, he was transformed into the star group we call ‘Adam's Constellation’, with the biggest star in the center glowing a magnificent blue at night.

From that moment on, whenever anyone gazed up at the stars, the gods that honored Adam would show his followers an image of their deepest desire. This was not just to fulfill wishes, but to inspire and guide the people of the world, reminding them of what they could achieve and what they truly yearned for.

If a farmer looked up, he might see his fields thriving with bountiful crops. If a warrior glanced at the stars, he might see a vision of peace and camaraderie. A child might see their happy families, and a healer might see a world free of suffering. Each vision was a reflection of their heart's truest desire, a guiding light to strive towards.

And so, Adam's Constellation became the very symbol he stood for when he was alive: of hope and inspiration.

Now, even in their darkest times, people would look up to the heavens, seeking comfort, knowing that Adam's spirit was watching over them, showing and guiding them to their bright futures, like he did centuries ago…”

Taking a much deserved deep breath, Tsubasa laid her hands upon the table as she prepared to bring her story-time to an end. “If nothing else, Giona, I want you to take this from the tale: every person—past, present, future, dead, or alive—we're connected to the stars thanks to the self-sacrifice of our Hero of Humanity, who once united all of us.”

Taking a short moment to reflect and look up at the ceiling, Tsubasa continued. “It's thanks to that connection we're never truly far away from our loved ones. Dama may have left a day ago, but all you need to do is look up at the stars, and he'll be right by your side. Just like when I look up and see the faces of my kinsmen… I don’t know where they are, but knowing they're either out there somewhere, or up in the sky with Adam, soothes me.”

As her grandmother figure finished, Giona's reaction was nothing but of pure awe. For a moment, she remained still, holding her breath, as if the very tale held her in a spell of enchantment.

Her wide eyes glistened with a newfound appreciation from the narrative. The room itself felt to her it was holding its breath with her.

Slowly, a broad smile spread across her face, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Her heart swelled with pride and admiration for the Hero of Humanity, Adam. Surprisingly, she also felt a deeper connection to Giona Tamaki in the tale.

Giona leaned back slightly, her grip on the edge of her table relaxing. She glanced out the window, spotting Adam’s Constellation once more as she thought about the tale.

Turning her gaze back to Tsubasa, she saw the affection and wisdom in her eyes, and her smile grew even brighter. "That was amazing, Granny!" Giona exclaimed, her voice bursting with awe, gratitude and wonder, all three palpable to Tsubasa.

“I'm glad you like that old folktale, it's not only one of my favorites, but also one of Dama's you know.” Tsubasa said while closing her eyes, reminiscing of the days she used to tell Dama the tale on repeat, watching as his eyes matched Giona's in innocent amazement.

It was through that moment of remembrance that a long forgotten bridge between Tsubasa’s past and present appeared. A bridge that led to a cherished memory of hers—her own mother telling her the very same tale.

Her warm smile, her gentle voice, her elegant storytelling—Tsubasa could remember it all like it was yesterday. Before she knew it, Tsubasa was on her mother’s lap once again, completely swept away by the waves of memories that have come crashing back.

“Granny?” Giona uttered, her voice coming out filled with worry, snapping Tsubasa out of her trip down memory lane.

Just before Tsubasa asked why Giona sounded so distressed, the reason hit her, or rather, landed on her. Tears that were streaming down her cheeks started to drop onto her hands. “O-Oh my!” Tsubasa blurted out as she desperately tried to wipe the tears away. “Sorry, dear, I’m alright. Nothing’s wrong, just remembering some precious memories I’ve made during my long life…”

Opening her eyes back up as she finished, Tsubasa was shocked to find Giona nowhere to be found—that was until she felt Giona's arms wrap around her shoulders.

“Granny Chewbasa…thank you… I wuv you…” Giona gently whispered, resting her chin on Tsubasa’s fluffy head as she hugged her tighter.

A mixture of gratitude, joy, and nostalgia soon flooded Tsubasa’s heart to the point of bursting, causing her stream of tears to being anew. “No, thank you, sweetie…” she said, lovingly rubbing one of Giona's cheeks.

As the two exchanged smiles, joyful laughs, and questions late into the night, Giona could tell that this moment in particular was different, it was precious to her. She could only think of one word that had eluded her for so long: “Family…”

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Next: (Chapter 31) The Shadowy Figure