Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

As Ryuu led Koul, Liam, Gus, and Dama through the snow-covered village, passing by numerous guards distributing the food they brought along the way, they approached a modest and sturdy-looking house. Each of the men carried satchels, containing supplies that they left with Dorsey, over their shoulders.

“No way… Is this what I think it is, Junior?” Koul said as he gazed at the house, a hint of nostalgia within his voice.

“Ah, looks like you picked up Sir Domitius’ speech, huh?” Ryuu remarked. “But, yes, that is my house we're going to. Looks like you've been here before. I think we have enough space to quarter all four of you.”

“We?” Liam questioned.

“You'll see.” Ryuu responded before stopping, squinting as he adopted a confused expression. “What the…?”

Before Koul could ask, he would catch the most likely subject of Ryuu’s attention.

Standing at the front, just outside the door, was a woman bundled in warm, layered clothes. Her graying, black hair was neatly tied back, and her eyes, sharp with age, looked out into the distance.

Ryuu sighed, a tinge of annoyance flaring up in his voice, though overshadowed by an overprotective tone. “Jeez…” he muttered under his breath while running up to the figure.

Noticing Ryuu coming her way in the corner of her vision, the woman's eyes softened when they landed on him. “Ryuu!” she called out, her voice carrying a mix of relief and affection. She hurried over to meet him halfway, her steps quick despite her age.

“Mother, what did I say about standing in the co—Gah!” Ryuu started to complain, only to be interrupted by the woman crashing into him, almost toppling him over.

Embracing Ryuu in a bear hug, the woman's face lit up with a warm, loving smile. "My baby! How’s guard duty been? You’re not catching a cold, are you?" she fussed, brushing snow off his shoulders and patting down his coat as if he were still a boy returning from play.

Ryuu coughed, still reeling from the tackle to his ribs before bending down slightly to her height. "I’m fine, Mother. The duty’s been as it always has been—cold, but nothing I can’t handle."

She gave him an approving nod, but her attention quickly shifted to the group standing behind him. Her brow furrowed with curiosity as she studied each one. "And who are these fine gentlemen you’ve brought with y—!?" she began to ask, but then her eyes landed on Koul, and her expression shifted from curiosity to surprise.

Her mouth fell open slightly as she squinted at Koul, her mind racing back through the years. "Wait a moment… I know you," she said, her voice filled with sudden recognition, "you’re Himon, aren’t you? From Enohay Village! It’s been nearly two decades since I last saw you!" Her eyes widened in amazement, as if she couldn't quite believe the passage of time.

Koul, equally surprised, gave her a warm smile as he walked up to her. "Aye, it’s me, alright," he said, nodding in recognition, “you’ve got a good memory, Imke. It has been quite some time."

Imke, who was the same age as Koul—forty-two—reached out, taking his free hand in both of hers. "I remember when you first came to our village all those years ago. You were so young back then, and now look at you!" Her eyes sparkled with fondness as she took in his weathered face and the goatee that had grown in over the years. “I wish time was as graceful to me as it was to you!”

Koul chuckled, feeling a mixture of nostalgia and warmth at the unexpected reunion. "Oh come on, don't go spinnin’ tales on me! You looked lovely then, and you still look lovely now. Time has given you such a mature grace, ya know?” Time has a way of sneaking up on us, doesn’t it?"

Imke nodded, her smile never fading. "Why thank you, Himon. It really is good to see you again.” she said before looking over his shoulder. “And these fine men you’ve brought with you, they must be friends of yours?"

"Yes, they are! The blonde gentleman is Liam, the gloomy looking one is Gus, and then there's our main man, Dama!" Koul confirmed.

Going up to each one, Imke greeted them warmly with a handshake and hug. While Liam graciously accepted, Gus was reluctant, going for a one-arm hug.

When Imke got to Dama, he dropped his satchel and raised his hand for a handshake, his face sparkling with youthful respect to Imke. “Hello, Ms. Imke! It's nice to meet you!”

His high voice, small stature, and delicate features, all of it practically screamed “Protect me!” to Imke's motherly instincts. Overwhelmed by adoration, Imke squealed as she hugged him tightly to her chest. “So cuuuuute~!!”

“Just like Ms. Alder…” Dama thought, feeling like a toy as Imke twirled with him in her arms.

Still giggling from Dama's cuteness, Imke heard the distinct crunch of snow coming her way. Opening her eyes to greet whoever it was, she paused in shock to see Mumu towering over her.

Staring at each other for a moment, Mumu then took Imke in his own arms for a hug as well. Despite her confusion, Imke welcomed the hug eagerly. “Oh my! And just who is this cute bear, Koul?”

“His name is Mumu!” Koul shouted while chuckling at the sight. “He's sorta like a guardian to Dama. He’s most likely responding to your giddiness over the boy!”

“Well, nice to meet you, Mumu!” Imke said as she freed her hands to hug Mumu back.

Dama himself eventually freed his head from being sandwiched between Imke's chest and Mumu. Taking a much needed breath, he smiled as he added on. “He also has a sister named Nina, who should be around here somewhere…” he said before twisting and turning to find his companion. The attempt bore no fruit however, giving way for worry to seep into Dama’s conscious.

An intrigued Imke on the other hand noticed a shadow loom over her. Looking up, her smile grew. “Is she a fox by any chance?”

“Yeah, she is! How did you know, Ms. Imke?” Dama said, looking up at where Imke was looking. Though, he could only see the underside of Mumu's snout—that was until Mumu lowered his head to look at Dama, allowing for Dama to see Nina peeking from above Mumu's head, who was hanging on her brother's shoulders and back.

“There you are, Nina! What are you doing on Mumu's head like that?” Dama laughed out in a playful manner, causing Nina to wag her tail and smile.

Ryuu, watching the exchange with a small, but fond smile, finally spoke up. "Mother, I was wondering if we could let them rest here for the time being. They’ve had a long journey here to deliver food to us. In fact, the chief has decided to make a feast in their honor because of it."

Imke looked over her own shoulders, a spark of excitement shining within her eyes. “A feast you say!? That sounds wonderful! Of course they can rest here! They already had my permission the second I saw Himon. Please, gentlemen, make yourselves at home! It’s been too long since we’ve had any visitors from Enohay, so I’m glad to provide a place to stay.”

“Really?” Dama said, his voice almost cracking from sheer gratefulness. “Thank you, Ms. Imke! Come on Mumu and Nina, lets get you guys out of the snow!”

Mumu nodded in response and released his hug, following Dama as the boy ran up to the house with Nina.

Koul and Imke chuckled fondly seeing Dama simply being a child, with the former throwing his bag towards Liam. “You boys head inside too, I got some serious catching up to do.”

Catching the satchel with ease, Liam nodded. “Roger! Don’t stay out in the cold for too long now!”

“Why don’t you show them the spare room we have, my little darling?” Imke added on as she ran up and hugged Ryuu once more.

“Yes ma’am…” Ryuu said, his tone annoyed, yet his face betraying his real feelings of happiness at seeing his mother so happy. “They haven’t met for two decades, yet they talk as if they’re close friends. I haven’t seen my mother with this much pep in her step ever since my father never came home from that expedition… Thanks, Mr. Koul…” he thought as he returned his mother’s hug, leading Imke to hug him tighter.

Oy, Junior!” Koul shouted, snapping Ryuu out of his reverie and causing the mother-son pair to break their hug. “Come back as soon as possible after yer done, alright? I also wanna talk with you for a little bit, if you don’t mind of course!”

Shocked at first, Ryuu nodded as he started walking inside the house. “Will do, Mr. Koul. Liam, Gus, come with me, I’ll show you to the guest room.” An invitation Liam, and especially Gus, couldn’t refuse as they followed Ryuu up the steps and into the house.

Entering the front door led the men into a central living area that served as the heart of the home. The living room was modest in size, with low wooden beams crossing the ceiling, adding to the cozy, intimate atmosphere. The walls were lined with wooden panels, polished to a soft sheen over the years, and adorned with a few simple, hand-carved decorations that reflected the village's traditions.

At the far end of the living area, a large stone hearth dominated the space. The men could see that Dama was already there, sitting quietly in front of the fire. The boy was silhouetted against the flames, his small frame outlined in the flickering light just like Mumu and Nina, who snuggled beside him.

Numerous medals and various trophies of honor could be seen mounted either on the hearth itself, or the adjacent walls. A well-worn rug, woven with earthy colored leather, covered the wooden floor in front of the hearth.

Chairs and a small table were arranged nearby, offering a place to sit and relax. The table held a few handcrafted mugs and a teapot, filled with warm tea, most likely for Ryuu.

To the right and corner of the living area was the small kitchen. It was a functional space, with a simple wooden counter and open shelves that held various pots, pans, and cutlery.

The smell of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling mixed with the lingering scent of wood smoke, creating a comforting, homey aroma. A candle burned above what seemed to be a sink, casting a gentle glow over the space.

Finally, there were three bedrooms accessible from the living area through low doorways, each with a simple wooden door. One to the left, one to the right, and one to the back of the house.

Heading straight for the door leading into the back of the house, Ryuu opened it to reveal the guest bedroom. “Here's where you guys will most likely stay.”

Walking inside, Liam couldn't help the shock that crossed his face, as the room was already prepared for visitors like him. It was furnished with two beds, each covered in warm, handmade blankets. A small table stood between the beds, holding a lit candle and a pitcher for water.

The window in this room provided a view of the snowy landscape outside, offering a peaceful, serene atmosphere for rest, despite its origin. A soft rug on the floor and a small shelf with a few books and trinkets finished the room.

“Wow, color me impressed!” Liam exclaimed while putting down the satchels he carried. Looking around for a bit, he went over to the shelf, letting his intrigue as to what books he could find pull him along.

Gus immediately flopped on one of the beds, his eyes already halfway shut from drowsiness. “Holy crap, these beds are…” he yawned while feeling the cozy springiness of the bed, “…super good…”

In only a matter of seconds, Gus was out like a light, his low snores periodically filling the room.

“Well, glad to see you guys are happy with the room.” Ryuu remarked after seeing Gus’ impressive display to fall asleep that fast.

Liam took a book off the shelf and opened its pages. “It's honestly perfect, thank you very much, Ryuu. On behalf of everyone I came with, we're grateful!”

With a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Ryuu turned to exit, leaving the two men to their own business. “Glad to hear it. Rest as much as you want, I'll come fetch you guys when the feast is ready.”

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Next: (Chapter 46) Briarstone’s Feast