Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

“It’s weird to admit, but I regularly think how my life would have gone if you two never came to be, you know?” Dama said out of the blue, his voice brimming with nostalgia and a hint of an age-old curiosity. “Though, it wasn’t like you guys weren’t there from the start. I remember when you two were just the projects of my mother, she always did like stitching and making stuffed animals for the village kids. But, when it came to you two, she said you were her biggest achievements, that you guys were something special.”

“I remember spending most of my time studying you two, trying to figure out why my mom said that. I would rub, poke, pull, punch, kick, bite, everything a three year old could do to something. Yet, you guys just sat there with no response.” Dama uttered through chuckles, rubbing his head out of embarrassment realizing how much of a pest he was back then. “Though, why would it be any different, you guys weren’t ‘alive’ at that point. Not long after, my little sister, Jula, was born. She loved you guys, more than anything…”

Dama paused for a long time, contemplating his next words. “Five years later, that…that demonic plague came, and took so many people in Enohay Village… Then mother got sick too. Father was always hyper and happy to work, but when mother fell ill, he started to work day-and-night to care for mother at Enohay’s sick room, play with Jula and I, and help all the other men build more houses to quarantine the infected. I’d imagine work turned from something he enjoyed, to something he dreaded.”

Pushing his hand, and therefore, his hair up, Dama revealed a trembling smile. “It got to the point I essentially had to take care of my little sister, maybe that’s why it hasn’t been hard taking care of Giona, heh…”

Dama’s smile slowly turned upside-down as he continued. “Finally, that day came—Mr. Koul came to our cabin one morning, I couldn’t see his face…and he said something to father. Next thing I knew, father had bolted out of the house. Jula started chasing after him, but Mr. Koul stopped her and just hugged her. I don’t know how or why, but at that moment, I just knew my mother wasn’t with us anymore…”

Nina and Mumu exchanged glances before getting closer to Dama, realizing his current vulnerability. Dama took a deep breath, feeling his two most trusted companions with him gave him the strength to keep letting it out. “Father was never the same after that, though he tried his best. Day after day, I could tell both his body and mind was being chipped away at—whether from work or grief, I couldn’t tell. Could have been both.”

“Then he too got sick, and eventually, both me and Jula fell ill as well. The pain was excruciating. My muscles burned like I was in a hearth. My throat became unbearably coarse, something that only got worse with the constant vomit that forced its way out, burning my throat even more.” Dama started to tear up, choking on his next words. “H-However, nothing was more painful than hearing my little sister’s cries—and being unable to comfort her.”

Lowering his head even more to hide his tears, Dama felt that his will to not bawl was hanging by a thread. “Her body was so brittle, and painful red sores quickly spread on her body. Those red sores then turned black, which was basically the sign that it was too late. I heard the adults talk about amputation, but due to my sister’s young age, she…she would have likely…” his words trailed off, unable to speak the next word.

Dama then looked to his right shoulder, still being able to faintly feel his right arm—before the red sores appeared that is. “In the end, it was only me and father. When my symptoms started to recede after my amputation, my father requested for me to go back to the cabin. He entrusted me to Mr. Koul from that day on. As Mr. Koul walked me out, I remember how I just couldn't take my gaze off my dad, even when the door closed. Next thing I remember, I was running and sobbing uncontrollably to our cabin, with Mr. Koul on my tail. I burst into the cabin and hugged you two, bawling my eyes out.”

Taking another deep breath, Dama looked back up to his two companions and genuinely smiled, despite the tears. “It was then, against all odds, I felt as if someone hugged me back with the softest blanket ever. I didn't even question it at first, only when I heard Mr. Koul come in and utter ‘What the hell?’ did I come back to my senses. There, you two were: Nina, coiled around me, and Mumu, hugging the both of us.”

“That night, you guys came alive, and have been with me ever since. I'm glad too, as even my father was gone by morning. It was only because you guys existed that the adults, mainly Granny Tsu, decided it was alright for me to keep living in that cabin of ours. I thought leaving it would be a disservice to my family…”

Finally, Dama looked down at his left hand, reminiscing about that golden aura he couldn't wait to ask Okun about. “To think if I wasn't born with this Soulful Technique, I wouldn't have you guys by my side—something I honestly can't imagine. Thank you guys for being there, truly.”

Silence took hold of the atmosphere once more, with the only noise being from the feast still going on behind them. While Dama continued to stare at his hand, Mumu and Nina slowly looked at each other, as if lost for words.

Unbeknownst to outside ears, Mumu and Nina weren't just staring at each other—their locked gaze held within it a torrent of words for only each other to understand.

After a little while, both of them smiled and nodded to each other, as if agreeing on something important.

Nina began to nudge Dama's face with her own, causing the boy to snap back and giggle a little. Then, using her flexible tail, she gently wiped the few tears that trickled down his face.

Next, Dama felt Mumu nudge his arm with his oversized paw. Within was a small bundle of rice from Dama's plate, a gesture that confused Dama. “Rice? What's this about, Mumu?” he said while tilting his head, studying Mumu's rather expressive smile.

Mumu brought the bundle of rice closer to Dama's face in response, showing that he wanted to feed the boy. Realizing this, Dama smiled, but quickly shook his head.

“Mumu, I’m not a little kid anymore.” Dama said, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. Despite his words, he couldn’t help but appreciate the bear’s sentiment.

It was something Mumu had always done, ever since he had first come to life—trying to feed him, care for him, as if he were still the small child who needed that kind of attention.

Picking up his own bundle of rice, Dama nodded with confidence to Mumu. “I may be scrawny for my age, but the fact I've taken this journey proves I have what it takes to grow up and be a man! Just like Mr. Koul, Liam, Gus, and Ryuu! I can't be doted on forever.”

Dama then looked down at the bundle of rice in his hand. Remembering the faces of his family, his eyes filled with determination, knowing they wouldn't want him to be chained to the past, but to live and become the best man he could be. “This journey is the place to prove such a thing!” he thought as he clenched the rice.

Raising his hand to the full moon, Dama shouted. “That’s why, here and now, I declare that I'll become a man by the time I come back to Enohay!” he declared out into the night sky as he ceremoniously shoved the bundle of rice into his mouth.

Unfortunately, in his attempt to prove his independence, he ended up swallowing the rice wrong—ruining the moment.

His eyes widened as he felt it go down the wrong pipe. Within seconds, he was coughing uncontrollably, his hand clutching at his chest as he struggled to clear his throat.

Just as the coughing fit threatened to overtake him, he heard a voice, a girl’s voice, soft but clear, from right behind him. “Here.” she said, and Dama noticed a cup of water being offered from over his shoulder.

He gratefully accepted it, not even looking up as he hurriedly drank the water, gulping it down to soothe the irritation in his throat.

The fresh water worked its magic, and his coughing began to subside. Dama took a deep breath, finally able to catch his breath. Only then did he look up to see who had helped him.

Standing right behind him, with a slightly amused expression on her face, was Kaede. Her dark eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and mischief as she watched him recover, and a teasing smile played on her lips.

“Last time I checked, men don't choke like that~!”

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Next: (Chapter 49) Dama and Kaede