Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

“Last time I checked, men don't choke like that~!” Kaede chuckled, her tone light but undeniably teasing.

Dama’s face flushed, his earlier thoughts of manhood and maturity now feeling like a distant dream. Lowering his head to avoid her gaze, he muttered sheepishly, “Uh, t-thanks.”

Kaede’s grin widened at his response as she twirled a lock of her dark-red hair between her fingers, clearly enjoying the moment. “You’re welcome. Maybe next time, let Mumu help. He seems to have a better handle on things.” she said before leaning forward a little and waving at Mumu. Mumu responded in kind.

Dama could only nod, still too flustered to come up with a witty reply despite wanting to. He glanced at Mumu, who seemed to be watching the exchange with his usual calm, supportive expression. Then he glanced at Nina, who had uncurled to look back at Kaede, her head flicking back and forth between Dama and her, as if assessing the situation.

Without asking, Kaede plopped down beside Nina. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity as she glanced at Dama, clearly intent on something.

“So,” Kaede began, crossing her arms and leaning back, her tone casual but with a hint of mischief, “that’s why you came along on the journey. You want to become a man, I was wondering, you know?”

Now recovering from his choking fit, Dama jolted straight up, his shock on display through his widened eyes, at Kaede’s comment. “She was eavesdropping!?” he thought as he looked up at Kaede, who had a teasing grin.

“How long had she been standing there? What did she hear? Why now of all times?” These questions and those of kin raced through Dama’s mind. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out in a panic: “Just how long were you listening!?”

His voice came out louder than he intended—almost a yell. Kaede’s grin vanished, her eyes widening in surprise. In that moment, the playful air between them evaporated in an instant, replaced by an awkward silence.

Dama froze, realizing what he had just done. He had yelled at her, at Kaede—the chief’s daughter. His heart sank. “I-I didn’t mean to shout…” he stammered, his voice now soft and full of regret. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

Kaede waved a hand, cutting him off before he could finish. “It’s alright.” she said, though her voice was quieter now. Giving Dama a small grin, she still seemed taken aback, as if she was still processing what had happened. “You just…surprised me, that’s all.”

For a moment, they both looked away and sat there in the chilly evening air, the awkwardness lingering like a fog between them.

Dama shifted uncomfortably as he rubbed his stomach, feeling like an idiot for snapping at her. He had no right to yell—especially not at someone who had helped him.

Kaede continued to twirl a lock of her hair between her fingers, but out of nervousness this time. “Didn’t know he had it in him… I don’t blame him though, I must have caught him off guard, especially after that whole story about his family. Great timing Kaede…” she thought to herself, hanging her head in shame.

Glancing at Dama, Kaede’s expression softened. “Look,” she said, her tone gentler now, “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop or anything. But…I heard about your family.” Her gaze drifted to the ground, and her voice grew even softer. “Pretty sure my papa told you already, I lost my mom too. She died from the same plague…”

Dama sat in silence not knowing the words to say, evident of him opening his mouth, only for nothing to escape his lips.

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable this time. It was heavy, yes, but not in the same way as earlier.

It was the silence of shared pain, of two people who had experienced the same kind of loss. Dama didn’t know what to say, and for once, neither did Kaede. Though, she grinned slightly seeing that Dama was at least listening.

For a brief moment, they were no longer two strangers from different villages. They were just two kids, both still grieving in silence, both trying to make sense of the world their parents had left them in.

Eventually, as the silence continued to hang between them, Mumu, sensing the tension, decided it was time to intervene in the only way he knew how.

The large, plush bear stood up without either of the kids noticing, and picked up another bundle of rice in his free hand.

Positioning himself behind and in between the two kids, he nudged both of their arms, offering the bundles of rice.

Both kids were caught off guard, with Kaede jumping a bit and turning to see the over-sized stuffed bear holding a bundle of rice in his paw.

Looking from the bundle of rice to Mumu’s face, the two locked gazes. Right after, Kaede witnessed Mumu’s stitched mouth seeming to curl at the edges, as if he were smiling.

Kaede blinked, startled at first, but then let out a soft laugh. “Oh my, is this for me?” she said, reaching for the rice.

Staring at the rice in her hand for a short moment, Kaede smiled as she reached out to feel the bear's soft belly. “Thank you, Mumu!”

Pressing and exploring the hairy feeling, her gaze softened as a wave of nostalgia seemed to overtake her. She then looked back at Dama. “I heard about how they came to life. That’s both really amazing…and touching.”

Dama lowered his eyes, brushing a hand over Mumu’s soft fur. “Yeah…” he mumbled, not quite sure how to respond.

Kaede, still smiling, took a bite of the rice that Mumu had offered her. “It must be amazing,” she said after swallowing, “having two cute servants with you all the time?”

Dama looked down at Nina and rubbed her head as he shook his head. “They’re not servants,” he said, his voice filled to the brim with a genuine love, “they’re my family. I love them, they love me. Without them, I don’t know where I'd be right now.”

Kaede froze for a short moment, realizing her mistake. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that…”

Dama chuckled and smiled softly, taking the rice Mumu had for him. “It’s okay, I understand. They mean a lot to me. More than I can explain.” he said before taking a bite of the rice, making sure to eat it the correct way this time.

Kaede nodded as she took another bite herself, chewing while thinking. After a moment, she looked back at Dama, curiosity lighting up her eyes. “So,” she said, changing the subject, “what’s Enohay Village like? I’ve never been there.”

Dama hesitated, caught off guard by the question. He hadn’t really thought about describing his home before. “It’s a little bigger than here,” he began, raising a finger in the air, “though very quiet. Not a lot of excitement nor parties go on there—but it’s nice! Super serene and beautiful simply put. We have to thank the Enohayen Valley and Mountains around it for that! You should visit sometime.”

Kaede raised an eyebrow, a playful grin starting to creep back onto her face. “Peaceful and quiet, huh? What do you do to pass the time? Do you have a job?”

Dama looked up to the sky, his gaze unfocused. “Well, my days aren’t that eventful. I usually wake up before sunrise, make vegetable stew for breakfast, then climb down the mountain with Mumu and Nina for Enohay Village.”

As Dama began to talk about Enohay, he found himself growing more animated. His eyes closed, and he raised a finger in the air, almost like a teacher giving a lesson. “Once we get to the village, most of the adults give me little jobs and tasks to help with for shekels or other goods. The kids play with Mumu and Nina, though they also work if it's needed.”

Pointing to Mumu, Dama continued. “Example, if we need something very heavy to be lifted—Mumu can carry a lot more than most men!” he then pointed to Nina. “By contrast, Nina is very flexible and a great jumper, able to get onto or into places none of us can to retrieve stuff. She’s also pretty speedy, which is useful for delivery! Not only that, but—!”

The nostalgic boy stopped mid-sentence, realizing how passionately he had been speaking. He opened his eyes and found Kaede sitting there, her chin resting on her hands with an amused smile playing on her lips.

She was staring right at him, entertained by his sudden burst of enthusiasm. Dama’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly dropped his hand, unsure of what to say next.

In response, Kaede’s smile widened as she tilted her head. “Go on,” she teased, “don’t stop now.”

Dama stammered, his embarrassment deepening. “Uh well, that’s…I mean, it’s interesting, you know?”

Kaede chuckled softly, her gaze not leaving him. “Yeah, I can tell. Come on, finish. You have my attention~” she said, her voice lighter now, though still with that teasing edge.

Dama rubbed the back of his neck, still blushing. “Well, it is home…”

“Well, if that’s all there is,” Kaede shrugged her shoulders, “no wonder you wanted to leave Enohay Village. You want to find yourself and something bigger than those boring tasks.”

Dama quickly retorted. “Hey, it might be repetitive, but I actually enjoy it. Every job I finish, I know I’m making a difference in the village, even if it’s small.” he paused for a moment, his voice softening. “Though, you’re still right. I did want to see something different, something outside of Enohay for once.”

He sighed, looking down at Nina, who was still sitting quietly by his side. “And whether I like it or not, I’m growing up. I can’t stay a kid forever. I need to become a man, sooner rather than later.”

Kaede’s expression shifted, her excitement giving way to thoughtfulness as she considered his words. After a moment, she asked. “So, what do you want to become? When you’re grown up, I mean.”

Dama opened his mouth to respond, but found himself hesitating. “I… Huh…I’m not sure.” he admitted, his brow furrowing. “Sometimes I think I could be a farmer, like Ms. Alder. Other times, maybe a handyman like Mr. Koul. Being an apothecarian or teacher, like Mr. Liam, doesn’t sound too bad either.”

He sighed again, his uncertainty weighing on him. “I guess I don’t really know. None of them really feel like the answer. When I ask myself that question, all that comes to mind is the smiles of everyone in Enohay. So, maybe I just want to be as helpful as I can be—like my dad was.”

Kaede’s eyes softened, making sure to adopt a more tender tone of voice. “Your dad, huh?”

Dama nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yeah. He’d help anyone in need, no matter what it was. If someone needed a roof fixed, while Mr. Koul would be the first person you'd go to, my dad would also be there. If a family was struggling with food, he’d be helping out alongside the Alders. If no one else was available to teach the children, he'd step in for the day. He was always there for the village.” he paused, his gaze distant. “I guess I just want to live up to that.”

Kaede smiled, the warmth in her expression unmistakable. “Gosh, your father sounds like a man among men. That’s not a bad thing to want, not bad at all...”

Closing his eyes, Dama felt a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips from Kaede’s comment. Amidst the darkness, he let himself drift through his own emotions and uncertainty. “Yeah, being just like dad, that wouldn’t be so bad. Whenever I think of being a man, my dad and Mr. Koul first comes to mind. No question.”

His head tilted upward, drawn to the stars whose faint light flickered through his closed eyelids. With one drawn out motion, Dama then ran his hand through his hair. “But, I wonder, can I be just as much of a man as he was—even with only one arm?”

As Dama sat in silence, he felt his body gradually relax, as if surrendering to an unseen force. Even before he opened his eyes, he knew why—it was due to Mumu and Nina, who had sensed his unease and came to his side.

Nina, as light as the fluff from a sheep’s hide, sprawled across his lap. She nuzzled her head against his stomach in an affectionate gesture.

Meanwhile, Mumu stood behind him. His soft paws went to work rubbing Dama’s shoulders in a soothing, almost rhythmic motion, as if trying to massage the worries from his body and mind.

Both gestures came from the same thought: “You can do it!”

Dama could almost hear Mumu and Nina say it inside his head. Their voices light and caring like guardian angels, causing his smile to widen from ear-to-ear in gratitude.

Nina with her tail wagging, Mumu with his big smile patting Dama’s shoulders, and Dama with his face dipped in serenity. Kaede could feel herself melting from the inside out witnessing the sight of it all. “Daaaawwww~!” she couldn’t help but sigh out in adoration, her hands clasped together.

Dama felt the oh-so familiar feeling of heat rising to his cheeks, yet he didn’t mind as he continued to surrender himself to his companions’ presence.

Still completely enamoured, Kaede's mind couldn't help but to wonder one thing. "If I remember right, your village also has a village chief. His name was...uh, Ooo... Oooo...?"

Dama perked up from Kaede's surprising knowledge of Owain. "You know of Gramps Owain?"

Mumu and Nina also perked up, their ears shooting straight up at the mention of someone as important to Dama as Owain. Both of them started to listen to the conversation more, with Mumu even sitting down behind Dama.

"Yeah, Owain! I remember papa talking about him." Kaede exclaimed whilst clapping once, before giggling a little. "Wait, 'Gramps' Owain~?"

Dama patted the back of his head while laughing. "Oh, uh y-yeah, that's what I call him by, hehe! He also has a wife, the village chiefess, who goes by Tsubasa Inin, and I like to call her Granny Tsu." he began blushing. "It's a bit weird, I know, but the reason is because they've been looking out for me ever since I was born, especially after the plague. They're basically my grandparents."

Dama and Kaede sat in silence for a short moment, with Dama awaiting Kaede's response, only to be met with one who was obviously doing some mental gymnastics. "Wait!" Kaede then shouted. "Does that mean we're the same? Descendants of our respective village heads!?"

Caught off guard, Dama clarified. "No no, I'm not their actual grandchild. I just view them as my grandparents."

"Bummer..." Kaede said, dejected for a short moment, only to perk back up, intrigued. "Either way, the reason I asked is because I was wondering what they thought of Mumu and Nina?"

"That? Gramps Owain always says he never really understood how they came to be, but he's glad they're here. Granny Tsu though, she knew what happened the second she saw them, and told me they came to be due to my Soulful Technique. Leave it to Granny Tsu to know almost every answer."

Kaede placed a finger on her chin. "Granny Tsu sounds like a very smart woman! I would love to meet her someday."

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Next: (Chapter 50) Dama and Kaede: Part 2