Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

Dama's face became childishly bright. "Oh yeah, you'd love her! Not only is she a beastman, she's super beautiful and gotta be the smartest person I know, with Mr. Liam and Mary right behind her! It's no surprise those three are the main ones teaching the village school."

"Mr. Liam and...Mary? Liam is that blonde-haired, and rather dashing, gentleman, right?" Kaede thought as she tilted her head. "Then there's Mary. A girl's name, and with how fond Dama sounded when speaking of her, they must be close. A childhood friend perhaps? Maybe even a girlfriend! That would be soooooo adorable!!" she internally squealed at the thought. "Gosh, is this what it feels like to have a little brother?"

Unaware of what was going through Kaede's thoughts, Dama continued ranting on about Tsubasa, both his face and tone full of pride and admiration. "I owe a lot to Granny Tsu. Physically, mentally, and even spiritually, almost everything I know and like is because of Granny Tsu! Including my favorite story, Tales of the Cataclysm! She used to read that to me everyday when I was younger."

The mere mention of the legendary fable reeled Kaede back in from her daydreaming. "Tales of the Cataclysm, you say?"

Perking up, Dama matched Kaede’s earlier excitement. “You know of Tales of the Cataclysm?” he exclaimed with an ecstatic face.

“Cute~!” Kaede thought as she softly clapped. “Of course I know the tale. I’m pretty sure almost everyone in the world knows of Giona the First Witch, Tharloin the First Elven King, Lucifer the Fallen Angel, Lilith the Verminspawn, and most importantly,” she clasped her hands together as she sighed dramatically, her eyes sparkling with a dreamy look, “the dashing Hero-King: Adam!”

Placing her chin in her hands, a broad smile spread across Kaede’s face as she sank back into daydreaming, diving deeper into her fantasies this time. “Oh, what would I give for an Adam of my own! Someone to sweep me off my feet and protect me~!”

Dama found himself smiling too, albeit out of second-hand embarrassment. “You think you’ll find someone like him in this day and age?”

Kaede glanced at him, her playful grin returning. “Who knows? He doesn’t have to be as powerful, but I know someday I will.” her grin then morphed from playful to mischievous. “But for now, I’m stuck with most boys not around my age, unlike you, and none who have caught my eye yet—say for one boy.”

"One boy?” Dama repeated, his curiosity piqued. “If that's the case, he's really lucky!”

Kaede raised a playful eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”

“Well, catching the eye of the chief’s beautiful daughter is something most people could only dream of!” Dama exclaimed, raising a finger in the air, completely unaware of the implications of his words.

Kaede, however, was the opposite, and held her cheeks in her hands. “Oh my~!” she giggled out, rocking back and forth from the compliment. “Am I really beautiful to you, Dama?”

Realizing himself what he had said, a cherry colored Dama froze yet again before trying to explain. “I-I didn’t mean it like that! Well, I mean, I did, b-b-but…”

“My gosh, you’re too easy!” Kaede laughed out, holding her sides from Dama’s amusing display.

Feeling like a complete laughing stock, Dama hung his head in defeat, Kaede’s laugh seemingly echoing around him—a mockery he couldn't escape.

It was then, that Dama's eyes lit up with vengeance-fueled inspiration, like a little kid plotting against their older sibling. “Ah-ha! Two can play that game, Kaede!”

Sitting up straight with a renewed determination in his eyes, Dama thrusted a finger at Kaede with a smug grin. “I bet the boy you like is Ryuu. Jr, right? He’s about your age, is a guard, and good-looking to boot! What’s stopping me from telling hi—!”

“Wrong~!” Kaede replied with haste, stunning Dama, both his finger and smile drooping in response. “He may be seventeen vs. my almost fifteen, but he’s a bit too stoic for me. Nice try though, tehee!”

“T-Then who!?”

“Jeez, why do you want to know all of a sudden, hmmm~?” Kaede teased, enjoying the slight irritation arising in Dama’s expression. “Ever heard of ‘A lady can keep her secrets’? It’s not nice to ask a girl such things, you know.” she snickered.

Mumu pat Dama on the head, seemingly in agreement with Kaede. Dama could only sigh in defeat, pout and look away. “Yeah yeah…”

Looking at the night sky again, Kaede’s expression softened while reminiscing. “I will give you this though, he is one of the guards under my papa, like Junior. A rookie, actually. You sort of remind me of him, you know?”

Dama turned his attention back to Kaede. “Really? How?”

Kaede closed her eyes and twirled a lock of hair. “Both of you are super timid, nice, around my age, and not to mention, really easy to tease~!” she giggled before facing Dama and raising a finger in the air. “However, most importantly, he’s one of the rare instances of someone being born with an Affinity Element. Kind of like your Soulful Technique!”

“Wait a sec,” Dama looked down and grasped his chin, “didn’t Mr. Domitius mention something about a rookie who had Fire Affinity? Wasn’t his name, uh, Miuson Hakasha?”

“Enough about me,” Kaede leaned slightly in towards Dama, “how about you, eh~? Are there any girls in your village that have caught your eye? You did mention a girl named Mary, right?”

"M-Mary?" Dama stammered. "She's my childhood friend. She's also the daughter of Mr. Koul, and since our dads were close, we naturally grew up with each other, see?"

"Oh?" Kaede said, going into full gossip mode. "Tell me more about her!"

"Huh?" Dama started blushing before scratching his cheek. "W-Well, like I said before, she's one of the smartest people I know. One of her favorite things to do is tinker with and build stuff, just like her father, though she also drags me along for the ride most times." he chuckled, his tone nostalgic. "Even if some inventions are duds, some of the things she has made is pretty impressive, especially for her age, I gotta admit."

"She sounds like wonderful girl," Kaede said, straightening her posture and crossing her legs, "so, do you like her like that?"

Dama froze, his gaze flicking from Kaede to the stars, as if searching for an answer he wasn't quite prepared to have. He first thought about Mary, how much he admired skillful hands with wood and metal. How beautiful she had become throughout their shared childhood. How capable she's becoming.

But then, almost unbidden, another face slipped into his mind—Giona's. Her smile was simply the purest thing Dama has seen. Her transformation from bandaged mummy to such a beautiful girl still astounded him. Not to mention her impressive progress in her communication skills.

In the end though, Dama knew exactly what made Giona tug at him in ways Mary didn't—it was her vulnerability. It pulled him in, made him feel needed, and seeing her smile out of gratitude made him feel something...more. Even at that moment, imagining her smile and cheerful laughter made his entire body flood with a particular kind of warmth.

It was undeniable at this point, yet made feel Dama feel a bit weird about himself.

It was as if he only liked her because one part of him liked the feeling of playing the hero. On the other hand, another part of him knew that wasn't true at all, but couldn’t quite put a finger on what exactly he felt.

"I... I’m not sure..." Dama finally confessed, his voice a little quieter.

Kaede tilted her head, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Sounds like there's someone else, huh?"

Dama could only smile in a warm manner, a soft blush spreading across his face. A non-verbal answer Kaede picked up on well.

Kaede then faced the same stars Dama was looking at. "I understand. I won't say much, but I think something that will help you is this: simply ask your deepest self."

While Dama didn't fully understand, he knew exactly what she meant. It sounded akin to something Tsubasa has told him numerous times. And so, he closed his eyes.

In that moment, the outside world felt distant, almost unreal. In this bubble of both calm, yet uncertainty, the weight of expectations, noise, and other factors vanished. It was just him and his companions, who were a part of him.

In his mind, Dama drew an invisible line around him, Mumu, and Nina, trying to envision such a thing, even if for a moment. A small, perfect circle that blocked out everything beyond it. Within this space, it was only them—their world.

The porch, the village beyond, even the distant murmur of life from the party—everything faded. He continued to imagine the small circle, and felt the world shift around him.

The rough texture of the wooden planks beneath him smoothed away, replaced by something softer, cooler. Grass. In his mind, soft blades of grass sprouting up, growing taller and fuller.

He could feel them curling around his legs, gently intertwining with Mumu and Nina, as if life itself was growing just for him. The grass, lush and vibrant, was alive, swaying and twirling in a dance that felt like a slow, calming rhythm. It swirled around him, each blade reaching out like a comforting embrace.

The more he imagined, the more real it felt. The grass cradled him now, replacing the wooden porch.

In this circle of peace with Mumu and Nina, the concept of time didn’t matter, and life grew in harmony with his every breath.

"My deepest self..." Dama thought, the grass eventually reaching their apex above him, finishing a throne of nature, only for him.

As Dama sank deeper into the peaceful world he had imagined, his brow furrowed as a familiar sensation began to creep into his mind. The ethereal calm, the disconnection from the outside world, the gentle warmth around him—he had felt this before.

His chest tightened with realization. The world he thought he had imagined wasn’t just a daydream.

Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and the soft grass beneath him was no longer an illusion. The wooden porch really was gone. He found himself in another space, one he had visited before, though he could never explain how or why.

A pristine, shimmering lake stretched out before him, its waters so clear they seemed to mirror the perfect blue sky above. No shadows, no lurking darkness—just purity.

Hanging above the lake was an orb of light, glowing with an unsullied, radiant energy. Its glow spread over everything, bathing the scene in warmth, as though the very air was imbued with life.

"It's this place again!" Dama shouted within his mind, his heart racing with both recognition and uncertainty. He had no idea how he’d come here, but he knew this wasn’t a figment of his imagination. "Wait, is this my deepest self?"

He looked in front and behind him, finding Nina and Mumu, no longer playful or comforting, but silent and still. Both of their eyes were locked onto the orb, transfixed.

Mumu’s usually gentle, soft demeanor was now rigid, his plush body frozen as if something had seized his very spirit.

Nina, too, sat still on Dama's lap, her head raised and ears pointed toward the light, completely entranced.

Dama could feel a shift in the air, something pulling at his own senses, like the orb was calling to him once again, luring him into its radiant mystery. It was exactly like before, and he wasn’t sure whether to fear it or embrace it.

Falling back into a trance-like state, akin to Mumu and Nina, a sound that didn't belong would cut through this serene place. It was the faint cry of a girl, echoing in the distance, soft and trembling.

Dama's trance shattered in an instant, blinking in confusion as his heart skipped a beat. Nothing like this had ever happened here before. This realm was always still, silent, unchanging. But now, there was a voice, filled with sorrow and fear.

He looked around, scanning the endless stretch of the pristine lake and the cloudless, bright blue sky. There was no sign of anyone.

The orb still hung in the air, bathing everything in its ethereal glow, and the lake stretched on endlessly, as if reaching into eternity. Yet, the crying continued, distant but insistent.

When it came to Mumu and Nina, they reacted immediately. Mumu perked up from his trance, his plush ears twitching as he looked around with wide eyes.

Nina, too, sat up on Dama’s lap, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon, her body tensed as if ready to spring into action.

"You hear that voice too, guys?" Dama whispered to his companions, who both nodded.

Scanning the area again, a fleeting thought of the voice belonging to Kaede crossed Dama's mind. However, he shook his head an instant later. "That voice can't belong to Kaede, the whimpering is too light and fragile. Kaede's voice has too much confidence in it, carrying with it a distinct spoiled tone..." Dama's entire body froze for a split second, including his heart, "Not that it's bad, but it's like a gentle breeze versus a sudden gust of wind!"

Suddenly, the voice choked a bit and gasped, catching the trio's attention. It was then it whimpered out a name—Dama's name. "Dama… Please, help...."

The soft, desperate plea sent a chill down Dama's spine. He remembered hearing voices calling his name last time he was here, but this was different. The chanting voices felt almost unreal, like they were of otherworldly origins. But this voice, that was filled with vulnerability...

At that moment, Dama, Mumu, and Nina, all three of them recognized the voice—it was Giona. But what was she doing here, in a place like this?

Before Dama could process the strangeness of it all, he noticed something off about his lap—it felt lighter. Nina had leaped from his lap, her small paws landing on the lake's surface, sending ripples cascading outward in perfect, symmetrical circles.

Without hesitation, she dashed off in a random direction, each of her footsteps creating more ripples, as if the lake was solid beneath her.

"Nina! Wait!" Dama yelled, scrambling to his feet. His heart raced as he watched her grow smaller in the distance. "Mumu, come on!" he shouted, urging the bear to follow him.

He sprinted after Nina, his feet hitting the surface of the lake with a surprising lightness. But as he ran, something strange began to happen beneath him, unbeknownst to Dama. With each step he took, grass sprouted from the water, soft and green, growing in his wake.

Soon, it spread across the lake, leaving a meadow of life behind him. Even stranger, as Dama's heart pounded with worry over Giona’s distress, the grass began to grow faster, surging in rhythm with his rising emotions.

It was as if his very essence fueled their growth, as though his heartbeat was the pulse driving their life force.

-

Next: (Chapter 51) Giona’s Nightmare