Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

The setting sun blazed with an excellent orange, painting onto the ravine-like terrain walls very peculiar shadows, including a horse led carriage, a giant bear walking a bit ahead of it, and a giant fox trailing slightly behind with a boy on its back.

It was none other than the Enohayen men on a journey, alongside their animal companions Nina, Mumu, and Dorsey. The wooden wheels of the horse carriage creaked and groaned as they traversed the rocky path leading towards Briarstone Village.

With each clop of Dorsey's feet, more and more rocks cascaded down into the rushing river below. Its current moved swiftly, crashing and carving deep grooves into the walls of the landform. The same setting sunlight scattered in fragmented beams that danced on its rippling surface.

The air was filled with the constant murmur of the rushing water and crashing waves, signaling its persistent power that allowed it to shape the ravine for countless years.

One individual in particular just couldn't take his eyes off the spectacle—the boy on Nina's back. “Oh boy, that river looks really strong,” Dama said to himself as he held onto Nina's neck tighter than ever, “it's no wonder this ravine came to be…”

At the front of the carriage, Liam held Dorsey's reins with steady hands, his eyes focused on the winding trail ahead before hearing Dama’s comment and smiling. “Quite astute of you, Dama. Indeed, this ravine came to be by the steady and continuous weathering from factors like the river below and even the wind for many years!” Liam shouted for Dama to hear, hoping he'd notice the small pride he had in the boy lacing his words. “I'm glad at least one kid pays attention to the village lessons…”

Beside him sat Koul, his posture relaxed yet attentive. As he nodded his head in agreement with Liam, he also noticed that Dama’s voice barely hid a tinge of fear. “Oooooo-wee! That river does look mighty powerful? Don’t worry lad! Just stay to the wall, you'll be fine!” He yelled as he turned over his shoulder, giving Dama a thumbs up and confident smirk. “If you do fall, I'll dive straight in after you! No hesitation!”

Both Liam and Dama chuckled at Koul's protective remark, though Dama couldn’t mask all of the unease stiffening his laughter. “Nina, could you please move us in between the carriage and the stone wall?” He said, rubbing the side of her head, the tiny bristles of green wool fur softly brushing against the skin of his palm.

Nina curled her tail upwards to rub Dama's back in response and followed orders. Now beside the front of the carriage, Dama waved at the two men occupying the front seat, only for a confused look to cross his face.

Waving back, Koul was the first to notice Dama’s confusion. “Something wrong, lad? Do I got somethin’ on my face or beard?”

“Oh, no no Mr. Koul,” Dama quickly responded as he waved hands, "I just thought Mr. Gus would be here with you two?”

Liam responded just as quickly. “Oh him? Yeah, he climbed into the back a little while ago, probably counting sheep by now. Don't worry about him.”

“Kind of lazy if ya ask me.” Koul remarked. “We haven’t even done any work to warrant nappin’.”

“Well, you know him. Gus is a very loner type kinda guy. So much so in fact, I heard the only reason he came with us was only because his mom forced him to get out the house!” Liam said, a chuckle seeping into his words, encouraging Koul's own bout of chuckles. “Anyhow, I'm pretty sure he'd rather sleep than interact with us.

“No doubt bout that!” Koul responded in agreement, his chuckles progressively getting louder. “With such an attitude, the poor boy won't see the faces of his own children anytime soon!”

Liam chuckled again as he smiled from the friendly banter. “Aw come on, don't do him like that. I'm sure if he tried, he'd find a wonderful woman one day.”

Taking a moment to wind down, Koul perked up slightly to what Liam said at the end, remembering something. “You know, my boy, speaking of girlfriends, how are you and Alexandra doing nowadays? Still planning on marriage?”

“Ehhh!!?” Liam and Dama shouted in unison, their voices echoing within the ravine they found themselves in. While both were for different reasons, they garnered the same smug smile from Koul.

“Mr. Liam, you're getting married!?” Dama said as he leaned towards the carriage in curiosity. His high-pitched voice practically cracking from the excitement of the news.

“Jeez Koul!” Liam uttered through gritted teeth. “I was keeping that on the down-low. You really suck at keeping secrets you know…”

“Yeah, he really does…” Dama thought to himself, reminiscing how he told Mary about his ‘secret project’ without hesitation.

Koul simply wrapped his left arm around Liam's shoulder, his smug smirk still in play. “Come on Liam, my boy, it's only us men out here, and one is sleep in the trunk, so only the little lad didn't know. While it's true I may have a problem with secrets here and there, you can definitely trust Dama.”

Liam sighed as he placed two fingers on his forehead. “Yeah… I agree, but the principle still stands, you old geezer.”

“Wow, so Mr. Liam and Ms. Alexandra are planning marriage, huh?” Dama spoke out as he rubbed Nina's head. “That sounds great, doesn't it Nina?”

Smiling at Dama's excitement and happiness for the day he looked towards most, Liam gleefully clarified. “Yes indeed Dama. I proposed a few weeks ago. She said yes, and now we're planning on sometime next year to solidify the engagement!”

Dama's eyes became flooded with a noticeable wave of enthusiasm hearing more about the good news. “That’s so cool Mr. Liam! I hope everything goes well! Do you two plan on having children?”

“Children?” Liam raised an eyebrow before smiling again. “Of course we're planning on children. Though, the exact number is still up in the air…”

“Hm? Whaddya mean, my boy?” Koul questioned, tugging at Liam's shoulder for answers.

Liam grabbed the back of his head as he answered. “Well, the thing is, I only want one or maybe even two kids… Alexandra, however… She wants four or more…” He said, his answer being riddled with chuckles that tried their best to mask his own anxiety.

Silence ensued as the pair of Dama and Koul blankly stared at Liam, whose anxiety climbed each second as he felt their stares. Only after a few seconds that felt like an eternity, did Koul and Dama bust out into a laughing fit.

“Hey, what's so funny!?” Liam yelled as his face broke out into a flushed appearance, signaling his embarrassment.

Koul wiped a tear forming in his left eye. “S-Sorry sorry, my boy. It just seems you're gonna have a lot to look forwards to, har!” He teasingly responded, much to Liam's further embarrassment.

Coughing to help calm himself, Dama raised a finger. “I also have to apologize, Mr. Liam. It was just how absurd it sounded and the face you made, heh!”

“Can you guys keep it down!!” A voice boomed from the trunk of the carriage. While riddled with annoyed disdain for the loud laughter, it also sounded husky and irregular.

“Sheesh, such a party pooper you are, Gus…” Koul said as he responded with an annoyed look over his shoulder. Turning back around, he gave Dama a mischievous filled look. “Anyways, so Dama, lad.”

“Hm? Yes, Mr. Koul?”

“How about yourself? Has a lass caught your eye yet?”

“Eh!? M-M-Me!?” Dama stuttered out as his face blossomed in a pinkish-red like wildfire, painting his embarrassment in hues too bright to ignore, both a betraying sign to Dama and an obvious answer to Koul.

Liam's head drooped to the side as if his neck simply gave out from second hand embarrassment. “Ah jeez Koul. Don’t put the kid on the spot like that.”

“Whaaaat~?” “The boy is at the age where the only thing he can think bout is every lass he walks past, am I right lad?”

“Well… You're not…completely off the mark…”

“Besides, Liam, trust me. I'm not asking just to be nosy. Dama is growing into a young man, and every young man needs guidance from those that came before. Of course, he spends most of his time alone in the mountains, seems even more so the past year. Those reasons together is why I asked for him to be on this very venture, so we can discuss such a topic with just us men. Prepare him for when he becomes a man himself, see what i’m sayin’?”

“Hm, yes, while I completely agree, you could have gone about it better, you know.” Liam said before side-eyeing Koul. “And I bet you were just being nosy when you asked me.”

Koul just rubbed the back of his head, snickering at the prospect of being caught in his childish antics. “Yeah, not denying, but no one’s perfect, har!”

“Tch,” Liam scoffed before turning to Dama, “Anyways, let's get this straight before I say anything else—l have three conditions. One, Dama, just want you to know you don't have to say or answer anything that makes you uncomfortable. Two, you leave the talking to me, got it Koul?”

“Eh!? Wh—!?”

“You know why.” Liam quickly responded before continuing, “And finally, three, we'll start the talk once we setup camp for tonight, the sun is barely visible now. Night is heading our way full speed.”

Taking Liam's words into account, Dama looked upon the sky above.

The setting sun lingered on the mountainous horizon as the sky it called home transitioned from the burning golds and fiery reds of dusk to the velvety blues and purples of night.

Dama's widened eyes were glaring signs of his shock at the passage of time. He thought how he didn't even notice the cool breeze starting to pick up within the confines of the ravine, carrying with it the nightly symphony of howling and hooting echoing from the mountains surrounding the area.

As the sun continued its descent, slipping below the horizon, far away stars started to come into view, twinkling with a certain mystique that never failed to captivate Dama.

“The stars sure are pretty…” Dama thought as he stared amongst the stars. Each of them sparkled with their own brilliance and moved seamlessly across the vibrant night sky. As more stars moved closer together, it gave off the impression of a picture being formed, prompting Dama to remember something. “Granny Tsu always talks about how the stars have the ability to mirror the things we want most. Something about a by-product of the gods living up there, it has always sounded a little screwy to me though, even when compared to all the other wacky stuff she spouts on about. Witches, Curses, Soulful Techniques, Affinities, Gods…” He thought to himself as he sighed, closing his eyes and laying his body upon Nina's neck. “Yet with all the stories and knowledge she has, we still don't have a single clue as to what it was I saw a year ago when I prayed to Goddess Helia. The glowing orb and giant tree with millions of leaves, just what were they, why did I see them, and most curiously, why haven't I seen them again since that day? Ugh, just thinking about it makes my head hurt… I wonder how Giona is doing…”

Opening his eyes and looking back up at the sky again, Dama stared at the stars once more. At first, his mind simply drifted, matching the drifting stars themselves, but soon, a sudden wave of familiarity hit him, almost making him lose his sense of balance on Nina's back. Something weird about a particular constellation of stars had piqued his interest. “Huh? Have the stars always been able to move like that?” He questioned to himself, narrowing his eyes before they widened completely soon after. What his eyes bestowed upon him was the image of a young and smiling girl in the sky—a girl Dama knew all too well. “Wait a second, that face, t-that smile, it can't be…!”

“G-Giona!?” Dama blurted out unconsciously, his mind preoccupied on deciphering his imagination from reality.

In the same moment of Dama's realization that his granny's words may have held some truth, a confused Liam and Koul both turned towards Dama in unison. “Giona-who now?”

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Next: (Chapter 28) Onward to Briarstone Village: Part 3