Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

As Koul trudged up the narrow and rocky path, the crunch of his boots on gravel seemed to echo amongst the still mountain air. The logs of firewood he lugged in his arms rattled with each step as he picked up his pace, determined to reach the campfire. Though, he was cautious to not speed up too much in fear of dropping his hand axe he held under his arm.

“Damn Gus,” Koul muttered under his breath, irritation flaring within his words, “Always got some excuse. 'Too tired,' he says. 'Too cold,' he says.” Koul scoffed. “Lazy's more like it.”

The path he took was as clear as can be, with only orange and beige stones to be seen. Ahead, he could see the faint flicker of firelight, a beacon in the rather empty darkness, guiding him toward the campsite.

The campfire blazed at the center, casting a warm, golden glow across the tents and the carriage around it. Nina and Dorsey lied down near the carriage, curled up against one another.

Right by the campfire sat Liam, leaning back on Mumu’s soft belly, his content face illuminated by the dancing flames. Beside him, Dama sat on his knees and poked at the fire with a stick, watching the sparks fly up into the night sky.

Koul stomped over to the fire, dropping his items with a thud, his annoyance with Gus was now seeping into his actions. While Dama jumped at the sound, Liam glanced up at Koul, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

“Gus?” Liam asked, his voice laced with amusement.

“Lazy bastard…” Koul grumbled, lowering himself onto the ground, bending his left knee upwards while straightening out his right leg. Finally, he used his right arm for stability as he rest his left arm on the corresponding knee. “Always finding some reason to stay behind and do minimal work. By the way, thanks for setting up the campsite, Liam.”

Liam chuckled. “You know how he is. Anyways, his loss. Not only the fire, but the sky's great tonight.”

“Koul, why do you get so mad at Gus?” Dama said, his voice carrying a pinch of both worry and fear for Koul's anger.

Koul sighed, his annoyance diminishing as he looked at the boy. “It’s not that I'm angry at Gus, so-to-say lad. It’s about pulling your weight. What I'm angry at is his refusal to cooperate with others. Both out here, and in Enohay Village, we all rely on each other. If one of us slacks off, it makes things harder for everyone else.”

Liam nodded in agreement, his gaze thoughtful and smile apparent. “It’s about growing up, Dama—about being responsible. You’re getting to that age where you need to start thinking about these things. The sooner the better.”

Looking over to Koul, Liam continued. “That's why we're here tonight to talk about a few things, to help you, uh,” he paused for a second as he spun his hand in front of him, trying to think of what to say before it crossed his mind, “let's say, ‘cross-over’.”

Dama sat back on his only arm in contemplation. “Cross…over?”

“Yeah,” Liam responded, "you're at that awkward age, somewhere between boyhood and manhood, teetering on the edge of both. I'm pretty sure you've noticed that your body has been changing lately, no?”

“Changing?” Dama said as he looked up at the night sky. “Well, actually, yes. I have been noticing ‘changes’ for a while. Especially this year.”

Koul snapped his fingers, almost giddy to hear that his surrogate nephew is coming of age. “That's good to hear, since it's perfectly natural at this age for changes to occur. It's a sign that you're healthy and growing.”

Liam raised a finger to chime in. “You don't need to list the changes either, since Koul and I have already gone through it. Though, feel free to ask if a particular change is bothering you, I'll answer them to the best of my ability.”

A brief silence fell onto the campsite, only punctuated by the occasional natural sounds of the night and the chill breeze passing through, disturbing the fire. As Liam and Koul patiently waited, it wasn’t long before they could see Dama’s face slowly flush at the cheeks as he looked down—his eyes filled with hesitation.

“If that’s the case…” Dama finally said, a tinge of embarrassment starting to trickle into his words as he rubbed the left side of his stomach. “These changes, do they include, you know, m-my thoughts?”

“Hm?” Liam and Koul said in unison as they exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between men, though partially ruined when Koul gave Liam a snarky smirk. Liam rolled his eyes before egging Dama on. “Go on.”

Dama switched from rubbing his stomach to using a finger to draw into the dirt beneath him, trying to distract himself from making eye contact. “It's just… I've…I've been thinking about girls a lot lately…”

“Attaboy!” Koul shouted and laughed ceremoniously into the night.

“Ugh, Koul, be serious.” Liam said, his annoyance flaring up for a second before asking further. “Anyways, Dama, continue. What do these thoughts consist of?”

“Well, uh… Umm…” Dama hesitated, frantically looking around as he tried to muster the courage to say what was on his mind. It wasn't that he didn't want to have this conversation, far from it. He was curious, and wanted an answer to many questions he had for months now, especially one in particular. This was the time to ask them, yet, he couldn't do it. The problem was that the actual answer was the complete opposite to what he was looking for, and could make him seem like a pervert. “No one likes a pervert…”

"Dama?” Liam said, his voice coming out with a sense of calm and care. “If it’s too embarrassing to say, don't worry about it, we won't laugh at, think any less of, or hold anything against you. Trust me, I've been there, and I had other men at the time to answer even my most silly questions, namely your father, Joel, and Koul himself,” a comment that prompted Koul to nod his head, "it's your time now. So, go ahead, say what's on your mind pal.”

Dama mumbled in response as he tucked his head into his legs. After waiting a few seconds, Liam took the initiative for clarification. “Uh, sorry Dama, we didn't quite hear that. Mind saying it a little louder? And again, it's okay to be embar—”

“Bodies…” Dama murmured, unintentionally cutting off Liam, who inquired further.

“Bodies? Keep going, pal.”

Dama raised his face from his legs, not a hint of his usual olive-toned complexion to be seen. “T-Their bodies… That’s what I've been thinking about… Is that bad?” He said as his voice cracked from sheer embarrassment.

Koul chuckled with the biggest smile on his face as he leaned forward. “Bad? Oh no no, Dama, that's honestly the best news to hear when it comes to this sorta thing. Why would you think that was a bad thing?”

“Well, wouldn’t that make me a pervert?”

Koul slapped his left knee in response. “Har! I figured!” he chuckled out before pointing at Liam. “I'd bet you'll be glad to know Liam over here had the same doubts when he was your age only a decade ago!”

Liam clapped twice in an effort to cut Koul short and save himself some embarrassment. “Ahem! What Koul is trying to say is that it's okay if you're thinking about that kind of stuff. In truth, the fact you were cautious about doing something potentially bad makes me happy to hear.”

Dama’s shoulders relaxed, a visible wave of relief washing over him. “Really? I thought maybe something was wrong with me for a second there… Granny Tsu and my mother always told me that I should always be respectful to girls. That they needed their privacy.”

Koul chuckled again, nodding his head in agreement. “Well, they're correct, absolutely correct, take it from a married man, har! Though, it's also important to say that men need the same.”

Liam added, "Piggybacking off of that, I assure you Dama, take it from a man who is about to get married to a woman i've spent my entire life with, girls your age are going through the same thing.”

“They are?” Dama said under his breath, his mind thinking of the girl that's been causing such thoughts to appear in the first place. “I wonder, does this include Giona?”

“Mhm!” Liam nodded, “The important thing here to remember is to respect others and yourself. Having these feelings and thoughts is natural, but how you act on them is what really matters to your character. Anything else, pal?”

Another spell of silence filled the air as Dama contemplated further, lowering his head back into his legs. Liam and Koul again sat patiently, until both perked up when Dama raised his head.

“There is one more question I have, Mr. Liam.” Dama said, his voice coming out with the unmistakable sound of innocent curiosity. “Why do I have these thoughts in the first place?”

It was the ultimate question, a question Liam was prepared for—or so he thought. In truth, the only response Liam could give were faltering stutters, he was completely taken aback.

The stutters continued until Liam felt a rough hand on his shoulder. “Go on, my boy Liam.” Koul said through his ear-to-ear smile, indicative of his immense amusement. “Tell him why he's having these thoughts~!”

At the same time that night, back at Dama's cabin, Giona stood outside on the thin sheet of snow, looking up at the stars.

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Next: (Chapter 29) Giona’s Stargazing