Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

Mary shifted uncomfortably, clearly flustered by the attention, while Alexandra stood and approached Tsubasa. She gracefully kneeled and bowed her head, her hands clasped together in respect. “Chiefess, it’s nice to see you this late at night.” she greeted Tsubasa, her voice filled with quiet reverence.

Tsubasa waved her hand dismissively. “Alexandra, you don’t need to bow to me. A woman with your beauty shouldn’t even be near the ground.”

Alexandra straightened, her cheeks reddening slightly at the compliment, but she smiled. “You’ve always been my role model when it comes to anything woman-related, chiefess,” she replied, “including beauty.”

Tsubasa laughed warmly at that and reached out to take Alexandra’s hand, pulling her up to stand fully. “You flatter me, Alexandra. Thank you.” she said, her tail wagging.

Wanting to shift the focus away from Mary’s embarrassment, Tsubasa turned to the statue of Helia with a thoughtful smile. “If you both have time, I was thinking of offering my own prayers for the boys.”

“We never know, maybe double the prayers means double the protection, eh?” She finished with a playful grin, though her joke was accompanied by a slight wince, knowing how silly it sounded.

Mary and Alexandra exchanged amused glances, their tension easing as they both laughed softly at Tsubasa’s words.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt.” Alexandra said with a light chuckle, nodding in agreement.

Mary, her cheeks still slightly pink, let out a small, awkward laugh of her own. “I guess we could use all the protection we can get.”

With that, the three women stepped toward the statue of Helia. Tsubasa knelt beside them, her hands coming together in prayer, and as the night breeze swept gently through the shrine, they prayed together under the stars, their shared hopes uniting them in that moment.

The air around them was still, and as they bowed their heads in prayer, there was a shared understanding of their hopes and worries. Helia, after all, was known to listen to the prayers of those with pure intentions.

Mary instinctively began the common Enohay Village prayer in her head, a familiar verse she had learned since she was a child. But moments later, she noticed that Tsubasa, and eventually Alexandra, was quietly speaking the words out loud. Both of their voices were soft, mature, and filled with warmth.

“Gosh, they’re like angels—a textbook definition of a woman…!” Mary thought to herself, wanting to be just like them as she knew her time stepping into the world of being a woman was nearing.

Feeling encouraged, she joined in, her voice starting low and uncertain but gradually growing stronger alongside Tsubasa’s and Alexandra’s.

Their voices eventually harmonized, unified in the sacred words of the village prayer.

The final words echoed softly through the shrine, carried on the breeze. As the prayer ended, there was a moment of silence before Tsubasa turned to Mary with a gentle nod. "Go ahead, Mary," she said softly, "say your wish first."

Mary hesitated for a brief second before closing her eyes, her heart full of hope. "Goddess Helia," she began, her voice quiet but clear, "please protect my father, Koul, along with Liam, Gus, and Dama. Keep them safe on their journey and bring them back home to us."

Tsubasa smiled warmly, nodding in approval as she used her bushy tail to gently brush the top of Mary’s head, a tender gesture that made the young girl smile despite her nerves.

Then it was Alexandra’s turn. She closed her eyes, and after a few moments of thoughtful silence, she spoke. "I ask for the same, Goddess. Please protect Koul, Liam, Gus, and Dama. Keep them safe from harm and guide them home." Her lips curled into a slight smile as she added with a playful tone. “And, if you don’t mind, make sure Liam brushes his hair and teeth every morning, gets at least eight hours of sleep, and eats healthy while he’s away.”

Tsubasa let out a soft, amused chuckle at Alexandra’s endearing request, her eyes twinkling with fondness.

Finally, it was Tsubasa’s turn. She took a deep breath, her eyes focused on the statue of Helia as the night air stirred gently around them. "Goddess Helia," she began, her voice calm and steady, "I only ask that you watch over them and ensure they come home safe. That is all I wish."

With those final words, the three women fell into a comfortable silence once again, their prayers having been sent into the night, carried by the wind to the goddess they revered. Each of them felt a sense of peace, knowing they had offered their wishes to the one who watched over the earth and all its people.

Tsubasa then softly clapped her hands together, breaking the silence, and let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Well, I think that’s enough praying for tonight," she said with a playful grin, “with all those wishes, I’d say the men are now 100% safe."

Mary smiled, her heart lighter than it had been before. As Tsubasa spoke, brief flashes of Koul and Dama filled her mind, images of them smiling and safe, and she found herself nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Granny Tsu," Mary said, her voice full of gratitude, "I feel a lot better now."

Tsubasa waved a hand dismissively but smiled warmly. "It’s no problem at all, Mary. That’s what I’m here for—it’s part of the job as village chiefess, after all." she leaned down slightly, her tail swaying playfully behind her as she added. "And it’s also my job to make sure pretty girls like you don’t walk around alone at night. So, I’ll be walking you home."

Mary’s cheeks reddened slightly at the compliment, but she couldn’t help but laugh. "Alright, alright." she said with a sheepish smile, feeling a sense of comfort in Tsubasa’s protective presence.

Tsubasa gave a playful wink and gestured for Mary to follow her, before turning to Alexandra. "That goes for you too, little Ms. Leir. Let’s get you two home safe and sound."

Alexandra chuckled softly, her voice warm as she shook her head. "Jeez chiefess, Liam and I aren’t married yet."

Tsubasa grinned. "Pah! With the way you two interact already, it seems like you’ve been married for decades already!" she said, her gray wolf-like ears twitching with amusement.

Alexandra blushed as she cupped both of her cheeks. “Well, I can’t argue with that, Liam did promise to marry me when we were still five. To think it has been almost two decades since then, and that promise is about to come true!” she couldn’t help but squeal as she rocked back and forth.

Remembering a faint memory of such a promise being planned between her and a very young Liam before it was told, Tsubasa smiled with a rare and warm nostalgia. “Indeed, it’s such a beautiful thing.”

Tsubasa started to descend the stairs once more, with Mary and Alexandra in tow. “That’s also something I want you to know, Alexandra. Marriage, at its roots, is only a customary practice at the end of the day. You don’t need it to prove the obvious love you two have for each other, you know?

Tsubasa then turned her head to look at the two girls walking behind her, a mischievous grin spread across her face. “Hell, the only reason Owain and I had a marriage ceremony was due to the fact he was next in line to be chief—we were fine without one.” she shrugged as she turned back around.

Alexandra nodded. “I know that a ceremony isn’t necessary, but I still want to do it, and so does Liam. But, it’s not for us—it’s for Juin.”

“Juin?” Mary repeated, astonished.”

Alexandra rested a cheek in her left hand. “Yes indeed, the boy is pretty close with Liam since he’s the only one who makes time to come to his house to teach him, since he’s too sick to even get out of bed. Poor boy…” she said solemnly before placing her left hand upon her chest. “Apparently one day, Liam told Juin about our plans for marriage, and Juin said he wished he could see it. That’s when Liam promised Juin that we would have our marriage ceremony in front of his bedroom window, letting him have the front row seat.”

Mary placed a hand over her heart that skipped a beat. “Awww…”

Tsubasa sighed and closed her eyes—not out of disappointment, but out of genuine gratitude for Liam’s existence. “That Liam, always so thoughtful of others, and studious to boot. You caught herself a fine man, Alexandra.”

“Luck of the draw, tehee!” Alexandra replied.

“Luck? Maybe, maybe not. Though, I can say for certain my meeting with Owain was truly the luck of the draw.” Tsubasa laughed as she dove into a realm of past memories, though it soon shifted into a thoughtful groan. She raised her hand, rubbing her chin in deep contemplation, her ears drooping back and eyes narrowing as if a puzzle were forming in her mind.

“Something wrong, Granny Tsu?” Mary asked, her voice filled with concern, quickening her pace in order to walk beside Tsubasa and check on her.

Tsubasa shook her head in response as she curled her tail around Mary, pulling her close. “Don’t mind me, dear. I’m just wondering which boy you’ll marry!”

Mary’s entire face flashed crimson at the question, her attempts at a retort taking the form of mere stutters. Alexandra, in contrast, laughed into a cupped hand. “My my, chiefess. Though, to be honest with you, I was thinking the same thing!”

Tsubasa and Alexandra both broke into laughter, their voices carrying through the still night. Meanwhile, Mary’s embarrassment reached its peak.

Her heart pounded as her face flushed even further, and with all the pent-up frustration she could muster, she threw her head back and shouted into the sky, "JEEEEEEEZZZZ!"

Her outburst echoed through the quiet village, leaving Tsubasa and Alexandra chuckling even harder. Despite that, Mary couldn’t help but smile a little, knowing she was surrounded by people who cared about her.

Together, the three continued their descent, their conversation light but comforting, as they made their way back into the heart of Enohay Village.

After Tsubasa had walked both Mary and Alexandra safely to their homes, she continued her stroll through the village, her arms resting behind her hunched back as she hummed a nostalgic harmony.

The night was quiet, and her sharp ears picked up the gentle sounds of the villagers snoring inside their houses. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she passed by, comforted by the peacefulness that blanketed Enohay Village.

As she neared the outskirts of the village, approaching the front gate, Tsubasa paused. She inhaled deeply, letting the cool night breeze wash over her, the air carrying a sense of calm that brushed upon every bristle of hair on her body, leaving her relaxed.

However, just as she was about to resume her walk, her sensitive wolf-like ears twitched, catching an unfamiliar sound.

It was faint but distinct—a series of soft clinks, like necklaces rubbing against each other. The sound was eerie, unsettling in the otherwise quiet night.

"What the...?" Tsubasa’s eyes narrowed and she instinctively turned toward its source: the Adin's residence, a house that lay near the edge of the village. Just as her gaze locked onto the house, she caught a glimpse of something—or rather, someone.

It was the tall, mysterious figure of a black man, dressed entirely in white, standing at the corner of the house. His outfit was striking: a pristine white chiton draped gracefully around him, a multitude of shimmering golden chains flowing upon his limbs, and a white turban wrapped securely atop his head. His presence was almost ghostly under the moonlight, contrasting sharply against the dark backdrop of the night.

Before Tsubasa could react, the man then disappeared behind the corner of the Adin's house, vanishing from sight.

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Next: (Chapter 55) Enohay's Ghostly Visitor