Aether Nexus: Curse of Love & Hatred

“M-Mumu!? Nina!? Didn't I leave you two with Giona and Mari? Why—Whe—What is going on!?” Dama exclaimed, bewildered by the current situation. “What is this place!? Where’s Granny Tsubasa and Ms. Adin!? How am I standing on water!?”

Mumu and Nina stood silent at Dama’s questions.

“Why won’t you two answer me? Ar—Are you guys really my Mumu and Nina?”

Finally responding, the pair only shook their heads.

Dumbfounded for a brief moment, Dama questioned further. “Then…who are you? How do I get out of here?”

The plush pair swapped glances. Then, the replica Mumu raised its right arm and pointed at the glowing orb beside it, motioning for Dama to come closer with the other arm.

While still hesitant, Dama understood what the replica Mumu was telling him. “You want me to touch the orb…?” Slowly, he crept forwards, the glowing orb of light seemingly getting brighter with each step he took.

Now within arm's length he reached out for it.“So warm… So nostalgic too… Just what is this thing?” Dama thought to himself as he grasped the ethereal item. Getting a good grip on it, he at first was surprised with how solid it felt. Then, in an instant, he was transported to another place—a place of pure light, way brighter than the clear blue lake he was just in.

Yet, the light didn't bother him this time. He looked around in severe confusion, as he had no answers to what has been happening to him. “Holy, what is going on!? Where am I now!? None of this makes any sense! Am I being punished for not doing my usual prayer? I'm sorry my lords! I won't take your blessings for granted again! I've learned my lesson!” Dama screamed in his head, now in full panic mode as he clasped his head with his trembling hand. His eyes wide with fear of the unknown, as though trying to hold onto his own sanity from spilling out of his mind.

“Dama… Dama… Dama…” Disembodied voices started pouring in from the void of light surrounding him, chanting his name. Dama spun around to identify the source of the noise, only to see a giant tree far into the distance.

It was many things, but the only thing that came to mind, and that Dama could utter, was simply, “Beautiful…”

The trunk of the tree spanned miles in length. Thousands of interconnected branches snaked out in every direction at the top. Upon them housed millions upon millions of leaves, each with their own graceful green glow. With each passing second, a leaf would fall and wither away, while another leaf would grow in to fill in the vacant place. An aura of Order, Peace and Harmony exuded from the tree, as well as the voices Dama heard chanting his name, of which got louder and louder the longer he stared at the tree, until…

“DAMA!”

“EH!? Huh?” Dama snapped back into reality with Tsubasa ferociously shaking his shoulders.

“What in the world got into you, boy? You weren't responding to us for five minutes!” Tsubasa exclaimed as she cupped both of Dama's cheeks, staring into his very soul once again.

“Indeed, you really scared us for a minute there, Dama…” Ronoa concurred with Tsubasa, breathing a sigh of relief with one hand to her chest.

“Ah… I see… I'm very sorry for that, I guess I just…dozed off?” Dama nervously laughed out.

Tsubasa raised an eyebrow at Dama. “You were staring wide eyed at Goddess Helia's Statue, you call that sleeping, boy?"

“...Yes.” Dama answered with fake confidence.

“What am I going to do with you…” Taking a deep breath with a slight tinge of disappointment, Tsubasa continued, “Either way, looks like you at least got your prayers in today. Very sorry Ronoa, I would stay and chat, but this boy and I have a very important matter to attend to right now.”

“Ah, no worries Chiefess Tsubasa. I need to go handle something myself too." Ronoa said, walking towards the stairs leading out of the prayer area. "I wish the best of luck to you two!”

Tsubasa waved in response. “Alright, you too!”

“Thank you, Ms. Adin! And say hi to Juin for me! I'll make sure to come visit him when I have the chance!” Dama shouted, waving with way more energy than Tsubasa.

“I will! Bye!” Ronoa responded as her entire figure and waving hand disappeared over the stairs.

As the two waved off Ronoa as she descended down the stairs, an awkward silence soon fell into place, only for Tsubasa to break it moments later. “You sure you aren’t cursed, boy?”

“I promise I'll explain later Granny Tsu…” Dama quickly responded, knowing exactly what she was referring to, as he looked at the hand that grabbed the glowing orb.

Reminiscing about the roller coaster of an experience he went through, he would be surprised once more to witness a mysterious golden aura emit from his left hand.

“Well, alright, you can explain once we get to your cabin. Let's go." Tsubasa said as she put her hands behind her back again. "Also, don't worry about Owain, I'll tell the first shrine maiden we come across to make sure he knows I'm out and about with you.”

Exiting the shrine grounds, the pair would walk through the village. Its residents cheerfully greeted the chiefess and neighborhood errand boy as they walked past.

Coming across the front gate of the village, they would find themselves arriving at the same time as a battalion of Enohay's toughest men—a group led by none other than Mr. Koul.

“Hm? Ah! Chiefess! It's rare nowadays seeing you up and about! Did you come to welcome us home? That's much appreciated!” Mr. Koul exclaimed at the welcoming sight.

Tsubasa nodded her head in a confident manner, though her tail wagging betrayed a hidden joy of seeing the group come back unscathed. “Not really, though I am glad to see you boys have made it back safe and sound. Did you complete the task?”

“Yep, the bear has been taken care of," Koul said while pointing behind him, "Some of the lads just behind us are lugging the ol' body for proof.”

Tsubasa, pleased with the news, put her hands together in gratitude. “Splendid! Many of the villagers were scared of a bear sighting near our settlement, but now that has been taken care of, business can flow as usual with no fear. Thank you, boys.”

“Of course, madam!”

“All in a day's work!”

“It was our pleasure, Chiefess!”

As the group of men meandered in Tsubasa's praise, a certain someone behind Tsubasa would catch Koul's attention. “Oy, is that you Dama?”

Dama saluted to Koul in a playful manner. “Yessir! Hello, Mr. Koul!”

Returning the energy, Koul raised both arms into the air like a child. “Lad! I'm glad you took my advice and came down that blasted mountain, but you're leaving so soon?” he said as he lowered his arms, letdown filling his voice.

Interjecting, Tsubasa wrapped her tail around Dama. “Oh, he'll be back, trust me. He has something he wants to show me is all.”

“Oh, his little surprise project, right?” Koul bent down towards Tsubasa and said with a hint of mischief.

While Dama mentally facepalmed, Tsubasa's fluffy ears twitched as she raised an eyebrow at the news. “Surprise project?”

Standing straight back up, Koul let out a hearty laugh. “Ha! I guess you'll see in due time. Well, I won’t keep you two. Come on boys! Let's go prepare this bear for a village wide supper, shall we?” he announced while looking over his shoulder at his group of men.

“AI!” The group of men celebrated in unison.

As the two parties passed each other, Dama and Tsubasa would eventually reach the boy's cabin.

As the crunch of each step echoed softly, the imprints of her boots etching a trail across the blanket of snow, Tsubasa would remind herself of previous visits up there. “It's been awhile since I've been up here. Glad to see nothing has changed. To think you're living up here all alone though…”

“Eh, I'm not living alone, I have Mumu and Nina with me, not to mention Giona now!”

“Giona?”

Dama perked up with a sparkle in his eyes. “Ah, that's right, I never told you. The girl I found, she calls herself Giona.”

“Like Giona Evelyn Tamaki, eh?” Tsubasa said as she rubbed her chin. "I guess it's fitting for a possible witch."

“Yep, here, she's just beyond this door.” Running up to the front door of his own cabin, Dama hastily knocked and called for his companion within. “Don’t worry Mumu, it’s me! You can open the door!”

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Next: (Chapter 9) Soulful, Affinity, and Cursed Techniques