A flame so absolutely enchanting was one I was exposed to on that day. The beasts relished in its presence, bystier and normal alike. The damaged trees regrew in what appeared to be a moment. Returning their grandeur from a time long past. Life flourished, allowing itself to be warped, that was what I witnessed. How its seemingly innocent gaze grew cold, distant and ever so beguiling. Those weren't the eyes of a mere human. They were the eyes of a being that defied conventional law that runs reality. They were the eyes of someone who grew to accept me as their cousin without any tie to blood. Someone who relished in my presence. Shamelessly so, it would be considered distasteful. Though, value me they did. And, honest they were.
"Wave….where did Mr. Vito go? He calls me here then he disappears. After he even went as far as to say that it was very important." Calida's exasperation could be heard through her voice. Her patience ran thin. Rightfully so as Mr. Vito hadn't shown up even after two hours had passed.
"That's a usual for him. He probably went to organize something for Fortune's Vitus." Wave's explanation though brief was concise. He was out running yet another errand.
She let out yet another sigh. A simple gesture, knowing full that Wave would react.
"Calida….you are being noisy. Shut up."
"You are much colder than you usually are. Worried that your share of lunch will come to me? Don't worry I don't eat—"
"As if."
"Fine then, I will eat all of it. In fact, I will fight you for it."
He stood up from the chair on which he sat. Acting stupid like she usually does. But that just seems like a façade. "I would like to see you try."
"You know I am stronger than you, right? I could kill you without any difficulty," a light smirk met her lips. A simple jest though true it rang. A crimson glow consumed her eyes.
"You really shouldn't mention killing so easily. It's a lot harder to do than you think. Even after it's done, it lingers in the mind for the longest of time." Wave's eyes shifted to the ground, counting the flaming feathers that lay on the floor.
"You decided to make that depressing." An awkward silence took hold of whatever air was present. Musking it with tension, a clear reflection of how Wave felt.
"Why didn't you come and see me two days ago? You usually show up after three days so what happened." The crimson glow that took hold of her eyes varnished returning them to their azure state. Crimson flaming feather fell from the ceiling. Falling like rain.
"Why do you keep dropping the feathers? I know you like doing that but how can I relax if I have to keep defending myself against them."
"Consider it my way of alleviating boredom. Also, you really didn't answer my question."
The door knob turned. A creaking echoed throughout the room as the door opened.
"You two are quiet for a change. I thought that would never happen." He stepped in. A loud thud echoed with each step he made. His scarf blew even though he was still in doors.
"You called for me, right uncle?"
"Wave….leave us."
"Ok…" He stepped out, closing the door from behind him. No sooner had it closed than he continued speaking.
"I called you as there is something that needs your agent attention. Call it an errand."
"I am not really doing errands right now."
"It's from Hollow Veil." She jumped out of her seat, eyes glowing crimson. She bit her lower lip before saying, "What do they want?"
"That news seems to have startled you. You even stopped making those feathers you are constantly producing. Relax, an envoy is expected to show up in Ganase in a few days. In fact, they may already be here. I just thought you need to know."
"I see— it's good my brother wasn't here. This news doesn't matter though since their target isn't here."
"Naturally it doesn't. I only mentioned that so I can extract a favor from you. Here is the actual assignment—"
"Wait, Wave! I know you are behind the door. Why not just join us? Something fun is coming up."
He opened the door, "How long did you know I was there?"
"From the beginning, you are not really good at suppressing your spiritual vibrations. Mr. Vito never said anything so I thought I shouldn't too. But since we are completing the assignment together I thought you should hear this face to face."
"I never volunteered."
"I will complain to your father then, he is right here you know." He let out a sigh before asking, "What is the assignment about?"
"Unrest among the bystier in the forest. Bystier have been exhibiting strange behavior. They are evacuating and rampaging about. This is dangerous as they will soon run into the village. I want you to take care of it."
"But what for? How are we even supposed to calm down beasts?" his voice questioning. He had no idea what Mr. Vito had in mind.
"I understand. I will get it done."
"What do you mean—"
"Good girl Calida."
"Why did you agree so quickly?"
"I will explain on the way Wave. We just have to hurry." She quickly walked out before slamming the door.
"What's that about?"
"Wave…..I doubt you understand anything. I am sure she has already understood what could make those bystier overreact like that."
"Does it have anything to do with Hollow Veil?"
"Not as much as you would want to think."
~
Bystiers are animals and plants whose physiology is altered upon exposure to a specific type of spiritual vibration. It triggers resonance and forces them to undergo major alteration to their perception, cognition, memory, healing or regenerative properties, muscle functionality and basic molecular markup. That's the basis of evolution, something I was none too clear on. These vibrations stemmed from divinity.
I understood nothing about the world until I saw you return nine years ago. You were the flame that burnt ever so brightly, carrying on your back the person you valued as your brother. It was surreal, how everything glitched with each step you took. How vacant your gaze became as flaming feathers littered the ground. You placed him on the ground and disappeared you did. Uttering not a word, but, smiling at me, a scene that seemed far too distant. To the flame you returned…. and never appeared for another eight years.
"Calida, do you know why we sat indoors?"
"Obviously, its cold out. What's wrong? Is it too cold for you? Are you afraid you will catch a cold or something?" They strolled through the forest. Leaves rustling as the hollowed husks of trees whistled.
"You are the one with exposed shoulders, we are expecting a storm and somehow you choose to dress like that."
"Well there is actually a reason for this, but you have to admit, navy blue suits me right. Both this jacket and the bottom."
"Then use the jacket to cover yourself not hang it from you arms and cover only your lower back."
"Oh please…I am fire remember— this level of cold can't do anything to me." She smiled softly before adding, "You aren't going to ask anything, are you?"
She whispered, her voice barely audible past the rustling leaves. A sight I never thought I would ever get to see. She appeared like a spark and burnt brighter than any flame.
"If I asked a question each time you did something that made no sense to me, I would be nagging you constantly. The answers will just pop up. Speaking of which, we are heading back to your place, right?" "That's correct, if they really want to make contact with me, they will be there."
"Hollow Veil you mean."
"That's correct. But don't worry, I am not a member or anything. Chances are they just want to have a chat with me."
"I wish I could believe that." A wave of malice brushed past them like sonar. A wave that sent shivers down Wave's spine. A cold chill consumed him. It was all entirely obvious, a presence he could not hope to fathom was up ahead. Being spiritual sensitive proved to be a weakness.
"Wave, you should stay close." She felt the soft touch of wool around her neck. "Huh."
"And you should stay warm." He added.
A warm reception wasn't one I was expecting yet, what we got wasn't it either. They stood, acting as though the house was their own. Had I had been none the wiser, I would have assumed that to be true. Then again, no person who owns the house would be locked outside.
"You are not who I was expecting. Hurry and identify yourself." He spoke, his white scarf blowing against the wind. He was the source of the malice that made the chilly weather feel like a comfy fire.
"Xem, stop saying stupid thing. Tis bad to be disrespectful." Alda chimed in. "Apologies Madam, tis a pleasure to meet you." She bowed her head slightly, saluting Calida.
Nazir sat on their roof watching as things unfold. "She is right Xem. If a beautiful woman stands before you, don't sound too direct, offer some nice words." He flipped the page, returning his gaze to his somewhat questionable choice of literature.
"Who sent you here? Start making sense quickly," her voice stern. It was made apparent, she had no intention of having a lengthy chart.
"Madam, tis like this. We were told we could meet a half shadow here. Our job was to converse with him. However brief our visit might be. He lives with you, does he not? He goes by the name Asim now."
My brother, huh. "Your people aren't welcome here. Please Leave." He stepped forward, walking past them. Nazir jumped from the roof before landing right in front of her. "What do you mean Your people aren't welcome here? You are a member of Hollow Veil as well. Calida Binger."
I was taken aback by his words. Words that rang true as I had always had a vague suspicion. That was all the proof I needed to know an aspect that was long kept hidden. A side that I had no right to know as an outsider.
"You are being disrespectful, Void—" Alda's words were interrupted by Calida who had grabbed Nazir by his blazer. "What gives you the right to say that?"
"We all know it's true. After all, you are his accessory."
"Void…you should think about shutting up now." Alda added.
A crimson glow consumed Calida's eyes when she shoved him aside. Wave looked on, wondering exactly what he was witnessing. This scene was far more than bickering, they were attempting to enrage one another.
The air felt heavy, chilly to a point where the malice could no longer be ignored. Wave, who stood beside Calida, felt this change. The air became too dense to breath, scarce like nothing he had never witnessed before. He coughed before he felt flames surround him.
They coated his body, converging from flaming feathers that covered the whole area. Alda and Nazir jumped away from the scene. Fleeing as they were expecting a clash like no other. "See what you did Nazir? Now those two will go for each other's throats. Aching them on was beyond stupid. You are an idiot, you know that."
"The pot is calling the kettle black. If you actually stopped to think for a moment, why would Xem react as he did if I wasn't bothered by what she did. He must have something in mind. I doubt he would react so strongly over a simple shove." Then again, this is Xem. Efficient and logical. I might just have to step in.
"Now unfurl, Shadow Art: Fragmented rouse; Sovereign Preside." The ground beneath them darkened, forming a swamp. It bubbled before they saw wings emerging from it. A wing span that ranged for four meters. The head of an eagle then emerged. Crimson flames being released from its beak. Its body was of a lion. A large war cry could be heard. Flames emerged from its beak, setting all the trees on fire. In what appeared to be moments, the trees fell from the intense flames.
Calida and Wave remained unburnt as her flames canceled all the flames that were projected at them.
"Calida, we need to clear out. Flames this strong will probably burn through your defense in just a moment."
"You worry too much, Wave." She took off the scarf and threw it to him. "Thanks for the scarf but I don't need it anymore. It's too hot here." A blue aura shrouded her body when a crimson glow met her eyes. She brushed her hand against the wind and in its wake only crimson feathers remained. Half her face turned to Azure flames as the flames grew in size. The consumed the whole area reaching a height of 98m. They gained the form of a martial eagle, its underbelly, a crimson flame burning bright. Crimson tipped its blue feathers before all the flames were consumed by its own.
I stood in awe, watching the Calida I knew turn to a giant bird. One who's flames burned ever so brightly. They consumed all flames that dared to venture on the land it called its own. Opposing the force of a being that appeared to not be of our world. Yet, even it succumbed to her flames. The earth roared as bystier flocked to her. Be they slithery, footers or those that ruled the sky be it night or day. They were absolutely enchanted by her magic.
Xem stood burning in the flames, fat boiling as they burnt his top. He felt no pain. "That fire is something else. Even one of my familiars can not hold a candle to it." A feather ran through his chest, making a hole where his heart should have been. "She even went for the heart." Blood fell from his mouth before he shouted, "Miss Calida…do you dislike Hollow Veil? They have quite the kin interest in your brother."
The burnt trees regrew in what appeared to be an instant. The flames then scattered. She had returned to her somewhat frail looking figure. A figure that concealed a power so great it was terrifying. "I loathe them more than anything else in this world. The others listening in, report this to your superiors. If they want my brother, they should hurry and kill me. Otherwise, they will never lay so much as a finger on him. But now that I am thinking about it, if they did kill me, he would probably rip them apart. I guess that's their answer, they will never have him back."
Xem was walking toward her when a flaming arrow ran through his skull. He paid it no mind before adding. "I am someone Hollow Veil wishes to kill as well. I am a half shadow, particularly, I am the undead. Now, let's have the actual chat."
I had no idea what I was witnessing, I saw his entrails tremble with each step he took yet, he paid them no mind. His skull had a hole in it, yet, he spoke and walked as though he was still alive. I witnessed two beings, one whose flames caused rebirth and a being who couldn't die. In shock, I trembled in their presence alone. I crawled away as my legs had already given out.
"What do you want?" Calida said when she moved back to the house.
"You belong to formless, no? I do not wish for him to end up in Hollow Veil's hands. That outcome is one we must avoid at all cost."
"Right, Like I will believe that. Why would someone who is working for Hollow Veil ask that of me?"
"It is simple really, I loathe Hollow Veil. Rather, loathe sounds like an emotion, I would more accurately describe it as inconvenient. If formless ends up in their hands, trouble might in sue. Hollow Veil's existence feels like an error, they are akin to a nation though they are not one. Niveen seems to loathe them so I must act on his behalf."
"That was why you came to talk to me. Make your intentions clear next time, I would have ended up killing all of you."
"That's doubtful. As you are at the moment, I could kill you if I wanted. But we can not have that, Formless would die causing a universal distortion effect to see him brought back to life. Reality would be altered worse than it already is."
"How do you know all that?"
"I am a shadow as well. A glitch on reality that shouldn't exist. Naturally, I would know of another glitch. You are a glitch more perfected, yet, you already know that. Anyway, I have said my peace. Return to formless lest you wish to regret it. I will be off now. I have a Chimeralana to hunt." He walked away, varnishing into the forest.
She quickly turned around, "Are you okay, Wave? That was really intense. I wondered if the flames I used to cover you burnt you even a little. I am glad you didn't use your magic too otherwise all the bystier that have flocked here would have attacked. You see, I have a bit of a problem, my flames attract bystier. It's nourishing to them—"
"Calida…that eagle thing, that was you, right?" he coughed, forcing himself back to his feet.
"You saw, huh. I thought I covered myself nicely when I transformed. I guess I was too optimistic, you are spiritual sensitive after all. Yeah…. I became that bird. I am a human augmented bystier. I once resonated with something special and now I exist as both. Freaky right."
At that moment, I peeled back yet another layer. I saw the being they called Calida. A flame that burned brighter than anything I had ever witnessed. I understood why she valued me, though no blood tie was ever present. She was someone who was removed from conventional law, one whose blood could no longer be seen as human. Rejecting me would have meant her acknowledging that she deserves to be rejected. How cruel this reality truly is? How twisted it is? And how unforgiving it has become?