「Broken Compass」The Cards Beneath

Chapter 24

Mars adjusted his long scarf, which had slipped forward, carefully draping it back over his shoulder as he approached with a snicker.

"You two are quite entertaining," he remarked, amusement evident in his tone.

Li ignored his comment and brushed the dust from his pants.

Observing the scuffed knees, Hoku allowed himself a subtle smirk.

He began to walk past Mars, his gaze methodically surveying the surroundings.

As their paths intersected, his eyes lingered momentarily on Juno.

A brief exchange of eye contact ensued before Juno offered a curt nod and proceeded without a word.

He cast a furtive glance over his shoulder, his eyes widening as Juno halted before Li. She hesitated, her gaze shifting to the right.

The edge of her cloak shifted subtly as she extended a closed fist toward him.

"You dropped this," she stated, her voice faint yet steady.

With deliberate slowness, her fingers unfurled, revealing a small, worn object. 

Hoku squinted, endeavoring to discern the nature of the item.

Its surface bore the marks of frequent use and appeared slightly dampened.

Puzzlement crossed his face as he discreetly adjusted his angle, striving for a clearer view of the object.

This action, however, did not go unnoticed.

Li's gaze followed, momentarily locking with Hoku's.

A surge of anxiety prompted Hoku to swiftly avert his eyes, feigning interest in their surroundings. 

He raised a contemplative hand to his chin and hummed as his eyes skimmed across the space.

The air was thick with the scent of aged stone, dust motes drifting lazily in the stagnant atmosphere. 

Beneath them, the floor's chaotic patterns, upon closer inspection, revealed an underlying symmetry. 

An eerie silence pervaded the space, with walls ascending high and narrow, reminiscent of a canyon's confines. 

Jagged rocks emerged around them, casting elongated shadows that enhanced the illusion of an endless expanse.

Behind Hoku, Li sighed before accepting the worn object from Juno.

A slight furrow formed between her brows as she observed him grasp the item firmly before moving past her.

Keeping his back to the scene, Hoku stole a glance from the corner of his eye as footsteps approached. 

He tensed, retreating slightly as Li paused just an inch from his boots. 

A prolonged silence ensued, marked by Li's rigid posture and inscrutable expression.

 Hoku swallowed. 'What does he want—' 

The stifling silence eventually prompted him to speak, 'I wasn't trying to intrude; I wanted to make sure everyone was alright.' 

"Mn. We're all fine."

As Hoku prepared to continue, Li's hand darted forward, and brushed something from his cheek.

 His body stiffened as he cast a puzzled glance at the ground.

Li's expression remained apathetic as he continued, "More importantly, how long did you intend to leave that poison on your face?

Hoku covered his cheek with a hand and looked up. 

"Huh? Poison?"

"You're fortunate it's not lethal, but that species of Polyphemus secretes urushiol in its blood; you might develop a rash.

Be careful not to spread it; it could further mar your face."

Blinking, Hoku lowered his hand.

"Thanks…I won't."

Li turned away, muttering inaudibly. 

As he departed, something brushed the back of Hoku's hand, landing on his boot. He glanced down and saw the cloth he had been carrying. 

For a moment, he remained still, then crouched to retrieve it.

 A dark stain, deeper than the blood from when Li cleaned his blade, marred its now rough texture. Hoku frowned, considering discarding it. 

After a pause, he placed the compass on the cloth and folded the corners over. 

Abel's voice penetrated through Hoku's thoughts. "Hoku! Come look at this mural!"

He glanced up to see the group gathered ahead. 

With a reluctant sigh, he approached. "Look at this." Abel pointed to the ground with a dramatic frown.

"'It's like a frame puzzle. I think you opened it with that watch mechanism." Hoku slowly nodded and discreetly glimpsed over at Li, who stood apart.

His attention seemed to be elsewhere as if he were deliberately avoiding the scene.

"What is it?" Hoku lowered his voice as he stepped closer. 

The faint glow of the sandy lamps barely illuminated the image that was etched into mural. 

Abel crouched near the edge, and hovered his fingers above one of the lamps. 'Look,' he murmured, indicating the five luminous spots scattered across the mural. 'They're all lit—except this one.' 

He gestured to the center, where a star-shaped hollow lay, encircled by delicate lines radiating outward like sunbeams. 

Kneeling beside him, Hoku focused on the vacant star. His grip tightened around the compass as memories of earlier events surged to the forefront of his mind.

The image of the compass melting, its metal distorting as if rejecting the frame, replayed in his mind. 

Hoku leaned in, scrutinizing the details. 

Within the star's outline, a faint circle was carved into the stone; slightly recessed, and marred by tiny fissures. 

His pulse quickened. 

He grazed his fingers brushing over the cloth-wrapped compass, he felt its weight, grounding him against the rush of thoughts. 

Carefully, he unwrapped it. 

Even in the dim light, the metallic sheen caught his eye.

'Does it belong here?' His brows furrowed. 

'The swirling fragments from earlier had converged into the mural, was that meant to be a clue?' 

There was no direct illumination, yet the compass seemed to absorb the light from the lamps. 

Holding his breath, he lowered it into the hollow. 

'So, it fits perfectly.' Hoku leaned back, waiting. Nothing happened. Seconds stretched and doubt slowly crept in. 

Abel stepped back from behind him. 'Well, that's not coming out easily. Does anyone have a needle or something thin? We could try to—"

Abel's words faltered as something captured his sight. 

Hoku wrinkled his nose, looming his hand over the compass. 

Abel turned back around and chuckled nervously. "Is it supposed to do that?" 

The group fell silent, their shadows wavering against the fading lamps.

Abel flinched as the last light went out, enfolding them into darkness. 

The silence pressed in until he let out a frustrated sigh, "I hate this. Forget the needle, does anyone have a lighter?"

"Shut up, idiot!" Fleur snapped.

"You're a grown man; act like it." Abel drooped his head and pressed his lips into a sullen pout. 

Hoku barely noted their exchange, his mind fixed on the star. 

He leaned closer and grazed the mural's surface. 

'Was I mistaken?' The thought refused to settle.

Then, beneath the compass, a weak glimmer surfaced, on the verge of disappearing as a soft sound rose and intensified into a steady sizzle.

It was the same sound he'd heard earlier. 

Lowering himself further, Hoku strained to confirm his eyes weren't deceiving him. 

But the motion was unnecessary; his eyes widened as the compass began its transformation within the recess. 

Gradually, the compass became visible to everyone present. 

As the light intensified, the once smooth metal surface slanted and softened. 

The edges dissolved into molten gold, unexpectedly expanding and spreading like quicksilver, filling the mural's grooves.

Hoku quickly retreated as the mural had begun to unveil itself. 

Intricate symbols materialized: five diminutive stars encircled a prominent central one, their lines etched with careful accuracy. 

From the mural's core, an immense tree ascended, its branches sprawling wide and full, though some stood bare against the luminous design. 

Each leaf was rendered with exquisite detail, with glowing veins coursing through them like miniature rivers. 

At the tree's base, nestled among its roots, a girl was depicted, curled up, her medium-length wavy hair cascading softly over her shoulders.

A dress draped in delicate folds around her form, and beside her rested a closed book. 

The last item was a slender chain around her neck, its center conspicuously vacant, as if missing a pendant. 

Hoku couldn't avert his gaze. Abel glimpsed over with a taut expression, and asked, "What did you do?" Fleur stepped closer, echoing the question moments later, her voice louder yet equally devoid of expectation. 

Neither query drew his attention as words eluded him, smothered by the force lingering in the air.

Suddenly, the largest star where he had placed his compass rose from the ground and floated toward Hoku, its brilliance blinding him to its shape.

An inexplicable urge gripped him; he extended his delicately curved fingers toward the light, reaching for its apex.

Upon his fingertips brushing the star's tip, a wave of light emanated outward, muffling all sounds beneath a low, steady rumble. 

He stepped back, reflexively turning to the others, but before he could speak, the star's center began to veer. 

The lines of light amplified, radiating outward like a flare's burst. 

Then, a streak of gold erupted from the star's core, carving an upward path.

The ground trembled beneath him, and the rhythm steadied before abruptly buckling and collapsing inward. 

Urgent, disoriented shouts arose from behind him. 

The others called his name, but the clamor of shifting rocks lapsed over their voices. 

Instinctively, Hoku reached out, but his hand grasped only empty air. 

A sudden gust surged, unbalancing him and forcing him to stagger forward.

The strength tore at his garments, abruptly lifting him off the ground. 

He found himself sliding downward into a gaping pit, the jagged walls scraping painfully against his back. 

Dim light filtered in, revealing fragmented, unrecognizable shards embedded within the earthen walls. 

The passageway narrowed and twisted violently, distorting his surroundings into a chaotic blur. 

Amidst the disarray, a brief thought crossed his mind: 'Is this a rabbit hole?!'

To be continued...

 ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼◼◼ 

Your contract negotiations have been fulfilled!

System processing will be sent to the offeree. 

Response expectancy time:

9489548986945466001039504431 Timestream 'Days'. [Possibly Never]

- ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼◼◼ -