Sparking Ashes
Everyone makes their entrance into the dome from separate places with various bags. Stacking them all in piled nearby before taking their respective seats.
Discussing their plans while ignoring the small projection hovering over the table.
"Can I?" Makoto speaks as his tablet slides back into his chair.
"Up to you." (Hibiki)
"Written?" (Makoto)
"You want to know that bad?" (Hibiki)
"..." (Makoto)
Makoto tapped the side of his cosmic throne, one of the more obvious in its oddity. He slid a small black box to Hibiki without sparing a glance at the member trying to recompose themself without drooling.
Hibiki waved his hand and a small, folded slip of paper landed in front of Makoto.
"I don't mind giving it away for free but, don't go spoiling the fun stuff." Hibiki tapped the table and the small box vanished without a trace.
"PFFT!" (Kohaku)
"S-SHUT UP!"
"Your bucktooth ass can come up here at any time. I just figured you'd be… busy." (Hibiki)
"Cause of-"
"You." (Hotaru)
"Y-...UGH!"
"The grind don't stop." (Hibiki)
"I'M NOT ASKING FOR HELP!"
"Your funeral." Hibiki picked up the recorder and placed his thumb against the button.
"WA-" The small projection of the robed figure stretches, widens and flickers before being vanquished under the simple-
*Click* *Click*
-of the button.
The others couldn't help but glance at their respective devices and it's 7 buttons while they've only been able to use 1.
"Mmm…,'that' won't be troubling, right?" Hibiki looked to Kohaku as he tossed it again. Hotaru shook her head while Makoto eased into the nonsense, muttering under his breath.
"P-Probably, my guys have been trying to get their hands on them for a while." (Kohaku)
"It's been a while since they slept?" Makoto asked and received a nod in response.
"Fucking mages…" (Hibiki)
"Hey!" (Hotaru)
"Hey, yourself. Who's gonna look over that one?" Hibiki smirked.
"It's my job..." Kohaku reluctantly got out of his seat just to be lightly pushed back by his partner now sitting on the table.
"It'd be nice." (Makoto)
"A field trip before the field trip? Sign me up!" Hotaru gleefully started to fly about the room, grabbing one of the bags and sorting through its content.
"As humans?!" (Kohaku)
Everyone in the room came to a sudden halt. Looking back at one another before Makoto couldn't help his laugh.
"W-what?" (Kohaku)
"..." (Hibiki)
Hotaru flew towards Hibiki's side chuckling and struggling to whisper into his ear before he uttered a long-winded sigh.
"Let's just get this over with first." (Hibiki)
*Click*
***
-Hibiki's POV-
A place of disarray and ruin being reconstructed. That's how I'd describe the sort of place I found in the area we're occasionally sent here when we sleep. The one problem I found of which is that I've been here every night.
It was like staring into that bleakness. That darkness, that cold sensation that took hold of me until I stopped grinding down the herbs I've requested.
Angel tear petals that I've boiled over in the distillation kettle to vaporize to get more essential oil to ease the body. If I could even say that's what it was. Researching the effect regular healing herbs would have on such a creature.
But, I guess my struggle to figure out how to even help led to catching someone's eye.
"Mr. Ashi, I got the Minor Mana potions!"
"Mr. Ashi, here's some water!"
""Mr. Ashi!""
"Thank you, Ame. Thank you, Safi."''
""You're welcome, Mr. Ashi!""
I gave up- ah, I'm getting ahead of myself. It was right after everything happened on Twinday. luckily, it turned out that half of whoever we were helping got was split with us. Helping someone finish their project before celebrating was a hassle and then some.
I dragged my feet back here to get that idiot out of critical condition. When I got here, I peeked through the door and caught two little girls with similar short bobs if you ignore their colors running around my patient, giggling to their heart's content.
I could faintly feel the mana circulating the room like a soup being stirred.
Ever since then little notes about the 'spirit guides' and their lives were being left to me. So, you could imagine how strange it was when I made myself visible for the two bickering about who would put it on the desk.
They went from never being there to following me to trying to help so I let them. It wasn't really up for discussion when the rodent started shedding fur and changing in color.
The girls were jumping for joy to watch the mutation take place. Watching the whole color spectrum of fur before settling on silver made me think there was a choice to make.
I placed the essential oil in the humidifier and looked back at the squirrel before taking a potion. All this time and still, I couldn't understand what it had gained. What did it want?
""Mr. Ashi! Mr. Ashi!"" The two tugged on my pants.
'I'm getting too old for this…'
""Mama's note!""
"You want to read it together?" (Hibiki)
""Uhuh, uhuh!""
"Alright, get over here." (Hibiki)
""YAY!""
I jogged over to the long table with most of the equipment, circled past the couch that had been more of a bed to me than my own. Then hopped over the large dark desk to their squeals and laughter. Then I circled the room before getting back to the desk and sat the girls in the leather swivel chair.
I grabbed the folded sheet of paper and sat down on the floor in front of them.
"You wanna guess what she said?"
"Mm mm." Safi shook her head.
"Mama said this one is for you." (Ame)
""So read it!""
"Girls, you heard what your mama said. We should listen to her directions." (Hibiki)
"Mhm…" (Safi)
"You're right…" (Ame)
"""..."""
"Anyways, -" (Hibiki
***
"I never said I was the best influence. I'd say I'm decent… at best." (Hibiki)
"Right…" (Hotaru)
"You're no better." (Hibiki)
"You're both pretty bad, keep going." (Makoto)
"Sheesh." (Kohaku)
***
"Dear Mr. Ashi…,
I've heard a lot about you from Ame and Safi. I'm also glad to hear the suggestions have been helpful in your efforts. It's not every day that a creature experiences a mutation and in a state like that they're most likely to not make it. Not every- … she left a spot blank, -gets to be as lucky as my girls…
'Hold up. Pause. Time out. Huh?'
I can't wait to see you if you do stick around. There's much I want to discuss with someone with your prerogative over some snacks.
Signed- Mistress After Maelstrom, Azure."
'... Mama… M.A.M.A…'
"Pfft-!" I covered my mouth so fast.
"Was that a laugh?!" Ame leaned forward to try to get a good look at me.
'I've been pincered!'
"Y-your mama… has a horrible sense of humor…" (Hibiki)
"Nuh, uh! You laughed!" She got out of the chair to look me in the eyes. I turned my head away just to find Safi on my other side staring silently.
"T-that was a moment of weakness. I'll never be caught off guard again." (Hibiki)
"Liar!" (Ame)
I gasped, "Ah, Me?! A liar?! That could never be true."
"You're lying!" (Ame)
"Am I lying? Orrr… am I not telling you what you want to hear?" (Hibiki)
"Mmmm!" Ame pouted and Safi held her shoulders while glaring at me.
'WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM CUTE?! GET OUT! YOU CAN'T AFFORD BABY FEVER!'
A little light by the entrance suddenly turned on, alerting us that Sirus was back.
I scruffed the purple and blue duo's hair before taking a stand and making my way to the bed the squirrel lay. If it wasn't for his breathing, I'd call'em dead the minute I got here the first time.
"You aren't going to ask?" (Safi)
" Is it even worth me asking?
People ask questions to get knowledge in return, to keep up the flow of a conversation, to understand.
Truthfully, I'm probably more of an enigma to you right now like you are to me and that's the way it should stay.
I don't want to entertain the idea someone has in their mind that this matters to me in the slightest." (Hibiki)
"B-but you're here." (Ame)
"And what for?" (Hibiki)
"... That's not very nice." (Safi)
"You say that like even this conversation isn't just so you can get something from me." (Hibiki)
"To understand?" (Safi)
"For Ame, maybe. For you? No… The cogs are already clicking in the right places, don't doubt your conclusion." (Hibiki)
"...Then will you entertain one more question?" (Safi)
"Might as well. Speak your truth, Star child." (Hibiki)
So, there I stood, tapping my finger rhythmically against the blue glass. The same pod. About to play the same game. Said to lead to endless possibilities.
"Hm?" (Hibiki)
"Ah, right… right..." (Hibiki)
Looking around me, all the other pods were closed and lit with activity.
'Such a strange thing… 12 pods, 4 people? No. Let's just get this over with.'
I took my seat and watched the pod close. Replacing the darkened space going from white until the blue sky filled my view. I could feel the cushion against my back as I took in the sunlight.
"... To hell with it." I pulled out a bottle and popped it cork, immediately being enraptured by the scent wafting out of the bottle.
A small sip was all it took for me to here the faint whispers growing louder, "Chug…chug. CHUG, CHUG!"
Before I knew it, this rich wine I couldn't compare emptied. Speaking to no one I uttered,
"I'm gonna make this a good one."
Yet, the roar I received in return. Wildlife grew more lush as I took out the remnant of my find.
"And nothing is going to stop me." The green book in my hand, plain from front to back, that told no tale shattered under my grasp. I watched my things vanish into thin air.
'One shot…, one shot...'
My track of thought washed away as I equipped the dull mask, failing to take note of the newfound eyeholes and small blue indents beneath them under the influence. I trekked through the woods on foot, having a few features retreat for others when an arrow flew past my head and struck the tree next to me.
I pulled out a small gray crystal from out of my pocket, "Kumo?"
"Mm…"
"I think I just found a place we'll both enjoy." A vicious grin grew across my face as I grabbed another arrow out of the air and threw it back.
"Playtime~!"
*Click*