The Covenant Of Timeless Mysteries

(This chapter is undergoing revisions for tone adjustment and pacing)

Chapter 15

Man-made weapons are of no use against the creatures in this universe. What is their purpose?

If "threads" offer the provisions to lay waste to their being, do they impose any sort of opportunity on their environments?

It's all too much. Hoku feels his mind is a sieve, holding only a fraction of thoughts before they slip through, one after another.

Each new inquiry, each concept, is like a single drop of rain that falls from the sky, only to be replaced by another in an endless downpour.

"Then it is no wonder this universe is a failure…" Hoku mumbles, with the intention of not being heard, but regardless, it seems one person had.

"That it is. A draft that was exposed after the final book had already been published. Perhaps the greatest mystery amongst that is, why select only certain humans from our original world? This scenario serves the impression that the other species were selected from planets apart from Earth," Yu-ze exclaims, with an intense gaze.

He raises an eyebrow in Hoku's direction as Hoku takes the opportunity to respond.

"That would mean they've been around for longer, but never acknowledged by humans since we were reasonably unenlightened of the additional inhabitants in space."

Yu-ze tilts his head from side to side.

"My theory sounds just as good as yours; however, it is merely that. These deformed things could have come from anywhere. Although, discovering where they come from will eventually become essential—at present, it resides as our second-to-last concern."

"Hopefully with prominent reason, amassing the ingredients to enhance our elixirs has the highest priority," Li resumes Yu-ze's remark.

He peers across from Yu-ze, then suddenly crouches, grabbing onto his own knee for stability.

He pats the grass, and it sticks up in an oddly bristly manner beneath his hand.

It almost—seems like he's beckoning something…

No one around him divulges any concern about this estranged behavior.

Rather, they simply ignore him—for the nonce, Juno's silence breaks.

"He won't directly put forth his honest mission, so I will say it, and we can get moving without your aimless confusion."

Juno inhales, preparing what Hoku can only presume would be a copious description of overcomplicated terms.

Hoku takes a second to continue watching Li, but he doesn't see anything approaching before granting Juno his unreserved attention with effort.

"We need to equip you with a minimal defense system before crossing onto another mantra. A Parallel quality of any universe is that they are inconceivably extensive. Attributable to the nature of this particular one, we must act like we are walking across searing coal."

"Why?" Hoku asks, poorly attempting to shelter his aggrieved tone.

"The more time we spend in a single thread of this stream, it will inevitably start degenerating the defense systems that are provided. It contributes to how we can proceed onto other 'planets' without a rocket ship; it is the sequel's way of mocking time limits. Though, rather than fueling the safe zones themselves, they are withering."

"That's not even the worst part! Those creatures can sense when something is changing in their environment. Therefore, staying idle for too long will reveal us to potentially an army of them."

Hoku hears Abel chime in from behind. He finds it almost taunting that there is cheer in his voice amid his unpleasant explanation.

"Deformities are not going to be your only source of obstruction if you can manage farther than here and the next station. Several will appear ordinary, and few may well be conventional beings, but their objectives won't differ from capturing and killing."

Li invites himself again into their discussion, notably emphasizing the if in his comment.

In contrast to him squatting unattended, however, there is a small animal placed an inch below his bent knee.

A black cat now gathers everyone's regard, not solely Hoku's.

"Does it have a name?"

Hoku fears ascertaining the tendency of the conventional beings Li was referring to.

Thus, he moves on from discussing those ensuing threats to asking for the cat's name.

"...Cheshire."

Li waits a moment to answer, but Hoku briefly stays ignorant to admire the name.

"You've read Alice In Wonderland? I assume that's why you named your cat Cheshire."

"It's a great story," Hoku says, slightly smiling.

"He is not my cat, and secondly, I do not have a clue over what you're speaking about. It is sheerly his name."

"You heavily convey the impression of his owner. My bad for being wrong."

"But, are you truly unfamiliar with that classic? A bit ironic to name a cat of all animals Cheshire without the knowledge of where it receives popularity," Hoku says, bitterly objectifying his response.

It was not entirely contrastive from how Li delivered his own, anyway.

"You would know better than I do about his name."

"And how would that be possible? I've never seen this cat apart from when I first met you."

Li removes his hand from his knee, slightly distant from the cat, then covers Cheshire's ears with both of his palms.

A smirk lifts from his disgruntled resting face.

"Oh? It appears you can't recognize your one and only guide, Hoku. Please have compassion for him. He assisted you all the way to us, yet you deny his efforts right in front of him? That's not nice."

How can a person be so desperate to deny an effortless detail? To even consider going as far as gaslighting is incredible and insulting.

"What the hell are you whining about? I only asked how you couldn't know a tale as commonly known as his name would allude. Yet, somehow you think it's necessary to gaslight me? If anyone requires compassion, it is—"

"You really cannot recognize this creature?" Fleur interrupts the intensity Hoku was nearly willing to settle on in their confrontation.

Hoku is unable to fathom more puzzlement before her twin also inquires.

"Then how did he get here? Cheshire can't cross the barrier between both the paradox and the stream without the watch."

What is he–

"I've never met this animal unless you guys have known me before my accident. Then I can guarantee I've never withheld an alliance with any cats."

"You met him at the beginning of your sequence, though a likely explanation for his hypoamnesia is the 'atonement of memory' sanctioned by the Mantras."

A single fragment of your memory will wither from the root of its reality when a thread is invaded by another person.

Even with a high extent of familiarity, we will not be welcomed without altering what we garner in our minds.

Mars was a very soft-spoken boy; it had already become easy to discern him without looking.

"It is a small price taken in exchange for the liberty to collaborate with the nature of a remarkably complex system… Traveling through different timelines and merely sacrificing a single memory that the people around you can retell," he concludes.

"Why are you pretending it's not a terrible trade?" Juno argues, a shadow looming across the frown framing her gaze, which is typically in default of hostility.

Where is this going?

Silent pondering is all Hoku is able to manage, given the depth of their debate reaches beyond his own comprehension.

To interpose would be to accept that he would get nowhere while trying to reason.

"Perhaps, if we didn't have limitations, I would understand how you can gladly accept these needless accommodations. But we've been imprisoned here against our will. Shouldn't that be enough to receive passage benefits?" Juno is slowly returning balance to her demeanor.

Her speech corresponds to the mellow slant in the sight of her riled.

It's strikingly bothersome—why does she attempt so desperately to disguise the cracks in her moods?

"Unfortunately, that's simply how it is. If you get cut with a knife, you'll bleed. Our memories seep through the mediation of reality each time we cross a barrier."

If such testimony were true, how much of himself had Hoku left behind in the original universe?

His trust in these strangers wavers between their absurd vindications and the ambiance that falls into place with those very claims.

"I'm sorry, I think—I'm a little stressed. I don't know if I am capable of putting more together. Why is it entirely different?"

Hoku subconsciously begins to pick at the skin surrounding his fingernails.

"That is reasonable. Just push forward the best you can," Li says, raising himself from the grass.

Hoku hadn't expected him to be the person to assure him. Whether the implication was merely his own sentiment was something else that would be left without certainty.

"Then, I have one more lingering question before we leave."

"..."

They all hold their tongues, but Juno and Yu-ze tersely acknowledge him with subtle head gestures.

"Where we are going, is it possible that I can rely on each of you for a brief duration for defense? At least in advance of our departure from the nest?"

Yu-ze smiles. "We came here to wait for you, Hoku. Otherwise, we would have been much further away from this zone. We won't withdraw from that objective until you are capable of wielding an elixir and are informed of the significant weak points in the opponents."

Wait for me...?

Hoku felt a reluctance to mirror his tender expression, though as he managed to offer a brief, discomfiting grin, everyone had already begun to promptly ready themselves.

"Are we heading onto a battlefield?" Hoku had expected that rhetorical question to be dismissed.

To a greater extent, he had hoped they wouldn't answer at all.

"I suppose you could describe the route toward the Recess' Of Life as an uphill battle. That's why subsequent parting is not the brightest. There will undoubtedly be a few hideous altercations, but it will be better than heading into an infestation of them," Fleur says, casually avoiding Hoku's figure as she joins

Even awkward silence would have sufficed.

"Oh."

There is no spiritual difference inside and outside of the nucleus.

The most prominent change is within a mirage.

Suddenly, retreating from a mild atmosphere into one with an oppressive eeriness, it passed the illusion that any opportunities for my own survival had been revoked.

It had barely reached a minute since we wandered from the barren surface and into the trees.

A discomforting burst of wind washed over the side of my face and filled my ear.

Swiftly followed by a dull, burning pain kindled from the intangible sensation.

I quickly discerned the cause after Li inattentively answered to everyone's bewilderment, saying with an amused expression,

"It would appear one has arrived quite early to our party."

The Memoir Chapter 11

Objective 6

Steel will aid you as a temporary armor from the simplest life forms. Consume the knowledge of your second elixir with critical determination. Although it does not extract fluid, or bestow wounds, it will be capable of much more. Eventually, you will hold control over birth and decay.

You must locate the abyss where the birch is growing among walls of blue vines.

Rule 16

Refrain from stealing back your fragments. Once you have settled on the decision to journey further, your sacrifice will be sealed.

-The Memoir Chapter 11 End-