Primary Zero, Osyth [Part 2]

“What’s your name?” Kaltain asks tentatively, her head going back to look at the creature.

“Osyth, an Elemental fox.” A grin spreads across her elegant mouth. “I hail from the flame scorpio tribe of the 12 zodiac houses.”

Interest sparks in Kaltain's chest. “12 zodiac houses?”

“You’re far too young to understand,” she says, her tone enliven. “Ask me again in the future.”

‘What was the point of mentioning it?’ Kaltain blinks, her nose wrinkling with discontent. “Eh, okay.”

“Let’s get on with this, yes?”

Kaltain shrugs apathetically and extends a hand, remembering the instructions given to them by Iskra.

“A divine companion is the shadow of your very soul. They can not hurt you once you’re bonded and will view you as their lord. The reason why we bond with unique creatures is because it helps our body develop a divine life. The more your reality appears extraordinary, fate will see you in the light it does gods, which will increase your chance of survival when wielding divine powers.”

Dots of stars connecting in a web of brilliant silver purple starlight illuminate the space, while a zap of warmth tingles Kaltain limbs. In a luscious wave, a forceful bind of deluxe power threads her soul and the beautiful fox together.

The heat from the companion bond left no mark outward, but Kaltain feels a symbol etched onto her soul.

Through their newfound connection, Kaltain senses a potent pool of enormous energy embedded in Osyth. It prickles her fingertips and dances in her belly, as if greeting her own divine energy.

‘Oh my, her power is greater than my own and I have been absorbing divine energy for a full month and now nearly half one. And I haven’t been using any of it!’

Kaltain was amazed and impressed. Excitement of the future whirls within her. 

****

“She is an elf from the Moonlight Gem village in Venus. She used dark magic and attempted to curse the engine. I only managed to find out the curse would make our spacecraft collapse, leaving us to wander the star system for at least a year.”

Ishaan removes his jacket gingerly as he saunters down the hallway of Universal Raider, listening to Raiden’s report.

The information gave a thrill of truth to Ishaan speculation about the type of members in Explorers of Heaven.

The only people who can use dark magic are ones cursed by heaven itself. He concluded most of them were people trying to get back into heaven’s courtesy. 

“I suggest we infuse her with poison that causes severe pain internally. She’ll beg for healing and in return, she’ll give us answers. Or we could chain her up by the wrist, with her feet dangling over lava or some obvious peril.”

Manon lets out a scoff filled with disgust. She stands beside him in front of a tall steel framed door, its surface glimmering with dots of multicolored orbs. “You think like a serial killer.”

Akira dark pink eyes twinkle in mild amusement. “Goddess, thanks.”

“I wasn’t complimenting you, you fool.”

“I feel commended.”

“Asshole.”

Their exchange fades as the aura’s of Ishaan and Raiden advances from their right.

“I’ll be going in alone,” states Ishaan, skipping past greetings.

They don’t question him and move out of the way. Raiden leads the Misul siblings to the central area as Ishaan imposingly enters the prison room.

****

The room had no entrance beside the steel door, featuring a white, battered stone floor, obsidian walls, a deeply caved-in ceiling, and circle lamps, which hang from the corners, illuminating the space with a warm bright blue glow.

In the middle was a short bench with arched arms seated before a metal chair, in which the explorer sat, bound by starlight chains.

Her hood was down, revealing baby blue eyes sparkled like diamonds, pointed ears, delicate pallid skin, and waist-length lavender shiny hair that had square bangs framing her forehead.

She was Heleanna, a second rate member of the Explorers of Heaven known as Red Blade. Born and raised in Venus, a realm under the ruling of Everlasting Fairytale, one of the Phthartic, she envied earth.

Venus was never a place to live until the second Big Bang, where in that era of new beginnings, Everlasting Fairytale morphed the planet into a nation of different tales.

Despite the survival rate of Venus being on a pair with earth, they were far from free. Under the regulation of Everlasting Fairytale, everyone on Venus must show their devotion by giving up half of their life span to Her.

If they fail to do so, they will be hunted down like wild dogs.

Earth didn’t have a god ruling over them. They had four powerful god-like humans, yet they are still free from the hands in heaven, though some people like to say the Lord of Divinity, also known as Heavenly Father, rules over everything, including earth.

Heleanna joined Explorers of Heaven in hopes of reaching this Lord and gaining a wish.

Heleanna heard the door click shut as quickly as it was opened. Her muscles tighten in defense for whatever to come, a surge of fear choking her from within.

As a pulsing cool aura waves into the room with an immense force, Heleanna eyes latch onto a handsome figure. She couldn’t tell if he was a man or a boy. 

He was young enough to be an adult teen, she thought. But the way he strode into the room gave off the feeling of wisdom older than old.

The air appears to shrink, adjusting to match the blindfold man's presence. He emanates a refined and dignified demeanor, with long silky golden hair styled back in a low ponytail.

Heleanna composed gaze wavers heavily, her skin scattering with chilly goosebumps.

Attractiveness to the side, just looking at him too long brought deep terror into her heart for some reason.

Ishaan gently places his jacket down on the bench and then sits down stiffly. “Hello.” His husky voice is soothing and friendly. “Your name?”

Heleanna thought of ignoring him and being resilient, yet the warning words of the royal blue-haired man popped into her head as she observed Ishaan's grave expression.

“We don’t want to force you to talk, but we do need answers. If you resist, then we’ll have to be more physical. I’d rather you not get hurt,” Raiden said firmly to her. “I sense you’re only loyal to yourself. If you make this easier for all of us, we’ll be willing to cooperate. You have my word.”

‘Can I trust his words?’ Heleanna remains quiet for a while. Trust hardly matters when your own life is at the mercy of others. She had to take a gamble and hope luck was on her side.

Ishaan patiently intertwines his hands and rubs his fingers tenderly together.

“Heleanna,” the explorer says slowly.

“You’re from the Moonlight Gem village, right?”

She stifled a flinch. “Yes.”

“The fellow that defeated you did a divination, but he couldn’t get much because of your people's concealment incantation. The fact that he got anything is something he should be exceptionally proud of though. It seems someone extremely powerful is not only concealing your mind, but your entire existence.”

Heleanna looks downward with a controlled expression. Despite the man being obviously blind, she didn’t know if someone else could be watching them.

“Mind telling me the goal of your attack and the person who ordered it?”

“I will not stitch,” she says surly. “But I don’t want to die or be in pain.”

Ishaan chuckles darkly, his hands pausing. “How very straightforward. I like it. No matter how foolish you just sounded.”

“You won’t hurt me.”

“Raiden and the others won’t hurt you,” Ishaan corrects, his voice now cold with a hint of unyielding cruelty. “Let me guess, he told you we didn’t want to hurt you or something along those lines. It’s partially true.” His beautiful lips curl up menacingly. “However, want and need are two different things.”

Heleanna expression cracks, anxiety and terror trembling through her. The only league Explorers of Heaven should fear is Aurora’s of the Sun, yet Voyager Seekers was their current members enemy in this era.

Every member caught by them has never returned, and even if they did, Lady Flames would kill them.

‘Even if I don’t talk, that fucking psycho will kill me just in case. However, if I talk and really do betray them, then what was the point of it all?’ Heleanna’s mind spirals. ‘If I break after being captured once, how can I ever get favored by a god if my loyalty is trash?’

Heleanna believed she had to be flawless to gain the gaze of gods.

“You’re a stubborn one,” Ishaan murmurs, nodding in respect. He lifts a white gloved hand to his blindfold and removes it swiftly.

At that precise moment, Heleanna reels back, causing the chains to clank and echo. She pales, as if witnessing a scene of utter nightmares crafted by the devil himself.

Reflected in her dilated pupils were a pair of dazzling, glassy pure white eyes. No emotion was in their depths.

Unable to remain calm any longer, Heleanna sucks in a fearful gasp that resembles a slow scream, her heart tightening and body shaking violently.

White eyes symbolize bad luck. Everyone in the star system calls them Jinxed Cosmos Fey and executes anyone with white eyes right away.

Those who possess these eyes are destined to bring all in their reality death and calamity. People also fear them because whoever gazes into them can not lie. Ever.

The historical tale began when a star graced the olden era of earth and fell in love with a human. In hopes of being together forever, the star pleaded with the heavens to make her beloved immortal, but the gods did not respond.

Years rode by in a flash and age became their love’s enemy. Her beloved passed away. With wrath and despair, the star melted from its excruciating emotions.

Her essence became somewhat of mankind's gate to divine paths, leading to the tragedies to come.

Heaven was enraged with this star for opening a sky of fates better left non-existent and cursed every star.

After which, stars fell and never housed the cosmos again. Instead, they merged with mankind and rose the bloodstained flames the first cursed star awakened. Their new existence possessed white eyes and shiny starlight hair.

Because their existence was a specialness earth couldn’t harbor, the planet gradually evolved, opening up opportunities for every human to gain divine power.

All because of a star with humanity, reality became a disaster for all in existence in the upcoming eras. 

Unfazed by the stunning beauty and her sickened fright, Ishaan asks with simple directness, “What was your goal?”

Heleanna mouth opens involuntarily. “We were to delay your return to earth by even a few seconds.”

“Why?”

“I do not know.” Heleanna looks away and attempts to squeeze her lips shut.

Ishaan leans back and smirks. “What do you know?”

To the elf’s horror, she tells the man everything despite her internal protest and will.

Indeed, Heleanna thought in angst, those with white eyes are descendants of evil.