Chapter 8:

Chapter 8

Suimen: Volume 4

Shizuku lies back against the polished obsidian couch, hair tied loose and damp from the post-shower steam. He balances a thin book of poetry on one knee, a rare moment of calm. Alto’s humming drifts in from the adjoining room, the scent of compressed star-fruit tea steeping in the air.

Alto
You know, you say you hate downtime, but you sure do a great impression of someone who's mastered it.

Shizuku
I’m on page six.
That’s already a world record for me.

Alto walks in, towel draped over his shoulders, sleeves rolled up. His hair's a little messier than usual. In his hands, a tray with two cups.

Alto
For someone who’s been alive for 7 million years, you really suck at reading.

Shizuku (smirks)
For someone who’s a literal star-being, you really suck at boiling tea.

They exchange a glance. The moment lingers.

And then—

—a shiver in the air.

A flicker, like a wrong note in a symphony.

Alto’s head snaps to the side as a rift opens in their living room, jagged and unnatural.

Before either can fully react, a flash of distorted starlight slices through the space—

—and buries itself in Shizuku’s stomach.

Shizuku’s breath catches. The blade pulses with corrupted yin-yang energy, distorting his aura for a split second.

Alto
SHIZUKU—!!

Alto is already moving, light manifesting violently around his arms, but Shizuku holds up a single hand.

Shizuku
…Don’t.

His voice is low. Calm. Dangerous.

The figure holding the blade leans in closer, eyes void of clarity. The Astera clone. Again.

Clone
I had to see what would happen.
They said you were indestructible.

Shizuku (softly)
You just made the worst mistake of your brief life.

BOOM.

A concussive burst of water and lightning erupts from Shizuku’s body, flinging the clone across the room and straight through the crystalline wall. He crashes into the garden pond beyond, unmoving.

Alto rushes over as Shizuku calmly extracts the blade from his gut and drops it to the ground. His wound glows faintly, a seal spinning as flesh and blood reknit.

Alto
Are you okay—?

Shizuku
It pierced me.
But didn’t kill me.

He exhales. Slowly. His hand glows blue, finishing the healing process.

Shizuku
It mimicked Astera’s energy too perfectly.
Right down to the intention.

Alto
That’s not good.

Shizuku
No.
It’s starting.

Alto helps him up.

Shizuku (glaring out the window)
Alert the Captains.
We’re done waiting.