The city was quiet under the dead of night. The moonlight illuminated the surrounding mist barrier. A gentle breeze drifted through the half-cracked window of Sakyo's room, brushing against his skin like a whisper.
As he sleeps soundly, the waves begin. He tosses and turns in his sleep, the dizziness running through even his dreams.
From the darkness of his mind, a thin ray of light slices across his mind, erupting into a bright flash.
...
Within the light, a familiar image of a rocky hilled shore appears. Waves crashing against the shore as the sun's light begins to rise.
[Sakyo] (This dream again? Why do I keep seeing this place?)
[???] Finally, you're...
[Sakyo] (Who said that? Who's there?)
As quickly as it began, the light collapses into itself. The dream ends and fades into darkness.
...
Sakyo jolts awake, quickly rising to his feet. Ren quickly follows, being woken up by the sudden movement. Naja simply turns over, still sleeping soundly while mumbling in her sleep.
[Ren] What's going on?
[Sakyo] Sorry, just had that dream again.
[Ren] Again? That's the third night in a row.
[Sakyo] I know, I'm sorry. I just don't get why I keep having this dream.
[Ren] What do you think's causing it to keep happening?
[Sakyo] I don't know, they just started happening when we came here... Do you think I has something to do with the city?
[Ren] It's possible, you said you were able to get through the mist barrier no problem when you first found it. Maybe you have some kind of connection to it that's causing you to keep having these dreams.
[Sakyo] I just wish I knew what that place was. I keep hearing this voice every time I'm there, almost like it's calling out to me.
[Naja] No!...
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted when Naja yells out in her sleep.
[Naja] (mumble) Don't go to Mari. Connie is better...
[Ren] Aww, she's still dreaming about that book.
[Sakyo] I get that you want to get along with her, but maybe you should limit her reading time. Why don't you give her a new chapter each week or so?
[Ren] Are you sure? Isn't that too little?
[Sakyo] You'd think, but it can actually build up excitement while you wait for what comes next. And if you wanna get closer, you could start a book club. She might find it easier if she can talk about it more often.
[Ren] That's a great idea! We can talk about something we both love and become such good friends. You're a genius. I'll go get it started.
[Sakyo] Wait, I still need...
With that, Ren gets completely sidelined. She gives Sakyo a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving the room to start her book club.
[Sakyo] ...your help... Oh well, no stopping her now. Maybe I'll just ask someone else for advice. But first...
Before leaving for breakfast, he gives Naja's ears a light pet.
[Sakyo] Yep, just as soft as Garm's... I might have a problem.
Once he's satisfied and has pushed his potential fetish deep down, Sakyo quietly leaves for the kitchen. Once there, he finds Kaya standing over a neatly made breakfast.
[Sakyo] Morning.
[Kaya] ...
[Sakyo] Kaya?
[Kaya] ...
[Sakyo] You're not dead, are you?
With slight concern, he pokes her shoulder. Kaya jumps as if she hadn't even noticed he was there.
[Kaya] Sakyo! What the hell are you sneaking up on me for? I didn't even hear you come in.
[Sakyo] Everything ok? You seem a little spaced out.
[Kaya] It's nothing, don't worry about it.
[Sakyo] (Welp, looks like I'm not talking about my problem here.) Then tell me who that breakfast is for.
[Kaya] Wha-. T-that's not... Am I really that obvious?
[Sakyo] Yep. Talk to me. It's about Garm, isn't it?
Hearing his name, Kaya's face is completely flushed red with embarrassment.
[Kaya] Y-yeah, ever since those two got me thinking about it, I can't get his stupidly perfect face out of my head. I've been standing here for half an hour trying to work up the courage to bring him this stupid breakfast.
[Sakyo] Go on.
While listening, Sakyo begins making his own breakfast.
[Kaya] It's just... I don't know how to face him anymore.
[Sakyo] Can't you just talk to him like before?
[Kaya] I wish I could, but...
[Sakyo] But what?
[Kaya] I'm worried... he doesn't like the way I talk.
[Sakyo] ...Is that a joke?
[Kaya] No! You think I'd joke about something like this?!
[Sakyo] Ok, sorry. I just wasn't expecting that to be your reason. What's wrong with the way you talk?
[Kaya] Naja told me their family doesn't like contractions. If you add that to how I usually am, he probably sees me as a rough, vulgar woman.
Tears begin forming in her eyes as she slumps against the counter.
[Sakyo] You do know he hates his family, right?
[Kaya] (sniff) What?
[Sakyo] Naja may have been there back when he was still with their pack, bus she doesn't know everything about him. He's been through a lot and, trust me, it'll take a lot more than your way of talking to get him to hate you.
[Kaya] I guess so, but I just don't know what to do.
[Sakyo] Kaya, take a look at these eggs. If you try cooking them too fast, they're more likely to burn or dry out. That's why you do it over a low heat, so they cook nicely without losing any of the good parts.
[Kaya] What the hell do eggs have to do with my heartbreak?!
[Sakyo] I'm saying you don't have to force your relationship with Garm to happen right away. It's ok to take your time. Right now, your like the flame and your relationship is the egg. Your turning the flame up too high and your egg is getting stuck to the pan. Turn down the heat and just let it cook. Once you're ready, you can add some spices like this salt and pepper. When you're done, you can put the egg comfortably on a nicely toasted piece of bread. You might be wondering what the bread means, and to that I say don't get too caught up in the metaphor.
[Kaya] You really think I should just take my time?
[Sakyo] Yeah, just try talking to him like you always have. Take him some breakfast and just see how it goes.
[Kaya] (sniff) You're right. Thanks Sakyo.
With her confidence returning and a new fire in her heart, Kaya takes the plate to Garm's room.
[Sakyo] Wait, that was my-... Oh, forget it. I guess I'm having cold eggs and burnt toast. Lucky I don't mind cold eggs. I can still make a new piece of toast anyway.
After eating and contemplating a few life choices, Sakyo goes to the fields for another day of work.
A couple hours in, he can't help noticing how distracted Garm looks. Despite being able to ignore it for the past hour, his curiosity wins over.
[Sakyo] (Jeez, everyone's got problems today.) What's going on? You seem out of it.
[Garm] Out of what?
[Sakyo] Nevermind, just tell me what you're thinking about.
[Garm] It is Kaya. She has been acting different lately. She is not arguing with me as much, and runs away whenever I try talking to her. And then this morning, she brought me breakfast. I just can not understand what she is thinking. Perhaps she is sick with something.
[Sakyo] (Yeah, she's lovesick.) You don't have to worry about that. She isn't sick.
[Garm] Then what is it? These changes in her behavior must be caused by something. I had thought it was her feelings for me, but it can not be that simple... can it?
[Sakyo] You know about her crush on you?
[Garm] Of course, she has made no efforts in hiding it.
[Sakyo] (Wow. She must've been more obvious than I thought if even Garm noticed.) And how do you feel about her?
Garm hears the question, but an answer doesn't come to his mind. How does he feel about Kaya? No matter how hard he searches his brain, he can't think of anything.
[Garm] I... I do not know. I have never felt this way before.
[Sakyo] Try describing how you feel when you're around her.
[Garm] It is... hard to explain. My heart begins to beat faster, my skin feels hotter, and I begin sweating more than I normally do in this heat. Lately, I can not even hold a conversation with her. I always end up just standing there and saying nothing.
[Sakyo] Sounds like you've got a crush of your own.
Garm nearly drops the fruits he's holding as a huge blush runs across his face.
[Garm] W-what?! That can not be it. T-there must be another reason.
[Sakyo] (Jeez, they even freak out the same.) Garm, you've had a hard life, but it's ok for you to explore your own feelings.
[Garm] But I have no experience with romantic emotions. I do not even know where to begin.
[Sakyo] (For f*** sake, just talk to each other!) Maybe you'd feel better if you just talked to her like you normally do. Try seeing how your feelings might grow or change as time goes on.
[Garm] I suppose that could work. Thank you, Master.
[Sakyo] (No problem, happy to help.) Maybe I should just quit adventuring and become a therapist.
[Garm] Hm?
[Sakyo] Sorry, I meant to think that. I've just been helping people all morning and I'm getting a little tired.
[Garm] I am sorry. I did not mean to add to your stress.
[Sakyo] Don't worry about it, but do you mind if I ask for your opinion on something?
[Garm] Of course not. You may ask me anything.
[Sakyo] I've been having this recuring dream about somewhere. I don't know where it is, but the dream's been going on for a few days now.
[Garm] If you do not know where it is, perhaps you can use your relic to try opening a gate. You told me you only need to have a clear mental image to use it.
[Sakyo] That... could actually work. Thanks, I'll give it a try tonight.
They get back to work, Sakyo hoping no one else has any problems for the day.
That night, he goes to bed with the gate relic in his hands. His grip on it tightens as he drifts off to sleep.
At first, nothing. Then the waves begin. Nausea creeps in as a sickening feeling continuously hits Sakyo. His grip on the relic tightens as the light shoots across his mind.
...
From the light emerges the same place he's seen in the nights before. The same crashing waves. The same rising sun. The same mossy stone gate.
[???] Finally, you're here.
[Sakyo] (That voice, it's the same as before. I don't know where you are, but I won't let you get away this time.)
Mere moments after it had started, the vision collapses on itself, fading into darkness once more.
...
[Ren] ...kyo. Sakyo! Wake up!
[Naja] Boss!
Not with a jolt, but a violent shaking from the two who sleep next to him. Sakyo is forced awake, dropping the relic he held in his sleep.
[Sakyo] You know, there are easier ways to wake someone up in the middle of the night.
[Ren] I was so worried. You were turning in your sleep and then this gate suddenly opened up.
Her voice cracks with worry, tears running down her face as she clings to his shirt.
[Sakyo] Sorry for making you worry, but this is exactly what I've been waiting for.
He pets her head, letting her cry in his arms. Behind her stands a gate not like any other made before. This one feels... different. As if a new power lies beyond it.