The grass was mowed into concentric circles, the smell wafting through the breeze. Yet for some reason, the barely visible clouds weren't moving.
The mold was ethereal- as if it distorted the space surrounding it, in the shape of a horizontal line. It was like looking at what was in front of me through magnifying glasses, at every angle.
It was the same feeling that overcame me as it did when I faced Him. Almost instantly, I felt the power to do something.
It was to pump out the Domain.
Flexing this 'muscle' in a certain way poured even more Domain into this mold. The Domain had a light purple hue around it, while the actual Domain appeared to be a textured white.
Flexing the muscle in another way made it stop. It was satisfying- like watching a puppet go limp after cutting the strings. The mold was glowing, telling me to do it.
"Aghhhh!" I screamed as I clapped my hands along the length. For a very small moment, nothing happened, but it was because the sound hadn't registered yet.
What was visible was the line of tree stumps, whose trunks had disintegrated. The sound was space cutting itself, causing my ears to ring for another five minutes.
As I lay on the ground, I contemplated everything that had happened. The hand motions only amplified the "Ejection" of the Domain from the mold. I practiced creating molds- only molds, for another half hour.
The speed at which I could conceive them was around 20 seconds.
"Tsk."
I punched the ground out of frustration. I needed to get into that flow state again. I didn't know what the requirements were to activate it. It only seemed to happen once I faced death.
Maybe practicing near the ledge could help?
I sighed, knowing these were just excuses. I was smarter than everyone I came across. This shouldn't be a problem for me. I just needed to practice more. I believed in myself. There was a reason why Lost chose me.
I got up, stamping the mound I made, covering up the hole, hands on my hips.
"Watch me be the greatest!" I shouted, fist-bumping the air.
>>
3 Weeks Later.
I was in charge of making food for Uncle Oris and me. It was morning, and the house still felt empty.
Not because no one was home, because She wasn't.
I felt a pang of emotion as I walked into the kitchen, tears threatening to fall.
"Honey! Can you take the kids away?
All of that muscle and for what? So you can show off to those co-workers of yours?
How bout taking these guys both a lift on those shoulders?
Stop hugging my leg, Decey!
Now, why are you joining him, Atlas??"
I felt a pang of emotion as I walked into the kitchen, tears threatening to fall.
.
"The secret to cooking is, it's all about experimenting.
Is what you think I'd say.
Do whatever you want, honestly.
It's your taste buds you want to satisfy. There's no right way.
It's all about feeling."
"I don't know how I want to feel."
"Well, how do you feel after eating my eggs?"
"They make me super happy!"
"Then tell you what, the secret is adding just the right amount of salt and spice."
"You told me you don't add spice!!!!"
"Tastes good though, doesn't it?"
"Yeah...."
I turned on the stove, grabbed a couple of eggs, and cracked them. I transferred the yolk onto the pan and put it on a simmer.
The smell of it searing hit the right spot. I grabbed a glass bowl containing a number of colors.
"Is this right?"
"Hmm...
*munch*
"Decey, I-
Did you make Heet do this for you..?"
"Nooo! I promise I did it!
See?
I used the spice!"
"Aww..
It tastes incredible, Decey."
I made an extra one for Uncle Pit and placed it on the opposite side of the table. The presentation could be better, but I was glad it somehow looked not unlike a pile of shit.
"Is that hazelnut?
Who the heck thinks of that?
And why does it work??"
"I felt silly. But it tastes so good!"
I couldn't even taste the woody-ness of the fork. The flavors worked in such beautiful harmony and made me drool for more.
"Aunt Kela."
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"Well, that's sudden.
.
I love you too, Decey."
I couldn't tell which was winning, the tears or the smile, as I realized my omelets tasted better than Aunt Kela's.
>>
An Hour Later
Uncle Pit barged through the door, snarfing down his breakfast. His happy little grunts in the middle of the munching that were louder than they were meant to be told me everything.
"You learnt from the best, I see." He said, his mouth filled.
"Yes, I did," I said, gleefully smiling.
"Think you could make the same for a special guest?"
"We're having guests? I can't honestly. I don't want them to repeat the same.
'I knew Kela when I was young...
I'm sorry for your loss....'
Lines again." I scoffed, knowing Uncle Pit was annoyed by the very thing. This only made me wonder who would be coming over.
"I'll have you know, the Headmaster doesn't do ass-kissing when it comes to emotions." He added, dumping the plates into the sink.
"I'm sorry. Headmaster?" I asked, turning my head.
"I sent the letters." He said cheekily, grabbing for the pillow.
Rightfully so, I grabbed the red-hot spatula, wielding it towards Uncle Pit.
"Why in god's green Earth would you want to do that?" I begged.
"You and Heet seem ready, so.." He let it trail off, trying to actively dodge my spatula.
I chased him across the room, and eventually we went outside.
Uncle Pit panted like a dog, wiping the fat sweat off his forehead.
I stared dead into his eyes and said, "You haven't even seen what we're capable of.
Heet is fine. Incredible, actually. But I'm virtually a month old Defined.
What could I ever do that could make the most powerful Headmaster of all time impressed by me?"
"Figure it out. You're going to go to Heet's house now and tell her to come by for lunch tomorrow. Got it?" He yelled as he slowly backed up and closed the door, waving me goodbye.
I threw the spatula at the door with full force. It made a thwangggg sound as it stuck deep inside the door. I could hear the muffled "You're gonna fix that when you come back," and chose to ignore it.
My mind was only on one thing.
How was I going to face Heet after that day?
>
One Day after unlocking Domain Manipulation
"Where are we going, Heet?" I yelped as she pulled me, forcing me to run along with her.
"You'll see." She said coyly.
.
"Stop. You're too close." I said, breathing heavily. I gulped down the urge to tell her to pull me closer, but it was written all over my face.
Her breath tickled my neck, causing me to lose my cool slightly. My hands weren't obeying me, but bending to the will of wherever she wanted them to be.
"I said I'd do something special, right?
Don't run away from me this time, Decey."
She whispered as I found her fingers wrapping around my nape, pulling me closer.
.
"You wanna take the lead this time? It's been around ten minutes." Heet said, leaning against the burnt tree trunk, completely red.
"I don't know.
I feel guilty.
I don't know if we should do this." I whispered, putting my hands by my side, yet I stayed as close to her as possible.
"Do you?"
"..."
"Say you need it."
".."
"Say you need me."
"I need you." I breathed.
"Again." She whispered next to my ear, hand on my cheek.
"I need you, Heet."
"Good."
>
I stood in front of the door, finding a way to cover the red mark on my neck. The door swung open, revealing a very tired Heet. She left the door hanging as she dragged her legs across the carpet.
I suddenly felt hot in my chest. I made my way in and sat opposite her, closing the door on the way.
"You've been training, huh?" I asked, noting how tired her eyes were.
"Yeah! It's been super relieving, honestly. These days, I've been way too lazy, so this was a nice change of pace." Her emotions didn't reflect how tired she looked.
"Uh.
Are you being sarcastic?" I raised my eyebrow, concerned whether she had hit her head at any time.
"No! Why would I be? I feel so energetic!" She said.
"You have anything to eat?"
"Yeah, just go inside, and it's already unwrapped."
Once I picked up the brown bag, it instantly hit me with this sense of familiarity.
"You got another one from Niels?" I yelled.
"Yeah!"
"I thought I told you not to go there anymore. It's dangerous." I said, sitting back down.
I tossed her the bag after popping two of those delicious beans of sugar.
"It's fun."
"Getting caught, arrested, and beaten up by my messed-up inmates- just my idea of an average Friday, am I right?"
I caught a stray pillow projected at my head. I didn't notice it at first, but it looked like she was ill.
I kneeled and placed the back of my hand against her forehead.
"What are you doing?"
It was hot.
"Heet. Since when have you had this fever?"
She looked left and right, almost trying to avoid the question.
"S-since then.." She said in a low voice.
"I'm going to damp a cloth and tuck you in."
As I was about to get up, she clutched my hand. I look back, and her eyes were staring right into me. It was as if she was begging me to-
"Stay."
"Okay."
I grabbed the pillow she threw at me and laid it on the ground, still holding her hand. After I tucked her in, I made sure to keep the water nearby as I lay on the cold tiled ground.
Her hand was warm- not the comforting warmth I always dreamt of. Yet this also was a different type of comfort. A comfort I never knew I yearned for so bad- Someone to hold my hand while the World was going to shit.
After thirty minutes, she finally spoke.
"What made you feel guilty?
That day?" She asked under her blanket, breathing heavily.
I shot back up and practically spat without water.
"What..?" I stuttered.
"You heard me." I could hear her blushing underneath the cover.
"It wasn't the right time." I looked towards the ceiling.
"What do you mean?"
"To be honest, I haven't recovered yet. Time-to-time, I feel like I'm not myself- like I lost a part of myself.
I guess grief could do that, but not to my extent, I assure you."
I shut myself up, knowing Heet was smart enough to even try to connect the dots.
"Decey. I'm sorry.
Ugh.
You're right.
What the fuck was I thinking..?"
She slightly sobbed. Embarrassed, she hid under the blanket again.
"No. Please don't cry. It's okay, not your fault at all."
"No, I didn't even stop to think about how you'd feel.."
"I'm telling you, Heet, it's completely okay. I get that some people do things to move away from the pain. It was just that."
"I-"
I understood that what I had just said came out very wrong.
"No no no. That is not what I meant at all. I just-
Ugh..."
"I hate you..
You suck at taking care of women." She whimpered.
I hung my head in defeat.
"I guess I do."
.
"I did enjoy that day."
"Really?" She whispered, sniffling in between.
"Yes."
"I didn't do it because of that.
I did it because I was stuck in this self-loop of 'it's all my fault' or whatever.
I wanted you to snap me back to my senses, and you did.
I wanted you and your warmth. I always did ever since we met."
"If you didn't already know by now,
I like you, Heet."
I thought I heard the beginnings of a siren going off, followed by the horrible attempt of trying not to laugh.
"You're confessing now? Then again, I did the same.
.
I like you too."