Chapter Text
The sunrise began to shine, hitting the little girl with a fake warm that wasn’t conforming to her, but the reality for the fools. Kids whose innocence is still intact, envy. She wondered how they could easily believe in a tomorrow, in a god, well known that omnipresence left humans after they were abducted by aliens. Faith, a feeling she lack since the touch of sun is not enough now.
She asked to go to Anakt Garden.
In the stage, she already knew what would happen the day a step was made here at Anakt, the simplest and most old instinct hit her, the want of power. Even with danger reaching for her neck as it what she saw in those rolls showed by her owner, constantly covering it by the merely noise of shots. Causing her a constant state of alert that didn't help in the nighttime.
A fear of the end felt desperate, exhausting and suffocating, nothing seems to cease that, no matter the classes she assisted, clarity was not a choice that felt tangible for her. Like looking at the clouds above her, the unreaching sun that blinds her with a feeling of tomorrow. Laying around and just staring at the ceiling somehow will take her count on, not moving didn't help either, gymnastics wasn’t enjoyable anymore and dancing was not her thing any longer. A painful dullness the pitiful girl suffers every day, the last hope in her eyes doesn't shine strong enough like before, the innocence was lost when her purpose was acknowledged, and more importantly, witnessed with her own eyes.
But fear is in human nature, feeling scared of things that will and may happen is completely part of a person, an instinct that acts before it can be preceded. The constant remember of dead haunted her, the pressure of a competition just to show you’re able to survive at a bunch of no-ones that doesn’t deserve your attention, a performance practiced for years to just not being good enough like your opponent and dying unfairly, an entirely feeling moved by pure human feeling, a complex thing her owner would not understand no matter how hard it tries.
Mizi better than anyone understood the feeling, no one could do the same as her, slowly failing in the mission that she, herself, chose to live. Tired of her own pathetic existence, even here she couldn’t have the gratitude of squishing things at her will, people come closer to her just for a whine each time a crisis hit, maybe when they don’t, she barely felt the difference now. Kids surround her for price, for caressing, to hug, to laugh, to play. That was not enough, she felt equal, here everyone was treated the same, and that was not a match for the pink haired girl. People fall for her facade, but yet, the dullness in her heart did not desist, no one really doubted her in any way, no complaints, just reassurance from peers.
A pity face was made when the heart ache for that, the pain she had to take wasn’t enough to replicate here at Anakt, were these children fool in order to fall at Mizi innocent face with a deep desire in her that will not be fitfulled soon, at least not if she continues her motive staying like that. In order to feel complete, she sure mostly needs to look for a victim, one that is alone, one that is in peace… Someone with a small body that will obey every order, that girl has the qualities she is looking for, exactly that will make her feel like a goddess.
Her toughs became to ramble again, rage saved even before staying in this garden fire through her chest, a frown formed on her angelical face that didn’t match such aesthetic. Walking around almost in circles, a perfect round shape seemed to burn under her feets, the squished grass not crunching anymore and even the flowers pushed aside by her, with each petal in a different direction floating around. Mizi felt lost.
”Oh, My Clematis.” Sounded in the distance, silencing her at the sight of a back, jet black hair flowing with the wind beautifully, the soft almost angelical, “Hope bloomed from the abyss.” She continues, her voice goes with the wind taking Mizi’s gasp with it too, the girl continued the song, it was one coached before… But the acapellic feeling giving in, the true talent behind the voice was a trigger for the girl to walk closer. The short path Mizi took lasted seconds and she was almost at her side, enjoying the sweet melody the girl sang. The same as the class recent take, but not the most neoteric, means she chose it as her favorite for now.
She was enough, that little girl was left alone since she stepped in Anakt, refused to interact, or even talk a little bit. Seeming like it wasn’t a need for her, Mizi could easily make one that she, only she, can fitful, the situation is ideal and also something she cannot miss. After various attempts to come near that girl resulted unsuccessful, this opportunity should be the last of the tries, there was no way she’d refuse and ran away.
“Oh, My Clematis.” She sang, standing next to her, the sole act took her breath away. A high pitch harder for her to take yet, still being incredibly easy to get the lyrics right. Like meant to be sung in a duet, “always be by my side.” In a form of response at the girl's lullaby now looking at the child with the aureate eyes, she softly grinned at her. Now both of them looking at the sky continued the song calmly, sometimes gazing at each other, shyly neither knew what to say but sang together anyways, enjoying this random interaction. At least that was what Sua thinks.
She was standing there, singing alone with her eyes closed in peace, a soft lullaby that calm her heart and was almost instantly known for her, welcoming and quiet, some kind of melody made for her, the tempo felt right so it was everything, chosen to be memorized for her. Other interactions felt dull, boring and actually she wasn’t really interested in socializing like her owner wanted to, but she did not scare others away to do so, she was mostly just quiet yet charming for other kids, boys especially. Sua knew it was for her appearance, the mystery under her eyes and a quiet little lady intrigued boys mostly, not that she didn’t enjoy spending time with girls, but talking wasn’t really her thing, and no one seems to enjoy that also.
So now here she was, a new presence with the same berceuse that soothes her heart but it has a voice other than hers. Not soft nor really with tune, however it had feel. Sua looked to her side, a girl young like her, almost both at the same age, sawed before and didn’t interact that much, she doesn’t actually remember meeting her at all. “Mizi” she knew her name, mostly ‘caused some problematic behavior from before and boys fighting for her in some way. Neither of them seems to have any friends yet, “should I talk to her?” She thought, a memory of the class and the intense gaze of the pink haired girl took her to the mind, those amber eyes fixated in her like almost burning her skull. It was obvious on purpose? She really couldn't tell but it didn't take her long enough to actually break the thread, Sua realized she was staring at the kid beside her for an extensive period, it was told in the face of the girl with glasses. The feel was intriguing, yet far away from her reach. A small talk felt happening after both of them kept silent for a while. It did not feel awkward for any of them, still weird but for being kids is to learn.
Maybe an opportunity for a friend may come, people don’t usually insist that much, Sua won’t regret that, right? Mizi neither, right? This interaction felt genuine, the black haired girl hoped to sing along with her again, should this opportunity occur?
As time was spended here, for Ivan “friends” were something more common he can understand better now, Mizi talked to him again and in a while both of them shared a bond. Since that small talk about his smile was kind of a chip changer for the black haired boy, finally interacting with somebody felt good and satisfying enough, girls keep coming closer to play, to enjoy food or practice what was learned in classes today. A weird normality he became used to, not to disagree with nor being forced to interact anymore, just something off about all this situation that overwhelms the fact that days ago this was not like how it is now. The small talk he is now able to do is something Unsha is proud of, also not worried enough for the hard training Ivan is taking now, “Pain now, smile and money later.” He says. The routine became monotone again, the same people, the same reactions, no one felt completely here, is quite a complex feeling and is not something he is getting tired of, but more like a place he cannot enjoy like he would like to.
That’s when something interesting begins to shift in him, when he shows the reaction people want; they are pleased, but when that does not happen; they look uncomfortable. Pleasing his owner was a thing and in Anakt that was off his limits, if he actually didn’t hurt anyone with physical harm at least, nothing can be done about that. So time passes, the three children are now friends, Sua and Ivan mostly connected through Mizi, the occasions Ivan tries to talk to Sua almost 100% it’ll end she ignoring him and almost just getting pushed and asked to go away, oh, she was just fun to mess around.
Girls seemed to be more interested in Ivan than boys, he clearly knows why and wouldn’t actually miss the opportunity to see how that affects the overview he gets from them. Standing closer than he should to one will make her blush, asking to eat together will make her nervous… The analysis he can get from these interactions does not look valuable, but good entertainment. Talking to speak alone also moves their hearts in the way he wants to, almost sculpting each interaction he gets with the girls, not everyone was like this, obviously. Since he didn’t actually wanted to stay with anyone, he didn’t bother the same girl that much, making fights among peers were a new thing also, Ivan seemed to be charming and desiderated for his persona, the little smile he gets when that situation happens was impossible to hide. A weird joy of being coveted melts his heart, seeing people doing unforgiven things just to have a look of him for a while or having them all for themselves, that view is extremely satisfying.
Is a different story when you talk about Sua or Mizi, the black haired girl passes over from him completely ignoring Ivan, but he almost makes his way to make her angry, a funny pull and tight rope game that can end in a persecution or being ignored for a week or more. But the pink haired girl is not interested in him, not the same way others do, they share a special bond pretty much superficial from both sides that is not talked about at all. The solely existence of them sharing a space is a moment of quiet and peace is the best thing around, Ivan is not worried about “fangirls” as Mizi is not worried about “fanboys”, that also impulse the rage Sua have for Ivan to blow harder, she knows he wouldn't do anything take Mizi form her, but the bait he does burn her veins.
Funny for Ivan to carry that along every time he gets to talk with Sua, the small interactions between these two always were interesting to see from afar. It was a weird relationship that was bounded by Mizi and only her, it didn’t really matter that the black haired boy wanted to be friends with Sua, that seemed impossible since the dynamic both manage to have, one of them ignoring the other olympically and the other using all of his time bothering her with mundane worries and, of course, the constant bullying from him. Even so, she did not actually scare Ivan out of Mizi, even if they interact, a feeling from Sua that trusted more her friend than the stranger, knew they could be together and not worry about losing Mizi.
Talking about her, Mizi became quite popular too, the boys talked about her; “She was crying close to the lake, of course I came closer to help her.” Almost every interaction she had with kids was an act of aid to the pink haired child. A desperate call for need from her, an ick even before meeting Sua, but that didn't resolve her want for power, making herself helpless get a part of the entertainment she looked for. On the other hand, the attention comes easily, without a word a hand was lent, without a call a boy was there. A completely pain to Sua when they were having fun, kids showed around in no time hoarding Mizi from her, a weird feeling incrusted in her hearth after currents meetings ending with her joining a group her friend had, “It’s alright, we can go away later, Sua.” and with that, her hand with Mizi walked in.
A routine that, after a while, became normal for Sua, her friend blew doubt away. Even if the black haired girl day sometimes didn’t participate they got along and reached each other with the passing of the day. Mizi would offer her room to stay together in peace or places hard to get to the others too, it was a nice chat when they were together and passing young days enjoying child and innocent bond was a thing that, at least for Sua, was a choice she didn’t regret. Is not that for Mizi was a egoistic choice, seems that only time could see what really it would be.
A crown of flowers passes by, the sight of the garden from that corner leave him to see every person around and just do the thing he is used to, obvervating, standing close to that gap he found out of boredom, the scream of the voice he recognized as Mizi became closer and closer, not much time after a boy runs over that crack in the middle of Anakt. Curiosity hit almost immediately, he rushed to that place that seems dangerous, of course for anyone with common sense won’t go close near that. Ivan lacked that.
A random boy walked by, he was small, yet the intrigue he caused on Ivan wasn't, the little one, with a permanent collar on his neck run into that void, he saw him before from distance, he is acquaintances with Mizi, that’s for sure, that gray hair was given only to one boy here, but the face was something he couldn't remember, but… He did saw the back of that young one with the brave move to follow the red flower crown, running like no coming back, no doubt on that run nor fear. How come something that small could demonstrate that so sure? How could himself feel that for an instance just with the boy passing by? It was absurd.Before the intrigue was bigger than his integrity, his feet moved by their own to that interesting site the guttural sounds came from. He knows what is in there, so that’s why he does not understand why the boy would go by himself assuming he doesn’t know who or what is in there. Sure, some older children have the opportunity to brush and care that big pet, but they don’t, he only knew because his natural easy going with the creatures bigger than him like Unsha.
Mizi was staring from afar too, more close than him but enough to see the weird suffering of the gray haired boy reaching for that crow again and again, even after falling to the floor from that intimidating tooth, he stood and tried. Mizi was there, her face of “pure” fear standing far away, small gasp calling something that he cannot hear. The corners of the wall he was holding into felt sharp, his view felt blurry, the surroundings disappeared, his fingers became white at the ends due the pressure he was putting in. His gaze was fixated on the young boy, seeing the small flinch in his face, the lack of doubt before coming and jumping to the monster's mouth, failing and falling down hitting the floor.
A familiar yet strange feeling he knew from before, but couldn't recall from where it began to dull inside of him, burning like flames.
But Ivan stared at the cause. Not moving an inch from there.
“Till,” Mizi called, walking with a painful caution into the boy's direction. “I can make another one, you’re hurt.”
Even with warnings, he jumped again, trying to snatch that hanging from a fang. Picking only one flower with all the aim left, holding with all he got when landed, not a smile nor satisfaction.
Mizi finally loses it, grabbing the gray boy from his arm, taking it away after the beast gave something like a final warning, standing upright eating whatever was in his mouth, that could easily be the end of him if he wasn't careful enough, not like he was in first place.
“Till.” Ivan repeated to himself, both children passed by, Mizi smiling at him in courtesy even for the bad of that situation.
He now wanted to understand that kid, his eyes full of fear yet acting so selfless just for a crow, something was itching inside of him.
It wasn’t curiosity, but… but… if only he could come closer next time.