It hadn't been a day since Saie obtained his power, but his excitement already led him to want to try it out. Yet, he couldn't just sway and do tricks with his fingers and expect a Guardict to summon automatically, following the sleight of his hands. One thing he could do was mimic the hand gestures and finger flicks of other tetheracts he witnessed every day, and attempt to destroy everything in his room if the Guardict became impulsive.
"One…, two, three," he muttered as he swept his arms cluelessly.
However, the air didn't even move; nothing occurred. For the second attempt, he decided to sweep more slowly, extending his right arm further.
"One…, two…, three!" he chirped, flaring all his fingers out.
Still, no Guardict appeared; even his fingernails didn't glow as they had during the ceremony. Saie didn't let frustration get the better of him and tried again. Now, he concentrated, clearing his mind of all thoughts other than the determination to summon a Guardict. He drew in a long breath, filling his lungs with conviction.
"Okay… one…, two…, three!"
This time, as he had expected, something happened: a flash appeared from his fingernails. His lips stretched into a smile, knowing he had made progress, even though the Guardict still didn't show up. Unbeknownst to Saie, his family could hear him from downstairs. His father was all ears, waiting for any sound a Guardict might make. After a few seconds, Pete could no longer hear anything from Saie's room.
"Is he not gonna come down here and show us his Guardict?" asked Uncle Nil.
"Oh, come on, he's probably still managing it. You know he's only just got it," Aunt Gloom replied in a reassuring, mild tone.
Uncle Dawn interjected with a slightly boastful and skeptical note. "My son, Seth, managed to summon and control the Doumion after having his power for only hours. I don't see why it should take so long for Saie, unless…"
As usual, Pete refrained from responding to his brother's bragginess and sat quietly.
"That's why we send them to school—so that they can master this skill. I'm sure Saie only needs time to practice. Not all tetheracts can summon their Guardicts immediately like Seth, you know," Aunt Gloom said, looking directly at Uncle Dawn.
"But… he could be deliant… or much worse… curstunt," Uncle Nil added with concern, shifting his eyes to Pete.
Pete stared at the floor, listening to their conversation. Uncle Nil's words resonated with him. Being deliant was not too much of a worry for young tetheracts; being curstunt, on the other hand, could lead to exile from the kingdom. He tried to dismiss the possibility that Saie might be a curstunt. His son being deliant was the only thing he could hope for if Saie still hadn't managed to summon his Doumion. The thought lingered, so Pete decided to check on his son. Rapping his fist against the wood, he hesitated before knocking on the door. "Knock, knock."
"Who is it?" Saie asked, his voice hinting at a sinking heart.
"It's me," Pete responded. Saie opened the door, recognizing his father's voice.
"How are you feeling?" Pete asked gently.
"I'm alright, Dad," Saie said, looking at his father with a slight curve of a smile. "I know that face."
Pete let out a soft chuckle, tapping Saie's back.
"Don't worry about me, Dad," Saie said, giggling and rolling his eyes.
"You know we could hear you from downstairs, right? Besides, I'm just checking on you."
"Well, my Guardict seems to be sleeping," he joked, giving a little grimace that looked almost like a smile. Then, with curiosity, he added, "Do you think I'm a deliant, Dad?"
"Hm…" Pete exhaled. "Don't worry, Saie, it's just a temporary jinx. You'll be able to summon your long-awaited Doumion in no time."
"But…" Saie paused, hesitating. "What if... you know..."
"No, God no," Pete's eyes widened, shaking his head. "That's absurd. What could you possibly have done? Been nervous?" he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
Saie smiled it off, but his eyes told a different story; he was scared of what he might really be. He remembered from a text he'd read that being curstunt was rarely the fault of the young, but of the parents instead.
"I'm gonna head outside now, Dad," Saie said, grabbing the compass from the nightstand and walking out.
"Where are you heading?"
"Gaia!" he yelled.
"Gaia?" Pete muttered.
Down at their home bodega, Saie went to a large wooden cabinet where his father kept all the latent objects. He rummaged through each section like a raccoon. Scraps of metalware cluttered the floor as Saie pushed them aside.
"Saie! Are you alright, dear!?" Aunt Gloom yelled from the kitchen.
"Yes!" Saie yelled back, his head inside the cabinet, muffling his voice.
Pete noticed the clanking of scrap on his way down. "Was that Saie?" he asked Aunt Gloom. She replied with a nod.
"Saie, what's with all the noise!?" Pete hollered from the stairs.
"It's nothing! I'm just trying to—" he paused as he found what he was looking for. He pulled his head out of the cabinet, holding a gadget. It had two parts: a single fingerless metal glove for the back of the hand and a padded leather palm with a long strap. In his other hand was a rugged, naturally shaped rock, nearly the size of his palm, with a smooth texture and a gentle curve. It had a pattern of winding sequences—alternating deep narrow slits and circles, linked edge to edge. Each slit led into a circle, flowing into the next to follow the rock's natural contours.
Outside the bodega, his father knocked, sending Saie into a frantic hurry to hide the seemingly dangerous gadget. Pete opened the door without warning, finding Saie standing awkwardly.
"Are you alright?" Pete asked, furrowing his brow.
"Yup," Saie said quickly, his brows lifted, masking his nerves with a smile. He tried to leave, pressing his hand against his pocket so it wouldn't bulge. "I'm leaving now," he said, scrambling his way out.
"Oh… okay then…," Pete said, his eyes following Saie out the door in confusion.
The Camon borough was quite large. It was filled with houses and towering stone edifices, not to mention maze-like intersecting streets. If you were unfamiliar with the route, you might never find your destination—though the streets had distinct names for navigation. Flickering the lid of his compass, Saie looked at every corner trying to find Gaia. He hunted as if searching for treasure, squinting every time he saw a girl's silhouette from afar. With each snap of the lid, the arrow followed his every stop. Open, close, open, close... until the arrow shifted, stubbornly veering west, away from his direction. Saie's brows knotted as he leaned over the compass. He took several steps. Why is it still pointing west? Maybe… oh no! Gaia's gonna be disappointed. I should probably get back home; maybe Dad could fix it.
He jogged down the brick alley, holding the compass open in his palm. When he reached the end of the lane and prepared to turn, the arrow changed direction. He didn't mind at first—he assumed it was broken—but as he turned onto Farra Way, the arrow's aim jittered as if trying to talk to him. He halted, his gaze sharp. The needle yanked back and forth—North, South, North, South—though it dragged heavily toward the South. The needle froze when Saie turned his back. He tried to step the opposite way, but the compass began jittering again. He knew it wasn't normal; it was telling him to follow its point.
At the exit of Farra Way, he followed the needle west. There, he saw Gaia standing in the middle of the alley, grinning at him. Her smile stretched wide, knowing Saie had actually trailed the compass.
"Gaia!" shouted Saie, his voice echoing in the narrow road. He ran toward her, his face bright with gladness.
"Hey Saaaie~" she bantered, drawing out his name like a sigh.
"Haha," he rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you," Gaia smirked.
"Me? I was actually looking for you," he said, furrowing his brow. "How do—" Before he could finish, the needle fidgeted once more, and he saw a glimpse of movement beneath Gaia's coat—she was tapping something in secret.
"Gaia…" he murmured.
She drew out a long, "Whaaat?"
"What's that under your coat?"
"Nothing."
Saie had an odd feeling. "Are you controlling this compass?"
"Awesome, yeah?" She chuckled and showed him the controller.
"Whoa," his eyes flew open.
"Cool, right?" she asked, arching a brow.
"I mean, I've got to admit, it's genius of you to trick me with this."
"Well, it's even more genius because I made this," she said, grinning.
"Good joke."
"I'm not even kidding."
Suddenly, Saie jogged away from her. "Come, follow me."
"What? Where are you going?"
"Follow me!"
"Alright, Driven," she called after him. "Lead the way. But if we get lost, I'm blaming you!"
It was a long run beyond the alleys, and she kept up with Saie's speed. After a moment, two massive buildings loomed before her, and she slowed down to gaze at them. In between was a mass of plants and vines clustered together, where Saie slipped inside.
"Hey! Wait for me!" she yelled, trying to catch her breath.
"Hurry!"
She followed the rustling sound Saie made, struggling to push through the vines and branches. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. The only sounds were their ragged breaths and the snapping of twigs.
"What even is this place!" she shouted, squinting to keep track of his movements.
Staggering through the brush, she pushed a thick vine aside, not realizing it was the end of the cluster. She tumbled out, unbalanced. "Whoa—whoa!"
Saie, standing in front, didn't notice Gaia was about to trip over him. Thud! They fell to the dusty ground.
"Ow…" Gaia said, knotting her face as she got up and swept off her coat.
Saie stood, gesturing toward the plants above. "We—welcome to Riverlane."
It was like a garden, but with flowing water. Rich green leaves surrounded the place, and stems crawled all over the long fence. Above, curled vines dangled like chandeliers with tiny white flowers sprouting at their tips. Benches sat facing the canal, their wooden frames covered in thin snake plants.
"Whoa…" Her mouth opened in fascination. "What is this place?"
"What do you think?"
"This is amazing!" she chirped.
Saie looked at Gaia's face, smirking. "Okay, calm down. Don't you have something like this at your place?"
"No, all we have is the clanking of metal and mountains of scrap. Flowers barely grow there because the steel covers them."
Saie didn't respond and walked against the current. "This place is quite popular," he said, gazing down.
"Really?" Gaia drawled. "How come there are barely any people around?"
"Well, I wasn't finished. It's popular among partners—"
"Huh?" She looked confused.
Saie took a long breath. "Lovers."
"Oh," she said softly, in realization. She smiled, her brow arching once again. "I guess not many people fall in love here."
"They hide in daylight; they only come out at night," he joked.
She snorted, jogging to a hanging flower overhead and turning to face Saie. "So, why were you looking for me?" she asked, rubbing the small petals.
He hesitated for a second. "Oum…" he clutched his lips.
"Are you gonna tell me? Or should I force you? Because I wanna know," Gaia teased.
Saie reached into his pocket, which he had been gripping tightly ever since he left home. Gaia stared at the gadget in his hand, her face neutral as she observed it.
"Here," Saie said abruptly.
Her expression crumbled back into confusion. "What?"
"Take it," he insisted.
She grabbed it and scanned its unfamiliar parts.
"I wanted to give that to you."
"Why?" she asked, still focusing on the gadget.
"…A gift… in return for the compass you gave me?" Saie replied, his tone uncertain.
"That's it?" she asked, lifting her brows.
"Yeah?"
Gaia's lips pouted into a giggle. "The compass wasn't meant as an exchange gift."
"I know… I just wanted you to have it."
"Oh… alrighty then. So why don't you show me how this works?"
Saie rubbed his head, looking around Riverlane. "Not here," he intoned.
"Huh? Just show me. It's not like it needs to be hidden."
Deciding, he grabbed Gaia's hand and pulled her along into a narrow passage. Gaia didn't say a word, letting her curiosity lead her. The passage was also clustered with veiny plants, but it was just wide enough for them to fit. The stony ground beneath them slowly turned into sand. They had traveled far from where they started. Saie's face was beading with sweat, while Gaia remained silent. They stopped on the shore of a calm lake. There was no one there, just like in Riverlane. He thought it was the perfect place to show what the gadget could do.
"So, um, I'll show you how it works by trying it first. Then you can do it."
"Go on, I'll be sure to keep my eyes on ya."
He put the fingerless glove on his hand while holding the stone in the other. He stepped back, swinging his arm in loops. He turned to the clouds and, with all his strength, threw the stone high into the air. Gaia watched the stone soar as Saie gazed at the horizon. As the stone began to fade into the distance, he clenched his gloved hand. A tiny dot appeared above the clouds, moving back toward them. It expanded as it neared, revealing itself to be the stone Saie had thrown.
"Wow!" Gaia gasped.
"Move aside."
Saie positioned himself sturdily, ready to catch the returning stone. He opened his hand. Whoop! It banged into his palm.
"That was cool!" Gaia exclaimed.
"Thanks. Now you try it."
"Okay!"
He removed the glove from his sweaty hand and gave it to her. Gaia put it on with excitement, a wide smile stretching across her face. She worked her fingers into the glove and grasped the stone. She threw the stone without caution, sending it back into the sky.
"Now clench your hand," Saie said.
Gaia clenched her fist. She concentrated, her eyes centered on the clouds. Whoop! The stone returned.
"Good job!" cheered Saie.
"This is sick!"
Saie sat on the sandy ground, which crunched beneath him. "It's actually my father's. He kept it in a cabinet after a customer gave it to him because they couldn't pay their bill. He tried using it and found out it was dangerous, even for me."
"So… you're not supposed to have this?" Gaia's voice was deadpan.
Saie scribbled in the soft sand with his finger. "Yeah… that's why I'm giving it to you."
The wind patted them gently. The lake was mostly scentless, though there was a slight whiff of metallic air. While Gaia continued to play with the gadget, Saie took a moment to think, digging his fingers deeper into the sand.
"Watch out!" Gaia screamed.
The soaring stone flew toward him just as he dove face down. They both laughed, teasing each other as Saie lay flat in the sand. Gaia sat beside him, reaching for the stone. "This could kill you," she said, her voice full of excitement.
"You seem to like dangerous things," spoke Saie.
"I've held far more dangerous weapons," she boasted.
He snorted, "The only dangerous thing I've held was a butant cat. Those two-faced cats are literally a nightmare."
Gaia's mouth widened, raising her voice, "What? A Butant cat?"
Saie grinned, "I know, but I had no choice or else my father could've got clawed."
"That's very brave, their claws are sharp and venomous, you know."
Saie raised both eyebrows in approval.
She then fronted him, crossing her legs in curiosity, "So, you haven't told me what happened at your Honory."
"It happened just like any other Honory," he teased.
"Oh, come on now," nudging him.
"I was nervous, but also excited. I'm happy that it went well." He paused; the air went heavy. He blinked involuntarily fast. Gaia couldn't help but ask, "Are you alright?"
He managed a forced smile, "Yeah."
She furrowed, squinting her eyes, slowly moving her head near him, "Ya sure?"
He gurled, pushing his body down the sand. A stream of sighs flowed out.
"You have no one else to talk to—at least I think so, so why don't you just tell me what's the matter?"
He sat right up, facing Gaia, "How long did it take you to use your power? Or like, being able to summon your Guardict after your Unfecuous?"
"Wha-why do you ask?" She slowly said.
"Just tell me," he uttered.
"Okay-okay. It didn't take a long time."
Saie hasn't removed his gaze from Gaia, as if patiently waiting for her response.
"After like an hour or two? I don't know, but it didn't even take a day before I could summon my Guardict—why?"
The words clung in his mouth, the hesitation wrapped around his lips. He couldn't open it.
Suddenly, the question that could take over Saie's indecisiveness came out of Gaia, "Could you…show me your Guardict?"
He got petrified—though, he could just get to the point. Gaia watched Saie as he was stoned in his seat, not uttering a single word.
"Saie?"
"I can't," he uttered in a low voice.
A sudden hush fell between them.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't…" the words ran out of his mouth like it was escaping from a prison. "You said it didn't take you long enough to summon it, and from a book that I read it doesn't take an hour to summon a Doumion after your Honory. I wanted to say it to you but I couldn't, and I don't know why. I thought I was a deliant or a curstunt, and I'm different from my family—" until he stopped when he noticed a sluggish crawl of a smile marked Gaia's face, chuckling at Saie's uneasiness.
"What?" His tone rose in annoyance.
"Are you serious?" Gaia is still chuckling.
"I am!"
"No, because you think after your Honory, you'd be able to summon your Guardict that fast?"
Saie's eyes narrowed and taut, "That's what you said!"
"It's not always the case!" she yelled back.
Then, his face lay flat, "What?"
"Not everyone can summon their Guardict that fast, and what book did you even read it from?"
His cheeks puffed, uncertain, "Summlion 370?"
She snorted, causing his brows to draw tight, "Seriously? That's an old version of the book, and everything written there is all outdated—read Summlion 408." Abruptly, she closed her eyes, "Wait let me recall what I've read on it—wait… oum…" her cheeks moved up and down oppositely from both sides, "It's not exactly going to be as what it was written there to what I'll say but still." She murmured words from paragraphs where her head ends up to, "A young tetheract can summon not more than two—not everyone maintain the same—" after halting at every phrase, she finally opened her eyes.
"One, two, or three but uncertainty persists. Guardicts are not precise. If one must know, twist and fling should undisguise—there…that's what it said there, which means you do have the power, it's just not showing up at the moment." She nodded, clutching her lips.
Saie's chest flattened, all the disquietude he was carrying melted into light liquid, and still, he doubted, "Are you sure?"
"Yes! You're not a deliant Saie, you're still learning. Don't worry, I'll teach you," she calmly said.
His gaze grew bright, luminous with surprise, "Really?"
"Of course, don't worry about it."
Saie's beaming smile could blind the whole sky, an involuntary act made him move to almost hug Gaia, but something snapped him before he could touch her, "Thanks—"
"Oop—"
"Oh—"
"Sorry—"
The warm breeze stepped in, the soft sand clung to their clothes, and the smell of the waters swirled around them. Gaia stood up, dusting off her coat, "Follow me," she said.
"Huh? Where?" spoke Saie, craning his neck.
"I've got a spot where we can start up."
It was another run to the place where Gaia said, she wasn't that fast so he could keep up with her speed. The grey-bricked alley was slowly disappearing under their stomping feet, and far from the very end of the rowing houses, the ground was now fully covered in grass. Every minute it's reaching new heights, tickling Saie's feet as he passes through it. Bushes of flowers came into sight, their petals like a cheek blush, and sunny clouds, surrounding a cottage house. Its quality looked light and untouched by time. On the roof, a chimney gushed muted cottons to the air.
"This is where you live?" Saie spoke, turning his head around the emerald place.
Gaia hopped on the porch, thudding a sound, "Come in," as she opened the door and shouted, "Mom!"
The floor was wooden planked, almost as slippery as algae-covered stone. Inside was not far from what was outside, marble vases flowers cornered him from the cabinets to the tables and window benches, while some were even hanging. Nearly the stirring of the humus was all he could take in, but was rustled by another scent; a tangy, zest smell wafting from the hallway.
"This way," said Gaia, after shoving the device that Saie gave her into a small cabinet.
When they reached the kitchen, Gaia greeted with a chirp, "Hi mom!"
A woman who seemed to be stooping over from behind, faced them. She was in an apron, and her hands were in mittens. Her lips stretched, wrinkling the corner of her eyes, "Ya here! In so soon?"
"Well, I got a new company," said Gaia, looking at her mother in an upbeat tone.
"Oh, really?" She then shifted to Saie, "hm! I see you've brought a guest."
"Oh yeah, this is Saie."
He moved his arms to his back, and greeted the woman, grinning, "Hi ma'am."
She smiled back, "What a lovely boy. Ya can call me Vira."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Vira."
"So, oum, you're gonna go out gardening later?" asked Gaia.
Mrs. Vira bent under to the oven behind her, "No, I'll have this day for baking."
"Baked Ribbun?"
"Close, new one."
Gaia bowed suddenly, playing with her mother, "I'd be honored to have a taste."
Mrs. Vira seemed to have the same nature as her daughter, as she bounced a bow to her, smiling, "When it's done."
Gaia then giggled, "Alright then, we'll head outside now."
"Go on, I'll call ya both once I've prepared the table."
Gaia reached for an orange on the counter before she walked away while Saie followed her. "Bye, Mrs. Vira," he said.
"Bye!"
She yelled opening the door on their way out, "Mom! We'll be at the Florriror!"
Her mom shouted back, "Go on, but don't make a fool of yourself!"
The wafting scent of Mrs. Vira's cook trailed them out where another row of flowers meters away in the backyard in curved pots made a circle like a dartboard on the lawn grass field. Each round had interchanged colors of soft and sun-bleached green.
"Is this the Florriror?" Saie asked.
"Yup, my mom made it like this."
"A garden?"
"Ouh…yup? She calls it a florriror."
The pastel grass felt wet under his shoes as he glided his foot on it, "So, why this space?"
"What space?"
Saie extended his arms far, "This."
"The circle?" Gaia responded.
"Yes."
She pointed at a particular vase that has a purple flower with a printed jaguar-like skin of fading white on the petals, "This and this and this and all the flowers that you see in the vases came from different places, and you don't see them every day. This is just an empty space, where we are. She's about to fill it though."
"Like rare flowers?"
"Yup, mom would collect them and put them in the vase next to the flowers where they also came from, she loves collecting them. You know flower and rare— flower rare, Florriror."
Saie didn't speak a word as he admired the flowers encircling him—of course, he had rarely or never seen such flowers.
"What about your mom?" asked Gaia.
A question that Saie had never heard from other people who know him, even some did ask the same, he quite literally doesn't know how to respond: Where's your mother? What does your mother do? Who's your mother? Shall he ignore, as he slightly did to those who asked? Gaia is a person whom Saie feels buoyant and comfortable speaking to now, "I don't have a mom anymore…" he said, as he looked away to the flowers. Her eyes dropped to the ground, "Sorry," her voice hushed.
Saie knew it wasn't the time to feel under the clouds and he must move on from whatever happened in the past. Smiling, he shifted back to Gaia, "Let's start?"
She grinned back, "It's going to be fun."
Saie moved beside Gaia, feet away from her. They both faced the calm trees from afar. She began by extending her arm in front, then with a flick of her fingers, the thin air suddenly gave a luminating fingertip. The glittering pearl fireworks revealed a hand as it moved in the air showing an arm until it revealed a body to a complete Guardict—it was just like the painting at the Unfecuous— a transparent long silk-like thread strands appeared from the Guardict trying to reach her fingers, tethering it. Saie's jaw almost fell witnessing how fast Gaia did it with a single flick. Another tether on her fingers as she also extended it. The Guardict looked like a puppet with all those strands attached.