Free Web NovelChapter 124: Seeing Old Friends (2)
"Did she head to the Eyehole?" A voice sounded in the Tower.
"Yep, they skipped the blimp we set up for them. Instead, they hopped on a regular long-distance bus."
Silence.
"I think they made a last-minute change in plans. Our spies caught parts of their talk. It looked like even Ren, who was with her, didn’t know what she was planning."
"She’s quite the mystery, right? Kinda reminds me of her mom. Ah, memories."
"Do we keep an eye on them? Word is, they’re going in and out of the Polluted Zones by the East Shore like it’s nothing. Seems like they’re getting kinda famous, even among the alphas and betas in the Tower."
"It’s cool. She’ll end up at the Eyehole eventually. Something about that place might jog her memory, helping her figure out who she really is."
Right around then, Kestrel and Ren were stepping out of a Polluted Zone. They found themselves near a beach, which was Muros’ place, so they thought they’d drop by.
Muros, the kid who had a seal as his psychic incarnation, had shot up since the last time they met, almost as tall as a grown-up. But he was skinny as a twig.
When he saw Kestrel, his face lit up. He rummaged through a box in his gloomy stone hut, pulling out a bunch of thick, black crispy cakes. "Hey Kestrel! Remember these? I saved some for you. Take them for the trip."
The cakes, made of rough grains and baked till they were black and crunchy, weren’t exactly tasty. Kestrel had taken them in the past more for fun, kind of liking the idea of snagging someone else’s snacks.
Every time their mom made these cakes, Muros would duck out of eating them, always stashing his part in a box. "Turns out he’s been keeping them for you all along," said Muros’ little sister, eyeing the stack of cakes hungrily. In their household, even such simple treats weren’t an everyday thing. They were more of a special occasion treat.
Kestrel took the pile of black cakes with a nod of gratitude, tucking them into her backpack. The inside of her bag was a rainbow of packaged sweets – all of her cherished goodies. As she stored the cakes, a cascade of candies spilled out. She paused for a moment, then decided to leave them all behind for Muros and his siblings. The kids, having never seen such colorful treats, stared wide-eyed, their faces lighting up with joy.
By the time Kestrel and Ren said their goodbyes to Muros and his family, the horizon was painted with twilight. The sinking sun stained the sea red, casting a fiery glow between the gaps in the clouds. Waves gently rushed to the sandy beach, frothing at the edges.
Plopping down on a stack of old tires, Kestrel and Ren took a moment to relax, letting the rhythmic sound of the sea wash over them as they munched on the tough cakes. They hadn’t mentioned to Muros that after this pitstop, they’d be heading straight for the Eyehole, with no plans to circle back to the East Shore anytime soon.
During their recent time at the East Shore base, they’d thoroughly combed through the neighboring Polluted Zones. These areas were well-documented by explorers of the past, making them relatively safe spots. Kestrel and Ren had crisscrossed these zones time and again, perfecting their teamwork. Now, they felt ready to tackle the challenge of the Eyehole, a place Kestrel was curious about and one the Queen had hinted at. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Kestrel wasn’t the type to linger on farewells.
If they came back, cool, they’d meet up again. But if they didn’t make it, then it was best the goodbye was brief. No sense in leaving heavy memories behind. She’d caught up with her pals, shared some laughs, sparred a little — and that felt enough. Her arrivals were straightforward, and her exits just as simple.
The tide was low now. A bunch of kids were out on the shore, trying to grab whatever the sea had left behind.
Although winter was almost over and spring was on its way, the cold hadn’t let up. The youngsters, with their bare feet in the chilly water, had their pale legs flushed pink from the cold. Still, their enthusiasm was obvious, their faces lighting up with every discovery they made.
The evening was peaceful – the calm before the Eyehole storm. freёweɓnovel.com
Kestrel nibbled on a piece of Muros’ cake, letting herself imagine it was one of her beloved candies.
Ren, aware of Kestrel’s hoarding tendencies when it came to food, looked puzzled. "You could’ve just left them some ashcredit, you know? I bet they’d have liked that. Why’d you give away all your favorite candies?"
She glanced at him, her eyes a bit distant. "Sometimes, the things we love most make the most meaningful gifts," she replied, her mind drifting to the candies she’d just parted with.
She showed her opticomputer to Ren, revealing a message she had sent to Parfit. She hoped that maybe they could make a special arrangement and let Muros join early.
Although young alphas didn’t get a salary from the Empire, Kestrel was more than ready to personally cover the cost for Muros, offering him what he would typically earn. For her, this wasn’t a big deal. It was pocket change.
What Muros and his struggling family genuinely needed was a consistent income. Muros, despite being just a kid and coming from a humble background, had always been genuine with Kestrel. She reciprocated by treating him with the genuine kindness of a friend, not just tossing him a few ashcredits out of pity.
By now, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a mesmerizing splash of colors that gently wrapped around everyone present. From his pocket, Ren pulled out a few chocolates filled with a hint of liquor and offered them to Kestrel, who looked a bit down.
Her face brightened immediately. Clutching the chocolates, she eagerly unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth. "So yummy," she thought to herself.
Everything felt sweeter—the sound of the ocean, Ren’s company, and the very air around her. She felt more at peace here, more human. The upcoming trek to the Eyehole now seemed less intimidating. Life was looking up.
"Tiny candies make a big difference."
"Always keep some sweets handy."
"Things are about to get real; I need my sugar fix."
One of the tendrils, sensing the mood, cheekily tried to wind around Ren’s leg.
But the faint alcohol aroma from the chocolates reminded the tendrils of a past memory when they had gotten a taste of liquor. They recalled the harm to Ren’s psychic landscape and the possibility of someone misusing their likeness in a mental trick. Suddenly feeling guilty, the tendrils released their grip, appearing quite distressed.
On the sandy beach, they moved about, weaving in and out, murmuring to themselves. Ren, bracing himself for some playful teasing from the tendrils, was caught off guard when they changed their tune, looking visibly remorseful.
"Don’t look so surprised, Little Fish," they said in a low voice.
"We just wanted to have some fun, you know."
"We’re not in on any secrets."
"We didn’t pry out any drunken truths from you."
"Promise, on our trip to the Eyehole, we’ve got your back."
"You’re safe with us. No more trouble."
