The Crooked Silhouette

Chapter 9: The Creature with Bow and Arrows

“We, The Dimensionals, are produced from The Humans’ imagination, beliefs, and faiths while they were alive. In simpler way, we exist because of you, The Earthlings. We are divided into several types of creatures – The Angels, The Demons, The Deity, The Zodiacs, The Weather, and many other smaller group you will discover later. I am one of The Zodiacs, which you could see from my physical appearance of having the prettiest features of all.”

            Hours after arriving at The Forest of Eve, Otome and Takeru still continued their journey. The main reason was to teach Takeru how to live within The Dimension, and since Takeru was the type who could easily catch up, it was not that difficult to introduce him more colourful edible fruits available and the system exerted on the ground. Neither contamination nor leftovers could be seen which incidentally reserved the genuine environment.

            His hand swept away hanging plants invading their sight. Takeru ducked and stumbled several times despite Otome’s assistance but it was unavoidable hindrance while braving the woods.

            “Are you admiring yourself by any chance?” Takeru sounded joking, but he was frowning. Probably he was puzzled by the fact revealed by Otome.

            Otome was literally blushing. He purposely shifted away from facing the inquisitive Takeru. Complimenting himself was not a matter he did designedly, hence that was why he came out with “If you encounter other Zodiacs later, you will understand,” instead.

            “I somehow could guess how The Angels and The Demons were created,” Takeru evaded a trail of greenish ants marching to and from two directions. “How about the others?”

            “The Deity and The Zodiacs were in existence from ancient Earthlings and we were name directly from it. Have you heard about constellations? Those are our ancestors and as long as The Humans believe in horoscope and looking at us every year, we will always survive,” Otome halted half way and scanned their surrounding as he however sensed another presence of an unknown entity. “I’m The King of Virgo Valley, and I’ve lived for two thousand years already.”

            “You seem too young to age two thousand years,” Takeru’s eyes skimmed the atmosphere together.

            “I’m a Virgo after all.”

            The sound of shouting and crashing stopped them from lowering their guard down. Otome held his fists, getting ready to launch a punch or two whatever the enemy would be. The volume was too faint that he sighed in disappointment. Takeru seized on his arm sleeve, since he was only a Human to have nothing but Otome’s skill and power as protection.

            “Estimating from the route where it echoes,” Otome cupped his left ear to concentrate on distinguishing the sound, “There is something over there. Guess Zodiacs are going on rampage.”

            “Rampage? For real?”

            Yet he still tailed Otome as if they were the one concealing. Crushing the dried leaves, again, beneath their feet as they paced towards the direction once Otome has discovered. Then, a big trunked tree was chosen to hide themselves while watching a match between two Zodiacs. They were clearly unknown to Takeru but recognisable by Otome. Evaluating from the weapon each of them employed, he immediately figured out who they were in spite of the ruckus.

            A Zodiac heaving up a vase, and another Zodiac with big build, were the ones who fought.

            “So they are The Zodiacs, huh?” Takeru murmured yet audible to Otome, “Yes, you are apparently right. You’re the prettiest, I must say.”

            Abandoning his flushed cheeks, Otome hid more into the shrubs with Takeru following every of his actions like a little brother taking his big brother as an example.

            “The one awarded with tallness is Yagi. He is The King of Capricorn Valley and one of the five Zodiacs sent to The Earth. The one holding a clay vase is Mizugame, The King of Aquarius Valley. The vase is his weapon, and I guess he’s engaging with Yagi.”

            They have not been there for long as another creature put Yagi and Mizugame’s battle to its end. He was transparently a Human who Takeru was fully aware of his identity. He almost came out of their hidden spot to get Tatsu into his embrace as Otome blocked him with his arm.

            Why was Tsuya with them? Watching thoroughly, Otome could say Yagi was protecting Tsuya from being struck by Mizugame instead of collaborating with him to go against Tsuya. There were several attempts on damaging Tsuya’s head by Mizugame, believably to distort his psychic ability to be executed upon everyone presented there. However, Yagi which was a martial artist like him acted much faster than Tsuya himself.

            “Hey, there’s my friend Tatsu!” exclaimed Takeru as his hands grappled to let himself free from Otome’s fastened grip, “We must save him!”

            “It’s not your friend!” Otome even gritted to make Takeru clear, “He’s a Spirit. The one named Tsuya I’ve mentioned earlier. He shouldn’t be there in the first place!”

            “But that’s my friend! He doesn’t seem dangerous at all!”

            They witnessed Tsuya making his way to Mizugame. Otome could see how terrified Mizugame as he faced Tsuya in shiver, and what shocked him the most was Yagi’s role almost like Tsuya’s bodyguard. Putting aside Yagi and Mizugame, the Tsuya he observed with Takeru was much collected and poised, emitting positive aura at their surroundings in comparison to the one The Zodiacs have met in The Angels’ meeting room. It somehow intrigued him that Tsuya acted so diverse, as if he has repented and regretted his deed before.

            Too bad that they were quite far from the scene to eavesdrop the conversation between the three of them. All they could see was Tsuya talking to Mizugame and then the latter bowed at him, probably apologizing for his misbehaviour. It dissatisfied him too much which dragged him to test his secondary ability upon that Tsuya.

            Strangely, he could read him – too dissimilar than before. Nothing uncommon he did see. The doppelganger of Tsuya had five friends, and Takeru was one of the listed. He was called as Tatsu instead of Tsuya which substantiated Takeru was right. Nothing much differed from Takeru’s pool of memory, but he could not figure out what kind of toddler or elementary schooler Tatsu was. The memory diving welded at one point where he seemed to not be able to pierce. No. It was more to a blockade.

            “Otome.”

            A soft voice brought him back to reality. In between contemplation, he slowly shifted to the scene to watch another Human – this time a girl lookalike – approached the three creatures. The girlish boy panted and huffed while his index finger directed at one track behind him. Mouth blurting out words he and Takeru seemed to not understand. They have not yet grasped what The Human tried to notify when another creature pounced at him without delay.

            “That’s Hikari!” Takeru’s shriek was gladly saved by Otome as they might reveal themselves to the conflict. Otome really disliked interference and hated being the one causing it too.

            “Think before you leap, Takeru!”

            The creature was initially not at such size but due to his body transformation, his size was almost doubled the original. Surely his sparring would be the one owning nearly the same size as him, and that one opponent eventually formed a pair of horn on his head to fight against the rampaging creature from intensified will of wreck.

            “Is he a lion? A Leo?” Takeru whispered while his eyes fixated at the incident.

            Otome glimpsed at the curious Takeru. “You are a good observer, Takeru,” he then shifted back to the struggle, “Yes. The one attacking them is Shishi, The King of Leo Valley. And the one on defensive is Yagi but equipped with his Zodiacal weapon. A detachable pair of horns which could alter themselves into anything Yagi needs at the moment.”

            “Convenient,” came as Takeru’s comment.

            A hand gesticulation by Otome curbed Takeru to watch more. One brow was raised as bewilderment hit him.

            “Something’s coming.”

            They both ducked and noiselessly scoured the woods. Otome led them leaving the spot while Takeru silently tagged along behind. Ensuring their steps flawlessly scrunched the dried leaves, they have not gone further into the woods back when the one Otome sensed drawing close to them has already turned up before their very eyes.

            “I must say you are very good in slipping away, Otome.”

            Swallowing lump in the throat felt difficult by the presence of The King of Sagittarius Valley. Takeru gradually looked up to see Ite’s glittering eyes staring almost plainly at them, however the lips parted as he smiled. No words uttered as Ite’s arrow aimed exactly at them – there would be no escape if Ite released that.

            “Gotcha, Otome.”

            “Sorry, I don’t mean to come across you like this.”

            Muted plight perceived fundamentally killed their inside. Otome could not plan any circumvention judging from the way Ite fixated his eyes onto them – unshaking and dilated as if they might flee in no time if he was careless. The trembling Takeru turned speechless as he was fully aware what would happen especially to himself if he was to run away mindlessly.

            “So this is The Human that you’ve gotten from The Earth?” from a very intimidating stare, Ite shifted at Takeru. “What’s your name?”

            Ite’s hand gripped the arrow embedded and methodically, but there was no way Takeru would cease his consternation just smoothly. Covertly Otome endeavoured mind reading upon Ite to discover what he has drafted until The Sagittarius could locate their current spot. Again, he peculiarly omitted to divulge even the surface as if the brain was obscured with repellent. One thing emerged in his reasoning since Ite asked Takeru’s name face-to-face, and he promptly blocked Takeru with his one arm.

            Giving Takeru to him just like that? He could be Tsuya’s spy or anything related to The Spirit. Yet, he has not done what he ought to do – teaching The Dimension to Takeru so that he could bring him to The Virgo Valley instead of to Tsuya.

            “You know I will come to you eventually, right?” Otome finally furrowed as he narrowed his vision to focus only on the sturdy Ite before his eyes.

            Behind his extended arm was the shuddering Takeru, gradually slumped as he lost his nerve alongside wits. It was inevitable since Takeru was a Human who had nothing as his custody, hence counting on Otome was his only alternative.

            “Predictably absconding is what you’re about to do,” said Ite.

            This one action would either provide him escapism or drag him to despair, relying on the resultant force it might induce. In split seconds, a feathered wing fortified both Takeru and Otome at the time Ite launched his arrow towards The Human Otome has abducted. The wing spread originally from Otome’s scapula and veiled them, and while hugging on Otome’s forearm, Takeru heard him cursing. The stunned Ite leapt a large step backward as he sensed jeopardy if he did not.

            “Otome, what-“

            “Ngh!”

            A massive indescribable pain jolted right at Otome’s shoulders. He unwittingly unleashed the ultimate Virgo power as he was mentally destroyed in panic of inability to plot the best getaway for both of them. Ite sure was too persistent which surfaced up his fear of unwillingly fight against The Sagittarius. The incontrollable growth of the wings from his back stung Otome till he arched in his body, enduring the suffering all by himself while Takeru could only rub to soothe him.

            Why now? Otome silently groaned in pain as the wings broadened to the point Ite froze at where he stood, practically turned blank to decide his appropriate next procedure should be. He never awaited for Otome to release his levelled-up Virgo power just because they reconciled and he was initially the head. Calculating from the look, he could say Otome did not do it on purpose.

            Years or probably decades since the last time he witnessed the wings, he gaped in disbelief like it was the most beautiful creation he has ever seen in his entire life. However, this time the stretched out wings intimidated him too much that he slightly shivered of shock. He might be panic but he still could breathe composedly, with the bow aimed again towards Otome and Takeru.

            “Your power doesn’t mean much if you can’t fly, Otome,” Provocation sounded petty, yet he had no choice but to force Otome releasing his whole energy, and he was going to only evade whenever he attacked until his energy terribly consumed. Soon after that, he would be the only one charging in counterattacks.

            An outgrowing pair of wings exhausted Otome. His blurry vision delayed his judgment and he obviously unable to depend on Takeru The Human to reverse the power. His whole upper limbs sored and killed him inside. Beads of sweats rolled down his chin and wetted his shirt.

            “Otome,” Takeru sounded pleading.

            Otome abruptly seized Takeru into his arms and flapped his wings, straining more of his energy left. He hissed in agony as he flew, but his arm gripped Takeru unshakably so that he would not drop him to the ground – back to Ite. Ite stared at him, lowering his bow and sighing. Despite the aching wings poking out of his skin, Otome seemed to be able to handle the large wings. If only there was anyone else saw a flying creature, it might mistake him as a big bird instead of a Zodiac.

            The scenery was unimaginably mesmerizing as Takeru never pictured a forest full of psychedelic tone, in addition to the trees of different heights which indicated photosynthesis has done great job, the shining leaves taller trees possessed which reflected sunlight on the outmost surface of the woods, brilliant fruits dangling on them, and some founded fauna which basically the main inhabitants of The Forest of Eve. Takeru was about to enquire as he heard Otome moaned.

            “Otome, I think the evil can’t see us from this area onward,” Takeru half yelled as his voice was overpowered by the wind right above the trees as they glided. “Let’s stop down there,” he said with an index finger of his directed towards a grassy clearance but no sight of The River of Adam like the place Yagi and Mizugame had a duel beforehand.

            Trailing the direction as led by Takeru, Otome had to concur since he was almost depleting. They landed with vague breeze wafted the fine debris and dust away. Otome had to repose on his left side as the wings have not retracted back into his skin yet, but they notably shrank. It might take some time more, Takeru thought. Wheezing was all he heard from Otome, indirectly flagging his declining readiness to begin a chat at the moment.