Castaway

YESTERDAY'S COLORS

It was almost dawn when they went back to their cabin. Baron woke up from the footsteps on the door which made the wooden floor creaked. He got up from the couch and opened the door. He found everyone and was relieved enough that they only got a few scratches aside from Amaron. He immediately prepared the medicines for his wound. Devanna went straight to the kitchen and boiled some water. Probably to have her morning tea. Limo and Calyx went upstairs to fix themselves.

Baron saw all of the bottles were emptied. They might have encountered a lot, just like what the reports from Cart told them. He knew their supplies wouldn't last long for a month, and he should tell them about it.

"If this will continue, our three months supplies won't even last for at least a month," he told Amaron as he sat down from the couch, holding the mixture of dried leaves from his jars and some medicinal liquid.

"Give me your arm," Baron said.

"We should ask for some backup. Have you called dad?" Amaron asked him.

Baron remembered the woman that answered his father's phone.

"Not yet," he replied. 

They went quiet for a while. Both of them had their own thoughts going on in their minds. Calyx and Limo are still upstairs while Devanna was waiting for the water to boil.

"I should start preparing for the selection," Amaron suddenly stated.

Baron looked up at him, surprised. He was done mending Amaron's wound and was about to cover it with bandages. 

"I thought you were serious about ditching it?" Baron asked him. 

"Just until we could have enough supplies for the next hunting."

"Aren't you a bit too harsh with Runette?"

Amaron went quiet. It was indeed a bad idea to get along with them so that they could save themselves. He remembered what Limo told him yesterday.

"But we have no choice. Unless we stopped hunting these demons and let them freely wander around for a month?" Amaron commented.

"What's this talk all about?" Calyx went down from the stairs. Devanna appeared from the kitchen, holding two cups of tea. She handed the other cup to Amaron, and he said his thanks. 

"Did you made something for me, Devy?" Calyx asked her. 

"Go get it yourself," she replied coldly and went outside using the back door.

-0-0-0-

Limo stared at the mirror of his bathroom. He couldn't take out his attention to his pair of golden eyes. It looked foreign and unnatural, yet it didn't affect his vision.

He looked at his back and found a mark that has never been there before. Just like Devanna, he also got the cursed mark just below his nape. No one mentioned it before, and he only found out weeks after he was carried home in their cabin.

He heard someone was already starting their morning routine. He knew who's action it belongs to. He glanced from his window and saw Devanna doing warmups.

He hurriedly took his clothes and wore them before finding a lost arrow entering his room from the window. He went downstairs immediately and found the others were having their morning drinks.

"Training already? Don't you want some coffee first?" Calyx asked him. 

He shook his head and said he's okay. He went to the back door and found Devanna already had her bow and arrow prepared.

"Am I late?" he asked. 

Devanna looked at him. Scanning him from head to toe. She found his hair was wet and smelled the eucalyptus on his shampoo.

"We don't have practice today. Go get some rest," she said.

"Oh, okay," he said, turning around back to their cabin. But as soon as he took his step, it was for a swift moment when he felt something tingling inside him. It was like he was electrified and suddenly felt a feeling that was not his. He turned around and faced Devanna. She was looking okay like usual, but he felt something more. He felt anger and pity boiling up inside her.

"Devanna," he called.

She faced him.

"What?" she asked. 

"Something is bothering you, isn't it?" Limo asked her.

"We do have shared a connection, but you're quite delusional. I'm okay," she smirked. 

He was right. She was bothered by something. 

Limo was good at comforting others before, but it was difficult for him to comfort her. It felt like he was out of options and can't do anything about it.

Limo sat on a log behind her, watched her as she practiced her bow and arrow. 

The trees gave him a relaxing feeling. A feeling that made him remember his days when his family is still alive, camping on weekends when he was a kid.

Devanna can still smell Limo even from a distance. The wind that softly carried its scent made her annoyed. It was quite bothering for her. She took a shot by mistake. She faced Limo. 

"Aren't you going to leave? You're bothering my practice," Devanna asked him. 

-0-0-0-

There was an abandoned house at the center of a lively village. Its walls had cracked, symbolizing the years it was built. There was a room where wallpapers are almost torn down—the smell of old furniture that tickled one's nose. The sound of heavy footsteps stopped in that room. A man watching every person walked across the street from his window appeared as the door opened. 

"I'm sorry, we failed again," a stranger wearing a black scarf apologized to a man.

"We knew this would happen, but we still pushed it. Where's Mirol?" the man asked.

The stranger didn't respond.

"I see. He was purified." He walked towards a table where a book was opened to a certain page.

"He's like a time bomb for us now. We have to make another plan," he said.

-0-0-0-

Calyx was resting on the couch while strolling through his cellphone. He was too focused that he didn't notice Limo behind him staring at what he was looking at.

"That's one nice picture," Limo suddenly blurted out. 

Calyx was startled and hurt his knee on the table. He turned around to see Limo staring at him.

"God! How long have you been there?" he asked. 

"Just when you started watching that picture of tall trees outside. You have quite the skills for photography," Limo replied. 

"Well, I'm a talented man, you see," Calyx confidently said. 

"Have you ever tried going to seminars and workshops before? It's fun." 

"Nah, I just had it as a hobby. It made me feel like I had a world my own when I'm taking pictures." Calyx lowered his head and looked at the picture on his phone screen.

"Can I ask you some favor?" Calyx asked him. 

"What is it?"

"You know your eyes. I really wished to capture your eyes," he said.

"Just my eyes, right?" Limo asked.

Calyx nodded. He was excited and wished long before to do it, but he doesn't know how to ask him.

Limo didn't take too long to agree. He doesn't have a problem if it's just his eyes anyway. He's quite curious about how it would turn out in a picture. 

"Where's Amaron and Baron? I saw them walking out earlier." Limo asked Calyx when they went outside to find a perfect light for the idea Calyx was thinking.

"Well, they got some important matters to attend," Calyx replied.

"What does this Selection all about? I heard it from them quite a few times." 

Calyx faced him. He was quite unsure if he would explain it to him or not. But thinking he was already living with them and helped them on a mission, he did.

"Well, we're not just the demon hunters alive. Some lived in different areas. Here, at the north, was us, the Feidon Clan. Though, we're just a family now since we lost our people hundred years ago. The south was led by the Burnal Clan, the most peaceful group of hunters. The west by Rigidon Clan, I don't want to talk about them. Lastly, the East, where our mother came from, was led by the Shinki Clan. Now, in every elite family, their eldest or anyone who would lead their lineage will have to conduct a selection. It was like looking for a perfect groom or bride. It is to make sure their leader's other half is competent enough to get through any circumstances," Calyx explained. 

"Wow, I didn't think it's still in practice today," Limo remarked.

"For ordinary people, maybe not, but for us, huntsmen, it is essential. Anyway, since our mother came from the East, we have likely given an invitation to one of their elite family's selection. It was funny to hear that it was Runette's selection," Calyx laughed. 

"Oh, I heard her name. Who is she?" Limo asked. 

"The twin's childhood friend. Quite the tomboy as far as I remember."