The Lost Gardens that Kye was headed towards was quiet and clean. From the distant, it seemed like a field of flowers had appeared in the middle of the dried land around it and was able to sustain their lives in such conditions. It looked like the gates of the Gardens were opened and that no one was inside at the time.
Kye paused just outside the gates. Part of him was hesitant to possibly find his mother. But before he could contemplate it anymore he stepped inside to look around.
… Spiders, hellhounds, undead armies, living armies, spell casters, witches and wizards alike, dinosaurs, wolves, lions, other incredibly dangerous creatures minus snakes, giant eagles, cults, the possibility of your planet being blown to bits…
(I would be noting what Gelion is listing off. Or better yet, what he isn't listing, if I were you anyways.)
”And days later, he introduced you to me and then we kinda went our ways” the doctor explained to the childish figure.
The child figurine opened his mouth, about to say something when the door was opened.
”Feeling better?” an unfamiliar female figurine came through the door.
”Ah! Ichika!, what’s up?”
(This was the same person who took Hinata here, just in a different form)
(So, I might have squealed a lot just a little when I saw they're genderfluid as well)
Hinata nodded at what Cassius said, then turned to look over when the door was opened.
"Oh, hey," she said with a polite smile.
(Got that, I’ll do that when I have the time to)
As Kye stepped inside, the flowers bloomed and danced to the winds that blew as Kye entered the place. He might have seen a figure in the garden with him but if he was to look again, the figure was gone. It was tranquil in the garden… he was most likely experiencing euphoria while in there.
(Don’t worry, I adore this character so they’re gonna appear often XD)
As they came into the room, they stroked their hair once which changed their small and adorable female body into a tall and warm-looking male body which may look more familiar to Hinata.
”Balance Keeper, someone wants to meet you… as per usual whenever you’re visiting some other realm” the figurine shrugged with a small chuckle.
Hinata nodded, not fazed. She was used to things like this. After all, she herself- no, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Hiro wasn't going to show up while she was there.
"I wouldn't expect anything less. Who wants to meet me?"
”A viscount, Matthew’s ‘boss’ to be specific” Ichika answered, fidgeting with a coin that was in his right hand.
”He’s waiting in his ‘office’ so… please follow me” he started to turn towards the door.
(Follow the man?)
(Deny the offer?)
Hinata listened, thinking for a second. This was the man the fox brothers wanted her to kill, to help Matthew. This could be advantageous, so she could figure out exactly which way she wanted to handle this situation.
"Okay then," she said, following Ichika out.
Ichika started to guide Hinata outside the hospital. He turned back to face Hinata and closed his eyes. A pair of navy and golden glowing wings sprouted from his back.
”Come on, you can’t really deny it” the draconian man extended his hand with a small laugh.
Hinata eyed the wings, nodding.
"Nice," she noted, not breaking her own out. Instead, she took Ichika's hand, chuckling softly.
When Hinata got a good grasp on their hand, Ichika took off and started flying, keeping a steady but quite fast speed.
They would soon arrive in front of an empty grassland with only a pavilion in the middle of it all.
”We’re here” he said, landing meters away from the pavilion.
(Got that, I’ll do that when I have the time to)
As Kye stepped inside, the flowers bloomed and danced to the winds that blew as Kye entered the place. He might have seen a figure in the garden with him but if he was to look again, the figure was gone. It was tranquil in the garden… he was most likely experiencing euphoria while in there.
(Very unlikely for him to be experiencing euphoria. It is very rare that you see him actually happy.)
Kye scanned the garden, but didn't notice anyone right off the bat. He gave a sigh, half relief and half sadness. Then he started looking around at the things in the garden more. That was when he thought he saw a figure. Looking again however, they were gone. He tipped his head. Something he did when he was trying to get a feel for the things around him.
… Snakes, heights, losing control again, mazes, your past-
Wait! Hoooold on a moment, those are all things that do worry me.
I know, I finished the first list. I'm listing all the things that do worry you know.
Oh, well then… carry on? I suppose?
You threw off my groove, now I don't know where I was and there's no point in continuing. But I do have an idea about why you have a bad feeling.
Oh? And what is that?
Mazes.
I am not following.
Oh kid, please tell me you know what a labyrinth is.
No idea.
Okay, a labyrinth was a contraption created by a man named Daedalus, to hold a creature called the Minotaur.
I have come in contact with a few minotaurs in my life.
But not the Minotaur. Anyways the word was originally greek; Laburinthos.
Okay, thank you for the history lesson, but what does that all have to do with me being worried about something?
Kid, a Labyrinth is a type of maze. In fact it is one of the first types of mazes out there. They happen to be the most complex and often they will change.
…… Of course it is. And they change ?!?!
Often yes, but not all of them do.
Wonderful.
Hinata was smiling the entire time they were in the air, having a great time to be flying without doing any of the work. She set down gracefully, obviously a well practiced moment.
"Thanks for the lift," she said, smoothing her hair down and straightening her jacket.
Blinking again, Kye would spot the the figure again only for them to disappear after another blink. It was as if to interact with the figure, Kye had to stop blinking for a bit.
”My pleasure” Ichika gave a faint smile as his wings went back into his body.
There was a figure in the pavilion; one with a beautiful blonde hair. They had their back turned to Hinata and Ichika and was sewing something.
Blinking again, Kye would spot the the figure again only for them to disappear after another blink. It was as if to interact with the figure, Kye had to stop blinking for a bit.
After noticing the pattern that seemed to follow the figure that he was seeing, he started trying a few things. "Okay, let me see," he muttered to himself after a few different tries. He blinked to see the figure and then didn't blink again for a few moments. He noticed that it stayed while he didn't blink but the moment he blinked, it was gone. "Got it."
(You might wanna approach the figure when he’s present, just sayin’)
(He's getting there, cut him some slack.)
Kye closed his eyes again, kept them closed for a moment, and then opened them again. The figure was there again. Refusing the urge to blink he started moving carefully towards the figure. "Hello there," he waved in a friendly way to the figure. "Who are you if I may ask?"
The figure turned around and revealed his face to be covered with red spider lily flowers, blocking out all of his facial features. He had a green suit on with a golden necktie, his hair was a wavy dark golden and reflective blonde. His hands were covered with plain white gloves and his mannerism represented that of a butler. Upon hearing Kye and seeing him, the figure bowed in a respectful manner; placing one hand on where his heart was and the other was placed behind his back. It seemed like the figure could not speak for he gave Kye an inviting gesture to follow him… into the deeper ends of the Garden.
(Follow the figure?)
(Leave?)
"Sir?" Kye took a few running steps after the figure then stopped. He wasn't sure he wanted to continue deeper into this garden. He looked back towards the entrance of the garden, bit his lip and raced after the figure into the garden.
With every blink the figure disappeared then reappeared, the cycle repeated until Kye was to be met with another figure who was watering the flowers.
The butler-like entity stepped out of the way, gesturing for Kye to approach the gardener.
"So… you're in charge of choosing the 'sinful' souls?" She ran a hand through her hair. "Isn't that a little unfair, though?" She shifted, carefully keeping the sleeping cat balanced on her shoulder.
”No no, I’m not the one to judge. Long story short, this little boy—“ he gestured to the cat ”—will surf through the history of person who he comes in contact with. If the ‘sin’ outweighs the ‘good deeds’, he can decide for himself if the soul is ‘sinful’ or not. I’m the one who orders him whether or not that entity should be kept alive or not as his default setting is… well, kill” the man tried to explain how he and his pet work as a union.
"But…" She blinked in confusion. "Aren't Knights already dead? Or the spirits?" She shook her head. "This makes no sense."
”Oh about that—“ the Knight finally remembered something.
”—it’s true that almost everyone here is what you would call as ‘dead’ but by the term ‘kill’ we would mean send them straight to hell or worse without further judgement from the Labyrinth” the Knight shrugged when he said the last part as if that was something normal to say on a daily basis.
”My pleasure” Ichika gave a faint smile as his wings went back into his body.
There was a figure in the pavilion; one with a beautiful blonde hair. They had their back turned to Hinata and Ichika and was sewing something.
Hinata nodded, turning to look at the figure.
"Hello" she called out, making her way over.
