Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Quincy has been in the library for days. Not his usual practice, everyone can tell. As Eiden anxiously wanders outside the door, still no signs from within have ever signaled the thing Quincy is doing, and hiding from Eiden.

Who the heck ever said that ghost could just walk through walls? Look, obviously he can't break in physically! "Why a ghost is restricted by a damn concrete wall and a wooden door…that doesn't even make sense! Hey I'm already very well-dead…" Eiden murmurs to himself, which then becomes a yell when he discovers the sun is setting. Again. Another day Quincy isolates himself.

There's no way that Quincy doesn't hear him complaining. After all, he's the only one (aside from Topper) who can see and talk to him after he died. They suspect it's his ashes and their resonated essence that do the trick. For Quincy carrying his urn wherever he goes, Eiden follows.

Well he can float and be invisible, like how the myth goes and what the folklore tells. But not when Quincy decided to shut him out － Eiden can only stay in the area that is close to his ashes. If Quincy is the old stubborn himself, and he doesn't read too much into it, Eiden bets anything he is doing in the library is something either dangerous and risky, or he'd object. Maybe both, the worst scenario.

Can't blame him for being on tenterhooks, Quincy is barely on the fringe of sanity after he's dead. Quieter than ever. Though this is a fact Eiden can't change.

EIDEN IS DEAD.

Eiden didn't want to recall that night.

In the hermit's hut alone Quincy was holding the urn of his little devil in his arms, whispering at midnight. Vaguely, Quincy puffed out words Eiden couldn't listen. Like he was struggling to breathe. Eiden walked closer from behind, allowing the wind to blow the lament into his ears.

Eiden.

It was his name.

A sudden urge took over. Too overwhelming. He had to break into the solitude. Eiden walked and then stood in front of Quincy, kneeled down and held his hands. Then he saw how the tip of his fingers penetrated right through that dim stone on the hunter's hand.

He flinched.

Right, he couldn't even touch him. Took a deep breath he threatened himself to move again, though he didn't need to breathe anymore. Might be cruel Eiden wouldn't have known, he just cried under his breath, "Let go, Quincy."

Flabbergasted, Quincy blinked blankly with teary eyes. Hollowed. His little devil was DEAD, the one in front of him was nothing but his lunatic illusion.

Quincy's…crying? The strong, powerful and reliable Quincy? You could trust the world on him. Yet he looked so vulnerable. Shattered. Empty.

Upon seeing him with tears shedded, Eiden wept even harder. How could he? How could he do this to him? How dare he leave him alone again? He was too broken to see. His throat was hurt and dried. Eiden mouthed in absolute silence, but Quincy was able to read his trembling lips. A delusion too beautiful to let go yet too difficult to grasp.

"Let me go, Quincy."

"Eiden…don't." It had always been his habit to comfort his little devil. Or he might just be refusing. Don't do this to me. How couldn't he. Reached out to wipe Eiden's tears, it was the grand sorcerer's turn to be shocked, "Wh-wait Quincy you can see me?"

That night of reunion seems to be bringing a part of Quincy's lucidity back. Like Sirius in the darkest swirling sky. Though when night falls and dawn yet to break, amid the forest breeze where blackbird sings and nightingale cries, the hermit is often stuck in a frenzied panic. Maybe an innocent nightmare or a realistic fantasy, Quincy breaks into cold sweats and is awaken from sleep once or twice a night, wondering if everything in front of his eyes are no more than a somnambulist's mirage. Stretching out his arms to locate Eiden, even he's just at his side, the impossibility to touch a ghost only leads to a thristy longing for solace.

Two weeks had passed after the reunion, Quincy suddenly went for Aster's permission to use the library. The clingy hunter thereafter then just locked himself in, totally out of the blue.

There's no fun being a ghost. Aside from being incapable to walk through walls, he can't move or touch things directly, or he will just pick the lock or break the windows with a stone. The grand sorcerer has been putting up with this for too long that he decides to scream even louder to disturb the man inside, not that the others will hear him anyway. On cue, the door is thrown open. If a ghost could fall, Eiden probably will just bump into the hunter's chest.

"Too noisy, little devil."

*Squeak*! Topper hops and aims to land on Eiden's shoulder, forgetting the latter is no longer capable to hold him like he used to. Luckily Quincy is quick enough to grab the little guy, stroking him on his tail to comfort him from the deadfall.

"Are you OK, Topper? Sorry, I am dying to hug you too but I really can't now…how I miss the texture of your fur, soft and fluffy …oh wait I am not dying, I'm dead already! Quincy did you hear that? What a pun I just made! Oh right it's not the time to talk about that － you leave me alone for three whole days! And you are definitely hiding secrets from me! What are you doing in the library? Searching for ancient ritual and offer sacrifices to bring me back to life huh?"

*Squeak squeak squeak*! Topper chimes in, speaking in a sequence of high-pitched shrills. His tail is low and stiff. Back and forth he peeks between Quincy and Eiden, looked concerned.

"Holy shit you really are? I was just joking! Don't you dare to put yourself in jeopardy!"

How on earth everytime in a situation like this, the little devil can perfectly comprehend Topper's language…Quincy tries to give a pat on Eiden's head (somewhere about that position in the middle of air, at least), answering in ambiguity, "No sacrifices. Just going to visit a place. It won't hurt."

"Huh I doubt. Topper obviously doesn't approve!"

*Squeak*!

"I'm going alone anyway."

This man can be really obstinate. Eiden and Topper have tried everything. They beg and intimidate, convince and induce. No, both carrot and stick don't work.

He very much wants to believe Quincy's words, but he can assure everyone that if there's really no danger involved, the hermit wouldn't have locked him out the library. Cornered and desperate, Eiden concedes, "Alright, I yield! Just let me go with you!"

Hesitated, Quincy finally nods after a decade. According to the ancient scroll, he needs to bring along Eiden's ashes anyway.

"So, where are we heading? This old ritual place."

"We are going to the Temple of Stars."

Quincy has never imagined that he would have the chance to set off on a journey with his little devil again.

Like the good old days.

──────

Eiden's deadly discovery of the day: a ghost can cry.

Chapter Text

"So where's this Temple of Stars? How does the scroll say it can bring back life exactly?"

His sight has totally blurred by the scorching heat waves in July, vision wiggling and sweats cascading like a waterfall. "We are about to see if a ghost is gonna faint due to heat stroke. I genuinely don't unerstand the law of being a ghost, or spirit, or soul, or whatever I am," Eiden pants. He decides to stay in the shadow under the trees, the heat is really killing him. He'd die twice.

"So? Come clean now, be honest. Don't try to fake me out, you can't get away with it." Still receiving no response from Quincy, Eiden peeks. The hunter has his brows furrowed. Not because of the heat, but of the answer he owes his little devil. Paused and waverd for another minute or two, Quincy finally replies, "The Temple is in the North, but its whereabouts is unclear. If your are determined enough, 'the stars will guide you', as written in the ancient scroll."

"Hmmm that doesn't sound convincing. Suspicious. Too suspicious. Right, Topper?"

*Squeak*!

"Try to talk me out again? We have talked about that already, little devil."

"I'm just trying to be practical, you know. I'm worried, Quincy."

Quincy keeps walking, steps heavy. He already goes ahead of him, ignoring the question from behind.

"It may cost you. A lot."

He stops.

Eiden can only see his silhouette in the sun, the glare is too bright to behold. Quincy turns around, emotions hidden in the shimmering heat haze. His voice is coarse but the tone is too soft, nearly shivered, "Don't deny me or yourself anymore, Eiden."

The grand sorcerer groans. Somewhere in his heart feels the warmth, too overwhelming that it almost makes him cry. He quickly wipes his tears before they run down, asking for a pledge, "Just make sure you won't hurt yourself, alright? Pinky promise?"

Quincy holds his transparent little finger. Topper makes sure he isn't left out, swiftly put his paws on as well. It may sound weird, but Eiden still has some sort of sensations even though he has become a ghost. He can't open a door or walk through walls, but he can still feel the heat and enjoy the breeze. Most of the time he can do nothing but just to watch, and it hurts.

He can't hold Quincy's little finger or Topper's paw, but he can actually feel the touch. A touch that's not imaginary, even though no one can ever prove it once existed. Feels like soothing wind that calms the anxiety. Eiden then opens his arms, asking for more. A hug he can't receive. Quincy obeys, resembling a giant dog seeking comfort. Resting his chin on Eiden's nonexistent shoulder, the hunter manages to remain in the same awkward position in which he doesn't feel anything. He refuses to move, as his little devil wants a hug, then a hug it is. Still the emptiness leaves him in a sulk, like this void has his sought-after pillow taken away.

"Hehe it feels good. Thank you, Quincy. I think I can almost feel your sweats."

The handsome face in front of Eiden finally shows a long-lost smile. "Those are from Topper, not mine."

*Squeak*! An objecting shrill from the fluffy fellow.

The untouchable hug is…warm. Eiden wonders, maybe a ghost isn't as cold as a dead body.

"We are staying here tonight." As stars begin to align, Quincy locates an area to stay overnight. Passing bits and pieces to the hunter, Topper is giving out a helping paw like he always does when Eiden isn't capable of doing anything but waiting.

Quincy has kept the habit of making a meal of two all along. There's often too much food, although Topper is always glad to take the leftovers as midnight snacks. After all, it's not easy to overwrite something that's long rooted in his daily life.

Temperature drops drastically when afterglow melts into twilight. Eiden very much wants a blanket, but it's not an easy task for him, considering his current state. While waiting for Topper to do the dishes, the grand sorcerer takes a walk around the campsite in the woods. He won't bump into a trap or be attacked by monsters anymore, so it's rather safe to start an adventure and explore a bit.

By the time Quincy finishes setting up the camp, he hears his little devil yelling afar, "Quincy! There's a hot spring just nearby, do you want to take a bath?" Topper agrees right away, bouncing fast from branch to branch to Eiden's location. "Topper! This must have worn you out. Come on, let's enjoy the hot spring."

The little devil is right: it's a long day. Ever since he decides to set off on this journey, the hunch of "this ritual won't work" has always been clouding his mind. Yet when he stares right at the eyes of Eiden, glistering and glittering like his gemstone, the darkness is dispersed. That's the guiding star he is looking for. No wonder the ancient scroll describes people who seek the Temple Stargazer.

"What a pity. I wish I could bathe myself in the hot spring too, but the steam still feel nice," Eiden pouts, "Quincy, what are you waiting for? Hurry! Topper is swimming already."

The eyes of his little devil flash and flicker with filthy ideas, sly smile unhidden. Well then he shall entertain. Slowly and leisurely, Quincy unzips his jacket. As Eiden's gaze falls on his fingers, the hunter then unbuttons his trousers and takes them off bit by bit, sluggish as usual. If it isn't the way of stripping off his clothes too tantalizing, Eiden almost overlooks that Quincy is absolutely deliberate.

"You have to keep me hanging, do you? You are truly the devil…"

"I don't understand." Quincy looks way too innocent and sounds far too sincere, but the grand sorcerer knows no better that this man can be cunning sometimes. The hunter then turns around, his back facing Eiden when he takes off his boxer.

"Oh stop teasing me!" Eiden immediately rushes to the front, but Quincy swiftly moves himself into the hot spring. The water splashes and overflows, nearly drowns poor little Topper next to them.

"Have no idea what you are talking about."

"I was planning to indulge myself…"

"In my striptease?"

"Well, that's a feast for the eyes. I can't touch now but at least I can watch…oh and you said you had no idea what I was talking about, devil!" Eiden protests. He reckons that there may be something only a ghost can do, as the idea pops into his mind, "Waaaait, that's it!"

Quincy watches his little devil ducks and dives into the hot spring, exclaiming underwater, "I have always wanted to do this. Since I don't need to breathe and won't get burnt by the hot water anymore, hell yeah! What a view!"

Underneath the towel must be an enticing scenery. Or it already is with the towel on. In between the bubbles underwater, the towel has the shape and size of Quincy's cock outlined, inviting for a peek or some catering. The hunter casually cups his chin on his palm, while the other hand slides into the water, hitching up the towel and acting unintended. One inch after another, the second part of the striptease starts from the thigh.

"Woah!" Eiden cheers as he witnesses how the hunter's hand moves further up to his crotch, waiting for a clearer view. One by one from the thumb to the little finger, Quincy's hand dances and lingers on the edge of the towel, interweaving with the waterflow. A sexual innuendo that's way beyond suggestive. The grand sorcerer can't help but recalls how these fingers used to open him up so well, the scenes are vividly sensual and seductive.

Just all at once the movements stop.

"Oh…" The grand sorcerer grunts in disappointment. Quincy can imagine Eiden's face under the water. Cute little pervert.

Shoots a glance to Quincy as objection, Eiden raises his head and murmurs, "You have to finish it once you started. Quitter!" The adorable pervert purses his lips.

The striptease is merely a reciprocated entertainment for Eiden, there isn't much he can offer to a ghost. "I think you have already seen my body way too many times…” Quincy snickers. They had shared too much time on the bed before.

"The more the merrier. There's nothing called too many."

"Greedy." Little devil being little devil. Quincy should have thought of.

"If only I could do it myself…" He would have ridden on him already. Eiden wiggles his fingers and toes in the hot water, creating tiny ripples like a falling petal drops itself onto the surface, "Look, this is the best I can do. Blow a leaf or draw on the sand that sort of thing. Ugh I really miss touching you…wait, perhaps you can touch yourself instead so that I can watch? Better than nothing." Eiden blinks with his puppy eyes and pleads.

"Not until we arrive at the Temple and you're back," Quincy sighs. He isn't in the mood of touching himself in a situation like this, though the little devil may be intrigued to watch him like a porn. You don't get chances like this easily (let alone trying it). But that doesn't sound…right. Eiden probably just wants to ease the tension, now thinking about it.

Shrugged his shoulders, Quincy begins swirling the water with his fingers around Eiden's transparent body. Bubbles intertwine, fleeting like the wildest dream. Breath and scent of each other tangle, but flee as soon as time slips away. It's easy to forget this is no normal journey; Eiden is long gone.

"So, how does this Temple revive the dead? You haven't told me about that."

"It's said to be able to transcend time and rewrite the stars."

"Wait, that's it? It's too vague!"

"We'll see."

Eiden figures out that Quincy isn't giving up any chance, no matter how impossible it seems to be. The stars are high up shining, sparkling and dazzling, in a galaxy lightyears away. How long does it take for them to guide a lost traveller to his destination? And what awaits there?

He has too many attempts on convincing Quincy to give up visiting the Temple. Eiden honestly believes that it won't work; he can foresee the failure, and Quincy will only be hurt once more. The steadfast laws of life and death is ultimate and irreversible. Alteration or resistance is a sin. Pick a random tale and this is foretold, Quincy should have known better than anyone else. He has been wary, trying to make Quincy facing the truth by any means.

The last thing he needs is Quincy losing him again.

The little devil stands up and gives out a sigh. Arms opened again he asks, "Alright, alright. I get it. Now would you give your little ghost a hug, please?"

Quincy stands up and has his arms wide open in response, while his little ghost immediately smothers himself with the hunter's pecs, as if he was still alive.

"Thank God of Klein! Finally got to admire you naked."

"…Is this your purpose all along, little ghost?"

"Hehehe."

Eiden wonders if he could still blush, grinning roguishly after realizing how Quincy has spoiled him as he always does, as he used to do. Heart beating fast and ironically it all feels so alive. He can't feel the hug, but who says a ghost can't feel its warmth?

──────

Eiden's deadly discovery of the day: a ghost can feel the warmth of a hug.

Chapter Text

The flow of essence runs like a river. For a forest inhabitant like Quincy, there is no difficulty to trail its origin. Trees and flowers are flourishing on this fertile land, acting as a map to guide them to the correct direction in the journey. Every sign still points to the North, to their final destination.

If you are determined enough, the stars will guide you.

That's way more than enough. All he needs is proof and hope to keep him going, even if they are as illusionary as a mirage. No difference to how dews are gift of God to a lost and thirsty traveller. Chasing the feeling of the essence, Quincy continues to the Temple. He has to be hurry. Time is running short.

"Quincy, look! This mushroom looks cute, it has tiny little legs! I haven't seen anything like this before, at least not in the Wood Territory. Oh wait there's a bubble, where does that come from⋯shiiiiiiiit it has a mouth?! On the top of its cap?! IT HAS FANGS helppppppppp!"

"Can't hear you clearly. What's happened?"

Not far away stands Quincy next to a trap, carefully examining. A trap means there is someone living nearby, most probably a tribe. They should be careful not to disturb anything. Looking up to see what Eiden has gotten himself into again, the hunter can't help but worry, it's getting worse － his little ghost should be way noisier while encountering a weird situation like this.

"Phew. Luckily I don't have a solid finger, or else my pinky has already bitten off by that colorful mushroom. Thought it's a monster. Too fierce, right? It's just a freaking mushroom!"

His little ghost's voice sounds too soft. Almost broken.

"Rare species. The whole cap is toxic, as well as the bubble it blows. Just be careful, it's delicious. Topper likes it a lot."

"Holy, it can be eaten? I thought you said it's toxic?"

He doesn't seem to notice.

"Not if you cook it properly. Usually it's used for soup."

"Woah, if only I had the chance," with hindsight, he should have read all the books about tribe cuisine at Quincy's place back when he was alive, "Anyhow, speaking of Topper…where's he?”

The little ghost continues to be amazed by how the nature of Klein has all these mesmerizing lores that he yet to discovered. Frowned, Quincy puts down the trap, fingers tapping on the tree, reminding his little ghost not to waste useless time, "Detour to pick a few of these mushrooms with fangs. He will catch up. Eiden, we have to go."

Eiden's voice is fading.

There's no time to waste and they have to make haste. Uncertain if Eiden is going to leave him again any sooner, the hunter decided that the faster they locate the Temple, the bigger the chance they can bring Eiden back. Only an idea of consolation Quincy has reckoned, but he has no other better options or solutions.

"Oh, alright. Aren't you tired, Quincy? Everything's OK?"

His little ghost has been good at observing, he almost forgets. Catching the tiniest hint in his demeanour, it's not an easy task to hide from the grand sorcerer. "Nothing," the hunter huffs. The last thing he wants is brewing remorse or discomfort within Eiden, so he chuckles in deguise, "Unless you want to camp near the mushrooms habitat tonight."

And he doesn't have the audacity to admit Eiden might disappear before they make it to the Temple.

"Spare me. Who knows if they suddenly wanna have a taste of ghost? I'm kinda the rare species here." Looked convinced, Eiden shrugs when a familiar sound interrupts.

*Squeak*!

Upon hearing Topper's yelping, the hunter pauses and checks on the fluffy little guy. Hopped on Quincy's shoulder, his tail swishing nervously, paws pulling his jacket for attention.

"A human kid in a trap? Lead the way."

Amid poisonous mushrooms is a human child who has fallen into a hunting trap. "I understand the feeling, kid! After all I always bumped into traps back then. No worries, Quincy the hunter and our Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III have come to your rescue!"

Having been exhausted of yelling for help, the child whimpers like a cub. Quickly pulled the kid out, Quincy scans and is relieved to see there isn't any visible wound. Topper is doing a great job calming the kid down, fluffy tail around his neck to comfort.

"Thank you. I thought I was going to die on my brother's wedding day." The tiny human finally grins.

"You won't. We will get you home now."

*Squeak*!

"His family must be worried. Oh my God and it's his brother's wedding day, can't even imagine if anything happens to him. Topper, you really are the best." Poor kid, he must be anxious. Not only getting lost and trapped in a hole the entire afternoon, it's an important day to attend to. Eiden wishes the child can hear him, then the tiny human won't be stuck in this awkward moment with this hermit of a few words.

"Is he a ferret? He is clever."

"No. Yes, he is."

"What's his name?"

"Twi…Topper."

"Can I touch him?"

"Yes."

Topper jumps in and nuzzles the child's nose. Quincy has been sparing of words and it's even worse after Eiden's death. It's up to him to fix it again then, Topper sighs.

Passing through a few tree arches, they make their way to a local tribe. Different from Quincy's tribe Eiden can tell, though they share similarities in terms of dressing style and living habits. From first sight, both Eiden and Quincy notice that everyone is in a spin frantically. They put everything on hold and almost call off the wedding because the boy went missing.

"Thank you! Thank you for saving our boy, Mr Quincy and Mr Topper!"

Perhaps the major difference between this tribe and Quincy's is the attitude towards his long-lived clan member. Eiden pictures this probably is the way Quincy used to live in Wood Territory. The bride and the groom insists family's hero must attend their wedding, passionately inviting Quincy and Topper stay for a night before they continue their journey.

"I really want to join! A wedding is not what you see everyday! There are snacks I have never seen, traditions I have never heard, and people I have never met! It looks fun, and you don't have to hunt tonight! Hassle free! Please please please, Quincy?"

*Squeak*! *Squeak*!

Two pairs of puppy eyes are blinking right in front of him, staring right into his soul. Probing deep into his threshold of tolerance, the partner in crime can always calibrate his weakness and propensity effortlessly. He should have stopped freaking spoiling these two, but he discovers he's already nodding when this idea pops into his mind for the 617th times.

※※※※※

Taking a break seems to have cheered both Eiden and Topper up.

The central plaza is buzzing with people, a salvo of laughters bursts out once in a while. Topper, as the hero of the day, is stealing the attention (and snacks) from quite some guests. The hermit remains a low profile, quietly wanders around with Eiden.

"Though the couple doesn't even know I'm here, I still wish I have the chance to get myself dolled up…I'm attending a wedding with you, after all. For the first time, together…"

Quincy can't hear him well; as time slips by, words of Eiden become even lighter when they are blown by the summer breeze into his ears. But it's obvious that little ghost's smile isn't as bright as the usual little devil's. He outlines Eiden's silhouette with his eyes in the merging hues of the foggy gloaming and falling night, the fondling by his fingertips starts from Eiden's head to shoulder, forearm to wrist, waist to hip. Tender and comforting, though in the eyes of strangers Quincy is patting the air for no reason.

The strokes match the rhythm of his pounding heart, it's driving the grand sorcerer insane that he isn't able to touch Quincy directly. Then why, God of Klein, leaves him with the ability of having these pitiful senses as a forsaken ghost?

"Hello guests," an announcement cuts in, "It's the time for bouquet toss! Everyone, please come to the central plaza and ring our bride."

"Oh it's kinda like what's in my original world. I worked part-time in weddings, and all ladies were going crazy everytime when it came to bouquet toss. Wonder if they share the same meaning."

"Who gets the bouquet will get married next and soon. And all guests are supposed to join, regardless of gender. It's an important part of the tradition, as it symbolizes accepting the blessing from the newlyweds. It's considered as the highest prayer from the nature, wishing the one who caught it with lifetime happiness."

Quincy moves with the wave of people, joining the others to form a huge circle with the bride at the center. The bouquet, gathering flowers with white and star-shaped petals, somehow catches Eiden's eyes. Shining dazzlingly at dusk, the gift bestowed by God shall bless the people he loved.

Like holding stars with palms.

Hands up high in the air, the bride closes her eyes and starts spinning herself. The bouquet will be tossed any minute, and unlike how it's done in Eiden's world, no one is getting benefits from the position they stand. Fighting against each other for the bouquet is something you won't see in Klein as well, cause you don't steal a blessing from the others. This is way better to avoid casualty on an important day.

"OK. One, two, three!"

Flying starflowers rain petals as the bouquet shoots across the sky, turning into falling stars as it drops onto the ground. "Oh what a pity! No one catches it this time," it falls right in a gap between two people. "Maybe no one is getting married soon. Come on, boys and girls, quickly get your loved ones home! Don't be a coward!" Concluded the wedding in laughters, people starts preparing the campfire at night.

He stares blankly on his own hands. The bouquet on the ground is quickly whisked away in front of him.

Nobody can see it, but the bouquet is tossed to right at where Eiden stands.

※※※※※

Topper the Family Hero is invited by the kids to join the campfire dance as darkness descends. Ignited by the Elder with fire magic, the central plaza is aflame with flickering sparks. Swirling crimson fireballs are gathered high in the sky, blossoming into fireworks that overshadow the starlight glittering aloft.

Eiden reaches out to the burning blaze, his transparent hands flow along the dancing flames. The Elder has invited Quincy for some tea at his place, and Eiden just didn't want to follow.

He thought he'd be happy to join a special occasion one last time with Quincy and Topper. But no. No one should be rightfully happy if such time is stolen. He has earned more than he should have already.

Fingertip on the sand, the grand sorcerer draws a heart on the ground. If anyone's paying attention, that person would have noticed it appears in the middle of nowhere. At least he can do such little thing for Quincy and Topper, though he can't touch his beloved ones.

"Little ghost," Quincy calls from behind. Eiden doesn't even realize until the hunter speaks. "Come with me."

"Where to? Everyone is here, dancing by the campfire. Quincy, you sure you're not gonna dance with Topper and everyone else?"

"Our dance."

The hunter leaves a bait, his tone bewitching. Of course, the grand sorcerer is more than happy to take it.

A narrow trail leads them to a small open area by a lake behind the Elder's house. It isn't too far away from the tribe, but the trees provide good shading so that stars are still bright enough to be seen glimmering in the sky. Quincy snaps his fingers, conjuring a lustrous ball on his fingertip like a halo bug. Flew around them and then towards the vast sky, the magic spell creates a barrier that separates them from all the others. The lights form the tribe fade and there's no one else in this world.

An entire galaxy shines right above them.

"Wow!" Totally enchanted by the scenery, Eiden exclaims. Giving hand, the hunter invites for a dance in silence. A dance that only belongs to them.

His little ghost is more than glad, and this time it doesn't sadden him even this is an untouchable dance.

Quincy raises his right hand, leading his little ghost to spin once, twice, thrice; like that one time they had the ceremonial dance at Quincy's hut.

Eiden draws closer as he feels the soft touch when Quincy pulls him with his hands, and if it's possible Quincy is going to stop Eiden skipping and hopping around by hoisting him; like that one time they battled wrestling by the beach in summer.

Under his breath, Quincy hears Eiden humming while dancing along, a song that is too familiar; like that one time they sang together in winter, echoing the unfinished chapter of the nature.

Stars suddenly are showered in the sky, asking for hopes and prayers.

"Woah Quincy, i-is this your magic as well?"

"No, it isn't."

What should he pray, if this is his one last wish?

Eiden watches back and forth anxiously, to the shooting stars and Quincy who has his eyes closed. He doesn't know what Quincy is praying, but still the grand sorcerer whispers.

I just hope that you won't get hurt anymore.

Soon after Quincy opens his eyes like nothing ever happened. The sky continues to drizzle stars, cascading beam lights that allows Eiden to swim in. He floats a bit higher, glinting in the starlight. Quincy raises his head, it's not a usual angle to look at his little ghost.

"Look, Quincy! I kinda look like a shooting star now."

As the falling stars dye Eiden into iridescence, nothing in the backdrop is brighter than the shimmers in his eyes. Positive and cheerful as usual.

"Eiden."

Drizzling all the petals from the starflowers he picked earlier when Eiden was sitting by the campfire, Quincy creates a downpour of stars solely for his little ghost. He witnessed clearly how excitment flashed in his eyes when the bride's bouquet was tossed to him, then flickered into disappointment when he discovered a ghost couldn't even catch it. Then he should do this in his own way.

Eiden can feel his deadly racing heart skips a beat. "T-thank you," he whispers and smiles, which probably is the most genuine one after his death. He picks up all the broken pieces of himself and clears his throat, trying to hide the tears, "Well since I'm a shooting star now, Mr Quincy, pray to me and I shall grant you the thing you want."

"Little ghost…"

"I'm all yours. Your little ghost is at your disposal."

Then my little ghost, haunt me in my every dream.

He hold back the words, and coos instead, "Good night, Eiden."

"Aww it's bedtime already? Alright, we will catch that up later. I know you may need some time to decide. And we should be back, Topper must be worried."

"Yes."

"Good night, Quincy. Thank you for the night."

※※※※※

"May I know where can I pick some starflowers?" Quincy put down the teacup, looking to the Elder as he asked. He had spent too much time here already.

"The flowers of the bouquet? Right at the back of this house. Pick as many as you want."

"Thank you."

"Do you know what do starflowers stand for, Mr Quincy?"

Beacon of hope and light. And…forgiveness.

Quincy nodded.

"And about the thing you mentioned earlier…please get ready for it before you depart tomorrow. It will only take a day or two for you to arrive."

"I will. Thank you for the information."

It had been a while for the Elder to hear someone asking about the Temple of Stars. When this man came and talked about it, the Elder knew at once that there wasn't any chance for him to give up. So he was honest and told the truth: nobody ever succeeded to bring back life in the Temple of Stars. No record mentioned about it, nor did anyone come back after heading to it. The Temple itself was a forbidden place that everyone from the Tribe would never get close, so the Elder had no way to confirm all these myths and lores.

"Why don't you convince me to leave?" If this was such a sacred and dangerous place, "Because I'm determined?" Like how the ancient scroll said.

"No," he replied, "because you are desperate."

"…"

"I wish I could wish you the best."

The hunter nodded again, making his way to the door without vacillation. He was going to get his little ghost, his beacon of light.

There's no turning back.

──────

Eiden's deadly discovery of the day: a ghost cannot catch a bouquet, but he can dance.

Chapter Text

The wuthering wind is unsettling.

It has been another day since they left the tribe. The newlyweds have prepared enough food for them to continue the journey, saving the hassles of hunting and allowing them to catch up the time spent. The grand sorcerer is genuinely confused as Quincy has sped up the pace, like he is in a hurry. He won't mind spending more time with the hunter together. It's their last journey after all, isn't it? The rush doesn't make any sense to him.

Just the little ghost has no idea. Eiden is fading. From a colorful yet translucent shape to human-like fog that's barely visible. The howling gale can blow him away so easily without leaving a trace. But if Eiden doesn't notice, it means acknowledgement would have only stressed him.

Quincy wants to leave him the best memory.

Confining his anxiety, Quincy chooses to keep it unvoiced. Made an excuse of being in the habitat of wild wolves, Eiden is convinced making haste is necessary.

"Wait a sec, Quincy. Did you hear that?" The hunter is way too concentrated in clearing the way in the woods to the Temple when his little ghost raises the question, "Sounds like a crying puppy."

Now that he listens carefully, indeed sounds of a whining puppy are carried by the wind. Not so far away from their location the hunter reckons, and a detour for investigation seems to be on the agenda.

"Aww hehe."

"…?"

"Nothing. Quincy being Quincy, as always."

That's his man. Everything becomes troublesome from the mouth of his, yet he's also the stand-up one for someone who needs a helping hand everytime.

They track the cries, trying to locate the puppy. No trace is found on the ground, which is unusual. The whine becomes weaker as the clock ticks, the hunter isn't having a good feeling about it.

*Squeak*! Topper has been using the benefits of his nose, seemingly results in nothing but false hope. Eiden is straying from the road, but no puppy is in sight. Unleashing a wave of essence, Quincy just wishes that this tracking spell can echo the whereabouts of the cub. Tiny glistening bubbles resonate in the woods, forming a path of golden aura.

But what awaits at the end of the golden avenue is a catastrophic site of landslide. It happened quite a few days ago, no wonder they didn't cross any spoor. Quincy and Topper quickly remove the branches and rubble as every second counts. It's a corpse of a giant wolf they uncover first, only discovers the whining sound they are looking for is coming from beneath.

A baby wolf is still living.

"The mother…died protecting her child." The hunter picks up the cub, at the same time carrying the corpse in his arm. "Will the pup live?" Eiden asks with a soft voice, probably being afraid of disturbing the fainted cub.

"We will see what we can do."

*Squeak*! Topper licks the cub's fur, glancing into Quincy's eyes. Looked worried, the white fella curls himself around the pup, acting perfectly as a source of heat.

"The pup is in good hands, I'm sure he will live. Right, Topper?"

*Squeak*!

"Quincy is good at taking care of the others. Look how well I have been spoiled and you know it."

The addressed hunter remains silent. The ghost of Eiden dying in his arms strands all along. He looks up, gazing into his little ghost's eyes. Still twinkling like stars in the sky, there lies the sweetest but a broken dream, in which Eiden lingers on. Like he always stays. Like he never leaves. A fleeting bubble that makes catching in vain.

He remembers Eiden asked him to let go. Let him go. But you get to hold it before being able to let go, so how can he?

"Don't worry." It's just a whisper, Quincy doesn't know if Eiden has lowered his voice, or if his fading is getting worse. The grand sorcerer smiles and puffs again, "Everything will be alright."

Eiden is comforting him.

Like a crestfallen prayer in his ears, it's too surreal that Quincy has to threaten himself to believe in. Nothing is alright. It makes no difference to any fragile somniloquence in this delusional situation he is currently into.

Eiden returns to his usual self almost immediately, chuckling, "After all, Quincy can be the best daddy in the world. Taking care of me from head to toe…literally."

"…You are the first person calling me that." Little ghost is suggesting something else again, it seems.

"Daddy?" Eiden blinks coquettishly, trying to look innocent, "Oh I really don't mind calling you that more often, Daddy."

"…"

"Oh Daddy is shy?"

※※※※※

The pup didn't survive.

The cub was far too weak, and they didn't discover him in time. If it's not the body being cold as stone, Eiden would have thought that the wolf was just in a sweet dream. Paws still, Topper is cuddling the corpse gently like cradling a baby while waiting for Quincy to dig the grave. Bury the body properly is respecting life, an essential part of the forest etiquette. An anphorism weighs heavily in the heart of the hunter, though he is now bringing Eiden to do something exactly opposite.

It's only a pup they have met for a few hours, but it already hurts. How simple it is to leave a scar in a human's heart, and no one ever told him how to stop the bleeding. Who can blame the hunter for being totally wrecked? Eiden drifts off, he is the selfish one to ask Quincy to move on and to let go.

"Topper." The pensive hermit calls. Together they lay the pup down tenderly, wishing him a good and peaceful rest.

"Quincy, I'm sorry." Eiden's voice is shaky and light, the apology is something just a bit more than a sigh.

"…You don't have to." The hunter turns around, just about to ask 'for what' and pauses right at witnessing how tears prick Eiden's eyes.

The fear of never seeing someone opening his eyes again still remains, Quincy doubts if this emptiness will ever be gone.

His little devil left, yet he sees him everywhere.

His cup and his toothbrush. His clothes and his trinkets. His eyes and his smile. All these have stifled him to death. Now that Eiden has returned as his little ghost, how can he give up visiting the Temple even though everyone told him to?

"Alright, it's getting late! Let's get prepared for tonight." Trying to ease the tension, Eiden cheers to himself and everyone, "Topper! Daddy Quincy! Let's go!"

The latter leaves flowers on the grave before making his way to the campsite.

Sorry for not bringing you flowers, Eiden. He mutters, I was too scared.

※※※※※

*Squeak*!

The flurry little guy is exhausted. Topper curls into a fluff ball on his tiny pillow, blinking while staring at the couple. "What's the matter, Topper?" Eiden shoots a glance to Quincy, requesting a translation.

"…That's not what it means." Instead of explaining, Quincy replies Topper with a furrowed brow, tucking him in bed at the same time.

*Squeak*! *Squeak*! Topper is about to cry, losing his usual vigor. Eiden can't bear to watch, "Oh Topper…Quincy! What did you do?!"

Plopped down, the hunter gives the culprit a conceding and wry smile, chastising in a infuriating tone, "Your fault. He heard how you called me…saying that he has been a good boy so us being the parents should give him the rewards he deserves."

Oh, the Daddy quip.

Eiden almost chokes due to the intense laughter. "Parent? I like it. I really don't mind being a mom, if I have Quincy as my husband. Like what can I complain? After all you fill me up inside everytime, so full that I feel like getting pregnant seems to be possible…"

"The kid is here. Stop."

"Oops sorry, was feeling nostalgic."

*Squeak*!!!!

Wiping his tears after laughing so hard, Eiden promises the little guy that he'd force Quincy to prepare enough jerky overnight, but now is the time to sleep. Little ghost is always generous to Topper, so he decided singing him to sleep may be a good choice for their boy. Humming a melody that's foreign to both Quincy and Topper, Eiden sings a lullaby from his original world.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky…

The hunter has his fingers run through Topper's fur, the latter purrs as the gentle strokes bring along comforting warmth. Eiden knows better than anyone as those veiny hands used to pat his head often. Adorable snoring coming from the fluff ball just a while after, Eiden stops singing the lullaby at the same time. But Quincy, raising his eyebrows, clearly is wondering why he doesn't continue. Hence the grand sorcerer has to finish tthe nursery, what a huge baby Quincy is.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

When the sun is gone…a star shows up, shining and guiding.

Quincy lays a goodnight kiss on the forehead of Eiden the Twinkle Little Star. He feels nothing, but he knows Eiden does. That's more than enough.

"Daddy…you really love kissing, do you?" Giggling, little devil's tongue and lips look devilishly enticing in Quincy's sight.

"Hmmm, do I?"

"It's definitely your kink. Everytime you arch as soon as we start kissing."

The grand sorcerer snickers, a smile Quincy has readily submitted himself to. The rumored reaction is not happening this time, the hunter is not in a good mood. Just another day, his little ghost is reduced into sparkling dust, merely manages to be seen. The fading is faster than he reckoned.

"I remember I still have a wish unused. "

"Oh right, said I'd grant you one. Decided to make the wish now?"

"Kiss me, Eiden."

Having no idea the emotion Quincy has withdrawn into himself is misery, the grand sorcerer eagerly obeys.

In no way Quincy can feel anything. Yet, it tastes bittersweet when Eiden skirts his lips, sprinkling iridescent dust while hovering atop.

Perhaps it's a kiss he doesn't like much. It tastes too much like a goodbye.

──────

Eiden's deadly discovery of the day: a ghost can kiss.

Chapter Text

Quincy has been acting weird since morning.

Judging from the amount of burnt logs, the hunter is awake for quite some time. The day has broken, and by the time Eiden wakes up, Quincy has already packed everything up. It isn't his usual practice for not waking little ghost up. If he's not holding the urn in the arms, Eiden almost mistakes he's going to abandon him and go on the journey without his company.

"Quincy, what's wrong? We are leaving this early?"

No reply from the hunter.

Perhaps the forest is still in slumber, lively chirps from morning birds are mute as only silence descends. Morning twilight shades the woods into dim blue, except Quincy's eyes. The familiar bleary eyes are bloodshot, looking around like he's finding something he lost. Everything in his demeanour suggests something happened at dawn, it's just as unnatural as this journey to the Temple. The grand sorcerer hangs back, taking a deep breathe and asks again, "My Quincy, what happened?"

Maybe he did something wrong? Quincy's uneasy state is something the grand sorcerer can't fathom, the hunter would never ignore him like this unless he really angered him. No, not even when he infuriates him. Quincy doesn't get angry at his little ghost.

"Let's go."

Quincy speaks for the first time in this long morning, his voice low and husky. Crouched, the hunter picks Topper up from the ground and puts into his pocket, whom has curled himself into a ball, showing no sign to move. Eiden hears a tiny squeak, indicating the little guy is in fact not asleep. Still there's no explanation from the hunter, leaving Eiden no choice but to follow the hunter as apparently they don't want to waste any second dawdling.

※※※※※

The Temple of Stars is just a short walk from their campsite last night. Almost instantly, a strong wave of powerful essence has drenched them right upon arriving the area.

"Wow…"

Thousands of stars glisten in mid-air, veiling the Temple in shiny golden aura.

Gasped in wonder, Eiden stares at the giant relic in awe. The Temple isn't a forsaken ruin Eiden has thought it would be, it's a stone structure too magnificent to behold, leaving anyone questioning if such creation of the unknown really exists. The twinkling stars cascade a layer of light along the skirt of the Temple, its glare is beyond divine that it seemingly is rejecting mortals to come close. No wonder it has always been shrouded in mystery, the intensity of essence surrounding the Temple is making people dizzy.

Quincy pats Topper gently and put him on a tree branch far away from the Temple, his voice sounds worried, "Stay away. You will feel better."

*Squeak*! As much as Topper wants to stay with the hunter, he decides to listen to him. He is a good boy, and he doesn't want to hold him back. Quincy takes the time to observe the Temple from a distance, seeing something tall and white in colour right at the front door.

"Wait, is that…"

That is a pile of human bones.

Countless of human bones form a mountain. Skulls, pelvis, ribs, joints, Eiden manages to identify a few but having the difficulty to tell how many skeletons are there. Too many. It makes him retch, planting an eerie feeling into his mind that the Temple itself is a gigantic monster, spitting out the bones after chewing those who entered.

*Squeak*!!! *Squeak*!!!

Clearly Topper has discovered that as well. It doesn't feel right. The fluffy little guy immediately grabs Quincy's jacket with his tiny paws, trying to stop the hunter from leaving or getting any closer by refusing to let go. The latter just shakes his head amid the piercing screeches, fingers running through Topper's fur tenderly to comfort him. "Topper, you know that I have to try."

"Quincy! Just freaking stop! Go back! You can see it too, right?! What if it turns you into bones as well? This is way too dangerous, you will kill yourself!"

For the sake of a false hope? It's not even a promising risk. No, no, no. I won't allow it, Eiden screams to himself. Quincy has no response even though Eiden keeps yelping, it finally dawns on the grand sorcerer why everything is out of place.

It seems that Quincy can't see him.

"Quincy! Quincy! Just stop already! No, you can't!"

Eiden ignores the catch in his voice and continues shouting, attempting to breathe but the oxygen he inhales becomes choking hands on his throat, strangling him to death again.

"Eiden, I don't know if you're still here or not," the man who has been sparing with words confides, "I can't see you since this morning, and I go to the Temple because I can't bear. I do it of my own will."

Quincy hugs the urn tight. Worrying at his lower lip, he puffs out the words, enshrouned in gloom, "Thank you, little ghost. And I'm sorry."

Topper finally lets go, admitting everything will only be in vain if Quincy stops right here at the door of the Temple. He puts his paws on the urn, then on Quincy's hand again.

"You have to wait outside. Be careful."

*Squeak*!

Jumped on Quincy's forearm, Topper nuzzles his favorite human's nose to say goodbye. His most important human is as sad as he is, trying so hard to bring Eiden back. He has witnessed how Quincy has been woken by nightmare every night after his little devil is gone. He knows better than anyone. So he will wait patiently, and he can't stop Quincy. He shouldn't.

The hunter turns around, walking towards the entrance of the Temple without hesitation. Having no ideas how Eiden is yelping for objection, Quincy climbs on the pile of human bones to get to the door. Rushed to the entrance, the grand sorcerer opens his arms to stop him, even knowing his plan to derail the hunter will only be naught.

"No Topper, stop him! Please! I beg you! Quincy, don't go! Fuck! QUINCY!"

Quincy touches the stone door, trying to get it open. He isn't sure if there's any spell on it, being careful is still crucial as Topper is staying nearby.

"DAMN IT! QUINCY! PLEASE!"

The sound of the wind sings requiem, perhaps to the bones of the dead at the entrance of the Temple. The stars are flashing in turbulence, making his eyes ache.

"JUST LET ME DIE!"

What's your last word? He hears someone's whisper, blew by the wind into his soul. What did he say to Quincy at last? He remembers how the hunter hummed 'kiss me' last night, like a lullaby to his ears.

"Quincy, I…"

Quincy lays a kiss on the urn. Yes he is afraid, but what in his arms gives him the courage to continue. He isn't scared of death, but of failure. What if this doesn't work?

Suffocated, Eiden weeps as despair envelopes him. The stars are buzzing. His head aches. His eyes are sore. He crawls, the gravelly soil pains him. It hurts. It hurts everywhere. Quincy can't hear him, he's nothing more than a plaything of the God of Klein…wait, he can write on the sand. He draws little heart on the soil with Topper everyday in this journey. How can he forget? Tell him to stop. Buy time. Convince him. Save his life.

What will you tell him?

Fingertips on the layer of dust on the ground, Eiden does his utmost to keep his hand steady. The hunter has opened the door already.

If you have one last chance?

He doesn't want to leave Quincy a 'stop' as his last memory. It must be raining, or else Eiden can't explain why there are water droplets making all his words fuzzy and his vision blurry.

What are your last words?

ı lɔ c vcu

Quincy pauses.

"Eiden…" He coos, his voice trembling. He stares at the blank where the words appear out of nowhere. His little ghost is here. He's always here.

"I love you too."

Topper watches the door close from afar as Quincy steps into the Temple with Eiden's urn.

──────

 ı lɔ c vcu

Chapter Text

Quincy sets foot in the Temple, braced himself for a monster or a deity he wouldn't have known, yet only silence awaits. Observed the surroundings before going any further, the hunter is having a hunch that he is in fact the one being watched. The room he is in looks like a hallway. He holds Eiden's urn tight, making his way to the inner part of the sanctum.

Another stone door. Eerie sound of howling wind seeps out, its menacing size suggests that the sanctum itself might be more than a sacred temple, but a fortified citadel. Whether it is blocking something out or locking something in is still a mystery. It looks impressively huge that the ceiling is nowhere in sight─wait, why there is a sky inside the Temple? A vast sky with sparkling stars?

Fine, he reckons common sense might not be useful in a mythical place like this. The air is filled with essence in turmoil, scurrying and skitteting, so strong and chaotic that Quincy decides to hasten.

The hunter has no idea if Eiden's spirit is still with him in the Temple or not, for he no longer possesses the ability to see his little ghost anymore. Hugging the urn even tighter as if it can usher him into the correct direction, Quincy is greeted by a powerful wave of essence once he lays hand on the door－it opens automatically right away.

There he realizes his hands are shivering.

He thought he had seen enough all these years, at least enough to remain calm for whatever is waiting ahead, and he has never been so wrong. Nothing can quell his anxiety, in the end he is just a coward who is afraid to accept both failure and truth. That this place is just a forsaken ruin. That his little devil is truly gone.

A plopping sound resonates down below.

The hunter glances downwards, the floor of the chamber behind the stone door is a boundless lake that extends to the horizon─yet he is able to stand and walk on it. Raised his head again, what comes in his sight is an enormous golden tree, spreading its branches to the night sky.

He should close his eyes. Staring at a scenery like this is a pure blasphemy. Cautiously, he takes another tiny step, intruded the chamber and rippled the water. Beneath the crystal clear lake are interweaving roots of the golden tree, extended like a web that would catch you if you drowned.

The dizziness hits hard, it's making him delirious as he starts to have hallucination. Or else he can't explain the voice in his head.

Stargazer, what brings thee here?

He proceeds discreetly on an ascent above the lake. The falling leaves are beyond shiny, Quincy catches one before they drift away. It is when he realizes it is not a golden leaf, but a piece of star. The tree is composed of stars.

He can feel the warmth and vibrance from the broken star on his palm, if everything is indeed a dreamlike reality. Like how it is in the forest he has spent his entire life protecting, life is everywhere. Life is everything. Memories. Emotions. Relationships. Connections. What in his hand is more than a mere piece of star-shaped leaf. It is life, or what is left of life, in a form mankind knows nothing about. Melted into the glowing lake and dissolved into the amber soil, it laments the dead and breeds the newborn, as if it is an incarnation of life. People have mistaken about this place.

The Temple is a mausolem.

He should bring some flowers with him. Quincy recalls how he never visited Eiden's grave when he had the chance, but just holding his urn at home like it was his whole world. Or it really is.

As he drags himself to the end of the ascent towards the tree, the hunter notices an alter sits there quietly. Like it is waiting for him. Despite its density, the essence is surprisingly serene and tranquil here.

The hunter puts Eiden's urn on the alter. He doesn't know the reason of his action, but he feels like that's what the stars are telling him to do. The racing heartbeats hurt, and the flow of essence comes to soothe.

What now? What should he do? A ritual to be performed? Or he should have just walk away with the urn because he has disturbed something and somewhere he shouldn't have? On cue, the voice chimes again.

What sacrifices thou would make, for weathering death?
A final decision to be made, if thou only have one last breath?

"What do you want from me?" His voice low and rough, his lips trembling and chapped.

Want? The intention is not mine to oblige thee. And thou?

Quincy pauses. What does he want to achieve here? Yes, he wants to bring Eiden back. By what? And then? Ask for eternity? The pain of losing Eiden sears his heart, scarred him forever, perishing his sanity into emptiness.

Another golden falling star from the tree makes a fleeting visit, resting on his palm. Scenes play in front of his eyes. How Eiden danced with him under the starlit sky. How Eiden held his hands in the gentle breeze. How Eiden kissed him on the lips in the dark.

On his epitaph, what would there be?
Last words of love, or the regret of thee?

And how Eiden chose to tell him 'I love you' when he only had one last chance.

Quincy looks above, realizing he is truly alone now, for Eiden and Topper are not here with him. He shakes his head, trying to forget the strange, yet familiar loneliness. He has been a living dead forgotten by Nature far too long, and it was his little grand sorcerer who performed a miracle for reviving him. It always has been the other way round. It was Eiden who brought him back to life, giving meanings to him.

"Grow old with him together. I want to die with him, not to watch him die."

Like a normal couple. Not a grand sorcerer and his long-lived clan member who can barely be called as a mortal, and like how every quaint love story ends. He wants to see a grey-haired Eiden, as old as he is, and they will go for a morning walk in the woods with Topper idly. Little devil will laugh at the mussed beard he forgets to shave, how it gives chance to Topper to hide his snacks, but at the same time surreptitiously adores how it makes him sexy, aging like fine wine. Fingertips on his wrinkles, sketching from his face to his chest then his abdomen, he wants to hear how Eiden jokingly saying he misses the abs and pecs they both have lost. Hunting requires a strong physique he no longer owns, but Eiden doesn't mind go fishing with him instead. They will have a competition to see who catches more fish, cause little devil loves competing with him. Topper may find himself a beloved weasel or ferret, he won't mind even if his partner is a tiger to be honest, as long as they are happy with each other. They probably don't have the stamina and energy to spend so much time on bed like before, but some kissing and caressing will be good enough as well, he's the kissing maniac isn't he? Or just bathing in the sun until the stars align, another perfect day for two elderly. If their time moves on together－if this concept of love is forever, then it means eternity.

I see. Not a zealotry of immortality, but a mad man driven by sorrow.
But bear in mind: every deed shall greet a consequence on a certain morrow.
Conceived in thy mind, that this is defying fate.
Understand that past is not to be altered, nor one could go back to a certain date.

Quincy closes his eyes in dismay. All the picturesque scenes fade away as the starleaf on his palm suddenly withers, his vision devoured and blinded by darkness. He should have thought of it, that nothing can fix the death of Eiden. It is not about if he was asking for too much. He is condemned by the divinity in this whimsical dream, because he is attempting to fight against the law of life. A disrespectful sin to the natural etiquette. Why would he think time can be transcended and stars rewritten like what the ancient lore mistells?

Yet hearken the voice of the steorra, the sweet and poisonous promise I offer thee.
I shall take something for granting thee thy future to be:
Something abundant yet limited,
Something precious yet wasted.
Something can be only lost, and find no way to weave.
For mankind knows naught about cherishing until it leaves.

The hunter can't fathom the correct answer. All he can offer perhaps is his life, but he won't. Topper is still waiting for him, and if it really brings back little devil, he won't allow Eiden to experience the same anguish he has. He has promised to protect Eiden. Though it seems that the owner of the voice isn't taking it anyway, as Quincy feels nothing at all. Maybe everything is just a prank by some yokai that has gone beyond the line. Maybe it is just a plausible nightmare because he has already lost his mind.

Achieve what thy predecessors failed, and start thy journey, a voyage of regrets and forgiveness.
Leave now Stargazer, and catch thine own falling star.

He has one last hope that maybe, just maybe Eiden will reborn from the ashes like the resurrection of Phoenix, after all, the deity of Mother Nature or God of Klein－ whoever the owner of that voice is－seems to have said something would be taken from him in order to bestow a wish. Other than his life, whatever is wanted, he will give.

If there is no more benefit staying here, the hunter decides it's best to leave, just like what the voice told him. It should be a hot summer day, but it is unearthly cold here. Little devil must be freezing, the man worries, they should really head for the exit. "Let's go home together," Quincy whispers, reaching out his hand to the urn on the alter－

Eiden's urn blasts right in front of him. Ashes scattered like snow in summer.

He is not even allowed to go home with his little devil?

"Eiden…?"

The world starts crumbling around him. Everything is in a shambles.

"Give him back to me!"

His face turns ashen, drained of colours. He tries to gather the ashes－powerless and meaningless－like how one attempts to catch a falling star.

"EIDEN!"

The woe drowns him out and takes over control. He goes down on his knees, eyes glazed over.

He has promised to protect Eiden. And he fails to keep it again.

──────

"In the North lies the Temple of Stars. It is yet to know who built the structure, or its purpose. In the culture of nearby tribes, the Temple is a forbidden place where no one should approach. The essence around it is another hindering factor for further investigation.

Nonetheless, as the myths of 'transcend time' and 'rewrite the stars' are passed from generation to generation in local tribes, residents and travellers are tempted to prove its magical effect. No success has been reported. Hence, in old times, the Temple is also called Stargrave, a resting place to all, although the name is lost in history due to the lack of studies."

── Myth of the Ancient, Forests.

Chapter Text

The stone door once again stands before him.

It may be a second or a minute, Quincy has no idea how long has passed but everything fades in front of him like a wonky oil painting. He might have blinked, nothing else is left when he opens his eyes again.

The golden tree. The amber lake. The sacred voice.

Eiden's ashes.

He stares at his empty hands. Turning his head around, the pathway to the inner sanctum has been closed and he is thrown out without noticing. He understands now, perhaps he is exiled for being sacrilegious to the nature.

How he wishes it was all but a lucid dream.

BANG BANG BANG BANG. Smacking his fist against the wall, the blood or the spasm doesn't stop the mad man at all, let alone the pain. Cause it hurts, it hurts everywhere. He continues until he hears the dripping sounds of the blood, echoing his tinnitus, his gemstone tainted by the crimson. He has always loathed those who break the laws of nature for personal desire.

He has become one of them. How pathetic. He has snuffed out the last flame of humanity within.

The stillness is broken by an eldritch screech from the stone door－it is opening. A wave of sunlight immediately embraces him gently, welcoming him to step outside the Temple. An urge to cry suddenly hits him, the warmth feels like the salvation he doesn't deserve, or a chokehold reminding him every wrong he has done.

What awaits outside? Scourge? Penance? What answers him is a sudden hit of swirl, the world starts spinning around. Bleeding out of essence like someone is draining his every last drop of blood, the hunter fails to take another step and falls to the ground. Shaking his head, Quincy barely holds himself up as the dizziness swallows his consciousness, the jolts leave the hunter almost paralysis.

Somehow that pile of human bones at the entrance is gone, he hears the door behind closes as soon as he leaves the Temple. But he is too muddled to contemplate. Nibbling his lower lip, the hunter soon realizes this much of pain won't clear his head or give his consciousness back.

"Gosh, are you ok?!" Someone screams from a distance. The sounds of running grow nearer as the owner of the voice comes to the man on the brink of fainting. "Holy, what happened to your hands! Can you walk? I doubt…ummm what should I do? OK, let's just stay here for a while, you look aweful. I think I can help a bit, let me try…"

Amid the vague mumbling Quincy doesn't manage to catch, the person places his head on his lap tenderly and carefully, like handling a piece of broken glass, fear of wounding the fallen man, or fear of being wounded. What follows is a surge of essence, wraps him like a baby in its womb. The glamour of this cradle stops all the crumbling, it feels foreign but familiar at the same time.

"I'm not very good at healing spells, but luckily I have some curing herbs with me today…"

The voice continues, his bleeding fists are smeared with something cool and soothing. Quincy is yet to have the strength to reply, but he can sense that both the essence and herbs are easing whatever is going on in his body. The owner of the voice clearly doesn't mind Quincy not answering at all, he just keeps muttering－somehow reminds the hunter of his little devil.

Humming coming from above as the essence continues to be poured upon him, but it is so out of tune that Quincy finds no way to recognize the song, though he is sure it is somewhere in his foggy mind. The person－not a good singer clearly－asks again when Quincy attempts to open his eyes, leaning closer to the hunter's ears, "Are you feeling any better now?"

This is the moment Quincy learns that the person is just a kid, no wonder his lap is so tiny. Struggling to get up with the help of this kid, Quincy concentrates to regain his ability to move.

A chubby boy, 5 or 6 years old at most. Shiny ivory hair, in traditional clothes with tribal patterns, maybe from a tribe nearby. But judging by his capability of utilizing essence, this boy…is a yokai?

"Thank you. I'm good now." His voice is husky, worse than how it's like after crying. Nothing suggests he is really good, and the boy obviously reckons the same by shooting a glance of disbelief.

"Who are you?" Quincy asks a question, hoping the boy to stop questioning his well-being. It is not the matter anyone should concern.

"I'm the Guardian of the Temple. You really scare me, it has been years and I have never seen anyone leaving the Temple alive. How did you manage to do that? Oh wait, sorry. Let's pick this up later, you should take some rest. Come on, my house is nearby. Follow me." The tiny yokai points to the woods, prepared to lead the way.

"I didn't see any Guardian before entering the Temple." There are too many questions in Quincy's head, but this boy seems to be his best bet at the moment. If he really is the Guardian of the Temple, he should have known something about it, including everything he has encountered inside. And perhaps an explanation to all the riddles and implications of what will happen to his little devil.

"Sometimes I leave for a patrol in the woods, or to the market in the town for some goodies. Maybe it just happened that I was away?"

"Have you seen a white and fluffy…ferret and a man around? Brown hair, a bit shorter than me. Cheerful and talks a lot." His hope has vanished alongside Eiden's ashes in the Temple into the void, but still he asks－just what if, little devil is waiting for him somewhere?

Though his body is still trembling because of losing the large amount of essence, Quincy has observed the surroundings once the dizziness left him, but Topper is not in sight. The little guy should be waiting nearby. The forest is different from the one before he entered the Temple. Apart from that pile of bones, Quincy is having difficulty to specify the changes, but it is just not the same.

"Ferret? Can't say I haven't. We are in a forest, there are many animals around so I'm not sure which one you are talking about. Animal or yokai?"

"Animal. Smart and fat. Squeak a lot."

"There is a habitat near the tribe, we can see if it's there. It's not hard to find, I have a lot of friends here so if not I will help you ask around. As for the man you said…" Little yokai pauses, thinking if there is anyone who meets the criteria.

Quincy waits with bated breath.

"Aaahhh! There was a man *pow-pow* in the woods last night and he *boom-boom-boom* just appeared out of nowhere, then he *wah-wah-wah*! There were shooting stars last night, so everything was like magic! I found him like how I just found you, but it was closer to the tribe so I took him there."

"Can you take－"

The boy stares at him and interrupts, "I know it looks like the ones you are finding are all in the tribe. But look at the dark circles shadowing under your eyes! And you almost fainted in front of me back then. I promise I will take you there tomorrow, but you really should rest. It's getting late too."

"Alright. Thank you."

Little yokai is glad that the man finally agrees to take some rest. Bouncing on the shade of trees at dusk, he hums again, still out of tune.

"Guardian of the Temple…what exactly are you doing here?"

"Oh, stopping people from going inside. Everyone dies while leaving the Temple. Like *boom-boom-boom* then reduce into bones all of a sudden! It's so horrible, I still remember I had nightmare for weeks after seeing that for the first time. Ouch, but obviously I have missed you. Luckily, you get out alive."

"Who made you a Guardian?"

Would he know anything about the God he met inside? Or is he privy to the secrets within? Something is wrong here, yet he can't locate what makes him feel peculiar.

"Oh about that. Heehee no one actually. I just stay here long enough so everyone starts to joke that I'm like the Guardian of the Temple. It's a cool title, right? So I just take it."

"Long enough?"

The melody of that song he is humming lingers, slithering like a snake.

"You are the first person coming out alive in thousand of years!" Little yokai has his eyes wide-open, recreating his dumbfounded face Quincy was too weak to see earlier. "I was about to ask you what happened inside, cause I really have no clue even though I have studied a lot and visited those who may know about it. But you are feeling unwell and I'm a good boy, so I'm planning to ask tomorrow."

So familiar that it's almost on the tip of his tongue, the song－the snake is now strangling his throat.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hmmm? I told you, stop people－"

"No. Why are you guarding the Temple and want to know about it."

He croaks, walking jerkily. His legs are shivering again. 

The tone of questioning is nearly standoffish, but little yokai still answers anyway. Because this man is broken, and his voice is crestfallen. Even he is brawny, he looks so fragile.

And why does he look so sad?

"I'm waiting for someone."

"For whom?"

He can tell that this man is teetering on a cliff. Little yokai opens his arms, running directly to the man for a hug. He doesn't know why, but he thinks this man needs one right now.

The man is not struggling not to fall, he is considering to jump.

"I don't remember," the boy closes his eyes, his eyelashes are fluttering. "I forget a lot of things. But I remember he said 'I have to wait outside' so I'm sure if I'm patient enough, he will be back. Ouch it seems that we are the same, finding someone. And you made it out alive! So don't give up, I'm with you!"

The man has no response, but little yokai can feel that he hugs him tighter. He likes his hands, they are big and gentle.

Maybe his encouragement is working? The chubby boy pats the man on his head, like how that someone he forgets used to.

"So, where was I－right, that's why I wanna know what happened to you inside the Temple. Tell me about it when you are feeling better tomorrow, alright? In return for taking you to the tribe tomorrow."

He realizes what made the forest different now. 

Little yokai leads the way back home again, humming the melody. The melancholy and happiness of meeting this stranger is too much for him to handle, the boy decides it's best to leave everything for tomorrow. For both the man and himself.

Quincy stops. The boy stares in confusion.

Why is he crying now?

"Ohhh what's wrong? Don't worry, we can do it!" The boy starts panicking.

He finally recalls the song.

"I mean it! After all I'm the Guardian of the Temple!"

Twinkle twinkle little star

"I have a star in my name too. There is nothing I can't do, for I'm the greatest－"

How I wonder what you are

"－Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer－"

"Topper."

His lips are wobbling.

"How did you know my name?"

──────
☆ Topper's diary ☆

I met a man at the Temple today. I don't know him but he knows my name. Weird. He fainted and I had to drag him back to the hut with the help of some spells. So many questions I have to ask tomorrow, but first I hope he will get better.

I like his essence. It is warm. It is pleasant. It is so comfortable that I thought it is the sun in autumn. But it turns out to be his essence.

And it feels like…home.

Chapter Text

"Morning! How are you doing? Have a good sleep?"

Topper greets as he pulls open the curtains, a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room, so shiny that the glare is making the eyes of the man on bed ache. 

"…Morning."

"I was about to ask if you needed more sleep, but I have made you breakfast and it's still hot now so you better hurry up and get dressed. We are having soup today, it's one of my favorite and I hope you like it too!" Talkative as his usual self, Topper jumps onto the bed and gives Quincy a bear hug, "Fangy Mushrooms! Don't worry, I promise it's cooked thoroughly so it won't be poisonous. My secret tip in this recipe is to add bushmeat and bones in it for a rich broth."

Of course, this is how Quincy used to cook the soup for him. Some memories are staggering in this thousand years of voyage, his little fluffy Topper has remembered yet forgotten so much.

"Added wolf flesh this time! You know, bloody and gory, like that wolf pup corpse you couldn't save that time. Oh and ground some bone powder too, sprinkled like snow at the end, just like Eiden's ashes. It took me quite a while to kill that wolf so I really have to make use of it. I can hunt one myself now, cause I'm not the Topper you used to know anymore, and I can only do it myself after you dumped me. Now think about it, it's actually the same as killing the wolf," Topper climbs onto Quincy and cups the hunter's cheeks with his tiny hands, snuggling him like the good old days. Tilted his head with a bright smile, so shiny that it's like a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room and making his eyes ache, before transforming back into his animal form soon after he says, 

"You can't save Eiden. And you even kill the old Topper. You killed me."

※※※※※

"Morning! How are you doing? Have a good sleep?"

Topper greets as he pulls open the curtains, a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room, so shiny that the glare is making the eyes of the man on bed ache. 

He was right.

Something soggy on his face, cold sweats and tears probably. He notices Topper is staring at him with furrowed brows on his little worried face before he averts his gaze. Should have answered him at least he reckons, but his lips are wobbling too hard, much like how he fails to wipe his face with those trembling dirty hands. Look, look. How bloody and filthy they are. The hands that killed Eiden twice. How dare he wished to pat Topper with these hands again. The panting has taken his voice, he loses his thought in the overbreathing as air drained from his lungs.

"Awww no, take it easy. Breathe slowly, it's okay." Topper climbs onto Quincy and cups the hunter's cheeks with his tiny hands, snuggling him like the good old days. Tilted his head with a bright smile, the yokai looks directly right into his eyes, so close that he sees his own reflection, a murderer, in those familiar pupils, crystal clear but tainted by his presence. "Mr. Frog was like this too when he lost his drums last time…ummm am I doing this right?" He murmurs to himself before trying to get Quincy back again, "Alright let's try. Take a deeeeeeep breath."

Should have woken him up earlier if he knew he was having such a bad nightmare, little yokai continues to comfort the man by lending him his fluffy tail, "You can hold it. Everyone loves it." He shoves his tail in Quincy's hands.

How he used to pat Topper's tail when the little guy stayed on his shoulder? The brittle shell he's trying so hard to hold on just suddenly breaks. Oh right, he killed him. He killed the old Topper. How dare he still pat Topper after all these? Being so presumptuous, living like nothing has happened at all while Eiden is nowhere to be found and Topper waiting for him alone. Oh, oh. Topper hates to be alone. He hates to be lonely. He just waited. He dumped him. He didn't know if he'd be back. He made him wait. He dumped him. He waited. He became a yokai. He is dead. He died. He killed him. He will kill him again if he doesn't－

"…Stay away!"

This startles the young yokai, Topper flinched in confusion and panic when Quincy looks at him like he is some kind of phantom or victim. 

"No. I won't."

Surprisingly stubborn, Topper is obviously not the pliant type of kid, and Quincy being distant doesn't break his resolve. Struggling and writhing, the boy is not giving the man any chance to refuse his hug. He pivots himself on the top of this vulnerable man, insisted on his words with those adorable squishy cheeks and a pouty complaint, "Listen to me. It is fine now. You will be fine."

"T-Topper…?"

"Yes, I'm here."

The young boy clings to his arms, wondering－his tail always works, how come it's making thing worse this time? He knows he can't give up on this man. And he knows, somewhere deep in his heart, that this strong-looking man, who perhaps has been protecting everyone around him with his muscles and magic－needs his protection.

"Topper…Topper…" 

He just keeps muttering his name with that scratchy voice, filled with malice and resentment towards himself. He then starts mumbling. Topper attempts to lean even closer, but fails to catch the words. It's whispery, repeating and repeating and repeating. Hence he moves backwards, trying to read his wobbling lips instead.

I'm sorry. 

The chubby yokai doesn't understand. Why does he have to apologize? This stranger he met yesterday has been acting really weird since he woke up, so the anxiety must be coming from that bad dream. He pokes Quincy's cheek ever-so-slightly, "It's just a dream. I don't know what happened to you, but everything will be fine. And you want to go to the tribe, right? The man you are looking for is probably there, so cheer up!"

He forces himself to breathe, gradually reclaiming the control over his body. Hands on Topper's tail, gently strokes it as he used to－the familiar softness is as soothing as it was in his memories. But he sees crimson soaking the pure white, spreading from where he touches. Quincy closes his eyes, and threatens himself to breathe again. 

Topper, Topper, Topper. 

If everything after Eiden's death is an insane nightmare, Topper is his last sane daydream. 

And he killed him too.

※※※※※

Quincy spends more time in the morning to calm down before he's back to his usual self. At least he looks like he is.

The tribe isn't far away. It doesn't take long, especially Topper is leading the way. The forest that he has spent years in has changed quite a lot－old trees are down and new trees are planted by the wind. The deceased and the newborn, the ever-changing nature is a cradle for breeding a new generation with the old bones of different lives in the forest. It somehow reminds him of that holy tree in the Temple, and how he murdered his belief of respecting the law of nature for his vaulting ambition of bringing back Eiden. 

The man talks a bit about himself, how did he enter the Temple thousand years ago and left without understanding what actually happened. This brings answers to some of Topper's questions, but the boy also notices his reluctance to discuss the matter in depth, and he's not going to push him. 

"Where are all the bones at the entrance of the Temple?"

"I buried them, and made them little graves outside the Temple. It's sad to see them lying there, they should rest in peace. It's the etiquette of the forest, didn't recall who told me about that though," Topper is still humming the song, having no idea how the other man wants him to stop singing. But that's little devil's song, he remembers, he remembers how he sang him goodnight under that starlit sky when he was chasing for a false star, a fake fate. Stop please. Eiden. His song. Sing it once more. Don't forget. Please continue. "I'm planning to plant some flowers. Hmmm maybe starflowers, it suits the name of the Temple and I just like it, I don't know why. Have you ever seen starflowers? It has star-shaped petals. White and sparkling at night."

The chubby boy is waiting for a reply, but only silence remains. Turned around to make sure if Quincy is really okay－judging by his situation in the morning, he's very concerned of his mental state－and starts worrying again when the brawny man stops. 

"Are you sure you are fine? We can go back and take a rest for another day if you're still feeling unwell." Topper is sure this man definitely looks good if he smiles, and he very much wants to see him happy. Out of no reason, it saddens him to see him like this. "Cause like I said, everyone *boom-boom-boom* turned into bones when they walked out the Temple. Well you didn't, so I'm sure whatever happened, it might have hurt you too."

Quincy shakes his head slowly, like there's a shackle on him. "My essence was drained. Nothing more."

"Wow, then you must be powerful and have plenty. Ok, if you insist. Just promise me to let me know if anything goes wrong." Topper holds out his chubby pinky, gesturing for a pinky promise. "Oh wait, there has to be three people for a pinky promise…I will have to find one more next time."

"Three?"

"Huh? Doesn't it? I remember this is how it goes for human's pinky promise ritual. We yokai or animals ususlly just give each other a tuft of fur or a piece of scale or things like that, but I recall I had done it with humans and there were three of us."

"…Two is fine."

What did he promise Eiden last time when they made a pinky swear?

You won't…

"Really? Alright. By the way, I may not look like it but I'm good at taking care of the others, if I do say so myself."

"You always have been."

It's nothing more than a whisper, Topper doesn't catch that, "Huh? Did you just say something?"

He becomes silent again, this man seems to be the quiet type of human. Not that he hates the tranquility, but this is not the peaceful one. Little yokai sighs and keeps walking, not long when they both sees wooden huts stick out of the lushly trees. "Here we are!"

Quincy still recognizes the place after all these years. 

Those tree arches at the entrance of the tribe are now coated with flowers, blossoming with vibrant and lively colours. The residents here clearly spend time and efforts in conserving the nature and coexisting with the forest, or else he'd just see destroyed woods, or modern buildings taking place instead. An epochal era of peacefulness is once somewhat he ever wished for, this perhaps brings happiness for the first time after Quincy leaving the Temple. 

People starts greeting Topper upon their arrival, it looks like the yokai has quite a reputation here. "You're a social star, it seems." A stupid question isn't it, Topper has always been popular in the forest. Something just doesn't change, regardless of how much time has passed. 

"Cause everyone loves the greatest Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III! And to be honest, thing is a little bit different in this tribe, all the people here kind of have a soft spot for animal or yokai like me, as long as there's a fluffy tail and looks sorta like a white weasel. It's their folklore and tradition for thousand years, words passed down from the most legendary warrior in the tribe in ancient times that white weasels could bring good luck cause a weasel-like creature－not a ferret, the lore emphasizes－discovered him when he was in danger, and brought a man to his rescue. He was saved on an important 'blessing' day, so it made everything extra fancy. He was still a kid at that time, but he was grateful and decided he'd like to become a great warrior like the man brought by the lucky weasel. He succeeded in the end, saving the tribe from natural disaster and monster invasion. " 

Quincy has lowered his head, face hidden under the golden hair, eyes half-lidded. "What's wrong? Oh wait, did you know the warrior? You are coming from his time?"

So familiar yet so long ago, that it already sounds like someone else's story. He once wished to be someone else's hero as well when he was a kid. But he failed.

The social star continues without waiting for a reply, "I'll show you around if you're up for it. I'm sure you're welcomed here cause everyone is nice! Oh and if you don't mind, can I transform into animal form here?

The man wavers, but it's not his place to be the one who decides. Topper is free himself, he doesn't need to ask for his permission, and his feelings should be the last thing to be concerned. Still he nods, watching how the Topper he used to know appears amid the mist.

*Squeak*!

Wagging his tail, the social star is looking for a place to stay, perhaps to earn some pats as well－Quincy's shoulder looks like the perfect spot, up high and broad, but he isn't sure if the man likes it or not, let alone understanding his squeaking. 

"Sure." Quincy just picks him up from the ground and puts him on his shoulder, like it's a habit. No translation is needed too, but the shock doesn't stay for long. Little yokai settles himself and nestles on the man's shoulder, somewhere he belongs. He reckons, he finally found it. The reason to wait the reason to live the reason to not giving up－the reason of almost everything.

This is almost everything he is looking for, but somebody is still missing.

※※※※※

There's still a sea of starflowers behind the Elder's house, swaying in the gentle breeze in this midsummer night's dream. 

*Squeak* *Squeak*!

Topper brings along the blossoming scent when he climbs onto Quincy's shoulder. "You don't have to be sorry, little yokai." The man comforts the little yokai by running through his fingers in his fur.

He knows that the man Topper mentioned may not be Eiden from the first place.

Coincidence is just a beautiful lie－there's no such thing, and perhaps Quincy reckons this is a part of his "punishment". The man said to be appeared out of nowhere near the tribe the night before Quincy leaving the Temple was just a traveller who got lost while heading to the forest to do some archeological studies, fainted due to exhaustion and then rescued by the residents. 

The Elder of the Tribe has kindly invited them for a stay. Everything reminds him of the day he attended the wedding with his little ghost. The scent of starflowers. The genuine smile. The untouchable dance. The starshowers.

*Squeak*!

"You want to know about Eiden? I will tell you about him."

*Squeak* *Squeak*!

"It's okay if you didn't remember. I will tell you about us."

*Squeak* *Squeak* *Squeak*!

"No, it's just the sand," Topper can tell it's a sentence yet to be finished. Using his wagging tail to wipe Quincy's eyes, little yokai waits patiently. "He's like a star."

Eiden. Topper repeats the name quietly in his heart. He likes it. And he's sure he likes the person as well. It's frustrating not being able to recall more details about him, especially he knows he's someone important. A star. Eiden is like a star. He must be shiny and bright, twinkle twinkle little star.

Oh yes, of course he is. That's not what Quincy means though.

The face he sees was from thousand years ago, too far to reach like a star in lightyears apart.

He could not see which way to go, if you do not twinkle so…

※※※※※

"Morning! How are you doing? Have a good sleep?"

Topper greets as he pulls open the curtains, a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room, so shiny that the glare is making the eyes of the man on bed ache. 

"…Morning."

"You look tired. Do you need another hour of sleep? I can go to the market myself, or invite Mr. Frog to go with me."

Quincy is about to raise an objection, knowing little yokai has been looking forward to this shopping trip in the Light Territory for long. Before he is able to voice, Topper climbs onto Quincy and cups the hunter's cheeks with his tiny hands, snuggling him like the good old days. Tilted his head with a bright smile, so shiny that it's like a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room and making his eyes ache, "The Great Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III will not be deceived. It's really fine, Quincy. Don't say it's okay when it's not."

Refused point blank, Topper isn't convinced by his bleary, drowsy eyes. Topper has been worrying too much about him, and it hurts to think the weight of burden he has put on those tiny shoulders. "I will sing you a lullaby before leaving. Now come on." 

It's kind of weird to see the young boy tucking a grown, strong man in bed, but Topper is doing exactly what Quincy and Eiden used to do for him. 

"Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…" Topper isn't entirely sure if he sings correctly (Quincy did say it's out of tune), for he knows nothing about this language. It's said to be from Eiden's original world, so it's nothing similar to the words in Klein. He bearly remembers the lyrics in pronunciation, vague and blurry. Still, the song kindles that little fading bonfire in his heart everytime, lighting the cold, cruel world while he's alone in that endless waiting. "When your beloved one is gone, when the star is killed at dawn. Then you miss your little light, twinkle, twinkle, no more night…"

Quincy freezes.

Little yokai continues, modest in temper, "On his epitaph, what would there be? Last words of love, or the regret of thee?" 

Did you regret? Do you regret? Have you ever regretted?

"Quincy, don't you remember what did you promise Eiden the last time we made a pinky swear? Right before we started the journey to the Temple, when you little ghost was still with us."

Topper blinks his round, adorable eyes, his chin resting on his hands.  

Just promise me you won't…

"Quincy, you have to live. Because you have promised Eiden. You can't just run away. You don't have the right to end your suffering, and your suffering is to live. That's the cost, Eiden had warned you it might cost a lot. Quit thinking about doing any harm to yourself, living is to atone for your sin. You have to live with your profane mistakes. You can't right the wrong, there's nothing you can do. You are not the victim. Eiden was. I am." Little yokai intones, his voice reminds Quincy of the one he heard inside the Temple.

Topper clings to his neck, blowing words into his ears.

"All this time－you have watched your family, lovers, friends and everyone around you died. Why only you live?"

※※※※※

"Morning! How are you doing? Have a good sleep?"

Topper greets as he pulls open the curtains, a beam of sunlight lighting up the whole room, so shiny that the glare is making the eyes of the man on bed ache. 

"…Morning." Quincy stares at the ceiling, telling himself to take a deep breath. One, two, three, four. He inhales, then counts again to seven before letting it out. Worrying at his lower lip, he allows the taste of blood to remind him that this is the reality. He has done this a lot of times. Veering off the aberration in the dream, the man pulls himself together after another eight seconds and asks, "Mushroom soup or toast for breakfast, little yokai?"

"Hmmmmm…soup!"

"Pack your bag before food is ready. We are leaving for the weekend market in Light Territory after breakfast."

"Okay!"

Topper is way too excited, fluffy tail popping out even he's now in his human form. Can't blame him for being so thrilled, the weekend market in the Light Territory gathers all the best food in and out Klein. The trip to the city centre is definitely troublesome, but it's not the most troublesome part－Topper insists to be in his human form (for more chocolate, no one gives him chocolate if he looks like a weasel), Quincy has no choice but to carry him in his arms everytime, claiming him to be his son just to avoid hassles. 

Topper understands how Quincy has been trying to fulfill his every tiny stupid request, spoiling him in every way he can think of even it's troublesome, just to make up everything he reckons he owes him in those years. 

Quincy has been doing this in these twenty-three years since he left the Temple. 

It makes no sense at all. Topper tried to object at first, but now he realizes it may serve as a reason to him for not throwing caution to the wind－Topper has always been worried that Quincy would do harm to himself. He is the strongest man Topper used to know, but he's not living now. He's bearly surviving. 

People say time will heal. Topper doesn't know if it's the truth.

Packing all the things into his tiny backpack, little yokai goes to the kitchen and sees if there's anything he can help. Jumped and clung onto the hunter's shoulders, there Topper sees more grey hair amid the blonde ones than before. 

Though the speed is still a lot slower than normal human, Quincy is indeed growing old. The Temple really drained a huge amount of essence from the hunter's body, even the bright gemstone on his hand has faded to a dim shade of yellow over time. Out of curiosity, Topper studies about it and continues to ask around to see if anyone knows something about the Temple. It seems that Quincy is still the only one who can precisely tell him what's inside the Temple, although they are still yet to know how it works. 

"Perhaps I can be a scholar! How does it sound－Professor Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III! Oh I like the name!"

"Then you will have to learn how to write first."

So Topper applies a kindergarten for himself. He has always wanted to know how it's like to go to school. It looks fun, isn't it?

Life goes on. Time won't stop for anyone.

Besides making a group of new friends, little yokai really studies hard. Though he will only be there for a short period of time, he will have to leave before anyone notices he's not a human. 

But little professor can't find an answer, the answer of the beginning of everything. Nor Quincy ever did.

Eiden.

Quincy still sings him lullaby every night, clearly the hunter is a better singer than he is. Little yokai realizes, this is perhaps how Quincy indulges himself in melancholy, by hiding Eiden in the lyrics in remembrance of him. 

He misses him incurably. 

He deserves to be happy, but finding a way to cheer Quincy up is not an easy task even for the Great Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III. It may be a good decision, or a very bad one, but it's still worth trying. Coming back from school this day, Topper rummages through his tiny backpack and takes out a leaflet about a school outing. Of course, a schooler now he is, has to be accompanied by his parent during an outing. It takes place in a small kingdom right next to Klein, Quincy has been there for a few times before, but not after these thousand years. 

Carefully observing Quincy's reaction, Topper points to the highlight of the school tour.

"Do you want to go to the Grand Sorcerer Museum?"

──────

☆ Topper's diary ☆

Today Quincy asked something I had never thought about. He said why couldn't I speak when I was in my animal form, but only in my human form. 

Like Mr. Frog and Moon Raccoon and Ermine, they can all speak in animal form after becoming a yokai but I can only squeak. I have to transform into human form if I want to speak.

I guess it doesn't matter! Cause someone always understand me, cause it's ok if there's another somone who doesn't understand. Then squeak and speak have no differences, right?

Chapter Text

"Quin…um I mean, daddy, can I have this chocolate cake?"

The man has no reply, instead he holds the boy－who is sitting in one of his arms－with both of his hands, snorting as he weighs the little boy and announces, "Topper, you are…"

"Don't say heavy or fat." Little yokai groans when his chubby tummy is poked by Quincy.

"…Obese."

"W-what?! You're mean!" Scowling at the man as his gripe is largely ignored, Topper nudges him as his hackles rise to express his discontent.

Can't even say you're just fluffy now if you insist on staying in human form for more chocolate. Quincy pays for the dessert the little yokai wants anyway, it's a difficult feat to resist those eyes when they are used as weapons, especially for pleading.

The morning market here is more or less the same as those in Klein. Before visiting the Grand Sorcerer Museum in the afternoon with Topper's classmates is some free time to be enjoyed, and little yokai always loves the hustling in a place full of tasty street food.

"Did you hear that?" Pricked up his yokai's ears, Topper peeks around. "Like someone's crying."

Quincy is cleaning all the grimes on Topper's face when the latter raises the question. Shaking his head, the human doesn't hear what the yokai has heard. Eventually Topper zeroes in on an alley hidden behind some crates in the corner of the bustling market, thanks to his incredible auditory ability.

To their surprise, the whimpering is from an old abandoned chest, too small for an adult but large enough for a child. It appears to be locked, but the hunter has no difficulty when it comes to breaking it, effortlessly and swiftly. Turns out a boy has accidentally locked himself up while playing hide and seek with his friends, and of course, panicked and cried for help. With all the chatters at the market, no one would ever hear him if it wasn't for Topper. What makes things worse is he's almost out of oxygen － the chest could be his coffin.

"Thank you. I thought I was going to die on my brother's wedding day." The tiny human finally grins.

"…We will get you home now."

Somewhere hazy in Topper's mind says that this is giving him deja vu. It disappears once again into the void, a comet tail leaves no trace but only light too shiny for him to behold. Like how the gentle breeze leaves kisses on his forehead, or is it actually someone else used to do that while tucking him in bed?

Little yokai shakes off these strange feelings that are way too difficult for him to comprehend, and not long after he becomes occupied with excitement when the lost boy invites them to join his brother's wedding ceremony.

"A wedding! Quin…daddy, can we join? Please? We still have some time."

Question unanswered. Eyes half-lidded, the man remains awfully quiet. Topper almost regrets asking, studying carefully－this is the look he has when that person accidentally comes across again from all those memories. As Quincy finally manages to give them a wan smile as a yes, the young boy leads the way back to the wedding venue. It's not far, fortunately, so the awkward silence doesn't linger on for long.

※※※※※

"There will be campfire dance tonight. I heard from your boy, please do come back for it after your museum visit! And before you leave, make sure you join the bouquet toss too. No way our family's hero is missing the chance to receive God's blessing. You'd love it, I promise! It's way different from the wedding ceremony in the city. I come from a tribe in Klein, back there the bride will stand in the middle of an open area, where all the guests circle her and she'll－"

"Start spinning herself and toss the bouquet with her eyes closed. The one who catches it will receive the highest blessing from the nature." Quincy finishes the words of the groom, explaining, "I'm from a tribe in Klein too."

"No wonder! We are brothers then." A bright smile. "I can't thank you enough for saving my little brother, and your boy is an angel too." Looking at Topper and the little boy eating all the snacks from not afar, the groom has no ill intention when this follows, "Are your partner gonna join us later?"

"I wish he could. I'm sure my late husband would love it."

"Oh I-I'm sorry."

Quincy shakes his head gently. His gaze falls on the bride, who's getting herself ready in the central plaza, looking gorgeous in her gown. The wedding dress is designed with elements of modern city and forest tribes, the designer must have spent so much time and efforts on integrating two extremes, representing the style of the newlyweds. Plus a wedding veil with traditonal tribal patterns－as a part of customs in tribal wedding ceremony in Klein, the veil is handcrafted by the groom beforehand for his partner. Not merely as a wedding gift, it also symbolizes how the newlyweds tie the knot by starting a new stage of life together.

Just like how he made the veil for his little devil thousand years ago, knot by knot. Half-finished in the closet. A secret and a surprise he kept after his proposal, but their wedding had yet to come. He never had the chance to finish it; never had the chance to lift it; never had the chance to let him know.

He is just having an agenda for calling him his husband. He didn't even give him a proper wedding. He had so much time but still he never has enough.

Eavesdropping the entire conversation, Topper pulls the hem of the groom's jacket ever-so-slightly, drawing for attention and whispers when Quincy's thought is clearly drifted away, "Quin…daddy misses my another daddy so much because he can't find him. Sorry about it and I'm sure both my daddies wish you the best." Sounding like a little adult, Topper then holds Quincy's hand and tugs, "Daddy? Let's get ready to catch the bouquet?"

The bouquet toss is interesting to guests from the cities particularly. Delightful fragrance permeates the area, the groom has been putting in quite the effort to decorate the venue to the bride's liking as Topper heard, surrounding the place with flowers.

"OK. One, two, three!" The bride starts spinning herself, her veil dances along like a butterfly. Quincy watches the bouquet flies across as it's tossed to the other side of the circle. People starts cheering congratulations when everyone rushes to the person who caught it, laughters bursts around the lucky guest bestowed with God's blessing.

"Little yokai, it's almost time to meet your classmates for the museum visit." Quincy turns away from the crowd on the opposite side of the plaza, realizing it's almost time to go.

"Oh alright, we will come back tonight for the campfire right? Maybe we can buy something for the bride and the groom too cause we didn't bring any gift." Topper grabs two more chocolate cupcakes on his way to go.

"Sure. Now come on."

The Grand Sorcerer Museum is in the centre of this city. They need to spend some time walking there, so they better start moving.

Little yokai bounces up and down as he starts humming in a singsong pitch, but the man next to him steps heavy. He walks, much like a martyr. For his redemption. For his reasons. For his salvation.

※※※※※

In Aster's words, the Grand Sorcerer Museum is a result of "people hearing too many stories".

This small kingdom is located right next to Klein, lores of the grand sorcerer are always told. Fantasized with too much creativity, it somehow develops into a weird form of religion－in fact, not far from the truth, for a martyr this is his belief.

Most of the artworks are created by various artists in these thousand years, it surprises Quincy how most of them were able to capture his appearance precisely.

And it still surprises him how much it hurts when he sees the familiar face.

The canvas, the sculptures, the stained glass. Envelop him with jarring hues. Some depicted him with wings and halos, some rendered him on thrones and clouds. This man in all these artworks, though looks the same as the one in his memories, is not him.

He lost his little devil long ago.

The most prominent painting is at the end of the long staircase. In it he smiles so brightly, Quincy keeps staring at the canvas and almost, almost reaches out and tries to touch him. Until he remembers the last time he saw his little ghost, it wasn't a smiley but a teary face.

Portrait by an unknown artist, and the piece is named For God so loved the world.

"What's that?" 

"Oh this one? My sketchbook! Sometimes I use it as a notebook or a diary, basically everything. Hey Quincy, by the way, I'm thinking…can you teach me about the meaning of different tribal patterns? Those on your clothes. You handcrafted each piece, right? The embroidery and stitching are amazing!"

Little devil was drawing something like traditonal tribal patterns. Quincy peeked over, the cover of the sketchbook was in a language he didn't recognize. Probably the one from little devil's original world. "No, too troublesome. Why tribal clothing patterns all of a sudden?"

The younger man flushed, looking a little flustered, which was kind of rare. Adorable anyway. He eventually made up something as an excuse, "Learning new culture is essential."

"You have to pay for it." Quincy leaned closer, his caressing started from the nape, fleeting like it was just a causal visit; it continued to the collarbone, still acting like nothing more than an accidental touch because Quincy knew this was how to make his little devil asking for more.

"Oh? Of course you won't be doing it for free…" Every move was suggestive, the younger man was enjoying it as he was always into this kind of game after all. As he stood tiptoed, wanting to steal a kiss from Quincy－

"In return you can teach me your language. But it seems that you are thinking something…naughty?"

"Oh hey!" This man was definitely deliberate. "You sure I'm the devil? Not you?"

The younger man would never admit that he actually loved it so much everytime when the everything-is-troublesome Quincy played with him with one of these mischievous shenanigans. "Anyway, that's the deal then! Let me warn you, the language I speak in my original world is not easy. I should start with alphabet or pronunciation I guess? But that's too complicated, we will save them for later. The most important thing to learn from it and you should remember starting from today is…"

Quincy watched his little devil minutely when the latter wrote some words on his sketchbook. His cheeks were still pink and he was wearing a cute smile, which was distracting enough for Quincy to focus on the foreign words on the book.

"Guess what these three words here mean. If you answer correctly, you will be given a reward because I'm a good teacher and this is what a good teacher does." He blinked in excitement, eyelashes fluttering. He bit his lower lip, hands on Quincy's chest, brushing and fondling, "Like, I can also teach you the naughty things I have been thinking, because like I said, I'm a good teacher…"

"Daddy?"

Quincy doesn't even aware he has clenched his fists, white knuckles worrying Topper as he just stands in front of the painting blankly like a giant abandoned dog, totally dragged away by a piece of precious memory.

He remembers he guessed the answer correctly. The only three words he ever learned from little devil's original language because he didn't have the chance to really take a lesson before fate took him away. Those were the first words he knew, and the last words his little ghost wrote to him outside the Temple of Stars.

"I zoned out. Sorry, little yokai."

Quincy picks up Topper, holding him tight as if this little boy is a lifeline. Topper's tiny fingers go on to smooth the wrinkled forehead, rubbing Quincy's temples to make sure this brawny but sentimental man doesn't think too much.

"Let's leave. Let's go back to the wedding, I'm starving already." Topper is still uncertain if inviting Quincy to this museum is a good decision or not. He thought this could be a kind of therapy because Quincy obviously misses him so much. But sometimes let go and move on is perhaps the best way to run away from a fact that no one can change.

"The exit is not there. What are you looking at?" The man raises a question when he notices Topper is staring at the end of a long corridor, the complete opposite direction to the exit. "Umm I think I see someone with a lot of essence, just like you. You know, humans these days usually don't have it so it's rare. The colours are beautiful, I have never seen it like that before…have I? But it feels kinda…"

Everyone with essence has some kind of colours, but it seems that not everyone can see it. Topper reckons perhaps it's a yokai ability. Quincy's essence is gold, same as the topaz on his hand; Mr. Frog has gentle blue hues, much like the sea in summer; the bride they just met has pale green colours, her essence is too weak to be discovered or of any use.

That person?

"Kinda?"

"…sad. I mean he shines like a rainbow but it feels like the rain keeps falling." Topper can feel the man's muscles tense when he replies. He asks questions again, it's not his usual practice for getting to the bottom of something when it's about a total stranger, "He? Rainbow? You mean his essence is colourful? Where does he go?"

Topper's glance falls on the huge painting in front of them. The necklace on the canvas, as iridescent as a real gemstone, glows like the essence of that person. He suddenly understands why Quincy acts like this; he doesn't want to give him a false hope simply because of something he happened to see in a crowd, but a part of him prays that perhaps, just perhaps God has heard his wish, for God so loved the world.

"I-I think he *pow-pow* through the emergency exit." Topper changes back to his animal form when they rush to the emergency exit so that Quincy won't have to hold him as he runs.

*Squeak*!

Tiny paws point to a young man standing under a huge tree at the back of the museum. The shadow almost has him completely shaded, hiding him in the dark. He has brown hair, a bit longer than that person in his memories, dressing in a fashionable style.

He turns around.

"Hey Quincy! Come over here!" Little devil shouted from afar, urging the hunter to hurry up. He had already set things up for the picnic with Topper's help, laying out all the food and drinks under the giant tree.

*Squeak*!

"Oh wait. Did I forget to pack the desserts?" The young man checked the basket again, failed to find the mochi cakes they made together in the morning.

"I picked them up. They're in my basket."

"My hero!"

It was the season of blossoming and blooming. Pink petals fell on little devil's head and decided to stay for a cute decoration, transforming him into a spring fairy.

Little genie. That was the word that came into Quincy's mind. It suited him as well, for he always had tons of new ideas.

"Oh, I look like one?" Quincy didn't even realize he really did say that out loud until he heard his little devil, "Well, the kind that loves mischief like me?"

This little genie took the chance to lean against Quincy's hand when the hunter was picking all the petals in his hair, resting his cheeks on his palm. Judging from his roguish smile, this was, again, intentional.

How could you not love this little devil? It was difficult not to fall in love with the light when you had been in the dark for so many years. His face was a little blushed, perhaps the petals had painted his face as well. Laying a kiss on his gemstone, Quincy really had to ask this genie to stop. They wouldn't want Topper to be angry at them for doing anything like this in the wild and in the middle of a picnic. They could wait for a few hours after getting back.

"E－"

The name, on the tip of his tongue, that he has been trying so hard to avoid yet crave so bad all these years, is too crestfallen to be put into words, and it engulfs him with the darkness like that one day thousand years ago, like those three words written on the sand outside the Temple, like that scream under the bright golden tree. Somewhere in his heart the incessant snow never stops, repeating for thousand lightyears to remind him defying nature is the reason of every fault.

He has tried so hard to hide everything away. His dream, his hope, his guilt, because he doesn't even dare to think about any. And that name. Still inside the closet, together with that half-finished wedding veil.

"Eiden?"

That familiar face finally looks up, puffing with wobbling lips, the voice Quincy misses so much is shaky. The hunter has never expected he'd face the same question that has wrecked him before after twenty three years leaving the Temple.

"How did you know my name?"

──────

Eiden's Sketchbook 

Can't let Quincy know about my plan. Gosh I should have asked someone else, but there's no one else who knows tribal clothing patterns so well like Quincy does. Or I should actually ask the Elder in the tribe? I'll need to ask Aster to contact the tailor for me anyway, I definitely need some lessons on making the veil. Unlike designing, stitching and embroidery are not my expertise…hope that Quincy will like it. Who says only the "bride" got the veil?

Chapter Text

On his epitaph, what would there be? Last words of love, or the regret of thee?

Eiden, I…

…Start thy journey, a voyage of regrets and forgiveness.

The boy with that familiar face of his late lover just asked 'how did you know my name',

What sacrifices thou would make, for weathering death?

with that voice who used to say 'I love you' thousand lightyears ago,

A final decision to be made, if thou only have one last breath?

to him, to the man who killed everyone he loved and deserves nothing and nobody.

He can only stare when the boy runs away in panic.

"What are you doing?! Go after him!" Topper is back to his human form again, squeezing Quincy's cheeks too hard that it leaves red marks. His little mind can't fathom the nonsense he just witnessed, why the humans are not communicating? 

"H-he doesn't remember me. Maybe just someone with the same name and…I shouldn't－"

"Aargh seriously? Of course he does! If he doesn't remember you then why did he run?" No wonder Mr. Frog always insists all humans are stupid. Topper's hackles have risen completely like never before, pulling Quincy's hair and snapping his suddenly popped out tail repeatedly on the man's face like it can snap him out of it. He has never been so lost, stranded in between a surreal daydream and a dreamlike reality. 

He can still spots Eiden in the crowd he darted. Way too easy enough, cause he knows him so well, from that tiny mole to that cute wrinkle, and sees all these in his every dream in his every sleep when night falls. How he wishes that he never wakes so he can stay there with him forever, and how it's like to see him die again everytime when daylight comes. Eiden has kept his promise; yes he did, his little ghost haunts him every night in the most beautiful way he can imagine. 

He goes after him and surprisingly finds it leads all the way back to the outside of the wedding venue, managed to grab him by his wrist and hold him steady when he is tripped over a rock during the frentic run. Panting, Eiden finally turns to him, teary eyes glazed over. 

"Quincy."

※※※※※

He watched Quincy stumbling into the Temple.

"What do you want from me?"

He heard Quincy ask, more like begging for help than a genuine question.

"Grow old with him together."

He listened to that one wish Quincy had been longing for, yet the one wish he couldn't achieve with him together. 

"Quincy…enough. It's enough." He knew Quincy couldn't hear or see him. But that's all he could do, wrapped around his shoulders from behind, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…it's really okay, it's will be fine…" Teardrops on the ground dissolved into amber starleaves, for a spilt second all the scenes Quincy had seen were played in front of his eyes. How Quincy danced with him under the starlit sky. How Quincy held his hands in the gentle breeze. How Quincy asked for a kiss on the lips in the dark. 

"Please don't." He pleaded with the deity, the God, the Nature, whatever that higher being it seemed to be. Everything had been cruel to him, and was it already a luxury to wish this lonely man to be over with all the heartbreaks?

"A final decision to be made, if thy only has one last chance?"

"He doesn't deserve this. He deserves the chance to find his own happiness. I don't need to live again. I don't. But let him go. Please." He reached out his hand, touching nothing but emptiness. 

"I see. Not a zealotry of immortality, but a mad man driven by sorrow."

The amber starleaves brought along the words. He knew, the voice was speaking ro him. 

"Understand that past is not to be altered, nor one could go back to a certain date."

"I know. Just give him back his future, please." He shook his head, vision became blurry once again. He'd take all the burdens from this man's shoulders if he could.

"I shall take something for granting thee thy future to be."

"What do you mean? Do not take his life for mine, please! Because he tried to defy nature? You can just have mine－"

Before he could think of anything, he witnessed Quincy screaming at the alter. He had seen him through the good and the bad, but none had ever been so devastated. 

"Give him back to me!"

He saw his urn blast, his ashes fell like snow in summer. 

"Eiden!"

He heard Quincy crying out as his knees went down, his name lingering in the silence in the Temple of Stars. 

He reached out, but soon his consciousness faded into the void, together with the other forms of life in the Temple of Stars. He was so close, grazing Quincy's pale cheeks with his fingertips－ 

"Eiden."

The voice he has heard so many times in his dream rings by his ear. The next thing Eiden knows is how Quincy brushes his cheek against his palm, not even aware that he really has reached out his hand again. Memories from the ancient times fade out, like a piece of distorted mosaic rearranging itself and forming the picture in front of him now. Too overwhelming and mesmerizing, Eiden is certain he's seeing stars. 

"I-I mean, if you're having a happy family now, there's no way you need to do anything!" After all this is what he asked for lightyears ago, he wishes nothing but all the best for the love of his life, even after he rebirthed with the memories of his previous life but without a hint of Quincy's whereabouts, this won't change a damn thing. Not that he didn't try to find Quincy back in Klein, but reborning into a new identity thousand years after means having to be extra careful for not being mistaken as a psycho while growing up, hiding and pretending from everyone. Not until he graduated from college and finally got the chance to leave the country for a pair of newlyweds as their wedding dress and veil designer, Eiden stole some time to visit the museum about himself－mainly trying to look for anything related to his favorite clan member there.

The catch in his voice gives him away, though it seems that Eiden isn't aware. And Quincy has always known him so well, it's easy enough to recognize by the way Eiden speaking non-stop－how he starts to put in random things from one to another for a little speech because he is panicking and anxious. More of a denial comfort to himself when the overwhelming emotions threaten to erupt like a volcano, "Q-Quincy, I mean you don't have to be guilty at all, feeling like you need to be responsible for me or our past or whatever. It's after thousand years anyway, so I'm happy that you have a cute son now and probably a pretty wife too. Look, I'm already in a museum and worshipped by people like a God, and I'm just trying to reminisce, cause not everyone got the chance to read himself in a history book－"

"You run away because you think I have a wife and a son, so you don't want to…bother anymore?" Still leaning his face on Eiden's palm, Quincy asks in confusion. This is a genuine question but his voice sounds so wronged, for a moment Eiden isn't sure if he has ever seen such a fragile side of this big man. What has he gone through all these years? Yet he threatened himself, mustering up the courage to answer. 

"This very cute little one you're now holding in your arms just called you daddy, and if he's so adorable I'm sure your wife must be a beautiful lady too so－"

"Topper."

"Have you ever thought about becoming a yokai, Topper? Of course I don't mean now, but like after some years." Eiden asked as he handed the little guy with more grilled meat after all the mess of virtualia. Quincy just headed to the kitchen and would be away from the campsite for a while, and the grand sorcerer knew that Topper had been avoiding the palpable concern that Quincy, as a clan member with abundant essence, would outlive everyone around him, which of course included Topper as well. 

Topper said he didn't dare to bet－forgetting Quincy and the time they had been together was too much of a risk. But when the time had come eventually, he would rather forget him than leave Quincy alone. 

He knew how much Quincy hated to see the ones he loved die. 

Night was falling and the gloomy blue had Topper's face shaded, the fluffy little guy squeaked as he wagged his tail－what if I really forget everything and everyone? 

The lull didn't last long. The grand sorcerer always had magic, petting with his fingertips to calm the distraught Topper on his head. Eiden replied with a laugh, cheerful as before. It was implausible everytime when Topper witnessed how he made everything impossible possible. 

"Well that's okay, we can create new memories together. And then I will also search a way to live longer than you, so together with Quincy we will teach you things like parents raising a baby. Cause Topper has always been Daddy Quincy's and Daddy Eiden's good boy!" Surprisingly understood the squeaking perfectly this time, Eiden put a strawberry on top of a tiny bowl of shaved ice for Topper as dessert.

Daddy Quincy and Daddy Eiden? Topper didn't remember much about his parents and siblings, but he liked this idea of having his favorite humans being his new family members a lot. 

*Squeak*!

"Daddy Eiden?" Topper brings a whiff of wood when he reached out for a hug, but soon decided to change back to his animal form for a nuzzle. 

"T-Topper? Wait what?!" The news has left him staggered, and Quincy took the chance to size his long-lost little devil up, when both little ones is busy reuniting. Again twenty-three years old but with longer and darker hair as he recalls, the same age they met back in Klein as the grand sorcerer and the long-lived forest guardian. Carefully observing every nook, he doesn't realize he is having trouble breathing until he finlly notices how his heart is hammering. The hunter takes a step closer, ignoring the happy sqeaking and talking between Eiden and Topper but focusing on twiddling his fingers with little devil's hair. Eiden's pulse fastens when the man's lingering earthy scent envelopes him like it used to, he tries to be as still as possible when Quincy is toying with the hem of his shirt, hoping he doesn't make the fact that he's on the edge to cry too obvious. 

"Quincy?"

"Hmm?"

The man looks up with weary eyes as an answer. 

"Thank you. I'm back."

Quincy tugs, pulling and putting Eiden's hand on his chest. A long-lost smile is shown on that relieved face. 

"You never leave."

※※※※※

Having the chance to live and grow up again, he wrote love letters like any other teenagers. 

He dreamt about his lover, writing poems and songs like he used to, about the tales of the grand sorcerer and his forest hunter. He designed and made clothes, snitching and knoting a wedding veil for a dead man like himself, in the summer when he was eighteen years old, in the golden sun that reminded him of Quincy's hair. Then he wiped his tears when he woke up from a beautiful nightmare with Quincy and Topper in it, pretending everything had never happened before when the burnt logs from the fireplace recalled his memory of the scents from Quincy's little huts lightyears ago.

He remembers, he remembers everything. The last time he was twenty-three years old, he met the love of his life. This time he made a wish. Maybe, just maybe for God so loved the world, his prayer would be heard. 

Death may have torn them apart, but at the end they would be drawn like stars by gravity. And it really is. 

He has been missing too much in these years, being more than eager to fill in the blanks but receives heart sore responses when Topper sells Quincy out this day on how he lies about his insomnia. 

Insomnia? Seriously? The man whose favorite activity is sleeping is having difficulty in sleeping?

The guilt is eating him away over the years, crushing his lumgs and taking his breath away. Eiden hears whispering during the hunter's sleep talking, repeating 'I'm sorry'. Having no choice but to wake him up, the grand sorcerer wipes the sweat off his forehead and lays a kiss there, trying to sooth him in a gentle way.

"What did you dream? You keep saying sorry. Did you eat all Topper's meat?" The joke probably doesn't work as he intends, but it still leads to a fake laugh. And a gruff reply.

"Because I have done something…wrong. Very wrong."

"Don't we all? Everyone's done something wrong. So," Eiden gently placed sleeping Topper on Quincy's shoulder, "the only you should put on your shoulder is Topper. You gotta throw away all those burdens."

No way he deserves getting back his little devil. Yet he's right here, right in his arms, telling him everything will be fine. Leaning closer and going for a tender kiss, Quincy almost freezes when he discovers Eiden flinch for a second at that moment. It's not obvious if Quincy isn't paying full attention, and Eiden submits for the kiss again quick enough that should get no one notice. Confusion escalates into fear rapidly with the thought of he may be too dogged and needy? Or that's not what Eiden wants anymore? His insecurity should be the last thing that bothers because meeting Eiden again is already the best gift he can imagine－

"What are you thinking?" Words are blown amid kisses, Eiden nibbles the man's lower lip to draw his attention back.

"You're shivering. We don't have to do anything if you…"

Oh, there he gets it now. No wonder the big hand on his ass suddenly moves to his shoulder like a gentleman stepping back for courtesy, Quincy is dwelling on a wrong reason. Eiden stares right into Quincy's eyes, using the said trembling hands to hug him around his neck, thumbs gently tipping on his nape. Cleared his throat, the little devil tries to comfort, "I'm just too excited."

The furrowed brow forms wrinkles on Quincy's forehead. Now he looks like a giant dog who finds himself in the vet clinic when the owner lied that it's park time, he must be crazy to think such a burly man cute like a teddy bear. Took a deep breath, Eiden knows he has to say something before Quincy overthinks again. "Not just excited. I'm a bit nervous too." Oh God of Klein these pecs are as perfect as he remembers. The grand sorcerer has his fingers lingered on Quincy's chest when he continues, being careful with the choice of his words. He has never thought that it'd be such an embarrassing thing to say aloud, keying up for things he shouldn't have to, "I mean, I'm mentally experienced. But physically? This body is not, um, like you know, everything's like playing a VR game after I have this second chance to live again. And I have been too busy worrying about you and Topper, it's useless when the other person is not you so I am quite a good boy all this time…do you get what I mean?" 

"You are still a vir－"

"Wow it's been a long time since I heard that word to be put together with my name." He blushes as he admits. Though Eiden is damn sure Quincy won't care if he's a virgin or not, the thought of being able to give his virginity to him is far more thrilling than everything else, and it's turning him on in a weird way. 

"So now, stop thinking for nonsense and fuck your good boy already." Oh he really needs it so bad right now. He wants to taste all the sweet kisses, being taken care of until his legs tremble and give out, his voice coarse and his throat sore. He wants to kiss and bite him from toes to thighs, fingers to earlobes, until he whines softly how come he has become a little vampire. He wants to suck him from neck to chest, waist to legs, hickeys on his skin like stars in the sky. He wants to feel him, inside and out, that they are with each other, right here together. And he knows Quincy need the same.

"Good boy? Thought you're always a handful." Eiden swears Quincy has gasped in excitement for such a thought too. 

"Mm-hm, and you like it. "

Whatever. He will make sure at the end of it, the hunter will coo 'my good boy' at his ears. 

※※※※※

As fall finally pays a visit, Eiden has decided it's finally the time to go for a walk in the woods. Heatwaves in summer are brutal to an old man like him.

"Quincy? Topper? Are you ready to go?"

The hunter hums a yes, picking up Topper from his nest when the latter is busy with grabbing too much beef jerky for a morning walk in the woods. "Oh wait, you forgot to shave? Look at you, you really try to spoil Topper and leave more space for his snacks, huh?"

His gaze falls on Quincy's lips eventually. And the hunter just stares, predicting and calculating when his little devil is going to steal a kiss because he knows Eiden too well.

If Eiden has to be honest, he likes it when Quincy is chilled and at ease. Waiting for his preys to fall with absolute composure, and it's a game they both love to play all these years. After all, Eiden loves competition. "Beard or not, little guy hides his food everywhere. So not shaving is not spoiling him, turns out I may be spoiling someone else."

"Oh? Who doesn't fall for a sexy, hot and mature man like the forest guardian himself? You're probably spoiling everyone in the neighborhood with such a pleasant picture."

"A grey-haired old man who doesn't shave is a pleasant picture? Guess I'm too old for what's trendy now."

"Cause I love fine wine," Eiden puts his hands on Quincy's chest, then to his abdomen. The statement seems to be out of nowhere, blown into Quincy's ear like a whisper, "grape juice is for kids."

Perhaps in the hunter's eyes, little devil is always little devil, a kid regardless of age. The naughty hands on his body don't stop until they reach his waist, touching like he's claiming it. "Though I kinda miss your abs, I don't think I have ever told you I actually like your dad bod more."

"Dad…what?" After all these years, little devil sometimes still uses words he has no clue. 

"Never mind. Hey, look. Seems that our nest by the stream caught some fish." Attention is drawn to the prey as they arrive by the water. Hunting requires a strong physique they no longer own, so they spend more time on gardening and fishing recently. "Last time it's a draw, right? Let's continue our fishing competition! The weather is perfect for sunbathing today, it feels so good to fish by the stream." Eiden pulls his sleeves like an excited kid－if he has to talk about a pleasant picture he never gets bored, then this must be it. 

"Kid."

"A kid with wrinkles and back pain? Your little devil is probably an old devil now."

"I love your wrinkles."

"Oh stop teasing me already." Eiden laughs it off, his eyes are not as good as they were when he was younger, or he can see the sincerity in the hunter's eyes. All the wrinkles and scars, Quincy sees tales as old as stars in them. They are mesmerizing and he can spend all his time just to admire how these stories have shaped the little devil he is now. 

"What's the prize this time?"

"I will cook the dinner tonight if you win. But if you lose…"

Looking up, Eiden looks like he's searching for something on Quincy's face. The latter indulges whatever he's going to do, and can only assume it's a subtle invitation for a kiss. After all, he's the kissing maniac, isn't he?

"How long is this competition going to last?"

"Until the stars align."

"So you gotta leave now cause you need to catch some rabbits and pick some berries for dinner?"

"Yep! I don't think they have enough fish. Although we have some leftovers from last night, fresh fruits and meat are better!"

"So you now take care of those old bones too? Humans are troublesome, Topper! It's not worth it!"

"Mr. Frog, it's ok! You know they are good humans. They are simply the best."

Topper has finished making a new head wreath for the couple, preparing to head back to the hut for dinner and check to see if there are other animals in the traps on his way home. 

"Ya should leave them alone. Ever think you gonna watch them die when they get even older and you'd cry like shit."

"Of course I'm not leaving! They are my family, and I'm sure they will come back."

The frog scoffs at it immediately. The whole idea is too stupid, which however makes perfect sense because Topper is the most stupid yokai he has ever known. Humans can't be trusted. He vaguely recalls once he fought to be with someone else, trying to defy fate and become a yokai but in the end, no one is by his side and he has achieved nothing. 

"What if they both forget everything? Ain't like they will still have so much essence."

"I guess we are even then? Last time it's me who forgot everything."

"What if they don't come looking for you, eh?"

"Then I will go and fine them! There's nothing Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III cannot do!"

"Argh you stupid idiot! I'm done with you."

Those who remember are left behind and devastated. He finally understands why humans are scarred to keep pets, perhaps it's like why Quincy's afraid to make connections with other humans before meeting Eiden. But life is not just like that. All the joy and the sadness is part of it. Maybe that little Eiden in the orphanage years ago finally knew what's love. Maybe that young Quincy who watched people around him die finally knew it's still worthy to connect with other people. 

And they both now have each other. 

※※※※※

"Uncle Huey, can you read me this story?"

"You sure love it very much."

"Yes! It's my favorite story."

The tiny hands of a kid flip open the book, handing it to the man, patiently waiting for a storytelling time. 

"Tale as old as stars, by Twilight Star-Show Max Lucifer Topper III." That's a very weird pen name. This thought comes into Huey's mind everytime when the little one is asking him to read the same story over and over again. "Once upon a time, there is a place called Temple of Stars. The adults always say it is a dangerous place, so no humans go there…"

Someone is knocking the door, Huey puts down the book to answer the door and sees the polite kid from next door, a few years older the little one. He has probably forgotten it's already the time to play with his best friend, but they can continue the story next time.

"Sorry, I think I am early." The blonde boy is a bit nervous. He's holding a basket packing with food and drinks for their picnic. Oh and it looks like he's hiding something behind too－a tiny starflowers bouquet?

"No worries," Huey assures, then turns to the little one in the house, "Eiden, your friend is here."

"Oh Quincy? Wait, I'm going to get my picnic basket!"

"Come back before dinner." Huey walks them to the camping site just next to the entrance of the tribe, hearing Eiden singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the way. Quincy is still sorry for interrupting the storytelling session, and his starflowers bouquet becomes the perfect gift as an apology. 

"Hey Quincy, let's go to the Temple of Stars when we grow up. What do you think?"

"Sure. I want to go there too."

Something and someone is waiting for them there－such idea is rooted in his little heart for quite some time. And he wants to visit the place too, a land planted with starflowers, guided by the stars. 

You can rewrite the stars and transcend time there.

Quincy doesn't sure what these words mean, cause he's not old enough. But like what Eiden told him before, love was so powerful that it could pretty much do everything. Perhaps love could do these things too. 

"Hooray! Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise."

Something invisible is connected together again, because something just won't die even it's a tale as old as stars. 

"Hmm, doesn't a pinky promise need two hands and one paw?"

"I think it is, but all the others say two is enough when I say we need three."

And I will see you again in lightyears. 

──────

Tale as old as stars

Because love can transcend time and rewrite the stars, and it lasts until next time, when I see you in lightyears.