Chapter 26: A STRANGER'S EMBRACE
"What...?" Kiel signed with a hesitant flicker of his fingers, his hands conveying a whisper of confusion and curiosity.
"Asterialnauchseccin Elspeth Katsuragi," Astra repeated, her voice a melodic whisper. Each syllable lingered in the air, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she shyly averted her gaze, focusing on an intriguing spot on the far wall.
Kiel's eyes widened in amazement, a look of reverent awe crossing his face. The grandeur of her name struck him with an almost tangible weight, rendering him momentarily lost in its imposing elegance.
His own name wasn't exactly common, but hearing hers out loud made his seem almost mundane by comparison. After a few moments of contemplative silence, he began to sign with tentative movements. "Astra," he conveyed, his hands earnest yet hesitant. "May I call you Astra? For short?" He offered a gentle smile before reclining back onto the bed with a weary groan.
Astra's eyes sparkled with amusement as she responded, "You could. But I'm curious—might I have the honor of learning yours?"
Her gaze remained fixed on him, filled with gentle anticipation.
Silence stretched between them. Kiel hesitated, turning his gaze to the ceiling, lost in deep thought. It wasn't that he couldn't share his name; he had his reasons for keeping it to himself, and he hoped it would remain that way.
"I knew it," Astra's voice carried a note of quiet disappointment as she prepared to leave.
Just then, Kiel signed, "You... can call me Kiel. Just Kiel." His hands moved with a mixture of determination and reluctance, revealing his name as if it were an admission of vulnerability. His gaze remained fixed upwards, and his hands, though steady, conveyed a quieter, less certain message. "If that's even really it," he added, almost as an afterthought.
Astra's expression shifted to one of concern. "You don't know your own name?" She asked, disbelief evident in her voice.
Kiel's eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and frustration as he signed, "Just little bits and pieces. I don't know anything past a day ago except that I was coming here."
"But why here?" She pressed gently, her curiosity deepening.
"I don't know. I guess I felt drawn here. I... hoped that stepping into the city would trigger something... anything," he responded, his hands hesitating mid-sign. "But I... well... it's complicated."
"Complicated, huh? So… an actual Kaiju up close," she continued, her tone steady despite the slight tremor in her hands. "No parents? Siblings?" She studied his face, seeking any glimmer of understanding or certainty in his expression.
"You were born like this then? A Kaiju? An... an actual Kaiju?" She asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and incredulity.
"Uh, yeah, I mean, I guess so," Kiel signed, his movements hesitant, as if grappling with the weight of his identity.
"Ah... I see, right. So what else do you remember?" She inquired gently, trying to piece together his fragmented past.
"I... I remember waking up," Kiel signed, his hands trembling slightly. "And then television, and clothes... clothes and television. Then, he came with me! I... I have to stop him because..." He paused, frustration evident in his gestures. "Ah, it's so hard! I can't think! I can't remember!" His hands fell to his sides, defeated, as he struggled to grasp the elusive threads of his memory.
Astra softened her tone, her voice like a soothing balm as she lightly rested her hand on Kiel's. "You can't just will your mind to remember things it's not ready to reveal. Trust me, I know," she said, a gentle laugh escaping her lips. "Well, Kiel—just Kiel," she continued with a warm smile, "it's been a real pleasure meeting you."
With a final, reassuring squeeze of his hand, she turned to pick up the pail, her movements graceful and deliberate. "I need to head out now, but please, get some rest. Make sure you're stable," she instructed with a note of quiet authority.
As she moved toward the door, her presence lingered like a comforting shadow, leaving Kiel with a sense of calm and a subtle warmth that promised new beginnings.
"You guys are really something," he signed, his movements expressive and tinged with genuine awe. "You're not even fazed by my presence. Most people… well, they aren't exactly welcoming to my kind. It's baffling. People usually react with suspicion, always on edge. Once, I picked up a man's wallet to return it, and he accused me of stealing it. It's like all the logic I thought I knew has been turned on its head."
"Oh, you're still hung up on that? Would you prefer we just kick you out instead?" Astra asked, her tone light yet pointed.
"No," Kiel signed quickly, his hands conveying his reluctance.
"Good. Then stop whining and let us help you," she replied with a chuckle, her hands fluidly echoing her words.
"Do you say whatever comes to mind?" Kiel asked with a playful smirk, his fingers dancing through the air. He paused, his expression shifting as a wave of emotion washed over him. The warmth of the room and Astra's kindness seemed to amplify the feeling, leaving him momentarily lost in the depth of his gratitude.
Kiel's gaze turned toward Astra, his eyes reflecting a rare vulnerability. "You know," he signed slowly, his hands moving with quiet sincerity, "I… haven't slept under a roof in quite a while."
A sense of warmth settled over him, a profound fullness that seemed to fill the very air around them. His hands trembled slightly as he finished, "Thank you."
The depth of his words lingered in the air like a gentle embrace. Astra's eyes softened, touched by the weight of his admission. A calm smile spread across her face, her own emotions stirred by his heartfelt thanks.
"You're welcome," she responded softly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "Rest well. We'll take care of everything else later."
With a final, reassuring nod, Astra made her way toward the door, her footsteps light but her demeanor resolute. Before leaving, she turned back to him, a reassuring glimmer in her eyes. "And don't worry about anything," she said, her voice carrying a promise of support. "Everything will be alright."
As the door closed behind her, Kiel allowed himself to sink into the bed.
The room, now imbued with a sense of calm and security, seemed to breathe in rhythm with Kiel's own slow, measured sighs. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he allowed himself to fully embrace the peace of the moment, his body relaxing into the comforting embrace of the bed.
****
Kiel found himself alone in the dimly lit room, the silence a stark contrast to the chaos of his thoughts. Sleep had eluded him once again, leaving him to wrestle with the fragmented memories of the alleyway—the enigmatic visions, the unsettling experiences. His mind prowled through the wreckage of his consciousness, grasping at elusive answers that remained out of reach. Each attempt to piece together the puzzle was met with an empty void, a barren landscape of uncertainty. All that remained was a haunting, lingering image; the vivid, unsettling splash of blood.
He felt a sudden rush of energy flood his body, leaving him dazed and exhausted. The boy Kaiju, trembling with fear, struggled to understand the overwhelming force he had experienced. His veins burned with power from the alley, and as he thought about the boy he had seen—who looked just like him—he realized the terrifying truth: his own eyes were warping reality.
He couldn't tell what was real anymore, feeling like he was losing his mind, slipping into the madness he feared. He remembered how his vision had blurred, and his mind spiraled out of control. The change in him was both terrifying and thrilling. He had turned into something monstrous, anger flaring when he saw Sean. His face twisted into a snarl, his eyes blazing with a dark fire, ready to unleash violence.
No! That wasn't me! The image of his bloodshot, vicious eyes made him feel sick, his stomach turning with nausea. It's absurd, he thought, disgusted. It's ridiculous. Disgusting. He repeated the word "disgusting," trying to force the horrible image out of his mind. He needed a logical explanation—something that made sense to prove it all just the stress.
He noticed he had kicked off the sheets and blanket in his restless state. With a groan, he pulled the covers back over himself, tucking them up to his chin. As he lay back, he repeated the word "logical" in his mind until it lost meaning, becoming a way to calm himself in the chaos.
Kiel made himself take deep breaths, silently counting to ten, trying to calm the storm inside. He couldn't let this chaos go on; there was no more time for doubts.
As he settled, the faint voices outside reached his ears. He recognized the soft, comforting voice of Grandma Kaname and the rougher, determined voice of Kiki.
Kaname's sharp, skeptical tone cut through the day's quiet. "So, that's the boy? Or should I say Kaiju?" She looked at Kiki and Astra with a mix of curiosity and disapproval. "Ai, Kiki, can't you ever bring home someone normal? Where does he come from? What is he? When are we going to hear the whole story about this—this 'thing'?"
Kiki shifted awkwardly but replied with quiet resolve. "Tomorrow morning."
Astra's voice was calm and steady. "When he's ready."
Kaname leaned in, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "I'll tell you what," she said to Astra, suspicion lacing her words. "That 'thing' isn't going to say anything. You're too trusting. It's tricking you."
Astra held her ground, looking straight into Kaname's eyes. "He's not."
Kaname's eyes narrowed, her voice turning sarcastic. "Oh? If it's not, I'll eat my own head!"
As her footsteps faded, the room grew quieter. Kiel lay there, barely aware of the conversation outside, his mind still a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts.
The voices outside eventually faded, leaving Kiel alone with his thoughts in the dim light of the room. He stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together his memories. The images and emotions were like puzzle pieces that didn't quite fit. The memory of blood, and of uncontrollable energy rushing through him, haunted him with every heartbeat.
As the day dragged on, his anxious thoughts began to calm, little by little. Lying in the comfort of the bed, each breath helped him regain a small sense of control over his shattered self.
When the first light of dawn crept through the window, Kiel's eyes remained closed, his thoughts drifting toward the hope that tomorrow would bring answers, clarity, and a better understanding of who—or what—he was becoming.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone