The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 21: What’s Next? (Arc 2 – Across The Stars)

Arc 2 – Across The Stars

Chapter 21: What's Next?

To say there was a lot on my mind would be right. 

Espr could now talk whenever they wanted, Dominous Hood had attacked and whatever plans they were cooking could affect me even indirectly, Tyell was absent and Mella… 

The only seemingly good thing, Beatrice's attempt to contact me, was another item added to my list of things to do and I was now regretting reaching out in the first place. People change and I’ve changed…

Maybe my heightened emotional mess of a state was due to overusing [Unleashed Awakening] or it was just me being overly concerned over everything at the moment. 

Currently, it was 1 am the next day after the incident. Mella had been escorted to one of the nearby major hospitals and now Mum and I were waiting for the call of notice, and the only reason I knew where Mella was because of [Star Mapping]–which I used briefly the moment I got a sliver of Starlight back.

When I had come back inside to inform Mum that Mella had made it to the hospital alive. Mother who learned Mella was alright and there was nothing more she could do, she got stupidly worried over me.

Tella tried and failed at pulling my arm, “We need to get you checked up and pick up Tyell on the way!” 

“I’m fine Mum,” I tried to reassure her but it wasn’t very effective.I carefully pulled away and said, “I’m going to finish up resting, tell me if anyone arrives.”

Mother sighed and replied, “Understood, tell me if you start hurting.” 

Before going outside again, I had a quick change of clothes–out of sight of Mum–burnt the clothes I stole and now was wearing a simple black hooded long-sleeve jumper and matching tracksuit pants.

My request to Tella wasn’t just about notifying me if Tyell arrived, but if anyone decided to show up. It hadn’t been too long after the attack but due to the fact no one was after me, I had assumed somehow no one knew what I did…yet. They would’ve sent some sort of security force if they noticed me right? People even saw me.

(“ They saw Celestira, which is you, but you underestimate the drastic difference in the presences you emit is ”)

It’s not like there’s a mirror which reflects that!

Espr didn’t reply to my mental response, letting me just worry in silence. I didn’t think I could ever get used to Espr being in my mind 25/7 for now on.

“What do I even do now?” I mumbled at the falling moon.

I knew what I immediately had to do. Make sure Mella and Tyell were safe, and get Mella the help she needed to recover. Contact Beatrice somewhere in between that, then… I should leave. 

Asking Ketty and Mern how to get off planet was probably a good idea… I needed to stop fooling around and get rid of Dominous Hood before they could do anything to harm me or my family again… and before I lose the chance to deal with them. 

My rest and recovery continued for another two hours, but then–

Ding–a message appeared on my phone. “Who is it?” I wondered aloud and checked, but it wasn’t one I recognised.  Who could even have my number?

Unknown Number – ([ Hello, this is Tyell’s friend. Hopefully I remembered this number right. I’m the one who messaged you earlier. ])

Unknown Number – ([ Tyell has run away, and I’m not sure where he has gone. ])

Tyell… Dammit.

I replied with a simple ‘Thanks’, and put my phone back in my pocket and went inside.

“Mum, I'm heading out.” 

Tella moved towards me and asked slightly panicked, “Where are you going?” 

“Picking up Tyell.” I decided that I might tell her he ran somewhere and was currently in someplace unknown later, I didn’t want her to worry more. “Just got a message.”

“Be safe… the both of you.” I glanced back as mum said bye, her tired, teared dried face was painful to look at.

“‘Course.” I returned a confident smile. “I’ll bring him home.”

I left through the door and took a quick peek at my resources.

Mana: 3% Starlight: 0%

Basically nothing, so let’s hope I don’t have to get into a fight. 

I knew the general location of Tyell’s work, so the plan was to get near it and use [Star Mapping]. I just needed a little bit more Starlight before I could use the skill for a brief moment–which I should get enough during my jog over there.

The city was still in a state of panic, no chaos on streets or anything, but you could hear the worried chatter clog the air. 

I moved along the automated public transport before eventually jumping off and running to the desired area.

This place is shit… From the outside everything looked pristine, but from the subtle damage to the local bins–which should’ve been fixed quickly–, the noticeable lack of foliage and the only signs put up for directions were ones that led to the main street. All this was enough from my experience travelling around Metous and other planets–even for only a brief time–to know Tyell should’ve never been working anywhere near here..

What made you work here…? I felt disappointed in myself, maybe, no if I was around Tyell wouldn’t have felt like he needed to work here. I didn’t know his exact reason, but my disappearance must have been partly related at the very least. 

[Star Mapping] For a moment I had a bird’s eye view of the area. “Found you…” I saw my brother wobbling down into an alley. Quickly as I could, I rushed towards his location.

Turning the corner I called, “Tyell…”  and looked down at my brother. Different from his usual self, he was crouched down in visible pain, tears fell from his bloodshot eyes. I couldn’t see the now young twenty-two year old, but only the child who I’d watched over most of his life.

He didn’t look up, his head facing the ground sobbing.

“What’s wrong…?”

“It’s my fault, my fault…” He mumbled, his skin a sickly pale. I tried lifting his head up and I saw his shaking crazed eyes constantly trying to look away.

I was scared. Instinctively I knew, I’d seen that expression before… Guilt, self blame. But what in the star’s light could make him feel this body destroying guilt right now… there was only one likely answer.

I let go and sat down next to him. “What’s wrong Tyell…” I struggled to say the next part, but managed in the end “...…What… Did you do?”

His body temperature dropped, I increased the warmth of my own to counter it. “I hel-ped Hoo–the-m out.”

“It's my fault.”

“Mella!” His hands dug into his head. 

At the declaration of Tyell’s guilt, a small fluming rage lighted inside of me, in seemingly a reaction to this Tyell’s body went further pale. 

Fuck! I quickly destroyed that simmering emotion. I can’t be angry at him! Not for this…

I knew I couldn’t blame him… he was already blaming himself too much, if I added to that he might break. So I redirected those feelings to those who deserved it, those bastards who took advantage of Tyell’s moments of weakness.

“Mella’s alive, she is alive.” I calmly said. Attempting to sooth his scrambled emotional state and mine in the process.

Tyell began to divulge what he had been up to in the last few years, nothing exact but rambles and mumbles of this illegal stuff he did. 

Before finally he mentioned this one.

“No one was supposed to be hurt, I would get paid big time and I could stop… for a good while…” Tears flooded from his face, “Mella, you and so many people were hurt because of my actions.”

I stayed by his side as his body suffered in grief and sorrow. The more I looked at him, the more those vague feelings of anger directed at him disappeared and my hatred of  Dominous Hood just grew stronger. Roping in kids into their web, why?! Cause they’re expendable or something! Or if they, he, succeeded were you going to try and snatch him completely into your organisation then! 

A muffled scream, “What am I supposed to do now?!” roared as Tyell yelled into his arm.

I replied, “First, let’s quit your job.”

“Pardon…?” He paused, then looked up.

“You are quitting your job,” I reaffirmed, “It’s dangerous and staying there won’t help you.”

Tyell nodded, I could see it in his teary clouded pale golden eyes, he always knew he should’ve quit but kept at it. Keeping that feeling locked away.

If only I was here… I kept my own worries hidden and brought Tyell close.

His arms shook, but he slowly brought them up to embrace in the hug.

I stood up, pulling him with me. “Now let’s do this,” I gave him a light warm smile.

He rubbed away the tears into my shoulder and then pulled back. “Understood… Sis.”

Tyell smiled like a child for a moment when he called me sis but that smile disappeared back into his depressed frown.

We moved along, slowly walking back to Tyell’s workplace. No matter what happened Tyell wouldn’t have to work here again, I planned to make sure of that, no matter what it took.

Upon reaching the front door, Tyell entered the bar, it was quiet, thanks mostly in part due to the store not being open. I stayed outside for the moment at the ready.

The sound of the door being opened alerted one of the two individuals currently in the building, Mikey–with deep bags under his eyes–turned to look at the door.

“Kid, good to see ya.” Tyell’s boss wide mouth cringed, “I… got some bad news, looks like your pay won’t be in for a bit. Other side gots some stuff to sort out–”

“I quit.” Tyell interrupted.

“Huh?” Tyell’s boss' mouth widened, he blinked a few times before adjusting himself.

“I quit.”

“...” Tyell’s boss waited for a moment, just in case he misheard. “You know it ain’t that easy.” Tyell’s boss frowned, “You’ve got to sign the contracts, especially after this incident.” He looked down on the mess of a boy who didn't answer back.

“If you do it now you won’t get paid.” His voice grew louder and so did my anger. “You can’t expect to quit without any–” Tyell’s former boss stopped mid sentence as fear grabbed him by the throat. His right arm was held tight by a taller figure behind him, me. 

Flames started to flow down off me in waves, currently harmless, but slowly they covered the surrounding area.

I said into his ear, “Nothing will happen.” As I gently crushed his soul with my soul pressure.

Tyell’s boss started hyperventilating, “Otherwise” I whispered. The flames quickly sucked themselves back to me, crawling into my jumper for dramatic effect.

I let go and the living corpse fell to the floor unable to look up. I commanded Tyell, “Kid, let’s move.” My hooded face glared at the man on the floor as we left to the exit.

That went well.

I brought Tyell closer and quietly said, “Let’s go home.”

“...Yes.” He depressively and happily replied.

It had been a long slow walk home for Ceella and Tyell. Both not saying much but as they neared their house Tyell quietly asked.

“Mella’s okay right?”

“Yes, she’s alive.” Ceella reassured without lying, but couldn’t directly answer the question.

The two awkwardly made their way to the front door.

“Tyell, my baby!” As soon as they entered the door Tella came running at them. “Are you alright?” Tella repeatedly looked up and down Tyell’s dishevelled appearance.

Tyell’s lips shook and he lied, “Yes…” 

The reunion didn’t last long, as Tyell soon left for his room to sleep. Well attempt to sleep. He stayed there, still, motionless, as the memories of the last twenty-five hours played back in his mind over and over. 

Later during the morning Tyell received a message on his phone which had been laying next to him.

Elly – ([ Just got the news from Mikey, you quit? ])

Tyell debated responding or not. Elly was his friend but he was in an awful mood. 

([ Yes ]) – Tyell

However, since these events were tangentially related to her he decided to reply.

Elly – ([ Are you going to report it, to the authorities? ])

([ No ]) – Tyell

Tyell had many thoughts about what he would do to find any forgiveness. But the only things he could decide on were that he wasn’t going to authorities or commit suicide. He wouldn’t make his family go through losing a child again… and going to the authorities now would just get his sister in trouble, so that option was temporarily off the table.

Elly – ([ Good… Sorry for asking, it’s just I would get in a lot of trouble myself. ])

Tyell didn’t reply back immediately. Elly had been in the same business as him, but with her Vocation she didn’t actually do the delivery side of things. Still being knowingly involved, Tyell reckoned she was currently very nervous and that was why she messaged him.

“That should be enough…” About to close the phone and roll over, Tyell was stopped when Elly’s next message arrived.

Elly – ([ Who was the person who helped you today? Did you know them? ])

The only clear similarity between Tyell and Ceella was their eyes. There were some facial structure similarities but that required more than a glance to notice. And for Mikey who didn’t even see Ceella, just the hand of a much taller person compared to Tyell, it made sense to him that they didn’t realise the relation.

([ No ]) – Tyell

He still hadn’t told Elly about Ceella’s return. He thought about it many times but chose to keep it hidden. 

Elly – ([ Okay then, be careful if you ever find them again, they seem dangerous. ])

([ Thanks for the warning Elly ]) – Tyell

He replied, then just sat on his phone screen for a couple seconds. Before finally deciding to ask.

([ Would you mind if you predict my fate again? ]) – Tyell

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