Amidst the Waves [Wuthering Waves]

The waves caressed the Shore of Long's dwellings, their rhythm steady and timeless, as though they carried the whispers of the past upon their crests.

A lone boat, small and unassuming, broke through the gentle embrace of the waters, carrying with it two figures bound by destiny yet shrouded in an uneasy silence. This was the resting place of Jue—one of the Sentinels of Huanglong.

Kyorin disembarked first, his bare feet sinking slightly into the wet sand. He exhaled, the tension from the voyage clinging to him like the salt in the air.

On his belt hung DEVA, her dormant gourd form humming faintly, her crimson glow blending with the dusk view of the Firmament.

"Where to?" Kyorin asked, his voice curt, more out of habit than irritation.

DEVA's circuits gave a brief flicker, her internal systems adjusting as she processed his words. "Hmm?" she hummed softly, her tone betraying neither emotion nor intent.

Then, after a calculated pause, she suggested, "How about we visit the city here—Hongzhen?"

Kyorin stiffened momentarily. The word 'city' stirred some unpleasant memories, but he reminded himself that he was far away in another world from the one he once inhabited.

Yet, he clenched his fists lightly and pushed the unease aside. 'I'm not what I was. Right now, I'm just a weak fodder,' he reminded himself, the thought a double-edged sword of acceptance and denial.

"Did you say something?" DEVA's voice cut through his musings, her mechanical tone sharp, almost as if she had detected his self-doubt.

"Nay." Kyorin waved his hand in dismissal, his lips pressing into a thin line. Yet, as if to counter the oppressive quiet, he ventured, "But I am curious." His eyes flicked toward DEVA, a hint of scepticism shadowing his expression.

Her circuits buzzed softly, a sound that could have been mistaken for a chuckle. "What is it?"

"Can't we just go directly to your child?" Kyorin asked, his voice laden with a strange mixture of curiosity and impatience.

DEVA's response came with a mechanical precision, though her tone carried an uncharacteristic softness. "I believe your body must still be sore from the journey. Resting and fully recovering before meeting Jue would be wiser."

Kyorin's gaze narrowed. He searched for any hint of ulterior motive in her words, but all he found was unyielding logic wrapped in genuine concern. With a reluctant nod, he muttered, "Fine."

"Just past that bridge," DEVA continued, her tone shifting back to its usual authoritative edge, "a little further along the edge, you'll find a downhill path leading to Hongzhen."

Kyorin moved without another word, his steps deliberate as he followed her directions. Yet, his eyes often strayed to the dragon-shaped mountain looming in the distance.

The sight stirred a mix of awe and scepticism within him. His thoughts turned inward, spiralling toward the absurd as he cast a glance at DEVA. 'This woman gave birth to that?'

Sensing his repeated glances, DEVA's circuits buzzed louder, the static betraying her irritation. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she demanded, her tone biting.

"How did you even give birth?" Kyorin asked, his words blunt and devoid of tact.

DEVA's circuits surged, sparks crackling faintly as her frame trembled with mechanical indignation. "You think you're funny?"

"Didn't you say the Sentinels are your children?" Kyorin argued, his tone calm but unyielding.

"I don't have bio-reproductive organs," DEVA snapped, her voice grinding with annoyance, the hum of her systems betraying her rising temper.

"Haah," DEVA sighed, the sound faint but present as she attempted to regain control, her internal mechanisms humming softly. "The Sentinels—my 'children,' as you put it—aren't biological entities." She paused, the mechanical sound of her circuits becoming almost melancholic as she revelled in the memories.

"They are called the Oracle Engines," she continued, her tone taking on an uncharacteristic melancholic edge, a strange warmth beneath her usually cold, mechanical voice. "Created from the same Source Code I possess."

Kyorin raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued by the sudden shift in her tone. "Oracle Engines?"

DEVA's systems buzzed faintly as she spoke, a touch of pride flickering through her words. "Beings that can see the future," she elucidated, her voice steady despite the nostalgia. "Each of them can predict outcomes, map probabilities, and foresee events. A gift from their Source Code... my Source Code."

Kyorin's gaze softened as he processed her words, his thoughts racing. "And you?" he asked. "Can you see the future too?"

DEVA's circuits hummed briefly, a shift in her tone as she answered. "I can," she admitted a faint echo of hesitation in her voice. "But I choose not to."

She paused as though weighing her own words. "What's the point of existence if you strip away its unpredictability? If every twist, every turn, every encounter is already laid bare, where's the fun in that?"

Her words hung in the air, catching Kyorin off guard, and slowing his pace as he processed the depth behind her mechanical voice. "So you deliberately avoid looking into the future?" His tone shifted a new respect emerging as he faced her.

"Yes," DEVA replied simply, her circuits humming once more, an almost meditative quality to her voice. "Life is meant to be experienced, not preordained. Even for me, as a machine, there's value in the unknown."

For a moment, Kyorin was silent, the weight of her perspective settling in. He glanced at her, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "You're... more interesting than I thought, DEVA."

DEVA's circuits buzzed with amusement, a hint of a mechanical laugh echoing in her voice. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, Kyorin. Now hurry up. The city isn't going to reach itself."

With a soft chuckle of his own, Kyorin nodded, his pace quickening as the bridge ahead beckoned. They both moved forward, the distant sounds of Hongzhen growing louder as Kyroin's steps hastened.

Kyorin sprinted up the rugged slope, his breath forming soft clouds in the chilly air as he reached the crest. Before him, Hongzhen unveiled itself like a page from a forgotten tale. Nestled within the embrace of Mt. Firmament, the town exuded an ethereal charm.

Elegant structures rose in tiers along the mountainside, their curved roofs tipped with frost and glimmering under the moonlight.

Crimson leaves danced on the faint breeze, scattering across the snow-laden paths, while lanterns of soft amber hues bathed the town in a warm glow.

Steam from the famed hot springs mingled with the crisp air, weaving through narrow cobbled streets that bustled with life despite the hour. The distant chime of bells echoed faintly as if carried by the whispers of the mountain itself.

Kyorin stood silently, taking in the sight for a fleeting moment before resuming his descent into the city.

DEVA's voice crackled, her tone equal parts amazement and amusement. "So, what do you think? A sight worthy of even your stoic heart, no?"

"It's a nice place," Kyorin replied curtly, his focus already shifting. "So, where's the nearest tavern?"

DEVA's circuits buzzed with annoyance. "Honestly, Kyorin, must you reduce everything to mere tasks? Look around you! This place is alive—every detail, every sound, every smell... It's a tapestry of experiences just waiting to be savoured!"

Kyorin glanced sideways, unimpressed. "Experiences won't fill my stomach or prepare me for what's ahead. Focus, DEVA. Or should I remind you, resting was your idea, to begin with." His tone was sharp, using her earlier words against her.

Her lights flickered in agitation, a faint whir accompanying the static edge in her voice. "Get a life, kid," she shot back, her circuits buzzing with indignation.

"Spare some time for leisure," she implored, shifting into the tone of a sage. "It's what makes life worth living!"

Kyorin's steps faltered, his expression darkening under the soft glow of the lanterns. "Leisure is what killed my mother," he murmured, the bitterness in his voice cutting through the crisp night air. "The world doesn't stop for rest. If you linger too long, you'll be left behind—or worse."

For a moment, DEVA was silent, her circuits humming softly as if processing his words. Finally, she let out a faint mechanical sigh. "You're impossible, you know that? But fine, let's find a tavern."

As they pressed on, the lively streets of Hongzhen opened around them. Merchants called out to passing travellers, children darted through the snow-covered alleys, and the serene notes of a guqin carried on the wind. Yet Kyorin walked past it all, his gaze fixed on the task at hand.

DEVA, though silent for the moment, found her circuits buzzing with thoughts as she observed her new wielder. She couldn't help but ponder whether Kyorin would ever truly open himself to the world around him.

Perhaps he was a man carrying scars too deep to heal, wounds that had left him guarded and distant. Yet, to her, his relentless grip on painful memories felt oddly childish.

After all, this was another life—a fresh slate. Shouldn't he embrace it, live freely, and cast aside the burdens of his past? The logical patterns in her programming leaned toward that conclusion.

Yet, within her intricate circuits, a subtle doubt began to form, like a loose thread in an otherwise seamless fabric. 'Is he afraid?' she wondered. 'Afraid that his past might seep into this life, twisting it into something unrecognizable?'

The thought lingered longer than she liked, an anomaly in her otherwise calculated processes. She dismissed it with a soft flicker of her lights, deeming it unnecessary speculation. After all, the world moved in an entirely different energy now—Resonance.

"We're here," Kyorin stated, pausing before the tavern's entrance.

They entered, the warmth of the establishment embracing them. After a brief exchange at the reception, they were directed to their room. Kyorin pushed the door open, the creak of its hinges echoing faintly.

The modest quarters welcomed them with wooden walls and sparse furnishings. A low, intricately carved bed adorned with a refined mat sat in the centre, exuding understated elegance. A solitary window allowed moonlight to seep in, casting soft shadows across the room.

Kyorin sat on the edge of the bed, running his hand across the mat. "Hmm, too soft," he muttered, frowning slightly.

DEVA's circuits buzzed faintly. "Should I request a harder bed?"

He shook his head. With a weary sigh, he leaned back, settling into the plush comfort. "As your wielder, I'll listen to you sometimes," he said, smirking faintly. "So here I am, enjoying life." Without another word, he closed his eyes, drifting into sleep.

DEVA watched in bemusement, her lights dimming as she murmured, "Truly, you can't be honest with yourself, Kyorin." She floated toward the nearby table, her circuits quieting as her lights shut off.

But Kyorin's eyes snapped open briefly, scanning the room. Satisfied that DEVA was "asleep," he finally let his guard down and succumbed to rest.

Yet moments later, DEVA's lights flickered to life, her circuits buzzing faintly in exasperation. "So careful," she muttered before rising from the table and gliding silently out of the room.

Her form darted through the woods, slipping past intricate mechanisms and ancient traps with precision until she reached a grand chamber hidden within the heart of the forest. The Mainlong Chamber.

Within, a massive sleeping pod rested at its centre, radiating a timeless energy. As DEVA approached, a hulking figure stirred—the magnificent form of a Long.

Its golden horns gleamed under the faint light, dark scales, and white hair shimmering with an otherworldly sheen. Twin whiskers flowed gracefully as it inclined its head toward DEVA.

"Greetings, Esteemed Mother," the Long rumbled, its voice deep and reverent.

DEVA's circuits buzzed faintly, her tone unusually subdued. "Hello, Jué," she replied, gazing at the creature with a mixture of pride and concern.

"You are hurt." DEVA's voice echoed with an uncharacteristic softness, her mechanical tone tinged with concern. Jué nodded in response, the weight of the injuries evident in the Long's posture.

"Indeed," Jué acknowledged, voice laced with weariness.

DEVA let out a sigh, her internal circuits whirring in contemplation. "Ah, this is gonna be a bit troublesome," she muttered to herself.

Jué, ever blunt, eyed her with quiet curiosity. "Is that child your new wielder, mother?"

DEVA's response was quick and affirmative. "Indeed."

Jue scrutinized Kyorin for a moment, then spoke bluntly. "Doesn't look very impressive."

DEVA didn't seem bothered by the Long's bluntness. "Well, no need to worry about my wielder. Worry about yourself first," she replied coolly. Her gaze turned back to Jué, the edge of her voice softening. "So you cannot resurrect anyone, I presume?"

Jué's expression darkened as the weight of her words settled in. The Long had known what she would ask, but the acknowledgement of the current limits still stung. "No," Jué muttered, the undone heavy.

DEVA sighed, her internal hum growing louder as her circuits processed the situation. "Augh. I already promised to help my wielder resurrect his mother. This is troublesome," she confessed, her mechanical voice betraying a flicker of frustration.

Jué's eyes narrowed, their serpentine gaze fixed on DEVA as the Long considered the tangled emotions at play. "Can't you just tell him the truth? Tell him that he should move on. Why is he clinging to those gone by so stubbornly?" Jué words were sharp, but DEVA didn't flinch.

She noticed the subtle mockery in Jue's tone but chose not to address it. Instead, she spoke with quiet certainty. "I don't think it's out of stubbornness," she said softly, her thoughts turning inward.

"I believe he is lost. Perhaps this new life has been much to his liking, and he's wondering if it's okay to leave things behind... or not." She hypothesized.

Jué, growing frustrated, grumbled. "You're being too generous, mother."

DEVA gave a soft mechanical chuckle, amused by Jué's confusion. "But if it's you—the greatest AI of aeons—then I believe," the Long continued with a smirk, "you know what you're doing."

DEVA, ever proud, allowed herself a rare moment of flattery. "Hohho, no need to be so sweet, my child."

Jué didn't smile, but there was a flicker of respect in their serpentine gaze. "So, what are we going to do, mother?"

DEVA's expression grew serious as she turned to face her creation. "I guess it's the only choice. We will..." Her voice trailed off as she began to outline her plans, a strategy forming in her mind that would tackle both Kyorin's emotional turmoil and dissolve his lingering hesitations...

.

.

.

The next day...

It was early dawn. Crisp and clear, with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of trees. Kyorin, with a hint of eagerness, passed through the foliage.

DEVA trailed behind, her mechanical hum filling the air as she yawned, her circuits flickering in slow, deliberate movements.

"Why wake up so early?" DEVA muttered, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Kyorin didn't slow his pace, his eyes fixed forward. "The sooner we meet Jué, the better it is."

DEVA's voice shifted to a teasing tone, a subtle mockery in her words. "So eager to see your mother, are you?"

Kyorin didn't respond, his focus unwavering. He knew what lay ahead, and the last thing he needed was distractions as DEVA also ignored him recalling last night.

Yesterday night, DEVA had trailed down into a cave, passing through the intricate tunnels to reach the chamber where Jué rested. Today, however, she told Kyorin to climb up the peak of the mountain, a task he hadn't quite anticipated.

DEVA stood at the base, waiting for him to take the first step. "Climb up, Kyorin. It's not far. I'll wait for you at the top," she instructed, though her tone hinted at impatience.

Kyorin glanced at her, then turned and began ascending the peak without comment. His muscles ached from the previous day's exertion, but he pushed on, step after step, his boots crunching against the gravelly surface.

As the climb continued, Kyorin noticed something strange. His steps grew shorter, the path seemingly less certain beneath him.

A chill ran through the air, and the atmosphere shifted as if the very earth was changing. A mist began to curl around his legs, rising from the ground like a living thing.

He paused, confusion flickering in his mind. "What is this?" he muttered under his breath. The mist thickened, blurring his vision. His hand reached out, but it seemed to dissipate like smoke at his touch. His heart began to race as he looked around, disoriented.

Then, from the swirling fog, a voice called out—soft, distant, but undeniably familiar. "Kyorin?"

The sound of his name sent a shiver down his spine. As Kyorin spun around, his breath caught in his throat. There, emerging from the swirling mist, stood a figure. At first, it seemed like an illusion—a mirage, a fleeting vision—but then it solidified, becoming undeniably real.

Her navy blue hair flowed gently around her shoulders, a contrast against the pale light of the mist. Her clear, cerulean eyes locked onto his, filled with a warmth that was simultaneously comforting and heartbreaking. Kyorin's heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight of her.

His lips trembled, and the next syllables caught his throat, before he softly called out, "Mother."

To be continued...