Dusk

He didn't realize just how hungry he was until now, chowing down on the meat like it was his last meal. 

The man wasn't lying when he said it was marvelous, because it indeed was. It was so delicious he was letting out small moans of delight, savoring its taste.

The fire continued crackling over the piles of branches, likely gathered from the many fallen trees he had seen passing through the Great Serpent's belly, spreadings its warmth as June continued eating vigorously.

The man beside him had brought out another twig for himself, along with a new piece of meat to cook. The edges of his mouth curled upwards in pleasure as he silently leaned forward.

"So… for starters, how about we introduce ourselves?"

The man asked, his gaze remaining on the piece of meat he softly turned over the fire every now and again.

Swallowing the food in his mouth, June replied:

"...June. My name is June."

The man nodded in return before turning to face him with a smile.

Although June was still a bit cautious, he couldn't help but notice his pleasant features that were illuminated under the ghostly fire.

The man appeared both young yet old at the same time, as if he held wisdom beyond the knowledge of a mere mortal. 

Due to this, his amber eyes were slightly heavy, with subtle bags under them that contrasted perfectly against his exquisite pale-complexion. On the edges of his nose, two gentle lines grooved his face, and his smile revealed a pair of dimples that added a subtle innocence to him.

His brows also remained lifted in a cheerful manner, making it hard for June to really be cautious of him anyway.

Before long, the man spoke:

"Honored to meet you, June, I'm Dusk… Keeper Of Secrets."

'Keeper of secrets..? What secrets exactly?'

June couldn't help but wonder.

However, Dusk spoke once more, forcing June to cast it aside.

"I'm guessing your parents were responsible for naming you June?"

He asked, seemingly curious.

June took another bite of the delicious meat before replying with a half-full mouth:

"Yeah… they couldn't think of a name, so my mother just named me after the month I was born in."

He could still remember the story she had told him, how they had spent hours on end every day before he was born, and after... but could never think of a good name for him. 

Eventually, his mother decided to go with June, the month in which he was born.

Of course, his father had a few ideas, but his mother always shut him down, refusing to accept his silly names. 

June didn't mind in the slightest either, especially when he heard the names his mother listed that his father had thought of.

"How about you… Dusk sir, why are you… Dusk, The Keeper Of Secrets?"

As he asked, June opened his mouth to take in another bite, keeping his gaze on Dusk.

What he didn't realize, though, was that he had already finished the piece of meat.

Noticing his frown, Dusk once more offered June his.

It was seared beautifully, and June's mouth began to water once again. A bit ashamed, he reached over and gladly accepted it, nodding with a silent thank you.

Dusk soon answered, saying with a smile:

"Honestly, I just said that because it sounded cool!" He grinned, letting out a little giggle.

He was like a grown man-child.

"My friends used to call me Foolish Dusk, but other than that, I was simply known as Dusk. Keeper of secrets just sounded really badass… as if making someone question: keeper of what secrets exactly? Haha!"

June let out a fake laugh of his own alongside the cheerful Dusk which came out a bit awkward, quickly masking it by taking another bite.

This guy… was really older than him.

"Anyway, June, now that I know your name and you know mine… let's get into the real stuff."

With that, he slightly adjusted his poster and leaned back before continuing:

"I will answer any one of your questions, no matter what you ask — so please, feel free."

June wiped his mouth and began with his very first two questions.

"Well, first off, why in the world are you in here? And what did you mean by future curse bearer?"

Dusk sighed and took a breath in, replying:

"Amazing question June! Um, let's just hold off on that curse bearer thing for later… it's gonna be one lengthy answer and I want to be able to explain it in depth."

June frowned, replying almost immediately:

"But didn't you just say you'll answer any question I have no matter what it is..?"

Following his words, they sat in silence for a quick few seconds before Dusk shook his head and cleared his throat, saying:

"Ah, yes, you are quite right. Okay, then, let's just dive straight in aye! I thought maybe you'd wanna warm up to me and ask small scaled questions but you're a dive straight in kind of guy, nice!"

June sighed… trying his best not to call Dusk out on his bizarre mannerisms.

"Ahem… for starters, I'm in here because I simply live here. I'm sure that's a bit weird for you considering where you're from, but for me, it's not. Before I lived here, I was living within the Ark already, away from the Mortal Realm."

June's brows slightly lifted in surprise…

Living within the Ark was unheard of let alone the belly of a Great Serpent, but it explained why he was so nonchalant about it all. 

Maybe the belly of a Great Serpent was the least craziest place he's lived in…

June added on, curious:

"But why… why here? Why in the Ark?"

Dusk slightly chuckled before leaning forward. There was still a smile on his face, but this time it was a bit less wider.

"Two reasons. One, because my soul is bound to The Ark. And second, cause I despise the world we humans currently live in."

June felt that this was the first time Dusk was being serious. Although he still smiled, behind it was a heaviness that leaked out.

His answer was also relatable… at least the second part. Despising the world was something June took pride in, he hated it.

The high-class Districts, the unfavorable construct of society, and humans as a whole. 

Majority of them were despicable, especially the high branches of the Government.

"And as for my calling you a curse bearer… Well, because you are one. Or, rather, you are about to be one."