Hawthorn

As Zero entered the village, his eyes darted around the small, quiet settlement. The few people wandering about moved with a cautious air, their faces etched with weariness. The remnants of destroyed buildings added to the eerie atmosphere, casting long shadows in the fading light. Before Zero could fully process his surroundings, Mesa's voice pulled him back to the moment.

"I'm hoping these two didn't give you too much of a hard time," Mesa chuckled warmly, her hands resting on Kai and Rin's heads. The gesture was tender, almost maternal. "What's your name?" she asked.

"It's Zero," he replied.

"Zero? That's a fascinating name," she said with a laugh, though her next words carried a teasing edge. "You didn't try to make him pay any money, right, Kai?"

Kai quickly averted his gaze, guilt plastered all over his face. "Rin?" Mesa's eyes moved to the girl, who gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"You fricken rat!" Kai shouted, lunging for Rin. The girl squealed and ducked behind Mesa, clutching the back of her dress. But before Kai could reach her, Mesa's hand shot out, gripping him by the shirt and holding him in place effortlessly.

"Kai, I thought I told you about doing that," she scolded, her tone firm yet laced with exasperation. "You're scaring off guests! People will end up thinking we're scam artists!"

"But Lady Mesa, I—" Kai began, his voice defensive.

"No buts," she cut him off sharply. "I'll deal with you later." Kai's face scrunched up in a pout, and he folded his arms, grumbling under his breath.

Zero stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of where to place himself in this dynamic. Mesa's attention shifted to him, her expression softening as she addressed him.

"It's nice to meet you, Zero. I'm Mesa," she said. "I was told you have something important to discuss with me?" she asked. Zero nodded, grateful for the change in subject.

"Come with me to my cabin," Mesa continued, gesturing towards a path leading further into the village. "We can talk there."

The group followed Mesa through the village, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step. The once lively village was now a shell of its former self. Some buildings were reduced to rubble, and the few remaining villagers spoke in hushed tones. It was clear this place had seen better days.

"What happened here?" Zero asked, his voice tinged with concern as he walked beside Mesa.

"Raiders happened," Mesa replied, her tone thick with disgust. "For the past few weeks, bandits have been invading our village almost daily, trying to steal goods and other resources." She gestured to the destruction around them, her expression hardening. "We've fought them off as best we can, but the residual mana from our battles has just been attracting monsters. And with more monsters come more problems."

She sighed, glancing up at the sky as if searching for answers. "Our village elder is bedridden, and the villagers' morale is at an all-time low. Instead of standing their ground and fighting, they run and hide. Over time, more and more of them have started to leave the village, seeking safer places to live."

"So now I've been fighting battles by myself, protecting the village," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of weariness.

"Lady Mesa, Rin and I try to help you, but you always refuse and tell us to wait inside," Kai interjected, his voice tinged with frustration and hurt.

Mesa laughed softly, shaking her head. "That's because the two of you are far too young and gifted to be jumping into battle without any experience. I can't have you getting hurt…" Her voice softened, filled with a deep sense of responsibility. "Because then who would take care of the village if something were to happen to me?"

"Lady Mesa…" Rin whispered, her eyes downcast. Kai looked away, biting his lip, as if holding back words he couldn't bring himself to say.

Mesa continued, "Due to Rin's psychic magic, her senses are more heightened than the average person's. This morning, she detected the presence of something—or someone—with a strong type of magic heading this way."

"I was about to go out myself to investigate, in case it was a summoned monster or an even bigger threat," Mesa explained. "But Kai begged on his hands and knees to go out with Rin to see what it was. He promised me he wouldn't engage and that he'd report back as soon as he saw what—or who—it was."

The group approached a secluded wooden cabin, its faint light casting a warm glow in the dim surroundings. Zero noticed beautiful red flowers surrounding the house, low to the ground and vibrant against the grass. He had never seen flowers like these before.

"Turns out that person was you," Mesa continued, her tone slightly amused. "And that Kai didn't do what he swore up and down he would." She reached out and playfully gripped Kai's head, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"G-gah!" Kai yelped, squirming and trying to use his speed to escape her grasp, but it was no use. Mesa finally let him go, and he quickly darted over to Rin, rubbing his head with a scowl. "The two of you run along now," Mesa instructed, her voice firm but affectionate. "Our friend here and I will have a quick chat."

As Zero began to follow Mesa into the cabin, he felt a tight grip on his arm. Kai's hand was like a vice, and when Zero turned, he was met with a glare that could cut through steel. "Don't get any ideas," Kai warned, his voice low and menacing. "If you even think about doing any harm to Lady Mesa, it'll be the last thing you ever do." His eyes were sharp, piercing into Zero's very soul.

Sweat beaded on Zero's forehead, and he forced a nervous smile, patting Kai on the head awkwardly. "I—I won't," he stammered. Kai reluctantly released his grip, his gaze remaining cold and unwavering. Zero quickly turned away, speed-walking into the cabin behind Mesa, his heart pounding in his chest.

As Zero entered the cabin, the warmth from the small fireplace immediately greeted him. The fire crackled softly, its flames dancing elegantly between and around the stacked pieces of wood, casting a gentle flickering light across the room. In front of the fireplace stood a simple wooden table, accompanied by three sturdy chairs. Their worn surfaces told stories of many gatherings past. To his left, a narrow staircase ascended into darkness, the upper level shrouded in shadows, revealing nothing of what lay beyond.

"Tea?" Mesa's voice broke the silence as she removed a sunset-colored shawl, revealing her red glowing eyes. They seemed to pierce through the dim light of the cabin, offering hospitality with a warm smile.

"I—I'm fine, thanks," Zero replied, shaking his head slightly.

Mesa nodded in understanding and disappeared into the kitchen for a moment. The sound of liquid pouring followed. Soon she returned with a small teacup filled with tea, placing it gently on the table. She took a seat in one of the chairs, her gaze steady as she looked at Zero. He hesitated briefly before sitting down across from her.

"I'm all ears," Mesa said, her tone inviting yet serious.

Zero took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before diving into his story. For the next ten minutes, he recounted everything that had happened up until now. He spoke of his world, one devoid of magic, and the sudden, brutal attack that had turned his life upside down. He described the horrors of monsters and strange beings invading his home, creatures and people who came from Mesa's world. He detailed his fateful encounter with Ozai, the mage who protected him, fighting against Aquila and risking everything to save him. Zero explained how Ozai had sent him into a rift, correlating it with the moment Rin must have sensed something entering their realm.

As he finished, Zero's voice softened, his plea sincere and desperate. "Ozai told me to come find you, so what I came to ask is for help. Please… I need to find out how to get back to my world. Hopefully, I can fix whatever's going on in the process."

Zero's eyes remained locked on Mesa, searching her expression for any hint of what her response might be. The weight of his request hung in the air between them, the fire crackling softly in the background, the only sound breaking the tense silence.

"Ozai, huh?" Mesa began, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she gripped her teacup. Her gaze was locked on the swirling tea, the liquid shimmering softly, reflecting the dim light in the room. "I haven't heard that name in a while." She paused, her fingers tracing the delicate rim of the cup as if searching for the right words. "It was about 60 years ago or so. We were both summoned to participate in a raid together. That was the first time we met."

"Wait, 60 years ago?" Zero asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "How old are you exactly?"

Mesa smiled. "I'm 154 years old," she replied, her tone light and casual as if discussing the weather.

"God damn…" Zero thought, struggling to contain his shock. He fought to keep his expression neutral, but the surprise was evident in his eyes. "154 years old? You look like you're in your early 20s."

"I'm flattered," Mesa said with a soft laugh, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "But humans age much faster than us constellations."

She glanced away, her gaze drifting toward a nearby window, its heavy curtains drawn tight against the outside world. "I'm actually considered one of the younger ones," she added with a nervous laugh, her fingers tapping lightly against the porcelain cup.

Zero's mind raced, trying to piece together fragments of the conversation. "Constellations… Ozai mentioned something about that, I think."

"Yes," Mesa confirmed, her eyes meeting his once more. "Ozai is the constellation of Orion, the warrior." Her voice softened as she spoke of him, a hint of something unspoken lingering in her tone. "And that woman, Aquila, is a constellation as well—the angel."

"Which one are you?" Zero asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mesa shook her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she took another sip of her tea. "That's a secret," she replied, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Zero leaned back in his chair, the gears in his mind turning. "What's the deal with you constellations anyway?" he asked, trying to make sense of it all. "I'm pretty sure they exist in my world too, but I always thought they were just stars, not… human."

"That's because they are stars," Mesa explained, setting her cup down gently on the table, the soft clink of porcelain echoing in the silence. "Our goddess, Lady Asteria, formed connections between the stars in the night sky. She linked them together to create constellations and then gave those constellations human forms—avatars or pillars, as some call them." Zero listened intently, his curiosity deepening with each word.

"There are 87 pillars in this world," Mesa continued, her voice taking on a reverent tone. "Each of them serves a specific purpose, to keep the world safe and to help humanity grow." She paused, her gaze distant as if recalling memories from long ago. "But the 12 Marks—the zodiac signs—they serve directly under the goddess. They are extremely powerful and are considered demi-gods among the rest of us."

"In all my years," Mesa said, her voice softening, "I've only seen one of them in person—Pisces, the Selene."

Her eyes lit up with a fondness that Zero hadn't seen before. "She controls the tides and the moon," Mesa continued, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "She was beautiful, and there was a sense of calm in the air around her, a serenity that seemed to wash away the stress from everyone she was near."

She paused, noticing the look of concern on Zero's face.