The Sea Where One's Hearth Reflects

Reflections

[A few months ago. Starline's laboratory. Test Session 529.]

Kit ran over to the finish line, panting as he did. A few minutes ago, he was trapped between walls of fire; he had to expend all the water in his Hydro Pack to avoid getting scorched.

"Kitsunami." Starline crossed his arms, tapping one finger against his shoulder rhythmically. It reminded Kit of a water wave's simple harmonic motion, with the way it oscillated to and fro.

"Yes, sir?" Kit replied.

"You want to support Surge, correct?" Starline's tone was stern, callous.

"Y-yes, of course, sir!"

"Well, how will you be able to do that if you can't even get there on time?" Starline rose his volume up an octave, causing Kit's fur to stand erect.

Kit gripped the straps of his backpack, and his eyes sealed shut. "I'm—I'm sorry, sir!"

"Oh, dear." Starline sighed and shook his head. "This is extremely unbecoming of you, Kitsunami. Imperfection like this is hardly acceptable. And you, of all people, should know what happens to imperfections." He took out a high-voltage zapper, and Kit recoiled instinctively, a natural response for a puppet that failed to obey its master.

"I-I-I'm sorry, sir!" He trembled, hiding behind his long, droopy ears. "I won't repeat that mistake ever again!"

"Good," Starline purred. Kit flinched and raised his arms toward his face as Starline's hand approached him, but lowered them as he realised Starline only patted his shoulder. He snuck a glance at Starline and shuddered at the wry smile contorted on his face.

"Very good."

[Present. Seawall Village.]

Kit stared at the vast sea in front of him. It was mesmerising in the way the waves crawled towards the shore. It was vast, unbounded: one that held many mysteries of the past within its abyss, the whispers of which were spread through the gentle sea breeze that invigorated Kit.

Surge, Tangle, Whisper, and he agreed to stop in Seawall Village for the night before continuing their journey. This village was unique; aside from the fact that most of it was above water, the villagers held a marketplace late at night because there was a lunar rainbow tonight. Kit didn't understand why that mattered, but apparently, it was a widespread belief among the locals that holding a marketplace under a lunar rainbow would bring prosperity. They reasoned that since the chances of a lunar rainbow occurring were scarce, it would fulfil the hearts' desires of many (in the locals' case, infinite prosperity).

Kit didn't understand why they would indulge in such an obsolescent way of thinking. But what did he understand? All potential memories and goodwill he might've had towards these festivals were erased by Starline. Perhaps it was just for the sake of maintaining a tradition, one that had been uncorroded for millennia.

He shook the thoughts out of his head as he realised he was thinking like Starline. He stared at the moon, gilded by the shimmering rainbow. If it could actually fulfil one's desires...

Kit heard that there was an enormous sea on the moon. If that were the case, then chances are it would reflect his true home.

He peered over the seawall; there was nothing but his distorted reflection. He beseeched the sea to show a reflection of his home.

Show it!

Kit watched the waves as they ebbed and flowed. Up, down. Up, down. It felt like the seas were taunting him with wisdom he didn't possess. Wisdom he couldn't possess.