You'll be mine, Octavio!

Chapter 7.5: Octobrush

  "Why is the Octobrush your main weapon of choice?" Craig inquired.

 The boys had been chatting away at the table for quite some time now. Craig had spotted a glimmer of gold out of the corner of his eye, bringing them to their next topic.

 Octavio's brush laid diagonally on the tree's trunk, waiting patiently for its next use. Its bristles swayed in the breeze, almost as if it was inviting the wind in to hear the story.

 "...Why?"

 Octavio sat still for a moment, retrieving the story from his memory.

 "My older sister gifted it to me, right around the time I gained my humanoid form..."

•

  A tall octoling girl smiled radiantly at the sight of her little brother. Her tentacles partially concealed her right eye, similar to how she poorly concealed the signature weapon behind her back in an attempt to make a surprise.

"Hey, Vio! I've got something for you!"

The prince jogged to meet her under the tree.

 "What is it?"

 The girl revealed the brush.

 "Ta-dah! It's my Octobrush! I want you to have it as a congratulatory gift for gaining your kid form."

 Octavio stared at the weapon he had yearned for ever since he was young, filled with mixed emotions.

 "I can't take this from you..." He trailed off.

 The girl waved away his concern, thrusting it into his hands.

 "Nonsense. You're not taking it from me, I'm gifting it to you!"

 The brush slipped into Octavio's hands. He still wasn't used to holding things with his hands. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

 "But, this is your brush. Why are you giving it to me? I thought you said you would rather jump in the harbor than let my slimy little hands touch it."

 She shifted her stance, shrugging off his rationale.

 "Eh, I'm leaving soon, so I don't need it anymore. I'm more of a Roller main now, anyways."

She was running away, wasn't she?

 "You'll get more way use out of it than I will. I mean, if you're even tall enough to use it..." She teased.

 "Hey, I'm not some little kid!" He pouted.

 She rolled her eyes.

 "Sure, kid."

 She snickered at her own "pun". Octavio didn't find it funny. He still couldn't get why she was giving it to him. Unless...

 "If you want me to take it, that means... That means you won't be coming back for a long time, right?"

 The young prince held the brush closer to his chest as tears started to prick at his eyes. The girl stayed silent, kicking away a pebble at her feet.

 The prince contained his tears, succeeding in keeping his voice steady. His grip on the brush tightened.

 "When will you be back?"

 The princess looked over the wall, filled with uncertainty, then back to her brother.

 "I'll be back when the time is right."

Just what is that supposed to mean?

 "...Don't do anything reckless, ok?" He said, at last, sighing.

 Her tone of voice turned overly dramatic. "Me? Reckless? Oh no, I would never!"

 Now it was Octavio's turn to roll his eyes. The girl faced toward the garden wall before turning back. He noticed she had a small bag slung around her shoulders.

 "Oh, and also, don't tell anyone I'm going?"

 "Alriiight." He dragged out the word, annoyed.

Just like usual.

 She came back to ruffle his tentacles.

 "Gahah. You're a good kid, Vio. I'll bring you back some of that jelly you like so much, 'kay?"

•

  Octavio's head drooped.

 "That was... That was the last time I saw her..."

 Craig felt remorse quickly wash over him. 

 "Oh...oh my cod, I'm so sorry... I... had no idea she had passe-"

 "Oh no, she's not dead." He said, matter-of-factly.

 "Huh?"

 "No, she just immediately took off after that. Haven't seen her in... What, five years?"

 Craig had the mental image of Octavio's mysterious older sister immediately squid-jumping away after that. He felt it wasn't very far from the truth...

 A light scowl fell on Octavio's face as he gritted his teeth.

 "Ugh, she still owes me matcha jelly when she comes back..."

—

"In times of test, family is best." - Klara