"Should we knock?" I ask.
"They know we're here," Buso informs me.
Suddenly, the door cracks open, but it remains secured by a chain. An unfamiliar voice speaks, "Can we help you?"
"Yes, are Sodi and Kize here?" I inquire.
"They no longer work here... Can I pass along a message?"
"Yeah..." I respond, slightly disappointed by the news, "Um, we need help. We're from Hosudiha and we're looking for some lost family."
"What are their names?"
"I'm not sure if I can share them, as their names might bring them trouble. But one name starts with 'Hi' and the other starts with 'Vi'."
The stranger seems to eye me for a moment.
"Hold on one second," the stranger says, and the door closes.
"It seems like they're getting the other atu," Buso informs us.
The door opens again, and another unfamiliar voice speaks, "Tell me something you think would mean something to me."
"Um, Kidu," I offer, deeming it the safest name to share given the circumstances.
The door shuts, unlocks, and swings open. Though the scent and face are unfamiliar, the facial features resemble what I imagine a half-sibling of mine would look like, and suddenly everything falls into place. My body's identity got scrambled, intertwined with my crush Sodi...
"Are you Viadu?" I ask.
Ver eyes widen with delight, and ve responds, "Are you Dima?"
I nod vigorously, and Viadu immediately embraces me. Sodi, the other atu, also steps forward and gives me a warm hug.
"Oh, I'm so glad you two are okay!" Sodi exclaims.
Two yetu approach, one of them crawling along the ground, and they embrace Miya.
"Come, come. Let's head inside," one of the yetu, whom I assume is Kize, insists.
Kize and Sodi close up the spa and we gather in one of the lounges.
"As much as I want to catch up," Hinuso, the other yetu, says, "First, can we PLEASE sort out this whole body mess?"
"Absolutely," Suki agrees.
"I can help," Sodi volunteers.
"You know mind magic?" Suki asks.
"Yes, we actually use it to gather information from officers who come to the spa. I'll explain more later," Sodi replies.
Sodi positions verself between Viadu and me and faces ver palms towards us. Suki does the same between Miya and Hinuso.
"Before we begin," I say, "Sodi, I want you to transfer my severed spinal cord over as well."
"Are you sure?" Viadu asks, "I was the one who received the injury. As much as I appreciate it, I think I should have it."
"Yeah, but I was the one who first inflicted it onto Makali who then shifted it onto you." I say, "I no longer believe these sorts of punishments are ethical or at all helpful. Not only because they can be undermined by trait magic, but also because they do nothing to address the circumstances that compel people to transgress in the first place. This is an injury that should have never been inflicted, yet I inflicted it. It should be mine to bear, and mine alone." I say.
The silence to follow conveys understanding.
"Okay, I will do it." Sodi affirms.
"Thank you." Viadu says.
YOU ARE READING
Disarm Evil
Ficção Científica**Story complete!** Dima, the disowned heir of a nobel family, and Miya the pious legacy of a family of peacekeeping giant moths, are your standard white saviors sent by god to save the people of lower society from themselves. They start their mis...
