“Let’s head over to my place.”

I hear Saisho talk to me as I walk towards him. He told me to meet him near the cafeteria after school. Back during our first class of the day together, he and Nova offered to answer anything they could about this whole Written thing. This should help me understand a bit more with whatever is going on.

“Just you and me?”

“No, I invited Nova and another person to come with us, too. While Nova and I may know a bit, the other person will also be able to help, seeing as I think she’s had her Charm a little longer. I can’t remember off the top of my head.”

“Do I know this person? Does she go to our school?”

Saisho purses his lips, shrugging with a slight nod. “I think you might know her? I know Nova is pretty good friends with her.”

I shrug. “Alright.”

Speaking of Nova, I hear her classic little giggle come from behind me. I turn around to see her walking towards me and Saisho, talking to a girl with long dark hair in a braid. She has a quiet smile on her face as she listens to Nova, and her yellow-green eyes hold a gentle gaze. Soon enough, her eyes meet mine.

Ikimono? I’ve seen her around school before, but I’ve never really spoken to her. Is this who Saisho invited?

“Nova.” Saisho nods to our friend. “Ikimono. Thanks for coming. I was thinking we could head to my house? I’ll brew us some hot chocolate and we can talk.”

“Sounds lovely.” Ikimono smiles gently at my friend.

Nova nods. “Oooh! I can’t wait!”

Well this will be interesting.

Saisho finally puts the cups down on the table.

“Okay, one raspberry hot cocoa for Nova. A normal hot cocoa for both Ikimono and Sakasu. And a hazelnut hot cocoa for me.”

I take my mug, smiling a little. “Thanks Saisho.”

He finally sits down next to me at the table, nodding. “Of course. Anything I can do to help a friend.”

Nova bounces a little in her seat. “So, where do we want to begin?”

I look at Nova as I purse my lips again. I don’t know where I want to start. There’s so much I could ask, but I don’t know how much they’ll be able to answer.

“How did you each find out you were Written?”

Nova holds up her hand with the bracelet. “Dad told me after some person gave me the Charm.”

Saisho nods. “Parents told me too. Same situation as Nova’s. Some random person gave me this Written Charm.”

Ikimono nods in silence for her answer.

“Oh. Wow. So, are all of you Destinian too?” I ask. “When I asked Amai’s mom about this stuff, she said she was full-blooded. But she left it at that. So is this thing only for those who are Destinian somehow?”

All three of them look at each other. Ikimono then looks back at me, leaning forward with her chin resting on her hands.

“You mean Winter’s mother? Pink eyes?”

I nod.

Ikimono sighs. “I knew they were all Destinian of some sorts. I just thought maybe Amai would cover up those eyes, like I do.”

“Your eyes are normal.” I interject.

Ikimono shakes her head. She blinks a few times, and suddenly, her right eye becomes purple in color. She grins.

“Half-blood Destinian with heterochromia. This is the natural me.”

“Whoa!” I look at Nova and Saisho. “Can you guys do that, too?”

Nova shakes her head. “Nah. I don’t know what my special abilities are just yet. I’ve only had my Charm for a few months. Maybe like… two or three.”

“Same here,” Saisho chips in. “Nova and I got ours around the same time. Iki, you got yours a while ago, didn’t you?”

Ikimono nods at Saisho’s question. “Indeed. I’ve had mine since last summer, so about seven or eight months. I’ve started to develop special abilities due to experience here and in Destiny.”

“You’ve gone to Destiny?!” I gasp at Ikimono’s last bit in her answer. “What’s it like?! Is it pretty?”

The dark-haired girl smiles. “It’s your wildest dreams and more.” She then motions to my choker. “So you wanna tell us how you got that?”

I put a hand on my choker. Immediately, I see the turquoise and dark blue hazes of Nova and Saisho’s Charms. There’s also a royal purple haze coming from Ikimono’s ring. That must be her Charm.

As I slowly remove my hand, I sigh.

“I ran into a strange person while I was out and about a few weeks ago. I don’t remember who it was. I know they had longish auburn hair, and really blue eyes.” I explain. “And they were in a cloak. They said to protect the Charm and myself from… something, I don’t remember what.”

Ikimono sighs. “Classic Soveliss. Telling everyone to stay safe from the Corruption when they just find out they’re Written…”

“Sove-what now?”

“Soveliss Taruna. He’s an elf from Destiny who’s also Written. I’ve met him once or twice since I received my ring.” Ikimono answers. “He’s an interesting fellow. Smart, too. If you ever get a chance to go to Destiny, you should find and talk to him.”

I nod. “Alright…” I look at Nova and Saisho. “Have you two met him?”

They both shake their heads.

“Sakasu, do you know what a Written Form is?” Ikimono changes the subject.

I look at her again. “No.”

Nova gasps. “That’s right! We haven’t discussed Written Forms! Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for you to discover yours, Sakasu!”

“Wait, what is it?”

“It’s a transformation.” Saisho answers. “Anyone who’s Written can transform into a Written Form in order to better access their powers. It manifests with your hopes and dreams, and eventually becomes whatever you are destined to be.” He points at his earring. “I’ve transformed once or twice.”

“Three times!” Nova holds up her fingers. “And I really like my outfit, too! I have a cape!”

Ikimono giggles. “You two are adorable. I’m a fan of mine; I have armor.”

My eyes widen. “That’s so cool.” I look down at the table for a minute. “I hope I can transform into mine one day…”

I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Saisho smiling warmly at me.

“You will. We all know it.”

Just then, my phone starts to ring. I pick it up as the others grow silent. I smile.

“It’s Amai! Do you mind if I take this real quick?”

Ikimono’s face suddenly sinks. “Please answer it.”

I sense something wrong with Ikimono's reaction. I nod, then answer the phone call.

“Amai!” I grin. “What’s up?”

“’Kasu, you need to come over. It’s Violet. She… she-” I hear Amai sobbing on the other end of the line.

My eyes widen. I glance to the others, who look surprised to hear the girl crying. All of them nod.

“Okay, hang on, girlie.” I say. “I’m coming, and I have back up.”