Chapter 24: Silver Soul (Cosmic Arc)

When Okakura Take awoke, the first thing she saw was a strangely beautiful woman. Why describe her this way? The woman in front of her was strikingly gorgeous, but she had two horns on her head and pointed ears. Judging by her appearance, she was a celestial being.

"You’re awake; you’ve been unconscious for two days," the woman said, handing over a bowl. "Drink some water."

Okakura Take did not take the bowl; she eyed the woman suspiciously, filled with wariness.

"You’re quite guarded, aren’t you? Don’t worry, there’s nothing added to this water. If you don’t believe me, I’ll drink some first." The woman took a sip. "See? It’s fine; you should have some."

Finally, Okakura Take accepted the bowl and drank all the water. After quenching her thirst, she felt a bit more comfortable and gathered enough strength to ask the woman her pressing questions: "Who are you? Where is this place?"

The woman pulled a chair over and sat down in front of the bed, resting her chin on her arm as she studied Okakura Take. "You’re quite pretty, young lady. Where do you come from?"

Though the woman did not answer her questions, Okakura Take replied, "I come from Earth."

Upon hearing this, the woman’s eyes widened momentarily. "Oh, Earth, I know of it."

"And this place is?"

"This is Krotar Star, dear."

Okakura Take was taken aback; she had never heard of this planet. To be precise, she was unfamiliar with any planets outside Earth. She remembered escaping in a spacecraft; how could she suddenly find herself on such a strange planet?

"My name is Tetana. I found you in a garbage heap over there. Luckily, I acted quickly; a pretty girl like you would be very popular on the black market," the woman said, lighting a cigarette. Wisps of smoke curled around her vivid lips, enhancing her alluring features.

"A garbage heap?"

"Yes, your spacecraft happened to crash near the dump. I saw you when I went to throw away some trash this morning. There was also an octopus lying next to you, but I don’t like octopuses, so I only took you back."

Okakura Take thought of the octopus that had escaped with her, realizing it must have been a celestial being as well.

"Get some rest. I’ll come see you again tomorrow. By the way, since I found you, you’re now mine. When you’re better, you’ll help out in my shop. I’ll explain the details tomorrow. Goodbye." With that, the woman left, leaving Okakura Take alone in the small room, taking in her surroundings.

It was an ordinary room, with white walls, a wooden desk, and a chair, looking much like a room on Earth. Okakura Take pulled the blanket over herself and closed her eyes, planning to continue her sleep. Just before drifting off, she realized something: the woman hadn’t asked her name.

The next day, as soon as Okakura Take opened her eyes, she saw the woman again. Right, her name was Tetana.

Today, Okakura Take took a closer look at this celestial woman. She had long blue hair, two sharp horns reminiscent of cow horns, and a row of circular earrings dangling from her elongated ears, which chimed softly when she moved her head.

"You’re awake, young lady," the woman said with a smile.

"My name is Okakura Take."

"Is that your real name?"

Okakura Take hadn’t expected such an excited reaction from the woman just for telling her name. She looked at Tetana and asked, "Yes, it’s my real name. What’s wrong?"

"Ah, dear girl, in our customs, only one’s partner is allowed to know a girl’s true name. By telling me yours, you’ve proposed to me." Tetana laughed.

"What!" Okakura Take was taken aback by such a strange custom on this planet.

"So, while you’re here, do not reveal your real name to others; go by a nickname."

"Then just call me A Take."

"Alright, now that you know this, there are many things I need to slowly explain to you. Hurry and get up and wash; we’re going out later."

"Okay," Okakura Take replied as she climbed out of bed. The room had a bathroom, and after washing up, she left with Tetana.

This planet was very different from Earth; the weather was gloomy, and most of the passersby had horns and pointed ears like Tetana, while others had animal heads.

Okakura Take lived in a small apartment building with three stories, which Tetana said was her home.

"Where are we going now?" Okakura Take asked Tetana.

"To my shop! From now on, you’ll work there."

"Your shop?"

"Yes, I opened a restaurant, and it usually does quite well. If you help me, I’ll pay you and provide you with meals, but you’ll need to pay rent each month," Tetana winked.

"I want to go back to Earth. If I save enough money, can I go back?" Okakura Take asked.

"Dear girl, it’s no longer possible for you to leave Krotar Star," Tetana said with a solemn look.

"Why?"

Telana sighed and pointed to a distant barbed wire fence. "Do you see that?"

Okakura Take nodded.

"That’s a plantation, where they grow Rebirth Grass."

"Rebirth Grass? What is that?"

"It’s a drug; just a little bit can make an ordinary person addicted. It’s very hard to quit. Many who consume Rebirth Grass cannot control their desires and will keep using it," Tetana explained, lowering her gaze.

"Why is there such a drug here?"

"Ten years ago, the 'Spring Rain' came to our planet, bringing Rebirth Grass with them. Krotar Star is the most suitable place for its cultivation, and Spring Rain took control of our planet, forcing the government to allocate large areas of land for its growth."

"Spring Rain is?"

"The largest pirate organization in the universe." Tetana suddenly turned to Okakura Take. "A Take, don’t you want to go back to Earth?"

Okakura Take nodded.

"Let me tell you: there are three dangerous places on Krotar Star. One is the Rebirth Grass plantation, another is the Black Street, and the last is the Cosmic Port. If you want to return to Earth, you need to go to the Cosmic Port, but it is already controlled by Spring Rain. Even Krotar people rarely get out of the Cosmic Port; A Take, you can't go back."

Okakura Take was stunned by Tetana’s words. She couldn’t return to Earth? Would she have to live on this strange planet for the rest of her life?

"A Take, do you know why I picked you up that time? If I hadn’t brought you back, you would have been picked up by scavengers and sold into the Black Street, where Spring Rain and Krotar’s gang congregate, running many illegal businesses. If you were taken there, your life would be over."

"A Take, this is the best situation for you now. I will do my best to help you; you just need to settle down here."

Okakura Take knew Tetana was right. For now, it was best to stay as she was; she would think about returning to Earth later.

"I understand, Tetana. Where is your restaurant?"

"My restaurant is in the city center; we just have a bit further to walk."

Okakura Take began to observe her surroundings. This city was even more prosperous than Edo, with cars and people bustling everywhere, and she could see no greenery—only a complete steel forest. What made her particularly uncomfortable was that many people turned to look at her as they passed by.

Unconsciously, Okakura Take moved closer behind Tetana, which did not go unnoticed.

"What’s wrong? Not used to being stared at?"

"Yes, it feels very unsettling." The concentrated gazes made her uneasy.

"Your looks are considered stunning in the aesthetic of Krotar Star. To be honest, when I found you in the garbage heap, I was also surprised; I didn’t expect to find such a beautiful girl."

Okakura Take felt her cheeks flush at Tetana’s words. Having been accustomed to cold stares and fear, facing so many gazes of admiration was too overwhelming for her.

"A Take, you are beautiful; have confidence! Don’t shrink away; come on, don’t hide behind me. Step forward and show off your beauty."

"But I…" Okakura Take’s protest was cut short as Tetana playfully pushed her out. She stumbled slightly but regained her balance to see Tetana's teasing expression.

After walking a while, they arrived at Tetana’s shop.

"Look, this is my shop. What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?" Tetana proudly gestured toward the establishment.

"It’s… very beautiful…" Okakura Take replied, forcing a smile.

It was a two-story restaurant, primarily decorated in black and red, with various odd-shaped bones as décor.

Seeing the two large skulls hanging at the entrance, Okakura Take exchanged a conflicted glance with Tetana, realizing she had encountered someone quite unusual…

"These are my treasures! Opening such a restaurant has always been my dream. I never expected so many people would come to eat here after we opened; they all say they love my restaurant. A Take, look, this is my…"

As she watched Tetana’s excited expression, Okakura Take sighed inwardly. Since she had been brought here, she might as well make the best of it.

"A Take, from now on, you’re part of the 'Bone Society!'" Tetana exclaimed, opening her arms wide to Okakura Take.

"Boss, is this the new member?"

"Yes, A Take, let me introduce you to someone. This is Nini. Nini, this is A Take, our new member." Tetana said, pulling a girl from behind her to face Okakura Take.

Nini was also a Krotar, with short blue hair and earrings on her pointed ears, though not as many as Tetana.

"Hello, A Take, I’m Nini."

"Ah, hello, hello." After spending so long around men, Okakura Take found it a bit challenging to respond to the cute girl.

"A Take, you’re so beautiful; even Anman isn’t as pretty as you."

"Who is Anman?" Okakura Take asked.

"Ah, she’s a star!" Tetana explained.

"Wow, your compliment makes me a bit shy," Okakura Take said, waving her hands.

Soon, other restaurant staff arrived, bringing the total number of people to eight, including Okakura Take: the boss Tetana, head chef Amolon, sous chef Kedu, and assistant Longu. The three chefs were all men; the remaining staff were servers.

In addition to Nini, there were two other female servers. One was Coco, a Krotar, and the other, a cute celestial girl with cat ears named Belona.

These were all the employees of the Bone Society restaurant.

In the changing room, Okakura Take held up a lightweight piece of fabric. "Do I really have to wear this?"

"Of course! This week’s theme is high-cut swimsuits. A Take, stop hesitating and put it on," Coco said, puffing out her chest to show off her impressive curves.

After a long moment of preparation, Okakura Take finally changed into the black high-cut swimsuit.

When the four girls in high-cut swimsuits emerged, they caught the attention of the three male chefs.

"Oh, looking good!" Sous chef Kedu smiled, his compliment causing the other girls to blush. Kedu was a very handsome man and also a Krotar.

Okakura Take looked down at her thighs, feeling exposed and wanting something to cover up.

"Oh dear, our new girl seems shy. Don’t be bashful; you look very beautiful," head chef Amolon said, leaning in.

"The high-cut swimsuits will definitely attract many customers. Last week’s maid outfits brought in a lot of guests," assistant Longu remarked.

"Alright, it’s time to open; stop chatting and get to work," Tetana announced as she entered wearing her own high-cut swimsuit.

In the days that followed, Okakura Take began her life at the Bone Society. At first, she struggled with the new tasks, frequently breaking dishes and offending customers, but after some time, she finally adjusted to her new job.

She no longer had to tightly wrap her chest, waking up early each day for training, avoiding midnight attacks from enemies, or preparing for battles. Now, she just had to wear pretty dresses and smile at customers.

Though this new life was far more relaxed and comfortable, every night, Okakura Take often thought back to her turbulent past and to those who had lived and died.