Castle Of Glass (Houseki No Kuni X MaleGemReader)

Chapter 04: Repair

Tanzanite: What did Phos do this time?

   Cinnabar rolled his eyes in thought for a second. He explained what went down after you left the others. How that giant shell housed a creature that eats us and melts us away in our bodies. Phos fell victim to it, and that creature fell and left its shell in the pond right outside the school. Now all that remains of Phos is some slimly little snail creature that Diamond has been carrying around that he claims is Phos in a different form.

Tanzanite: That has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. But I know you aren't one for jokes. So, I guess I better help.

Cinnabar: I'm surprised. I thought you'd be more concerned about that idiot. Did you lose interest in him?

  You scoff.

Tanzanite: Please, I have no interest in anything. I simply care for you all because that is what is expected. You know, Phos cares a great deal for you. Maybe you two can chat this all out once he's fixed.

  Before you zoom off, Cinnibar asks you one more thing that you didn't expect from him.

Cinnabar: Do you think fixing Phos is even a good thing? Maybe he's better off not being here. 

Tanzanite: . . . I don't know. I find Phos is more of a hindrance in most cases, but I guess, I do have a soft spot for some of you. Like Phos, even though they can be stupid, Diamond, though he can be so positive it makes me sick, but he's comforting in a way, I have respect for Bort's power and drive, Rutile's smarts and care, Euclase and Jades patience, Yellow Diamonds wisdom, and so many other traits you all have that I can enjoy. Even you Cinnabar.

  Cinnabar rolled his eyes as he just looked away for a moment.

Cinnabar: And what do you see in me?

  You turn to them for a moment and speak.

Tanzanite: I don't know yet. But then again this is the first time we've spoken for this long. Let's do it again sometime.

  You zoom off back to the school leaving Cinnabar on his own. Cinnabar stares off at where you once were with a solemn look. He turns to the darkening sky with a sigh, with the thought of Phos and now you stuck in his mind.

Cinnabar: Idiots.

  Meanwhile, at the school, as day gradually turned to night, you were running through the fields at full speed. Many memories from back then appearing in your mind. All those years ago, with all those other gems. Lapis, Blue Zoiste, and all the others that are now gone. There were gaps that you couldn't fill, moments that defined you that you had lost. Lapis was a major factor, you could tell, but what exactly was she, and why did she refer to you as darling? You were so lost in your own thoughts at full speed, you made it to the school but nearly ran full force into another gem you just noticed in front of you.

  You quickly stop as a blast of wind blows their hair back, you notice Diamond who was carrying a bowl of some kind.

Diamond: Tanzanite! Where have you been? We really could have used your help with this.

  You look over her shoulder to see that everyone has gotten the giant shell out of the water and was doing "something" with it. You were too far to see what it was.

Tanzanite: What the hell are you even doing with that thing? And what's in the bowls?

  A smile grows on Diamond's face as she shows you the bowls contents. You look and see shards of mint-colored crystals inside.

Diamond: I don't know if you realize, but a lot has happened after you ran off.

Tanzanite: Phos got eaten by a slug creature from inside that shell. I'm guessing since the creature was a snail, it consumes rocks and other similar forms to reinforce their shells, so Phos is a part of that creature's shell and you all are carving him free, right?

  Diamond looked pretty dumbstruck that you knew that much so far.

Tanzanite: I literally spent most of my time running across the land. If anyone could have made this encyclopedia, it should have been me like 400 years ago. Anyway, where do we go from here?

  Diamond ushers you as you assist in recovering Phos's shards, which made the shift much faster since you ran the bowls back in forth. Then Rutile worked her magic with all of the shards as Phos was pieced back together.

  You waited outside of Rutile's office as you feel exhaustion take over. With the lack of light, you feel yourself dose off as you notice Diamond approaching you.

Diamond: How are you feeling Tanzanite?

Tanzanite: Better. I feel relieved that Phos will be back. I just hope that dumbass doesn't cause more trouble.

  Diamond giggled as he leaned his head on your shoulder.

Diamond: Whenever I see you and Phos, you both remind me so much of how me and Bort are. Though I may not be as clumsy and reckless as Phos, Bort still likes to watch after me, even though all I want to do is help and have him see me as useful. I can tell that Phos want's the same thing, he wants to be acknowledged by everyone, starting with you.

  You remember the day Phos was first born. Though at the time you were always away from the school and handled a lot of missions on your own. You remembered thinking how pretty he was, though he was an idiot, he was still hard to deny, so fragile and beautiful he was.

Tanzanite: Whatever you wanna believe, I guess. Anyway, you should rest, I'll handle my own matters so you can go.

  Diamond frowned a bit. He wanted to say more to you, but you already were on your feet walking away to your quarters so that you could sleep. 

  Which was easier said than done. You found yourself dragging along since the lack of light was catching up to you, only making you more and more tired. You fell against a pillar and leaned all of your weight against it.

Tanzanite: Well, I guess this is as good a place as any to rest.

  You lean down as you feel your eyes grow heavy; your body feels exhausted as you fall into your slumber. 

Tanzanite: 'It feels amazing to rest again. But I wish I could rest like I did in that dream of mine. With whoever that Lapis Lazuli gem was.'

*Meanwhile*

  Cinnabar walked by the same shores where each and every one of the other gems was born. Still remembering Phos and Tanzanite. Thinking about those two.

Cinnabar: Damn them. Why am I even thinking about those idiots? It shouldn't matter

  Cinnabar wanted nothing more than to erase the two gems from his mind, but while in thought, something was moving in the sand. The sand closer to the cliffs. It managed to catch his attention drawing him closer to examine whatever was shifting in the sands.

  Once close enough, Cinnabar noticed something slowly puling itself out of the sands, Cinnabar was amazed for a moment, even if it wasn't apparent on his face.

Cinnabar: Another gem?