Tales and Fables
The library café of Cordis, The Little Burrow, is home to books dear to the owners.
Now then, fellow owl, what shall you do?
My apologies, dear owl. This work has yet to be published by the writer. Please come back another time.
Cordis - of the heart -, alternatively titled as Coreheart, follows the everyday life of the residents. From joy and laughter to arguments and tears, Coreheart is perfect for those looking for a light and casual read.
Heart One: Noble Meets Bunny EarsIt was a lovely morning in the town of Cordis as sunlight peeked through the curtains of the windows. With a gentle yawn and big stretch, Noble got out of bed to prepare for the library cafe’s opening. He knocked on his twin sister’s door and went in, knowing that Mochi was still sleeping in after staying up playing games. He opened the curtains and lightly shook her awake. She rubbed her eyes open, squinting at the bright rays from her own window. “Morning, Nobu-nii…” she groaned, voice raspy and tired. He brushed the stray hair off her face and gave her a kiss on her forehead, “Good morning, Chi. I’m going downstairs now, okay? There’s waffles and juice on the table.” “Okay… I’ll be there in… maybe half an hour…”As Noble went down the stairs, he took note of the things he had to do. ‘Okay, Maddy should be sending over today’s goods soon. If I remember right, she said she was gonna bake scones and some cakes for the store… Ah! I should bring out the board on my way out.’ Opening the door with a small jingle of the bells, he set the blackboard sign and sat down on the ground. He began writing today’s specials, leaving a few spaces for Mochi to doodle on later. In the middle of doing so, loud footsteps reached his ears and a large shadow loomed over his own. He beamed and faced up, knowing who it was already: it was Kabe, his boyfriend. “Hi there, handsome. Come sit next to me, hm?” Kabe gave a nod in return and did exactly that, observing him writing.Noble noticed a small pot with what seemed like a cactus with bunny ears in his hands. “What’s up with the little guy, Becchi?” “There was an extra from deliveries so I wanted to give it to you,” he replied as he softly tapped a rhythm on the clay. The other giggled at the cute sentiment and gave his lover a peck on the lips. “Thank you for the thought, darling, but I’m not too sure about it. I’ve never actually taken care of a plant before and neither has my sis. The flowers on the balcony are falsies that Chi bought ‘cause she thought they were cute,” he sighed as a few locks fell over his face, “Plus Eclair might mess around with the poor thing. She’s a good girl, really, but you never know when her cat instincts will get the best of her.”Kabe reassured him, extending a hand out to tuck away the strands behind his ear, “It’s okay, I’ll teach you. I’ll get you the necessary stuff too. Plus this bunny ear cactus suits you – it’s cute like you.” ‘You’re the cute one, dammit!’ Noble cried in his mind, biting his lower lip into a twisted smile to stop himself from screaming. His cheeks flushed, and he gave in - he simply couldn’t resist his boyfriend’s blunt boldness. “I can’t say no to my love, can’t I? Well, I guess I could keep it on the cafe counter.”With a list of instructions and a brand new grow light lamp, the bunny ear cactus made itself at home in the comfort of the library cafe. The green-haired male tenderly brushed the edge of its pot, fascinated with the shape of the succulent. Mochi had finally gone downstairs to help and instantly noticed the cactus. She asked her brother about it, though she already knew it was Kabe’s doing; most plants came from Kabe since he was the town florist. “That man knows how to convince me, even without trying. Maybe I’m too-” “Yeah, you are.” “Fuck…”Seconds later, the bells jingled again and a bright, bouncy girl walked in with a white box. “Good morning, Maddy,” Noble greeted her as Mochi rushed to pounce her into a hug. “Morning, twins! I got your scones and cakes ready for the day. Ooh, Chi, you have to try a slice of the lemon lavender. Trust me, it’s gonna knock your socks off!” The cheery baker, Madeleine, laughed and wrapped an arm around the excited younger twin while balancing the box in the other. “Ah, green bunny! It’s quite a pretty fella’ you got there. I bet Kabe gave that to you, huh, Nobu?” “He sure did. Silly man,” He laughed and resumed staring at the cactus, lost in his own world.And that was only the beginning of a blooming affection.Noble grew more fond of the bunny ear cactus with each day, constantly gazing at it and even bringing it in his arms everywhere as if it were a child. Though he did lose focus a couple of times while on the clock, Mochi was more than willing to pick up his slack - after all his emotions were hers, and she could feel how happy the cactus made her brother. Once during his part-time job as a model for the town boutique Odette, he asked the owner if he could do the photoshoot with the succulent. Surprisingly, she agreed and even asked his co-model to go along with it. The photos reached the front cover of the town magazine, Core Topics, and soon enough the bunny ear cactus became a hit. A few went and bought one of their own, while others simply visited the cafe to see the original cactus adored by the owner.After a week, Kabe decided to check on his boyfriend’s progress with taking care of his gift. When he walked into the cafe, he noticed that Noble didn’t greet him like he usually does. Instead, he was preoccupied with his little bunny-eared companion with his arms propped up on the counter. Only when he got closer to him was the green-haired male aware of his presence. “Oh! Hi, baby.” Kabe plopped down on one of the counter seats and glared at the cactus that was stealing his boyfriend’s precious attention, huffing at the loving gaze it was receiving. ‘That should’ve been me.’ Unable to stand the irritating feeling bubbling in his chest, he picked up the pot and turned his back to his lover. “Actually, there’s not enough stock in the store; it seems quite popular after that recent photoshoot you had. So I’ll be taking this back.”It took a few seconds for Noble to grasp the situation. When he did, he tried to stifle a snort but miserably failed and started laughing uncontrollably. “Hahaha! Oh, oh, you. Honey, come here behind the counter. I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention to you. Come on now, look at me. I wanna see my darling’s face.” Kabe placed the cactus back on the surface with a pout while the other cupped his face and gave him kisses all over. “Now that I look closely, these bunny ears could never compare to my big puppy.” The tan male blushed, sparkles shimmering in his eyes. He glanced at the pot one more time and with a blank expression, he said, “I win, cactus.”
Heart Two: Woes of a Terrible Cook[STAGE CLEAR!] [Congratulations, you have obtained…]“Yes, yay! Finally, the new limited-event item is mine!” A small voice cheered as vivid lights flashed from a computer screen. A mini avatar of a mage jumped joyfully with large, bold letters spelling ‘WIN!’ that blinked every second or so. Mochi stretched her body as far as she could and leaned back on her chair, checking the time on her phone. It was 6:24am. Though she would’ve usually been asleep till' later, she had woken up early at 4am to get a headstart in the rankings of a game’s event. “Mmm, it’s still early. I guess I can make breakfast.” She logged off of her account, switched off her monitors and stepped out of her room.When she opened her door, the twins’ Maine Coon Eclair that was by the entrance let out a ‘meow' as a morning greeting. In return, the girl gave it a brief pet between the ears and a tap on the nose before heading to the kitchen. Mochi took a look inside the refrigerator and rummaged through the back, searching for any potential breakfast ingredients. Her hand stopped at the package of bacon and pulled it out along with a few eggs for a box of pancake mix she remembered purchasing last week. “Right, this should be enough for three… I think. Yeah. Whatever, it’s just bacon and pancakes. What’s the worst that could happen?”Everything.Mochi heard the creak of a door and saw Kabe, who had stayed the night over in Noble’s room, yawn and shake his head. “Morns, Kabe! Is my brother still asleep?” He nodded and took a seat at the table as she grabbed a plate of the bacon and pancakes she cooked and placed it in front of him. “I didn’t feel like going to bed after playing a game so I decided to cook breakfast! It’s been a while since I did this ‘cause Nobu-nii usually takes care of our meals - even as little kids. Anyways, I made some good ol’ bacon and pancakes - ooh, I’ve been craving pancakes for a while! So glad I bought a box mix,” she said while running back to grab a carton of apple juice and pour a cup. “Don’t be shy now. Dig in!”The man was still in a daze when he picked up a slice of bacon and brought it to his mouth, but the moment he took a bite he halted, now fully awake, and blatantly said, “It’s burnt.” The statement alone made gongs go off in Mochi’s head yet the blank expression on his face made it worse. Her mouth was agape, shocked beyond comprehension - she couldn’t think of a step she messed up, and the food seemed fine in her eyes. “Aha… maybe I turned the heat too high. Try the pancakes!” Kabe cut a piece off and ate it, his shoulders drooping seconds later as he muttered, “It’s undercooked.” “You’re lying. Gimme that!” The girl snatched the fork off his hand and took a bite of the pancakes herself only to be met with a funny taste on her tongue.A clang sounded as she dropped the fork in disbelief, her knees on the floor in a dramatic cry. Noble rushed out of his room clad in an oversized shirt, most likely Kabe’s, and was about to ask what had happened in a panic until he saw the ominous aura emitted from the food on the table. “Ah… This is your first time eating Chi’s cooking. It’s, well, questionable to say the least,” The older twin half-heartedly laughed, pressing a kiss to his lover’s forehead. Mochi ran to her brother’s side and whined, “I can bake just fine for the cafe, so why can’t I cook?! Was it not a two-in-one deal when it comes to food making skills?!” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and lightly pinched her nose. “Why not ask Coy to teach you? She’s the best chef in Cordis after all,” he suggested before walking into the kitchen to make something edible, Kabe trailing behind him.As a light bulb appeared in her mind, she quickly freshened herself up and got dressed to find the one who would save her cooking. She wasted no time getting to the bistro La Saveur and banging at the entrance, startling a meek girl who was in the middle of sorting the pantry. “Coy! I need your help!! OPEN UP!!!” When the doors opened, Mochi was greeted with the bistro’s chef Coy who was covered in soy sauce that had spilled all over herself in a startle. “Mochi… It’s still early in the morning. You’ll frighten the neighbors. And me…” she smiled sheepishly.“Right, sorry! Actually, I have a favor to ask of you…” The green-haired girl immediately bent down, begging the chef to teach her the ways of cooking to which she agreed while panickingly telling her to raise her head. “I don’t mind at all, but I’ll have to get ready to open the bistro first. Monsieur isn’t around so I could use an extra hand if that’s alright with you…” “Of course!” Once the preparations were done, the two went to the kitchen to start the lesson. “Okay, let’s see… Here’s a good recipe. How about you try cooking on your own first? I’ll watch you and see what steps you’re confused about.” “Ooh, croquettes! This shouldn’t be too hard.”Mochi wasn’t wrong. But she was doing it wrong.Coy could only watch in horror as dark spirits flew around the supposedly croquettes being plated. “Done!” The other girl puffed her chest out in pride and turned around with a big smile, unaware of the disaster she had caused. Right then, a voice called out and the girls stepped out of the kitchen to be met with the high school senior duo, Yua and Noa, with the latter merrily chirping, “Yahoo, Coy! I see Mochi is here too. What are you two doing?” The chef explained their current situation while her ‘student’ rubbed her ankle with the other out of embarrassment and asked, “Since you’re both here, do you wanna try some?”Noa immediately sensed a mishap in the food and politely declined but Yua on the other hand picked a croquette up from the plate and took a bite without hesitation. Like Kabe, he halted with a long silence tensing up the atmosphere but then he smiled, quite genuinely even, and said, “It’s delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like this before. You’re gonna make a great wife.” Mochi jutted her bottom lip out with small tears pricking the corners of her eyes, sniffling, “That’s the first time someone ever complimented my cooking. Yua… you’re such a nice person!” “Nah, nah, only an insane person like this guy would say something like that after being poisoned,” Noa shook their head with a sweat, shrugging their shoulders.Afterwards, the duo left the bistro with a pale Yua clenching his stomach and the girls resumed their lesson. During the second time, Coy held the other girl’s hands and guided her through the process of remaking croquettes. When Ran’ya, the manager of the liquor store Elixir Tap, had come over to grab a meal, the two made her try Mochi’s following attempt. “It’s normal,” she replied with nonchalance, cheeks stuffed with food. “Eh..? That’s it?” Mochi cocked her head to the side, disappointed with the lukewarm reaction she didn’t expect. “Much better than the shit you fed Yua; he looked damn horrible when I passed by the punk. Bet he just ate it cause’ it was yours. Bastard’s crazier than his brother.”“Third time’s the charm,” Mochi slapped her cheeks and faced the same ingredients once more, clenching her fists up. She gained more confidence and repeated all the steps by herself, extremely focused on her movements. Coy glanced at her as she continued serving other customers, content with the girl’s motivation. Right when the third batch of croquettes were completed the owner of the general store Wholehearts, Lou, and his son Hugo walked in. Again, Mochi asked the same question to them, anxiously waiting for their reactions. Hugo was the first one to speak up, lowering his hand with the croquette on his lap, “Ms. Mochi… it’s burnt inside.” “EH?!” The green haired girl fell on her knees for the umpteenth time, biting the inside of her cheek, “How is that even possible…? I checked everything, followed the recipe, and yet…” The old man attempted to comfort her and said, “Cheer up, kid. At least you didn’t burn the inside.” “Not helping, Lou,” The young child scolded him, swatting his arm.‘I really am no good, aren’t I? I can’t do a lot of things right, and I rely on people too much… especially Nobu-nii. I really, really hate this part of me..!’ Mochi’s thoughts raced in her mind as she choked back her tears. Coy was unsure of what to do, as she was usually the bashful one, but she knew her friend needed someone next to her side. Slowly, she bent down to her level with a gentle, reassuring look in her eyes. “It’s not the end yet, Mochi. Y’know, I wasn’t always the greatest chef; I struggled with handling a pan before. But I didn’t give up. I wanted to make people smile when they ate my cooking. That’s why I have a place here in Cordis to be proud of,” the chef paused for a moment, wiping the tears off the girl’s damp cheeks, “Everyone doesn’t know how to cook at first, but with enough resolution, even you can make food more special than mine.”The kind words alone gave Mochi the courage to keep going, practicing every chance she had. Eventually, she had Kabe as well as her brother taste her newly improved cooking. She placed the plates in front of the two and excitedly sat down next to her twin. She bounced and giggled, “I’m ready!” Noble waited first and observed his boyfriend as he brought the fork to his mouth. He halted, a similar pattern from the beginning, making Mochi face away with her eyes closed. “... It’s good,” he finally responded. The girl turned back to him and grinned as wide as she could. “Really?!” Her brother felt the same joy in his own chest and tousled her hair, saying, “Becchi wouldn’t lie and neither would I. You did so well, baby sis! I’m so proud of you for holding on.” Mochi, warm with joy, giggled alongside the two. ‘Maybe I can do it after all.’[STAGE CLEAR!] [Congratulations, you have obtained the skill ‘Cooking’!]
Everyone has a part of the past they left behind, be it good or bad. Lost Pages of Torn Times is a collection of short stories about the pasts of Cordis’ residents prior to their move to the town, delving deep into the dark of their memories. What kind of lives have they kept hidden away within their hearts?TW! The following content contains sensitive topics such as thoughts of suicide, gore, discrimination, death and other dark themes. It is recommended to refrain from reading this story if you are not comfortable with the mentioned topics.Writer's Note: It is recommended to read 'Cordis - of the heart -' before this collection for a full experience. You may still proceed with the story without doing so.
In a world where daydreams are reality, humans and mythical beings form deep bonds through the exchange of vows, and eyes. Lila, a fairy bound in a cage in the forest, longs for such a bond. Cursed with vines engraved on her body, she awaits the day a brave savior would free her of her confinements and form a bond with her. But one day she meets with a witch… with her eyes?!A story between a fairy kept from the world for years and a witch who learns to free herself from the chains of her own fate, hating and loving each other along the way, The Vines that Bind Us Together is a fantasy story full of twists and turns played around an intricate system of binding one's heart to another.TW! The following content contains sensitive topics such as obsessive behavior, violence, death and other dark themes. It is recommended to refrain from reading this story if you are not comfortable with the mentioned topics.
I.the first time i lost my true self was the day i had a talk with my lover.they asked how important my sexuality was to me. i did not understand.i told them, ‘well, i like men and women. and i like being both a man and a woman.’we kept talking.they told me, ‘i respect your choices, and i love you for who you are.’‘but i can’t help but think of changing that part of you.’what?what was so wrong with the me now?i started to get a little angrier.we talked, and talked.talked, and talked, and talked.‘can we really be happy?’i felt like my heart was about to burst into flames.i decided to hide him away. the me that i love so much. that felt like the real me.‘will you be happy?’ no.no... how could someone ever be happy with hiding away my love?we agreed to take a five minute break.i cried a little.when we reconvened, we talked some more.i told them, ‘i don’t want this to be the reason you’re starting to rethink our relationship.’and i really thought so. i loved my lover so much.‘please don’t let me change,” i begged, “i finally feel like i can accept myself.’‘please don’t let me go back.’we went deeper into our conversation. marriage.‘will god accept our marriage?’ah. so that’s how it was. i didn’t mind. it was their belief, after all. but so was my truth.i got tired. ‘maybe i should’ve never came out to you. maybe then we wouldn’t have to argue.’talk, and talk, and talk.i was told that my marriage would not be accepted simply because i accepted myself.my heart shattered into pieces.‘why are you making me feel like i’m not perfect enough to marry?’‘i’m sorry.’we talked a bit more, apologized to each other, and called it a day.but i felt like a part of me had died. the part that i came to love and adore.and i thought i had lost him - me - forever.II.my lover and i had parted.
and he, myself, i spotted.
this time, he stayed.
and my love never swayed.III.to the you who found yourself,or who is still searching.you are here. and you are loved.no matter how many may be against your love,know there is me who loves. and others with you.embrace yourself. love yourself.that is what life truly is.