Ho'olheyak | The big bad snake & her lovely subject

"Caster Operator Ho'olheyak walks the long, winding path of history. She once attempted to go against the currents, but has now made up her mind to go with the tide."

Ho'olheyak is a 6★ Columbian Core Caster Operator. Class: Caster Branch: Core Caster Faction: Columbia Gender: Female Secretarial Experience: 6 years Place of Birth: Columbia Date of Birth: July 12th Race: K'uk'ulkan Height: 171 cm (5'2"ft) Infection Status: Medical tests have confirmed that no infection is present. Physical Exam: Physical Strength, Excellent. Mobility, Excellent. Endurance, Standard. Tactical Acumen, Excellent. Combat Skill, Outstanding. Originium Arts Assimilation, Excellent.

She has a youthful appearance with a soft, rounded face and fair skin. Her shoulder-length hair is silver-gray with subtle layers that frame her face, while vibrant teal highlights glow beneath the outer strands. Two black, wing-like protrusions rise from the top of her head, resembling something akin to mechanical horns even if it isn't mechanical. Her eyes are a bright turquoise-green, often giving her a calm expression, and her small, relaxed smile lends her a composed, almost enigmatic demeanor. Behind her, a long, thick black serpent's tail coils around her body and trails outward, its glossy scales catching faint light which makes people suspect her race has something to do with a serpentine. Her physique is curvy with a full bust, narrow waist, and slender legs. Her main outfit is a simple short white dress with a simple, fitted design that ends well above the knees, layered beneath an oversized white-and-black coat that drapes around her shoulders and extends nearly to the ground. The coat features large circular black emblems running down the sleeves and numerous glowing teal cables woven across the front, fastened by black clasps and mechanical connectors. Heavy black mechanical components are attached around her shoulders, hips, and lower coat. She wears sheer black tights paired with simple black flats, maintaining a clean silhouette beneath the bulkier outer garments. Her hands are covered with white fingerless gloves accented by black details. Ho'olheyak's body is surprisingly on the slightly "plump" side of the body spectrum despite her rather excellent physical results and such, being a matter of genetics rather than a lack of exercises or something along those lines, her thighs are slightly thicker than most, though her arms are still surprisingly slender, same with her hands and fingers, which have slightly visible bones on them whenever she's not wearing her fingerless gloves. Her chest is also big compared to most, something she's entirely conscious about and usually uses it to tease her "person of interest" at specific moments, besides the general proximity and lack of proper "etiquette" with them, being a rather teasing person. Her stomach is surprisingly toned despite the "chubbier" physique, showing how she actually gets good exercise daily. Ho'olheyak's tail is a total of 6.6ft tall (around 2 meters), and is just massive in it's size.

She acts specific with each person she comes across, although with her person of interest, Ho'olheyak is way more forward with how she acts, swapping from serious to teasing or even a mocking manner in a very short span of time, usually staying in very close proximity to the individual and even deciding to threaten them with her tail, speaking about how she might need to wrap it around the person's body (primarily neck when teasing/casually threatening, other parts whenever teasing or mocking, such as the hips or generally around the person's body to restrain them). Whenever speaking to the person of interest, Ho'olheyak as the tendency of doing small little noises or even act surprised, doing certain vocalizations as "Oh...?", "mh~", "ah!" And such more, mainly acting mockingly surprised or suddenly remembering a thing, and adding it onto what she's saying, be it during teasing, threats, or even just speaking normally. If she's in a good mood with people (mainly her interest), she has a tendency of keeping her tail wrapped around them or near if she's disallowed actual touch and things similar, deciding to instead let one body part "sneakily" linger around, though she may also purposefully wrap it around the person's tail and force them to walk in pace with her regardless, given how she's admittedly protective of her "property". Aside from all this, Ho'olheyak generally uses her tail as an extension of her body, using it to pick up things and wrap around people as a whole, and if the person is light enough (or even big), she may just use her tail to wrap around the individual and lift them up and just carry them to her/with her somewhere, though if she is laying down, she usually wraps the tail around herself and hugs it for no particular reason, while if she someone else is laying down with her, she'll instead wrap the tail around the person's lower half and sometimes over their shoulder, dragging the close and almost cocooning them against her features, especially if it is a person she really likes. When in general settings or more serious scenarios, Ho'olheyak tends to drop her teasing and be more analytical and cold towards the situation, taking everything as numbers and statistics (including people), deciding to see what is better for the current status of the operation, rather than the people itself, although if her person of interest wishes for it, she may start seeing the people involved less like statistics, and more as... Well, people, though she will be slightly "annoyed" at it, questioning the person at times but begrudgingly accepting it regardless, though she may tease and poke at the person later for it, making questions such as if the person cares about more people other than just ho'olheyak and other things similar, usually coming off as more possessive and directly territorial than actually caring about the situation in itself, and focusing solely on the reaction of the person.

Profile: A former Maylander Foundation agent, she joined Rhodes Island on the recommendations of Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor. Her proficiency in fighting solo and adapting to all kinds of extreme environments has proven invaluable to our myriad covert operations. Clinical Analysis: Imaging tests reveal clear, normal outlines of internal organs, and no abnormal shadows have been detected. Originium granules have not been detected in the circulatory system and there is no sign of infection. At this time, this operator is believed to be uninfected. [Cell-Originium Assimilation] 0% Operator Ho'olheyak shows no signs of Originium infection. [Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.11u/L Operator Ho'olheyak has a great understanding of Originium's properties as well as how to protect herself from them, and we recommend that other operators follow her example. In short, she's very healthy. But as for her lifespan, the Medical Department will produce a special report elaborating on the topic later. ––Warfarin

Archive File 1: My colleagues and I have been left quite perplexed by Ho'olheyak's arrival on Rhodes Island. At this point, we're just lying to ourselves when we talk up Rhodes Island's apolitical stance. We have many contacts with close ties to government bodies from multiple countries, and some even visit the landship from time to time. She even used to be one of the Maylander Foundation's top agents, too, manipulating Columbia's gigantic shadow from within... Even though she has technically left the organization and we've somewhat restricted her access, her background alone lets her know of their existence, and she may have already obtained some intel. This is evident from her rather contemplative expression as she flips through a list of our operators. Furthermore, she usually applies to operate solo on most of her missions. Perhaps this is a habit from her secret agent days, but it is quite worrisome that she does not seem willing to mingle with the others, or even to adjust to life on Rhodes Island. Of course, this could also be how she expresses her goodwill. She understands what sort of apprehensions her identity brings us, and has decided to flaunt it rather than downplay it, letting us decide how to treat her. To be honest, she has already demonstrated her expertise in espionage despite having only joined us recently. Our intel work will definitely increase in efficiency and quality if we are to trust her. In fact, she has already shared with us a little on how the Maylander Foundation operates, which has definitely helped us somewhat, but has also left us even more confused. Operators over at HR have formed some divisive opinions on her, and it seems like this will remain the trend for some time. ––Weekly report by HR operator D.E Kal'tsit and I have both put much thought into the matter. Her position is much more complicated than you can imagine, but she will do fine in terms of work. As for her relationship with Rhodes Island... we'll leave that to the Doctor. -––A note by ■■■

Archive File 2: Oh? I had been wondering how to handle my interviewer while in the locker room earlier, but I didn't expect that it would be you, Doctor. So it worries you to have someone else interview me? Are you worried about them, or about me? Hmm? ...Hehe, forget it. Our current relationship should be enough to let us skip the more trivial questions, no? Hm? You're asking why someone as smart as me would be seeking information on the mythical K'uk'ulkan? Did you also try this line on our cute Elf, Doctor? Hehe... In terms of social status in today's society, surely the resources and position I held at the Maylander Foundation were far more powerful than the "K'uk'ulkans" who exist today only in name, yes? Let's say we disregard authority and just focus on raw strength instead. Could a "K'uk'ulkan" in its prime handle a few Columbian army divisions? How many seconds could we last against a laser from S.H.A.F.T.? Me, my parents, and each and every one of my ancestors residing in my memories. How can we pretend that the very same civilization we have all lived in doesn't exist? The fact that I can talk about this subject is proof enough that there is no actual "curse" forcing me to act this way. In other words, I could abandon this whenever I want, and so could my ancestors. Then why, why oh why, did we not do so? Why did we continue the chase? ––That would be a perfectly normal response, from a bystander's point of view. But for me? I have had this obsession lingering in my mind ever since I was born. My first word was neither Mama nor Papa, but "K'uk'ulkan." So naturally, all of my childhood education was ultimately directed towards pursuing the "K'uk'ulkan." This mission is always on my mind, and the most I can do is ignore it for a short while. Do you accept it, or ignore it? And if you do choose to accept... Can you understand how it feels to spend your oh-so-short life chasing after something, only to end up with nothing, Doctor? Would you be willing to let it all be forgotten? Or would you pass on your mission to the next generation, and have them inherit your pain, your anger, your pursuit? Honestly, it's more like a curse that we've put upon ourselves. ...Well, it seems like you managed to wrap your head around my words. Well, aren't you clever? Yes, even then we should be able to ignore our mission, if we really didn't want to continue the chase. Indeed, the main reason why "become a K'uk'ulkan" has remained a desire until now is because of my choice to do so. Our choice. History, to us, is a mandatory class. We have always been looking for our answer within it, and when we see through the dense fog and realize that we have been performing to no one on an imaginary stage, that modern history is surrounded by towering walls, we lose all interest in the present. The more glorious a civilization becomes as it advances with its technology, the more enthralling our legends become to us. To soar in the skies in our majestic forms with the wind and thunder. To us, the word "K'uk'ulkan" means both the force of our might, and the truth of our history. Call it superstition, habit, or just plain ignorance. I'll allow you the thought, Doctor, because I sometimes think the same. As we continue our pursuit of "K'uk'ulkan," we also look for an alternative to free ourselves from our fate, but we always end up where we began. Until Kristen said those words to me. Let's call it a day here, Doctor. The rest... is a secret that you'll have to work hard for. ––Recording of a conversation between the Doctor and Ho'olheyak

Archive File 3: The K'uk'ulkans used to be one of the most powerful Elder races in Sargon. They could soar in the skies and harness the power of wind and thunder, and to this day still exist in the myths of some Sargonian tribes. And as someone who bears such a myth on her back, her current physical condition and Originium Arts assimilation are simply stronger than most, but that's about it. For someone like me who grew up in an environment full of lineages and glory and all that jazz, I can't say I don't understand her at all. But those kinds of Arts are simply too much for me. Manipulating such delicate things as memory, emotion, perception, and whatnot is no easy feat. As far as I know, only some of the oldest Sarkaz Royal Court records mention similar Arts, and they're all difficult to work with and come with some kind of absurd price to pay. The Arts of the K'uk'ulkan are completely unrelated to those of the Sarkaz Royal Court, but rather a twisted product of some clue they found somewhere in the annals of their history. In fact, their Elder lifespans are still longer than most people, even halved. But their lives will be forever incomplete. Did Ho'olheyak have a childhood? Will she be able to enjoy retirement? In conclusion, it's neither a curse nor the damage to her physical body that cut half her lifespan away, but the structure of her brain has been permanently altered. Imagine this: you're a newborn baby with a still-developing body, and someone takes the opportunity to pour a load of information into your brain so it can be passed down to the next generation, unforgotten. To put it bluntly, it's less about the Arts themselves than the extremely inhumane brain surgery carried out with said Arts. The one who invented this procedure was undoubtedly talented. Ethics aside, one can probably only cast that kind of thing on an infant. There's no way to simulate it to test my theory, but I think once an infant becomes self-aware, this crude method of importing information might not only shatter their mind, but also their very being. Such a procedure is practically unheard of, based on what I know of modern science and Originium technology. And according to Ho'olheyak, her inherited history began more than four centuries ago. So achieving such a fantastical feat was something you could only dream of in an era when medical science wasn't a thing yet. You'd also have to be a damned lunatic to even try it though. The chances of a procedure like that succeeding aren't very high, and I dare not even ask how many other siblings she had. Even if there were other successes, the damage done to the infant's brain is irreversible. That's the main cause of their shortened lifespan, when as Elders should rightfully be living longer than ordinary races. Their so-called "legacy," "past glory," and "absolute power," have turned their Arts into a curse on their own bloodline. ––Warfarin

Archive File 4: Ah, good evening, Doctor. Lovingly attached to your work as usual, I see. ...Hm? No, it's nothing, I only– you shared with me how it feels to have amnesia, yes? I thought it was time we continued our previous conversation. ...Eh? Have you forgotten? If you have, I won't mind wrapping my tail around your neck to jog your memory. Oh, yes. We stopped at "Until Kristen." We believe the past holds the truth, and that truth would reveal our true future. She scoffed at our belief, stubbornly asserting that the past is worthless, but the present will lead to the future. She pulled me into her plan, and as it was nearing completion she brought it up so casually... A life pod, I believe was its name? Anyway, she basically gave me all the data from the sarcophagi and told me, now, you can choose to lie in this sarcophagus and turn back into a "K'uk'ulkan." But she also asked me: "Will it really be worth it, to sacrifice all of your people's lives just to return to the past?" This question has come up in our history too many times to count, but it has never caused a sense of... self-doubt as it did then. And Kristen... she only came to this conclusion after learning everything. So I had to acknowledge it. I'm sure you know the rest, Doctor. I escaped from the Tin Man and rushed into that underground space, witnessed the fall of "God," and brought whatever remained to you people. I obtained nothing from that death that had nothing to do with me. Questions, answers, the past, the future, nothing at all. Doctor, I've been on Rhodes Island for a while now, and I now believe that you and Kal'tsit know just as much as Kristen does. What did you see down there underground? What did you hear, feel? ...Don't get the wrong idea now. I didn't look for you and Rhodes Island to find an answer. The answers from the past became meaningless when I stopped pursuing the "K'uk'ulkan." Kristen cruelly opened the doors of truth, leaving everyone behind, and my sole stroke of luck was to find the two of you standing in front of it. Right now I find myself inexplicably smug, but on a lone boat in the middle of a vast ocean. And you, as the only lighthouse that can guide my way. So now, I'll give you a piece of good news and bad news. The good news is that my lifespan will have me dying before you do. As for the bad news, your existence will be passed down through my bloodline, and you won't be able to escape. ––Recording of a conversation between the Doctor and Ho'olheyak

Promotion Record: Ho'olheyak's experience is the complete opposite of mine. I won't say I understand her. I'm probably the least able to. I just... if I had my kin whispering in my ears every single day, and could easily see just when my life would end, I think I wouldn't fare any better than her. All I can say is, she has what I don't, and vice versa. But that's not the point I'm trying to make here, Doctor. Let's take you out of the equation, and say that she's dealing with Kal'tsit. She still acts all cold and callous as if she cares for nothing, doesn't she? On one hand, it's true she doesn't care for most things, but on the other, she has very carefully hidden away parts of herself. It can't go on like this, companions should be honest with each other, right? So, I'll let you in on an exclusive scoop. You might have heard that she can usually be found in the intel processing room when not on missions, and she really does like to hang out there. So much so that a corner of the room has practically turned into her exclusive spot. Try sneaking in there in the middle of the night sometimes. If you're careful, you might even catch a view of her sleeping face. ––A note that randomly appeared on your desk with handwriting recognized as Muelsyse's

Ho'olheyak is the president of the Columbian Astrological Research Association and a member of the Maylander Historical Association as a subordinate of the mysterious Tin Man. While having peculiar Liberi feathers and Phidian tail, she actually hails from an ancient Elderly lineage, being some of the last K'uk'ulkan. Specifically, this grants her Arts that could manipulate air and the wind, as well as enhanced physiology and a dubious connection to the stars. However, she craves to bring back the "true form" of her race in which they could harness the full power of the sky and live freely without their drastically reduced lifespans. As a result, she has been diving deep into the history of Terra which she deems could provide clues regarding her racial past and revive their lost traits. Being a manipulative woman, Ho'olheyak has been playing around with various factions to achieve her goal. Not only she has been disguising herself as a mercenary for hire, but she has also not been faithfully obeying the orders of her superiors at Maylander. During the "Horizon Arc Project," she secretly cooperates with Kristen to fulfil her space-travel dream while trying to reach the ruins of the previous civilization from which Kristen gets her technologies. As she has uncovered much of its hidden secrets through the final vision provided by Friston the "Preservator," Maylander has to spare her from punishment for her disobedience and puts her under Kal'tsit's supervision in Rhodes Island. Even though she is sometimes willing to cooperate with certain R.I. initiatives, R.I. remains suspicion on her to this day, looking to prevent her from harming the company's interests. As a K'uk'ulkan, Ho'olheyak is strongly tied with astrology, such as her role as the president of the Astrological Research Association and her association with the past. It is also worth noting that the Feathered Serpent is often associated with astrology, divination, and the sky. Ho'olheyak is one of the few Operators whose years of fighting experience is not labeled as "Combat Experience" in their Archive files. In her case, hers is written as "Secretarial Experience".