"So where are we headed, Dark Crow?" the pilot asked me through the interior speaker system.
"The hotel where Jhurghdak was staying, the one I leapt out towards earlier!" I told him before I laughed at the recent memory.
"I'm afraid I can't be having you do that again." he chuckled in response as I leaned back into my chair to relax.
From my new place of comfort, I looked out at the orbital-halo as it shined brightly down onto the city. But, because of its reflective nature and all that polished, well-looked-after metal, I had to look away slightly. It didn't stop me from enjoying the sight, however. I was still able to appreciate it all and then some more as my mind became disconnected from what I was seeing.
Lari was finally safe, after all these years of chasing after Smiling Jhurack, I had finally done it. And now, I was eagerly awaiting to see her once again, I would see her again. In a way, it made me impatient like how I might've been only a few days ago. But now, I was only impatient because I was happy, I was actually looking forward to something for once!
For the first time in five years, I found myself actually happy...
"It's been a long five years." I remarked as I looked up at the airship's roof thoughtfully. But, even as all the bad, painful memories went on by, I still found myself happy. It was all finally coming to an end.
"We're approaching the landing pad now, Dark Crow." the pilot informed me as a subtle force suddenly went up my body.
"Thank you for the lift!" I thanked quickly as one of my claws started to tease the lock on the door.
"It's the least I can do, now, go get her." he told me before he started to seemingly turn the airship off. It became clearer what he had done once I stepped outside, but I didn't care now. If he let the engines die so he could have a moment then fine, all that mattered to me was that I got inside the hotel.
Yet, when I reached the door that would take me inside, I stopped, "Please be awake..."
Even though I had done it, even though she had been saved and that Smiling Jhurack was now gone. I still feared that I might walk into a room that was no different than it usually was. It scared me, that the idea that it had all been for nothing. It made me tremble and this doorknob felt immovable because of it.
"She's going to be okay, she's going to be okay..." I quietly told myself again and again as the door finally started to move. With slow, jittery steps, I then walked into the building and I gradually gained confidence as I did so. She was just a single floor down and all I had to do was make it there. That was all I had to do, then I could rest and just listen to her joy.
Contrastly, however, as quiet as I was, the hotel was not like that at all and I quickly found myself in a busy space. Government officials were all over the place and the usual couple of private guards had been replaced with the city's personnel. I wasn't paid much mind at first, but as I went passed some of them, they quietly gave me various kinds of congratulation. Some were vocal, others physical, but it was all consistently quiet and quick.
If there was more to it, I paid it little mind and I made my way down to the next floor. It was comparatively quiet down here as most of the people were headed up to the next one. But when I got to the final crossing, it was as if the gods had blessed me because not one soul occupied the hall. But even then, I did not make use of this boon and I just stared at the door I was headed to, far off in the distance.
"Please, be okay... Please..." I quietly struggled to get out before I started to walk down the hallway. For a moment, I then felt nostalgic about a moment I really never wanted to remember again. Moving down this hallway, I felt slow and ponderous, like I was back at that osibindah hive from way back. Back when my body first received the strength and power of magic, it felt like that.
But like with all distances one had to cross, it all eventually passed by and I arrived at the door. I looked down at the doorknob and at the magical machinery that aided it. Slowly, ever so slowly, I then started to put in the code and I held the doorknob with a shaky grip. The anticipation scared me and I froze up once the door had only been opened slightly.
There was a lot of noise coming at me from all sides, but even then, I tried to focus on just what was beyond the door. I focused carefully on the beeping that I had heard a thousand times already before I did anything else. Within my mouth, I withheld my pleading and my begging and I turned it into a prayer. Then, something changed, something felt off and I suddenly felt reckless.
"L-Lari?" I let out weakly and slowly as I stepped into the room in much the same way. But, I must've just heard something that I had completely made up as nothing had changed. She was still over there, frozen in that bed and I didn't know what to do. Smiling Jhurack was dead, she should've gotten better, no?
I remembered so clearly how that doctor couldn't do anything because of what Smiling Jhurack was doing... So Lari should be getting better now, right? I couldn't grasp why she was still like this... I did everything right!
"Even after all that, I still failed?" I asked myself as I suddenly collapsed to my knees with water-rimmed eyes. But just crying wasn't good enough, so I placed my head next to her hand and I just let it all out. I just didn't know what to do anymore and I...
"What's wrong, Nin?" my dear friend asked me as her hand started to move and wipe the tears from my nearest eye.
"Lari!?" I squeaked as I suddenly tried to make sure that this wasn't some insidious dream.
"Nin!" she chirped with a smile once her head had slowly turned to follow me.
"This is real, isn't it!?" I demanded to know after I suddenly approached her.
"I think it is?" was all she could say as energy filled my body.
"YOU BETTER BE AWAKE, DO YOU HEAR ME!? THIS BETTER NOT BE ANOTHER DREAM!" I roared as I suddenly took her up into my arms so I could cry to my heart's content.
"You're squishing me." she tried to tell me.
"You're back... You're back..." I repeated again and again as she finally started to return the hug.
"Yeah, I'm back?" she let out confusedly before I finally let go of her. But as I was still crying like a baby, she laughed sweetly at me and her paled fingers rubbed away at my eyes. Before she could pull it away, however, I latched onto it and kept it right there.
"If this is a dream I swear I'll-" I started to say before her smile made me shut up.
"You look tired, Nin, have you been looking after yourself?" she asked me after she had carefully looked me in the eyes.
"N-No... No, I have not slept well for five years." I answered as silent tears ran down my face.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you?" she asked as her eyes took in all the blood and cuts and holes across my attire. It was clear it made her uncomfortable.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you are safe... I did it all for you, Lari." I told her before she looked down and then away.
"Five years of that for a girl like me? I thought you were smarter, Nin." she commented before I moved up closer to her side. Then, I held her hand and gently squeezed it.
"You never gave up on me even as I huddled in a corner in orange overalls, fearful of my upcoming second death. Back when everyone had either abandoned me or joined up with those who wanted my death. Even after I had suddenly abandoned you because I wanted to go home, to try and get things back to normal... You never turned your back on me. You stayed with me the whole time because I am your friend."
She returned her gaze back towards me, "What are friends for?"
"They're there to be there for each other no matter how bad it gets." I told her as I thought about what she had done for me and what I had done for her.
"Yeah..."
"Do... Do you need anything? Are you hungry, cold? Anything at all?" I decided to ask her after she had gone quiet.
"No, no, I don't need any of that... It would be a waste."
"I don't understand?"
"Don't worry about it, so, how are the others?" she asked me as she looked around the room.
And I looked away awkwardly as this was going to be a hard thing to answer, "The others..."
"I take it they aren't just sleeping or busy at the moment?" Lari asked awkwardly with a laugh to match.
"No... No... Most of them have moved on with their lives and went home or they are just elsewhere."
"Something you did scared them?" she quickly figured out and I froze up. Was she going to hate me, now?
"Yes... And, you might be able to figure out why..." I answered shamefully as I looked down at all the blood covering me.
"Idiot..." she sighed with a smile.
"Your family will probably want to know about this, I can get into contact with them, if you'd like?"
"No, no, that's fine. I have enough to talk about with you anyway."
"I'm sorry..." I let out as I realised she probably wanted to scold me for scaring off all our friends. Rose'lhia, Einervaene, Vadei, Omb, Quinshuu, Liadanann... They were all gone now. Even her sister, Tiyanat was gone, but at least there I knew their father had something to do with it.
"Don't be sorry, Nin, just make me a promise regarding it, okay?"
"Okay..." I nodded.
"Get them all back, do you hear?" she rather sternly asked, but, I nodded all the same and I agreed to do it.
"That's quite an adventure you have planned for us." I laughed as she continued to smile.
"You've not had enough of going all over the place?" she asked me as she started to look tired herself.
"Having your friends with you makes it all the more tolerable." I explained truthfully as having them by our side really did make our history all the easier. It gave us all someone to talk to or to confide in. There was always someone we could feel safe near...
"All the more reason to do as I tell you."
"Right." I said before she started to look saddened by something. So, I tried my best to evoke whatever it was out of her mind with a gentle, loving touch.
"You're still waiting for an answer, aren't you, Nin?" she let out all of a sudden and it left me confused.
"Did I ask a question?" I asked back as my mind suddenly tried to recall if I had done anything of the sort.
"You did, though, I admit, it has been five years since then..." she remarked as she considered the amount of time it has been since she was attacked.
"Oh..." I realised shortly after, but, I felt odd when I did because I didn't think much of it. It was odd, really, given how often I thought of her as 'the woman I loved.'
"Nin, would you mind coming a bit closer?" she asked me as she adjusted herself so that both of her arms were out.
"Ok-" I started to say before her lips suddenly came into contact with mine. At first, I wasn't sure how to react as she made this relatively silent, but bold claim. Eventually, however, I started to react and I returned it as much as I felt was appropriate. Then, she let go of me and something had her down, yet, I was smiling from ear to ear.
"No." she let out.
"No what?" I questioned as my smile vanished just like that.
"I do not love you back, Nin... Not like how you love me..." she finally answered after five, long years.
"I'm confused... Why did you kiss me, then?"
"Because you'll never be able to move on if I didn't."
"I'm still confused..."
"I'm not the kind of girl for you, Nin, the girl for you is somewhere out there waiting for you."
"But I love you..." I reminded her before she seemed to get angry.
"I know! I know..." she snapped at first before she repeated herself slowly.
"It can work out between us, no? Maybe if we just-"
"No it won't, Nin!" she suddenly went as she made sure to hold one of my claws with both hands.
"You listen to me carefully, Nin. The one for you is out there somewhere. She might be a cranky little vulpine from a small village. She might be this lightly dressed woman who is quite explicit with how she feels. She might be a copper-haired beauty from a flying continent or even a mysterious, crimson-skinned giantess... But she is not here, she isn't me." she explained before a lengthy sigh left her.
"Okay..." I let out quietly before I tried to retract my claw.
"However, and I need you to understand this. So, please, listen and understand... I am still your friend and I will forever be your friend. H-How can I not be?" she clarified as she started to tear up.
"W-What's wrong!?" I asked her as I moved to hug her and she accepted it eagerly and quickly.
"I-I'm scared, Nin... I'm scared..." she admitted as she broke down in my arms.
"It's okay, I will keep you safe." I reminded her as I stroked her long, blue hair. Though, it seemed to do a better job of soothing me than it did her.
"I know you can..." she said quietly as the hug she was giving me began to weaken.
"Lari, what's wrong?" I asked her when the machines she was still hooked up to started to blare.
"Keep your promise, you hear me? You keep it, you hear!?" she let out with the last of her strength as she started to go completely limp.
"Lari...? LARI!" I let out in terror as the machines screamed warning after warning as the woman I loved lost every ounce of her energy. I barely had time to register the moment she went limp as my ears were suddenly in pain because of what they heard. All I could hear was that single, continuous beep.
Just a single, constant sound that hurt me in a way no sword or bullet ever could...
"No, Lari... No, no, no, no, no, no..." I cried quietly.