Something is caressing my body with heat
Heat I can feel it, I can feel the heat.
Burning, Burning, and burning. Spreading all over this dark place, the only thing that's visible is the ground. I can't make out where am I.
Everything's empty, but the flame is in front of me.
In the middle of this darkness, I'm standing purely naked, I can feel the warmth of the flames shining onto me, but my back is different. It's cold, I feel cold, my back's cold, what is this? Why is my back so cold? My interest is peaked I have to look at it. What is the source of this coldness?
I want to, but I can't. I feel like if I look, I will be met with something that I couldn't accept. It's there. Right behind me, something that I buried deep inside me.
What is eating me away?
Slowly I start to turn around, the thought of stopping comes to my mind more often than ever before in this short second.
As I'm turning away from the warmth of the flame, I'm met with the cold truth. My eyes widen like never before, my breathing gets heavier with each breath I take, cold sweat runs down my neck.
My eyes run through the scenery they are seeing. Trying to look away from it is impossible. Not even blinking to get the tears out of the way is possible.
Because what I saw when I turned to the cold side, was an old scene that my eyes saw for a brief second. That was the scene of my dead mother covered in blood.
*hup*
I wake up in a sweat. I can't really tell where am I, but that's not what I'm currently thinking about. Blood, the very thought of blood being there. What happened, what is blood doing there. Why is this so painful to imagine?
The second feeling was fast after the thought I was having, I needed to throw up. I am disgusted, scared, and in a state of denial.
What was that? I don't- why did-.
Was the cause of death a lie?
I look at my lower half of the body, seeing that I'm in a wooden bed with white bedsheets, I quickly stand up in order to not throw up around there. Standing up I can spot a figure next to the bed I was lying in. Not caring about that I head to search for the bathroom. I run as quickly as I can to not make a mess, the floor is made from dark wood as well. Searching for the bathroom door made me realize that I was in a small one-night stay apartment. Everything is fuzzy I can barely make out anything. Running past the white walls with old furniture by them, I see two dark wooden doors with golden doorknobs straight ahead from where my bed was. I get there to see that this is a hallway. One door is in front of me, the other one's right of me. Anticipating that the door in front of me is a way out of this apartment I ignore it and choose the right one. The handle is cold. Cold? Cold?
The almost forgotten scene reappears with a stronger impact.
''Ugh'' I can feel my vomit reaching my mouth as I fully open the door. A small room is revealed, I look to my right to see the toilet. Without any hesitation, I take two steps ahead and fall on my knees. And so, my hardly restrained vomit finally gets out.
*Blegh*
Still at the toilet after throwing up there's no relief. I still feel disgusted, I can't come to terms with it. What was that? Where was that?
Now, that I think about it, where am I?
Still sitting on the toilet, in this small bathroom, so small that only one person can fit in it. Right when I opened the door I was met with the sink and the mirror, right from the mirror there was a toilet, that's how small this bathroom is.
''I better get going''
I grab the golden handle once again to open the door. I get to the hallway; I go toward the bed I was lying in. Getting out of the hallway I can see two beds one in the left corner which was mine, and the other one in the right corner. Both have a nightstand beside them. Both of the beds have a window above them. I didn't even notice there was a window above my head when I was lying there. The room has a tray ceiling and a cheap chandelier on it.
''Finally woke up?''
I hear a familiar voice calling out.
My eyes turn away from the chandelier, to the middle of the room between the beds at where the voice was coming.
A timeless face is looking back at me, although looking like he's in his 40s he's 146 years old! The one looking back at me was none other than Yota sitting on the chair with his right leg on the left one with his hands in his pockets.
''Not going to say anything after I saved you from that bastard and healed your injuries?''
Yota asks with a playful tone.
''Oh yeah, thank you for helping us, Yota.''
He responds with a smile on his face.
''Uh, so, who is this girl?''
He points towards Aslish's right.
Turning around to look right he notices there's a table in the corner opposite of the other bed. Sitting behind that table is a green-haired girl wearing white man's clothes with her head on the table sleeping.
''Oh uh, that's Ovia I girl I met up there, but Yota why is she sleeping like that and why are we both wearing the same white pants, white t-shirt, and white crocs? I feel like we're some kind of patients.''
Aalish asks while looking at his clothes disgusted.
''What not satisfied? I bought them with my own money, so do you think I wouldn't buy the cheapest ones?''
He says with a proud voice.
''Yeah, I get it, what about Ovia? What's with her? Sleeping behind the table like that?''
''Well, she was the one who woke up first, about an hour before you. At first, she didn't trust me and jumped out of her bed onto yours, and got ready to fight if I did something to you, but I quickly told her that we know each other and that I mean no harm, she was surprised and I needed to explain exactly how we met or she wouldn't believe me she said. After that I asked her if she needs something while I was about to go out, she said food and clothes and she took a seat, after I came back, I found her asleep and let her rest without waking her up and I took a seat after that in middle of the beds waiting for you to wake up.''
'' That's a quite detailed explanation.''
Aalish says while trying to remember everything.
''That's what you wanted, didn't you?
Yota replies with a chuckle.
''Hmp''
Aalish humps with his shoulders.
''Well then, I'll wake her up and head for the next location.''
Aalish adds while walking toward Ovia.
''What do you mean Heading for the next location?''
Yota asks while looking at Aalish's back.
''Like I said, to find a teacher and get stronger!''
Just as Aalish is about to wake up Ovia.
''Why would you go all the way to the next location you have in mind, if you have someone who
would gladly teach you under one condition?''
Stopping himself he turns around to Yota.
''You mean that-''
Aalish says with a serious tone.
''Yeah, like I said under one condition.''
Yota answers smiling.
''And that is?''
''To help me in exchange for me helping you.''
Should I say yes? Yota is strong he fought against Half and didn't sustain any damage, also he is way more educated than me or Ovia. But I should still consider Ovia's opinion after all we did promise.
''Yota, I would like to accept, but I'm not alone. I still need Ovia's opinion on this.''
Yes, that's right, I am not alone, I can't make decisions that would only suit me alone.
''Oh, then that won't be a problem.''
He says with relief.
''It won't be?''
Aalish answers with confusion.
''Yep, because o already asked her, and to my surprise, she said that she leaves the decision to you. So, what is it going to be Aalish?''
''What is it going to be'' huh? Yes, what is it going to be? I will probably say yes, it's too tempting to have something you were searching for right in front of your eyes. The condition is still a mystery, what will he have me do?
''Well, it depends on what your answer will be.''
Aalish says with a determined look.
Yota laughs and stands up with his hands still in his pockets
''Sure, no problem.''
''By your condition, can we still leave whenever we want to?''
''You know what Aalish, sometimes you're really are weird''
He answers with a troubled voice.
''Eh? Why?''
Aalish adds with a confused voice.
''This is not a contract, get your act together, it's a thing I am willing to do for you guys. It will benefit you and me, that was the reason I proposed this idea. And if you want a clear answer, you can leave whenever you want. So, what about your answer?''
''Well then, we'll be in your care.''
He says with a smile on his face.
''Okay''
Yota smiles with him as well.
''Oh, and also get ready in 15 minutes we are going out.''
He adds while going out the front door.
''Right now? Why?''
Confused and surprised Aalish asks Yota.
''We'll do a little bit of hunting.''
And so, with that the door closes behind him.
''We'll be hunting?''