Meanwhile, the still-snoring Boo continued to lie next to Ellie on the couch.
The room was silent again after Seris and Tessia left.
For two days Alice and Caera were now in the same room. Only Caera had left it a few times to sleep briefly or to get something to eat. Alice, on the other hand, hadn't moved from the bed.
During these days, Caera and Alice still had not spoken a single word to each other. Alice was looking at Arthur all the time, but Caera knew that concern for him was not the only reason.
She didn't want to see Caera and Seris.
It was war and her people had started it. Alice lost her friends, lost her comrades and lost family. She thought her son was dead until two days ago when he suddenly appeared here in the castle. Unconscious and unresponsive.
And who had brought him? The enemies she despised so much. Alice couldn't help but look away from them. Even though she knew that Caera was not directly responsible for the death of her loved ones, she could feel nothing but contempt. Nevertheless, the two Vritra had brought her back her son, whom she had thought for so long that she had lost forever.
Alice had been racking her brains about how to deal with Caera and Seris ever since they showed up. She could not find the right answer. She didn't even know if there was a right answer.
"Can I just talk to them normally? Maybe we even get along well? After all, they saved my son and share my worries?"These are the thoughts that have plagued Alice for two days.
Caera knew all this. She was also aware that it would be best for her to leave the room. But she couldn't leave Arthur. They were comrades and close friends. They fought together again and again and risked their lives. She didn't know how to deal with the situation. The only contact between Caera and Alice was when she asked if anyone would like something to eat. Alice's reaction was only a nod.
Caera had decided not to address her directly for the time being. Alice should make the decision if and when they want to talk to each other.
It was then.
„Boom!"
A sound like a thunderclap echoed throughout the entire castle. The floor and the walls were shaking.
As if by reflex, Alice and Caera threw themselves protectively over Arthur. The war and countless battles have led both of them to make quick decisions, even in such moments. And now the task of the two was to protect Arthur.
A few seconds passed and silence returned.
A glance around the room made it clear to both that he hadn't taken any damage. Before they both sat down again, Caera had to ask the obvious question.
"What was that?", she thought that there might be a training ground in the area but she also knew that a training would never shake a castle like this.
"I don't know, it has never happened before." Alice replied.
"Okay, we should wait here for now. If something bad has happened, we'll be notified for sure," Caera said as she sat down again.
Alice and Caera had both protected Arthur. Alice wanted to thank her, but she still couldn't bring herself to address her directly.
This time the voice came from the corner of the room. Ellie, who had been asleep the whole time so far, was sitting on the couch. "Is Arthur fine?" she asked.
"Yes, Ellie. Arthur is fine but he still hasn't woken up," Alice replied.
Ellie, like Caera, had only left the room to sleep and eat since her brother returned. She was nevertheless very nervous, she knew that her brother, who was like a cockroach, wouldn't die and wake up again. Still, she could feel the tension from everyone in the room. She lowered her head dejectedly when she learned that her brother still hadn't woken up.
Boo had also raised his head at the sound, but after realizing that everything was save, he lowered his head again and closed his eyes.
"And you? Mom? Caera?", Ellie asked again. She had overheard their conversation, being only half asleep, so she knew neither of them knew what had happened.
Ellie, unlike Alice, didn't dislike Caera. Although she was only 14 years old, she had fought in the war. She had lost friends and family. But had, after seeing her brother alive again, no bad feelings towards Caera and Seris. It was like a miracle for her.
Alice answered for both of them, "We're fine too. You don't have to worry."
Ellie turned her gaze to Caera who nodded and smiled.
Without knocking, the door opened. The guard, who had been standing outside the door all along, entered the room and asked, "Are you all okay? Is anyone hurt?"
Relieved to see that everyone was fine and nodding, he let out a relieved sigh. The guard knew who was in this room. Even though he was obviously not pleased about the two former enemies present, it was an honor for him to guard the room of the man who had single-handedly ended the years-long war by defeating the leader of the Vritra.
"Good, that's a relief. I don't know yet what happened, the whole castle is in an uproar. I will inform you as soon as I know what is going on," said the guard before leaving the room.
Silence returned.
Ellie, who was annoyed by the atmosphere in the room, but who could well understand her mother, sat down with Alice at her brother's bedside.
Only Boo's soft snoring could be heard. She had to smile. "Thanks, Boo.", she said in silence.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
This time Tessia and Seris entered the room.
"Tess!", Ellie jumped up from the chair by the bed and ran to her. They both hugged each other.
Ellie and Tessia, regardless of the age difference, have become best friends over the years. In fact, they were more sisters than friends.
"Ellie, it's good to see you! It's been way too long since we last met. How are you?", with a smile Tess stroked her head.
"I'm fine. It's been a rough time, but now Art is finally back! He still hasn't woken up. But you know him, he always comes back. But, but... Do you know what that was all about?", Ellie asked.
"Ah, yes. Um. That was me. I got slightly angry and I guess I overdid it a bit," Tess replied with an odd smile.
Ellie, Alice and Caera looked at her. Dumbfounded.
Only from Seris, who was again standing at the edge of the room with her hood up, could a faint smirk be heard.
"So.... is everything okay again?", Ellie interrupted the short silence in the room.
"Yes, Ellie. It's alright. Don't worry," Tess was still smiling. She had missed Ellie a lot. More than she had thought. This girl was like a little sister to her. Even if sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which of the two acts more grown up. Just like her brother.
"Okay, fine. Let's go get something to eat together later," Ellie decided.
"Yes, I would like that very.... AH", Tess' face contorted painfully. She grabbed her head with both hands and moaned.
Alice and Caera both stood up, even Seris turned her gaze to Tess.
Ellie was still standing next to Tess. Not knowing what to do.
"Tess, Tess. What's wrong?" asked Ellie anxiously.
After a few seconds, Tess felt better.
Aware that everyone in the room was looking at her, Tess said, "I'm fine. I just have a headache. It's been a rough time."
This time Alice asked, "Tess, are you sure you're okay? Let me take a look at your head."
Alice was an emitter and thus had magical healing abilities.
"Okay, thanks Alice," Tess replied. She had no reason to refuse.
Alice went to Tessia and placed her hands on her head. Alice closed her eyes and green lights sparkled over Tess's head. After a while the pain was gone. Tess's face looked normal again.
This time it was Seris who spoke to Tess, "Tessia, are you sure you're okay? We still don't know what will happen to you and Commander Vir...", Seris couldn't finish her sentence because Tess interrupted her harshly.
"I'm fine. Don't talk about that here," Tess said with an angry voice.
Seris lowered her head with a designated expression on her face. Knowing that she can't change Tessia's mind now.
Caera was only slightly confused. Alice and Ellie, however, looked at her puzzled. The reaction was not typical for Tessia, they both wanted to ask but she, like she said, doesn't want to talk about it.
Everyone was uncomfortable with the situation so Tess wanted to change the subject. "There are quite a few people here now, Art will be happy to wake up surrounded by so many women," she said in a disguised voice.
Alice just rolled her eyes, Caera smirked at her comment but it was Ellie who answered in a disguised offended voice. "Don't forget about Boo!"
Tess laughed. Honestly. For the first time in a while, she painfully realized.
"I wouldn't dare forget your precious Bond, Ellie!" she said to Ellie with a smile.
Ellie crossed her arms, puffed out her cheeks and looked to the side.
„That was the most childlike gesture I have seen by Ellie in many years", Alice thought.
„Thanks for being here, Tess." she said. Happy to see that Ellie was acting like girls are supposed to be at her age.
This was also the first time in two days since more than two sentences were spoken in the room and the depressed mood was gone at least for a few minutes.
Caera and Seris had stayed out of the conversation, but they too were glad to see that the mood was changing.
It was when Tess moved towards the bed where Arthur was still lying.
Just before she arrived, it hit her like a blow. She fell to the floor and could no longer see anything because of the pain. She wasn't sure if she screamed or not, but the pain in her head made her unaware of her surroundings. She could only see a bolt of light and hear voices that felt like they were coming from very far away. "Tess! Tess!" was the last thing she perceived before she slowly lost consciousness.