All three of us stared at her as Claire began to stumble to her knees, The Bo staff protruding through her chest spilled blood. The blue haired girl looked down in shock.
No,no,no,no…
"Claire?!" Lilith shouted in confused panic. She held Mandy underneath her knees as she glanced at me. "W-what h-"
"No!" Amelia screeched out, immediately falling to her knees to catch Claire in her arms. The two girls crumpled to the floor as Amelia tried to hold her.* "no, Big Sis! Claire!"
I went into a full sprint towards the two. Maybe if helped with healing, Claire would still have time! I just got-
Suddenly, something held onto my left leg. The sudden grab forced me to fall to the ground, looking back in anger as I saw who did it. Underneath Lilith, was the pink haired boy. His left blackened arm touching the ground, the tendrils he made burrowed through the ground and clung to my leg.
"Hehe…Task done. Arael, Say goodbye to the goddess of life!" Mandy cackled, only for Lilith to give him a hard jab to his head. But that didn't stop him. I watched as the blackened liquid around his left arm grew across his body, causing Lilith to instinctively hop off him. "I told you all that I'd off myself once I'm finished here. And I'm going to see that through. This body isn't gonna cut it now, and I suppose it's time to show my true form…"
Lilith went to grab her Black shortsword that laid on the floor, flipping it around in her hands as she paced her way to me. "Kota!" She then knelt next to me, removing the tendrils by burning them with her left hand. She kept looking at me, panic stricken her eyes. "Kota!"
I felt my mind numbing as I continued to stare at Claire and Amelia. I couldn't focus on Lilith who shook me, nor could I focus on the fact Mandy was turning into something worse. The fact that…I let this happen when I could've reacted faster. When I told Amelia that I'd protect them…
The strange guilt I felt in my past life swept over me. Once again, I tried to help…only to fail and have it backfire. What the hell am I doing? I made things worse, dammit…I can't even get Duvul's mana to work either!
"…Shit!" I yelled, slamming my hand into the cave floor. My yelling caught Lilith by surprise as she glanced back at Mandy. I could hear the pink haired boy slowly morphing behind me, laughing as he did. "I can't do anything…"
"Kota, snap out of it!" Lilith grabbed me by the collar of my robe, her face inches away from mine. "Amelia needs us!" Her left eye glowed a red pulsing red as she looked at me. "I need you!"
"Awww, Poor Lover boy is having a midlife crisis? What, are you upset you failed?" I heard Mandy's distorted voice. It sounded so eerie and strange, like multiple layers of other voices laid below his. "I can see from your reaction that this has happened before, you tried to save someone before and you failed…"
"Don't listen to him!" Lilith shook me, her eyes gazing at me. "…don't let Amelia down. She's needs us more than ever now."
I gaze at Amelia and Claire. The figure that stood by Claire whisked itself around Amelia, almost as if it was trying to protect her. Its transparent arms caress the girls, like a mother consoling them. I looked on as Amelia sobbed, holding her sister before she gave me a look. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked frightened and confused. Her lips moved, ghosting a sentence. I could make out what she was trying to say.
"Please, help."
Something snapped in me. I felt myself being pulled into myself as my vision blurred as if I was pulling myself into something. I needed to speak with Duvul…Slowly the world around me blackened as I was once more…pulled into the Abyss. Lilith's voice faded as everything went black.
****
I found myself kneeling in a familiar void, the rippling floor that shimmered as if I was looking at a galaxy of stars. I stood up, looking around to find Duvul sitting on a stool. The man was drinking from a cup, reading something from a leather book before he noticed me.
"So, you snapped." He said, eyeing me as he closed his book. He stood up from his stool, the stool magically dissipating into the floor as he approached me. "Told you that you needed something to push you over the edge."
He stood in front of me, his long black hair coiled along the left side of his shoulder as he looked at me. His teal colored eyes stared into me as he quickly circled around me.
"So…you called me back to the abyss again?" I asked, wondering why he was so curious about me now.
"…I did not." He smirked, stopping in front of me again. "Looks like you…let yourself in. I'm impressed." He looked off into the void. "At this moment, time here is going slow. When you reach back into the world, you'll be back where you are…"
I went wide eyed as he said that. How the hell did I find my way into the abyss? All I did was pull at something…I felt like I was reaching out desperately at something and grabbed a hold of it.
"You managed to get a grip of my mana inside you. Remember, you have your own and mine…and you managed to tap into mine. Entering it with ease…"
"E-ease? All I did was grab at something…Unless that's hard to do." I looked at my own hands, something feeling off about me now…
I felt like a surge of mana was pulsing through me, like I could do anything…make anything.
I looked up at Duvul. "The hell is happening?"
The long haired man chuckled, holding his hand out to me. "Hmph…Go on, you'll see when you touch my hand."
I stared at his hand, remembering the last time I came here. I held his hand and nothing happened…With how things are going now, could I actually be…
I placed my hand onto his. Nothing happened. "Ok, are you just making me touc-" I glared back up at him before suddenly, a surge of mana coursed through my body.
Duvul grinned as he grabbed my hand. "Haha! Told you…You got access to my mana…congratulations."
I stared at him, feeling this overflowing power course through me. "I…what's gonna happen?"
"Since you tapped into it, I believe you'll always have access to it now. It'll just be like a mana cloaking any other person does, just to a more efficient extent. You'll have access to my eyes." I pointed at his teal colored eyes. "You even have them now…"
I went wide eyed, immediately looking down. Seeing…that he was correct. My blue eyes have changed into his own colors. "What the…fuck?"
He looked at me with a smile before quickly changing into a more serious demeanor. "…Let's show Mandy what you're capable of."
I then remembered why I even got here in the first place. Seeing Claire impaled by Mandy's pole, seeing Amelia crying and helpless as I didn't stop any of it on time…
I angrily clenched my fist, looking at him. "Yeah…"
"Look…" Duvul grabbed my shoulder, his touch more gentle than I thought it'd be. "I'm not sure how long you'll maintain this mana cloak, since it'll be the first time you really used one. You'll need to end this quickly…something is stirring on the outside." He looked back up at the abyss's sky.
"…What is it?" I too looked up, confused at what he was staring at. But suddenly, I felt a pulse of energy go through my eyes. The sky of the abyss began to spread, showing me the cave floor that I was at.
This was how he was watching me. And in this view, I noticed that Amelia and the spirit that Claire had were slowly glowing. I squinted to see closer, noticing a pendant in her hand was the source of this glowing. "…Amelia?"
"I'll be forcing you out of my abyss, waking you back up…Keep the girl safe and kill Mandy." Duvul said quickly, his hand reaching for my head.
Before I could say anything, I felt the abyss dissipate. My vision blurring once more before slowly blackening.
And then I awoke.
*****
[Amelia]
I clutched Claire in my hands, my mind panicking and freezing as I quickly felt the blood spilling into my hands. "No! No, Big sis! Claire!" Her body is heavy, almost making me fall backwards. I could see Mandy's pole lodged into her chest, even more panic sweeping through me.
Claire had a dazed and pained look on her face, as if she wasn't even sure what she had done. Her hand trailed her chest, blood staining her hands as she slowly looked at her spirit that stood next to us. The spirit that she manifested reached a hand out, its transparent hands touching her wound before pulling back. The figure then looked at me, its faceless face staring at me before reaching out to me.
"C-Claire…hey, stay with me…I'll heal you!" I tried to hold back the tear as I raised my palm at her. I tried to chant the beginner healing spell, but I began to fumble my words. "Oh great Nebus… G-grant me the…the strength to aid those in need. P—Por….hah…I-I can't!"
"A-Amelia…" I looked down, wide eyed as Claire spoke. It was ragged and hoarse, her blue eyes slowly glanced up at me. "It's…ok."
"No! It's not! What are you saying?!" I stared at her, mortified. Her bloody hand raised to touch my cheek. As she touched my cheek, I felt another touch on my shoulder. The spirit that Claire had raised wrapped its arms around me, almost in a motherly fashion.
"I..I can't let my little sister be hurt. I've wanted to protect you." Claire's hand stroked my cheek, her blood lingering on it as she stared at me. "That's why…" She could barely finish her sentence, her Pigeon bracelet glow growing more dim by the moment. She was fading fast.
The figure that held me clutched me harder, as if consoling me.
What is this feeling? My hands were shaking and my breathing was frantic, I couldn't focus on the spell as I looked at Claire. Anxiety and fear was sweeping through me, I found myself caving in. "No..." My gaze drew towards Lilith and Kota, I don't even think the words came out as I spoke. "Please, help."
Suddenly, with her last bit of strength…Claire reached out once more to touch the matching bracelets we had. Her bloodied bracelet burned with a glow as it touched mine, and as a reaction, mine glowed as well.
"H-huh?!" The bracelet that Roul gave me…Moms bracelet and Claire's were reacting to each other?
Slowly, my vision began to blur. Out of fear, I reached out to Claire. Even in my blurred vision, I could see her, weakly smiling as a tear shed from her eyes.
"You'll understand…I promise. See the ocean…"
That was the last thing I heard from her before my vision went completely dark. The echoing sounds of Lilith yelling my name and Mandy laughing drowned out, the faint sensation of the floor rumbling slowly faded.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a blue colored…void? The scent of fresh air and what smelled like wet rock filled my nose. I gazed around this void.
Where…was I?
"Amelia." I heard a voice echo through this vast space, I turned my head around to the voice. My eyes widening to see who it was. "My precious Amelia…"
A tall woman stood in front of me, her long blue hair resembled that of Claire's. She wore a white gown as she held her arms out to me. Her gentle smile became blurred as I felt my tears begin to fall. This…This was my mom, Yolanda Mallory.
"M-mother?" I found myself stuck in place, unable to move just due to the sheer shock of this all. However, tears began to flow even more as I also began to sniffle. "M-Mother!"
Finally, I sprinted to her. Jumping into her arms as she held me. Her touch was warm, gentle. It was just how I remembered it. I felt her hand stroke my hair with such gentleness as I quivered in her arms.
"My sweet child…I know you miss me. These years within me have been rough, yes?" I heard her say.
I looked up at her, Teary eyed. "Y-yes…It's been..so hard. I couldn't make friends…I was bullied and I got kicked out of the school before going to Prusha…And Claire…It's like the distance between us grew larger." I pushed my head deeper into my mothers chest. "I don't know why…Claire…Claire stayed with dad when he didn't even want me…she hates me!"
My mother said nothing for a moment before pulling me off of her. Her eyes were gentle, but a somber expression was mixed in as well. "And why do you think that?"
"I…" I stumbled on my words, my hands clenching on my mothers gown. "Ever since you died…she's stopped playing with me, talking with me as she went on to join dad in his merchant business. We always argue every time if we had a conversation, we'd argue about anything…I don't know what I'm doing wrong! I felt so angry ever since you died and now…knowing what she did, I don't know what to feel about her…"
My mother's gentle hands trailed the back of my hair. "Amelia…I'm sorry for having you go through all of this. But Claire…well, you must see for yourself. She truly does care for you, as did I…"
The abyss we were in slowly changed. I looked around with caution, gripping my mother. The abyss slowly painted over itself. The walls and floor slowly turning…into the Mallory Manor? I found myself standing on the first floor of my home.
"W-what's is this?" I asked, looking around in surprise. "How are…how am I home?" I turned around to see my mother at the top of the center stairs, standing right next to my father's room.
"Claire must've told you…We're a part of a family that shares each other's memories. As your Sister shares mine and many others before us. You weren't here when this happened…" My mother then opened the door to my fathers room.
"What?" I look at my mother, confused. I wasn't here? I slowly walked up the stairs, my father's room coming into view as I saw…Claire, standing and facing away from me. She stood at the bed where he usually would lay to rest, but here…something was off. I saw my mother stride to the side of the bed as she looked at me, her eyes filled with somber as she looked at Claire as well.
As I got closer in the room, I noticed the sounds of someone gasping. Getting close to the bed, I expected it to be father…Yet, as they came into view, it became apparent who it was.
It was my mother, lying in bed. Her forehead covered by a wet towel, her body malnourished and she gasped for air in the bed. She looked at Claire with a weak smile, not even noticing me.
I looked up at…my other mom, I found myself being confused. How are there two versions of my mom here? I stared at the healthy version of my mom, more confused than saddened now. "W-what is this?"
"This…is your sister's memory. Right now, we are experiencing the most prominent memories that she holds. Memories that…she wanted you to see. Who you see on the bed is really me, During my last moments. You were asleep in your room when this happened…You were too young to understand what was happening."
I gaze back at Claire, she did look younger than I remembered. As I looked at her, Claire began to speak, not at me…but our Mother.
"Are you sure?" Her voice was strained, quivering as she stared at our mother. "Why can't dad know?"
My mother who was in the bed looked at Claire. "Your father…he'd use it for his own gain. I had once wished to show him when we were married, but…I soon realized the mistake I made when marrying him."
"W-what?" Claire looked taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Your father tricked me into marrying him. When I first met him, I was an adventurer…and he was just an apprentice at some shop. I thought his kind and sweet attitude was all there was to him… but I soon realized that was all a lie when we married. I had found out that he knew of our bloodline and what it was capable of and he was willing to take it from me…to use it for his own benefit." My frail mother gestured at Clare, urging her to come closer. "That is why I entrust you, to take care of your sister…and take on this power I have. Use it to protect your sister, please…"
Claire looked at her in disbelief for a moment before her eyes began to water. "I…mother…"
"Claire…I trust that you can do this. You two are my precious girls…" Our frail mother lifted her bracelet, the one I had on. "Let our bracelets touch, and from there on…I shall be transferred to you. Always with you amongst our family."
Claire lifted her hand, her bracelet hanging loosely around her wrist. She then slowly reached toward her mother, the sound of humming and Against glow between the bracelets grew.
"Claire…keep your sister safe."
As the two touched bracelets, the room shined a vibrant light of blue. Enveloping me as I closed my eyes, the light was too bright…
"Amelia…" I heard my mothers voice again, I opened my eyes…to another location. A large office room that looked quite old and filled with shelves and a large desk in the middle. I glanced around the room to find Claire and my Father at the door. My father looked a bit healthier than before, but he stood in front of Claire with a cane. His eyes furrowed in anger as he looked at her.
I felt a palm on my shoulder as I looked to see who it was. My mother was standing next to me as she stared with somber. "Another one of Claire's Memories…One of the first days she went with your father to learn with him…"
Adam Mallory looked at Claire with Ferocious glare, his cane raised into the air. "You botched our Chance at a new supplier! I gave you instructions and you couldn't even read them!"
I watched as his cane struck Amelia over her head, causing her to kneel in pain. I felt myself flutter with anger as I looked at my father, seeing his true colors even more than before.
"Claire!" I yelled, grasping for her. But my touch simply passed through her, a reminder that all of this…was a memory of hers. The sound of her voice echoing in my ear as if I could hear her thoughts.
"Protect…Amelia…Protect her from him…" Claire's voice echoed in my ear as I looked on at her. Claire stared at the floor as she caressed her wounded head. Her eyes struck with fear and anger, but she slowly took a deep breath.
"Forgive me, father…I'll do better next time… *She stood up, her legs wobbling slightly in fear as Adam stared at her.
"Hmph…To think you'd be able to replace your mother." Adam walked past her, his cane tapping against the floor as he made his way to the desk. "Perhaps your little sister would've been a better option than you…"
"N-no!" Clare immediately looked up at him, hastily walking to the desk. "No…not her, she…not capable like me…" Claire looked down as she said that.
"Hmph…So you see her the way I do then. Glad we're on the same page when it comes to that…" Adam sat in his chair as he looked at Claire.
Suddenly, I heard her inner thoughts.
(I cannot beat seeing her be hurt by him…It must be me…I shall take the brunt of it all for her…)
My eyes went wide as I heard her thoughts. All the reasons why she distanced herself from me, kept me away from my father…it was to keep me safe…
"I don't know what to do with that sister of yours…She hasn't brought anything to the family, just her own arrogance and lack of respect for me." Adam said. "At least you, Claire, are capable of functioning properly…Maybe you'll do when the time arrives to take my place to run…"
Claire continued to look down. "Y-yes…I'll do my best…"
The room began to blur, Both Claire and our father slowly blurring as the void I was in began to morph once more. My mother stood next to me, clutching my shoulder.
"Your sister was always thinking of you. Every day when you were in Ozoth's school or out and about…she dealt with your fathers abuse. She never once thought of letting you face it. Ever."
The void morphed and changed, slowly transforming into the 2nd floor of the Manor. The lights changed and it became night, the candle lights illuminating faintly along the balcony rails I stood near. The sound of footstep going up the stairs caught my attention.
I felt my mothers hand pull away as I turned to look to see who it was. It was Claire, who was in her white gown. She held a candle close to her as she made her way to where I was. Her expression was saddened and tired, I could see the bags beneath her eyes. She walked past me, not even noticing me as she walked to the ajar door at the end of the balcony. My room. The circular art that represented the ocean gently waved in the air as air flew out of my room. It was an art piece that I got for one of my birthdays, I always wanted to see the oceans…just never got to. Claire stood near the door, her hand slowly reaching out in hesitance…
I walked close behind her, suddenly hearing…myself sniffling past the door. Claire clutched the candle tightly as soon as she heard me.
Wait…I remember this day. This was when I got into a fight with some boys at the Ozoth school. They berated me about my magical skills and my mother…so beat them up and used my wind spell to send them onto the roof of the school…I ended up getting suspended and yelled at by my father and Claire. I don't think I really talked to Claire for the rest of the day until now…
"Amelia?" Claire said, just nudging closer to my door. The sounds of sniffling grew loud from me. Claire stood by the door, unsure to even open it.
I stood next to Claire, waiting for my own past to respond to her. A weird feeling of remembrance and guilt filled me…I knew what I was going to say to her, I remember this day too well. And…Standing next to Claire makes me wish I said something else.
"…go away. I don't want to see your face, you yelled at me…" I heard myself whisper out. "I hate it here. I hate this house…I hate that I can't leave this place. I want to leave, be an adventurer like mom…"
"No-Amelia, wa-"
"Please, just…Keep ignoring me!" My voice rang through the door, even surprising me as I stood next to Claire. "Stop trying to act like you care…"
Claire was taken aback, taking a step back before she stifled a cry, I saw her gritting her teeth as she clutched her own chest with her free hand. Her bracelet glowed and Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered to herself. "…Sorry." She then turned and walked down the stairs.
From my memory, that was the last I heard of her from that night. I stayed in my bed, crying…My door left a jarred as I didn't care. But…this was Claire's memory. I followed behind her as she went up her own stairs to her side of the 2nd floor, her wooden door creaking open as she looked back at mine. Her eyes gazed at my door, staring at it.
"I'm sorry…" I heard Claire whisper to herself, her eyes teary. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you…" she gazed at her bracelet which hummed. "But I must keep you safe…"
Claire then turned back to her room, leaving her own door open. As if hoping I'd see it…maybe hoping I'd come to her room and find comfort from her.
But I never did that. I remember I awoke that next day late, Claire had already gone out with father to the shop. I was already planning on leaving for Prusha, with the idea that she never cared…
"Why…why am I such an idiot?!" I fell to my knees, tears welling in my eyes. "Stupid, stupid! Idiot!"
The world blurred once more as it seemed that this was Claire's last memory. The world turned back into the blue void. The floor reflected my face, ripples were made from the tears that fell.
I'm a horrible sister, I…I didn't appreciate her as much as I should have…
A gentle hand pressed itself on my shoulder. "Amelia…Don't cry." A familiar voice rang through the void. I slowly raised my head, tears simmering my face as I looked to see who it was.
It was Claire, she wore a white gown as she looked down at me. She didn't have any blood on her, no wounds…
"B-big sis?" I whispered out to her, my eyes tearing up more as I then wailed. "I-I'm sorry!" I hugged her tightly, feeling her warmth and touch.
"Hey…It's ok. You have nothing to be sorry for." Claire looked down at me, her hand caressing my head. Her touch was gentle and kind. "I wanted…I wanted to show you that I always cared. That I was always thinking of my little sister."
Another hand pressed against her, turning around in Claire's embrace…I saw my mother too.
"We're always here for you. Even through death and all obstacles, we're in your heart." My mother, Yolanda clutched her chest. "…As of right now, you passed the trial for the ritual."
"R-ritual?" I looked at her, confused. I wiped my tears and pulled away from Claire. "W-what do you mean?"
"The Nebus trial." My mother explained. "This is our bloodline's way of keeping ourselves connected, Amelia…Even me and now Claire…"
"Amelia…" Claire spoke, quiet and gentle. "I…I know this is all so much for you. And I know…You are scared. I did too when I did this with mother…But you won't be alone once the ritual is complete. You'll have us by your side, in the form of those figures."
She must be talking of that figure that she summoned to her side…I'll be able to do that as well? Then…I'll have them at my side too, always…
"Amelia…Listen to your sister." My mother said, her hand gently touching my shoulder. "Let us join you. We'll be with you, always."
This…ritual…What if I can't do it? What if I fail?
Claire grasped her arms around me, hugging me from behind. "Please Amelia…You can be the adventurer you wanted to be when you finish the ritual. Be like mother or even go back to Prusha to study. And we'll be there with you the whole way. Please, trust me…You'll be able to see the ocean."
The ocean…I always wanted to see the ocean since I was younger. To see that vast open sea, all for me to see and explore. Maybe…Claire is right. She'll be by my side at all times, so will mother. I just need to get through this. For them, I'll carry them on.
"I-I got it." I looked up at the two of them. "What did I need to do?" Claire and My mother then stood in front of me. Claire's bracelet humming as the one I had did as well.
"You have my bracelet. Our bracelets are our way of transferring one to another." My mother explained. "Just like what Claire did before…you just simply touch each other's bracelet and it'll be done."
I looked at Claire, holding my hand out. My hand trembled as uncertainty crept through me. Was I even worthy to do this? Isn't Nebus the goddess of life? Why would she let me use this sort of power?
"Amelia…It's ok. I felt like this too. Uncertain, afraid…anxious. I thought that my life was at its end, but…I thought of you. My little sister, the one who kept me going in life. And that became my purpose…what gave me strength. And I want you…to find your purpose too." Claire spoke to me gently, her bracelet humming loudly as she then touched our bracelets together.
A surge of visions and knowledge flowed through me. Happiness, anger, love, sadness. All of it. The memories of my past relatives flowed through me like water, easing into my mind as I stared at Claire. Claire and my mother were slowly glistening with sparkles, their body slowly growing transparent as they seemed to be absorbed into me.
"C-claire? Mother?" I looked at the two as they slowly dissipated. The only thing left that stayed behind was Claire's bracelet, which floated slowly down into my hands.
I stood there for a moment by myself in the void, clutching Claire's bracelet in my hand. For a moment I thought I was really alone again.
But…The gentle touch on my shoulder told me otherwise. As I turned, I saw a figure. The one that accompanied Claire when she was alive. This…this was my summon now. It's hand trailed by shoulder before caressing my chin, it's non existent face looked at me as if it was like my mother…
Mother…or maybe like claire. I gazed at the being, finally realizing what it was. "Your…the culmination of everyone before me, aren't you? You…have Claire and Mother inside you now."
The figure looked at me for a moment before nodding, confirming my suspicion.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in the void, "Amelia!" A voice that caught my attention.
It was Kota.
"Amelia, please wake up!" Lilith's voice also began to echo into the void I was in. The two were calling for my help.
I looked at the figure that stood next to me. "…Let's go help them."