"H-huh? I'm back in the Soul World?"
Niall sat up, attempting to climb to his feet. As soon as he stood at his full height, he doubled over in pain. Falling to his knees, his breaths came out in harsh wheezes.
"Why-"
"I can explain, but should you not be with her in her final moments?"
Niall looked up, his eyes falling on a deep shadow surrounded with overwhelming light. Near it, Aveline lay alone on the ground.
"Hika? What- damn..."
Niall slowly made his way to Aveline, half dragging her head into his lap. She was breathing, though it was incredibly shallow. Looking up, Niall could barely perceive the distraught look on the face hidden in the shadow.
"What happened, Hika? Why are you here? Why am I the only one conscious?"
Hika seemed to consider their answer for a while before kneeling down beside Niall.
"She over exerted her powerless body. She went beyond a Mana Burn, going into Overburn. Her magic power, once used up and burnt to nothing, eats at her life force. This girl, Aveline Synclair, will cease to be in a few moments."
Niall felt his jaw drop. His temper went straight to boiling as he raised his voice.
"What the hell are you talking about?! She is right here! Aveline will be fine!"
Hika shook their head.
"She is only here due to the remaining life force she has. It is being eaten up by her current magic, or aura, to ensure that the body will survive. Niall, none of this was supposed to happen. I entrusted you with the task of being a library, nothing more."
Niall opened his mouth, only to feel a hand touch his cheek.
"Aveline?! H-hey!"
He grabbed her hand, forcing a smile as he looked down at her death like expression.
"Who is this, Niall?"
Her voice was almost a whisper.
"Hika, the ancient god that really rules this world. D-don't try to talk, save your energy!"
Aveline smiled weakly, shaking her head.
"I already know everything. I can feel it, even. My life, draining. Hehe. It looks like I'll be leaving it to you then?"
Her eyes went from Niall to Hika, the latter speaking up.
"Yes, young one. Niall shall take your place, although this was never supposed to happen. He was nothing more than an information library, yet you changed that yourself."
Aveline smiled as her breathing became even more ragged.
"Niall, don't give up. You gotta live for both of us now!"
Her weak smile seemed to fade a little as her eyes became more focused on Niall's face.
"Besides my father, you were the only man I ever seemed to love. Even in the beginning, I trusted you to get me through everything. I didn't want you to vanish, I didn't want you to leave my side. I think... that is what the God, Hika, meant."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"It is. This young girl took it upon herself to save your soul from oblivion. You were to die out after you gave over the information you possess. Aveline, she kept you in one piece. It is her fault that you lived these last four years."
Niall looked between the two of them, his eyes falling onto Aveline in the end.
"Aveline, we can..."
"Niall."
"...try to find a way..."
"Niall!"
"...to get you-"
"NIALL!"
With her voice raised, a slap also sounded. Her hand stayed against Niall's cheek, slowly rubbing the mark left behind.
"I don't have time. Look..."
Niall finally saw her legs, both already missing from the knee down. Taking a deep breath, Niall leaned down and lightly kissed Aveline's forehead.
"I'm sorry. You've done more than enough, Aveline. Rest easy, I'll take care of everything from here."
Aveline smiled brightly, one last time, before she faded away completely. Hika knelt directly beside Niall, pulling him over towards themself.
"I may not be human, yet I know enough. Let it out for now, we shall speak when you are ready."
To Hika's surprise, Niall was silent. For what seemed like an eternity, he sat in mourning for the girl that only they would know was truly gone. Hika stayed beside him, the god strangely sympathetic during the silent vigil.
Second, minutes, hours. Niall forgot how long he sat there. Solidifying his resolve, his eyes snapped open. Deep blue pools now stared where Aveline had vanished from. He looked towards Hika.
"I think I held my vigil long e- what?"
He blinked for a moment before looking down. His body had changed dramatically. In his place stood Aveline.
"That took you long enough!"
Hika moved awkwardly, the light no longer shrouding their body. An impatient, yet not angry androgynous being was within the shadow. They grabbed Aveline's face.
"It has been six hours in the real world! Do you realize how long we have been in here?!"
Scratching her face, Aveline chuckled softly.
"One second is... a year in here. Hehe. Right?"
Hika clenched their fists. For a moment they seemed ready to hit Aveline, yet they stopped.
"So are you ready? I can see your resolve already, but you must be prepared to inherit Aveline's feelings and memories. She will be your information library now. Niall, no. You must become Aveline Synclair now."
Nodding slowly, her voice came out clear.
"I remember an event similar to what happened. If anything, I will get them back. The church, Orion, Alvol. All of them will suffer for choosing to kill Aveline Synclair."
Hika smiled for the first time. Weaving the air, specks of dust began to float around Aveline.
"Inhale."
Taking a deep breath, Aveline could feel everything the original had felt. She could see everything the original had seen. When her eyes reopened, a sprawling forest was above her. Beneath her... the ground was flashing by at an incredible rate. Struggling, a voice made it to her ears.
"Finally you're awake!"