Aveline felt herself become more aware as her eyes opened in a strange space.
'The hell?'
She looked around for a bit before noticing a familiar figure laying out on a fluffy couch, eating snacks. The figure seemed to be talking to themself as Aveline approached.
"Ugh... this is so frustrating! There is way too much I am still staying quiet about. I hope she will forgive me..."
Hika sighed as Aveline leaned over the back of the couch.
"So you're just relaxing inside my soul?"
Hika shuddered and jumped at the same time, a squeak floating from their mouth.
"Ah! Haha, Aveline! You scared me."
Aveline rolled her eyes as she walked around and sat beside the God.
"How come you couldn't sense me? Aren't you a God?"
Hika laughed a little, pulling their legs up to their chin.
"I am weak right now. Just getting you to come around took a lot out of me."
An eyebrow raised, Aveline didn't press for answers.
"Shouldn't you be resting? It would kinda suck if you got too weak to even talk to me. Though you are what you are, I'm still putting my faith in you right now. I need my backer, at least a little."
Hika stayed silent.
"So my Soul World... what the hell?"
Hika smiled brightly.
"Please do not be mad. This was for my optimum comfortability, using your memories as a basis."
Aveline sighed as she put her head in her hands.
"I'm disguising myself as Niall for a while. I plan on breaking down the foundation of the church and Orion's power. I want him weak when I finally reveal myself at school."
Hika seemed a little perturbed.
"Erm... you only just accept- err... nevermind. It is a good plan. While you are out, you should find any way to meet more of the women you believe would help."
Aveline nodded, pretending to ignore Hika's first words.
"I have three, though one is a little reserved still. Nora hasn't been growing any more fond of me. It's a little irksome, though I know why. She respects strength, not money or shadow play. She was a simple conquest!"
Hika seemed interested as they spoke up.
"And the other two?"
Aveline shrugged.
"They weren't conquests. You barely got a hint of either of them, but it seems I stole them with just being here. I, I mean, Aveline was their best bet for survival."
Hika touched her shoulder with a gentle pressure.
"You are Aveline."
A small smile crept onto Aveline's face as she heard those words, but the pit in her heart made it harder to hear.
Hika shifted their eyes as they moved back.
"You have worked hard, just to survive another day. Another year. Even if you must hide once more, it is all to survive."
Aveline didn't quite understand, but she got to her feet.
"You know the system you tinkered with? I think you should tinker some more. I might need it."
With that, Aveline disappeared from in front of Hika.
"Silly girl. You will understand some day."
-
The room was dim, lit with only a small candle. Two bodies held one another, their soft voices gently caressing each others ears.
"Thorin, my love, should we really send our baby out like this? She hasn't been home for long."
Her distraught face made Thorin want to deny Aveline, but the fire in his daughter's eyes left him unable.
"She has your fire."
Nilly grew silent as she leaned her head against Thorin's chest.
"She has your stubbornness, you jerk."
Thorin's soft chuckle tickled Nilly's ears, the grown woman shivering softly.
"Will she be okay?"
Thorin kissed her hair, a small sigh coming from him.
"That girl is tough. She braved that depraved forest for nearly an entire year. She will do great things once she sets her mind to it."
Nilly bounced up into a sitting position, her bare body slipping out from under the blanket they shared. Thorin ogled for a moment before looking up at her eyes.
"You can stare, they're only for you."
Nilly teased him, but continued.
"So... we aren't getting any grandchildren."
Thorin had gone back to ogling, but held his mouth as he nearly laughed.
"Though it's a shame, I don't regret losing out on further progeny. I want our daughter to thrive. If it means being with a woman or... many, so be it."
Nilly rolled her eyes as she slipped her way into Thorin's lap.
"And if say... we wanted grandchildren? How would we go about that?"
Thorin realized what she meant, three parts of his body rising. Two of which were his eyebrows.
-
The morning light began to blaze across the land as Aveline stood in front of her parents. They were a little tired, as well as hastily dressed.
"Oh. So when am I getting a sibling?"
Nilly and Thorin both had awkward smiles as Aveline teased.
"Don't worry, I'm patient. Now the story for Niall..."
Her voice trailed off as she made sure her parents were paying attention. The two of them held her gaze.
"Niall is my twin brother. Elder by minutes, I guess. Sickly since birth, you sent him out of the country to a place to cure him of an unknown disease. He only returned after hearing of his little sister's demise, ready to enact vengeance if necessary."
Thorin and Nilly were slightly stunned at the fabricated story. When they looked back, Aveline stood as Niall.
"Though you are happy I have returned, you must continue your mourning to some extent. I know mother's mental health was heavily devastated, but the fix can be the return of her other child. I will be leading a small group to discover what happened to Aveline and why it happened. When I am fifteen, Nora should head to the school to look after the problem as well as get some inside information."
Niall watched as Thorin and Nilly agreed. Thorin waved a hand, calling Kyra in. She had a small bag.
"This is something of a starter fund. It'll be hard for you to use it all immediately, but I think you should use it. Twenty gold coins, as well as a decent carriage. Kyra, Nora and Lyla spent some time prepping themselves as well as grabbing gear you had chosen. You are ready to go at any time."
Niall could see the tears peeking from the corner of their eyes, slipping back into Aveline's form she approached them.
"I am alive and well. I will visit, as often as I can."
Nilly and Thorin stood in unison, the pair quickly pulling Aveline into their arms. She struggled a little, finding a spot that was comfortable as she was held.
"I do need to go. Don't forget to reveal the news of my return."
She was given a kiss on top of her head from Thorin, while Nilly gave her many on each cheek. The flustered girl squirmed away, only to fall against Kyra's busty chest. She looked up, seeing a warm smile looking back. Her lips parted as she whispered.
"Thank you for taking me with you."
---
Thank you,
Anna Haig!