Kira's eyes fluttered open slowly, and as her vision cleared, she found herself staring up at the familiar ceiling of the room she had just occupied with Alexei. The last memory that echoed in her mind was the sensation of passing out. The reason was clear to Kira she had recognized the telltale signs of her own blood loss. Despite the darkness threatening to pull her into unconsciousness, she fought against it to stay awake.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
A sudden, jarring sound interrupted Kira's thoughts. The sharp, rhythmic noises of something hard being crushed echoed in the room. Confused, Kira turned her gaze to the source of the sound, and there she saw Alexei. What shocked Kira to her core was the sight of Alexei with her sharp teeth bared, a bone clamped between them as she chewed on it voraciously.
Kira's eyes widened at the unreal scene unfolding beside her. The crunching continued, each sound sending a shiver down Kira's spine. She couldn't comprehend the sight of Alexei engaged in such primal behavior.
Caught in the act, Alexei noticed Kira looking at her. Slowly rising to her feet, she turned to face Kira, a worried expression clouding her features. The comparison of the predatory act and the concern etched on Alexei's face created an eerie contrast, leaving Kira to grapple with the unsettling reality of the moment.
"Kira, you're finally awake," Alexei exclaimed, a hint of joy coloring her voice.
"I thought you were gone for good."
"Don't fret. I won't bite the dust until we find our way out of this mess," Kira declared.
Kira, mustering strength, attempted to sit up. Feeling a bit disoriented and weakened, she struggled until Alexei reached out, offering a steadying hand. With Alexei's support, Kira managed to rise into a sitting position.
Alexei rose as well. Walking to the side, she retrieved a backpack and returned to Kira's side. As she unzipped the bag, Kira couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern about its contents.
"I brought these food and bandages for you," Alexei said, presenting them with a sense of care. "They're from the bodies that fell after Motherwitch's rituals."
Inside the backpack, Kira found a collection of bandages and, a few wrapped parcels that caught her attention. The sight brought a sense of relief, knowing that Alexei had prepared for her..
"Thanks," Kira responded, selecting a variety of food to nourish herself for healing. "Why don't you join me for a meal?" she suggested.
Alexei happily grabbed a fresh bone from the pile and started gnawing on it. "No thanks, I've got my own treat," she said with delight.
Observing Alexei's peculiar choice, Kira pondered, 'So... that's what she meant by treats. But why does she prefer to eat it?'
Curious, Kira tilted her head and asked, "Why don't you want any?"
"I need to consume bone marrow to survive," Alexei explained.
Intrigued by this revelation, Kira inquired, "How did you acquire these bone powers? Is that why you have to eat bone marrow?"
As the words left Kira's lips, Alexei's face contorted with a mixture of emotions. Her eyes reflected a painful history as if memories of being subjected to multiple injections resurfaced in her mind. The room fell silent, the weight of unspoken experiences hanging in the air between them.
"Sorry, you don't have to answer if it hurts you," Kira said with concern.
Alexei took a deep breath, grappling with the memories that haunted her. For a moment, it seemed as though she was deciding how much to reveal. The vulnerability in her expression hinted at a deafening past, one that had left scars not only on her body but on her soul." No, I will tell you. Didn't you say you want to know me better?" she responded.
"As Morganag and I explored the realms, I did nothing but help her cook, heal, and take care of whatever she needed. But she realized that I had no nexus energy, and she knew that at some point, I would need to defend myself, as she wouldn't always be there. So, by capturing a Nexarc with bone power, she—" Alexei paused, a look of extreme pain crossing her face. "By using the Nexarc's blood, bone marrow, and performing a forbidden ritual, she was about to inject me... and perform ritual for months, until she made progress, and I had half of the Nexarc's bone power."
"Sorry about what you went through... Morganag is really a terrible person," Kira said, shocked at Alexei's past and angered by Morganag.
"Can you not badmouth about Motherwitch?" Suddenly, Alexei's tone turned very angry before changing back to a sad one. "I'm sorry about hurting you."
"Oh, it's fine," Kira replied, taken aback by the sudden shift in emotions.
Alexei's gaze dropped, and an expression of regret etched across her face, The pain of knowing that some wounds couldn't be undone weighed heavily on Alexei's shoulders.
Kira, sensing the conflict within Alexei, observed her with a mix of understanding and trepidation. It was clear that Alexei regretted hurting her, but the question of whether her actions were driven by genuine care or the influence of Morgana's external forces remained unanswered.
Kira continued eating wrapped parcels Between bites, she asked, "Can you tell me how you met Morgana while I heal?"
Alexei sat down beside Kira and began her story, "Well, I came from a village that hated witches, and my family was just me and my mother we both were always bullied and hated by the villagers."
"Why would they hate you if you're not witches?Right?" Kira inquired.
Alexei's face filled with sadness. "No, we aren't, but because my mother went into a nearby forest that was said to be filled with witches. Nine months later, she came back with me. Everyone thought she somehow became pregnant by a witch, leading to our constant bullying. They mainly think I'm a witch, which I'm not," she said, her voice filled with frustration and tears streaming down her face as memories of the past resurfaced. Kira hugged her in comfort.
"B-but one day, some houses in the village were suddenly set ablaze without any reason, and everyone accused my mother of witchcraft. So, they burned her... As they were about to do the same to me, Motherwitch came and rescued me," Alexei concluded, her voice breaking as she cried out loud.
As Kira absorbed the weight of Alexei's regret and internal conflict, a wave of empathy washed over her. The realization that Alexei's actions might have been driven by forces beyond her control didn't alleviate the ache in Kira's heart. In that moment, Kira felt a deep connection to Alexei's pain, recognizing the struggle of someone burdened by circumstances not entirely of their making.
The layers of guilt and regret that enveloped Alexei stirred something within Kira—a profound understanding of the complex emotions tied to loss. Kira's mind drifted to her own experience of never having known her mother, having been raised solely by her grandfather.
"Let it all out," Kira said, patting Alexei gently.
"Mom!" Alexei cried out, the pain and sorrow pouring out as tears streamed down her face.
As the weight of the past pressed down on Alexei's shoulders, she found herself transported back to a haunting moment of her memory. The village celebration had transformed into a nightmarish scene of chaos and horror. The joyous shouts and laughter had given way to the anguished scream of her mother's voice, a cry that cut through the air like a blade.
In that fateful moment, her mother's desperate plea pierced through the celebration, urging Alexei to run. The shock of the unfolding tragedy had paralyzed her, and she stood frozen, tears streaming down her face as she witnessed the incomprehensible torment befalling her mother.
Time seemed to stretch, and the world blurred as her mother's voice was silenced forever. The villagers then turned towards Alexei, ready to claim her as their next victim. It was then that Morganaq emerged. Corrupting the minds of the villagers, she compelled them to walk willingly into the fire that had consumed Alexei's mother.
The flames danced with an eerie malevolence, taking the lives of those corrupted villagers, but Morganaq's influence spared Alexei from the same fiery fate. In the midst of the inferno, the villages felt the searing pain but they were left unable to scream.
As Alexei recounted this harrowing memory, her cascade of tears caused dampness on Kira's shoulder and bore witness to the depth of Alexei's grief, as Alexei slowly rose from her shoulder.
"Are you feeling better?" Kira asked, gently wiping away the tear marks from Alexei's face.
"..." Alexei didn't answer verbally, but she nodded with a slight smile.
"Now, show me the exit so we can leave together." Kira said, emphasizing the word 'together.'
"..." Once again, Alexei didn't provide a spoken response but nodded. She helped Kira stand, and as Kira wobbled, Alexei placed her hand over her shoulder to support her.
"Thanks," Kira said gratefully.
"No... I should thank you for listening to me. I haven't talked to anyone in a very long time, as Morgana no longer visits me."
'I've probably been in the Enigma Grove, and I'm sure Mentor Kage isn't that worried, by his cold demeanor,' Kira thought.