MIKA POV:
I found myself in the soul space again.
'Shit, did I die.. AGAIN?!' I thought to myself as I wandered the vast expanse of the soul space.
"Viking-Sensei?" I called, hoping to find someone.
My eyes were shocked by the sudden appearance of light. I closed my eyes and shielded them until the light dimmed.
A tall and slender woman with golden, sparkly hair, pale skin, pink lips, and eyes that seemed to reflect the galaxies looked down at me. She was wearing a ivory silk dress that was sleeveless but had crisscrossing layers across her chest and arms. She held a tall staff that looked like it held up the sun. On her head sat an absurdly large crown that was as tall as her torso was long. It was made of a silvery-gold and made me think of the sun as well.
She looked at me with a familiar smile.
"My Child. You have returned." She said lovingly, reaching her free arm towards me.
I was shocked to see someone other than Viking-Sensei. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Heulwen, the light-giver." She answered in a magestic voice.
'Mother.' I heard a voice inside me answer.
"Mother?" I asked, confused.
She smiled radiantly at me. "Yes, love. I am your mother."
We looked nothing alike. She gives off a deity vibe, So I think she is speaking figuratively.
"Not like… biological though?" I asked.
I heard the goddess and the voice in my head snicker at this question.
"I can sense my daughter within you." The goddess said.
Someone inside me? Maybe she is referring to the voice I hear sometimes.. I thought that was just my inner monologue or intuition or something.
'Yes, I am here.' The voice inside me answered.
I was confused.
"There is someone inside me? How?" I asked.
Did Viking-Sensei give me an already inhabited body?
"You have a fragment of her soul. It was her most fervent wish, to have a child."
"I'm confused…"
"It is against the universal law to tell you certain things, however I can tell you a little if you are willing to listen and accept this knowledge." She told me.
"Yes, please." I really would like some answers.
With a wave of her elegant hand we were standing in a field of flowers; unusual and colorful, they were unlike anything I've ever seen. I gasped in amazement. We sat in the field, her staff disappeared when she produced this vision. Somehow she still gave off a very regal, god-like aura - even when sitting in a field of flowers next to me.
"I've been watching over Elysium for a long, long time. You know the story, about the invasion, correct?" She continued when I nodded, "All of us who worked together to create Elysium gave a piece of ourselves to create the progenitors. Those were our champions; our children so to speak. We created them to protect Elysium, however I held hope that once they succeeded they would be able to live happily."
She looked off in the distance as if remembering a happy memory.
"You, my dear, have a fragment of my daughter's soul within your own." She added, looking at me with both sadness and relief. "You were not meant to endure such suffering." She added as she gently touched my face.
I felt warmth and comfort from her touch. As if all the bad things that have ever happened to me, no longer mattered. When she removed her hand, the comforting feeling faded.
"But how do I have a fragment of someone else's soul?" I asked.
"I am restricted with what I can tell you…" She thought for a moment before continuing. "My daughter sensed what was going to happen. She decided to forcibly tear off a portion of her soul in order to create you." She said vaguely, looking sad.
"I'm sorry. Sounds like that would hurt…" I said, feeling guilty.
"Do not feel guilty, Mika. It is thanks to you that she lives on. You are both her daughter and mine. You are a blessing on the world." Her genuine smile and motherly touch made me feel happy and sad.
I felt an emptiness inside me, it's an ache I have felt before; the desire to be loved by my family. I felt my eyes watering up and I quickly wiped them and tried to calm down.
"You were not meant to live such a tragic life. I only wish we had found you sooner. No one should have to suffer like you have." She shed one tear on my behalf, which glittered like a diamond before falling to the ground.
She picked it up. It had actually formed into a diamond! She closed it in her palms and when she showed it to me again, it was hung on a short glittering golden chain. She indicated that she wanted to put it on me so I lifted my hair and turned around.
She clasped the necklace around my neck, it fit like a choker but was not uncomfortable.
"Thank you." I whispered, feeling the necklace.
"Your welcome. It will help you in the future."
"How?" I asked.
"That I can not disclose." She replied.
"How did I get here? Did I die again?" I asked her.
"No, dear, you are suffering so I summoned you here."
"Suffering?" I asked, vaguely remembering my fever.
"Unfortunately your suffering will continue for some time, but I have faith that you will overcome it."
"You are being pulled back now." She said as the field of flowers disappeared
"Huh?" I asked, feeling like the floor was slipping out from underneath me."but wait, I have so many more questions!"
"Accept the bonds. Embrace yourself. Find where it all happened." She told me as her voice faded into the darkness.
Before I could process, I felt shooting pains throughout my body. I felt like I was melting from the inside out. My mind felt foggy and I realized that I was back. I was exhausted, with no energy to spare to even open my eyes.
I heard voices in the room. I tried to make out what they were saying though the fog, but I faded too quickly and fell asleep again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ISHI POV:
'This is completely ridiculous.' I thought to myself after hearing the doctor explain.
"That's not going to happen. It's too risky. Do you have anything that could possibly reduce the mana in her body temporarily?" I asked him.
"We do… They are rare though. They grow on the tallest peaks of the mountain past the den of the Chuti. I have some, but she will need more if we go this route." He showed me a jar of what looked like blueberries. "They are not cheap, either."
"How long can you manage it with what you have?" I asked him.
"A month or two at most, considering." He answered.
"How long does it take to reach the peak for more of these?" I asked.
"Before the Chuti moved in, a week. Now it can take up to 2 weeks to make it there if they are active." He answered.
I am a liability in the cold, but for Mika, I will get them.
"I can get them." A deep male voice said from the doorway. We both looked over to see Marshall, leaning in the door. He was bandaged, covered in large, dark, bruises, and looked abnormally pale.
"Marshall! Shouldn't you be resting?" I said, surprised.
"I came to find Mika." He said, looking like he was barely standing.
"Sheesh! Come on, you stupid mutt. I'll help you lay down." I said with a playful scorn as I led him over to the bed with Mika. "She's ill so be gentle." I warned him.
"I heard. Give me a couple days and I will be well enough to go get the medicine." He said as he laid on his back, next to her on the bed.
"You are in no shape to go anywhere. You will stay here and rest. I can go." I said stubbornly.
"You can't." Marshall said, looking tired.
"I can and I will." I said back.
"All do respect…" The doctor chimed in, "You are a leopard. You won't survive. This is our winter season and the blizzards and wind chill are likely to cause you to freeze to death."
He wasn't wrong…
"It's settled. I'll go as soon as I am able to." Marshall muttered before falling asleep.
I sighed, giving up the fight.
The doctor showed me to the room next door, on the right.
"You can stay here for the time being. I will ask Kori to have something better arranged for you as soon as your friends are mobile."
"Thanks.." I muttered, looking at the shabby room.
As soon as he left, I moved the bed closer to the fireplace and climbed in the bed. Those embers give off no smell or smoke, I wonder how they keep the room warm. I basked in the warmth as I got comfortable. I have no concept of time in this underground city, but it has to be late.
I stretched and tried to get comfortable. I was half asleep when I realized that I was reaching out for Mika to warm me up. I frowned before rolling over and falling asleep.