1,727,999. After 1,728,000 seconds or twenty days of unconsciousness, my world remained a blank void. However, gradually, I began to regain my senses, and even with my eyes closed, I could perceive auras.
What I came to understand was that everything possessed an aura, whether it was a living being, a recently deceased entity, or even an inanimate objects. Objects had their unique stagnant auras, but sometimes, they displayed a dynamic flow, showing their imbued mana, which dictated their colors and movement, depending on who had influenced them.
I could sense Venidith manipulating a towel's aura when she thought it was dry but felt damp when she cleaned me. I could tell she was attempting to remain modest in her actions, though occasionally, she faltered, leading to some rather peculiar and embarrassing moments that left the nurse flustered.
But today marked the first time I could open my eyes.
As I lay in my hospital bed, I surveyed the room that had become my entire world. The sterile white walls seemed to close in around me, offering little solace. Overhead, fluorescent lights cast a clinical, cold glow that sharply contrasted with any warmth.
The bed itself resembled a cocoon, dressed in crisp white sheets and a thin blanket that did little to ward off the perpetual chill. The rhythmic beeping of nearby machines served as an unending reminder of my condition, a dissonant lullaby I couldn't escape.
A small window allowed slivers of daylight to filter in, granting me fleeting glimpses of the outside world I yearned to rejoin. I watched as the branches of a nearby tree swayed gently in the breeze, a tenuous connection to life beyond these sterile confines.
Beside me, a small table, just low enough for me to see, held a collection of letters and a drawing. The drawing depicted a man holding a sword, his right eye glowing blue, adorned in a vest similar to the one I used to wear. It bore the childish scrawl of "The Moon Weaver" above the image, clearly the work of a child's hand.
The Begonia Bangsamoro, a flower I've encountered multiple times, boasts petals akin to fragile whispers of grace. Their soft hues of pale pink or white emit an enchanting, delicate fragrance. It's a scent that lingers in the air, akin to a distant memory or a softly whispered promise. These diminutive blossoms possess a quiet, ethereal beauty that captures the essence of the begonia's allure.
With my senses returning, I could see people moving about more clearly, although this hospital seemed more like a well-organized makeshift facility. I found myself the sole occupant confined to my bed, barely able to move. My aura reading had its limits, approximately around 100 meters, though during the battle, I had extended my perception to well beyond six kilometers.
A recurring golden aura visitor was likely the nurse from the cave. After that encounter in the dream world, my aura reading had significantly improved, now serving as a potential ability, albeit not as potent as when I was in that moon release state.
Then, I noticed it – a pinkish aura directly below me. Even though I couldn't move, my aura sensing remained unhindered, acting like a radar. The pinkish aura belonged to Venidith, and it stopped right beneath me before swiftly moving.
Two seconds later, she ascended, possibly climbing stairs, her pinkish aura evolving into a radiant shade of light pink.
Four seconds, and she was on the same corridor as my room, bursting in with a door-slamming crash.
"Alexander!" Venidith exclaimed as she sprinted toward me, her arms wide open. She embraced me once she reached my side.
I couldn't speak, but perhaps she knew Morse code?
I blinked in Morse code: I-c-a-n-n-o-t m-o-v-e. Venidith tilted her head, her eyes widening. "Aura Network issue!" she exclaimed, holding her arms in the air.
Suddenly, her arms became enveloped in purple lightning, resembling Tesla coils. The room filled with the crackling and popping sounds of electricity, and a vivid purple hue bathed the surroundings.
"Get ready!" Venidith's voice trembled, as if she were holding her breath. She forcefully slammed her hands onto my chest.
The purple lightning seared my chest, an electrifying sensation spreading like wildfire through my nerves. I knew it was my aura network, and I could feel it inching from my chest to every corner of my body. An intense pain followed, making me painfully aware of every passing millisecond.
I grunted as the lightning coursed through me, and I closed my eyes to endure the agony, determined to reshape my body.
"Hold on! We... Don't need... That... Shaman..." Venidith gasped for air, her voice strained as the purple lightning continued to pierce me.
Then, it all faded to black once more, everything blurring into a series of memories that defied explanation.
Sir Helbert's words lingered in my mind...
After losing so many loved ones and confronting my own mortality, life took on a different meaning. It was as if I had been transported into a realm of profound introspection, where every moment became a canvas for philosophical contemplation.
The weight of grief and the fragility of existence forced me to confront the fleeting nature of our journey. I found myself immersed in thoughts about the meaning of life, love, and the relentless passage of time. Each loss etched questions into my soul, questions that demanded answers even though those answers remained elusive.
Death, once a distant concept, became a hauntingly real presence in my life. It served as a reminder that our existence is finite, a brief flicker in the grand tapestry of the universe. This compelled me to consider the legacy I wished to leave behind and how I intended to navigate the uncertain path ahead.
Amidst the darkness, I sought refuge in philosophy, in the wisdom of thinkers who had wrestled with these existential questions throughout history. Their words provided a glimmer of light in the abyss, offering insights into the human condition and the pursuit of meaning.
I immersed myself in the works of philosophers, embracing their contemplations on love, loss, and the quest for truth. Their ideas, like guiding stars, offered me perspective and solace. I realized that, while I could not alter the cycle of life and death, I possessed the power to shape my perspective and find meaning amidst the impermanence of it all.
Through sorrow and near brushes with death, I emerged not as a sage with all the answers but as a seeker, forever journeying to comprehend the profound complexities of existence. Every day, I continued to grapple with the philosophical questions life had thrust upon me, finding solace in the pursuit of meaning amid the impermanence of it all.
My science teacher, who died while fighting... I still couldn't quite grasp it...
I opened my eyes once more, recognizing a doctor and nurse from the cave. Tears welled in my eyes. I could move...
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, feeling my limbs stretch...
"Oh? Looks like the big boy is back," Venidith remarked, though something felt amiss—her voice sounded a bit too young, like that of a teenager. I turned my head to the right...
There she was, a teenager... Venidith. Her clothing appeared a tad too large...
"I used up all my blessed energy, and now I'm a loli! Nyan!" Venidith proclaimed, posing cutely and even speaking with a Japanese "nyan" voice.