[S]uccumbing to the relentless weight of her exhaustion, Ionia slowly advanced into her dimly lit bedchamber, each steps dragging her further into weariness.
The closed curtains shrouded the room in darkness, and she welcomed it. The obscurity spared her from the additional effort of closing them herself.
A sharp agony surged within her head, escalating into a deafening crescendo.
As Ionia approached her bed, her vision blurred, her strength waning. Reaching for the mattress with the intention of sitting down, her faltering steps sent her tumbling forward. Her face found solace in the bed's soft embrace, and her world plunged into darkness.
"You're back faster than I thought," a familiar voice whispered like a gentle caress to her ears, sending shivers down her spine.
Ionia groaned, her face contorting into a grimace as she was roused from her slumber. She was vexed by the untimely disturbance of her rest.
"Are you not going to speak to me?" The voice asked again, containing a concealed hint of loneliness.
With a reluctant sigh, Ionia's eyes fluttered open, only to find herself lying flat on her stomach, her face nestled in someone's lap, her arms unconsciously wrapped around his waist.
As awareness seeped in, she promptly moved into a kneeling position. Her azure eyes met golden ones, and the sudden proximity between them felt rather disconcerting.
"I thought you were angry and didn't intend to talk to me," Sol noted, his tone exuding calm and gentleness.
Like last time, he was kneeling amid lush greenery, clad in a white robe with his long silver hair trailing behind him.
The only noticeable difference was the absence of sleeves on his robe.
Surveying her surroundings, Ionia took in the familiar landscape — vibrant blue roses, the mystical waterfall that poured into a small lake, and the luxuriant expanse of greenery that hinted at great abundance.
"Am I dead?" Ionia blurted out, momentarily lost in her thoughts. "Che! That was fast."
"You're very much alive, believe me," Sol replied with patient reassurance.
Ionia regarded Sol with skepticism. "Then?" she probed. "Why am I back here again?"
Sol let out an amused chuckle as he responded, "You fell into a state of extreme unconsciousness, that's why!"
Unsure whether she liked this notion or not, a scowl formed on her marble-like blank face. "Does this mean I'll come here every time I close my eyes?"
Sol's voice carried a touch of sadness as he clarified, "No, not quite. Only in dire circumstances."
Ionia's questions persisted, "Am I in a coma then?"
Sol gently shook his head. "Not exactly. Your mind is healthy and awake, but your body is drained. While your body recovers in the real world, you've entered the vestige again."
Sighing wearily, Ionia closed her eyes briefly before leveling a determined glare at Sol. "I already told you I didn't want to return. Why did you send me back anyway?"
In the serene ambiance of their surroundings, Sol regarded Ionia with a gentle smile. "It was for your own good," he explained. "Sometimes, we need to face our past to alter destiny."
Ionia's expression remained firm, and her words carried a hint of defiance. "I have no intention of changing anything. Why go through so much trouble for nothing? It's useless."
Sol's golden eyes glistened with a peculiar mixture of emotions, a trace of sadness hidden within. "I understand your reluctance, but it seems the wheels of fate have already started turning in your favor."
Ionia couldn't help but feel slightly perplexed by Sol's cryptic words. "What do you mean?"
"The vestige reflects the changing tides of fate," Sol began to explain. "The choices you make in here could influence your life in the real world. If you face your past and confront your fears, you might find a different path opening up for you."
Ionia's uncertainty wavered as she gazed at Sol, reminding herself that she had once clung to vain hopes of altering her pariah fate. In a past not so distant, she had yearned to be acknowledged and loved for who she was. Yet, the stark reality of life had proven to be far from her rosy dreams.
Sol extended a slender, pale hand toward Ionia. "Will you give it a try? Embrace the changes that may come?"
As her mind raced with uncertainty, she hesitated for a brief moment. She had spent her life conforming to the expectations of others, but now, faced with regression into her traumatic memories, she was forced to confront them once more.
How could this life be any different?
With a deep breath, she reached out and placed her hand in Sol's. The world around them shimmered, transitioning to a different time and place.
They found themselves in Ionia's bedroom, with drawn curtains and the soft glow of light filtering through the windows near the balcony.
"So, I'm back, huh? But why are you here as well?" Ionia asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Sol, who was barefoot, moved to peruse the book titles on her shelves.
"Even as a god, there are aspects of the vestige that are beyond my comprehension," Sol explained.
Ionia was about to retort something when the door swung open, revealing a 12-year-old girl with long black hair and eyes as vast and clear as the sky.
Unaware of Ionia and Sol's presence, the young girl reached the balcony, her gaze fixed intently on the garden below.
Within this picturesque garden, an enchanting scene unfolded.
A tall, handsome man with sleek black hair lounged among the lush greenery. He was dressed in a sophisticated black tunic adorned with intricate embroidery, paired with black pants and knee-length flat boots. The serenity in his closed eyes added to his noble air.
Seated before him was a delightful little girl, around ten years of age. Her beauty radiated despite her physical limitations, with long, silver hair, eyes as stormy grey as the skies, and cheeks perpetually rosy. She wore an opulent frilly gown and seemed genuinely elated as she engaged in conversation with the man.
The young raven-hair girl, hidden in the shadows, gazed upon this heartwarming scene below, her eyes revealing a poignant mix of longing and envy.
It was then that her voice was heard, murmuring to no one in particular, "How am I any different from her?" Her eyes, filled with a trace of loneliness, sought answers that seemed elusive.
As the scene continued to unfold, three teenage boys, approximately 14 years old, entered the picturesque scene. The older Ionia recognized one of them as Draven, while the other two were her older cousins, identical twins.
One of her cousins, Ionia recognized as Lionel, leaned closer to the girl with silver hair, Stellia, and whispered something, then cut a piece of cake with a folk and fed it to her.
Laughters filled the air as Stellia's cheeks puffed up while chewing. Her second cousin, Dionel, playfully poked her on the cheek, teasing her.
The trio of boys, the little girl with silver hair and the older, but handsome man appeared to be a joyful, close-knit family, savoring yet another tranquil day in Aethalia.
In the midst of this heartwarming tableau, a sound of hunger rumbled through the room causing the attention of the older Ionia and Sol to shift to the young girl, who was now rubbing her stomach.
"Marianne didn't bring me any food today," she murmured, her eyes drifting from the empty coffee table and the two couches in her bedroom down to the tantalizing array of cakes displayed on the garden table below.
With pursed lips, the young girl decided to make her way to the door.
Sol and Ionia shared a meaningful look, and then silently agreed to follow her.