Aekira... so that's my name...? she thought as she looked down. The name felt strange, unfamiliar, but there was something about it that resonated with her new identity.
Before she could dwell on it further, the woman suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh, Aekira... you're alive!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and relief. She then turned to Zakis, her expression shifting to one of playful irritation. "Zakis, why didn't you tell me anything?!"
Zakis's tail wagged slowly behind him as he chuckled. "I wanted to keep the surprise," he replied, amusement evident in his tone.
Aekira, however, was quickly becoming overwhelmed. The woman's embrace, while warm and loving, pressed her face into her soft bust, making it difficult to breathe.
"M-Mom... can't breathe..." Aekira managed to gasp, her voice muffled.
"A-Ah, I apologize, my dear..." the woman said, quickly loosening her embrace. She gently pulled back, allowing Aekira to catch her breath. "I'm just so happy to see you're still alive!"
Zakis moved closer, sitting down on the bed beside Aekira. With a tender touch, he began to fix her short, grey hair, smoothing it out with surprising care. "Me and your mother were worried sick..." he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.
The warmth and love in their voices were unmistakable, leaving Aekira with a strange mixture of emotions. These people, who were strangers to her in one sense, clearly cared for her deeply.
Aekira stood silent, her mind racing. 'So these two are my parents... I have to get some information. Maybe I should question them—what's the worst that can happen?'
She hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Um... who are you guys?"
Zakis and the woman exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback by the question.
Zakis was the first to respond, his tone gentle yet firm. "Aekira... I'm Zakis Giraru, King of Drasix... and your father."
The woman smiled warmly, her earlier tears now replaced by a soft glow of pride and affection. "And I'm Shenan Zayu Laplume, queen and wife of Zakis... and most importantly, your mother."
Zakis placed his hand on Aekira's head, his touch reassuring. "And you are Aekira Astru... our precious daughter, the last member of our family."
"And... where exactly are we?" Aekira asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Shenan giggled softly, clearly amused by her daughter's inquisitiveness. "Well, aren't you already curious, you just woke up and you are already asking questions!" she teased, wrapping her arms around Aekira from behind in a warm hug.
Zakis chuckled along, the sound deep and resonant. "We are in Onyx, the planet where we call home," he began, his voice carrying a sense of pride. "It is roughly twice the size of the sun and supports a population of over 500 million. It's a world of extraordinary contrasts, from its sprawling crystalline cities to its dense, lush fore--"
Before Zakis could continue, Shenan interrupted, "I think she gets it, Zakis."
"Onyx..." Aekira said, her voice tinged with confusion. She had never heard of this planet before, and the name felt entirely unfamiliar.
She looked around, trying to reconcile the information she had just received with her surroundings. The grand room, the futuristic cityscape visible through the window—it all felt so alien to her.
'Okay...now for the important question...'
...
...
"What happened to me?" Aekira asked, her voice faltering as she sensed the gravity of the moment.
Zakis and Shenan exchanged a look, their expressions shifting to one of somber seriousness. A strange silence fell between them, as if they were hesitant or even afraid to speak.
Shenan finally broke the silence, her voice gentle but firm. "I think it's better that we talk about this now... we cannot keep it from you."
Zakis remained silent for a moment before rising from his seat. His long cape moved ominously with his movements, adding a dramatic flair to the heavy atmosphere.
"You had died...due to a curse."