It had been four weeks since Lauri had first woken up in his small room, today was a Sunday, for most Sickly today was a weekend. A day of relaxation, fun with friends, playing a game or two or just a day to sleep in until you realise you've slept the entire day away, and then you sleep the night.
But not for Lauri, since the very first weekend Nama had pulled him out of bed and straight to her office where the preparation for the Summer Equinox was never-ending. Be it practical examples or theoretical practises read from a book, Nama gave Lauri endless questions and tasks to do.
Nama's office was a lot clearer than the first time Lauri had seen it. Most of the books had seemingly vanished, a few had been placed neatly onto shelves, the odd book placed on its cover, but the majority of them were no longer in the room.
'Probably moved somewhere with a little more storage.'
A weak sigh escaped Lauri's lips. He tried to focus on his work but he found it increasingly hard to really focus on anything within the last few days.
Looking up from the question he was currently stumped on, Lauri watched Nama. The older woman was currently, reading a book – as she always was – if it was not one book, it was another. It seemed like she really was reading a new book every time Lauri saw her.
Adjusting her long ashy coloured hair that had fallen over her eyes, Nama peeked over the top of her book. Their eyes met for a second before Nama returned her attention to the book.
"I know I am beautiful, but please try and pay attention to your questions Lauri. I will be quizzing you on it later."
With a grim expression, Lauri returned his attention to the question. Not that anything had changed as he was still unable to process the answer to this question, he was barely able to process the words on the page. It was a single question regarding how one would survive if they ended up in one of the regions of the Aether Stream with a hot climate and lack of water.
Lauri had said would that not just be a desert, but according to Nama.
'Just because a region is hot, lacking in vegetation and water, that does not make it a desert. As the definition of a desert pertains to the amount of rainfall it receives. By such a definition the North and South Poles, the Arctic and Antarctica are both considered deserts. For what reason, the hottest regions of this planet can be considered under the same definition boggles my mind.'
Lauri rolled his eyes at the thought.
Wanting to waste some time, Lauri crossed his arms slumping against the desk. Lying his head on his arms, he looked up to Nama.
"Are you married?"
Nama's eyes paused on the sentence she was reading. Slowly she looked up.
"Am I… Married? What makes you ask?"
About to open his mouth, a grim feeling began to grow in Lauri's gut. Sighing, he pushed the feeling down. There would be time for it when he was alone.
"When I… Met with Yang a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned you had a daughter. You never mentioned."
Hearing this, Nama's expression subtly changed. A questioning expression gave way to a slight concern hidden within Nama's eyes, her expression changed again – sadness explicitly written across her face – a moment later as she closed her book down putting it down.
"I do in fact have a daughter, but I am not married. At least, not any more."
Lauri frowned.
"I'm… Sorry, I didn't realise, I wouldn't have asked if-"
Nama held her hand up silencing Lauri.
"Don't worry Lauri, nothing to apologise for, how could you have known…"
Reclining in her chair, Nama rolled her eyes.
"Ok fine. You're putting on a brave face, but it's obvious the sickness is starting to take hold of you so I'll postpone the quiz for a later date. You've been doing some good work so that's enough for today."
Nama waited for Lauri to jump up and leave the room with a quick thank you and goodbye as if her head had turned into some monstrosity, but when Lauri remained seated. Nama raised an eyebrow.
"Is something the matter Lauri?"
Remaining still, Lauri played with his fingers for a few moments as he thought of what to say.
"If it's alright, can you tell me more about your husband?"
Silence hung between the two for a minute, Lauri felt as if he might sink into the ground as Nama continued to stare at him.
'Was that bad? I shouldn't have asked her something so personal.'
"I- I shouldn't have asked, I'll go-"
"His name was Dokja, he was the greatest man I ever met."
Falling quiet, Lauri silently listened to Nama's story.
"I still remember the first day I met him… Like it was this very morning, we met in the very cafeteria where you met your new friends. We were both Sickly who met at Compound Thirty-Four, of course, I didn't like him much. He was so snobby, so arrogant… He was such a prick."
A small chuckle left Nama's lips.
"But as fate would have it, we both found each other in the same region of the Aether Stream and we survived together. We fought back to back against Awakened Fiends, creatures we had no right to kill, but we did, tooth and claw we fought for the right to exist under that violet sun."
Lauri's eyes sparkled.
'She killed Awakened Fiends as a Sickly? A Risen? She killed Fiends one whole rank above her own. That's incredible.'
Touching her lips, Nama fell silent, the edges of her eyes grew wet.
"We fought our way to an unclaimed gateway and returned home, and after that, we didn't leave each other's side. Yes, we had a child, a daughter, Vivian… We were such a happy family… Until he was taken from me."
Violent emotions began to work their way into Nama's voice, turning her light voice dark with controlled anger.
"One day we were attacked by a Fiend, no, a creature that doesn't subscribe to our naming conventions. A monster that gave us a choice, either I die and he lives, or he dies and I live… Dokja took the option out of my hands and sacrificed himself… A daughter needs her mother, he said. Now I'm here, and my work keeps me so busy I rarely get to see Vivian… My little Vivi…"
Slowly, Nama looked at Lauri. The young boy wore a familiar expression of deep sorrow, the same expression Nama currently wore.
"It seems…"
Crossing his arms over his chest, Lauri softly hugged himself.
"We have both lost people to evil monsters, in situations we had no control in."
Wiping her eyes, Nama slowly looked away her hair moved with her hiding her face, she covered her mouth as she spoke.
"I am sorry, Lauri."
Confused, Lauri looked up, forcing a smile onto his lips, he slowly shook his head.
"Hey now, there's nothing to apologise for. It's not like you could have known."
A weak laugh escaped Nama's lips.
"Yes… You're right…"
Clearing her throat, Nama pulled a drawer open, pulling out a box of tissues. Taking a few, she left them on the desk. Dabbing her eyes with the soft tissues, Nama looked at Lauri, a comfortable smile slowly finding its way onto her lips.
"You are a good person, Lauri. Don't let anything change that about you."
Lauri nodded.
"Don't worry about me, I've come this far, haven't I?"
"Yes, you have. Now."
Placing her palms on the desk, Nama took a deep breath.
"Back to business. You have one week left until the Summer Equinox, I'd like to think I've done my best in trying to teach you, but the real question is. Lauri, do you feel prepared?"
It was a big question. Could one ever be truly prepared to survive in hostile foreign lands where both the fauna and flora could be your enemies?
"No. I thank you for everything, Nama, but, I don't know if I could ever be prepared for a task like this."
With a slight frown, Lauri looked up at Nama who to his surprise had a large smile.
"Good answer Lauri."
Lauri squinted.
"It, it was?"
"Yes, the number one killer of Awakened isn't Fiends, starvation or even other Awakened. It is arrogance. So keep that unsure feeling held tightly, Lauri. It is the one thing that will keep you alive."
'I see, that makes sense. So she's saying the moment I get comfortable, I die... I'm sure I'm allowed to be a little comfortable, right? Right? I guess I should make sure.'
As Lauri was about to open his mouth to ask his question. A loud siren began to blare throughout Compound Thirty-Four. At the same moment, the communicator inside his pocket began to loudly vibrate.
Lauri and Nama both pulled out their communicators at the same moment and on it in a large flashing red text read:
ALERT ALERT IMMINENT TYPE-2 BREACH SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER ALERT ALERT