The early morning sun pierced through the windows and filtered through the curtains of the bedroom, which exuded an air of refined femininity and understated luxury. The room was expansive, with floor to ceiling windows that bathed the room in a soft, natural light.
The walls were painted in a florescent blue, accented with intricate floral patterns. In the middle of the room was a plush, king-sized bed, draped with flowing silky bedding, featuring pale pink & the faint touch of lavender.
The pillows were embroidered with floral and fox motifs, and laying in that bed with Ayame, sleeping in silence. Soon, Ayame's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred as the soft glow of sunlight filtered through her bedroom curtains.
For a moment, she lay there in silence, the world around her hazy and distant. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her body felt both weightless and leaden, as though it didn't quite belong to her.
It felt strange, as if she was herself, but with distinct differences, she couldn't explain it properly.
"Haah" Ayame groaned softly, sitting up on the bed as her fingers instinctively moved to her ribcage, expecting the sharp sting of broken bones or the brittle remnants of her shattered body.
"Huh?" Ayame said in a surprised tone. To her shock, there was nothing—no wounds, no scars, no sign of the catastrophic damage she knew should be there. Her hands ran across her body, and she felt confused at the feeling.
Ayame glanced around, disoriented and confused. "Bedroom." she murmured, immediately recognizing where she was, the familiar scent of lavender lingering in the air, a comfort she had cultivated over the years.
"Aaah..." Ayame groaned out in pain as fragments of memories surged out in the forefront of her mind, vivid and relentless. From the Forbidden Spell, Lucius & the sheer agony of her soul tearing apart to shreds.
She remembered vividly the desperate struggle to hold on, the ferocious battle with Lucius, the unbearable heat of her life force burning away as she tried to protect Elektra & Morgana.
She remembered the pain ravaging her as she unleashed power far beyond her limits, and then~nothing. Darkness ~ Oblivion!
When these memories flooded her mind, Ayame's breathing quickened, panic rising, how was she alive? How was she here?
Ayame swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet touching the cool hardwood floor. Her muscles protested as she stood, a wave of dizziness washing over her. Looking around, she felt her vision was higher than usual, making her confused.
She staggered, clutching the bedpost for support. Something was wrong. She felt… off. Too light, yet impossibly heavy. Her movements didn't feel natural, as if her own body were unfamiliar to her.
Ayame dragged herself to the mirror, and immediately, confusion wracked her face. It was definitely her, she recognized herself, yet she felt immensely strange, she could see slight yet recognizable differences in her appearance.
Firstly, she had certainly grown taller, now around 6'4 in height, and her figure was more...voluptuous, the ideal blend of elegance and allure, as her breasts were slightly more noticeable, even through her clothing.Her body was just more sexy, and her long, flowing white hair cascaded like a silky waterfall down her back, reaching her hips when before, they only reached her shoulder. Some strands landed on her chest, framing her face with an ethereal beauty, especially when combined with her fluffy fox ears that gave her an exotic charm.Her skin was also now flawless. All of the blemishes, scars and marks from battle and training throughout her life was gone, replaced by flawless perfect skin that enhanced her beauty."What happened?" Ayame muttered from confusion, more discomfort barraging her. Pushing through that discomfort, Ayame stumbled towards the door, reaching for the handle to steady herself.With a sharp creak and a resounding crash, the door wrenched free from its hinges, the heavy metal frame clattering to the ground.
"What the hell?" Ayame gasped, staring wide-eyed at the door in her hand. She hadn't meant to pull, she hadn't even exerted any effort, and it was destroyed.
Her heart pounded as she dropped the door, the sound echoing through the apartment. A faint tremor ran through the floor as the door landed, and Ayame stumbled backward, staring at her trembling hands.
Before she could process what had just happened, hurried footsteps approached. The door to the living room burst open, and Elektra appeared, her vibrant red hair disheveled, electricity crackling faintly around her fingertips.
"Ayame! What's going on? Are you okay?" Elektra's voice was laced with concern, her piercing blue eyes scanning Ayame's face.
Behind her, a smaller figure darted into view. Akeno, Ayame's Spirit Fox, her sleek, silver-furred form radiating an otherworldly glow. The fox's piercing golden eyes locked onto Ayame, her tails twitching in agitation.
"You're awake!" Akeno's voice was melodic yet sharp, her tone both relieved and reproachful, "What are you doing out of bed? You shouldn't be up yet!"
Ayame blinked at them, still clutching the broken door handle in one hand. "I… I don't know," she stammered. "I woke up, and I felt… strange. Dizzy. And then this happened." She gestured helplessly at the door lying on the floor.
Elektra exchanged a glance with Akeno, her expression a mix of relief and curiosity. "You've been through a lot, Ayame. Honestly, we weren't sure you were going to make it."
"How?" Ayame asked, her voice trembling. "How am I here? I should be dead. I burned my life force—my soul. I, " Her words caught in her throat, her memories too vivid to ignore.
Akeno stepped closer, her gaze softening. "It's true, Ayame. You pushed yourself far beyond your limits. But you were saved, by him."
"Him?" Ayame frowned, confusion etched across her features. "Who are you talking about?"
Elektra crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "The guy who showed up out of nowhere and saved our asses. Fuck, we didn't get his name. He's just Tall, stoic, powerful. Did you see him healing you?"
Ayame shook her head slowly. The name was unfamiliar, but something about it stirred a faint memory, like the echo of a dream she couldn't quite grasp, like something connecting her to him.
"You collapsed during the battle with Lucius" Elektra continued, "Akeno was frantic, trying to keep you alive, but… it wasn't looking good. Then Arthur showed up. He killed Lucius, and healed Morgana, he was banged up pretty bad, but nothing compared to you. Then he… he took you. Said he could help, but he needed time."
"And last night, he brought you back here," Akeno added. "You were asleep, but you are very different, I can't see your Soul anymore, it seems he's created a protective barrier around it or something. While I'm still contracted with you, whenever I attempt to probe your Soul, my senses go haywire."
Ayame's gaze dropped to her hands, her thoughts racing. She clenched and unclenched her fists, the memory of the door's destruction fresh in her mind. Stronger. That word felt wrong. This wasn't just strength, this was something else entirely.
"How did he do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did he save me?"
Elektra and Akeno exchanged another glance, this one more uncertain, "We don't know," Elektra admitted. "He didn't explain much. Just said you'd be fine and left."
Akeno's ears flattened, her voice tinged with frustration. "Whatever he did, it wasn't ordinary healing magic. Your soul, it's very different & unique I presume from the aura. Plus, healing a soul is deep, powerful ancient magic, not even the Elder Spirits can accomplish that so quickly."
Ayame's head spun with the weight of their words. A mysterious man she had never met, who had somehow saved her from the brink of death. And yet, the questions far outweighed the answers.
Her gaze lifted, determination hardening her expression. "I need to find him," she said firmly. "I need to know what he did to me."
Elektra smirked faintly, folding her arms. "Good luck with that. The guy's a ghost, shows up when he wants, leaves without a trace. But knowing him, he's probably keeping an eye on you."
Ayame's hand pressed against the wall as she steadied herself, standing up and moving into the living room, still feeling the uncharacteristic strength coursing through her body. She looked up at Elektra, her voice trembling with both wonder and unease.
"Elektra… I think I'm stronger," she said, lifting her hands and flexing her fingers, marveling at how different they felt. "When I grabbed the door handle, I barely used any force, but it ripped clean off. And… look at me!" She gestured toward her taller frame, her figure a striking combination of elegance and power, "I've grown taller, and my body feels…more perfect...more natural?"
Elektra raised an eyebrow, her piercing blue eyes sweeping over Ayame as she crossed her arms, "Yeah, I was going to say. You definitely look taller. And your aura is more overwhelming."
Ayame groaned softly, running a hand through her long, silky hair that now cascaded down to her hips, "I'm not trying to hurt anyone," she said. "But something's changed. This isn't just me being healed, this is something far beyond that."
Akeno, perched gracefully on the edge of the bed, narrowed her glowing golden eyes. "Your aura is vastly different, Ayame. Stronger. More refined. It's as though something ancient has awakened within you."
Ayame turned to Akeno, her gaze suddenly sharpening as her pupils began to shimmer faintly, a golden light dancing in her irises. She blinked rapidly and shook her head, confused, "Wait… what is that?" she muttered, her voice soft but tinged with urgency.
"What is what?" Elektra asked, her tone curious but cautious. Any random variables with Ayame was now a clue to how she was healed.
Ayame frowned, her glowing eyes scanning the room as she reached out a hand, "These particles. I can see… golden particles, shimmering in the air. They're everywhere." She moved her hand through the space in front of her as though trying to catch one, but they slipped through her fingers like intangible wisps of light.
Elektra's eyebrows furrowed, her expression unreadable, "Golden particles? I don't see anything, Ayame. Are you sure you're not hallucinating or something? You've been through a lot."
Ayame shook her head insistently. "No, I'm not imagining it. They're there. I can feel them too, like they're alive somehow." She looked to Akeno, who sat up straighter, her ears twitching as her tails flicked anxiously.
"Aether," Akeno whispered, her voice low and reverent.
Ayame turned to her Spirit Fox, confused, "Aether? Are you sure?"
Akeno's golden eyes locked onto Ayame, her gaze heavy with meaning. "Of course, it can only be Aether. It's the primordial essence of Mana. The purest, most ancient form of magic. It's the source of all power that flows through the world. Only Spirits and those deeply connected to the Aetheric Realm can sense or interact with it." She paused, her expression darkening. "If you're seeing Aether, Ayame, it means your connection to magic has been fundamentally altered. This is no simple healing. This is something far beyond anything I've ever seen."
Elektra's eyes widened, her arms falling to her sides as she processed Akeno's words. "Wait, are you saying that guy… or whatever he is… gave her a connection to Aether? That's supposed to be impossible, right?"
Akeno nodded slowly, her tails flicking behind her in agitation. "It is, at least based on my understanding. Whoever this figure is, he's far more powerful than we imagined."
Ayame stared at her hands again, the faint golden glow still shimmering in her eyes. "Aether…" she murmured, the word unfamiliar yet resonating deeply within her. She clenched her fists, the strength in her body feeling almost foreign yet exhilarating, "Why would he give me this? Why me?"
Before anyone could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the apartment, breaking the heavy tension that had settled over the room. Ayame's head snapped toward the sound, her ears twitching at the sudden intrusion.
Elektra stepped forward, electricity crackling faintly at her fingertips, "Were you expecting someone?"
Ayame shook her head, her expression wary. "No. No one should know I'm here."
The knock came again, more insistent this time, reverberating through the air like a challenge. Ayame exchanged a glance with Elektra and Akeno, her unease mirrored in their expressions.
"Whoever it is," Akeno said, her voice low and steady, "be prepared. This might not be a coincidence."
Ayame took a deep breath, her newfound strength grounding her as she stepped forward, her glowing eyes narrowing with determination. "Let's find out who it is."