"What did you do to my mommy?! Mommy, can you hear me?!"
"Shut-up kid, it's pointless. Your mother is now in a deep sleep, but don't worry, she's not dead."
The bad people in blue cloaks are taking away my mom again! I can't see their faces very well, but they are scary!
"No, don't take my mommy away! Please!"
"Sorry kid, but we have special plans for your mother. As for you, we have made arrangements that will arrive to pick you up soon, so be a good girl and sit tight."
"Lily won't let you get away this time!"
I will first strike the person dragging mother away. Lilly will scratch her eyes out!
"Take this! Nyaa!"
"Pause."
"!!!"
Lily can't move; I'm stuck in midair! The mean lady is making fun of me!
"Laughable. That was your best attempt? A good child knows her place, perhaps you could learn?"
KAPOW
"Hmmph!!!"
One of the mean lady's friends kicked Lily's chest–it hurts!
THUD
"Please rest on the ground until they come for you. Farewell."
"Noo, don't go! Mommy!"
"Mommy!"
"Mommy!"
"MOMMY!!!"
No matter how much I scream, they won't stop. Please…stop. Lily is…tired….
"Mom…my…sniff…."
"Child, why are you crying?"
In front of Lily, a stranger appears.
She looks…just like Lily?
"Who are you and why do you look like me?"
"I am the goddess of this world, my child."
"Lily's…dreams?"
"No Lily, the real world. I took on this form to speak with you in your dream. I ask again, why are you crying?"
"Those bad people took Lily's mom away…"
"So why didn't you stop them?"
"Lily did! Lily tried but–"
"You were too weak."
No no no, Lily must be strong, just like mother said to be!
Lily is strong!
Lily is strong!
"There's no use in denying it, you know it's the truth. You are so weak that your mother has been captured, you became a slave, and you never got to see your father. Is that true?"
"Lily is stro–"
"Is that true?"
"..."
"Come on child, why are you sitting there in silence? I told you, I am the goddess of this world. Don't you want my help?"
"...Yes, I want help."
"I thought so. You are weak, but with my power, I can make you the strongest in the world. You will be so strong that you will easily rescue your mother, find your father, and stop all the evil people, like those demi-human traffickers."
"Really? Really?! Please do it! Please do it!"
"I would love to, Lily, but there's something I need from you."
"What is it? Lily can do it!"
"There are special kinds of crystals that are highly desired by deities. They are a really rare mineral, but they contain the power to summon gods and goddesses to the mortal realm. Right now, I am only a spirit, but if you collect nine unique crystals–one from each country–you can summon me at an altar. Then, I'll bestow upon you the power you desire."
"Lily has never heard of these crystals. How can I find them?"
"It may be impossible for you to accomplish this alone, but surely you know a strong person who can help you, right?"
"Yes, Lily does! Lily does!"
Vex! He's strong!
"Good. The first crystal is somewhere inside this young lady's body. It'll make sense once you wake up. Find it and make sure you don't leave this body without it."
"Lily doesn't fully understand, but Lily will do her best!"
"That's fantastic, my child. Until next time, may my grace shine upon you."
"Thank you, Miss…goddess? Miss Goddess, what's your name?"
"All will be revealed in due time, my child."
"Wait Miss Goddess, don't leave Lily yet!"
"Well that's a first; I've never been called a 'god' before, let alone a 'goddess'."
Lily wakes up in a strange room. A weird-looking red man is staring at me.
"Who are you and where am I?"
Lily looks around the room.
He's not here!
"Where's Vex?!"
"Whoa, slow down young girl. I understand that you are bewildered by your current circumstance, but I will do my best to assist you."
"Okay…thanks mister."
"Ah, no need for such formalities. I'm still only a teenager! I'm Dr. Drizzy, but you can just call me Drizzy. I am a red cell who helps other cells inside Endori to recover their health. Currently, you are at the uptown hospital, located in the lungs."
"Red cell? Inside Endori? Lungs? Lily is confused…"
"I'm sorry, you seem to be a foreigner, so there's a lot that you wouldn't understand. Basically, you are inside of the noble known as Lady Endori in your world. To us, she is our home, and we work together to keep her functioning."
"Oh, so you work hard to keep Lady Endori from dying? Lily understands now."
"Haha, that's a rather crude way to put it, but I can't argue with that. Now this 'Vex' person that you mentioned, who is he?"
"Vex is…He's Lily's…"
"Are you okay? Did my question confuse you? I'm sorry if that's too personal."
"No, it's fine. Lily has never thought about this before…"
"Well, do you consider him to be a special person?"
"Yes, he's very special!"
"Why is he so special to you?"
"He saved Lily from the woman I hate the most!"
"Then he's your savior, right?"
"Yes yes yes! Vex is Lily's savior!"
"I see, I see! He sounds like a cool guy, but I have not seen him around, unfortunately. My younger twin brother found you in the bladder. Apparently, you were lying unconsciously in the kidneys, so the cells there thought you were a waste and were about to flush you out. Thank goodness my brother rescued you but Vex was not with you."
"Oh…"
"But don't lose hope Lily! I'm sure that he is somewhere inside Endori. Foreigners who come here tend to catch the attention of everyone native to Endori, so it shouldn't take long for you to find him."
"Hey bro, how is the girl? Is she finally awake?"
Another weird-looking cell man walked in the room with Drizzy and Lily. He looks like Drizzy, but a little shorter and pink.
"Yep, why don't you speak with her for yourself?"
"Hello, mister–"
"Drip. Just call me Drip! I'm glad that I took you out the bladder just before Endori had to pee. Trust me, you wouldn't want to go out that way! Are you feeling better?"
"Lily's head still feels a little fuzzy, but I'm okay. Thank you, Drip."
"No problem! Do you remember what happened to you? Why were you knocked out?"
"Lily's memory is still fuzzy. I can't remember anything…"
"No worries, it's fine! Say Drizzy, can we keep her? She can be our cute little sister!"
"Drip, we have plenty of sisters already. Every cell in Endori is related, technically speaking."
"Come on bro, I'm just joking. I'm sure Lily wants to return to her world instead of living inside of a hormonal teenage girl!"
"Hormonal?"
"Please excuse my idiotic brother, Lily. Some things you won't understand until you are older. Anyway, in more important matters, Lily is looking for a special guy named Vex. Have you seen him, by chance?"
Hmm, I can't say that I have…Yes, I've got it!"
"??"
"Drip, you better not tell her one of your crazy ideas."
"It's not crazy, it's genius! Lily, how about you tag along with me? I deliver oxygen supplies and other nutrients to cells all around Endori. I have yet to finish my daily route, so why don't you follow me, and we'll look for Vex in the meantime? Sounds good?"
"Yes! Lily's ready!"
"Sigh, you better not do anything reckless with her. The sooner she gets out of your care, the better!"
"Bah, my brother is such a negative person, isn't he?"
"Lily thinks so too."
"See? Look at your negative influence on the impressionable girl!"
"Enjoy the rest of your shift, bro. Lily and I are gonna enjoy ourselves. Come on Lily, let's go!"
"Okay, Lily's coming, Drip!"
Lily can't wait to see you again, Vex. Lily has so much to tell you about! Lily also wants to thank you.
Thank you for being my savior, Vex!