Chương 25: Chapter Twenty Four: The Aftermath

Niathe heaved a sigh of relief and finally hugged me with a semblance of warmth." Thank you. Thank you, mother. Thank you." Freesia announced to the crowd around me." The child has been baptized! Nyx herself greeted her! Rejoice!" A crowd rallied together as I shivered. That was so close. At any moment I could have been swallowed by her. My life was completely in her palm and she seemed to be itching to close her fingers into a fist. Liar. She wasn't maternal or motherly at all. [Are you ok?] Penguin?

[Yes, it's me.] What happened?! Where did you go? Why couldn't I hear you? [An outside force stole your soul from your body. I maintained your bodily autonomy and its integrity in the meantime.] She stole my soul?! [I assume you're referring to Nyx. Stole isn't the most apt description. Let me amend my previous statement. Borrowed is more appropriate.] What about the Quest? [Processing requirements…] [Loading…]"What did she tell you Ria? What did she say?"

"…" I can't tell her here. I can't tell her about the recipe Nyx was talking about right now. There's too many people. It's so crowded. I hate it. I want to leave. I also can't tell her about me. How do I even bring it up? Lie. I'll just lie or something. It's too loud. It's so loud. I wish everything would stop. The music. The people. The everything. It's too much! Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"You have to tell me—""I want to go back! Back to my room. Just…stop! You're suffocating me!"

"…" She lifts me up and holds me close to her neck."Ok. We'll go back. It's time for you to go to bed anyway. El. We're returning to our quarters. Mother!" Illyria trots over with a goblet of wine in her hand."Yes Nia?"

"Come with me." Niathe's gait was hurried as we weaved through the boisterous crowd. Their eyes were wide and marveling at me. Welcomes and blessings spew from curved mouths. Music resumes and dancing begins again. Shadows form on walls and silver cups spill wine on the floor. They think Nyx accepted me. That I'm one of them now. If they only knew. If they truly knew me. They would slaughter me and offer me on a silver platter to their gods. Every single one of them is a threat to me.

A dagger aiming blindly in the darkness can still hit a target. I can never let them know. I can never let myself get attached or carried away. Her hand holds my neck in what's supposed to be a comforting gesture. But all I can do is tense up. It's all a waiting game now. I can't stay here. I can't. But where can I go? My world. She called it a forsaken planet. Penguin, can I go back? [I'm not sure. The rules of the… state that….] What are you saying? I can't hear you. [I'm sorry. I am bound by codes and regulations that are enforced naturally. I cannot fight them.] So you physically can't tell me about what all of this is about? Can I guess then? That Reincarnation Society you mentioned. Do they make the rules? No. I can hear you! So guessing isn't against the rules. Did the Reincarnation Society create you? [Yes.] Is the Reincarnation Society made up of people like me or Gods? […] Sorry that's not a yes or no question. Is the Reincarnation Society made up of people like me?

People who died and came back. [Yes.]"We're here. It's ok." Niathe stroked my back and I yelped. The brand. It still hurts.

"I have medicine for that. Just sit tight right here. Mother watch her." Niathe sat me down in my cradle that was starting to get a little too tight for me. Illyria watched over me as Niathe went through a cabinet. She looked pensive and nothing like the charismatic carefree leader I met in the ballroom.

"I found it! Here." Niathe rushed back to my side. Her hair was getting increasingly undone. Pearls swooped to the side and accessories drooped.

"Turn around."

"Do you always speak to her that way?" I turned around and Niathe hesitated for a moment before ignoring her mother.

"Nia." Niathe slathered goo onto my back."Illyria, it's not your place." It feels so cool and soothing. I didn't even realize my back was burning. Also did you just call your mother by her name? Gutsy. Not even I do that to you.

"Is that so? You're right it's not my place."

"…" Something goes unsaid between them and it makes my throat close.

"Ria? Can you tell me what Mother said? Please. I'll give you all the gold and treats you want." Should I tell her? [New Quest Received!] Fuck no! What now? I just finished the last one. What's it called? [Behind the Glass Curtain.] Objectives and requirements? Bring your late brother's murderers to Justice. Uncover the secret behind Ichor. Find the forbidden recipe. Niathe frantically shakes me and I look back up at her." Ria!" Illyria sounds baffled at how anxious Niathe is." Don't yell at her!"

I speak up without making eye contact." Ok! It's just… she said something about an elixir." She lifted my chin and forced me to make direct eye contact with her. Her voice raised and became coated with tension." What? What does that mean?"

"She said that my brother—" Niathe questions me and then urges me to continue."You know about—Of course you do. What did she say?!" I recall carefully."She said…A forbidden passage gave birth to an elixir. Which gave birth to a tragedy." Illyria gawked at us as Niathe held her breath and her cheeks flushed with anticipation.

"What else did she say?" This is my moment. My chance to tell her the truth. To test her. Will she give me up once she learns what I am? The answer is obvious. Yes. Without hesitation. She loves Nyx. Worships her. I'm the bane of her goddess's existence. She'll get rid of me in a heartbeat. Niathe shakes me out of my stupor and continues questioning me desperately about my encounter with her patron goddess. My lips are sealed though. I can't risk it after the quest. After the quest, I'll tell her.

"That's enough Nia! She needs her rest. She's a child! Your child. How have you been—"