OSWALD awoke from shallow sleep and forced open his heavy eyelids. The unchanging white fog brought a frown to his face, but he blinked when he realized Nichika was sitting very close to him.
“Morning,” she greeted, her expression hard.
“This isn’t a comfortable bed.” He ran his hands over his body in search of damage as he sat up. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted the smaller petacolon mob bouncing around the moving big blobs. He spoke while looking at them. “What happened? I assume you figured out the cause since we’re all awake?”
Several long seconds of silence stretched between them. Finding it odd that she didn’t answer, Oswald shifted his questioning gaze back to Nichika. She was squeezing her hands on top of her lap with an unbelievably rattled look in her eyes. When she finally did speak again, it was in a grave voice.
“You know, you’ve called me thoughtless and stupidly carefree so much I’d be a millionaire if someone gave me a penny every time. But I’ve always thought things through in my own way.”
“Nichika?”
“But maybe you really were right all along. I didn’t think too much when I readily accepted Ini’s request. Was that the right choice? Was I being stupid?”
All of the tiny insecurities growing inside Nichika joined hands and became one massive lump of worry. Once doubt came into the picture she couldn’t escape it. Sinking in a world of uncertainty, her trembling voice accelerated.
“What’s true? What kind of things am I forgetting? Who was I? What will happen once I collect all the spirits? Does Goddess Yuna even exist?”
The doubts wouldn’t stop piling on. Her hands trembled on her lap, and her tears splattered on her thighs, splashing onto the nearby rocks. Maybe the ground I’m sitting on right now doesn’t exist either. Even the man I’m complaining to could just be a figment of my imagination.
“Can I actually go home? What the hell is Arcanshiel? Who are you, Oswald? What if all of this, every last detail, is just some elaborate dream of mine—”
Something strong struck her head, knocking her back. Flailing her arms, she managed to stay upright. Eyes wider than the two moons, she watched as Oswald brought down his finger to flick her for the second time. His displeased, low voice cut through the foggy air.
“Worm for brains! Don’t go making people a figment of your imagination.”
His second flick hit the mark. It hurt enough for her to see stars, as usual. Tears welled in her eyes as she held her hands over her aching head. Her master pointed at her.
“Is your pain an illusion?”
He seized the bow on her mantle and pulled her to him.
“Mmmnn…” Her lashes fluttered while she willingly accepted the kiss.
After a long moment, he freed her lips and exhaled. “…Is the way you feel when we do this an illusion too?” he asked in a quiet, husky voice.
Nichika didn’t know how to answer him. Mild irritation flared in his blue eyes only inches from her face. A roguish grin soon accompanied those devilish eyes, followed by his absurd declaration.
“I don’t like being relegated to nonexistence. I’ll sear myself onto your soul.”
“Huh? What are you say—”
She nearly gave in when he wrapped an arm around her waist, but she shoved a hand in his face and pushed him away before she was swept up in the moment.
“I always tell you there will be none of that!”
“Why not? Aren’t I just someone you dreamed up? Who cares what a hot illusion does to you, right?”
“Fine! I’ll acknowledge you’re right! Sorry for calling you a part of my dreams!”
Face flushing, she turned her back on him and held her overheating head in her hands. The crushing anxiety she felt moments ago had been stamped out by the raging tumult of emotion he caused her. She placed a hand on her thrashing heart and used her brain.
It’s no use overthinking. It’s not an issue of him being real or not. The moment my feelings became this way, I…
She glanced over her shoulder to where her master was waiting with a mischievous grin. He threw her own words right back at her in a teasing tone.
“You’ve got tofu for brains. What’re you doing wasting time with adult worries? What happened to that favorite theory of yours? Wouldn’t you rather take action first, think later?”
Yeah. My feelings haven’t changed since that time.
Cheeks puffed out, she pouted before bursting out laughing. Refreshed, she stretched her hands as high as they could reach.
“You’re right. I won’t come any closer to the answer wasting time thinking about what I don’t know.” The light of determination reignited in her newly opened eyes. “The only thing I can do is keep moving.”
“And I’m stuck moving with you.”
Oswald stood and walked off to wake the other two.
“……”
Nichika stared at the black back ahead of her then quickly averted her gaze. Only the petacolon at her feet noticed the red hue staining her cheeks.
✦ ✦ ✦
BEEP!
Ini ended his connection with the eagle. His expression was grim, and he didn’t move from where he stood for a long while. He gave his head a light shake and started down the celestial corridor made of white mineral. His feet eventually brought him to a room and he pushed open the old door. The interior was shrouded in darkness except for the light reflecting off the stark floor from the glass tubes lining the walls.
Ini advanced deeper within until he reached the end of the room. He raised his gaze up to what was housed there.
A woman was floating in a huge glass tube filled with clear liquid. Long hair floated around her stark naked body. Beauty and godliness defined her facial features, but her eyes were firmly closed.
Ini ever so gently rested his hand on the glass tube as if just her presence within made the machine sacred. The corners of his lips curled slightly as he spoke to her.
“Yuna, it seems I’ll never find forgiveness from that child. I’ll probably be hunted to the ends of the world. Aah, but even if that’s so…” He leaned his forehead against the glass and whispered as if in prayer. “…I will gladly sacrifice everything if it means I can hug you again… Though I know saying so angers you.”
Her eyes didn’t flutter open even at the heartbreak and sorrow permeating his voice.
Only the sound of popping bubbles droned on endlessly in the silence.