CHAPTER 18: SEARCHING FOR REI P4
~18.4~
*****
That night, Adele and Michelle returned to Arslade after an intense day of recruiting searchers. When they entered their residence in the palace, Adele collapsed onto the empty bed while Michelle shed her magical aethersilk clothes and headed straight to the bath. She shrieked in surprise when she laid eyes on the enormous tub. Adele jumped out of bed and ran straight for the bath, slipping on the wet floor and falling face first into the water with Michelle bursting out laughing.
Miraculously, Adele’s face ended up above water. “Um... Adele?” Her face was buried between Alethea’s breasts. “Are you okay?”
She rose up and smiled. “Oops.” Alethea giggled.
Michelle, still laughing, stepped into the bath and snuggled up next to Alethea. “How are you?” Alethea smiled. She was somewhat uncomfortable, but also was glad to see her spouses again. “Adele, if you’re gonna stay, deal with your clothes first.”
“Oh. Right. Hold on.” She ditched her aethersilk clothing just as Michelle had and settled in on Alethea’s other side. “We’re here for you.”
“Thanks, you two. I...”
“Don’t stress it,” Michelle said. “If you don’t want to talk, don’t force it. We’ll sit here with you in silence if that’s what you need.”
“No, it’s...” Alethea repeated what Atalante had told her earlier about her siblings. “I came inside and ate with her, then went to bed for a while. I only just stirred a few minutes ago and wanted to soak for a bit.” A few tears rolled down her face. “It’s not fair. I know she knows what this feels like, but I’m sad for another reason. For the family I never got to meet... I knew about them, but... I don’t know, it feels more significant right now.”
“Because your emotions are all over the place,” Michelle said. As Michelle began to consul her, a portal suddenly appeared in the bedroom. They sensed it and all three of them immediately jumped up, clothing and arming themselves quickly with their aethersilk and aethersteel bands. They quickly recognized the mana of the person who stepped through the portal and hurriedly ran into the bedroom to greet her. Standing there in an academy uniform and a cloak was their favorite blonde.
“““Kye!”””
Alethea jumped toward Kye to embrace her lover, but she was met by an invisible rectangular barrier that became a translucent white upon contact. “Kye?”
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t react in the slightest. Her face and eyes were blank.
“What’s with the barrier?” Adele asked.
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“I’ve been maintaining the barrier since I left Realm 7. My mental state is too dangerous for close contact with even you.” She raised her left hand and closed it into a fist while looking down at it. “It’s as though there’s someone else in my head. I won’t risk your safety in this state. My body has - what felt like - automatically reacted to things. I’ve been so angry. Angry with so many people. Angry at you three, everyone in this palace, everyone in the other palaces, every member of our families that were not here to stop it, but most of all... myself.”
“This is bothering you even more than me,” Alethea said.
Kye sighed. “I’ve spent most of my days since I heard Rei’s first prayer on Daemonheim deep in the demon beast infested area of the continent futilely trying to burn off some of that anger.”
Adele and Michelle gasped. Alethea said, “You can hear her pray? She’s okay?”
“Yes. I can’t gleam any hints of where she’s at, but I at least know she’s okay. She’s very scared.” She sat down on the bed and collapsed backward.
Alethea sat as close as she could get, despite the barrier. “When did you first start hearing prayers again?”
“The last time I didn’t hear prayers was my previous life. In between every life while I’m ‘dead’, and in every life that I have or regain my memories… I always hear them. Anyone that prays to Elysia or ‘God’ is praying to me. After Allison and the others rescued me from my attempted kidnapping - specifically, on the way back to the palace - I heard my father praying for my safety. The day she was kidnapped, Rei prayed for me to save her. Ever since, I’ve heard a prayer from her every couple of hours. I heard your prayer, Alethea, when you casted Eye of Providence. That’s how I knew she was kidnapped in the first place, and that’s also when I left Realm 7. I was so overcome with grief that my power exploded and transported me to the place I thought she’d be, Icarus. But she wasn’t there.”
“Kye?” Alethea sat down next to her. “Why are you back at all?”
“I came to pick up you three. We’re going to Atlantis. Get dressed if you don’t want to go in your aethersilk clothes.” The three shrugged. They were far more concerned with what Kye was planning than with wearing regular clothes. “Okay.” Kye created another portal and waited for them to step through. “I’ll join you shortly. I need to go pick up Luma and Alfia.” She abruptly closed the portal before they could respond and opened another one to where Luma was. After picking her up, they went to collect Alfia, then joined the others in Atlantis.
*****
In a certain barrier encased mansion, a young black-haired girl was returning to her room escorted by one of the several maids. Once in her room, the maid scolded her for failing her lessons. She was having trouble grasping multiplication, a ridiculous expectation for a child her age.
I’m only three years old! Mommy, help me! Please, come save me. They are so mean to me. They are making me take lessons you said I wouldn’t take for a couple years! They’re making me swing a sword so many more times than you do... and it’s heavy.
The maid continued to list off things about Rei’s lessons, as she did her best to hold back tears.
Please, mommy! This place is awful!
*****
In the Atlantis palace, Kye suddenly fell to her knees, clutching her head. “No.”
“They are so mean to me!”
Kye could hear every word Rei prayed, and every word the maid said. “No!”
“What’s wrong?” Alethea bent down to help Kye, but the barrier stopped her.
“No, get back!” she screamed. “I hear her. Stay back!”
“Please, mommy! This place is awful!”
Silvery white aether exploded from Kye’s body, reacting to her anger. “I’ll kill every one of them! STOP TORTURING MY DAUGHTER!”
*****
Revision: 2024-7-2