Stefan’s eyes gleamed with water as he lifted his head, making eye contact with the woman who had just freed him from his captivity.

“M-Mum?” he stuttered, his gaze upon a woman who he hadn’t seen in months and thought he wouldn’t see ever again. Yet she was standing right in front of him with an outstretched hand and a warm smile. How could that be when he had laid her mortal remains to rest not long before?

He ignored her hand and jumped to his feet, throwing his arms around her, and squeezing her so tight he didn’t think he’d ever let go.

“I-I can’t believe it…” he sniffled, crying again for the second time in a few hours. But his tears this time were out of joy. “You’re really here, right in front of me.”

“Stefan,” she breathed. “I’m… not really her.”

“What do you mean?” Stefan asked as he pulled himself away from her.

“I’m not really your mum,” she answered. “I’m only a collection of memories that revolve around her.”

“So you’re not…”

Stefan frowned, his eyes locked to the ground between him and the lifelike apparition. All the bliss inside him quickly faded away. Why did he get his hopes up, anyway? He knew she was dead.

“I’m not. But you don’t need to worry,” she smiled, putting a hand on her ‘son’s’ shoulder. “I’m going to help you as she would.”

“Maybe we can start with where I am?” Stefan raised a brow.

“This is a pocket of your consciousness that’s only accessible through a trait called blood memory.”

“Blood memory? I’ve never heard of that before. Surely… Gareth would’ve told me about it.” the boy lifted his head slowly, making eye contact with the construct that appeared as his mother.

“He would’ve when the time came,” Kallista explained. “You see, blood memory can’t be accessed by just anyone or at anytime. Even I couldn’t access it during my lifetime.”

“How does that work?” Stefan asked, eager to get his hands on new information. He knew he didn’t have much time to stay in this pocket consciousness with his mother’s memory.

“I was… I would’ve told you this eventually when you were a bit older. But your father was a very special man. And it’s because of him you have blood memory. You’re only accessing it now because your body on the outside is on the verge of death.”

An array of questions spawned in Stefan’s ‘head’, even though he was only limited to his consciousness at that time. He had never cared about who his father was before, but just how special was he? No, he didn’t have time to ask. He was unsure why he didn’t receive blood memory when he was paralysed and at the mercy of the Abnormal that killed the hunters in the forest, but back then, he was not strong. Strength had to be a condition too.

“I’m—I’m dying? I need to wake up. Mum, please tell me whatever you want me to hear quickly.” he pleaded, nearly panicking, but his mother put her other hand on his other shoulder, bringing him to a state of controlled calm.

“I know, that’s why I said you shouldn’t be here. Now listen carefully. This form of mine knows what Joakim told you. I saw everything. I want to comfort you and hold you and let you know it’ll be okay, but this is what you need to know right now.”

“Tell me, Mum.”

“You and Joakim were thrown into a chaotic mess that you had no knowledge of… that is my fault. And you can’t control which side your brother is on. Stefan, no matter what, please don’t hurt him. I’ve seen what you’ve had to do to keep yourself and your friends safe, and that was me too, once upon a time. But do not hurt your brother. That’s the last thing I want. If that happens… I can never call myself a good mother.”

“You’re already the best mother I could ask for.” Stefan smiled proudly.

Kallista’s subtle grin became wider. She cupped one side of her son’s face with a hand.

“Many people down the line might call you great as they did me. They might call you a hero, a legend. Regardless of what you will be or what you want to be, I raised you to be the one thing I needed you to be.”

“What’s that?” Stefan asked.

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“My son. My sweet boy.”

Mother and son stared into each other’s eyes. Although they started to look more different due to Stefan’s genetics, that blood bond always remained. Even through physical forms and dimensions.

“Come now,” she said, retracting her hand, and turning around. “Let’s get you back.”

She traversed a few paces, seemingly walking simultaneously through and on the nothingness of the white expanse they were on. Stefan found himself doing the same.

Kallista’s arm extended forward when she stopped, seemingly grabbing nothing. What she pulled back was a rectangular fragment of the pocket consciousness’ wall in the form of a door, behind which was pure darkness. Stefan’s hand disappeared as it crossed the event horizon, but he did not hesitate to cross it, not looking back.

The first sound Stefan heard was an unnatural, continuous beeping sound filling the air. Such a sound was only comparable to the circuitry and machinery housed within the Crafts Vigdis had built.

Electronics, or whatever they’re called, he recalled as his eyes opened into a room that was fully dim except for the orange, warm glow of light that cut through a small, barred window in the door of the room.

He looked at his arms to see clear wires sticking into skin, strange liquid flowing though them. While it was foreign to him, he was not afraid of it. However, the most important object he noticed was a handcuff around his right wrist securing him to one of the two railings that lined the side of the bed he was lying in.

Is this your idea of a light punishment, Vigdis? he groaned, holding his head in his hands.

“Shit…” a voice spoke from outside the door. “Guess he’s woken up.”

“That fast?” another voice said in disbelief. “Did you see how beat up he was? It’s been three days. Hell, for all of yesterday they thought he was going to die!”

“Well, this morning I heard that medic Detlef saying his condition was suddenly improving a whole lot. We should call the boss.”

“He only just got here, he’ll flip out with everything else he’s had to take care of.”

“He’s awake. He’s awake, isn’t he?” a pair of fast feet stomped in the direction of whatever closet-turned-jail cell Stefan was being kept inside.

“Hey, isn’t that—

The guard was cut off, the sound of the quick footsteps halting.

“If he’s awake, I need to see him right away!” the voice beckoned.

If that’s who I think it is… Stefan mused.

“Hey, little lady, engineer or not, there’s a detainee behind this door,” one of the two guards said sternly. “We can’t let you in.”

“Yeah? Well, you can go give Vigdis a call and ask her who she sent.”

“Are all engineers like this?” Stefan heard one guard whisper to the other.

“If they are, I’d rather not have to deal with two. Let the girl in.”

A key slid through a keyhole, and with a jangle and push the heavy metal door swung open slowly. Stefan could see three figures standing in the doorway, two taller ones holding rifles, and a smaller one with nothing but a lot of things to tell Stefan.

“Don’t take too long, kid. Oh, and if you can, fill him in on what’s happened.” one guard said before shutting the door and locking it again.

“Never thought I’d be saying this,” Stefan said with a hint of delight. “But it’s good to see you, An—

The boy was interrupted as the back of a hand struck the cheek of his that was not covered in a gauze patch. He rubbed that area of his face. No matter how powerful he thought he had gotten, Anwen’s hands would always sting him.

“That’s what you get for running off from Vigdis!” Anwen exclaimed, crossing her arms. Stefan frowned. He knew what he did was against orders, but it was for a great purpose. “Does it hurt to listen to instructions that much?”

“I… guess I deserve it.” He sighed.

“Well, you did also save a whole bunch of people,” Anwen said, taking a seat at the edge of his bed. “Credit should be given where it’s due.”

“I did?” he asked.

“They say you killed something around 250 to 300 Titanians with that sword. No one’s ever heard of that many casualties done with an edged weapon alone.” Anwen informed him.

Stefan chuckled to himself.

“I don’t know what happened, but I guess it was for the best. Well, since we’re starting with good news, let’s continue down that line.”

“Hmm…” Anwen hummed. “We did capture the depot. We’re in one of the barracks right now and we’re slowly turning it into our main base. Mr. Habich says that we derailed their plans by a lot.”

“That’s great! What else?”

“…bad news.” Anwen said with a lopsided smile.

“Oh.”

“First of all, because you ran off, Jay’s keeping you in custody for a week. Meaning you’re in here five more days.”

“That’s not bad,” Stefan countered. “If anything I need my rest! My chest and arms are completely scratched up.”

“Leon’s gone,” Anwen went straight into her next item of news. “There are still smaller battles all across the north. We probably won’t see him for a while.”

“Really? Aw, man! Couldn’t he have said goodbye first?” Stefan sighed but was glad he was told of the change.

“As if people were waiting for you to wake up.” Anwen rolled her eyes.

“You waited for me to wake up.” Stefan slyly responded.

“Oh…” Anwen muttered, lowering her head in embarrassment. “Right. Well, the last thing I know of is that there will probably be another major operation coming up soon. Don’t take my word for it, but I overheard some of the leaders saying there will be a meeting with everyone inside the depot very soon. I’m not sure what else would be so important for a giant group meeting that isn’t a huge operation.”

Before Stefan had a chance to react, a fist hit the metal door, startling both him and Anwen.

“Wrap it up quickly, Anwen!” a guard exclaimed.

“O-Okay!” she responded.

“Well, I guess I’ll just spend the rest of my time here processing everything you just told me. It’s a lot to swallow.”

For a moment it looked like Anwen was about to leave without saying another word, but she moved closer to Stefan. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and back.

“If you never woke up,” she said, her voice shaking as it softly entered Stefan’s ears, only for him to hear. “I don’t know what I’d do. I’m so happy you’re here.”

As the warmth of Anwen’s body nestled against his bare back and chest, Stefan wrapped his free arm around her back.

“Thanks for waiting for me.” Stefan said in appreciation.