The mother and “daughter” peered at each other, only silence hanging in the air between them. Several bystanders looked on expectantly, all of them silent, not wanting to interrupt a tearful reunion.
“The nurses already told me you have amnesia, so you probably don’t remember, me. I’ve come by here as often as I can for years, holding your hand and praying to whatever god will hear me out for you to wake up.”
Deciding to give a forthright response, Sayko replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you,” not wanting to give false hopes to the woman who was clearly bearing her heart for all to see. “But I want to get to know you again. I don’t know anything about myself, not even my name until they told me, but if you’ll have me…”
Nodding as tears finally found their way down her face, her voice cracking, “Of course I will! Baby, I have been dreaming of taking you back for six years. Are you ready to go home?”
Several people still nearby could be heard sniffling or seen wiping tears away. It was already occurring to Sayko that waking up from Aporis Abjection was no small feat. For this many people to be this moved, clearly chances ouf recovery seemed extremely slim. Yuna stepped away from the wheelchair, gesturing for Celica to take her place. As Celica slunk a box of rope running through it over her back, she gripped the handles, turning back to the nurse.
“How many lunars do I owe you for the wheelchair and crutches?”
Stepping up from seemingly out of nowhere, Emma Lowell stepped forward.
“For how much your family has sacrificed? Nothing. Your husband is missing, your eldest daughter still works to protect frontier communities, and you went six years without your other daughter due to the aftermath of the crisis. You’ve paid enough.”
Opening her mouth for a moment, Celica wanted to dissuade her, but she decided not to question the sincere kindness of the Matron, instead smiling and looking bashfully at the ground, before bowing to show her appreciation of the gesture.
“Thank you, Matron Lowell. Pardon my offense, but I hope we don’t have to see anyone here again, at least under these circumstances, again.”
Several of the nurses laughed, while Celica beamed at Sayko, turning the wheelchair towards the lobby doors. A pair of nurses hurried over to open the doors for her, and she gave thanks as
they traversed the threshold onto the cobblestone street outside. Sayko mouthed her thanks to them as they passed, before turning to give a final wave to Yuna, who had especially left an impression.
Outside, a bustling city met them. It reminded Sayko of something straight out of a textbook about pre-modern Europe. The streets were a neatly paved cobblestone of sorts, with sidewalks and multilevel homes lining either side of the road. The woodwork was breathtaking, fashioned with care by master craftsmen and, despite how tightly packed in the homes were, every single one of them looked shockingly cozy.
The sky above was a rich cerulean, not a single cloud to be seen. The sunlight immediately warmed the girl to her core, kissing her pale body that had been living in shadow for years. If she had to guess, it was the beginning of summer, due to how many laborers were running back and forth, let alone the foot traffic filling the road, making way only for the occasional carriage.
The foot traffic gave way for the pair as they tried to stay off the cobblestone street, preventing the ride from being miserably bumpy for Sayko. She was thankful for the wheelchair, periodically tearing her attention away from the sights and sounds to flex her legs, realizing they felt like barely a notch above dead weight, making her marvel at how effective adrenaline was to let her walk for a short time in the sleepers ward. Sighing, she couldn’t wait for the day when her legs would be strong enough to walk these streets on her own.
Turning down a side street, Celica cleared her throat.
“It just hit me; we need to get you clothing! You’re in nothing but a hospital gown and the clothes at home are from when you were eight years old!”
This girl was eight years old when she fell asleep? That makes me fourteen now. What an awful age to be reincarnated! She quietly shuddered, thinking back to the misery of middle school.
Directing her voice down at Sayko, she asked in a demure tone, “Do you feel good enough to quickly stop by a shop down the road? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, though, we can head home and worry about it tomorrow.”
“I…” she hesitated, unfamiliar with being given a choice in the matter. “I don’t mind making a stop, this gown isn’t very comfortable and kind of ugly,” she awkwardly chuckled, wondering if Celica was just trying to make a good first impression of sorts.
“That barf green isn’t really your color, anyways.” She giggled, playfully poking Sayko’s side.
Laughing together for a moment, Celica steered her around a corner, traversing several neighborhood alleyways until they came out onto another market street of sorts. This one in particular must not have been a main road, as the pedestrian traffic was far sparser than when they left Euripides Sanatorium. Shops were lining either side of the road, with a few street stalls set up in the alleys in-between buildings.
About halfway down the road, they stopped at a particularly audacious looking storefront that bore a luxurious looking sign above the entrance. Narrowly fitting the wheelchair through the door, a
shop keeper’s voice rang out to greet them before even a full step had been made into the establishment.
“Welcome to Reyna’s Boutique where we aim to impress with the dress! How can I-“
What Sayko could only describe with plain English as a ‘catgirl’ came around a corner, stopping dead in her tracks upon seeing Celica and Sayko having crossed the threshold of the shop.
“Qualia my goddess, please tell me my eyes aren’t deceiving me. CELICA!?” She leapt eagerly towards the woman, the two of them embracing in a tight hug, the two of them very clearly old friends. Coughing, Celica sputtered as the catgirl wrapped her arms firmly around her torso.
“You… just saw me…last week.”
“You know I’m gonna pounce for the real thing every time I see you!”
The woman’s shoulder length hair was a tawny and golden blonde, with two black tufted cat ears resting on the top of her head. Almond shaped hazel eyes with golden flecks in them scanned the pair, the pupils sharp and diamond shaped shining brightly against her porcelain skin. The previously mischievous smile instantly transformed into a wide grin, as she broke away from her embrace.
Eyes wide at seeing a real-life human with cat ears, Sayko scanned the woman up and down trying to take in something she had only seen in cosplay and media. Her frame was wiry and athletic despite her job as a seamstress, making the girl think she must’ve been a fellow adventurer alongside Celica. She was about a head shorter than the latter, a roguish air dripping from her person that spoke to her sly nature, agility, and the ability to blend into a crowd.
“What brings you in-“She began, her words falling short once she looked down at Sayko sitting in the wheelchair.
Her eyes widened in shock, her jaw figuratively dropping to the floor. In full volume, she screamed, “GODDESS ABOVE YOU’RE SHITTING ME, SENNA’S AWAKE!?” Leaping back in shock as she yelled, nimbly landing on the sales counter, her tail jet puffed in surprise.
Sayko awkwardly waved, eyes closed with a shy smile on her face while her mother grinned broadly, a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. Hopping off the counter and rushing forward, Reyna knelt down to eye level with Sayko.
“I know you probably don’t remember me, but I’m your auntie Reyna!” Grinning widely, revealing sharp incisors, “I used to travel with your mom once upon a time, back before I started this shop! I moved to this city along with another friend of ours a few years ago so she wouldn’t be alone!”
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Unsure of what to say, Sayko proved that painful awkwardness and tenuous social skills follow you regardless of how good your karma was in the past life. Mumbling while staring down at her own legs, she forced out a response.
“I don’t remember you… but I can’t wait to get to know you. I’m Sa…Senna.”
Giggling at the obvious, Reyna slowly ruffled Senna’s hair, a mild look of disbelief in her eyes.
“I know, child. We’ve all been waiting a long time for you to wake up.”
Her inquisitive nature getting the better of her, she asked the obvious question.
“’We...?”
“Of course! Your parents made a lot of friends during the war, and we all became family. Not by blood, but by choice. A couple of us followed your mom back here to Enzen once things settled down a
bit, but we try to keep in contact with everyone who survived.”
“Oh… Have you been taking care of her then?” Sayko responded, a blundering attempt at a joke.
Belting out a laugh, Reyna put her hands on her hips in an exaggerated pose.
“You bet I am! This girl is a monster on the battlefield AND in a war room, but she’s hopeless at having fun or taking it easy, so auntie here makes sure she gets out of the house and enjoys herself once in a while!”
Cheeks turning red, Celica looked away, attempting to remain nonchalant about her friend’s teasing. The bonds between the two were plain as day, and the joy in Reyna’s eyes and smile was sincere.
“A-Anyways…” Celica composed herself a bit from embarrassment, “She’s going to need something more substantial to wear beyond just a hospital gown, wouldn’t you say?”
“Look, I know it’s practical, and I know they’re dead asleep and don’t really care what they’re wearing, but this reject tablecloth is a crime. Who chose this color!? It’s barf green!”
“Reyna…” Celica nodded pointedly at Sayko who becoming visibly more self-conscious about her getup.
“Ahem! Regardless, I have some pre-made clothes I can send home with you today but I’m going to quickly grab your measurements so I can make you something special!”
Sayko foolishly tried to step up and out of her wheelchair only to realize it really was adrenaline that carried her out of bed earlier that day, not some isekai superpower. True to her catlike reflexes,
Reyna reflexively caught her before she could even topple over, giggling as she eased her into Celica’s arms.
“You make a baby deer look like a gymnast,” she teased, her smile not ceasing for a moment.
Celica held up Sayko’s doll like form up while Reyna took some lightning quick measurements. Sticking her tongue out a bit as she focused on writing down everything, she turned her attention away
to the racks of clothing artistically positioned around the store, with Celica slowly laying her daughter comfortably back into the wheelchair.
Breaking away from the pair, the catgirl seized seemingly random articles of clothing from various places across the shop, running to and fro between displays. Snagging some boxes from behind
the counter, she packed up about five or six outfits, a healthy pile of socks, and some underwear. Sizing up the stack, she shuffled over and set it in Sayko’s lap, making sure it wouldn’t topple over.
“Are you able to hold onto those okay?” Putting a hand on the girl’s head once more. Nodding and giving as confident of a grunt as she could muster, she wrapped her arms around the boxes. Meanwhile, Celica was reaching into the coin purse at her side, but before she could get it
open, Reyna grabbed her hand.
“Don’t worry about the cost, Celica. Consider these a combination of birthday and celebratory gifts for your little girl being awake once more. We’ve all lost a lot and the world is finally healing, and
you’ve been long overdue for good news.”
Sayko craned her neck back to try to catch Celica’s response to the kind gesture, only to see a bashful expression that quickly disappeared out of sight as the woman turned away. The movement
wasn’t quite quick enough to stop a pair of tears from hitting her daughter’s neck. Understanding not wanting to draw attention to your own tears, Sayko immediately turned to Reyna and called out to distract her.
“Thank you, auntie Reyna!” trying her best to force a grin even though a faking a smile felt like pulling teeth for her.
Glowing at hearing her name, a heartfelt expression met Sayko, her ears twitching with delight. “I’m going to do you one better, though. I’m going to have Gren bring over some food and meals for you. That way, everything major is out of the way so you can just spend some quality time together, you hear?”
“Someday I’ll repay you, Reyna.”
“Being in my life is repayment enough.”
The two women hugged once more, not saying a word between them. The connection clearly ran deep, something that could only be built by time and hardships together. Sayko couldn’t imagine what the two women had been through, but it was plain as day that they were family, too.
They’re closer as family than I am to this poor woman…, she thought to herself rather gloomily.
After they said their goodbyes, they went back out onto the street, Sayko clutching the boxes tightly against her chest and lap. She hadn’t really paid attention to what outfits had been thrown together, too shocked by the exchange that had just happened. This world felt completely foreign; not because of magic or mythical beings, but because of the community and kindness everyone seemed to
feel for one another.
The rest of the journey ‘home’ was mostly uneventful, partially due to a cocktail of overstimulation and shock that was making the sights easier to digest. Although, as they were passing through Enzen city square, a particularly ornate plaza filled with marble fountains and intricate stonework sculptures, a screech rang out from the sky above snapping her back to reality. A passing wind drake was soaring above the city and gave a call to its partner in the distance, turning many heads in the square below. Most people laughed or pointed happily at the sighting which was relatively uncommon in the city, while Sayko clutched the boxes so tightly that they nearly all began to warp in shape.
That thing is the size of an electric car, what the actual hell!?
Once the creature moved on, she started to take in her surroundings once more. Throngs of bystanders loitered, making casual conversation amongst themselves with even more pedestrians moving between the lanes of foot traffic. There were people of every kind you could imagine: elves, dwarves, humans, and various individuals with secondary animal traits are collectively known as Qu’len. If it hadn’t full sank in before, it did now that she truly had woken in a fantasy world.
“Cel…” Pausing, she decided to commit to her role, “Mom?” She asked aloud, unsure of how to properly refer to the woman.
Giggling, Celica replied. “Yes, you can call me ‘mom.’ Are you doing okay?”
“What are these statues? They’re beautiful…” She didn’t want to say they reminded her of something out of antiquity both because Celica would have no idea what she was talking about, and because they put any statue from Earth's history to shame.
“They’re a mix of myth and history. Despite being rebuilt and renamed several times, Enzen has been here for over a thousand years, and although we have books detailing that, having visual reminders helps make it real for some folk. Some of them also tell a story for the places that aren’t here anymore and give a voice to people who have no hometown or homeland to where they can return.”
“When I can walk again, will you bring me here and tell me their stories?”
Yuna’s words echoing in Sayko’s head, she realized she didn’t want to be as passive as she was in her previous life, realizing how much beauty there was in the world at large.
“I’d love that!... Although I may have to brush up on my history, too…” Celica responded sheepishly.
Leaving the plaza behind, passing a couple streets of pubs, restaurants, and shops, they once more entered another neighborhood. Reaching the end of the road they were on, they stopped at a
small set of stairs leading down to a somewhat hidden cul de sac of small houses squashed between the
lanes of multi-story housing. The houses clearly predated the surrounding neighborhood by a generation or two, yet somehow still managed to look natural against the buildings towering above them.
Taking a deep breath behind her, Celica whispered in her ear. “Don’t panic, I don’t want to make you have to get out of the chair yet.”
Before Sayko could digest the words, the woman kneeled behind the wheelchair, a grunt escaping her lips before handily lifting it off the ground. Letting out a small yelp as the girl’s stomach lurched, feeling gravity release its tendrils around her, the ground growing smaller beneath her.
“Sorry for startling you, I just didn’t want it to be bumpy going down the stairs!”
This woman is inhumanly strong, good lord!
Momentarily hyperventilating and trying to loosen the death grip she had on the arm rests, Sayko started to understand why this woman had been an adventurer. Catching hands from a lady that strong could result in lifelong injuries, let alone bruises your ancestors could feel. It was especially shocking coming from a woman with such a humble, somewhat thin frame.
Setting her down once more, she leaned down and pointed outward towards a particular house.
“That’s our house!”
Looking ahead, there was a waist high gate connecting to a tall cobblestone wall that looked to match the date of the roads and paths of the city itself. The house beyond was two floors tall, but still appeared to be rather humble, clearly dating a generation or two before the neighborhood around it.
As they passed through the creaking gate, they came out on a small hand paved path that lead to the front door, bisecting a modest yard in front of the house. Several rose bushes lined the wall, with
a small pond complete with babbling fountain tucked away in the corner, the entire space feeling picturesque right out of a fairy tale.
Celica stepped forward and fumbled with some keys until she got the door open, and turned back to her daughter.
“We’re home, Senna.”