Warning: This chapter contains content that may not be suitable for some readers
Fortunately, that evening the rain stopped. Ivy felt the urge to step out to the garden downstairs was immense. She decided to take Daisy along with her on a leash as she went to find Peter in the kitchen and pointed downstairs.
“But it’s dangerous for you to go alone,” Peter said as Ivy held his hand and gently patted them as she nod to indicate she will be fine while pointing at Daisy.
Peter contemplated a while before nodding. “Alright, be careful. Come home soon as dinner is almost ready.” She nodded as Peter quickly grab a sweater to put on her before she left with Daisy.
As she walked with Daisy breathing in the chilly air at the park which was refreshing, she could feel a part of her gloominess disappearing. She was feeling very refreshed as she secretly thanked Ray for his encouragement to keep pushing her out of her comfort zone.
Daisy too was excited to finally be able to roam around as she led Ivy toward a gazebo. Ivy could hear some giggles when she saw two familiar figures studying in the gazebo; Ryu and Melody.
“That’s where they study all this while I see.” Ivy thought to herself as she smiled wanting to leave them alone but Daisy was already barking at them both.
Ryu and Melody instantly stood in the gazebo as they were half shocked. As Melody nudged Ryu, he quickly walked out to greet Ivy. “Sis! What are you doing down here alone? Does Dad know you’re here?” Ryu asked as Melody looked on feeling a little embarrassed. Ivy giggled a little as she nodded.
“Come, let me send you back up… Wait for a second, let me take my phone and wallet first…” Ryu said.
When he wanted to head back to the gazebo, Ivy held onto his hand. She then also held onto Melody’s hand indicating she wanted Melody to come along, remembering dinner was almost ready.
“Alright, we will head back up together,” Ryu noted as Ivy smiled at Melody who was confused for a moment.
Ivy enjoyed teasing the couple while they walked back home. She couldn’t help but envy them as she wondered if Jason was still around, would he be holding her hand as they walk? She blinked away her tears as she distracted herself with the awkward acts of the couple in front of her and end up giggling occasionally.
Melody was beginning to realise Ivy was teasing them and couldn’t help but felt a little embarrassed while Ryu was trying to act as if nothing happened but in fact, he was enjoying the entire situation.
When they finally reached home, Ivy sat at the dinner table as she saw the dishes were already being served halfway. She nodded for both of them to sit while Peter brought in more dishes with Ryu and Melody quickly helping out.
“Wow, looks like we have a guest for dinner tonight…” Peter said happily noticing Ivy’s gesture to tell Melody to sit earlier.
“Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Ophal. Hope you don’t mind.” Melody said shyly understanding the circumstances and not wanting to upset Ivy.
“It’s alright. Come, sit with Ivy.” Peter urged as Melody sat when the lift rang.
Cassandra and Jin stepped into a pleasant surprise. “Ivy! How have you been doing? So good to see you at the dining table… Oh, and we have a guest. You must be Melody?” Cassandra greeted as she moved over to Ivy’s side.
“Hi… Yes, I am Melody…” Melody stood for a handshake but Cassandra chuckled as she hugged her.
“There’s no need to be so formal. I am Cassandra. Jin’s girlfriend. So, when are you going to be someone’s girlfriend?” Cassandra asked softly, loud enough for Ivy to hear as Ivy couldn’t help but giggled.
Ryu then stepped out and saw Melody blushing. He knew they were teasing her.
“Hey, hey… Don’t bully my guest I warn you…” Ryu said as Melody covered her face which was red from blushing. Cassandra burst into laughter as Jin who sat quietly on the dining table couldn’t help but chortled when he watched Ivy laugh for the first time in a long while.
Jin wondered if he was amused with the way Ryu protected Melody which made it so obvious that something was brewing between the couple or was he just too delighted to watch Ivy’s improvements? Ivy’s gaze met Jin’s as she blinked with a comforting smile when Peter came in with the last dish.
From the first time they both had always had a secret telepathy that made Jin somehow feel Ivy was different that night. She may still struggle a little but she was open to more interactions. He smiled in return as he took some dishes for Peter before scooping some for Ivy into her bowl. She ate them nonchalantly knowing she should if she wanted her family to stop worrying about her.
The next day, after school, Jin decided to accompany Ivy alongside Cassandra to another session with Phyllis. As usual, Cassandra sat outside the room with Jin letting Ivy head in with Daisy herself.
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“Sorry for having to trouble you always to send her.” Jin apologise as he held on to Cassandra’s right hand. She tightened her grip on his hand as she smiled.
“How many times have I told you there’s no need to apologise to me or even thank me? It’s what I willingly do in return for all that you have done for me in the past, especially during the most traumatising part of my life.” Cassandra reminded him as Jin smiled.
“I am very confident that Ivy would make it through this cause I did and she is way stronger than me,” Cassandra said as she leaned on Jin’s shoulder.
“Let’s hope so. I can’t wait for her to come back and help out trying to bring that useless Rahi’s heir to justice.” Jin said solemnly as Cassandra gently patted his arm to comfort him.
In this session, Ivy saw it was marigolds in the vase. It instantly reminded her of the bunch of marigolds Phoenix plucked for her before she entered the tower of reflection which she had coaxed him to in order to drink the memory loss potion which was meant for him. However, she finally figured out it was Phoenix’s plan all along for her to drink that potion. Who was she trying to save after all?
Phyllis could tell there was a lot going on in Ivy’s mind. She gently patted Ivy’s back. “It’s marigolds today. It represents power and strength which you really need now. I hope you would gain some bravery and strength to speak soon, Ivy.” Ivy gave her a sad smile as Phyllis let her sit by the chair.
“There seems to be a lot going through your mind. Would you like to tell me or would you like to sit here and sort them out?” Phyllis suggested as Ivy pointed to the chair. “Alright. Moving forward, I would welcome you to come by anytime and stay as long as you wanted. I could let you stay in another room if I have any patients.” Phyllis offered as Ivy smiled and nodded.
As Phyllis sat back at her desk, she pretended to work but was in fact observing Ivy. Ivy continued to stare momentarily at the marigolds which gradually made her fall asleep at the peaceful sound of the rain and relaxing soft background music.
When she opened her eyes again, Ivy saw Avinha standing in front of her, surrounded by ivies creeping on the wall behind him. She turnaround to view her surrounding as she noticed two dragon succubus guarding a heptagon cube and she could clearly see Jason standing inside looking at her.
“You’re finally awake I see… Surprise, surprise… Welcome to my den! Specially build for you with the creepers or rather for us, my love…” Avinha teased as Ivy gave him a scoff.
“What do you want after all you had done?” Ivy asked threateningly.
He walked over to her but she couldn’t move cause he had used the ivies veins to constrict her arms and legs. He stood close to her face as he gently caressed her cheek.
“You have been through 16 doors to revisit your past with him, why don’t I show you the root cause of all your sorrows?” Avinha teased as Ivy sneered at him. He gave an evil laugh before he changed the entire space into a jungle.
They could see Avinha was in a warrior uniform who was walking past the jungle and that was where Ivy who was an ivy nymph back then was practicing her powers near a cliff. Avinha was then seen hiding behind a tree when he heard voices where the Queen of Flora was instructing the other flower nymphs to prepare for Ivy, the nymph’s staged accidental death.
Being quick-witted, Avinha followed the flower nymphs and witnessed them using very discreet force to create a rather strong wind that was enough to push Ivy off the cliff. Avinha then staged himself as though he was swept by the wind to protect Ivy. Ivy panicked in the midst of fighting the wind and wanting to save the man as she forced every last bit of her power she had been practicing and successfully spread her ivy veins as a net to capture Avinha from falling off.
“That was you saving me the first time we ever met,” Avinha said as Ivy thought to herself. “Is that the reason I kept seeing someone pushing me off the cliff?”
“You died unfortunately after this rescue like how your fate was meant to after saving me back then. This self-sacrifice of yours had made me seek revenge for you. The entire population of flora nymphs and the Queen were murdered with no mercy in vengeance only for you, Ivy.” Avinha explained as the scene showed her the massacre in the background but Ivy continued to give Avinha piercing stares.
“Why? Aren’t you grateful?” Avinha provoke her as Ivy rolled her eyes. “So? After what you have done now, how does it justify what you did then?” She retaliated with disgust.
“It’s all because your fate was changed for the good deed you did and was granted to become a majestic Phoenix who was destined to destroy the world to avoid calamity and live alone while I, was no doubt born to marry you as the first Inklong tribe dragon son only to have him…”
Avinha pointed at Jason who was in the cube.
“... the second Inklong tribe dragon’s son destiny intertwined with yours!” Avinha screamed as he unleashed his firepower and hit the heptagon cube. Ivy’s heart was racing as she watched the heptagon cube then stayed intact. Her anger grew as she was forced to unleash herself from being tied up wanting to kill Avinha, only to injure herself with scratches.
While at it, she didn’t realise bits and pieces of her memories and feelings were returning to her and this time, she could hear Jason’s thoughts.
“I need to stay calm else Ivy would not have the will to kill. If she doesn’t kill, that way she can’t regain her full memories and feelings.”
Ivy was startled as she stopped fighting the veins when Avinha let out an evil laugh and walked out of his den.
“Jason, what do you mean?” She asked in her mind.
“Ivy! You could hear me?” Jason asked in his mind as their gazes met each other.
“Yes.” She replied as he smiled looking at her. A familiar feeling flows through her as she recalled the waltz they had on the clouds and the aurora-litted sky where he saved her young self from falling off the frozen pond.
“Welcome back, my sweetheart.” Jason greeted in mind as Ivy for the first time let her emotions dominate her as she blinked the first tears down her cheek while gazing at him.
That sent Ivy woke with a jolt as she sat staring out at the rain and the vase of marigolds, trying to digest the dream while wiping away the tears from her cheeks only to realise there weren't any more tears to shed or wipe away and all that there is to cry over, she already did.
“Was this how acceptance felt like?” She asked herself in her heart as Phyllis went over and gave her a glass of water.
“Had a dream?” Phyllis asked as Ivy nodded. “Was it a good one?” Phyllis tried to prompt as Ivy pondered for a moment before giving her a sad smile. Phyllis knew Ivy needed more time so she quickly went to wrap up the marigolds and pass them to Ivy. “I hope you would find your courage soon,” Phyllis said as Ivy nodded and took the bouquet before leaving the session.