The fever was a constant companion. It had been several weeks since I had caught the mysterious illness that had baffled the doctors. It had started like any other cold, a few days in bed feeling like shit then I would be back on my feet.

Except that didn't happen.

Two days had turned into five.

I had gone to the hospital. The doctors had done their tests. I had been shoved into various machines.

Nothing.

The mysterious Ghost Fever resisted all the treatments.

I spent longer and longer each day unconscious. The pain too much to bear.

It was the first time in three weeks I opened my eyes. The world was a blurry mess, even worse than when I didn't have my glasses. I caught movement but my body felt like stone, I couldn't move a single muscle. Someone shined a light at me.

I fell back into the darkness.

The next time I opened my eyes, the fever had gone down for the first time in what felt like forever. The world was a little less blurry. Instead of the sterile white ceiling tiles and harsh fluorescent lights of the ICU, I could make out earthen colored walls.

My bed must have been moved.

I tried to raise my arm but it still felt like an impossible task.

After a few minutes, the fever took its toll again and I closed my eyes.

It was impossible to say how long I spent fading in and out of consciousness.

Each time, I felt better, the fever went down.

After a herculean effort, I managed to turn my head to the side. Next to what I assumed was my bed was a wooden table with a collection of glass and … clay containers. What I had thought to be walls painted a light brown color were actual walls made of stone bricks.

A faint memory flickered through my mind.

It was the village clinic.

What village?

----------------------------------------

Over time, whether that was hours or days I didn't know, I learned more and more about … myself. The first time I managed to look down at myself confirmed what I had already known. I was no longer in my own body. The ash grey skin put any doubts of that to rest. At the same time, it was the body I had known ever since I was born.

A strange duality.

I could distinctly remember two lives. Viviane, the human office worker, and Liscura, the young dark elf healer. It felt strangely natural, as if two halves of the same had finally been joined.

Even with ample time to think it through while stuck in bed, I wasn't any closer to untangling the philosophical implications. But maybe I didn't need to. It had happened and I could only go with it.

----------------------------------------

When I woke up next, a tall man was next to my bed, a faint golden glow came from his hand on my head. I recognized him as Breknir, the head druid. When he noticed me watching, he gave me a warm smile. I could see the relief on his face.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

He was glad that I had survived the Ghost Fever, the deadly affliction that had struck both my selves across dimensions.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with his soothing baritone.

My only reply was wheeze and a cough. A small cup of water was tipped in my mouth and I awkwardly drank it. The effect on my poor parched throat was heavenly.

"Better," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

"You are recovering," he said as a matter of fact, "a very rare occurrence. It seems the goddess smiled on you."

I managed to nod weakly. I was relieved. I had survived.

"You'll need more rest to fully recover. The disease took a heavy toll on your body. Though I am confident you'll be back on your feet sooner rather than later."

----------------------------------------

The next day, Breknir had moved me to a sitting position on the bed. I was slowly regaining control over my body and it was the first day I could actually feed myself. In front of me was a wooden tray with a bowl of broth.

Bringing the wooden spoon to my mouth, I tasted the rich liquid. It was definitely better than regular hospital food. A small spike of pain went through my head as I swallowed and I grimaced. The lingering pains were the worst aspect.

Next to my bed, holding my other hand, was Velatha. My childhood friend and fellow apprentice healer. According to Breknir she had been visiting me every day while I was unconscious. Every minute of free time she had had been spent at my side. She probably would have slept in the clinic if she had been allowed to.

To be fair, I would have done the same.

I gave her a smile and squeezed her hand.

I wasn't sure if her being there was good for my recovery, my heart started to beat a mile a minute when she smiled back.

----------------------------------------

Over the next few days I continued to recover. I managed to eat solid food again, the taste of freshly hunted meat and seared vegetables was a welcome change from just the soup. Then sit up on my own and finally stand. My first few steps were wobbly and uncertain, the remains of the disease not fully gone, but a day later even that was gone.

I stood next to the bed and went through a series of exercises at the direction of Breknir.

"Everything looks in order," he nodded. "you're free to go. Take a few more days to relax, I don't want to see you back here for at least two days. No hunts either, I'll make sure to inform Alea." His tone left no place for arguments. Not that I would dream to go against the orders of the head druid.

"I won't," I promised.

He gave me a warm smile and left the room. I continued to stretch for a few more minutes, slowly going through the basic forms of the village fighting style. It was a part of my daily routine and helped me center myself.

After that, I changed into actual clothes. The short plain dress I was wearing wasn't as bad as the hospital gowns back on Earth but I wouldn't go outside with one.

Velatha had brought a change of clothes earlier in the day.

I started with the underwear, putting it on was easy and familiar. Both the shorts and bra needed to be tied to secure them in place, the system was actually fairly smart. Instead of directly tying the fabric, small cords were pulled through loops and tied together. It prevented them from standing out under clothing.

There were only two pieces of clothing left, a knee length dress and some sandals. The dress was one of my favorites, a gift from my grandmother. It was a light green color with layers sewn on to give the impression it was made out of hundreds of leaves. The top only had a single strap on the right, leaving my left shoulder bare, and a cloth corset at the waist. The latter took some time to properly tie.

Finally, I put on the simple sandals and tied them securely. They were plain with a padded leather sole and straps secured onto a wooden base. Most people in the village liked to wear similar shoes if they could.

----------------------------------------

I stepped out of the village clinic after waving a good day to Breknir and Velatha. I had plans to meet with her at the bath house once her shift was over. Looking around, it was just past midday and I had several hours to myself.

The air outside of the building was noticeably hotter and wetter. The consequences of the village being located in a massive jungle, underground.

The Twilight Jungle, the sixth layer of the massive dungeon that spanned the world of Pandore. Several kilometers above was the ceiling, dotted with thousands upon thousands of mana crystals which gave the jungle its unique atmosphere. Though a much more accurate name would have been the moonlit jungle as their light they gave off was more blue-white than orange.

Thanks to my night vision, I could see without issues and the omnipresent blue tinge was absent. It simply looked like it was a sunny day out, without a sun anywhere. I waved at a passing villager and started to make my way through the village towards my house.