Michael’s head was throbbing and his vision was blurry the next time he awoke.  Glancing around, he was back in his old room; back on his mother’s island, half a world away from where the caves where he’d been with everyone else.  Much to his relief, he could make out Crystal sitting in a chair off to the right side of his bed, though he had to strain his bloodshot eyes to force them to focus without blurring.

“What?” He tried vainly to form the questions he had, but his mind was too filled with fog for him to concentrate; his throat too parched and dry to let him get the words out easily.

“We’re back at your mother’s isle,” Crystal reassured him gently.  Bringing a washcloth from somewhere – Michael couldn’t make out where – she dabbed it at his lips and slowly squeezed a trickle of water out.  Hungrily he licked at his parched lips with his tongue, hoping to get some moisture back into the dessert that was his mouth.

“You’ll be fine,” Crystal assured him, taking the cloth away.  “Your mother worked some magic upon you, and you’re going to need a few days to rest and recover.  Everything will be fine just as soon as your soul heals again.”  Bringing the cloth back, she gently dabbed it at his lips once again, slowly squeezing out another trickle of water so he wouldn’t choke trying to get it down his swollen throat.

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“It’ll all be fine,” Crystal gentle reassured him again, as she leaned close and whispered in his ear.  “The problem, according to your mother, was simply that your soul was too strong and resisted her.  It increased the difficultly of whatever she was doing, and magnified the pain you felt.”

Slumping back unconscious, Michael didn’t hear her gentle whisper.  “She says she’s proud of you, and she promises that you’ll be fine soon.  The same spirit that led you to become like this, will be the same spirit which lets you bounce back and overcome this.  Sleep well, My Lord.”

Gently resting her head on his shoulder, Crystal cried lightly, letting the tears run freely down her cheeks to pool on him, before continuing their meandering flight on towards the soft sheets of the bed.  “I pray when all is done My Lord, I’ll be able to feel you in my heart once again.  I miss you…”