After sobbing uncontrollably, Ray finally became aware of the warm embrace of his mother. The nightmare had been so vivid and terrifying that it had taken him a moment to realize where he was. Lilly, his sister, stood beside him with tears streaming down her face. She gently nudged his shirt as he began to calm down. Ray reluctantly released his mother, Ullie, and attempted to speak, but his throat was raw and dry from crying.
"I'm sorry. I had a nightmare. I couldn't control myself," he said, expecting to be scolded or judged. But Ullie's touch was gentle as she cupped his face, her soft voice filled with understanding and love.
"There's no need to apologize, my dear Rayhein. You are my son, and these are the side effects of the dark taint. You can always come to me for support," she said, her words a soothing balm to his frazzled nerves.
Ray was taken aback by her compassion. He had always known that his mother did not hate him, but he had never expected her to be so understanding and supportive. He had grown accustomed to spending his days alone, never seeing his mother or sister, and had assumed that their relationship was distant and strained. But at that moment, he felt a weight lifted from his heart.
He wanted to throw his arms around her again, but he held back, feeling a sudden shyness wash over him. Struggling to find the right words, he simply nodded in gratitude and let the warmth of her love envelop him.
Ray then patted his sister's head, asking her, "Are you hurt? Are you fine, Lilly?"
He had some concerns that she might have been hurt by his outburst as he was trying to save her from the dark rift walker, but after examining her closely, he just wanted to confirm his suspicions.
"No," Lilly replied, shaking her head from side to side. "Are you okay now, blother?" she asked her expression a mix of curiosity and worry as she nudged Ray's clothes.
Ray's smile grew as he watched his young sister struggle to find the right words. She was still so young, and the fact that she was concerned for him filled him with warmth. Despite the doubts that lingered in his mind, that perhaps the previous Ray had been the reason for her illness, he couldn't help but feel a sense of love and protectiveness towards her.
He gently corrected her, "It's 'brother', Lilly. Brother," his voice filled with tenderness.
He went on, "I'm okay now, Lilly. I told you I would protect you," his words carried a sense of determination and reassurance. He wanted her to know that she could always count on him, no matter what.
The smile on his face brought a small, trembling smile to Lilly's lips as well. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but they were not tears of fear anymore, they were tears of relief.
She nodded, "Ummh," the sound filled with trust and gratitude.
Despite the recent traumatic event, she knew that her brother would always be there to save her from the monsters that lurked in her nightmares.
His mother began to pick up Lilly in her arms, sensing that Ray needed some alone time to recover. But Lilly protested, "No, I want to give something," her small arms and legs wriggling in Ullie's embrace. Ullie, understanding her daughter's determination, relented and placed her on Ray's bed.
Lilly then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small stone, it had a faint blue and green aura surrounding it. She placed it in Ray's hand, her eyes shining with excitement and a hint of awe. Ray was shocked as he recognized the stone - it was the same mystical stone he had had since coming to this world. He had thought he had placed it in his drawer, but here it was, back in his possession.
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Ullie watched the two of them with interest, assuming that it was one of Lilly's new treasures she had found in the garden, but as she saw the aura surrounding the stone, she knew it was something more valuable than just a simple trinket. She knew her daughter had a large collection of shiny things, but this stone seemed to possess something more than just its physical beauty. She not think too much about it after that.
Ray's demeanor was cautious and contemplative as he looked at the stone in his hand, his intuition telling him that something was amiss. "Where did you get this, Lilly?" He asked, his tone serious and probing.
"Secret," Lilly replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she raised her arms, signaling to Ullie to pick her up. Ullie picked her up and then left the room, leaving Ray to rest for a while.
The room became quiet as a void, the only sound was the faint ticking of a clock. Ray did not utter any words, lost in his thoughts and suspicions. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to this stone and how Lilly had obtained it.
He investigated further. He couldn't shake off the feeling that this stone was connected to a recent event.
"You. You helped me. Right. Answer me, you sentient stone," he said in a fit of mild anger and fear, his voice trembling with emotion. As he held the stone, he was expecting something to happen, his heart was beating fast with anticipation.
He waited a few minutes, staring intently at the stone, his eyes scanning every inch of it. Finally, the stone emitted a faint blip of green light with a blue hue, it was as if it was responding to him.
"En--- -er --- --gy," the voice was husky and fruity, and it seemed to come from within the stone. Ray did not take his eyes off of it and was listening with his full concentration.
He could feel the warmth of the stone in his palm and the energy emanating from it. "En Ar gy?" he repeated, trying to understand what the stone was trying to tell him, his voice was filled with wonder and confusion.
He had never experienced something like this before, and he knew that this stone was something special
Is it energy? Hmm, it's energy. That's my best guess," Ray said, examining the stone closely, his eyes scanning every inch of it. He rotated it in his hand, feeling a sense of unease creeping up in his chest as if the stone held some sort of power that he couldn't quite comprehend.
"So you want energy. Hmm. Isn't this damn world filled with energy? Can't you just extract that? Maybe not. You at least saved me, I just have a hunch that you did," he said, trying to get another answer, but there was only silence from the stone. It was as if the stone was hiding something from him, something important.
Ray couldn't shake off the feeling that this stone was connected to something bigger, something more mysterious
Still, he had some incentive now to get some damn energy for the rock and ask a load of questions he has.
A few people entered the room, and it became lively in Ray's room. Nearly everyone in the estate had heard that Ray had woken up from his coma, and they were all eager to see him and make sure he was alright. Allister was hiding behind the crowd, unable to bring himself to show himself to Ray.
He quickly exited the room after a few minutes, his guilt and shame prevented him from facing Ray. The butler, Hans, cleared the room and brought Ray something to eat. He apologized profusely for not coming earlier, and Ray found it hard to constantly reassure him that it was okay. He was fine now, but Hans' guilt seemed to run deep. After a few minutes, Hans left to get Ray some food.
The day passed, and dinner time came. Ray was still thinking about the stone and the mysterious energy it seemed to possess. He knew he needed to investigate further, but for now, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. He sat down to dinner with his family, trying to enjoy the company and the delicious food that was served.
The table was set beautifully, with candles flickering and the aroma of the food wafting through the air. Ray's mother and sister chatted excitedly, trying to catch up on all the things that had happened while he was in a coma. His father was absent which was very odd. His brother was minding his own business as usual eating dinner. Ray smiled and nodded along, trying to participate in the conversation but his mind was preoccupied with the stone and its secrets.
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Meanwhile, Night had fallen upon the city of Aquanus, and the streets were bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and torches that were filled with glowing creatures. The air was filled with the sound of hooves and footsteps as Ivan and his group made their way to the city hall on a monster mount, a tall 20-foot reindeer with exclusive attire for itself. The reindeer was one of Ivan's pets, he raised it from a young age, and it had grown into a magnificent creature, with a sleek and powerful body, and long, spiral horns that glowed in the night like beacons. The reindeer’s fur was a deep, rich brown, and it had a thick mane that flowed down its back like a river of gold.
Ivan had worn a fancy suit made of dark elder leopard hide, intricately stitched and tailored to fit his body perfectly. The suit was adorned with a morph tooth armor, polished to a shine and giving off a menacing aura. He wore a cloak of pure white feathers that flowed behind him like a trail of snow. His expression was determined, ready to represent his people in the council meeting. Many followed behind on foot to represent their race, their faces filled with anticipation.
As they arrived at the city hall, the guards opened the gates, allowing Ivan and his group to enter. They made their way to the council chambers, the reindeer's steps echoing through the halls. The chamber was grand and imposing, with high ceilings and walls adorned with intricate carvings.
The city hall was decorated with lavish tapestries and ornate chandeliers, it was clear that they were expecting important guests. The city was lively, and the town hall center was crowded with individuals, all eager to see what happened in the council meeting.
As he walked through the halls, heads turned, and whispers followed in his wake. Ivan was used to the attention, he was a prominent figure in his community, and his reputation preceded him. He was greeted by the city officials who led him to the council chambers. Inside the chamber, the room was filled with representatives from various races and factions, all dressed in their finest attire. Ivan's eyes scanned the room, taking note of who was present and who was absent.
He could feel the tension in the air, the council meeting was going to be a crucial one, and Ivan was determined to make sure that the interests of his people were represented. He took his seat, his eyes scanning the room, ready to negotiate and make deals, his mind focused on the task at hand.