Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

The three fates laughed and giggled at Aveyon’s confused expression. Atro turned to Aveyon. “We will leave the rest in your hands, after all, we are no help in this regard.”

Aveyon nodded. “Thank you all for your help thus far.”

“Come sisters, let us find someplace to build a hall of our own.” Clo tugged on the other two’s sleeves and peeled them away.

“How do you feel, you lost a lot of blood earlier?” Vincent asked Aveyon now that the serious conversation was over.

She eyed him with a furrowed brow. “You’re the one coughing up blood on my brand-new table might I add.” She stated she was perfectly fine and though not at her full strength yet, she felt good. She moved her hand to her neck, then to her wrists. “As you can see, I’m completely healed.”

Vincent moved on unsteady feet and stood before her. “How is this done?” He asked curiously.

“In a way, you’re not going to like.” She joined him pushing her chair back and standing to face him before she retrieved her dagger from her holster. Her hands were steady as she held the weapon before her.

“Do you trust me?” She asked.

“With my life.” He replied.

With a swift strike, she sliced open his throat, no one moved as he gasped from the sudden attack.

As he was about to fall, his body giving out beneath him, he felt a wave of energy wash through him. It sent a chilling sense of weightlessness right through him, he realized she was controlling the flow of blood throughout his entire being. Her eyes were focused intensively on the wound at his neck, which did not bleed. She was sending her essence directly through that wound and into his blood. His body felt not his own as she invaded him completely. Her head tilted up, his mimicking her movement, as though he were a puppet. He surrendered control to her completely trying to relax under the unfamiliar feelings, he didn’t fear for his life, it belonged to her no matter the outcome. This position exposed the wound more clearly, and with her next movements, he remained completely still as by her design.

Elegantly raising her hands, she made a motion as if beckoning something towards her. He hadn’t noticed that she had moved them away from the table and chairs until the others surrounded them. He felt an intense sense of being drained as his insides felt they were being pulled out through the wound as his blood began to leave his body.

She was careful with his body as she removed the blood, coating him in her essence like a protective cocoon. She needed to work quickly in order to replace what she was taking without his body shutting down on her. As his blood left the body, she worked to weave the realm’s essence into in, as the liquid drifted through the air to her, she appeared to almost be dancing as part of a ritual. With each movement of her hands and arms, the silvery substance that coated her body ran free from her scars and mixed with his blood, stitching itself together. Once it was infused, she twisted her body and with a flowing gesture on her limbs sent it back into his body to circulate through his veins once again.

The others watched on in awe, as the blood floated, drifted and danced around her only to return to its host. Working as quickly as she could, it took mere minutes to transform his blood and return it to him. Before she released her control over him, she lowered him to the ground, laying him down. The instant she relinquished her control the wound healed on his neck, and he gasped for air, as though he had been stuck in time unable to breathe. Blinking he stared up at her waiting for his breath to slow. He made a small motion to sit up, but she stopped him.

“You should stay lying.” She advised.

He laid himself back down with a frown. “Doesn’t seem that bad.” he injected.

“We have only just begun, now the essence of this realm is within your body I must tire it to every bone, muscle and organ within you, thereby strengthening you.” She carried a worried and fearful expression. “I am truly sorry for this.” Aveyon closed her eyes and concentrated on the essence she had just infused into his blood. Her hands hovered inches above his body as he watched her curiously.

It wasn’t long before his mouth gaped open and for the first time in his life, he screamed in pure agony. He could feel her inside him, the moment she locked onto the essence within it burned, that he could handle, but when she caused it to lash out and puncture the muscles inside his body, he began to convulse violently on the floor.

“I need you to restrain him!” She breathed through greeted teeth, as sweat began to bead down her face. It was bad enough that she had to control the essence, his pain was her pain as they were connected due to the bond. Vincent’s ascension would be the worst for her to have to perform, in a sense she’d be going through it twice through him.

The others were there in an instant and did as she asked. The convulsing lasted for hours as she threaded the essence into each muscle and penetrated the bones within his body. She was working to completely remake his body from the inside out. By the time she had completed her task, it had taken half a day, if there were still a sun on Alarious if would have long set. Slumping, she felt hands catch her as the tears fell, it killed her to see and feel his pain for so long. She took a long deep breath and exhaled slowly as Vincent finally started to settle down.

Her work was now done, the rest was up to him and his body. His body was violently fighting against what she was forcing on it, hence the convulsing. She knelt forward and gently pulled his head onto her lap as she waited for the heat to leave his flesh. It felt as though he were burning up. She felt people kneel beside her, joining her in her attempt to soothe his and her pain as his body was forced to accept the change. As she wiped away the sweat that was pouring from his brow, he seemed to settle for a few minutes to look up at her with a weak smile, she couldn’t bring herself to smile back at him; she knew what was coming now.

The fates had provided her with a basin of water and a cloth, for which she was grateful. They had stated that they would leave but in truth, they lingered close in case of any errors.

Vincent was still in a great amount of pain as his body continued to change, however, no screaming came. His breathing was harsh and sharp, and his teeth were gritted tightly together. This soon changed to his body shaking and his teeth chattering as if he was cold, and yet the skin was still hot to the touch. She tried her best to keep him as clean and cool as possible, making his suffering better any way she could. The group sat with Vincent as he suffered through the final phase of his change. Finally, his mind gave in, he passed out from utter exhaustion.

He could hear muttering as several hours later he started to come too. He groaned as he was shifted into an upright position, he could feel that Aveyon was behind him, her hand resting gently on his back. He couldn’t say anything as a wave of nausea hit him with a vengeance, his stomach twisted in pain, and he gasped for air as he felt his insides convulsing.

“Let it out, do not hold it back.” She moved the large basin, now empty, closer toward him and he leaned over it, not able to hold onto his stomach any longer.

Several hands held him up as he heaved and struggled to breathe. He was grateful for the added support as he doubted, he would be able to hold himself up. He had no strength; his body tingled all over and his stomach shot pain through him until he allowed himself to throw up.

Every moment he thought he was feeling better, another wave came, it seemed there was no end. Aveyon kept passing him water to help stop the burning in his throat, but she was careful not to let him drink too much as it would just make matters worse. Finally, everything faded until he was simply left with a dull ache, though his body still felt incredibly weak. He couldn’t even speak.

“Your strength will return, for now, rest. Allow your body to heal and recover from what it has just gone through.” Aveyon’s voice was fatigued.

Not being able to move any part of his body, he gave her a knowing look and closed his eyes as she pulled him closer.

“Help me get to a more comfortable setting...” He heard her say, but he was already too far gone. Now that he wasn’t in any pain, he drifted off into a peaceful sleep as he was rag-dolled onto someone’s shoulder and carried away.

Aveyon thanked the others for their help as they all headed deeper into the place to keep an eye on Vincent. Trying to stand up, she found that her legs were far too weak to hold her own weight; she was about to collapse back to the floor rather flustered, grateful no one was around to see her struggle.

Atro had been standing watch outside as she heard the frustrated scuffles. She moved herself with a godly speed, flashing to Aveyon’s side and catching her before she could stumble to the ground a second time. With a wave of her hand, she cleared the room of all the mess before summoning her sisters to help.

“Thank you...” Aveyon mustered, her eyes were heavy, and she lent heavily on the fate as she was escorted from the room and into some bed chambers that had been newly created for her. Crawling onto the bed she closed her eyes and allowed her mind and body to finally rest, she would need to do this all over again in just a few hours.

Clo shook her head at the site of the once Alarian Princess. “She’s rather peculiar.”

“Indeed sister, she is,” Atro commented as she placed a blanket over her sleeping form. “We cannot expect her to be the same as Vexous, but I am beginning to believe she is more than capable of dealing with what is to come.”

Lahk sat down on the edge of the bed looking down at the new goddess they had created, though Aveyon would never admit that she was one. “Do you think Lady Vexous will ever return to normal?”

“We’re still here, that’s reason enough to say yes, and we’ll return home with her one day my sisters, do not fear,” Atro answered.

“You were so against her in the beginning,” Clo stated, surprised at her sister.

“This one has changed a great deal; she has grown into a woman. No longer is she the girl with a tormented soul.” Atro Smiled down at her like a proud mother.

Aveyon wasn’t sure how long she had slept, but she woke to voices coming from the great hall. Vincent was awake and with the others rejoicing, or so it seemed. Before she had a chance to get out of bed, he had left the group and made his way to her room. A soft knock sounded just outside, and she smiled. He had known the moment she had woken and rushed over.

“I felt you wake up.” He said with a shy smile, popping his head around the corner.

He was looking much better now, the paleness in his completion was gone, and his hair had thankfully stopped trying grey.

“Is there something in my hair?” He questioned touching a few stray strands. “I didn’t think it looked that bad, does it?”

She laughed. “It does not look bad; though it does seem that your body has stopped decaying... for now.” She added turning serious.

“Hey,” He kissed her on the forehead as he joined her on the bed. “This isn’t what we had hoped for, but it’s not the end yet. Far from it.”

“I will not give up; you have my word.” She replied, taking hold of his hand she squeezed it gently. “We will meet again.”

Raising her hand to his lips he placed a kiss on her fingers. “I wish we had more time.”

“We will still see each other, and speak to each other...” She trailed off as he moved closer.

He reached for her, his hand tilting her chin up as his lips encased hers. The kiss was deep and passionate, he’d never kissed her like this before. It was as though he was ingraining her very taste to memory.

“But we’ll never be able to touch.” He whispered as he released her from his embrace.

She could feel tears forming in her eyes as her bottom lip trembled, she was doing everything she could to keep from losing herself in that moment. It was reassuring in an odd way that she knew he was struggling with this as much as she was.

A soft knock sounded on the doorless wall just outside her chambers. She quickly righted herself before answering. “Yes?”

Clo’s face emerged from behind the wall. “Sorry to interrupt, but we must really get a tattle on, we do need to send these people to the next realm so they can protect their home.”

Vincent stood and helped her to her feet, it was time to do the second one, Zero was next. “Let us not waste any time.” She exited the room with her head held hire with a sense of purpose, she was sacrificing a lot to make this happen, and it was time to finish what she had started.

One by one she completed the ascensions; it took her three days and many tears. Blood and sweat polled and merged together as everyone worked hard to help. Erisena, Zero and Samuel were returned to Elendor while Vincent remained concluding that he would pass through to the Sanctuary when she returned Erosvent after his ascension. He stayed with her for as long as he possibly could. But all too soon that time was coming to a close.