Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

Waking up with a jolt, Aveyon bolted upright. She flung herself out of the bed, her legs buckling behind her weight, she collapsed on the floor in a messy heap.

Not this again!

Her hands clenched into fists as anger got the better of her. She was in her room, that much she knew but she didn’t know how she got there. She didn’t really care; all she knew was that she had a message that needed to be relayed.

The door opened just as she went to reach for it to pull herself to her feet, Elaina walked it. The woman immediately dropped the basin she was carrying as a wide-eyed expression displayed across her face.

“You’re awake!” she exclaimed, shocked.

Aveyon ignored the reaction and grabbed the women’s limbs using her to try to stand. “Go! Get everyone right away! I saw it, I saw what happened, and I know who’s behind it.”

That bastard was not going to scare her into stopping, she had it in her head that he didn’t want her to find her father. All the more reason to go through with the plan quickly.

Elaina helped Aveyon back to the bed, before spinning on the spot and running as fast as she could out the door.

Aveyon sat rather impatiently. It was enough time to notice that her hair had grown a considerable amount, while she had slept. Looking at her body she also noticed that she was no longer skin a bone. “How Long?” she muttered.

“About two moon cycles.” Erosvent entered the room with Samuel, Zerophenous, Elaina, and Emerald.

Emerald flung herself at Aveyon hugging her tight. Aveyon was shocked, both by the sudden assault, and the information.

“That cannot be!” She couldn’t believe it. Two whole months had passed. But looking at Emerald she had no choice but to accept it. The green elf was whole again, full of life and far too much energy.

“Honestly, you were lucky not to have died. The amount of essence you were forced to use...” Erosvent shook his head in disapproval. “...making you collapse like that; we didn’t know if you were ever going to wake up again.”

“I do not believe it was entirely intentional. I was pulled into a dream realm by someone bearing similar qualities to the goddess. She looked so much like Lady Vexous. But then, my mind was invaded shortly after, which... most of you witnessed.” She explained.

“INVADED!?” Emerald looked appalled. “I will KILL them!”

Aveyon patted Emerald's hand that rested on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. “The dream or... vision, if you will, is what is most important now. This being, she showed me what happened with my aura after I was banished.” Without waiting for anyone to ask she continued. “It was Anzel, he managed to send it to this realm, but sadly at the cost of his own life. It then shattered when a man named Ashera, who I suspect may be the Lord of demons, touched it.”

She explained about Lord Ashera and how he seemed to be manipulating her father, as well as him being the same voice that had invaded her mind. She watched as Erosvent and Zerophenous reacted, it was a mixture of joy, pain and frustration. It was a lot of information to take in.

“When my mind was taken over, I was shown an image of Eros, the Lynx, and a few others. They were all dead, it was a threat. We are starting something that he does not approve of, he will likely try to stop us and so I believe we are on the right track.”

“We were dead?” Samuel spoke up.

“That much was evident.” She replied. Remembering the sewn open eyes, she shivered. “It was not a pretty sight.” She sighed leaning on Emerald who was now seated next to her. “I don’t know what it means, it is difficult to tell if it was fabricated or a vision. I’m not Erosvent, I honestly cannot tell the difference.” Her fists clenched the sheets beneath her. “Ashera has placed himself between me and my father, he does not want me to get to Alarious for some reason, this... lord of the third realm may very well hold the answers to all our problems.”

She was surprisingly sounding like a leader as she spoke, she wasn’t lying, and the others could feel her determination. Their goals may have just aligned enough for her to be motivated.

“But my body...” She ground her teeth as she grew frustrated at her situation.

“Why did you collapse Ava?” Emerald looked worried. Everyone seemed to already know the answer, but the elf hadn’t dealt with the type of abilities she possessed.

“I cannot sustain or control essence very well anymore, after the dream state I was already weak. Both the beings that reached out to me used my own essence to project the images to my mind, draining me. When I was invaded, I could not hold him off. Even attempting to do so, I used up what little energy I had at the time. They could have very well killed me.” Aveyon’s gaze rested on Erosvent. Her look was stern. “Which brings me to my final request, you have linked to Elaina and are basically at full strength. I would like to do the same.”

Erosvent saddened. “That’s why you asked for everyone.”

Aveyon nodded. “We will need to find who is most suited, correct?”

He was hesitant. “That could very well be what they want you to do, it links your core energies together yes, but also your bodies. If I die, Elaina does too and vice versa. It comes at no small price and could put you at greater risk.”

“And if I do nothing, I can be killed by simply existing, unless you know of another way?” Aveyon pushed. “I cannot hide here forever and have you nurse me back to health each time. I must go to the elves for one.”

He sighed. She wasn’t getting it. “It’s a bonding ritual that ties two souls together, if you throw your life away, you’ll be throwing the other persons away as well.”

Erosvent’s comment struck home, her mind reeling. “Can it not be broken after we complete the mission? I doubt anyone would truly wish to be tied to me, for all their lives.”

“I would.” Samuel and Zero responded at the same time.

“Zero I can understand, but you Samuel? You are not Alarian, you would risk that much?” Erosvent asked quite surprised.

Aveyon also looked the cat man up and down curious.

He responded in turn with a nod. “Our kind has always been kept safe thanks to the Alarian’s work, I’m happy to lay down my life for the cause.”

“It is irreversible as far as I am aware, Vincent taught me about it when I wished to be with Elaina.” Erosvent injected. “It’s a blood exchange, with some fancy words as you link your bodies. It enabled me to bypass the curse and harness our combined essence pools. But it also gave Elaina longevity to match my life span.”

Aveyon frowned which made Elaina speak up in a panic. “He explains like it’s something erotic, it’s not. You just link your arms making sure skin is touching, and each drink from a glass at the same time. No Savagery needed.”

Aveyon’s brow creased as she was deep in thought. There are only a few people who held a great deal of power that she could stand the touch of.

“Where is Vincent?” She asked.

Samuel chuckled. “We lose out to him again it seems.”

Aveyon shot him a look and he shut his mouth immediately.

“He’s the strongest ability-wise out of everyone in this room, who isn’t already bound,” Zerophenous answered truthfully.

“I agree, as long as he agrees of course,” Aveyon added.

“Are we sure that’s the best option here?” Elaina’s voice piped in. “Maybe it would work with a female?” Looking to Emerald who was nodding eagerly.

Aveyon shook her head. “Emerald has something else she needs to do, well before she can think about joining our conquest.” She tilted her head looking up at the elf. “Your son is still out there, right?”

Emerald saddened, hanging his head low in agreement.

“Vincent is out running an errand; he will be back later this evening,” Erosvent explained.

A long silence fell over the group as they didn’t have much more to discuss.

Elaina broke the silence by clapping her hands together. “Right, while we wait for Vincent to return, it’s time to clean the Princess up, would you give me a hand Emerald? She is in major need of a haircut.”

Aveyon’s eye widened, she tried to protest as the two were about to assault her with grooming supplies.

Giving into the girl’s onslaught of hands, Aveyon sighed while rolling her eye. Emerald brushed her hair and proceeded to braid it for her only after Elaina cut it to a reasonable length down her back.

“Does my eye not repulse you two?” She questioned as Emerald brushed a stray piece of hair off her face. Elaina still made her a little uneasy, but she could also tell it had been the human that had mostly looked after her while she had been sleeping. Her scent was all over her clothing, the bedding, and the room. She oddly didn’t mind the women’s touch now, like her body had grown used to it. Perhaps as well because Elaina was female, she felt no threat.

“Oh! Speaking of, I had something made for you.” Elaina fumbled around in her pockets until she pulled out a small wooden box. “I’ve been holding onto it until you woke up.” Elaina placed the box in Aveyon's hands and smiled brightly. “I do hope the colour matches.”

Curious, Aveyon opened the box to find a glass eye staring at her, her mouth opened in silent awe.

“Is it okay? I’m not overstepping, or anything am I? Vincent had suggested it... and I thought maybe you would like it.” Elaina sounded worried.

Emerald just giggled. “I told you, don’t worry about it.” She replied.

Aveyon felt strange, something inside her stirred, she felt...touched? It was hard to put it into words. Her body was still very numb to emotions as she looked down at what felt like a missing piece of herself.

“T-Thank you.” She looked up at Elaina. “Do you mind... helping me with it?” She handed the box back to Elaina who nodded.

Emerald on the other hand slightly panicked. “I’m so out, I can’t watch that, the wooden one grossed me out. I have a lesson to teach anyway!” She hurried out of the room leaving Elaina in a state of shock. Poking her head back into the room. “Ava, come to the garden when you can.” And she dashed off.

“I never thought she would get squeamish,” Elaina commented as she removed the glass eye from its case. “You sure you’re okay with this?”

Aveyon forced a smile; it still didn’t come naturally to her. “I oddly trust you Elaina, you have been caring for me, have you not?”

Elaina’s face flushed slightly. “I didn’t want you to suffer anymore. I wanted to help in whatever way I could.” She lightly placed a hand on Aveyon's cheek and tilted her head back. All the while she made sure to make small, calculated movements, so as to not frighten her.

“You... remind me of my mother.” Aveyon suddenly realized. She felt a tear escape her one good eye, mostly from the strain of keeping it open as Elaina had grabbed her face. Elaina would most likely mistake the liquid as an emotion, but she felt none. Elaina caught the tear with her thumb and gently rubbed it away.

Elaina smiled sadly at the Princess. “Lady Aveyon, you are family now.” She applied a small amount of water to the fake piece before raising it to Aveyon’s eye level. Next, she moved aside the loose skin of the socket, gently prying it open with her fingers. Lastly, she pushed the eye into the spot, slipping it into place. She lightly adjusted it with her fingertip, so as to not make the Princess look cross-eyed. “All done, nice and easy!”

Aveyon tilted her head back down and gently pulled at the loose skin around her eye, adjusting it she tried to blink a few times, but the eyelid was too dry. Elaina handed her the box again, noticing a small eye dropper inside. Taking it, she pulled the skin of the lid back and applied a few drops of the liquid. She couldn’t really feel any sensation, but the eyelid began to slide a little easier over the glass piece.

“Thank you, it feels quite odd at the moment, but I will get used to it.”

“Oh, don’t just thank me, Vincent’s idea and all,” Elaina explained being modest. “Would you like to come outside with me?” She added.

“Please! Very much so.” Anything was better than being cooped up in this room for one more second.

Elaina lifted her elbow to Aveyon who gently wrapped her arm around it. Using Elaina’s standing form, she got to her feet and headed outdoors. The feeling of their arms linked wasn’t pleasant, but she also didn’t need to pull away. She felt she had grown a little even stronger in her resolve, even if she had been asleep the entire time.

A few hours later, Aveyon’s limbs were finally starting to feel like her own again. Elaina had explained that while she was asleep, they had been feeding her through a drip. In the hopes that it would aid her in a faster recovery. It seemed her recovery time had been shortened drastically as a result.