Amaris

Urania’s touch is as needlessly gentle as always. Every so often Amaris wonders if she’s as afraid of her as most of the crew despite being one of the few who deals with her regularly. Solitude…, she thinks, the word creating a bitter taste in her mouth despite it being just a thought.

IF IT GETS TOO MUCH, YOU CAN MINGLE WITH THE OTHERS, tells her the Being of the Void within. I AM NOT KEEPING YOU A PRISONER.

The majority of the crew fear me, Amaris replies while raising her head for Urania to get a better look at the exposed bones of her face. Even Tuonis avoids me despite being torn about it.

YOU SHOULD MINGLE WITH THEM, THEN. THEY FEAR YOU BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW YOU. AND TUONIS FEARS YOU BECAUSE YOU PLAY INTO HIS INSECURITIES CONSIDERING THE RIGHT WAY TO TREAT YOU. STOP FOOLING AROUND WITH HIM AND HE WILL WARM UP TO YOU.

Amaris knows her constant companion is right. She should be with the others, show them that she’s just like any other Menkar. But I am not like any other Menkar. I have a pact with a Being of the Void.

TRUE, BUT WHY SOLEY IDENTIFY YOURSELF THROUGH THIS SINGULAR FACET OF YOURS? YOU ARE MORE THAN A PACTKEEPER.

„How do your… bones feel?“, Urania asks and interrupts Amaris‘ conversation without knowing. „Any discomfort? Itching? Dryness?“

I do not have any problems, she tells Urania. But the gills on this side feel a little dry.

„One moment, I’ve to get some moisturiser.“

With that, Urania leaves the small room adjacent to the medical bay. Amaris closes her remaining eye and takes a deep breath. As she waits, her thoughts wander back to Respin.

I felt a part of you within him. Did he make a pact?, she asks the Being within her.

I OFFERED, AND HE CONSIDERS IT AS WE SPEAK.

You did not trick him into a position where he has no other choice, did you?

I LIKE TRICKING PEOPLE, BUT NOT WITH THIS. PACTS ARE ALWAYS A MATTER BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. SOMETHING I DO NOT JOKE LIGHTLY ABOUT. YOU KNOW THAT. YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY TO SAY NO.

Not for him. If he has not changed, then he will say yes. Judging by the report on the Starblazer and what you told me about it, he has friends he wants to protect.

KINDESS IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.

„Sorry for the wait, dear“, Urania says as she returns with a small metal tablet in her hands, on which a small blue tube rests. „I’ve some water-gel. It’s usually used to treat burns, but it should help your gills to stay moisturised. Apply it at least once a day or whenever you feel you need to. Now, tell me, how long did you keep this secret from me?“

What secret?

„The secret of your gills. You know, my psychic ability only allows me to feel acute and strong chronic pain. If it’s just a minor annoyance, I block it out.“

My gills are often dry, but I do not need to bother you for every minor discomfort, when you have to take care of more important matters. Patients you can save are worthwhile, whereas I will stay like this forever.

„Oh, Mari, you needn’t put yourself down. You know I do care about you just as much.“

I appreciate the sentiment.

„Might I see your shoulder?“, Urania asks with an honest smile, yet it’s apparent she just wants to change the subject.

Without telling Urania her observations, Amaris turns on the stool and allows the medic access to the stump where her right arm once was.

„The skin’s smooth and the scar tissue minimal,“ she notes as usual as always to herself — the habits of a medic. „I know I offered you already but, why don’t you let me fit you a prosthetic?“

I do not need it. It would get in the way of my companion.

„Ah, well… It’s because of this ghostly arm you can manifest, isn’t it?“

Yes. I cannot call it on a whim or keep it for long, but it suffices if the need is there, Urania Fahara. Besides, I do still have the other arm.

„I understand but nonetheless my offer stands,“ she replies softly. „Should you change your mind, I’ll be more than happy to accommodate you.“

Again, I appreciate the sentiments, Urania Fahara, and will keep it in mind. It let us finish this examination. You have a patient in critical conditions.

Without another word, Urania continues with the examination. All the while, Amaris retreats into her mind, where the Being of the Void resides like a shadow.

—

Respin

Respin holds still to the point of cramping. The reason behind it is twofold. For one, Vanum pulls and twists his feet and toes into different directions. Some less comfortable than others, but never painful. On the other hand, there are the feet she’s modelling after his, which look worse than cut off limps, since tendons, nerves, and muscles are hanging out from the part, where they would connect to the leg.

„It would be easier if you relaxed your feet,“ Vanum says after a while of silent contemplations. „Could you close your toes to a fist and relax the other one?“

„For how long do you need to do this?“, he asks and looks at the ever shifting sky to clear his mind while fulfilling her request.

„Feet are complicated things,“ she answers and lets go of his feet. „Not for the bones, muscles, and tendons alone, but because they need to be weight-bearing without becoming too dense and heavy themselves.“

„Wouldn’t it be easier to… magic them into existence?“, he asks, reluctant.

„I’m not used to the anatomy, so it would take much longer,“ she answers matter-of-fact. „Besides, I’m not a fan of constantly falling flat on my face every time I try to stand up. It’s embarrassing. The woes of having a physical body. But what about my offer? Have you come to a decision?“

Take aback, Respin looks at the ground. The whole time he has thought about her offer. It’s tempting, he thinks and chews on his lower lip. I want to see Serfin and the others again. I can’t leave them behind, but are they even still alive?

„I think I found my mistake,“ Vanum says and fiddles with one of the feet she’s currently sculpting. „I made a few tendons a bit too thin.“

„Vanum?“, he addresses her cautiously.

„If you’ve got questions, feel free to ask me.“

„Are they still alive?“

„Your friends? Yes, they are. Concurrently, they’re prisoners of the Cult of the Pale God.“

„They’re What?!“

„Don’t panic. They’re alright. We’re also heading to the encampment of the Cult, so you’ll see them soon enough.“

„Are you telling me this just to get me to agree with you?“

„It’s the truth,“ she replies and looks at him with her strange black and red eyes.

„Then, since you’re healing me no matter what, I…“, begins Respin but trails off.

Something within the lake stirs. He can’t make out what it is, but it has also taken Vanum‘s attention.

„As hidden as always,“ Vanum remarks casually.

„What so you mean?“, he asks worried.

„You’ll see in a moment.“

With a bad feeling, Respin looks towards the lake, where he can make out a pair of horns breaking the surface. A few seconds later the head of a Morphling about the age of twelve Circles emerges from the water. After another moment, the body, dressed in long flowing robes emerges along a very long tail with large fins, showing the most complex eye pattern Respin as ever seen.

He notes that something seems off about them. Most prominently the way they move as they leave the water and head towards him and Vanum. It looks almost as if they don’t know how to walk, as the steps are unsure and swaying.

Feeling sorry for the Morphling, Respin stands up and heads towards them. As he does so, they stop, as if unsure or even frightened of him. White eyes?, he wonders, but tries not to let his confusion show. Could this be… No, this is a Morphing.

„Do you need help?“, he asks with a friendly smile.

The Morphling looks at him with an uncertain expression.

„You can trust him!“, shouts Vanum with an audible smile.

„That voice…“, the Morphling mutters and looks a moment at her before looking back at Respin.

„I won’t hurt you,“ he tells them and feels stupid.

„I… I believe you,“ they reply soft-spoken and avoid eye contact. „Could you… could you carry me, please?“

The question takes Respin by surprise.

„Carry… you?“

„I can’t walk very well,“ they clarify, visibly embarrassed.

„Then let me pick you up,“ he replies and kneels beside them.

Reluctant and still very embarrassed, they warped their thin arms around his neck and let him pull them up. As he does so, Respin tries to avoid pinch their large tail fins, which sport the eye-pattern not only at the tip but also at the smaller separate sections close to the base of the tail.

Without haste, he carries the Morphling to Vanum, who currently attaches the new feet to her legs. Thankful that he doesn’t need to see it up close, he takes his time.

„What’s your name?“, he asks the Morphling in an attempt to make it a little less apparent that he stalls.

„…raun,“ they mumble and tense up.

„Sorry, but I didn’t catch that.“

Instead of answering, they hide their face by looking back over his shoulder. Respin knows when to stop prodding for something, but it still makes him wonder.

„Sit down, friends,“ says Vanum once he arrives at his side.

Having nowhere else to go, Respin obliges and helps the Morphling down. „Pike is looking for more fruits.“

„Pike?“, Respin asks confused.

„My Bondmate, who currently resides within the Insectoid,“ she explains with a smile. „Did you two introduce each other?“

„Excuse me, but how should we do that?“

„I meant you and the Morphling.“

„Oh, umm… Well, I told them my name but they…“

„Raun, my dear, you need to tell him,“ says Vanum to the Morphling.

„B-but he’ll… hate me when I do,“ they reply panicked.

„Why should I hate you?“, Respin asks confused, which causes the Morphling to start to cry. „I’m sorry. It was not my intention to upset you.“

„It’s not you,“ they say in a trembling voice.

„Raun…“, Vanum addresses them again.

„But I… I… I tell him,“ they reply reluctant and turn to Respin. „I’m Aldebaraun.“

„Alde— You’re the Empress?!“, he asks dumbfounded, remembering the meaning behind her white eyes.

„Please don’t hurt me!“, she cries and pulls her arms over her head, while throwing herself towards Vanum.

„Shouldn’t you be an adult?“, he asks in lieu of all the things and questions concurrently swarming his mind.

„We’re in the Dreamworld, Res,“ Vanum says, while petting Aldebaraun’s tangled hair. „This is how she sees herself.“

„As a Morphling? She’s the Empress! She the most powerful Menkar in the whole universe! She’s the one who ordered me and my friends to be killed!“

„Please don’t hurt me!“, she cries again, her voice muffled against Vanum’s chest. „I’m so sorry! I didn’t do it! I swear!“

„Hush now, Raun,“ Vanum says and continues to pet her while addressing Respin. „She’s the Empress, true, but she doesn’t have much say in most matters.“

„How’s that?“, he asks angrier than he intended, but he doesn’t feel that bad for it. „She’s the Empress! She has all the power anyone could ever ask for!“

„Being in a position of power and having power are two different, not always mutual things,“ Vanum explains. „Yes, she’s the Empress, but the true power lies with the first Steward of the Leviathan, Marconite Avarion.“

„I don’t believe it,“ he replies, frowning.

„But it’s true,“ Aldebaraun says looking at him with swollen eyes. „He raised me and always keeps others away from me. He says, he does it because of the Queen Mother, who laid my egg. She wished for me to be happy and have a long life. He also loved her dearly, and he loves me, but different. I… I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like a feeling we, as a species, shouldn’t be able to feel.“

„A father protecting his daughter,“ Vanum muses, but Respin doesn’t know what she means.

„You’re Vanum,“ Aldebaraun continues and looks up to her. „I… I remember your voice. You spoke to me together with Restimil.“

„You’ve a good memory.“

„It’s all I have while awake. Memories of things before I was imprisoned in the tank, and memories of my dreams.“

„What about you, Respin? Have you reached a decision?“, Vanum asks him out of the blue.

The question takes him off-guard. Considering that the Empress is now here, albeit in the shape of a Morphling, he doesn’t know what to answer Vanum. Yes, he wants to protect the others, but he could do so by killing the Empress here and now. But I don’t have it in me, he concludes and looks at Aldebaraun, who holds on to Vanum as if she’s one of her aquatic Drones. I can’t kill her. Not in this shape, and not if what she says is true.

„Compassion… Is it a true gift or a true curse?“, Vanum asks with a knowing smile. „So… How do you decide, Respin? Yes or no?“