Chapter 13 Part 2: A Breakthrough

Amalie hummed as she looked him over. Jun was forced into a sitting position, his limbs sore and aching. It reminded him of a very, very bad flu, though it lacked the cough and headache. She touched his right arm and he flinched, which was a mistake. The pain from the touch was uncomfortable, but the pain from trying not to react was far worse. Jun managed to let out a croak, controlling his voice.

“Was that really necessary?” Each breath seemed to leave in a staccato. Then the tremors set in. The world went from cold to hot and then back to cold.

Amalie smiled, even as he gritted through the pain, refusing to cry out.

“Perhaps this would be faster.” She put her hand to her hip and procured a sacred ember. Jun felt a chill run up his spine as she placed it in his hand. Mei held him steady as the glow set in, changing from red to a strange yellow mixed with red lines. It couldn’t be classified as yellow, but it was present. Jun closed a single eye as he stilled. There was no way.

‘Ah, much better,’ his right ear tickled. Jun nearly jumped. The Silver Flame had been so quiet these last few weeks he had nearly forgotten this gift. ‘You’re on the right track.’

Those words caused his heart to speed up. His hand started to close, but Amalie retrieved the sacred Ember, a stern glare directed at him.

“What?” he asked.

Amalie groaned, returning the ember and putting her hand to her face, squeezing the bridge of her nose. As the hand returned to her side, it remained clenched.

“Jun, as a prophet you should know that your actions will be scrutinized. It’s a relief that you are having a breakthrough-“

“Is this what this is?” He shifted, forgetting the pain until it overwhelmed him, forcing him to clutch his side.

“Yes, but you really shouldn’t interrupt. You do realize that closing your hand on a sacred ember is an affront to the Silver Flame.”

“But-“ he couldn’t believe what Amalie was saying. Hadn’t the Silver Flame told him to do it back at the estate? Why would she have him do something if it was perceived like that? Scratch that. Why did it seem like Amalie knew this suffering would happen?

As he asked her, a single brow raised.

“You really need to learn about this world a bit more, Jun. Your perceptions from your past life are not how this world operates.”

“Well, I can remember when I had something like this,” Mei interjected, forcing her way into the discussion. Jun looked at her wide eyed.

“Before we reunited, I got really sick, but my parents didn’t seem worried. Well. My Kasai family members.”

“That’s simple. This sort of discomfort is the process of faith expansion. It’s common enough, though it is painful.” Her lips were thin as her brows drew close.

Jun let out a grunt as he shifted on the bed, trying to get more comfortable.

“Back where we come from, these symptoms would be called flu, and can be deadly.” He closed his eyes, trying not to shiver against the chill. He could tell his body was hot, running a fever, but the air felt cold. It seemed he would need to gain more of this world’s common sense. Amalie parroted his inner thoughts, which made him chuckle. After some time passed, the pain abated, leaving him fatigued as they talked.

“What about the festival?” he asked and Amalie shrugged.

“I’ve sent off my end of the work. I could start preparing for some other things, but they’re not pressing at this moment.”

Jun hummed an acknowledgement before Mei started asking her questions. Arnold appeared at some point, but Jun was too tired to keep track of things. Fading in and out, he began to wonder what had been said and what he had imagined. It was a strange situation. Eventually Arnold’s apparition sat on him. Despite the weight being absent. He shoed Arnold away.

“What are you doing?” Amalie asked.

‘I say, how rude.’ Arnold hovered right over him. Jun growled as he propped himself up.

“Well it’s rude to sit on a sick and tired man.”

Mei looked between everyone as Amalie’s head tilted.

“Can you really not see him?” Her question stilled the room. Arnold raised his hands and sighed, head shaking.

‘It’s only Alinta who can see us.’

“Wait what!” Amalie shifted, eyes wide. The idea that Arnold had a form beyond the wand whip at her side brought her out of her tightly controlled appearance. Her eyes looked around and Arnold flew around her, making all sorts of gestures. Mei stiffened when he swatted his hand at her nose, barely missing by an hairs breath. Amalie never reacted.

She did however, ask many questions about this. While Mei answered as best she could, Jun wished someone would have the wherewithal to hand him his water, maybe get some food for them to snack on. Between staying conscious and trying to keep track of things, time passed by severally slow.

As if sensing his discomfort, Arnold spoke up and Mei and Amalie helped him ease the complaints of his stomach and parched mouth. They let him rest while Amalie asked about the apparition of Arnold who complained that this was hardly worth fussing over.

When they returned, Jun was rested enough to engage in some light conversation but asked to be left alone after he got his second meal and a bit more water that was put within reach.

His head sunk into the pillow. He had some self sufficiency in handling this now, and for that he was grateful. As the word floated through his head, his mouth skewed. With closed eyes, he offered a silent prayer of gratitude. The prayer that circulated, stung, but it was small. Jun opened his mouth.

“Thank you.” He voiced. The amount of prayer intensified and he groaned at the pain. As he tucked away the prayer, the pain subsided, leaving him feeling hot before shivering. He turned, removing the blankets as he sat up, downing his water.

As this experience was playing out, his mind turned to others. He had noted how some classmates had disappeared, only to return stronger some time later. He was beginning to wonder if it was due to a breakthrough in faith. He hadn’t payed attention to how long they were gone. Just that they had left and returned stronger. He sighed as he realized his common sense was not aligning with this world.

For the time being, he would do his best to recover and keep up these prayers of gratitude.

‘Well done.’ The Silver Flame tickled his ear.