38 — Sunnaria's Chosen

Floating.

Relaxing and inviting, like a warm bed against his cold body. He feels wafted by a gentle stream, drifting slowly to somewhere he doesn't know. But he also doesn't care.

'..d.'

Darkness.

It's pitch black. He can't tell if his eyes are open or closed, but he can't see anything regardless. But it's fine. The light burns. It's too bright. The cool darkness welcomes and eases his worries.

'...and.'

Comforting.

It's like he's being held. Tightly hugged. Wrapped by a blanket. Surrounded by pillows. Wearing a sweater and a scarf. He's so cold, but everything around him is so warm. He wants to lean into it.

'Joezand.'

The soft, caring, motherly voice reverberates in his skull. He keeps going along, getting deeper into his tranquility.

'Sun... naria?' His mind is able to reply.

'Oh my. What am I going to do with you, little lamb?' Sunnaria asks. 'You almost died! All of our work would've been for nothing.'

'Mhmm... Y-Yeah, sorry...' Joezand slowly replies, his thoughts slurred. 'I really don't want to die again...'

'You're not going to die, little lamb.' Sunnaria says firmly. 'Still... I didn't expect to find a changeling here. Seems like the demon of Kivul is more powerful than I initially thought. Since changelings usually mirror their masters, well... The demon might be beast-like as well.'

'Is it that... one that created the changelings? The one that Iaomai was talking about?' He asks with an airy thought. 'Schaffa, right?'

'No, she won't be a problem for you. I can guarantee that. She's been long since gone, rendered powerless.'

'But not dead, right?' Joezand asks. 'Couldn't she have collected those souls from the bandits and powered up again?'

'Not a chance, she's not in the cave. She's sealed far away from here. I'm the one who arranged for that to happen, so I know it's not her.' Sunnaria explains. 'However, her power was shared between many of her disciples and creations after they betrayed her. This must be one of them.'

'I see.' Joezand replies. 'What about Florian? What happened to him?'

'The fake one died. Not by losing his head, mind you. But because he lost too much blood. Your thoughts were right on that one. As for the real Florian...' She starts. 'He's most likely fine. He never got the letter so he had no reason to leave the palace, after all. He's probably safe and sound in his castle, unaware of what's going on.' Sunnaria continues. 'Changelings don't need much to copy others, especially ones they've seen before. The reason they're not a bigger problem is that they're so rare, only being around when demons are near.'

'It just had to be me that got attacked by one...' Joezand whines without much energy. 'Why was it like that? Why did it bleed pink? Florian was bleeding red before then, right?'

'They change the hue of their blood to red while they're pretending to be human.' She explains. 'Really, that does not matter much. You don't need to worry yourself with that right now.'

'I... I'm just so tired...' Joezand says. 'I don't understand why. B-But it's hard to stay... awake? Even if it feels like I'm sleeping right now, it's like something is trying to pull me away... to a deeper place.'

'I know, I know.' Sunnaria replies. 'Whatever you do, you absolutely can NOT go there. I'm here to make sure of that.'

'It's hard, Sunnaria. I'm tired and cold. And it's so warm and comfortable here.' Joezand's thoughts get slower and slower. 'I-I... can't keep...'

His brain goes blank. He can feel something pulling at him from above. Like something's trying to steal... him. It's heavy. His thoughts, his mind, his ego... They are so heavy, and it would feel so relaxing to let them go. It feels like his mind is sliced into thin strips, then tied together and led towards somewhere else. Like a leash for his soul, dragging him somewhere far away—

'NO!' Sunnaria's voice screams into his brain, forcing his consciousness back to him. 'I told you. You need to stay here with me. Please.'

'Huh, uhm...' Joezand thinks, his thoughts clearing up. 'I f-feel like I have to tell you something. Just in case I go away f-for good next time.' He says weakly.

'You're not going away.' Sunnaria says, firmly. 'Tell me anything. Don't stop thinking. Keep running that cute mouth of yours.' She orders. 'Damn it, what's taking them so long...'

'When you l-left, back then... I had just gone through something horrible.' Joezand admits. 'That happening and you disappearing, it almost made me give everything up. B-But I had to keep going, because you believed in me. You believed that I could change. I-I didn't want to let you down. A-And I still don't. But it's so hard to keep awake, I just...'

'Little lamb. You're not going to die.' Sunnaria states. 'I'm not letting you die. I'm not losing you.'

The coldness in his body starts to slowly but surely thaw out, getting his temperature more mellow. His brain gets clearer.

'What's going on?' Joezand thinks. 'I—'

'It worked.' Sunnaria lets out a large sigh. 'They finally healed your wound. Sure took them long enough.' She says, exasperated. 'I'm so glad you're okay.'

'W-Where am I, exactly? Why can't I see anything?'

'I trapped you in... well, kind of a limbo. Your soul was returning to the astral plane and I just stopped it on the way. You make my life real difficult, you know that?'

'B-But, now—'

'No buts! You really tired me out, little lamb.' She sighs. 'I'm... exhausted.'

'Can goddesses really get exhausted?' He asks with a teasing tone. Well, as teasing as he could muster in his tired state.

'Apparently so.' She replies. 'It's time now, Joezand.'

'Time for what?'

'Time for you to wake up.'

Unlike before, when he was slowly and gently wafted forwards, he's instead brutally and violently pushed back, all feelings and senses coming back to him.

As he wakes up.