Awakening

At first, I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or something else entirely. Voices swam around me, and in the darkness I couldn't tell. But it wasn't long before I was able to hear things clearly. Voices talking about my recovery. I could hear Hannah and Ella and about a dozen other voices as I lay there. I remember hearing that people in comas or who were unconscious for periods of time manage some semblance of hearing of the outside world, but I never believed it. Floating there in limbo, time flowed past me, and I couldn't tell if it had been a day or a month or even longer. Light blooms around me, and I find myself sitting on a chair at a table. On the other side of the table, my old training commander was sitting there looking at a paper, a cigar between his fingers.

"How are you doing, rook?"

"I've had better day sarge. Never thought I would see you again. It's been what, twenty years?" Laughing, he puts down the paper and takes a drag from his cigar.

"And then some. You did a good job,"

"So why am I here?"

"Straight to the point, hey Rook? You always were one for talking straight. Alright then. You hang in the balance, Oscar. Between life and death. Now normally, most people would continue on, but I'm here to give you the choice."

"Why?" Tilting his head as if someone was talking in his ear, he smiles at me.

"Well, let's just say that certain powers owe you a favor of sorts."

"And what? They just borrowed you from wherever it is you were?"

"Something like that. Look, I can't decide things for you. So, what do you wanna do Rook?"

"How bad is it going to hurt if I choose to stay?"

"I can't answer that for you. It's something only you can answer for yourself." Leaning back in my seat, I put my hands behind my head, and close my eyes. Picturing the look on Hannah and Ella's faces as I lay there. I knew what my decision was before I even opened my eyes. Looking at my commander in the eye, I see him smile.

"Good choice."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to." Standing, he tucks the paper under his arm and holds out a hand. Getting to my feet, I take it, feeling myself smile.

"It was good seeing you, Rook. Take care. I'll see you on the flip side." Turning and walking away, he disappears into the light. A sound chimes to my right, and turning from the table, I find a door standing there, a glowing green exit sign hanging above it. With a deep sigh, I open the door, and closing my eyes, step through it. Hearing the sounds of the wind and birds chirping, my eyes slowly open. Blinking the tears and blurriness away. Turning my head slowly, I look around at the room I'm in. An infirmary or hospital of some kind and, judging by the stone wall, probably back in the castle. I guess it's been a while then. Moving my body little by little, I slowly get the top half of my torso up and look down at the bed. Seeing two heads resting on the bed, I smile and carefully push myself to a sitting position. Reaching over, I place a hand on each of their heads, stroking their hair softly. Whether it was my touch or the movement, I don't know, but they both shot up, their eyes wide. For a moment, shock covered both their faces, then they screamed.

"Dad!"

"Oscar!" Before I could take a breath, the wind was knocked out of me by both women barreling into my chest. Wrapping my arms around them, I laugh and return the hug, ignoring the aching pain all over my body.

"Easy girls. I'm still injured, I think. How long have I been out?" Pushing themselves clear of me, Ella and Hannah look at each other before looking at me.

"It's been about three weeks, Dad. We weren't sure if you were going to wake up. Marianne said you would be fine, but we weren't sure. You've been so still and I …" Sobbing a little as her voice breaks, I pull her close and wipe the tears from her face.

"Hey now. Cmon. You're old man's built tough." With a laughing sob, she cuddles into my chest, her tears wetting the tunic on my chest. Reaching out my free hand, I hold on to Ella's hand and look into her eyes. Seeing the guilt on her face, she turns away and pulls her hand free.

"I'll go let the king know you've awakened." Before I can say anything else, she walks off, leaving Hannah and me alone.

"She's been really worried about everything, Dad. Especially about what happened just before you came in With Saetaen."

"You mean when she paralyzed you?"

"Yeah. I wasn't really paralyzed, it was part of the plan to get him to let his guard down. Which worked, but I just wasn't strong enough to finish it. I'm sorry I broke our promise and went in without you."

"Don't worry about it, Hannah. I didn't keep my promise either. I let my rage blind me, and I almost left you alone in this world." Smiling, she hugs me tight and whispers in my ear.

"Please don't be mad at Ella. It wasn't her fault." Rubbing her back, I smile and whisper back.

"I'm not, don't worry." Surprising myself more than anything was how much I meant those words.

"You will need to talk to her, though. Otherwise, the guilt will eat her alive." Before I could respond, the door burst open and the king comes striding in, a smile beaming across his face.

"The man of the hour himself. Glad to see you awake, my friend." Smiling at his tone, I take his outstretched hand.

"Glad to be awake. What did I miss while I was out?"

"There will be time for that later. You saved us all, and I can never thank you enough. If there is anything you need, let me know." Taking a step back, Marianne walks around and leans against the bed.

"I told you to save them, not try to kill yourself."

"Thank you for saving me, Marianne. Everything is a little hazy, but I remember your paw landing on the ground as it all went black. What happened to the leviathan?"

"It is no more. It was only a lesser leviathan, and it was already half dead thanks to you. Enough thanking us, we all should thank you." At the looks on their faces, confusion fills me.

"Why? I almost died, and I killed Saetaen, which is bad." Turning to look at Hannah, the king throws up his arms.

"Wait, you have not told him yet?"

"told me what?" Stepping clear of everyone, Hannah walks over to my right.

"It's better to show than tell." Waving her arms, light covers her and in an instant she is standing there in white armor with a white duster over the top. Over her shoulder, an intricate hilt rests inside a scabbard.

"That looks like my overdrive armor."

"It's similar. It was a gift. From Firentia." At the mention of the goddess, my eyes open wide, and memories come flashing back to me of the two women hugging.

"Wait, so then…?"

"Yup, Firentia has been revived. Her soul was trapped inside the Demon King. When he impaled you with his horns, he created a link between the two of you, and she was able to use that to guide you to slay him. When you did that, she was reborn into the world."

Leaning back against the wall, the breath leaves my body and I sit there in stunned silence.

"Say something, Oscar." Looking at the king, I shrug my shoulders.

"I don't know what to say. I helped revive the goddess. How do I respond to that?" Laughing, he turns and grabs a few mugs of drink from a serving girl that had crept in.

"With a toast. That's how." Handing a mug to me, he hands one out to everyone and hold his in the air.

"To Oscar. Savior of our kingdom and world."

"To Oscar." As they all cheer, I take a swig of the drink, I feel a coolness running down my throat. Finishing the mug, I hand it back to the serving girl.

"Well, we shall let you get some rest. It is good to see you up, Oscar." As they all walk away, I call out.

"Wait Elias. A moment, please?" Nodding, he waits for everyone else to leave the infirmary and he comes over to my bed.

"What can I do for you?"

"About that favor…" Describing to him what I need, he nods and smiles.

"It shall be done. I will see to it at once." Taking his leave, he walks away at a brisk pace, and I lean back against the wall. Closing my eyes, sleep comes to me almost instantly, and if I dreamed well, I don't remember it.