Things That Cannot Be Rushed

A warmth brushed the back of my neck. The twin’s ears twitched.

Cuuute!!! I wonder if I can touch?

‘Do you feel that?’ Elliot turned to Auri.

Auri stiffened. His eyes lifted toward the ceiling. ‘Something very annoyed just entered the perimeter.’

We all looked up at the dome ceiling. Nothing appeared to be moving.

Are those notes stuck on the roof? Same! Relatable! My room had colorful pathophysiologies and graphs as well!.. But, could they even see those from fifteen meter high? 

Our attention was suddenly drawn to the dramatic bursting of flames spilling through the doorway. Mede landed on a worktable with a soft thump. Embers flickered around him. He folded his wings beautifully and stared at all of us like he’d been personally inconvenienced by being summoned. Though, no one had summoned him.

‘Oh! How delightful! The fire noisefowl. In a very much flammable environment.’ Elliot teased.

Mede screeched.

‘That’s a yes,’ Auri joined.

I giggled before I could stop myself. ‘Hey.’

Mede hopped down immediately and padded over, stopping just short of bumping into my leg. He deliberately placed himself between me and the deeper parts of the wing. I stopped and let him usher me back a few steps. Satisfied, he huffed a small plume of flame.

Auri raised a brow. ‘Protective.’

‘Possessive,’ Elliot corrected.

Mede flared his feathers in offense.

‘Relax. We’re just talking. I am not going to jump into any conclusions, portals, or anything I can dip my feet into.’

He glanced up at me, then back at the twins. He looked clearly unconvinced but was willing to tolerate their existence for a few seconds.

‘He doesn’t like portals,’ Elliot explained.

‘He doesn’t?’

‘He dislikes things that are unpredictable… Cause that was how you were taken initially.’ Auri added.

Mede made a rumbling sound that vibrated against my leg.

He was Raiona’s first friend after all…

‘Which means, if we’re easing into the idea of portals—’ Elliot started.

‘—we should do it slowly,’ Auri finished.

I looked down at Mede. ‘You’d tell me if something was a bad idea, right?’

He met my gaze, hen gently bumped his warm head against my knee.

Is that a no? A yes? I don’t know. I’m just sure he’d risk his life for me again… Poor Mede. Don’t do it again. I picked him up and cuddled him.

‘Okay. Careful works for me. Everything in life is a matter of trial and error anyways.’

These people here feel like the correct people to speak with regarding portal things.

We continued wandering through the wing at a slower pace. Elliot still pointing out oddities, Auri occasionally correcting him, Mede content and quiet in my hold.

I mean.. Yes, going back to earth is my long term goal, but, that isn’t the highest priority for me at the moment..

‘Actually, I think I should check on my mother.’ I blurted out.

‘I can come back to this. There’s a lot I want to discuss. Just not all at once.’

Elliot straightened immediately. ‘Of course.’

Auri nodded and stepped aside to give me space. ‘This place isn’t going anywhere.’

I adjusted Mede in my arms and turned toward the exit.

‘Thank you. For everything. Not just the tour.’

For keeping me safe and comfortable in the three day travel. For keeping Celphi alive and well. For treating me as Ina. And for giving me hope that I could still go back to Earth.

They watched me go without comment. I walked through the exit and when I turned back to wave, the building wasn’t there anymore.

Ah right.. the protection veil. I need some tricks I can use as well…

The walk back felt grounding. My mind was busy cataloguing plans and priorities. Get mother well, stay away from Ishara, find a way to go back and forth from earth that doesn’t involve her successfully killing me just to isekai me each time.

Mede stayed silent, occasionally lifting his head to look around and point the direction, but otherwise content to be carried.

When we reached the familiar corridors near the queen’s quarters, the scent of food reached me first. My stomach growled aggressively that if there were any doubt about my body, Raiona’s body, being of lion descent, it’s absolutely erased.

I followed the delicious smell instinctively and found my parents seated together at a small table by the windows. Daylight pooled warmly around them. They both looked up at the same time.

My mother’s face lit up immediately. ‘Ina.’

My father smiled. ‘We were just saying you might wake hungry.’

I hovered in the doorway and fidgeted with Mede’s plume. I was suddenly aware of my dress, of having actual parents, of my standing as a princess, of the domesticity of the moment. 

I did not expect a royal couple to be dressed so humbly yet here they are. I thought we all have to wear outrageous clothes just to share a meal.

‘Um, can I join?’ 

My mother was already standing.

‘Of course. This was prepared for you.’ she said. She crossed the room in surprisingly long strides and pulled me into her side. I let myself be guided to the table.

‘Sit. Eat. You’ve done enough thinking for one morning.’ Father added.

Ah… So they know my whereabouts. Is it a watching-my-every-step way? Or caring-enough-to-keep-track way?

Mede hopped from my arms and perched neatly on the corner of a nearby cabinet.

‘Are you not joining?’ I asked. He turned away.

Ah.. Not formally attired meal, but still only a family one. Got it.

I observed father taking the first bite and I eventually copied. The utensils were a spork looking item and something that looked like a chopsticks scissor hybrid.

Growing up with children from different age groups and varying interests, I had to develop a skill of learning and picking up what the current fad or trend were, just so I could keep up with them.

I took it slowly at first. The dishes looked and smelled delicious, but they were still foreign. Well, I was the foreign one, but the food was new to the now me. There were varieties of meat that looked like fish but tasted like chicken and pork. The suspiciously colored soup was actually healing. And despite looking like a cocktail, the drink was just bland water.

I didn’t realize just how hungry I actually was. I got lost into stuffing my fave before I could remember to behave like a lady. My parents looked pleased.

For a while, none of us spoke.

The silence felt respectful. After all, we were all easing ourselves back into each other after a long separation. We had to carefully test the shape of the moment.

My mother was the first to break it.

‘Did you sleep well?’ she asked.

I nodded. ‘Really well. I think I needed it.’

I drank some bland juice water to clear my throat and added, ‘Back on earth, I do not get enough sleep, as you know, nightmares, and when I arrived here, I was kinda on the go for most.’

My father smiled sadly. ‘You’ve been carrying too much.’

I huffed softly. ‘Story of my life.’

Mother reached over and nudged more food onto my plate. I didn’t argue.

‘You wandered the palace this morning,’ Father said casually.

I glanced up. ‘I did.’

‘The guards said you looked curious,’ he added.

‘Probably their polite way of saying I followed foxes into questionable areas,’ I snorted.

Mother giggled.

‘I like the twins.’ I said.

Father nodded. ‘They are. And they are good kids.’

I found myself relaxing further.

‘We’re glad you’re taking things slowly. You don’t need to do everything at once.’ Mother said.

I swallowed a mouthful of food and nodded again. ‘I’m trying. It’s hard not to think about things to do and what ifs.’

‘For now, let’s enjoy this meal together.’ Father said.