Chapter 12: Exultant Wrath

Izumi got healthier and grew stronger the more she kept regenerating her mana through a weird combination of our tether ambient mana and willpower.

She also grew angrier and more spiteful.

None of it towards me though.

I knew who she was thinking of.

Every single person in her homeworld that had wronged her and locked her up.

Now wouldn't be the time to give the "anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering" spiel a certain old green goblin guy from that one sci-fi movie once said.

She was far too unstable.

I could only hope that once she was out and about she could contain herself and not risk hurting herself anyone else.

“Keizo…”

I turned so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.

She wasn’t just sitting up this time. She was standing. Knees wobbling hands shaking but still — standing.

Her lips moved again slower like she was testing the words in her own ears and slowly getting used to their sounds.

“I… live.”

Holy crap holy crap there's no way.

I almost collapsed with relief but quickly regained myself and rushed to her side trying not to barrel into her.

"Izumi…"

"What did I do?"" she asked me. The tremors in her hands continued making her words difficult to understand.

"You're…you're standing?"

"Most certainly Keizo and most importantly I want... to go back."

"Back? Back where?"

We stared at each other and finally I realized.

"Your world."

"I want.. to show you something..." She staggered almost falling down.

"Okay."

"Can you please help me get up?"

"Of course of course. Let's go then."

I helped her stand up supporting most of her weight.

"Thank you."

The look on her face reminded me of when she first appeared to me in my mirror a sort of fear mixed with awe and wonder.

She looked at me eyes wide as if she wanted to tell me something.

"If the tether is as strong as we believe it to be... there's a chance you can..."

I leaned in catching every word.

"Help heal me... yourself... anything with an aether signature."

I read into what she was trying to say she was asking for help. Indirectly.

She was still trembling her legs threatening to give out but her eyes burned with a weird fire.

“Keizo… you must learn now. Before my strength wanes again.”

“Learn what? You just stood up for the first time in… ever. You should rest.”

She shook her head clutching my arm like a lifeline. “No. Rest will not restore me. Not fully. But you… you can.”

“Me?”

Her lips parted like she was about to drop the most obvious truth in the world. “We are tethered. If you reach into yourself into the line that binds us… you may call forth thaumaturgic restoratives.”

“That sounds like a Fate of War menu option.”

"That game you used to play... This however is no game or jest." She said, managing a faint smile.

"So… it's really possible?"

"We broke through a mirror and that is what you ask me?" She thwacked me on the head meekly still clutching onto my arm. "How foolish can you be?"

Right doubting myself I remember that whole thing we went over.

"You're right, we achieved the impossible. This is easy enough, right?"

"Now you're getting it!" She placed her hands on my shoulders and in turn her weight was shifted towards me.

Now then shuffled back. "Place your hand on my head."

Done. Felt cold. No warmth at all.

But at least I know what I'm doing. At least… I have some idea.

"Chant the words 'Mana Restitute' with me."

And so we did as soon as that last word escaped my mouth a raw light green flashed out of my palm engulfing Izumi in its aura.

When it subsided she was... sprightly.

That's what she would say.

She began to levitate and rapidly float around my room in an excited blur.

She cast harmless lights and soft gusts of wind. She threw water around and danced on the top of my desk with a giggle. 

Then the little whirlwind vanished and she was much calmer.

“Keizo! You did it! Look at what I can do!”

I was in awe, but not for long.

Her expression shifted from joyful to an almost exultant wrath.

I sat down.

I healed a monster and broke it free of its strings.

And now she's so gonna make me tag along.

When she settled she quickly floated over to me with open arms and hugged me so tightly that I swear I heard a few ribs crack.

"Keizo... I never thought that we'd make it this far. And you did; we did. You fixed me and that makes me so happy and so thankful." 

She spilled it all out.

"It was hardly anything, though." I replied, shaking my head.

"Oh but it was indeed everything Keizo."

I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly unsure of what to say next.

"Enjoy this moment Keizo. You need not say more."