[Mary's Apartment]
'Ugh... Yep, that was a trip.'
The cold, wet air of the fog still lingers in Daniel Hart's strained mind as he stirs, his heart beating to each steel blade he remembered whistling past him and Mary. Along with the metallic forges from a mythical enchantress, the howls of dark vestiges also echo rent-free in his head.
Yes, truly a pleasant dream that's sure to provide good fortune for the future.
'I wish,' Daniel snorts internally, stretching a bit only to find himself entrapped in a cool, gelatinous chamber. He expected this might remain the case as Mary and Viviane enveloped him as Mavi prior to entering the domain.
However, his gooey surroundings around him seems to line him up too well. Not only that, he also feels like he's sitting upright and holding something in his hand.
He shuffles a bit, wondering if he's mistaken.
Squish, squish~
'Huh? I... can't move?'
"Oh?"
A voice not of his own spills as his lips spread on their own.
Before he can completely register his state of being, he gasps. The squishy gel lining loosens around him, causing him to lean partially away in his disorientation before it pulls him back.
"Oh, my! I thought I felt a twitch. Awake now, sweet child?"
[IMAGE]
Hearing Viviane's equally sweet voice, Daniel blinks a few times, finally registering that he's been taken over by her again. Like thick dough being stretched but resisting its pull apart, he's similarly held in form within his slime mother. The weight of whatever his mother was carrying in their hand had disappeared from feeling as he slumped out of alignment.
If he had to guess, she's been reading Merlin's book, perhaps with better insight now. Before he can question what she had remembered and her "feeling" about Nimue, he works his jaw that's been freed.
"Ungh... morning, Mother," he greets, muffled. "I see you took me inside of you again."
Despite being sealed within her, the artist breathes easily as Viviane pulls air for him. She sits on a lone chair in Mary's kitchen, casually paging through Merlin's book with one hand. The left side of her face distends, showing the clear outline of her son. As he wiggles inside her extended blue mass, a warm smile touches her lips.
"Technically, you were already inside of Mommy," she reminds. "You were lying asleep in me after Mary and I split, so I figured I'd keep my child cozy for a little while longer."
Daniel snorts. "How considerate of you."
"Hehe, aren't I?" Viviane's lips dip into a smirk before tapering off wryly. "But seriously, do you want out?"
"Why ask when you've gone out your way to dress?"
She raises her brow. "Is that strange? When I'm connected to you, I feel as human and exposed as you are. Of course, I'm going to wear something! Be honest, it's comfy inside Mommy, isn't it?"
Daniel clears his throat. "Well, it's not... um, unpleasant."
For better or worse, he's becoming accustomed to being enveloped by his slime mothers. He might later come to regret giving into their squishy being, but right now, he can't deny how soothing it is as it eases him into another day.
"I need a complete answer, child," Viviane presses, her eyes narrow knowingly.
Daniel shuts his own. "A-alright! If there's nothing immediately urgent, then we can stay together for little while longer."
Viviane beams to the sound of success, but abstains from wiggling. "Of course! I know you're worried about what we saw and learned, but take it easy, okay?"
She settles the Book of Isis in her hand down on their combined lap, then raises her arm to caress her son's extruding head. In doing so, Daniel feels parts of his limbs reconnecting with her. "It's a bit awkward to not have all your senses shared, so slide back into Mommy, please? I'll only loosely control your lips so we can continue talking."
Despite the request, there's nothing he has to do as she gently pushes his head back in. Tingles spread all over him as he feels the gel massaging him in.
"Ungh, Mother..." Daniel croaks, shivering as all the stress from their trip fades away for a few blissful moments. While slipping into her depths, Viviane coos, nuzzling against his leaving extrusion.
"Ah... yes, there we go..."
Once he disappears, she holds a hand to her chest, feeling her son's heartbeat as her own. "I love you so much, Daniel."
Daniel heats up, his heart pounding harder to hear his name being called instead of the usual 'child'. Reminded of Nimue again, he swallows before opening their combined lips.
"Although I've gotten used to it, I wish you'd call me that more often."
Daniel feels his lips rising as his mother follows. "I'll keep that in mind, especially now that I've met my predecessor who considers me her child."
"Well, at least we know where you got that habit from." Daniel clears his throat. "But, putting her aside, where is Mary?"
Viviane hums, brushing the cover of the book. "Mary left to check in with her clone and uncle at the studio. Last I heard, he's awake, but she wants us to stay put until she hears from him first about his... er, cultist ties."
Daniel twist their lips, his stomach churning in turn. He already was forced to open up to Rachel, and in doing so, he has to deal with Lecia's group with said leader missing. Having a cult looming on top of that is just cruel.
Viviane frowns. "I can feel you worrying, child. It's worrying me."
"Ha, isn't that to be expected? Seeing how we've obtained Merlin's book from him, and it's meant to follow you into the future, I'm guessing involving him was unavoidable."
"You're probably right. Merlin does seem to hold great confidence in how the visions would play out, especially seeing how I willingly sealed myself. While we may have been playing into them thus far, I have a suspicion it wasn't Marlin's choice to bring this book."
The slime lining squishes as Daniel raises his brows. "Why do you say that?"
Viviane glances down to the book. "Because, from what we read, Merlin designed it to not only to be durable across time but also find its way to me. Something must have happened for Marlin to bring the real thing with him when he was hesitant to do so. I mean, why risk bringing something as big as this overseas?"
"Guess he'll have to tell us. But, if you're reading the book now, does that mean you're able to understand it?"
Viviane shakes her head. "Unfortunately, it's reverted to its symbols. When I remembered how I wrote the first pages we read, some meanings to the strange symbols opened up to me, but they're too scattered beyond the first pages to make any sense. Maybe with Marlin's studies, more will come to me, but I think we'll have to revisit Nimue and my domain to read it properly."
At mention of the problematic enchantress, Daniel sighs. "Right, let's talk about her now. Despite triggering a vague memory resembling your guardian cutting into Merlin, then becoming a corruption to attack us again, why would you suddenly become more trusting of the one within you?"
Expecting such confusion, Viviane closes her eyes. "I know it was sudden, and I'm not saying Merlin's fear is unfounded. When I remembered the rest of what I added into this book, I also remembered what I saw of them before they disappeared."
She pauses, opening her eyes half-way before continuing. "I don't know why a corruption sprung out of that memory, but in reality, something was off between Merlin and Nimue. I felt it back then and regained that feeling now. While the memory was initially hazy, I think it's become clearer now."
"Can you show me?" Daniel asks.
Viviane snorts. "I was about to say."
Her body shrugs as Daniel takes his turn, spreading a resigned smile. "Look, we're already sharing enough as is, so it's not like more will kill me."
"I... do wonder about that, but close your eyes and recall what we saw in the fog."
Daniel stiffens, but follows, wiggling their lips. "Y-you know, I could've done without hearing you doubt."
"Mommy's just being honest, sweetie~"
"Ugh, saying it endearingly just makes it sound worse. That's too honest!"
"Yes, yes, just hush now, child. Focus."
Breathing out in a huff, Daniel lets his mind rest. The fog returns to him showing the silhouettes of Merlin and Nimue embracing each other in a... less than welcoming manner.
[IMAGE]
'No, but seriously, how can anyone trust a person that carries such an obvious red haze? It literally screams—'
Shlick!
Daniel's thought is cut off as Viviane attaches to his head for a brief second. A wind blows through his own memory, causing the fog to lift. By then, he holds himself, eyes wide as if he were there.
[IMAGE]
It's utterly silent.
Daniel can't tell if that's intentional or because the memory is incomplete, but he takes in the unnatural green flames that surround the lovers amid an empty throne. They writhe and lick at the air, casting an eerie emerald light on the two figures at their heart, slowly consuming them.
The man, Merlin, is in a simple brown cloak, but for the first time, his hood is down. Daniel leans into the memory, trying to finally see the face of the man who had been nothing more than a cloaked enigma in every prior instance, but the memory resists. Merlin's features blur and swim behind his dark, pony-tailed hair, refusing to resolve into a clear image. All Daniel can discern is the ghost of a light, calm smile on his lips. He seems utterly at peace as her blade pierces cleanly through him.
He knew his fate, of course.
Even in literature, it was told he would die at the hands of the Lady of the Lake. Some authors claim it as an apprentice seeking to overthrow the master while others say it was out of jealousy. The name between Viviane and Nimue blurs between different tales, masking where truth lies.
Daniel is witnessing the truth along with the closest one can call magic.
Yet, Merlin's tranquility makes Nimue's expression all the more devastating. Daniel can understand why Viviane feels there's more to her guardian's supposed threat with horror crossing those blue eyes.
Nimue frantically searches to an unknowable wizard as she tries to pull back, but is held close by his hands collapsing around her own. This doesn't seem like the reality she wanted to be a part of, so what could have led to this?
Daniel figures the flames rising around them as their bodies fade is the sealing magic, seeing how it's similar to flames that appeared to Viviane when she was released. If that's the case, then is Nimue horrified of the flames released to seal them together, or by striking her own lover?
More than that, was it even her decision?
The memory ends with a fade to darkness, just as the two lovers fade out of existence, connected to each other as they once were. At that moment, he sees Viviane's hand reaching out, and her cry breaking through the silence but never reaching the ones who raised her.
Shlick!
Daniel inhales sharply as Viviane separates from his mind. Any longer, they would have become the fusion, Vida. In addition to the memory, the rest of the page he hadn't finished reading also comes to him, mirroring what his slime mother had seen.
He swallows slowly. "So they just... disappeared like that?"
Viviane nods, keeping a loosened control over his lungs to let him recover as he wants. She brings their combined arm to rub their thigh soothingly.
"And you weren't able to find any answers as to what happened back then?" Daniel adds.
"Only as far as what I wrote, but I haven't regained any memories of what I did during that time. That said, I'm also worried about the extent of the flames we saw. Do you remember what I wrote about Arthur?"
"Right, something about Arthur being gone. I assume he fell somehow? No, wait..."
Catching himself, Daniel recalls his slime mother's notes further:
> I only know that when it could have happened, it was sudden. One night, nearly everyone vanished in the castle after I left my study. Scouring, I went into the throne room. Whether I was supposed to be there was never mentioned in Merlin's descriptions.
> ...
> It wasn't just them that faded that day. Honestly, it scares to me think what kind magic using the flames was performed.
Daniel widens his eyes. "They... they vanished just like Nimue and Merlin did!"
"Exactly."
"But then, many should've noticed! Why haven't archaeologists and historians uncovered the truth of his rule beyond tales? Surely there's more solid evidence."
"I've been wondering that as well," Viviane supports, lifting their combined hand to their chin. "Then, I remembered what happened to you at the clinic. We've seen how Victor did something to make them forget about you and him, no?"
"Damn... If that's true, then you're thinking the seal also wiped out a portion of Britain's history and the people in it!"
"W-well, I don't want to go that far," Viviane holds, chuckling nervously. "I mean, I find it hard to believe that everyone in the kingdom disappear, but a memory wipe? Maybe. Then again, we don't know much of these magical flames."
"How would we have loose tales, but not any real accounts?"
This time, Viviane shrugs, but winks, causing their lips to rise. "Who knows? It could be the result of a certain someone roaming the land, trying to find answers."
With only guesses to play off, Daniel resets their expression with a light breath, shaking their head. "Didn't know you could be so inspiring."
"Hey, what's with that tone? You know that's a possibility!" Viviane growls, puffing up to the derision.
Before Daniel can respond, the sound of a phone ringing echoes into the kitchen. At first, Viviane thought it was hers, but seeing no such activity in her pocket, it immediately follows that it has to belong to her son's device.
"We can speculate for later," Daniel urges, slightly grateful for the interruption. "Can we see who that is?"
Viviane blows out, grumbling to her sometimes rude host. She takes control, pushing off the chair and stepping back into Mary's bedroom where Daniel's phone was left on the night-stand. Pulling it up, she sees the caller ID from Rachel.
'Oh, shit,' Daniel thinks, sweating. He had left her with Anne, but she was quite upset with him, especially learning of their unusual relationship. Although he can't avoid her, he wished Anne called ahead instead.
"Let me talk with her," Viviane suggests, causing Daniel to flinch. "She knows everything, right?"
"Ah, yes, but..."
"It's okay," Viviane cuts gently. "I should at least introduce myself before we properly meet."
Daniel hesitates, but ultimately nods. His silver-haired slime mother carries the same familiarity with the astronomer, and while it may not link as closely as Anne, it's still there.
He hopes that will be enough. Shameful as it is to allow his slime mother to literally shield him, he's not in any mood to front Rachel's frustration and disbelief if it hasn't subsided.
With that, Viviane takes more control of Daniel's face as she closes her eyes to a smile. "Good morning, Rachel. This is Viviane speaking."
Quite the gathering would soon come.