"...Who are you?" My words came out hoarse, a testament to the parched throat I never realized I had until now.
A sly smirk played on her lips as she gestured to the empty seat across from her.
There was a terse few seconds of silence before I was moving, drawn into the prospect of quenching my thirst as I sank into the cushy white chair.
As I sat across from her, she smiled, and I felt as if I was looking at a mystery I might never solve.
"That wasn't too hard now, was it?" she said after too long a pause. Then, she made a graceful motion with her wrist.
A small teacup materialized directly in front of me, and a matching kettle, as well, independently pouring an earthy red drink into my cup. Magic. Except… What kind? I registered distantly, too absorbed by my own desires to further explore the thought.
I pressed the cup to my lips, taking an almost involuntary sip.
The sip turned into many gulps.
One by one, until I was finished entirely with the drink, leaning to the side as I broke into a brief fit of coughs.
After a while, my attention returned to her, taking in the uncharacteristically "surprised" expression on her face, which consisted only of raised brows and a pause from her drinking—though her stoic mask was tossed and retrieved in the span of a heartbeat.
"My, I didn't expect you to be so eager… Forgive me. It does save us quite some time, however."
"What kind of tea was that, anyways? It tasted… weird. Like, not bad, but not good either. Almost tasteless, even," I spat.
"It's ephyghes," she emphasized, "not tea. It's a drink used for celebration, and alternatively, meditation. The main purpose of it is to clear your mind, reset your state of being. It only makes sense that it would be tasteless, especially considering how this realm affects your being," she said, setting down her cup.
"Now then." Her deep, scarlet eyes met mine. "I can sense your bordering impatience. Ask away, and I will answer what I can. Our time is extremely limited, so do be purposeful."
As she finished, I felt the effects of the… "ephyghes" seemingly working.
The haze that clouded my mind, seemingly drawing out more of my hidden emotions, had dissipated, leaving me only with my curiosity.
I no longer felt anxious. But her words rang in the forefront of my mind. Be purposeful.
"Where are we, who are you, and what exactly do you want from me? Those are the questions I'd like to know the most."
The woman smiled, leaning her arms on the table, fingers steepled.
"This place… It's the limbo between your consciousness and your subconscious. A realm between the seen and the unseen. A place where mind and matter meet. This realm reflects your soul, probably, and as such, it only follows the reason that it is responsible for making you more… susceptible to your feelings. Of any kind, really. Thoughts, emotions, desires, whether hidden or not, are all drawn out. That's all I know, honestly."
An uneasy frown creased my features as she spoke. "My soul?" I said, glancing around. "I hardly believe this—"
"As for who I am," she cut in, "you may refer to me as ████. …Hm? Did that not work? …I see. How appropriate of them. Well then, call me Yuena. It is the simplest, most direct way to describe me. And for your last question: Nothing. I don't seek anything from you in particular. We just happen to be… connected. In many ways."
"What does that mean?" A scoff escaped me.
"I hate repeating myself, so I'll tell you this just once. We are connected in many ways. One could say, we've become one. Your thoughts, feelings, and memories are all shared with me, and our tragic fates are now bound together. A shame."
Her words hung in the air unchallenged, with a somber and ominous ring to them.
"And by the way," she continued before I could speak up, her eyes centering on the place where my mana core would be.
"Since we're confined to the same body, I think it best that I help you out just this once. For my own interest. Usually, I require proper compensation. But oh well, it can't be helped this time. Though, it's not as if my free services come without a caveat, however…"
I felt a sudden rush of mana in my sternum, and I fell to the floor, clutching my chest tightly as a searing hot pain exploded from me.
Ggh..!
"There you go. The seal preventing you from awakening the Divine Art given to your lineage has been lifted. It was troublesome, really, it almost prevented me from bringing you here. I can't fathom why that old stiff would ever do such a thing…" she trailed off before catching herself.
"When you get back to reality, your memories of our encounter will be intact, but it's imperative that you keep my existence a secret. That means from everyone, even those who appear to govern. If you don't, who knows what kind of trouble you might get into?"
At that exact moment her words finished, I felt a shake in the world around us.
Or rather, a pulse would be more accurate, though I was almost too absorbed in my own pain that I didn't notice it.
"It would appear our time is up for now. We'll meet again sooner than you think. Since I've done my job here, I think it best I tell you one last thing: You must get stronger. And fast. For both of our sakes."
Before I knew it, the world around me was fading from existence, as if a string was unraveled.
And I felt the ground underneath me fracture without even so much as a word in between these events. Throughout the pain, I couldn't manage a single whisper.
By the time I awakened, I found myself levitating an inch or two off the ground, radiating a sublime, divine-like energy.
***
ISMERIA ESYVIA HALETH
The rhythmic pattern of my grandpa and I's footsteps filled the long corridors of the manor as we navigated through, greeting the maids and Iansan, who had been tasked with some official business in the city by Grandpa.
He usually doesn't sleep late… I wonder if yesterday's training was too much for him.
If it was, I couldn't blame him.
Everything we'd done these past few months—ranging from frequent three-way spars, exercises, constant teaching, and the accumulating draining of our mind, body, and souls—were all exceptionally difficult, even for Briar, who was the only enhancer out of us three.
All of this with no break, as well… it'd make sense for him to eventually succumb to it all.
Maybe I should ask Grandpa for a break… At this rate, none of us will make it.
These sorts of thoughts fluttered through my mind, clouding even the distant reverberating of my name.
"—smeria?"
"S-sorry…! Were you saying something, Grandpa?"
I snapped back to reality, breaking free from my own self induced spiral.
His eyes narrowed on me subtly.
"I was just asking if you were okay. You seem lost in thought. More than usual, I mean," he began, before adding, "Are you, perhaps, worried about our absent little friend?"
I averted my gaze, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. "N-no! I mean, yes, but…! A-anyways, that's not it. I'm just… wondering is all. Sera—Prince Seraphis—is probably worn out from all of the constant training we've been doing, and I was just thinking that it wouldn't be so surprising that he is. Well, if he is. You've been especially tough on him, Grandpa… Would it hurt to go a little easier on us?"
Grandpa kept his stride as he seemed to ponder something distant, and there was a moment before he responded again. "You have all endured a lot, Ismeria. That much is obvious. But it is for a reason. I was given a duty, therefore I must see to it that it's done right. Queen Eslin put her trust in me, so I will not fail her."
He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Fret not, my granddaughter. The Prince is more resilient than you all think. He carries with him the sapling of a king. In due time, he will bud into a man worthy of the title of royalty. That is to say, his existence is motivation for others, as he's never one to stand down for too long. Always improving. Think of Briar, she's certainly changed." I took the time to consider his words.
Briar has been different… Ever since her first spar with the Prince. Before, she seemed to always be training without a second thought to her, as if it was purely her duty to. I soon followed suit, as well, finding myself in almost the same predicament.
But now, Briar seems to have a passion, a goal. Something driving her to continue her tutelage under Grandfather.
Could his words really be true… Has Seraphis changed her that much?
…Have I changed any?
"The Prince of Verlice, in all his naivety, remains an intriguing person. Which is why I've made it my personal duty to see to it that he becomes the best he can. The potential I sense in him is unbound. I have a feeling that before any of us can realize it, he'll have reached new heights that might even stir you along in his wake, young Ismeria."
There was a brief pause, and then, "Though, I'm sure I sense change in you already."
His tone conveyed a sense of tease, one unexpected from him of all people.
"You seem… close to him. I've never seen you with this much interest in our guests, even amongst the nobles."
Grandpa's words brought me to a complete halt. "W-what? T-that's not true! It's not good to lie, Grandpa.. And besides, isn't it only natural to get closer to someone who you spend time with a lot? You're making it seem as if I—"
A shuddering pulse of mana swept through the manor and the ground shook slightly.
I struggled to regain my footing before Grandpa's arm was there, stabilizing me. Our eyes met, mine reflecting confusion, his, a gradual understanding.
"Could this be…? Don't tell me…"
His voice fell short, full understanding dawning on him. "The boy…!"
In the next moment, he was bolting, rounding the nearest corner with a speed I hadn't seen from him since that time that adult wyvern appeared, threatening the kingdom; the day we found Gael… "G-grandpa, wait!"
I followed after him, down the hall to Sera's room.
We were already close by then, so while it didn't take long, it was a sudden exhaust of energy, leaving me out of breath.
When I rounded, I noticed Grandpa standing in the doorway to the Prince's room, staggering as if struggling to believe that what he was seeing was, in fact, real.
In between breaths, I managed to question him as I caught up to his side.
"What happened? Is Sera alright? Why are you just—" My words died in my mouth as I peered into the Prince's room. A faint golden light was radiating from his body, and he was levitating a few inches off the ground. In this moment, he looked truly divine…
"He's done it… the boy's really done it," Grandpa staggered in between breaths.
"The seal on his Divine Art has been lifted…"
[Five years later…]