I was exhausted from the journey back from Xibalba.
It had taken me two long years to reach that cursed place, and another two to return with her.
Or what was left of her, at least.
The Bat had told me her soul was mostly purified ready to be sent off for a new beginning. That even though I had succeeded in bringing her back, it would be pointless she would no longer be the same person I cared for.
But I couldn't stop myself. I wanted her again.
I don't care, I muttered under my breath.
"Alright…let's get this process started."
I stared at the ball of light resting in my left hand.
"Even if you aren't the same person I knew…even so, I'll make that promise come true."
The Vessel
First, a suitable vessel.
I had chosen the body of a female criminal around her age her heart had been sacrificed to the Sun a fitting punishment for criminals. Normally with alchemy one could a relatively undamaged body transform it into a body for an a homunculus, but this one was too damaged, missing a vital piece.
"Well…I've been prepared for this."
From my right pocket, I pulled out a chunk of gold, roughly the size of a man's fist.
Gold the most valuable thing in this world. It should make up for the missing heart and any other damage this body carried.
I pressed the cold, heavy gold into the hollow where her heart once was.
That covers the vessel. Now, the mind.
The Mind
From my left pocket, I took five delicate feathers belonging to an owl.
They only linger near the entrance of Xibalba. Maybe they're trying to warn the living.
I brushed that thought aside and laid the feathers gently across her chest.
And now for the final part.
The Soul
I lifted the ball of light her purified soul and gazed into its shimmering depths.
They say the three things Tezcatlipoca needed to create humans were body, mind, and soul. Now, I get to put that to the test.
A tremor ran through me half excitement, half dread.
I pressed the glowing orb into the center of the corpse. It sank into the flesh like water slipping through fingers. Suddenly, a brilliant light burst from the body, blinding me.
Alright…it's time.
Normally, I wouldn't need a chant. But for something this great, I could not hold back.
Standing tall, I pressed my hands together in a silent prayer.
"Accept this offering, great Lord of the Smoking Mirrors,and let the gates of tribute open."
White light engulfed my vision.
I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Aha…ahaahahahaa!"
The years of grief, endless wandering, unbearable loss all of it melted away beneath the joy that consumed me.
When my sight returned, she was there.
"What the…"
It was her. The same light-brown skin, that familiar face of hers.
But her hair was silver now, and her eyes were a darker shade of orange instead of her usual brown I remembered.
I should have known something like this would happen, I whispered, a faint smile touching my lips clench my first but quickly released it.
"You aren't human anymore. But still welcome back to the land of the living.How was your stay in the underworld?"
Awakening
She was just staring at me not saying anything just blinking "um did you not come with a voice" I tap her on the head "or maybe the shock of being brought back to life has you shocked" I say whiles I keep tapping her on the head, I keep on talking while trying to hide my fear that something could have gone wrong as I'm waving my had past her face I feel sharp pain coming from my fingers "aaaahhhhh what is wrong with you Nicte" I say while rolling on the ground and holding my blinding fingers with my right arm wrapped around them.
"What am I?"
It was undoubtedly her voice I get up and pretend I wasn't just rolling on the floor two seconds ago "before I answer you do you remember anything at all?" The naked girl on the floor shakes her head "I see" I try and hiding my disappointment behind a smile
"First you are an homunculus created by me"
"Second you weren't created like the other homunculus I tried making you as human as possible"
"Thirdly your name is Nicte take pride in that name"
"And lastly you goal is to assist me in my day to day stuff" there's no point in bringing up stuff she won't be able to remember but with this hopefully stuff can start going back to normal.
That is what I wished for but deep inside I know stuff can't remain the same forever.
Nicte looks at me for awhile I assume she's trying to process everything normally once someone creates a homunculus they give the homunculus in question certain rules that they're forced to obey under but considering Nicte has a human soul maybe it'll be different
"I shall do my best to server master" Nicte says while still on the floor my disappointment was great this is nothing like her… "by the way don't call me master, Oroel will be fine"
"Understood" so plain there's nothing unique her but I guess that bat was right but don't worry Nicte I'll do my best to grant your wish
"Oh yea let me get you some clothes we wouldn't want you catching" I doubt that body of her could catch I a cold though.
As I passed the mirror to find some clothes I couldn't help but look in the mirror I saw a shadow of my former self before seeing my current self my light blonde hair was now brown my blue eyes were now plain brown I had grown quite a bit from when I decided to go on my journey I was 20 when I started and now I'm 24 looking in the reflection I can't help but notice how tired I look even so I'm still mr everything else was the same though from my light brown skin to my desire to fulfil her wish.