Family?
I don't wanna believe what I heard. Jolene and I have only met hours ago, and she's already considering me into her family tree?
That's too much of a gesture!
I can feel my cheeks burning up. I scratched the back of my head, gulping with a bead of sweat dripping from my cheek.
"Well, t-that's a bit fast, huh?" I said. "We just met."
Jolene chuckled, shaking her head. "I mean, family doesn't always mean being related, right?"
Jolene shrugged, turning back towards the door.
She's right… Being family doesn't always mean being blood-related, right? Besides, if I find a new family, the more support and success I gain.
I smiled at that thought. Jolene has helped me well enough: guiding me to a station for food, offering me shelter, not judging me…I do believe that she's alright.
But, I'm not sure about Kairos.
As I follow her, I continue to keep thinking about how Kairos felt. I understand why he's currently paranoid and struggling to trust Jolene, but why?
Obviously I know it's because of our identities, but there has to be something deeper than that. I'm probably looking into it too much, however, I just can't help to think if there's a much deeper problem than just hiding ourselves from revealing our identity.
Heck, I think I'm sounding paranoid as well.
Well sadly I can't get any answers now. Kairos was beaten up, eventually knocked out.
"..Jolene," I called to her running up beside her.
I shouldn't ask this, but I need to know.
"Do you know anything about the missions?"
I remembered. I asked this same question to Gia: she didn't know what I was referring to. So why do I think Jolene had some knowledge about the missions?
"…like tasks?" Jolene stopped to look at me.
I only gained a bit of hope. Judging by her uncertainty in her voice, I can only hope for the best she knew what I was talking about.
Phenomenons cannot be the only one who can receive missions, right?
"Yes, like tasks," I confirmed.
Despite what Kairos said, he didn't specify if others can receive missions just like us. And if I can remember, the message stated that I can share with "allies," not only phenomenons like Kairos. I have at least 98 shares left. I was thinking about wasting one of them to Jolene, but I have a strong feeling that it wouldn't popped up.
"Well, I do receive tasks," Jolene started, making my ears twitch.
"But only from what my sister assigns to me." She finished. "They're not exactly missions, but they're close! Think of it as chores…"
Her words began to sound like a fog to me. I signed, shaking my head with my hand rubbing my forehead. Why did I hope for the better? I don't know.
"…if that's what you meant." Jolene's words started to clear up. Feigning happiness, I just smiled softly at her words and nodded.
"Yes! That's what I meant." I said, making Jolene feel proud of herself.
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, KAIROS-
"What did you think was gonna happen?"
I jumped at the sudden message. I looked back at Kairos, who was still laying flat in my hands.
Thinking…
"You're up? How?"
Thinking…
"She didn't knock me out too bad."
Thinking…
"I don't know what I was hoping for. I just thought…"
Thinking…
"You thought I wasn't telling the truth?"
Thinking…
"…yeah."
I didn't wanna not telling the truth. I didn't wanna believe you, Kairos, I was stubborn.
Thinking…
"Sorry."
Thinking…
"Fuck you."
Heh. Typical Kairos. He's not mad at me, well maybe just a little bit. I gazed up at Jolene, who was leading me outside of the station to her sister's layer, I'm assuming.
I can already imagine what her sister would look like: black, beautiful skin, probably braids like Jolene's, soft yet bold golden-brown eyes…
I forgot how beautiful girls can be. Jolene is the most beautiful I've ever seen.
"Hey, Jolene?" I called out, getting her attention.
"How long will it be before I get to meet your sister?" I couldn't hide the obvious excitement in my voice. Jolene chuckled, turning her head to me.
"You sound awfully excited to meet her? What? You wanna dateee her???"
My ears started to heat up. Jolene does have a habit of teasing, I figured that out not too long ago. I sighed with a nervous laugh coming out, shaking my head with my lip twitching.
"No…I'm just wondering. I'm just impatient, that's all."
Jolene lets out a long "alright," before turning her head toward the front.
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, KAIROS-
"You one of 'em?"
What does that mean?
"Hey, the way from here is the same length traveling to my sister's location." Jolene says, stopping to turn to me.
"I don't know if you wanna walk that long again." Jolene added; almost as if she didn't wanna walk all the way down to tunnel again and walking another extra miles.
"..well, perhaps I can carry you?" I suggest.
Jolene blinked in confusion. "Carry me? Pfft, like a princess in distress?"
I chuckled softly. I shook my head. Still holding Kairos with my another arm, I took off the bag and handed it to Jolene. She was surprised that I was actually serious.
"Woahhh, woah," she held her hand up, rethinking about this. "I understand that you were able to defeat a A-Tier without too much experience, but carrying me? I don't think.."
I rolled my eyes. If she wasn't comfortable, I understand. However, I truly didn't want to hear her complain about this walk. She did the same before when we were in the tunnel…which didn't show for some reason.
"It'll be quick. Plus, I don't wanna hear you complain again." I shoved the bag gently into her hands. I bent my knees, waiting for her to settle on my back.
She hesitated. Jolene turned her head toward the tunnel, noticing how long it was from her, she turned back to my back. With a soft smack of her lips, she threw the strap over her shoulder and climbed onto my back. She wrapped her legs around my hips alongside her arms wrapping around my neck.
She wasn't as heavy as I thought. She felt flimsy. She doesn't have too much muscle fat but skin fat. Only just a little.
'I can feel her heart beating.'
I turned towards the tunnel. Jolene's feet locked themselves together. Since I was still holding Kairos, she needed to balance herself before she'll fall off. That'll eventually hurt her and Phoenix.
"Ready?" I bent my knees to position.
"Mhm. Just go—"
Jolene lets out a loud shrink when I leaped down the tunnel. The wind blows into my face, causing my hair to whip around behind me, getting some into Jolene's face.
I ignored the pain shooting through my legs. A few grunts let out, but I couldn't just stop now can I? I was already seeing the light ahead at the end of the tunnel.
As soon I reached the end, my legs gave out on their own. I fell down on my knees with Jolene jumped off. She bent down towards me placing her hand on my back.
"A-are you okay?" She asked, worry filled her eyes.
I huffed. I stared down at Kairos, noticing one eye was slightly open. I coughed, a weak smile forming on my dry lips.
My legs were sore and shaken. I pushed through the pain, sitting up on my own. Jolene lifted her arm placing it over my shoulder, lifting mine over hers.
"It'll only be a quick five minute walk." She stated.
"It isn't that far?" I asked, holding Kairos like a baby with only one arm.
"Yeah. The tunnel is only the longest part traveling." She giggled. "I think I didn't explain it well enough, I guess."
Jolene paused.
"I'm not good at maths or distance…" she nervously laughed.
I didn't care. I just needed to rest. I forgot how the body works—it cannot hold this much. I pushed my body to its limits, and I feel like I was gonna pass out.
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, KAIROS-
"You don't look too good."
Thinking…
"Thanks, I didn't realize that."
Thinking…
"You know, it's not good for a phenomenon to pass out just because of pressure. You're not human: why act like one?"
Thinking…
"What does that even mean?"
-CHANNEL BOX DISCONNECTED.-
Dang it…
My eyes were getting heavy. My head was getting heavier and my body was getting later. Jolene didn't notice it yet: she was busy guiding me safely to her sister's layout.
"Jo.." I called out, my body getting heavier.
"Mahina?" She said, stopping.
"Mahina?!"
My mind…
Everything was becoming blurry.
The last thing I could see was Jolene's face.
"MAHINA!"
Everything in my vision was black. Nothing but void of emptiness.
Surely, this is my consciousness speaking for me. I'm still in a state where my body cannot respond to anything outside. It feels weird but relaxing in some way.
Despite being in a endless world, I can hear voices fading in. It wasn't Jolene's voice—I can tell. Was this a flashback or a dream?
This happened when I was with Gia. It seems like these "dreams" or "memories" only occur when I'm either unconscious or asleep. I don't know why, but I feel these memories are replaying in my mind for a reason.
Don't know why though…
I gasped softly. My eyes shot wide open, my body quickly flying up.
"Jolene?" I called out, beads of sweat dripping down my face.
Where was I? Where was Jolene?
"What is this?" I thought out loud, my eyes scanning through the grassy-green area.
The atmosphere was calming and clear. The sky was a vibrant blue with clouds that would softly flow in a certain direction. The sun beamed down on my face—butterflies flapping their colorful wings and bees buzzing landing on top of the white lilies and dandelions. This whole place was a complete contrast than where I was originally from.
"My child, what's wrong?" A soft voice, almost too soft. It sounded as if the voice speaking to me was my parent of some sort.
'This has to be a memory..'
I thought, standing up. I blinked twice to notice that my clothing was different. A long, sliky white dress with golden lines around the bottom of the dress. I checked my wrists, seeing how the golden bracelets around me reflected on the sun's rays. I touched my hair: it wasn't tangled or damaged. It was braided neatly with flowers that were placed inside of the braid.
"..hello?" I softly said, my bare feet were soaking in the soil.
"My child, what's gotten you so jittery?" The soft voice of a woman appeared once again. Honey dripping smoothly…that's the best I can describe it.
"I don't know who you are." I stated.
"Where's Jolene?" I asked, staring at the sky assuming that's where the voice was coming from.
"My child, why must you weep?" The woman said.
Was she ignoring me? I wasn't crying in any type of way.
'Oh, this was a memory.'
"Your sister had spent a lot of time creating this space for you." The woman said, her voice slowly becoming a bit like an echo.
"A place where you can rest with privacy."
I stopped in my tracks. What was the memory? What was going on?!
Why do I suddenly feel certain that I've been here before?
Why was my consciousness playing this?
This woman's voice…
This atmosphere…
This scenery…
Why was it all familiar to me?
…
"So, you're saying that she just passed out like that?"
A voice. It wasn't echoing or the one that appeared in that memory.
"Yes! I think it's because of the lack of sleep I guess?"
Jolene?…
The woman sighed. I can hear footsteps approaching me.
"Get some medicine. We can't afford someone dying in this place."
That woman's voice was so comforting to hear. I think she was talking to Jolene, who was hurriedly sprinting to find medical supplies for me. I can feel the woman's hand go underneath my heavy head. She lifted up my head slowly, being cautious not to hurt me.
"It's alright, honey." Her reassuring words gave me the chills. In a good way.
I think I was walking up.
My eyes were slowly opening. At first, everything was a blur. Jolene was moving in slow motion, quickly sprouting out the supplies on the floor. The woman's finger pointed toward something—Jolene handing it quickly.
"This is just medicine to help relieve the pain." The woman said mostly at me.
"Ah, she's up!" My vision became clearer. I can see the relief on Jolene's face.
"Eugh.." I muttered. The liquid from the medicine bottle streamed down my throat. The woman's hand still rested against the back of my head. My eyes kept gazing around—
The first thing I noticed was Jolene, who was sitting in front of me below my feet. I noticed that Kairos was sleeping on the bag with Phoenix.
My eyes then landed on the woman.
"There." She smiled softly. She threw the empty bottle on the ground, setting my head down.
Ding!
-THE RELIEF PAIN MEDICINE HAS GIVEN YOU 4% STRENGTH.-
Enough for me to sit up.
I used my elbow to hold myself up. Whatever medicine the woman gave me; it really did a big number on me.
"How are you feeling, honey?" The woman asked.
"I feel.." my gaze landed on the woman again
Now seeing her clearly, the first thing I noticed was her grayish-white eyes that was mixed with a golden-brown color as well. Her skin was dark-toned with highlighted cheekbones that made her chin appear sharp and her nose narrowed. Her hair had streaks of gray strands, but with black curls that reached down to her knees. Her physique was almost buff yet slim—her muscles was slightly visible underneath her clothing.
My mouth was agape. I gulped, shifting my gaze to Jolene.
"…fine. I feel fine." I managed to spit out without sounding like a complete fool.
The woman smiled and now. The smile lines were making her more beautiful…
Why am I bumping into such beautiful women? The first time I bumped into a woman was the one who was in that Eiffel Tower picture. I wonder if I still have that.
"Jolly has told me much about you. You were the same one who defeated that A-Tier snake dragon, correct?"
She asked. She sounded as if she was impressed instead of suspicious.
"Yes, I'm Mahina." I said.
'How do they know what's an A-Tier or not?'
The woman stared at Jolene, who was staring at me. Jolene chuckled and shook her head.
"Well, she knows your name because I told her." Jolene's sarcasm was too visible.
I can only stare blankly at Jolene. I didn't have the energy to laugh: other than just to support myself with my elbow and talk. I looked back at the woman was sitting beside me.
"And you are?.."
The woman hummed. She placed her gloved, slim hand against her chest.
"I'm Seraphina Ashford: Jolene's older sister and legal guardian."