Three days later…

The sun was already high in the sky, and for some reason, the heat was unbearable today. I had placed several bowls of cool water around Aika, to keep the temperature down a bit.

I had also lit my oil lamps with my own flames. I willed the dark green flames to not decay, but to flicker at a steady, low pulse, filling the room with an unnatural chill.

Then I sat by her side, waiting on her.

Eventually, Aika finally stirred. Her eyes fluttered open and in the next breath, she quickly sat up, then clutched the side of her head and winced.

"Ouch… my head hurts." She muttered in a raspy thin voice.

Before she could take a look around, I pulled her in for a tight, long hug. Aika seemed completely stunned for a moment, but didn't pull away or say anything. Instead, she went limp in my arms and just let me hold her.

And for a moment, I didn't really feel like letting go.

There was a time at the beginning when… if something were to happen to Aika, like her getting hurt, I'd only be worried about losing my powers. But somewhere along the line, things changed. In the short time we've spent together, going through life and death, we've grown close and have actually bonded. So much so that I no longer see her as just my bond and the source of my powers, but as a person I genuinely can't imagine being without.

After all, since the transmigration, she's been my first friend… and my first true family.

…Eventually, I let go of her and muttered, "You had me all worried, you know?"

"…?"

I leaned over, reached out, and gently placed a palm against her forehead. Her fever had long since gone, leaving her skin cool against my hand.

"How are you feeling?" I asked in a concerned voice.

Aika blinked a few times, her eyes struggling to focus on my face. "Uh… well, except the splitting headache, I'm okay."

I exhaled a long breath of relief and let a small smile slip out. Until she added, "Why?"

She frowned and her gaze finally sharpened as she really looked at me. "Are you okay? Why do you look like you haven't slept in a while?"

Seeing her lost expression, I asked, "Don't you remember anything?"

She looked lost in thought for a moment, then arched a brow and asked, "Did something happen after we got back to the shelter?"

My brows furrowed.

After a few seconds, I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck, then muttered, "Yes. You suddenly fell sick, and passed out. And… I think more of those disturbing memories you spoke about earlier, surfaced."

When Aika heard that, she looked even more lost and her frown deepened even further.

"Memories? What memories are you talking about?"

"Huh?" I arched a brow, "You really don't remember any of it?"

She looked away and shook her head.

Then after a few seconds, she reached up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear and sighed softly. "It's strange. I remember helping that girl on our way back, but I don't remember why. After that, everything is just blurry."

A few seconds passed, then she looked back to me and asked politely, "Can I take a look at your memories?"

I nodded tentatively. "Sure."

She looked into my eyes, and I could see her expression gradually shift from confusion to something rather uncomfortable.

She was probably seeing herself crying and the words she spoke while she was out.

Aika didn't really like showing her vulnerable side, so I could understand her expression.

…She probably also saw that this happened because of gamer privileges.

Eventually, she sighed and looked down at her lap. "So I've been out for three days."

It was quiet for a moment, then she looked at me and said, "You should get some sleep. You haven't slept in three days."

She stood up, then added, "I'll be out for a smoke in the meantime."

Then she left the room.

Despite her calm expression, I could tell that she was really bothered by the things she saw, and probably just needed some time alone to question things.

I rubbed the back of my neck and rotated my head before eventually taking out a sleeping bag from the inventory, then I collapsed into it.

But right before I drifted off, I heard Aika's voice in my head. 'Thank you… for letting me depend on you, Ced.'~~

I smiled as I felt my cheeks heat up, and my heart began to beat a bit faster. When I closed my eyes, despite my exhaustion, it took a while before I could finally fall asleep.

***

Later that day…

——

Celeste stood in front of a tent at the merchant's area waiting for the cadet merchant to bring her the new pair of shoes that she wanted. Her current pair had become so worn out from the constant trekking that the soles were practically falling off.

While she waited, she kept tapping her heel against the ground while also pinching her right arm.

"You are one crazy bitch, you know that?" A male voice echoed mockingly in her head.

Celeste pinched her arm even harder to drown the voice out, but it only grew louder.

"Since you are already here, why not just ask the merchants if they also have some drugs? I know they have them, and I know you want them."

Celeste squeezed her eyes shut, but then a female voice chimed in, sounding almost sympathetic. "What? Don't you want them? Don't you want to feel good? Numb?" It felt like a warm breath against her ear. "Don't you want our voices gone?"

Celeste twitched.

The many other voices in her head began to laugh mockingly.

At this point, Lilith, who was in her creature form and perched on Celeste's shoulder, really wanted to help. She could see Celeste trembling as she tried to control her impulses, and it worried her.

Lilith nudged her cheek gently and whispered into her mind, 'Don't give in, my queen. You've come a long way. If you listen to them now, you will only lose the progress you have worked so hard to make.'~~

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