Nyveen's Rescue
I ran for Nova. She had escaped the
White Order’s
clutches; but they have seen our face. They could easily spot her in a crowd if they wished. They found her.
“No! No-VAA!” I shot up to a sitting position on the bed, panting in a cold sweat. I closed my eyes and focused on slowing down my breathing, hoping to relax myself long enough to think. I opened my eyes, allowed them to adjust to the slightly-dim lighting of the room, and scanned for the rest of my environment. I patted myself down, not a single piece of me was missing, but I did pick up a dirty green cloth; Nova’s cloak! 'Nova. . . I was alright, but how was Nova? If Caius took her, she’ll be OK.' White stone walls and matching floors were comforting and familiar. I looked down to see the bed I was on was completely red. This room seemed familiar, but it wasn’t the same as I once knew it, if I knew it at all. Where I would imagine pieces of green to balance out the room was now dyed in eternal red. Everything was red! 'Was I in the room Nova and I split? No, the room Nova and I split had green to compliment all this red.' The sense of familiarity and belonging recalled my memories of this place. 'How am I back in my room? Back in my realm? I was alone! Aysel escaped with Aurelius, Nova escaped with Caius, and the White Order wouldn’t help me; they’re after Nova and I. Even Varian was out looking for me when the cave collapsed. Rune was long missing; was I truly alone?' I hopped off of the bed with the green cloak in hand, flying out of the room I was in, and made my way to the Chapel. I crossed all the halls and skidded to a stop before the chapel doors. I clasped Nova’s cloak onto myself and pushed the doors open. I quickly walked forward and walked in with purpose. My bare feet hit soft white running rug as a main hall between rows and rows of pews for worship before this wooden structure with a locked double-door setup. Satisfied with my lack of findings, I turned and left in search of other life outside of me, in the Grand Hall.
“Caius! Nova! Twin? Poisoned-packing-emo-slacker!” I called out, my voice rang with the hollowness of the halls, no response reached me. I followed my path down more halls, re-familiarizing myself with them. 'How long had I been away from home? A month? A year? It seemed more like an eternity.' I wandered aimlessly, listening to my echoing footsteps that proved I was alone, until I found myself before a familiar place, the Oracle’s door. I inhaled and exhaled, held up the back of my fist, and knocked on his door before it creaked open to announce my presence.
“Hello? Oracle? There’s something I-” The opened door revealed that I was speaking to an empty chamber. 'The Oracle doesn’t exist in his own space, weird?' I left the Oracle’s threshold and decided to go to the Courtyard. The crystal grass never changed, the fountain never stopped flowing, and the place where Rune used to lounge still had the outline of his body on it; it seemed so empty without Blondie. 'Hm, so I never dreamed any of this and woke up. This all actually happened.' I sat on the lip of the fountain, touching the water’s surface, lightly. 'Perhaps my escape to the Outside World angered the Oracle.' I mused. 'Perhaps he was so angered that he left. Fine, I can take care of myself.' A light breeze swayed among the blades of grass, and played in my hair. I closed my eyes, inhaled, and enjoyed the breeze.
“Nyveen.” My heart stopped and I jerked back in surprise.
“Oracle!” SPLASH! I fell back into the fountain I was sitting on. The Oracle’s frame shook as he silently laughed.
“I’ve been looking all over for you! You weren’t supposed to leave my room much less the realm. It’s dangerous.” I gripped the Oracle’s arm, accepting his help. I stood, dripping wet, and wrung out my hair.
“Pfft! I’m not sorry. I was saving my sister, my family, the one you kind of neglected to tell me I had!” I shook out my hair, hoping it would dry faster. I made a face, which made the Oracle change subjects.
“I’m glad you’re alright. It seems my predictions were wrong; you awoke sooner than planned.” The Oracle rubbed his gloved hands together, wiping off the fountain water.
“When was I planned to wake up?” I humored him.
“Not for a thousand days; you must rest,” he continued.
“How long had I been sleeping?” I raised my eyebrow at him, my arms crossed under my chest.
“A month.” The way he said it made it seem like only an hour.
“A month! And you say today is too soon!?” He chuckled, amused. I playfully rolled my eyes. “You’re an odd Oracle.” I moved my hands to my hips. “Hey, Oracle?”
“Yes, Nyveen?” He seemed eager to give me attention.
“How did I get back? I thought for sure I was never going to see this place again.” I explained, as curiosity almost seemed to be my primary tone anymore.
“Don’t put unnecessary stress upon yourself. Please, stay in the realm and relax in the Courtyard; it’s your favorite place,” he instructed. 'Not only did he dodge my question, but his guess on my favorite spot in the realm was off. The Courtyard wasn’t my favorite place; that belonged to the Oracle’s room.'
“I understand now. . .” I thought to myself, aloud. My thoughts loved to scatter themselves to recognize each other and form some sort of sense. I put one knuckle on my chin, thinking.
“Nyveen?” The Oracle’s curious and cautious tone pierced my thoughts. I tore my eyes from space and back to the hooded protector. “Understand, what?” he finished his question.
“I understand why you kept me here while Nova was out. You were protecting me. Thank you, and what of Nova?”
“I’m ... I’m grateful you understand. Nova’s stubborn, more so than even you. No one could have stopped her.” 'Stay vague and Oracle-like, why don’t ya?'
“Just from knowing Nova, no one could,” I chuckled in agreement.
“Now that this is settled, I have some business to attend to. Please stay in the realm,” Oracle exhaled. He IS extremely busy, and for now I had no reason to leave.
“I’ll stay,” I nodded. That night, I lay in the bed Nova and I had shared, wide awake. From lack of ability to sleep, I wrote some thoughts down.
'. . . I escaped the cave. I have this feeling that somehow the Oracle helped me, but he dodges my questions. Nova is safe with Caius, and Aysel ran off with Aurelius. Hm, a whole month of sleeping and I still know his name; what a curse. The Oracle remains at my side, I often wonder if it’s convenience or duty that keeps him here. Either way, I’m grateful for his presence, but I wonder if his presence has something to do with the Death Hex Sphere halves within Nova and I. Wouldn’t he go out after Nova,- but that would leave me alone in the realm and Nova has Caius. She’ll be alright.’
A sensation of ease spread throughout my body.
'Essence!' I glanced over my shoulder to the Oracle. “Good morning, Oracle,” I guessed; I had no concept of time, my only clock was with Caius, possibly driving him nuts with the time now too. 'With three of us powering and having created this realm, you’d think one of us would have thought of a clock!' I smiled to show pleasure in his company and gratitude for the Essence.
“Good morning, Nyveen,” Oracle confirmed. 'Were I so lucky, it’s early enough the he can’t filter himself before blurting out any answer I wish to receive.'
“Hey, Oracle?” 'A loyal servant trusts his master. The Oracle trusts you. . . Damn it, logic!'
“Never mind, go on about your business.” I dismissed.
“No, tell me; What’s on your mind?” he encouraged.
'Why so curious about my questions? Other than your identity, what else are you hiding from me? I' shifted from my back to the Oracle so I now faced him, leaning against the headboard of the bed. He caught my invitation and sat cross-legged on the foot of the bed three feet from me.
“You’re still here. Why?”
“To answer your question. The ones you too often withhold from me. You seem to refuse to ask them,” he answered.
“No, I mean why are you still here? In this realm . . . with me?” I clarified.
“I’m here to protect you.” That answer was too easy. There has to be more.
“Or, because I’m half of the forgotten Death Hex Sphere,” I guessed. By how stiff his position became, he never would have guessed in a thousand years that I would have mentioned that.
“So . . . you know?” His tone switched from informative back to the careful, guarded tone I knew well.
“I . . . yes, I know. Why didn’t you tell Nova and I? We have a right to know who and what we are beyond title and name,” I snapped, a little sharper than intended.
“You’re not fragile, Nyveen, however; one can never be too careful about your health.” His reason was too sound to argue. Even I wasn’t blind to how unstable I was at often times. I lightly laughed at my thoughts.
“My adventures in the Outside World must’ve given you a heart attack. Don’t worry about me, OK?” I smiled half-heartedly, hoping easing his worry.
“I’ll always worry about you. However, you’re safe now,” he assured.
“I never doubted.” I replied with an unnecessary smirk.
I scooted a little closer, propped myself up on my knees, and wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my head on his right shoulder. “Thank you, Oracle, for being there for Nova and I. I owe you my life.” I said sincerely. His arms raised, then hesitated. He finally decided to follow through and hug me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“You’re. . . you’re welcome, Nyveen.” For as long as we hugged, silence danced around the room for us. “Nyveen, I wish you would tell me when you need Essence,” he thought aloud.
“Oracle, don’t be redi-.”
“I’m OK.” I sat up quickly, leaning against the headboard, to find I was alone in my room. I kept myself entertained by writing, picking up where I left off; a mindless time killer in a place that time skips over. I documented every passing thought, maybe a clue to my past was hidden in my unconscious thoughts? Curiosity piqued my interest. I decided to go back through my previously documented thoughts. 'Wow. My thoughts had no structure, nor a purpose, but it was an interesting story of past thoughts.' Completely engulfed into my re-reading of my thoughts, I almost missed the rush of ease seeping into my body, giving me calm energy. I twisted my body to face him.
“Oracle,” I greeted with a smile. I opened my mouth to ask a question, then thought better of it.
“What’s on your mind?” he encouraged. I was surprised he wasn’t annoyed with my inability to ask a simple question of him.
“Have a seat,” I invited. He sat on the bed as I turned myself to face him completely. He again sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed.
“I was wondering, since it’s just us, can’t I see your face?” I requested. He stiffed his position, a paused seemed to fall on him.
“No,” he answered with a tone of inarguable finality, and I frowned, rejecting his answer.
“Gah! I won’t push.” I crossed my arms under my chest, looking over my right shoulder. Pouting wasn’t normally like me.
“Anything I can do for you?” he asked.
“Hm, well, if you’re not busy-ha!” I lunged myself at him, landing on top of him, and pushing his hood back. Forrest-Jade-green eyes contrasting his desert tan skin, a light purplish-silver diamond (connected by a vertical line) over his right eye. My head felt as if it were throbbing, pulsing as memories flooded back.
“Nyveen!” I rolled off of the Oracle, gripping the roots of my hair, and curling into myself as I fell deep into my world of memories.
