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Chapter 90: Finally Awake
Varion opened his eyes and regretted it instantly.
The light was too bright and his skull felt like it was being squeezed from all sides. It was almost as if he had a hangover just a thousand times worse. He did not want to move, not even an inch.
He turned his head anyway he had to check on them.
The side of the bed was empty. No white hair, or blue. The sheets on that side were cold and undisturbed. That caused him to panic and it hit fast.
He shoved himself up on one elbow and the room tilted sideways. Prinz. Rimuri. He had to stop or he might throw up, then he attempted to push through it intent on finding them.
[Varion, stop]
The voice landed in his head before he could stand. Steady. Warm in a way he didn't recognize at first.
[They are fine.]
He froze with his weight on one arm.
[Master Rimuri woke up four days ago. Miss Prinz woke up two days ago. You have been asleep for the last four days.]
The tone was careful, gentle, trying to soothe him.
He swallowed. It took him a second to put a name to it.
"…Raphael?"
[Yes, Master Varion. I am the Ultimate Skill Raphael, Lord of Wisdom.] A pause, then slightly sassy. [Is there another voice you hear in your head?]
He let out a breath that was almost a laugh and failed, wincing. "No. No, I know it's you. It's just—" He rubbed at his face with the hand that was not holding him up. "You sound different. More…. emotional."
[Denied. That is your imagination, Master.]
He did not believe her for a second. He also did not have the strength to argue with the now far more sentient skill. He sighed and let it go.
"If you say so." He sank back against the headboard. "What happened while I was asleep."
[To begin: reconstruction of the city is underway. Civilian morale is substantially higher than projected.]
His shoulders loosened a fraction. His people were working, and were there whole again. That was good news at least.
[Master Rimuri has also unsealed Veldora.]
His head came up so fast his head ache spiked making him hold his head in pain.
"She did what?!"
[Veldora Tempest has been released from confinement and is presently at large within Tempest. He is also now Tempest's official guardian as she has already introduced him to the citizens.]
He stared at the far wall and tried to make sense of what he had just heard. The sealed presence he had felt in her when they first met was walking around outside. Free. Because she had decided the city needed a guardian.
"…She's insane, but I agree and it's good he's free. I have wanted to meet him for a while now." He muttered, and there was no heat in it. Only disbelief, and something that might have been respect for her craziness, if his head would stop pounding.
[Miss Prinz has been assisting with direction and distribution of the work. She has been repeatedly denied taking part in physical labor. Your subordinates have been extra protective of her since her revival.]
He released a tired sound of amusement. Of course someone had to stop her. He could see it too clearly. She was only awake for two days and already arguing with whoever had the misfortune of telling an elf princess she couldn't do something.
[Additionally, a messenger named Gunther came from Luminous Valentine requesting an audience with you. Upon learning you were still asleep, they declined to wait and left instructions that you contact Lady Luminous when able.]
He blinked once. Then again. 'Luminous sent someone, I guess she was checking on me. She must be worried.'
He dragged a hand down his face.
"Of course she did, I'll have to contact her later."
[Also Ramiris is currently going around with Veldora causing chaos.]
He let his head tip back against the wood and shut his eyes for a second.
'This place is chaotic like always.'
After another few minutes he decided he finally had to get up.
Just him making the decision did not mean his body agreed. Sitting forward sent a dull throb through his ribs and the back of his skull. He still swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
"Why do I feel like this?"
[Your soul structure and vessel were pushed past safe limits. Residual strain from the Festival, the forced interruption, and the entity that occupied you afterward. All caused strain, recovery is incomplete.]
Then Raphael spoke her voice out worriedly.
[Please remain in bed, Master Varion.]
"No." He planted one foot on the floor. The wood felt far away. "I need to see Prinz."
Her name brought back the square. Her weight in his arms, unmoving, cold, covered in blood. The memory sat there burning in his chest making it hurt. He wanted her. He wanted Rimuri. He wanted both of them to hold them, where he could feel their hearts beat.
[Unnecessary. Master Rimuri and Miss Prinz were notified the moment you woke up.]
He frowned.
[They should arrive in three.]
He looked at the door.
[Two.]
He had just enough time to think that Raphael sounded pleased with herself.
[One.]
The door flew open.
Rimuri came through it running and launched at him, hitting him square in the chest. The air got knocked out of him. They went over backward into the mattress, her weight landing in his lap, and then she pushed herself upright leaning over him slightly, hands braced on either side of his head.
Varion opened his eyes and instantly forgot how to breathe.
The woman on top of him was her, but not the her he remembered. The face looking down at him had settled into something sharper. Cleaner. More mature. She was taller as well, he could feel it in how she had to fold to stay over him. His gaze dropped before he could stop it. Straight to her chest it strained against the fabric of her shirt. When she shifted, her hips were wider, the weight of her on his thighs softer than he remembered.
He swallowed roughly 'holy, she looks so much hotter.'
The rest of her caught up a second later. Same gold eyes. Same grin fighting not to take over her whole face. Just… more.
He just kept staring, unable to stop.
Rimuri preened under it, shameless. "Sooooo?~" she asked. "Do you like?~"
He nodded dumbly.
Then an elegant voice came from the doorway, in a scolding tone.
"Rimuri. You cannot simply tackle him like that. He just woke up."
Varion's heart missed once.
He would have known that voice anywhere. It was a fraction different from before, smoother, older at the edges, it felt like silk in his ears, but it was still hers.
Rimuri clicked her tongue and slid off him.
He did not get the chance to sit up.
Prinz took the space Rimuri had left. White hair. The red streak. Her face had gone from sharp mischief to something quieter and more elegant. Her chest was larger as well and her hips were filled out as well, the same way Rimuri was. But it sat on her differently for some reason and she gave off a different feel from before. He barely had time to take it all in.
Then his eyes teared up and his lips wobbled trying to hold back all the emotions he was feeling at seeing her alive again. He failed horribly.
He reached forward, caught her by the back of the neck and pulled her down into a deep kiss.
The kiss was not careful, It was the proof he needed. Prinz made a small sound of surprise against his mouth, then smiled into it, soft, and melted into it, letting him have all the time he needed. They stayed there just kissing for a while, even as tears rolled down his face, reassuring himself she was real.
When he broke away he did not look at her. He dropped his face into her shoulder and held her. Her clothes slowly got wet, but neither cared.
Prinz's fingers found his hair slowly running through it.
"It's ok, I'm here," she said. Quietly, in a soothing voice. "You saved me. I'm all right now."
That only made it worse.
The sound that left him was not something that could be put into any words besides relief and pain mixed into one. He pulled her in tighter, as if he could still lose her if he loosened his arms.
Rimuri sat there watching sadly at her love crying so she did the only thing she could. She came in from the side and wrapped both of them in a hug, resting chin against his shoulder, and landed into his neck.
Varion did not look up.
He only loosened one arm and looped it around her waist pulling both of them into his embrace.
'This time I promise, I will never allow anything to happen to anyone I love again. I'll do whatever it takes to protect them.' Varion thought with determination.