Heka's mind lingered on Marchio's harsh words. The ban on visiting Kiervant Sky. The crestfallen settled deep within his chest like a heavy stone.
Kiervant Sky had been his refuge, a place of mystery and hope amid the chaos of the Reverse Time Illusion. To be barred from returning felt like losing a part of himself. The door closed the possibility of escape and solace.
Yet, what could he do? The Immortal realm was not meant for him, not truly. It was a world of power and enigmatic beings. The realm where he was an outsider. Acceptance of this truth was bitter but necessary.
With a heavy heart, Heka finally stepped back through the veil separating worlds and found himself once again in the human realm. The familiar surroundings of his own home greeted him. Yet everything felt subtly altered, as if time had shifted while he was away.
He paused in the doorway, wondering how long he had spent in the Immortal realm. Days? Weeks? Months? Time seemed to lose meaning in those otherworldly places.
His thoughts drifted to Clancy, had she found the journal he had painstakingly written during his ordeal? Had she read the words that chronicled his fears, hopes, and the dark truths of his journey?
Heka moved toward his room, heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread. There, on the table, lay the journal. The worn covered a silent testament to the time he had been gone. The site confirmed that he had indeed been away for a long while.
Beneath the comfort of familiarity, a strange unease crept over him. Something was different. The air around him felt charged with an unseen tension, a subtle warning that his journey was far from over.
Unlike the first time he had ventured into Kiervant Sky, when cold and hunger gnawed at his body. This time he felt no physical discomfort. There was no chill, no emptiness in his belly. Instead, an overwhelming exhaustion weighed down his limbs and mind.
He sank onto his bed, the softness a stark contrast to the harsh realities he had faced. His eyelids grew heavy. Before long, he drifted into a deep, untroubled sleep.
Even in sleep, the Reverse Time Illusion clung to him like a shadow. The one memory that refused to fade was the moment Ansel had killed him. The cold finality of betrayal etched into his soul.
Whether that moment awaited him in the future or was forever locked in the past. It remained an ordeal that haunted his every thought. The fear and pain of that instant were as vivid as ever. The dark thread was woven through the fabric of his consciousness.
***
Heka slowly stirred from his sleep, his senses gradually sharpening. The first thing that reached him was a comforting aroma, warm, inviting, and unmistakably real.
At first, he wasn't sure if he was still dreaming, caught in the hazy boundary between sleep and wakefulness. The scent seemed too vivid, too tangible to be a mere figment of his imagination.
A few moments passed, and the smell grew stronger, more insistent. It was no dream. He was awake.
Rising from the bed with a gentle groan, Heka moved toward the source of the enticing aroma.
From behind the slightly afar kitchen door, he spotted Clancy she was busy preparing a meal. The sight brought a flicker of warmth to his weary heart.
"Heka you're awake…" Clancy's voice was soft but filled with relief as she noticed him emerging from his room.
"When were you here?" Heka asked. His voice was still thick with sleep and confusion. He stepped fully into the kitchen. Eyes scanned the colorful array of ingredients and the dish simmering on the stove.
"Since a few minutes ago." Clancy replied with a small smile, holding up a steaming pan. "I made Ratatouille."
Heka shook his head gently, a faint smile touching his lips despite his exhaustion. "You don't have to do this. I can eat outside, if I'm hungry."
Even as he spoke, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. His body was weak. His mind was foggy. He couldn't quite grasp what had happened to him. And the hunger that should have accompanied his waking was strangely turning up.
He sank into a chair at the dining table, resting his head in his hands, trying to steady himself.
Clancy approached quietly, her footsteps soft against the floor. In her hands, she carried a plate of vibrant Ratatouille. The colorful medley of vegetables steams gently, filling the room with a comforting aroma.
She set the plate down before Heka with a gentle smile. "Here you are, let's eat. You must be hungry after waking up."
Her eyes immediately searched his face. The pallor and fatigue were deeply etched into his features. The lines of exhaustion seemed to weigh heavily on him, and a flicker of anxiety crept into her voice.
"What's wrong? Are you sick?" She asked. Her tone laced with genuine concern.
Gently, almost instinctively, she reached out and touched his forehead, her fingers cool against his skin. "Your temperature is normal." She reassured herself, though worry lingered in her gaze.
Heka picked her hand, squeezing it lightly, a small gesture of comfort and gratitude. He murmured, his voice low and weary. "I'm fine, I feel so tired. I just need a break."
Clancy nodded, her expression softening. She said gently. Her eyes filled with quiet encouragement. "Okay, you must eat first. And then, take a rest."
Obediently, Heka picked up his fork and took small, deliberate bites of the food, savoring the rich. It layered flavors even as his mind drifted elsewhere. The warmth of the meal was a small comfort amid the swirling thoughts in his head.
After a moment of hesitation. He looked up and asked. "I left the journal on the table. Have you read it?"
Clancy shook her head slowly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. She inquired, leaning forward slightly, eager to understand the story behind the mysterious book. "Not yet. What is the journal about?"
Relief flickered through Heka. He was grateful she hadn't read it. The journal contained thoughts and secrets he wasn't ready to share.
The fragments of his journey, fears, and the fading hope of returning to Kiervant Sky.
"It's nothing special. Just ignore it." He said quickly, hoping to dissuade her curiosity.
"Okay." Clancy replied, trusting him.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed Heka. He could no longer hold his head up and gently rested it on the table.
"Heka, what's up? Are you okay?" Clancy's voice was filled with genuine concern. Her eyes searched his face for any sign of the truth she feared might be hidden beneath his calm exterior.
"Nothing, my head just felt dizzy." Heka replied, forcing a faint smile. He couldn't possibly bring himself to share the deeper turmoil churning inside him. The weight of exhaustion, confusion, and something far more unsettling gnawed at his mind.
Her worry deepened as she saw how weak he looked, the pallor of his skin and the slight tremor in his hands betraying his words.