Myth//OS - Chapter 76 (Patreon)

I blinked—and squeezed my eyes shut to ward off the blinding light shining down on me. It burned, similar to how the dew did. I could feel my skin tightening under the brilliant light. The pure white walls certainly didn’t help.

”Ugh…” I tried to sit up, but my everything felt incomparably weak like I was paralyzed. Ebonshroud wasn’t though, and it’d regenerated back at some point. A thin layer of it flowed and hardened into artificial supports just under my skin. The black ooze retracted and helped lean me up.

”Woah, there.” A warm hand pressed me back down into the plush bed. “Just relax, warden. You’re safe.”

This was the weakest I felt since just after I came to Bastion. I let myself fall back and looked around. I was in a… hospital room, maybe? It wasn’t like the traditional hospital room, though. Smooth grey stones made up the walls instead of pure white, and everything had almost a gothic twist to it.

”W-where—“ My voice croaked out unevenly. It sounded like shattered glass, and felt like it too.

”Cathedral.” The man from before answered me. He had on simple white robes, and was busy checking some kind of scanner just next to the bed. He clicked around on it, and the bright light shut off. “Gave us quite the scare, you know.”

“…?” With the light shut off, a bit of my strength started to return. I reached over to a side-table with a trembling hand and picked up a cup of water. 

“Easy there.” He intercepted the motion and helped me pick it up. “You were in quite the state when they brought you here. You nearly poisoned five of my junior healers for just trying to treat you.”

I gulped down the water and felt my throat clear up slightly. It wasn’t as good as coffee, but it’d have to do. “Miasma?”

”Yeah. That rift did a number on you.” The man pulled a chair over to the side of my bed and took a seat. He was a human, though his eyes had a weird golden glow to them like micro suns. He ran a hand back through his hair and calmly met my disgusting purple eyes.

”Sorry.” I looked away and ran a hand over my chest. The wound was fully healed up—

[Nighteye cheers! You gave her such a scare—it was like watching one of her kittens fall off a building.]

Sorry… I shouldn’t have been so cocky. I just assumed nothing could harm me, and—well, I’m alive, aren’t I? Judging by the lack of overwhelming joy flowing through my body, I’d say they hit me with something akin to dew, too.

“Your Corruption mostly faded after treatment.” The man leaned forward with his hands clasped. “Does anything feel… different? Any dysphoric feelings? Your body feels normal.”

“Weak.” Aside from that, though… I licked at my teeth lightly. They were back to normal. The sharp edges faded at some point, and I was back to normal—was I? I weakly lifted an arm and stared at the pale skin. It looked even more ghastly then usual, and almost transparent. “Pale.”

“Might just be from the trauma.” He stood up and checked a beeping monitor. “If it persists after you leave, come check back in.”

“Yep.”

”An Overseer would like to talk to you. It’s not everyday a Disruptive rift turns to an upper Crushing one, and gets cleared all at once.” He motioned to the light above me. “You still have way too much miasma flowing through you to let you go, though, so you’ll have to stay here for the time being.”

“That’s fine—” A heavy cough wracked my body, and I spit up a glob of black blood onto the pillow.

”Purify.” The man waved a hand, and ether washed over the black mark. It vanished like the pillow was never stained in the first place. “This might sting a little. You’ll have to bear with it.”

”Mhmm…” I was used to physical pain, so it didn’t affect me much when he flicked the light on. “Cost?”

He adjusted a dial, and the intensity of the light dropped slightly. “Cernbog is covering it.”

”Ah…” Shit… Lucia must be worried out of her mind at the moment. “My phone?”

”The only thing you had on you when we arrived was half-burned scraps of clothes, and the rift rewards. I doubt anything survived whatever hit you.” The man checked me over one more time and then headed for a door off to the side. “I’ll go tell the Overseer you’re up.”

”Thanks.” I flopped back onto the bed. This wasn't how I thought today—if this was still even the same day—would go.

About five minutes later, the door swung open once more and a man in a suit stepped into the room. He had an Overseer blue tie, but otherwise wore entirely black clothing. That included the sheer black mask that covered his face. “Warden Moon?”

”Yep?” I shifted and forced myself to sit up. 

“I’m glad to see you’re still in one piece.” The Overseer moved to the foot of my bed and leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed. One of his hands, entirely metal, glinted in the light of the room.

”Trouble?” I likewise crossed my arms. The loose sleeves of the patient gown they put me in felt flopped around lightly.

”No, not exactly.” He watched me for a moment and then dropped his hands to his sides and stood up a little straighter. “It’s protocol for an investigation in any case of a rift hopping ranks. What happened there?”

”Hidden boss.” I shrugged lightly. “Killed it.”

”Must’ve been the rift clear condition…” The man rubbed at his chin and his head tipped toward the ground like he was lost in thought. “Oh, right, we found a Myth Fragment on you. The miasma build up was causing it to burn you, so we had to remove it temporarily. It’s at Throne’s Warden Bureau… I hope you don’t mind?”

”…” Would it matter if I did? I could recognize the game they were playing. It hurting me was likely just the excuse they gave so they could take it and look it over for more information. Throne seemed particularly interested in rifts that closed after being open a long time. I half-expected for them to ‘loose’ it when I went down there to ask.

“Good.” He pushed off the wall and walked around the room. “You really should walk around this place once you can. Cathedral is remarkable.”

”How long?” Why was he trying to make small-talk with me? 

He sighed and shook his head. “Thirteen hours since we picked you up and brought you here. You recovered remarkably fast… I take it you aren’t human? The level of miasma in your blood—well, you know as well as I do.”

”…” I was human on my SIGIL. Saying no would be admitting that the SIGIL was forged. Best not to say anything. 

He waved a casual hand and moved back for the door. “It’s no issue if you don’t answer. You’re protected under the Amiable Sapience Act, regardless.”

I think Pursius said something about that one a while ago. I couldn’t quite remember what it was about, though. “Leaving?”

“I’m here more as a formality.” He paused with his hand at the door and looked back at me. “Ah, right… you should be careful when headed to Throne. One of the Arbiters takes a keen interest in those that survive what should be lethal miasma poisoning.”

”Threat?” I eyed the man and a thin layer of Ebonshroud crawled just under my skin. 

“Me? Never.” He laughed and pushed the door open slightly. “Just… guidance. From one ex-Warden to another.”

“…” My guard dropped once more. If he was going to do something, he likely wouldn’t wait for me to show up at Throne, anyway. I was weakened. Now was the perfect time to strike.

The Overseer tipped his masked face toward me and flicked a quick salute out. “Watch yourself, Moon.”

The only thing I watched was him leaving. Once he was gone, I slumped back onto the bed while the burning light worked its magic. I had a lot to think about.

— — —

Lucia helped me into the apartment and sat me down on the couch. “Just—just wait here, okay, Aylin?”

Before I could say anything, the girl darted into the kitchen and started to dig around the fridge. I sighed and resettled on the couch. It’d been a couple hours since Cathedral gave me the all clear to leave. The miasma faded back to a survivable level, and I quickly healed back up. I wasn’t in my peak state from before the rift, but I could walk now.

Lucia had been there waiting at the door the entire time. Ever since we left, she hadn’t stopped fussing over me like a lost parent. For a moment, I almost forgot I was the oldest of us. Kinda reminded me of… of… a face came clearly to my mind.

Why can’t I remember her name? I clutched at my head and my thoughts raced. I could envision her face so clearly, but her name—it was gone. It felt like it was on the tip of my tongue, but just out of reach no matter how much I stretched for it. Princess… why—why can’t I—?

“Ugh—“ My vision flickered, and I dropped my head into my lap. Insidious laughter echoed through the blank gaps in my mind, and an uncomfortably pressure descended onto my shoulders.

R-right, I’ve done this before. What could I remember? Start from the top, and work my way from forward from there. The important memories would return at some point. They always did.

Cold—it was so very cold. And then… then warmth. Warmth flooding from a carriage stopped just next to me. A beautiful, brilliant face appeared. They radiated life—so much so that I was scared to reach out and touch it. The snow around me seemed to melt like it’d turned spring.

A hand stretched out to me. The skin was—what color was it? The sleeve—that came back clearly. It was lined with black and red diamonds, and they called a name. My name—

”Aylin!” A girl gripped my hand tightly and appeared in my vision. Warmth blossomed across me like the sun just opened up.

She crouched in front of me with her silver eyes shining. So beautiful. Her expression was filled with anxiety, but those eyes sparked with youth and life. “Lucia?”

 “Are you back with me?! She dropped the cup of coffee she made on the table and crouched in front of me. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt—“

”’M Fine,” I lied through my teeth and blinked a few times. I brushed the sweat off my forehead and forced myself to my feet on shaking legs. Right, Bastion… a flood of memories came back all at once. “Just… lie down.”

”I got you.” Lucia wrapped my arm around her shoulders, and a flare of ether burst through her. Ether Physique, probably. She carefully guided me back to my room and onto my bed. “I—I’ll call a healer—“

”Don’t.” I caught her hand just before she could. The girl winced, though didn’t pull away from my grip. “Sleepy. Just tired.”

”R-right. Of course. Just… rest.” She smiled gently and patted my hand with her other one. The strength in my wrist faded and it dropped back to the bed. Still, she held mine tightly clasped in her own. “It’s okay. Really… it’s okay.””

”…” I collapsed back into my bed and stared at the ceiling for a lingering moment. The warmth from her hands faded, and she pulled away.

”Don’t mention it.” She tucked her hand behind her back and smiled toward me once more. It was gentle—so perfectly gentle. A different face seemed to overlay hers for a moment before fading just as quickly. “I… I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”

The door closed quietly behind her. Once she left, my Guardian star appeared once more.

[Nighteye watches you with concern. You are fine, aren’t you?]

Yep… I ran a hand through my hair and blinked heavily. I was totally fine. I just—right, sleep would help. Sleep always helped. I flicked my hand, and a tendril of Ebonshroud shot out to turn off the light. Darkness settled across the room.

I carefully held Nivia close to my chest. The familiar feel and scent calmed my racing heart. The plush bunny rabbit was like a beacon in the storm, just like she always was.