Time, what is... time? I wonder if I slept, would time slow down for me or would it move on regardless? Huh, why do I feel so.. strange? Is it... death. If so then-'
***
This same unfamiliar ceiling greeted the obsidian eyes of Ingrid as she once again opened her eyes. Turning aside, she caught sight of the sleeping Solarya. Her aureate hair resplendent in vibrancy, ruddy features with lips as colorful as cherry blossoms. Her sleeping visage once again cast awe within Ingrid's heart as she muttered softly,
'beautiful.'
Turning her head away from the sleeping beauty, she gazed once more towards the mysterious ceiling. Strange patterns, mysterious symbols all contorting across the ceiling. Their strange state birthed in plasmic gold as no matter how anyone looked at it, they always seemed to be in constant motion, twisting and twirling about in constant flux, ignorant of the obsidian eyes that observed them relentlessly.
It was strange seeing something that should have been fixed, twist and twirl about in strange dance, endlessly moving about like life.
Strange emotions were birthed within Ingrid as she observed the strange patterns in quiet awe.
It was peaceful, quiet and best of all, comforting, as she observed with patience joyfully unaware of the strange shine deep within her eyes.
Twisting and twirling, like a beautiful exotic dance, the symbols and strange patterns went about their extraordinary soiree, twisting and twirling across the stark ceiling.
'... I wonder...'
Stretching her pale arm towards the incognizant ceiling, little wisps of darkness birthed around her extended arm. Illusory and faint they seemed, yet they were definitely there. Her obsidian eyes now gaining a strange golden allure, as her usual jet-black hair began to thaw white.
Solarya should have taken notice, awoken from her slumber... but as though the world seemed ignorant of the ongoing circumstance, she continued extending her pale arm, reaching towards the alluring ceiling, but as quickly as those faint dark clouds appeared so did they disappear, quickly draining the strength she had accumulated gradually.
HUFF!!! HUFF!!! HUFF!!!
Heavily panting, froth began to accumulate as she panted-no hyper-ventilated. Cold sweats absconded from her being as awful trembling's seized her person. She was suffering cardiac arrest.
'Ironic, an heir to death was suffering and close to meeting their untimely end... truly ironic...'
The awful seizures continued as Ingrid's obsidian eyes returned to their steel grey color though a sense of darkness swirled deep within those eyes.
Solarya's eyes fluttered open, her chestnut colored eyes hazily landing on the seizing individual, froth cloaking her lower countenance. Her gaze sharpened as she shot up approaching the seizing Ingrid.
"Ingrid, I want you to close your and count to three, don't worry about anything for the next three seconds."
Finding difficulty in nodding she opened her mouth to agree,
"... o.... k....."
Nodding gently, Solarya beckoned for Ingrid to shut her eyes to which she did.
1
2
3
...The pain was gone.
Her eyes gently fluttering open, Ingrid once again saw the unfamiliar ceiling, a short terror griping her as she quickly turned her head towards her right side, aureate hair so shiny it radiated vibrancy, ruddy features perfectly balanced together. Opening her cherry blossom lips gently, Solarya spoke.
"sigh.. you're fine, you're fine..."
Her stark eyes slowly reverting back to their usual chestnut color as she quietly returned to her rocking chair. Solarya's calm visage bringing a sense of calm towards the surprised Ingrid.
"what happened?"
Her usual calm staid voice echoing throughout the room as she had sat comfortably, rocking her chair gently whilst paying rapt attention towards Ingrid who answered back after a short silence,
"..I don't know how to explain it, but.. when I had woken up, seeing the strange ceiling and its many patterns.. an urge rose up from within me, to touch those strange patterns... then pain. All that remained was pain.. that was before you stepped in..."
Ingrid finished her recount of the previous events, her voice trailing as she wanted to know what could have happened and how Solarya had helped her. Being a woman of extraordinary intelligence, Solarya quickly ascertained within herself and motioned for Ingrid to listen.
"Listen here, I know you want to know a lot of things, and believe my words, but, right now at this moment should you know anything beyond the norm... very bad things would happen so I shall explain the bare minimum that you ought to know, is that alright?"
The news had cast her down, but Ingrid knew better to know a little than to know nothing at all. She glanced sideways as though trying to find something, but who knew what went through her head in that moment.
"... I understand, please tell me Miss Solarya.."
Receiving a positive reply, Solarya sat comfortably once more, rocking her chair gently as she closed her eyes... her countenance gazing towards the ceiling. A short silence enveloped the room as the gentle rocking of the chair continued quietly.
" Firstly, there are seven continents and this one is the northern continent. Light barely reaches past the storm clouds, snow and cold winds are our enemy.
Secondly, each and every person born within this world contains a biological, soulical pathway connecting them together being focal points and powering them being mana or better known as En.
Thirdly and finally, all human beings are capable of using this substance called En and those without or incapable using En are considered failures or rejects.
That is all you shall know regarding the current state of things, should you want to inquire further, be reminded to inform me and me only."
"....wow...."
Ingrid remained speechless at the highly optimized and useful information Solarya had spewed forth so effortlessly. Soaking it all in like a dry desert thirsty for rains, Ingrid once again wanted to ask a question, though she knew not how to best articulate it,
"..Uhmm, Miss Solarya, I would like to ask one more question, can I also do what you did to help me?"
There was a definite reason for such a request, mainly being that, if something similar were to occur again, what could she do to solve the problem herself, but the sharp and astute Solarya had already picked up the main issue. The rocking chair once again resumed its slow constant motion, quietly murmuring within the burgundy walls that provided a warm atmosphere,
"You're too weak to do anything to solve it yourself and don't worry, it won't happen again."
Solarya staidly answered, her limpid voice quietly calming down her fears as Ingrid had unknowingly released a short sigh of relief, the tension tightening her shoulders, greatly relieved.
"Thank you Miss Solarya."
Ingrid quickly thanked the aureate beauty, shuffling back in to the sheets.
She had been sleeping a lot lately, her thin frame already appearing frail. The recent encounter sapped a lot out of her being as she quietly went to sleep. Finding solace that lady Solarya kept watch on her every time, providing help where necessary.
'what a wonderful person she is..'
With that she silently drifted off to sleep, oblivious of the chestnut gaze boring down her soul. An incandescent sword formed beside the rocking chair, its radiance so blinding it almost seemed like light itself had descended from the heavens landing beside Solarya's side.
Rising from her seat, she gripped the blade of light, its incandescent radiance seemingly growing brighter from the contact made, lifting it high above the sleeping visage of Ingrid, Solarya muttered softly,
"****"
In an unknown tongue she brought down the blade, aiming to dispose of death once and for all.
"solarya... please, don't let your hate for death cost us this opportunity."
The words filled her mind as she stopped midway, her drawn blade radiant and dazzling losing a certain amount of its luster as a complicated expression was drawn out on Solarya's countenance.
"Why?!..... why should you live and others... others, die?! why do you live O heir to death, why?!"
Her complicated expression warping, crystalline tears flowing as the incandescent blade dimmed... crumbling on the floor, the tears just wouldn't stop as they flowed freely, the dim blade disappearing into countless freckles of light. Her multi-layered burgundy dress freely flowing atop the crimson carpet.
"....its.. not.. fair..."
The snow storm tormented the world relentlessly as her tears continued their free flow, gradually hunching as she quietly sobbed.
...Hate.. hate grew silently.