Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 68

Aaron stirs almost two hours later with the sense they aren't alone in the room. He slowly opens his eyes thinking he's going to find Melissa or even Kawaii~Chan staring at them but instead finds Hyria standing at the foot of the bed with Lucinda beside her.

Lucinda looks annoyed and shakes her head at Aaron, "I'm sorry Aaron, I told her to let you two sleep but she insisted she come up here."

Aaron smiles, "It's alright Lucinda."

The sound of his voice causes Aph to wake and her eyes instantly move to his face. She smiles as she tightens her arms around him, "Is it time for lunch? I'm starving!"

Aaron chuckles at Aph, "Not yet but I'm sure they can hear your stomach downstairs. Hey Aph, we have company."

Aph turns to look around the room and flinches as she sees Lucinda and Hyria standing at the foot of the bed. She can tell Lucinda's annoyed at her mother but she's always annoyed with her. The two are so much alike they tend to clash any time they're together.

Aph focuses on Hyria as she pushes to sit up in the bed. She feels Aaron sit up beside her and offer her a little support so she doesn't have to strain to stay upright. "Hyria?"

Hyria briefly closes her eyes, breathes deep, and then smiles as she looks back at her, "Hello old friend. It's good to see you whole again."

Aph sighs as she nods, "You always felt familiar but I could never figure out why. Now that I have Irene and the first Aphmau's memories it all makes sense. Have you been moving between dimensions?"

Hyria slowly nods, "That, using a little magic and spending time in the Sacred Forest. After your predecessor passed I adjusted the magic to mimic the Irene dimension to a point."

Lucinda glances between Aph and her mother, "Wait what are you two talking about?"

Aph offers Lucinda a lopsided smile, "Hyria here used to be really good friends with Irene. They grew up together."

Lucinda backs away from her mother, "How old are you old woman? And exactly how are you my mother? Did you steal me from someone?"

Hyria frowns back at Lucinda, "Do not speak to me like that young lady! I am 100% your mother. You know darn well magic can help extend life well beyond normal years. I temporarily altered the Sacred Forest so that a minute was equal to ten years here. I'm not so old I couldn't have more children if I wanted them."

Lucinda places one hand over her mouth and the other over her stomach, "I think I'm going to be sick."

Aph chuckles and then sobers, "What about your other daughter? The last Lucinda?"

This comment earned them both a wild-eyed look from Lucinda who then started glaring at Hyria. "Other daughter? Last Lucinda? What couldn't be more creative or are you just that forgetful?"

Hyria smacks Lucinda on the arm as she smiles at Aph but her eyes are filled with sadness, "I don't know. She was so angry at me for abandoning her as a child that she stopped speaking to me. I lost track of her. Your predecessor tried to find her but she passed before she could tell me if she was successful."

Aph closes her eyes and searches her mind, "She never did. I'm so sorry Hyria."

Hyria shrugs and then glances at Lucinda, "It's the life I chose to lead back then and I will have to live with my regrets. Hopefully, I learned from my past mistakes. Anyway, Lucinda here said you needed to speak with me about your powers?"

Aph nods, "I healed Aaron earlier and it didn't drain me as it did before. I assume it's because I have Irene's completed soul now. I know other skills came with the missing pieces but I don't have a clue how to control them. I need your help learning how to use them before the Guardian Force catches on."

Hyria smiles brightly, "I would love to help you master your craft dear! It'll be just like old times. You can join me and Lucinda for our weekly practice sessions or at least once you're back on your feet. So let's say in about a week or two?"

Aph chuckles, "You seriously think I'll be back on my feet in a week or two?"

Hyria laughs, "Irene, Lady Aphmau, even you were never content on just sitting around. I have no doubt you'll be up and moving around before you know it."

Aph glances at Aaron who's nodding in agreement. Just the thought of learning something new excites her and she's ready to get started.