Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 123

When they finally entered the clearing for the cottage Aph was exhausted. It was a much farther walk than she was expecting and simply trying to take in everything she saw was more than enough to tire her.

She stops at the edge of the tree line and appreciates the view. The cottage itself sits in the middle of the glade and is surrounded by lush gardens, a couple of small ponds, a few shade trees scattered throughout the yard, and a large oak tree toward the back left with a double-seated swing hanging from one of its thick branches.

A cute stone path starts at her feet and leads up to the front door with multiple branches splitting off from the main path that winds their way through the lush dark-green yard. The cottage itself is made of weathered oak wood and mossy cobblestone with cute little bay windows on each side of the front door and small dormer windows along the roof.

With ivy covering the ground around the base of the cottage and snaking its way up to its walls the whole thing looks like something out of a fairy tale. Aph takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and feels her body absorbing the energy around her.

After a couple of seconds, she opens her eyes and sighs in relief when she realizes she doesn't feel as tired as she did a few moments ago. She turns to Hyria and smiles, "This is going to be good."

Hyria chuckles, "Are you so sure? Technology doesn't work here. No cell phones, no internet, and no Netflix."

Aph flinches and glances at Aaron who's quietly laughing. She looks back at the cottage and scrunches her face at it. "It'll be worth the sacrifice and it's not like it'll be forever, right? I can do it!"

Hyria walks them around the outside first. They quickly look at each of the small ponds which are all stocked with fish that she assures them can be eaten and then move on to the double-seated swing.

As they sit quietly for a few minutes Aph glances up to watch the sunlight filtering through the leaves above her head. This place is so peaceful it's hard to believe it exists.

She quietly listens to Aaron and Hyria talk about little things of no real importance and then looks over at him. As usual, he's wearing his red and black hoodie with the zipper undone and her eyes drift to the scars on his chest she never got around to healing.

Without thinking she reaches out to touch one, closes her eyes, and lets her love for him flow to him. She vaguely hears him saying her name questioningly and then again in frustration.

When she opens her eyes she realizes she didn't just heal one of his scars but all of them, even the one he got back in high school. She can feel a blush spread across her cheeks and then laughs nervously.

She's a little shocked to notice she doesn't feel tired after that. She should be completely wiped out but if anything she feels even stronger. She smiles up at Hyria, "This place is amazing! I already feel much better. I only meant to heal one, not all of them and I feel great."

Hyria nods, "This place will amplify your powers but only while you're here. Both Irene and Lord Aphmau would come here to recharge and get away from the outside world."

Aph frowns, "What will happen once I leave the forest though? Will it be like unplugging a rechargeable battery? Will the healing stick?"

Hyria laughs, "Your power is your own child and will never go away. You would still need to finish healing yourself even if you had never come here. This place will just speed up the process."

Aph sighs, "But that much healing magic would have wiped me out before. What will happen when I go home later?"

Hyria nods in understanding, "I'm not 100% certain but I don't believe anything will happen. Every second you're here will aid in your recovery so you'll be that much stronger when you leave. How that will translate to the real world is unknown but you have me and Aaron to help."

Aph hates not knowing for certain that she won't simply collapse the second she leaves the forest but if she doesn't go home she'll never know. Aph sighs heavily as she pushes up off the swing and lets Hyria know she's ready to see the rest of the glen and cottage.