RE:WRITTEN

028: Eyes Open

"We're back!"

Snowie trots in front of us with a happy yip. I giggle as I glance at Naomi. She squeezes my hand in hers with a smile.

I see Ikimono in the library. She sits on a chair with a book in her hand. She looks over at the both of us.

"Welcome back." She mutters. "Where did the three of you go?"

"I took Sakasu to that little pond in the Forest of Vibrance." Naomi answers. She smiles at Ikimono, then looks at me with the same grin. "It was a lovely time."

I feel my cheeks heat up as I nod. "It really was." I squeeze her hand this time. "Best little walk I've gone on."

Ikimono looks at the both of us. Her eyes glance down to our hands. She gives a grin as she raises an eyebrow. "I knew something was going on between you two." She giggles. "How'd that happen?"

"I got them together!" Snowie yips as she runs over to the girl with dark hair. She jumps around Ikimono with excitement. "I got Sakasu to confess, which led Naomi to confess, and it's history from there!"

Ikimono giggles at the fox. "Well, color me impressed, Snowie."

"Thanks!"

As Ikimono ruffles the fur atop of Snowie's head, I look at Naomi once again. I purse my lips as she looks at me.

"I'm still worried about Nova though," I admit. "Is there hope of her waking up?"

Ikimono sighs. "Well, last Soveliss checked, she was healing just fine. He did a reading on her status, and it turns out she wasn't harmed by the Corruption. She should be okay soon enough." She crosses her arms. Her eyes glisten a little. "I hope..."

"We all do," Naomi says in an attempt to comfort Ikimono. The two girls lock gazes, and Ikimono smiles a little. "Nova is our friend. It would be horrible if something happens that prevents her from going home."

"Yeah... I don't know how we'd explain this to her parents." I whisper.

Just then, in the corner of my eye, I see movement. I look over to the hallway. Soveliss quickly moves down the corridor. He wears a grin on his face that gets bigger as he walks closer towards us.

"Ladies! I need all of you!" He says. "This is very important. Good news."

Immediately, Ikimono stands from her chair. Snowie sprints towards the elf, and he begins walking back the way he came. I look at Naomi. She gives me a silent shrug. All three of us start to make our way to the hallway Soveliss came from. I hold Naomi's hand tightly as we follow him.

He makes a turn into the room from before. We all enter one by one; first Snowie, Ikimono follows, then myself and Naomi. Saisho is already in the room. A wide smile is on his face as he looks at the healing tank.

"You won't believe it!" Saisho says. "We got an all clear on the tank! Look!" He points to the machine.

I glance over at the machinery. One of the panels is alight with a green glow. In capital letters, the words "ALL CLEAR" appear on the screen. With this information, my previous question from earlier was answered.

Soveliss quietly walks up to the tank. He puts a hand out to it, and a little magic begins to spiral around his hand. His eyes flash blue as the magic connects to something on the device.

"Drain and unlock."

Within moments, the strange liquid from this morning disappears into the bottom. Once it drains away, we hear a beeping noise along with a click. Soveliss puts his hand down. He looks at Saisho with a smile.