Astral Flow

Chapter 27

Creation.

This place was... creation?

What did that even mean?

Was this supposed to be the origin of this universe, or something else more intangible?

The longer he was in this place the less he felt he understood.

It didn't feel wrong, yet it didn't feel right either, it simply was.

He didn't feel any need for battle or survival here, nor any reason to fear death.

It was as if, for the first time, all the worries of his life had been drawn away from his very being.

This was a place he didn't want to leave, not any time soon.

A light tug on his arm draws his attention back to Vincent, the child looking at him with concern.

[Are you sick?] he asks before pointing at Ryder's hand.

Cautiously he looks at his hand, raising it to where he could get a good look.

Much to his surprise his hand was covered in strange glowing white runes.

It took him a moment to remember what they were, the spell Shade had mentioned, it was still there but he couldn't feel it now.

"Yeah, something like that..." Ryder states as he lowers his hand back down. "It's nothing you need to worry about though, I'm fine."

The child doesn't seem convinced, thinking for a moment before asking one more question.

[Did you eat the fruit yet?]

"No, I'd been saving it-" he starts only to stop upon seeing Vincent start signing something else.

[Get it! It'll help you feel better!]

Ryder didn't fully understand how the fruit would help but he didn't argue, instead going to reach for his belt pouch- only to remember it was missing now.

Could he still access his inventory in this area? He hoped so otherwise he'd have a lot of explaining to do.

Slowly he did the motion of grabbing where his pouch normally would be, surprised to feel it manifest into his hand, thankfully it hadn't been disabled here.

With a thankful sigh he opens his inventory and scrolls until he finds the fruit, producing it with ease for Vincent.

"So, this will help me?" he asks, wanting to be sure the kid knew what he was talking about.

Vincent nods excitedly, seeming to seriously know this would work.

[Yeah! Just walk out into the ocean and eat it! That's what Cera did whenever she wasn't feeling good!]

She did this?

Well then it may work, perhaps it was worth a shot after all.

Anything was worth shortening the recovery time.

With uncertainty plaguing his heart he began the ritual.

Slowly he moves into the dark pool of water, the ice cold waves rushing up against him and freezing him to the core.

It stung but it felt relaxing, soothing even... like it was slowly washing away any darkness on his being.

Once he had made it waste deep into the water he looked back to the shore, seeing Vincent making some kind of motion with his hands.

It looked like he was dipping his hands down below the water... the fruit, was he wanting him to wash the fruit in these waters?

Ryder glances down at the fruit before mimicking Vincent's movements, noticing the fruit begin to change ever so slightly.