Boiling Isles: The Next Generation - Act I.

Chapter XVII. - Back to the Hospital

Lucia found herself in outer space again. While gliding through space, she gained insight into new, previously unknown worlds through bubbles. In one, a human girl was talking to a very sullen-looking ghost, while in the other, strange-looking centaurs were singing and dancing. In the third world, a human boy had just conjured a huge pink shield in front of him to protect his companions. Lucia was about to take a look at the next world when Achoo suddenly appeared in front of her. The brown girl slowed down and looked questioningly at the ice salamander. Achoo's eyes flashed blue for a moment, then her eyes went blank. The brown girl was scared by this and immediately reached for Achoo. But before she could reach her, the ice salamander's body froze, after which it broke into hundreds of small ice shards and the pieces flew into nothingness. Lucia fell to her knees in pain and wanted to scream, but no sound came out of her throat. Suddenly there was a great light and Lucia opened her eyes.

***

"Achoo!" Lucia shouted and sat up in a hospital bed.

"Calm down Lucia." said a familiar voice. "Everything is alright!"

Lucia slowly turned in the direction of the voice and found herself face to face with Edric Blight sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Uncle...Edric?

Lucia could hardly speak in surprise.

"Hi Lucia." Edric smiled sadly.

"Uncle Edric!" Lucia shouted happily and hugged the emerald-green haired man tightly, while her tears began to fall. "You're here! You're finally here!"

"Yes, I'm here." answered Edric quietly and returned the brunette girl's hug.

After more than a minute, Lucia finally let go of Edric and looked up at her uncle with teary eyes.

"I missed you so much!" sniffed the brunette girl.

"I missed you too." Edric said and wiped a few tears from his niece's face.

Lucia then remembered Achoo and what happened to her.

"Achoo!" cried the brunette girl and started towards the door, but Edric gently put his hands on his niece's shoulders and held her back.

"Hey-hey." Edric shook his head. "Emira said you need to rest."

"Uncle Edric, you don't understand this!" Lucia shouted and tried to get out of her uncle's grip. "Achoo, she..."

"As a matter of fact, I understand perfectly." answered Edric, then he smiled reassuringly at the brunette girl. "Viney has already treated your little animal pal. According to her, Achoo is badly injured, but she can fix her up in a couple of weeks, so you don't have to worry."

Lucia breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know a better vet on the Islands than Viney Physis. And if she says there's nothing to worry about, that's reassuring.

"Thanks to the Titan... I don't even know what I would do if..."

Lucia couldn't finish the sentence. She remembered Achoo dying in front of her quite vividly. The brunette girl then felt Edric's hand shaking on her shoulder. Lucia looked up at her uncle's face and was shocked to see that tears were gathering in the eyes of the emerald-green haired man.

"I'm sorry Lucia." Edric said in a trembling voice, as a few tears rolled down his face. "I'm sorry I was such a coward and didn't come earlier."

Lucia had no idea what to say. She had imagined meeting her uncle countless times, but somehow she never thought about what exactly would happen after that. Now here she was with Edric and she just didn't know what to do.