The Absolute and those who can rule it

Chapter 14 [Responsibility]

"Ugh..." Noarin suppresses another gag, her face pale and clammy. I gently rub her back in slow, soothing circles, feeling the tension in her muscles beneath my palm. Again, I wonder why she's okay with the roller coaster yesterday or flying with Kai's power, but not with the airplane. The irony isn't lost on me.

We got up very early, the sun hasn't risen yet. The world outside our small oval window is a canvas of deep blues and purples, slowly giving way to the first hints of orange on the horizon. We take off at dawn so that we can visit the agent base this afternoon. The plane hums steadily around us, the white noise almost comforting if not for Noarin's discomfort.

The flight attendant passes by, offering a sympathetic smile. "Can I get you anything? Perhaps some ginger ale for your stomach?"

Noarin shakes her head, but I accept on her behalf. "Yes, please. That would be great."

As the attendant moves away, I check my watch. We still have 1 hour before we land. I hope by then Noarin will be feeling better after we land. We have a long day ahead of us.

"But really," Kai peeked over his seat at us, his eyes glinting with a mixture of excitement and curiosity, "I didn't expect their base to be so close to where we live."

"We do live in the capital," I nod, my mind already racing with possibilities. I start to imagine what the base might look like, the possibilities both thrilling and slightly unnerving. Would it be just an ordinary building, hiding extraordinary secrets behind mundane walls? Or perhaps something more clandestine, like a hidden room underneath public buildings, straight out of a spy movie?

We arrived after a seemingly endless hour, the plane touching down with a jolt that made Noarin groan softly. As we disembarked, Kai and Rishia wasted no time. They retrieved their luggage with an efficiency that spoke of their eagerness to be airborne again. With a quick wave and a promise to meet later, they took off, Kai's power enveloping them both as they soared into the sky, becoming distant specks in a matter of moments.

Noarin and I, earthbound and decidedly less graceful, begin our slow trek to our apartment. I match my pace to Noarin's uncomfortable shuffle, hyper-aware of her every grimace and unsteady step.

"Do you feel better now?" I ask softly, my hand finding its way to the small of her back, rubbing gentle circles as we walk. The morning sun is warm on our faces, a stark contrast to the artificial chill of the airplane cabin.

She nods slightly, her face still pale but with a hint of color returning to her cheeks. "I'm going to take a short nap before Kai and Rishia come to our apartment," she murmurs, her voice rough with fatigue.

"Yes, rest," I agree, concern coloring my tone. "We still have a long day ahead of us." The weight of our impending visit to the agent base hangs in the air between us, unspoken but palpable.

As I unlock the door to my apartment, Noarin brushes past me, making a beeline for the couch. She collapses onto it with a soft 'oof', her body sinking into the cushions as if they were quicksand. I blink in surprise – when she said she wanted to take a nap, I'd expected her to retreat to her own room, not commandeer my couch.

"Wake me up when they both... arrive..." Her words trail off into a mumble as sleep claims her almost instantly. Her face relaxes, the lines of discomfort smoothing out, and for a moment, she looks peaceful and vulnerable in a way that tugs at my heart.

"Alright," I answer quietly, though I know she's already too far gone to hear me. I set our luggage down by the front door, wincing slightly at the soft thud it makes against the hardwood floor. Tiptoeing around the couch, I settle into the armchair adjacent to Noarin's sleeping form.