Rika
Quidna is about to leave after cleaning up the tools she used to stitch up Kou until I stop her.
"Excuse me," I say without knowing exactly what it is I'm trying to ask, Eren and Lillya look at me as well, waiting.
"Yes?" Quidna says.
"Why...why is Kou going to be asleep for so long? If his healing is sped up, won't three days be kind of pointless?" I search for ways to keep this creature talking, feeling as though she has answers for us that Gloria won't or can't tell us.
"You are correct, but even if he only lies still for a few days; that is a few days his wound absolutely won't be reopened. So I concluded it would benefit his recuperation if I disabled him from this reality for a while, so that his wounds may heal even if only for a while. This is normal, it is was you would say, 'protocol', the automatic go-to decision for healing wounds such as this." While speaking Quidna barely makes any movements, and not having a face makes it seem as though I'm merely speaking to a machine.
"But why put him to sleep without his permission?" I probe for more answers, scooting to the edge of my seat. Eren, who was in a separate chair to my left, shoots me a look as if to ask what it is I'm doing, I ignore him and wait for Quidna to answer.
"He informed me of his pain so I simply eased it like I normally would. Fret not, the substance has no side effects, he will only sleep. At most he will sleep, but the numbing will not allow him to move." As I listen to Quidna speak, I feel a sense of trust, she answers without hesitation so I feel she wouldn't withhold anything of her own accord; her straightforward way of speaking also gives the impression that she wouldn't make this stuff up just because we're worried about our Handler.
"Is it possible to request you from now on anytime we arrive back here to seek medical help?"
"If that is what you wish," Quidna accepts, again without hesitation then bows her head elegantly.
"One more question, please." I ask, purposely sounding apologetic.
"Yes?"
"What is your gender?"
"There is no such existence for me, for I am not a reproducer; my life is not long enough for the task." As if to see our confusion Quidna continues, "but I also do not give any of myself to a reproducer in order to aid in the making of what you call an 'offspring'. Though for my people, offspring are something more like a clone to carry on one's own life, usually more than one is created and we choose which one to use as a host; it is like a form of reincarnation I suppose. But like humans, we do not know what kind of life our offspring will have, so it is a deep risk in choosing any of them. But I am not able to make any more so when I die...My life will no longer be of importance."
"Infertile..." I say softly, not expecting to be heard; the room fills with a heavy atmosphere but Quidna seems to not notice, "I'm not sure whether to refer to you as a 'he' or 'she' though, it's pretty normal where I'm from to say so..." I trail off.
"You may call me whatever you wish, Handler Rika." Quidna says happily, even without a mouth to smile with the pitch in her voice rose when calling my name.
'So they can feel emotion, I guess it's safe to say she isn't a machine or mindless minion.' I think to myself as Quidna lowers her head once more and leaves through the doorway that appears and disappears instantly after she exits the room.
For a while there is only a heavy silence in the room, eyes avoid eyes and voices held back as we each await someone else to break the silence and make the first move; and after almost two and half days where we each silently take turns staying awake and keeping an eye on Kou, not a single word is spoken until,
YOU ARE READING
Holding Everything
AdventureWhat would you do if you found out the hard way, just how weak and small humans were? That when up against a real terror, they would be torn down easily and trampled upon; would you, as a human, still try to do whatever you can to surpass such a thr...
