Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 133- Get Up

This could become the first time since his injury that Blaze uses his powers. Holding the plates and cups he takes a deep breath, relishing the clean airs, opening his palm. Excitement glitters in all eyes and shimmers off every face about as the plates and cups gradually sink away into their original forms of dirt and clay. Blaze's face is honestly amazed, confidence appeals again in his features.

The magic flitters away and everyone swarms him, including myself, hugging and congratulating. His smile is purely and honestly unforgettable, the peace of mind this accomplishment must have provided I cannot begin to imagine. This could be a reassurance he is still himself and hasn't lost everything, a glimmer of hope as it is said.

I pat Blaze on the shoulder and we grin at one another, Aegis already spouting water from his hands to put out the fire before us. Dagwood skips about, arms lifted and uncontainably relieved at the strength of his brother; such is beautiful to watch.

"Are we starting off again today?" Blaze inquires and I nod in answer, gazing off into the deep emerald wonders about us all.

Hester cradles the wizard staff sternly, Rin preoccupied with cleaning up the area, Phoenix joins Dagwood in uncontrollable joy, Blaze chuckles, Nichele stands grinning on our outskirts, recognizing the bonds and enjoying the show of its display. Genesis and Bagels are adorable, Bagels riding on top of Genesis' head proudly, nose in the air.

Aegis makes a swift movement and I flinch, reaching cold-blooded for Kol at my side. I'm no longer in the quiet meadow of peace, but now I am in a dark dank room, somehow knowing there is someone there with me. Red eyes peer out of the darkness, approaching, the glint of a sword, insane laugh, blade dragging on the ground. How will I survive?

I scream and cry, terrified to the core. I must leave. I must move. I must get away!

"Claire!" Aegis' voice breaks in and the image shatters and falls away piece by piece.

"Uh, yeah? Sorry," I back up and away from all the eyes, not wanting to be touched, wanting all movements around me to cease, to stop the overwhelming feeling of being so aware and alert.

"Claire, what's up?" Rin comes, eyes huge and bright in mountainous concern. This makes it all worse. Now I have burdened her with extra worry, and knowing her, she will allow it to gnaw at her mind until I tell her the truth.

"Nothing," I start but she grasps onto my arm immediately, giving me her glare but no words. "Please, just, leave it Rin." I throw my eyes away, not able to gaze into hers, frightened and heavily breathing I need my space. She stares right into my eyes for a few more minutes, then backs away reluctantly.

"I won't ask again," a shadow falls over her wide and sharp eyes, "What happened." Her voice is steady and all too solid.

"JUST LEAVE IT OKAY!" It's clear I must raise my voice to etch in her mind how serious it is and how I just cannot form the words to tell her everything, how I want her to know but she can't. It could all be a burden she wants to fix or it could lay forever in the back of her mind.

After a few more minutes, tense and silent, she says 'okay' and turns from me to go help Aegis once more. Everyone converses once more, I, however, stand and watch with a dull face and colder eyes. Once all is packed and everyone's ready to get going, Nichele points them off towards the North-West region and tells them to go on ahead. Her eyes glitter, though thankfully not with any kind of pity or concern, but more of an understanding for the situation.

"Hey," her voice is tender and smooth.

"Hm," I can't even form another word in my current state; so shaky and upset, shocked and fearful.

"You are here now, you aren't anywhere else, you are right here, and you are safe," still I cannot look into her eyes, no matter how hard I try to, "you are safe," she whispers and embraces me loosely, her empathy extends far clearly as she doesn't want me to feel trapped. "It's okay Claire, it's all okay." her voice is so perfect, as flowing honey, soothing my mind and I fall to the ground in a wreck; or I would have, except she ever so gently lowers me and plays with my hair, burying her face in my shoulder.

I, sitting and trying to pull out of the darkness in my mind, stare ahead blankly, finding further comfort in the trees. My face still feels like undeniable stone and eyes heavy from the weight of sight.

"Listen," Nichele holds my shoulder and pulls away, "I know you have a past, and if you need me to simply sit a few feet away, just for a presence, or want a hug, I'll do whatever you need. As long as it will help you to heal. Another thing I know is that no one else can heal you, you must heal yourself." 

"Okay," is all that I can bring myself to say in return, despite my enormous appreciation.

"Are you ready now?" Nichele extends a safe hand to me, getting up. I take the hand and also get up; but this time, my mind is clear and my body able to keep going stronger than before. The Luzumi healed our sparring wounds from before last night thankfully.

"Yeah," we quickly catch up to them, I see Dagwood and Aegis helping Blaze along and are obviously planning to hit the river and follow it North for a ways before crossing; or just until finding a proper and easy way to cross the tumbling currents.

Heads turn at our arrival and greetings extend out, I accept them and walk next to Nichele, as she will surely make sure no one comes with questions.

"Hey, where did Hester go?" Nichele suddenly asks. Immediately I am afraid of the same situation, but the only way for her to have disappeared here would be if she did on her own.