Re:Creation Book 1: Allegiance

Twenty: Seven

"How are you feeling?" Lysidia asked.

Her attention was split between both Khelmer and the brace she had put on him. She was doing her best to monitor both, but with Vivienne in the room too, she couldn't do anything to carry out her mission.

"I'm fine," Khelmer sighed.

"No pain from the brace or anything?"

"It's slightly uncomfortable, but that's it."

"I see." Lysidia exchanged an uncertain look with Vivienne.

Ever since that morning, Khelmer seemed rather unfocused. He was clearly alert and responsive, but his mind was elsewhere. Having only met Khelmer a handful of times while visiting Castle Tyveren, Lysidia couldn't tell if this was normal behavior or not.

Vivienne sat down with a bowl of mud and a jar of water with red-tipped dragonsfire petals floating inside, placing them on a small table by Khelmer's bed. She then lay a hand gingerly on Khel's leg, drawing his attention.

"Khelmer, you seem a bit distracted," she said. "That does not particularly strike me as 'fine'."

Khelmer held her gaze for a moment before switching to Lysidia who just nodded. "I suppose I'm just worried," he sighed. "There's so much happening. Tamras has fallen, I've been seperated from my mother and father, I was falsely imprisoned and forced to fight for my life, there's this whole conundrum with Ydris and these 'personalities'--if that's what we're calling them--and on a lesser note, I've never seen Lev and Reif fight like this."

He shifted so that he was now sitting up in the bed again. "I guess it's all just now hitting me. It's just so twisted and overwhelming to think about the fact that everything I've ever known has completely changed within the span of roughly two weeks." He took a pause as if he was trying to focus on the words that were coming out of hus mouth. "I feel like I'm living in a completely new and unfamiliar world."

An unfamiliar world? Lysidia had to stifle a chuckle. Khelmer had no idea what being in a new world truly felt like.

"And to top it all off," Khel continued, "he's been badgering me in my head this entire time."

" 'He?' " Lysidia echoed.

"One of the other me's," Khelmer answered. "He's mad at me for taking the brace even though it hasn't even been that long since he was trying to kill me with Ydris's power." He raised his voice near the end of his statement and Lysidia could tell his bitter words were aimed at the alternate version of himself. Then, just as aggressively, he added, "Why would I trust you when you tried to cut my head off...? Just because we're a 'team' doesn't mean I have to trust you... I would have gotten it removed eventually... Yes, well, you can't do that anymore, so I can be as bold as I wish. You may be nothing but rage, but you're not the only one capable of spite."

"Khelmer?" Vivienne interrupted his strange argument with... himself. He started upon hearing his name, as if he already forgotten they were there.

"Sorry," he said.

"Were you talking to them just then?"

"Just the aggressive one. I haven't heard from the other one since waking up."

"I see." Once more Lysidia and Vivienne exchanged a glance before the princess continued. "I am sure it must be a bit jarring to try and get used to it all," Vivienne said. "But know that everyone is still right there with you. Reif and Lev have their own seperate problems, clearly, but I am absolutely positive that they both want to ensure your well being as well."

"You're right," Khel agreed, though his tone wasn't very convincing. "I just wish that... um... I wish..."

Khelmer trailed off, staring off into the distance, completely unfocused. Just as Lysidia opened her mouth to speak, however, his expression dramatically twisted in agony.