Alisha laid her sister in the hospital bed gently. Carole had slept the entire walk from the parade grounds. It had worried her, but at the same time she though her sister needed the sleep.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlOckfkcad
What had she been thinking? Carole had always been a bit reckless, and sometimes absentminded, but not stupid. Never stupid.
She had been careful, but her sister woke up anyways when Alisha pulled the covers over her. "I need," Carole croaked, her voice rough after her ordeal. She paused, and Alisha knew she was looking to find the strength to continue. "the chaplain," Carole finished.
That didn't surprise Alisha, it shocked her to her core. So much so that she didn’t even notice her commander walk behind her, and he wasn’t making any attempt to be quiet. Carole wasn't religious at all. She had often looked down on those who did believe in a higher power. "They might as well believe in the tooth fairy. There is the same amount of proof they exist," she would say.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9CmiFq2ll
Finally finding her voice Alisha asked, "What the hell? What do you need one of those for?"
"I found my proof," the tired voice replied.
Before she could ask her sister what she meant by that the nurses converged on Carole, frantically starting IV's, checking vitals, and screaming for one of the docs to get there and start checking her internals.
Unable to get anywhere close to her sister without moving the people helping Carole, she respected the request and went to find the chaplain.
As she walked Alisha tried to understand the sudden change in her sister. It was obvious that the near death experience had shaken her, but that was really all it had taken? She didn't want to believe that.
Carole herself did believe in a higher power, but she refused to believe that it was a one size fits all deal as most churches, masques, and temples would have you believe. The simple fact they all believed differently made it clear that at least two of them were wrong.
If God exists as the father figure often portrayed, then his relationship should be similar to a human father to his children. While he loved them equally, he would love them differently. He would teach them differently. He would be what each child needed and not make them fit into a predefined shape.
Ideally at least. No father was perfect.
That was her take on it at least. She could be wrong, which was another area she differed from an organized religion. She could admit that her beliefs were possibly completely off. Again, like a father, God would understand she was doing her best.
Turning a corner she reached the stairs to the second floor and went up them slowly as she collected her thoughts.
Carole often pointed out that if God was real then the cataclysm would be the end of days prophesized. The four horsemen had certainly been present as War, Famine, and Pestilence ravaged the planet, and Death inevitably came to collect what they had reaped. The human population on earth nearly disappeared.
However, if it had been, why only nearly? And why be given a powerful tool like magic? Why were they thriving? If that was the end of the world, God had failed, and a perfect being could never fail.
Hence, he didn't exist.
While organized religion had the fault of being unyielding in their beliefs, she came to believe that atheists had the same difficulty. "Show me proof he exists, and I'll consider it." Carole had been one of the worst in that regard.
When she reached the chaplain's office she pushed the thoughts aside, deciding that Carole was in shock and once it past she would return to normal. It was the only way this made sense.
Carole looked up at the bland man sitting next to her bed. She wanted dearly to sleep. Her eyelids were so heavy from both her ordeal and from the medications dripping into her arm through an IV, but she needed to keep her word as well. Though she had denied him her entire life, in her darkest hour God had answered her prayers. She would doubt no more.
She knew that as a chaplain he guided people in their chosen religion regardless of his own. She had never taken the time to understand their mythologies... no, their faiths. The chaplain would help her in that regard, giving her an idea of what each religion was about so she could find the one that was right.
She got the basics of course: prayers, sins, the major holidays, and the names of their holy books, though she couldn't quote any of the verses. Not all called their god by the same name, but from what she could see most believed in the same one. They just fought over the particulars. Maybe that was a misconception on her part. She would learn. Again, that was why he was here.
"Are you sure you wish to convert?" the balding man asked again in a quiet voice. "This is not a decision to take lightly. I would prefer you take your time and think it through."
Weakly Carole shook her head. "I must." She was still tired to the bone. Short sentences was all she could accomplish. Hoping the sincerity and need came across in those two words, she waited for his response.
"Carole, there is no reason to rush this decision. You are very tired and medicated. If I discussed the various religions now I don't believe you will remember most of it." A slow sigh left Carole's lips. He was right about that one. "I will return tomorrow and we can talk about this when you are fully yourself." She knew he was talking about the drugs that had been pumped into her body. She didn't feel any different, but if she was, would she notice the difference?
Him putting off her choosing, even by a day, confused her. She thought most religions actively recruited members. In her previous cynical mind she figured it had something to do with money. Tithes and donations and such. The more members, the more money. In her now pious thoughts she knew it was to save the souls of the non-believers. She accepted the intent as good, but even now she had to think forcing anything upon anyone was wrong.
Regardless, he shouldn't be making her wait. If anything he should have a natural bias to bring her under his own religion's wing. In his eyes it is a good and worthy religion or he wouldn't be worshiping him by their doctrine.
Maybe he was an atheist. They were the majority in the world after all.
She looked around the chaplain to see her sister. She was a spiritualist. It wasn't really a religion, more of a personal journey through life, learning and being shaped by the signs an unknown higher power, or powers, provided. Carole had always laughed about that, giving her the same rebuke about what a waste of time it was. Now she felt guilty for the sisterly teasing.
She was certain that Alisha would prefer that wait as well, and for the same reasons. With a simple nod her sister confirmed that suspicion.
Accepting defeat, at least for today, she looked back at the chaplain. "When tomorrow?"
The muscle cramps should have been the worst part of Yukiko's recovery. Laying in her bed, she was in tears from the pain. Once you reached your limit you usually pass out. If you didn't pass out you would collapse as Carole had. Yukiko had found an alternative to both.
She had learned to tap into a secondary source of magic beyond what ran through the human nervous system. Potassium was also a strong source of magic because it was filled with manalytes. The manalytes were in turn were used to regulate their nervous system.
This was common knowledge, but no one had been able to tap into it. Many theorized this secondary source was kept inaccessible so that when a mage passed out from exhaustion there was a supply to keep him alive.
She didn't know, she just knew she had broken through that restriction, just as Carole had managed to do when she went beyond her limit without passing out. This incident was proof of why it was not something to be done lightly.
Yukiko had reached her limit this time and had to continue regardless or fail. She was not going to be as bad as Carole. She hadn't used too much. No major damage was going to be done to her organs beyond this pain and cramping. It would pass by morning she estimated.
Though she had done all she could to minimize the damage Carole was going to be worse. She would be given potassium through an IV of course, but it would be depleted of manalytes. As their name implies they are part magic, and magic did not survive outside of a living body. They would have to be reproduced by Carole herself. The fluid was only going to help with the process by providing one of the components.
A decent medical team would at least keep Carole in relative comfort until her body fully recovered. If that hadn't been the case Yukiko would pity her for what she would have gone through.
The pain she was suffering from wasn't the worst part however. The worst part was Ana helping her to her room, then sitting next to her, providing the fluids and food that would assist in the regeneration of her reserves the quickest. She was all smiles, helping before Yukiko could ask for anything, and the pain was such that she would ask regardless of her pride.
She was even ignoring Ana's shortening of her name, which was obviously intended to get under her skin. There was no doubt Ana knew how much it angered her, and was enjoying it.
Despite this Yukiko would do it all again. She would do it for any of her teammates, even Ana. Anyone in the school in fact. There was no doubt in Yukiko's mind that she was the best person in the school, but that did not mean everyone else should be ignored in their time of need.
After an involuntary yell from a particularly bad cramp Ana looked down and asked "if it is this bad, shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"
Again Ana had that superior smile, as if she was talking to a stubborn child. Looking at that smile made her remember Alisha telling her "no one likes being looked down on." She didn't do that like Ana was now, did she? She was insufferable!
Her pride insisted she avoid showing her weakness. The cramps were only increasing though. Pride or not, she had no choice. At least it would mean Ana would no longer be necessary. Silently she nodded her consent with a feeling of shame.
The pain had reached a point that she could no longer walk, her muscles bending against her commands and refusing to move after. In a final showing of weakness Yukiko accepted Ana's help as she was carried out of her room.
A few hours later the pain and cramping in her extremities was blessedly under control and she could start to pay attention to her surroundings. Thankfully Ana was not around. Looking over she saw Carole in the bed next to hers. Like Yukiko was, Carole had an IV in her right elbow pumping her with medications to ease the pain, and of course the potassium.
The child was speaking with someone while her sister watched. She knew she shouldn't listen in. It was rude, though she let herself off the hook. If it had been private they shouldn't have done it in such a public spot.
One word caught her attention. "Convert." Carole never struck her as a very religious person. Then again how well did she know the child? It was something to pay attention to however. Yukiko was religious herself, and some religions didn't get along well. There was already enough tension between them. That would only serve to make it worse.
The man walked away after promising to return the next day. She expected he had given Carole a lot of information for her to digest on the various religions and their sects, most of which she would forget by morning.
Alisha looked up and smiled. "Roomie!" she exclaimed. Now that her sister was out of any danger the auburn beauty was returning to her normal cheerful nature. At least she wasn't as over-chatty as her sister, nor a morning person. She would suffice as a roommate, if she must have one.128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqPRaUib4J
Carole turned her head and caught Yukiko's gaze. Her face was filled with an odd mix of emotions. She was distant, yet thankful. Angry, yet happy. Relieved and apprehensive. In other words, she wasn't sure how to feel. Yukiko could relate at that moment.
After her initial outburst the Alisha remained quiet, letting the two come to new terms with each other. Yukiko tried to keep their earlier conversation in mind. If she could help it she would not give the impression of looking down on her. It would be more difficult in Carole's case however. She could not view her as anything resembling an equal. She had a lot to prove to do that, especially after this blunder.
Their eyes didn't waver, each trying to come to a conclusion, and trying to get an idea of what conclusion the other was going to come to. It was starting to get uncomfortable when Carole whispered "thank you," then turned away before Yukiko could reply. Rolling over hadn't been intended as an insult. Yukiko could see that. The thank you had also sounded sincere. Why she looked away was a mystery though.
There was a long silence before Yukiko replied. "It was what was needed," she finally said after giving her response serious thought. She believed it wouldn't be insulting, but convey that her assistance was not done for personal reasons. It was simply the honorable thing to do.
There was a slight tensing in Carole's shoulders that Yukiko could see, but no other physical indication of how her words were taken. "I understand," was the only reply.
"I'll be right back," Alisha said to her sister, then walked over to Yukiko. "I'm so thankful to you right now I could kiss you. Whether you cared about her or not, you still saved my sister's life. That's all that matters to me."
Smiling Alisha put words to action, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. "If you wish for anything, simply ask," she whispered.
Surprised by the kiss Yukiko jumped backwards, shocked by the lesbian-like display. Moving to much she grabbed at her arm when the needle in it moved and started to seep blood. "Oops, I'll get the nurse."128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9O15tkAlz
Once Alisha had left immediate earshot, Carole, still looking away, spoke up again. "I still don't like you, and I still think you are an arrogant, self-entitled brat, but I also believe there is a good heart underneath."
Did everyone think she was arrogant? She was simply conscious of her place in the social hierarchy. Something those around her weren't. That wasn't her fault. And self-entitled? She was entitled. She was part of the Sato clan. That determined that right.
Oddly the thoughts didn't bring the anger at the insult she was expecting. It was simple, unemotional, logic. Maybe it was the drugs. Carole had said she had a good heart. She liked to believe that. No matter how low born someone was she would help them. It was also part of being a Sato.
It should be at least.
Stuck with nothing to do as everyone left to take care of Yukiko and Carole, Simon took some time to be by himself. He found a spot under the sun to soak up its heat. It was a nice spot. The small rocks that dotted the landscape were unusually rounded so they didn't poke him, not that he would have felt it anyways. There were no palo verde trees within sight, and no buildings near to block the light. The heat of the summer had past unfortunately, but it was still hot enough to warm his scales.
He was trying to get used to the stares from the underclassmen. As far as he could tell the prejudice wasn't worked on until forth year. The forth years still weren't comfortable around him, but they didn't actively stare or were ready for an attack. He liked the fifth years the best. Most of them didn't acknowledge him at all. A few even smiled at him.
The attempt to ignore the hostility was failing. It was interfering with a good sunning. It was nearly good enough not to analyze the best way to attack everyone around him, but those stares put him on edge forcing that instinct.
He heard her approach. She wasn't trying to hide her presence, unlike the day they first met. Of course the gravel would have made sneaking difficult.
"Hey sexy," Ana said smoothly. "I found a great place to hang out. I thought you'd like to join me to check it out."
She was trying to seduce him again. How bothersome. "What makes this place so good?" he asked gruffly, not trying to hide his annoyance.
If she noticed his attitude, and it was impossible not to, he continued with the same friendly manner. "A fully stocked bar, and it doesn't serve just alcohol if you know what I mean."
Her flirtatious mannerisms didn't interest him, but that bar sure did. "This is a dry campus."
Ana let out a low chuckle. He thought a human would call it "sultry" given every other action she had displayed so far. "There is no such thing as a dry campus."
Damn it, he needed a drink. He'd gone without since being captured. He wasn't an alcoholic by any means. Back then finding merchants with a few bottles wasn't normal, but there had been enough to know its soothing comfort. It would be a good distraction from the humans around him.
The company would suck, but a couple of drinks might make it worth it. "Fine."
Ana gave out a low laugh meant to catch his attention, but Simon once again missed the message. It wasn't an act either, she could tell. Ana had met virgins with a better understanding of the mating game. He was such a fun challenge.
She'd been a good girl today, obeying every command without question, smiling at all of her teammates and playing nice. That her good cheer had annoyed Yuki wasn't her fault.
She deserved a break, and this wasn't going against their deal. It was the deal. She had expected the man who ran the rogue track would know where this bar was when she made that part of the deal. Not much would escape someone like him. It was nice to be proven right.
"Fine," he finally said to her immense pleasure.
Bringing along a drinking buddy was only helping to tighten the bond between teammates of course. No breaking of her bargain there. She was helping them actually. They should be thankful.
She was wondering how drunk he had to be before he let go of that stupid inhibition of his. She wasn't even interested in the sex, truth to be told. It really did. She had too much baggage from past encounters, like the caravan master who had taken her here, to be attracted to it.
Depending on her partner's skill she still enjoyed it of course, but the game is what fueled her. The greater the challenge the better higher the octane. Once she won she would be sure she got, and kept, the upper hand. In her mind asserting that power helped balance the scales from that past baggage.
I wonder how trainable he is, Ana thought with a new smile.
She led the way to a nighttime adventure. Once it was nighttime. It was only two in the afternoon. Are they even open? I suppose I could just break in. That's not against my rules, and what are they going to do, turn us in?
Ana chuckled at the thought of an underground bar going to the cops.
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