The clouds were still breaking apart above the forest canopy as Elyonari's bare feet touched down on the cliff edge again, her divine form retreating into a shimmer of emerald and gold that bled back into her normal, more delicate figure.
She blinked slowly, a faint wince etching onto her face as the strain hit her all at once like a crashing wave of needles crawling through her veins. The lyros vanished from her hand into motes of pale green light and the moment she took a step forward, her knees buckled.
She barely got a breath out before her body began to tilt, collapsing sideways, only to fall into the arms of Narisva, who had stepped forward instantly, catching her without hesitation. Elyonari gave a weak chuckle, resting her cheek against Narisva's shoulder.
"Oof... that might've been a little overboard. I can't feel my legs or my ribs... or my everything."
Narisva gave one of those long, familiar sighs that wasn't disappointment. She crouched slightly, looped her arms under Elyonari's legs and back, then lifted her up without effort. She shifted Elyonari onto her back instead, letting her hang lazily over her shoulders, her arms draped forward. She began walking down the forest path as the last golden rays of sunset broke through the trees.
"You're at Second Enlightenment now," Narisva muttered casually, glancing over her shoulder at the way Elyonari's hair caught the sun. "You know that, right?"
"Mmm... yeah..." Elyonari sighed with a groggy grin, "I felt something... click. Like something inside me just shifted. I think the Trial... unlocked it. It's like the elements aren't just outside of me anymore. They are me."
"And so's the pain, apparently," Narisva quipped dryly.
"I am in agony," Elyonari replied dramatically, dragging out the word 'agony' with an overly theatrical wheeze. "Everything hurts. This is karma. I've made fun of Vastarael too many times when he was passed our or exhausting himself. I deserve this. I am never getting out of bed again."
Narisva chuckled low under her breath, adjusting her grip slightly as they walked through the now-silent forest. The trees glistened with raindrops that still clung to their leaves, and the mossy earth was soft underfoot.
"Great. Now I gotta take care of three people. Veneri, you and Adelasta when she inevitably gets sick from sleeping next to him every night like a lovesick pet."
"I thought you liked taking care of us," Elyonari teased, nudging her chin lazily against Narisva's shoulder.
"I like it when you all don't push yourselves to death," she replied.
They walked in peaceful silence for a while, the sun beginning to sink deeper behind the tree line. The trail wound around shallow bends and fireflies had begun to blink to life in the grass. The only sounds were their footsteps and the soft creaking of branches drying from the earlier downpour. Elyonari let her eyes flutter shut, her arms loosely slung over Narisva's front as she rested her weight more comfortably. Her voice was barely a whisper now, laced with sleep.
"You're not distant anymore."
That caught Narisva off guard. She blinked, her pace slowing down by just a step.
"Huh?"
"You used to be colder and distant, even when we were younger. You'd be there but never... here."
There was a pause, just long enough for the weight of that to settle.
"But now you are. I can feel it. You're not cold or distant anymore."
Narisva didn't respond immediately. She exhaled quietly, then a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Yeah. I'm not."
Elyonari had already fallen asleep, her breathing slow and warm against Narisva's back. And Narisva just kept walking forward, carrying her like she always would.
"Why did I agree to a polyamory relationship where all three of them push themselves to extreme exhaustion?"
--------
Narisva stood there, drenched slightly still from the lingering moisture in the air, though the rain had stopped long ago. She adjusted Elyonari's barely-conscious form over her shoulder, then glanced over at the couple resting on the bed.
"Alright," Narisva muttered as she approached the resting pair. "Enjoy the family nap, you three."
She unceremoniously dropped Elyonari down beside them. Well, maybe not dropped, more like tossed with enough care not to harm but enough irritation to express how done she was with the nursemaid act. Elyonari let out a soft, groggy whimper and immediately rolled onto her side to avoid the soreness in her ribs. Adelasta shifted faintly, mumbling something incomprehensible, while Vastarael sighed.
"Seriously? Why did you have to bring me two sick women to take care of?"
Narisva crouched down with a dramatic sigh and drew the sheets over the three of them again like tucking in siblings who had no business being this helpless. She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Elyonari passed her test. She's in agony. Now I'm the only one standing. I'm not your babysitter. I'm your damn comrade."
Then, she turned slightly and called out, loud enough for anyone listening, particularly those hiding or patrolling nearby.
"Natalis! Denisia! If you're not making trouble, now's your time to shine. I'm leaving these three to you. Don't let them die or roll into a ditch. Or... worse, start drama."
There was no answer but she was sure the twins heard her. She gave one final look at the three. Her gaze softened a little, just for a second but she rolled her eyes and folded her arms with a huff.
"They're so annoying when they're like this."
Adelasta stirred a little, almost in response, and Narisva leaned forward slightly as if to listen.
"Where are you going?"
"Where I'm going? That's a secret."
She started walking away.
"You three can enjoy your happy little sick days. Moan in pain together. Maybe even bond. I'll be back in a few days or weeks. Don't miss me too much."
And just like that, a starry shimmer engulfed her form. Her body dissipated in streaks of stars.