He flinched slightly.That simple phrase,its tone filled with hesitation and apprehension,hit him straight in the chest.A sting pierced his heart,followed by a wave of guilt.Why had he reacted that way?She hadn't done anything to him.Nothing wrong, at least.And yet,he had instinctively pushed her away,frightened by the unknown.He bit the inside of his cheek.Idiot.He hadn't even considered her feelings.She had made efforts to speak with him,to adapt to him...and he had rejected her without a second thought.⋯Then he realized something.He still had no idea how old this entity was,nor what her true goal might be.He didn't even know what she truly was.But three things were certain.
First:She was giving it her alljust to communicate with him.As if every word was a victory,the most important thing in her world.Second:She was paying attention to him.She tried to understand his reactions,to perceive his emotions —fear, sadness, anger, laughter...As if each feelinggenuinely mattered to her.And third...How long had she been there?She had watched him for years,perhaps since he was born.But then...Why choose this moment,now,to speak to him?⋯Lost in thought,he jumped when the voice spoke again.This time softer,almost shy:— Me… little… answer… your… question…He was surprised.Almost thrown off by something so simple.Caught in a tangled web of thoughts,he had just been pulled out of his spiralby only five words?A light laugh escaped him.He shook his head gently,then looked up.Even though he didn't know where exactly the entity was,he smiled.Genuinely, peacefully.The hesitant voiceseemed to brighten with a childlike glow:— Happy… me… see… Kael… smile…His smile deepened slightly.He understood now.A part of her was innocent, sincere.And from now on,he would make the effort to truly consider her.⋯He started with the questionburning in his chest:— Who are you? What are you?Silence followed.As if the entity was hesitating.Then, in a lost and trembling voice, she replied:— Me... want... tell... all... but... me... still... fog... memory... me... not... know... everything... answer... you... forgive... me... if... not... answer... well…Kael tilted his head slightly.He understood.She was trying to answer,but something blocked her.He gave her a gentle lookand said calmly:— It's really okay. Take your time.I'm here to listen, but don't force yourself.The mist around him pulsed slightly,as if relieved.— Me… memory… broken… many… pieces… must… find…— Pieces… where… ?— Don't… know…A twinge of sadness stirred in Kael's chest.— Me… name… forgotten… sorry…He frowned slightly.She didn't even remember her name.He hesitated,then softly asked:— Can I help you find it?Silence.Then she replied:— Me… feel… drawn… here… memory… you… must… find…He thought carefully.Analyzed every word.Then asked:— Were you drawn here? Or was it me? Or… a part of your memory?She seemed uncertain.Then slowly:— You… and… me… drawn… memory… me…Kael nodded.Satisfied with the answer.— Okay… So it's here that you feel your memory?— Yes… but… here… but… moves… much… everywhere… alive…As usual,he repeated to be sure:— So… your memory is here?— Yes…— And it moves?— Yes…He paused."Alive"…Did that mean her memory was a creature?Or that a living being was holding it?He tried the first possibility:— This memory… is it alive?— No…So it was the second.Even before he spoke again,the voice added urgently:— … Thing… alive… family… me… no… hurt… it… please…Kael froze.— Family…?— "Family"… ?— What did she mean?He studied the mist carefully,listening to every wordwith heightened focus,trying to untangle the threadsof this strange exchange.When he asked,he knew the answer would not come easily.— What do you mean by family?The voice wavered.More fragile than usual:— Me... not... sure...But... feel... that... it... sad... far... from... me...⋯Kael was unsettled.The vagueness of her answer troubled him.This wasn't like the previous questions,more direct.He took a breath.Then, trying to move forward:— What's moving… is it part of your family?The answer came,shaky, full of worry.As if she feared how he'd react:— Yes…Kael instantly understoodhow hard that was for her to admit.He realized he'd pressured herwithout meaning to,and quickly reassured her:— No, sorry… I'm sorry. You don't have to worry.I'm just confused,but I want to understand.So don't be afraid.You can speak freely, okay?He then heard a faint sniffle,as if she had held back a deep emotion,a grief she could barely contain.Kael frowned, concerned,but said nothing more.Choosing to give her space.⋯Then he asked a questionto confirm what he thought he understood:— You don't want me to hurt it,because it's your family,and it's sad because it's far from you?Is that it?A breath.Then an immediate reply:— Yes!An enthusiastic affirmation,filled with relief.Kael smiled faintly,grateful for the clarity,relieved to finally graspa fragment of the mystery surrounding her.But he knew this was only a small victory.He was just beginningto understand what she was,and the strange, intimate bondthat was forming between them.⋯Kael tried to gather his thoughts,but the entity seemed to want to help him —in a way he still didn't quite understand.He looked toward her —or rather, felt her presence —and with a touch of confusion, asked:— Alright, looks like I'm going to help you.So tell me what I need to do!She paused.Seeming to search for her wordswith all the focus she could muster:— You… new… body… strong…new… bones… strong…through… first… trial… passed.Kael froze.Her words shook him.A chill ran down his spine.The entity's voice was calm,but he could tell she was deliveringan important message.As if each wordwas a step toward something far greater.⋯Then Kael turned to her,his heart weighed down by a growing doubt.A flash of realizationcrossed his mind.But he couldn't help but ask:— You were there…Were you the one who made me go through all of this?Kael's words lingered in the air.A question without an answer.He waited,heart pounding.But nothing came.The entity remained silent.Her shining eyes fixed on him.The atmosphere thickened.The tension palpable.Then,before he could even form another thought…a cold shiver overtook him.Like a wavecrashinginto his mind.