Lost Trust
A little later, after getting the clear from the doctor mama, manya and I go to take a bath together.
“Now, be careful Rose. If you feel like you can’t breathe or you get dizzy just start twitching okay?”
“Okay.”
Scarlet adds, "Also if you stop moving completely we’ll also get you out of the water, okay?”
“Okay.”
“We’re also not going to use any soap, you’re not supposed to breathe in soap that isn’t especially made for aquatic races in mind.” Mama says.
“Okay…Can we go in now?”
“Sure, dear.”
Mama then carries me inside the giant water tub. The warm water feels extremely nice on my skin.
“Can I try it now, mama?”
“Yes, but keep holding my hand.”
“Okay.”
Putting my nose and mouth underwater I breathe out all the air in my lungs and try to breathe in. At first I get scared a little as the water enters my lungs but then it’s almost like my instincts take over and I start breathing the water naturally. It feels completely different from breathing normally. My lungs feel full and I can hold my breath a lot longer but breathing out and in takes a lot longer than usual.
“Can you breathe fine, dear?”
I try to answer but no noise comes out, I just breathe out water by trying to speak so instead I nod.
“Do you feel dizzy or tired?”
I shake my head.
“That’s a great sign, could you try going above water and see if you can breathe normally?”
I nod and put my mouth and nose above water again. Breathing out the water feels a little disgusting. I can just feel warm water leave through my mouth and nose. I then try to breathe in again causing me to cough up some more water.
“Are you alright, dear!?”
“Gao…Huff I just had some water still stuck in my lungs.”
“But you’re alright now?”
“Gao.”
“That’s relieving.”
“Can I try in my draconic form now?”
“Yes, but be careful.”
“I will, thank you mama.”
Scarlet asks, “Do you want me to press down for you, Rose?”
“Oh, no. I can do it on my own now.”
Closing my eyes I transform into my draconic form. Still being held by mama.
“You can transform on your own now!? That’s amazing! Can you change back too?”
“Gao!”
“That’s an amazing improvement, Rose!”
“Kyuu~”
Slowly and carefully, mama lowers me into the water and I put my head underneath. It’s just the same as in my cursed form. The only difference is that I can’t hold the water in as long because I breathe faster in this form. There is one thing that’s a little different though. I felt it before in my cursed form but now it’s even stronger. I really really want to swim. I guess a little wouldn’t hurt…
Jumping off mama’s hand I float down and try to swim a little but my arms and legs are so weak I can barely move at all and I mostly just sink.
“Rose!”
Feeling myself being held, mama pulls me back above water, “That was very dangerous, young Lady!”
Breathing out the water I take a deep breath of air and transform back to my cursed form, “Sorry mama…I just, really felt like I wanted to swim.”
“Then tell me that and don’t just do something reckless! What would you have done if you suddenly couldn’t breathe well anymore or if your weak body gave out under the stress!?”
“I…I didn’t think about it, I just wanted to swim…”
“Sigh This sort of behavior might be alright when I’m around to protect you Rose but you must not do reckless things like this away from me! Do you understand!?”
“Yes mama…Sob I’m sorry…”
Seeing me cry, her demeanor softens again as she gives me a hug, “My~ Now that’s what you get for acting all tough and grown up, come here dear. Shhh…There there. I’m sorry, usually I wouldn’t be so hard on you but since you are trying to go adventuring I feel very worried about you.”
Scarlet then mutters under her breath, “Will this really be fine…”
The next day during my training to get strong enough to walk again, auntie, uncle and my cousins come to visit.
Both prima and primo almost tackle me as they fly towards me and give me a hug, they seem so happy that they’re crying.
Emilia is the first to speak, “You’re finally awake, prima! We thought…We thought…Sob”
“But we always believed in you!” Miguel adds.
Auntie and uncle come flying in next and also give me a hug.
“Ay mija…We’re so glad you’re finally awake.”
“We knew you could do it, love. We’re so proud of you for making it.”
“Kyuuuu~”
“Now how about we play with your rattle a little? Would you like that, Rose?” Emilia asks.
“Maybe later, I need to train.”
“I guess you did get a little weak during all this huh…”
“Yeah, so I need to train everyday with mama now so I can get to walking again and then I’ll need to train to go back.”
“Go back where, love?”
“To my friends and Rayla. First I’ll get ordained and then I’ll go back to adventuring.”
“Are you sure mija? You have been very sick, don’t you need to rest more?”
“Nope, I’ve rested enough. Now I need to train and go back. I’ll come back home though once I reach A-Rank.”
Everyone seems a little concerned and confused by what I just said and Miguel asks, “But you’re just a baby. How are you gonna fight anything?”
“I’m good with a bow and I can make myself stronger with my rituals. So, I’m actually pretty strong.”
“You can’t even hold a bow, how are you going to shoot anyone with it?”
“I can hold a bow, I just need to train more first.”
Putting his hand on my cheek, uncle asks, “Why are you suddenly so adamant about training, mija? Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I just got reminded that everyone’s waiting for me and I want to get strong enough to support myself before coming home first.”
“Why do you need to support yourself, love? Can’t you just rely on us?”
“I can for most things but what do I do when the six decide to just change my life up for fun? They already changed my race without asking. What if they do it again and I become family to some Orc or Losta far away? Or I end up homeless again? I can’t take that risk right now. I need to get strong enough to protect myself when something like this happens.”
“Rose, if anything like this happens, I promise you we will make it right again. We’ll find you and protect you.”
“And how are you gonna do that when I’m a completely different person!? When my memories are gone again!? When my scent has changed!? There is no way you could save me! None of you even said anything when Elqueenes did that to me, or when Lum hurt me. Mama was the only one that even tried to defend me and they just made her go unconscious without any effort!
…
I’m just a toy. Whether it’s to the six or to the Gods…My purpose in life is just to entertain beings far stronger than anyone else. I’ll never be safe... That’s why I need to prepare myself and it’s also why you should stay away from me. I’ll just drag you down with me.”
“…”
“Mija…”
Hugging me tightly, auntie picks me up and answers enthusiastically, “You’re right, Rose, your auntie has been acting like a frightened chicken, it won’t happen again. We’re a family, love. We’re all in this together. If the gods or the six want to pick a fight with one of us, they’ll have to pick a fight with all of us. The next time someone hurts you whether they are a God, one of the Six or something else, I’ll make sure to stand up for you and protect you.”
“There is nothing you can do auntie…There isn’t anything that can be done by anyone.”
“So? If we’re all at the mercy of someone powerful anyways then we can at least go out swinging, right? Maybe we can at least give them a black eye as we go out.”
“That doesn’t work…Rayla already punched Nox in the face and it didn’t do anything…”
“She did? Maybe I underestimated her…Either way, it doesn’t have to be an actual black eye, right? We can just make it as annoying as possible to mess with us.”
“I don’t want you to get involved in this auntie…I love you all a lot and I don’t want you to suffer because of me. Just treat me like I’m dead, I probably will be soon anyways…”
“Alright that’s it.” Uncle says with a slightly angry face as he picks me up, “Rose and I will be going birdwatching. We’ll get back within a week.”
“Eh? Where are we going uncle?”
“Outside, a bit of fresh air after being stuck inside for half a year will do you good. Carmilla?”
“Yes?”
“Get my fishing equipment ready please. We leave once I have some appropriate clothing for her.”
“Alright, have fun you two.”
“Huh? Don’t you have a problem with this mama?”
“No, I think a bit of time with your uncle will do you good, dear. Have fun.”
“Huh…”