No prompts used. This is a continuation to FFM 2023 30: Recovery – Take I.
Over the next few hours following waking up again, Bereth came to find more issues with his body: first of all, his fingers did not obey him well enough to type, forcing him to use text-to-speech systems to write on the tablet he had been given. Second of all, his sense of smell was gone. Third of all, so was his sense of taste.
It was all pretty terrifying, in all honesty. His powers were returning to him now that he had gotten adequate rest, hydration and nourishment, but even with them navigating the world would be difficult until his body would be fixed. At least the doctors were optimistic about his recovery; at worst he would have to use a cane to help his legs either for the rest of his life or only a part of it, depending on his body’s ability to fix itself, he had been told.
Well. That was far better than being dead or still imprisoned in that hellhole. At least he would not be worrying about anything other than rehab for a good while.
Well, rehab and Nedyom’s sudden appearance. The archmage was dressed in robes that made him more recognizable and he looked healthier, although his clothing and paleness accentuated how gaunt he had become while imprisoned.
“Hello, Bereth,” Nedyom greeted. When Bereth’s eyes widened, he chuckled. “A friend of mine is a professional with interpretation spells and I was lucky enough to get his help with communicating with you.”
“Huh…” Bereth relaxed a little. “It’s good to see you, Nedyom. How are you?” He almost cringed at how stilted he felt like he sounded.
Nedyom smiled, sidestepping the awkward start. “I’m far from fully recovering my strength, but I am already doing far better than before. What about you?”
“I’m recovering and in for a lot of rehab since I’m currently paralyzed hip down.” Bereth shrugged, trying to look unfazed when Nedyom’s eyes grew more empathetic. “Could be much worse, apparently.”
“Yes, the doctors were quite forthcoming about how miraculous your ability to move was.” Nedyom sat down at the chair next to the bed. “Your perseverance was admirable.”
“…I just did what I had to.”
“Nevertheless.”
Once silence fell between them, Bereth wanted to ask about dreamreading. Yet he was feeling just anxious enough about that conversation that he could not voice his question, no matter how much he had thought about it beforehand. It turned out to be Nedyom who brought it up, “By the way, nurse Giraeth mentioned that you’d asked about me. Is there something specific you want to ask from me?”
Bereth cringed before he could stop himself. “…I’ve read about dreamreading… When we were out there, did you… read my dreams?”
Nedyom nodded and explained in his familiar soft tone, “Yours and those of everyone else around us. In the cult’s hold, I simply did not have the needed strength to control my powers, and when we were fleeing, I had to prioritize our survival.”
“I figured as much… What did you… what did you see?” Bereth only barely could keep eye contact. You must have known about the ring. It could not be with me still otherwise.
Nedyom looked down. “A lot of things that did not make sense. Bits and pieces of your life. The road you have been on for a while now and how your grief is affecting you.” He looked back up. “You lost your mentor too early.”
Bereth got defensive immediately. “She said I was ready to leave.”
“Skill-wise, yes, but not otherwise.” When Bereth opened his mouth to protest, Nedyom raised his hand to pause him. “I knew Eleni mostly by her reputation, but what I do know has me suspecting that she was as poor a mentor as she was a parent.”
“How- you don’t know-” Bereth started, feeling like his need to defend the only proper parent he had was a knee-jerk reaction.
“She was an excellent teacher, no doubt,” Nedyom interrupted, still keeping his voice soft, “but when a mage takes an individual who is not already a fully functional adult under their tutelage, they also have a parental role. And based on your dreams and the way you’ve been saddled with protecting the last thing remaining of her, she failed you as your parent even though she clearly did not as your teacher. As such, she failed as your mentor. Does the transcription spell convey the distinction?”
Bereth wanted to deny, to say that there was a language barrier but… it struck home at an alarming accuracy. Feelings he had been running away from, the resentment that was constantly lurking in duty’s shadow… now that he was forced to remain stationary, he could not run away from it.
“I have met people like you before. If you want, I can help you when you have recovered more.” Nedyom smiled a little. “I owe you that and so much more for giving me the chance to escape.”
“What’s going to happen with the cult?” Bereth asked, knowing how jarring the change of topic was even with the allusion to the cult’s actions.
“A taskforce is dealing with them currently. A good portion of the cultists have been apprehended, but the top brass is still in hiding within the village. I’m sure that things will turn out fine soon, however; last I heard, the rest of the surviving mages have been rescued and are being tended to.” Nedyom leaned back a little. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine anyway. And you will as well, I’m sure. Think about my offer while you recover, though. I truly do want to help.”
Bereth nodded a little, just enough not to feel too much pain. “I will. Thank you.”
Nedyom nodded, his smile brightening. “Don’t mention it.”
For the first time since waking up, Bereth smiled a little. Maybe things would turn out all right after all in time.
WindySilver 