By the time everything had been explained, exhaustion had all but claimed the Demi-Human, having done all that she were able to stay awake out of respect.

Fortunately, it seemed understood by all. The Countess, having seen it first-hand over the course of the sham trial that Vyra had been subjected to, knew all too well. And the two Sisters, gracious in their allowing of Vyra to take temporary residence did not at least exhibit any sort of objection to the behavior. If anything, one could have reasoned that the pair would have taken greater offense to hiding such fatigue.

And as the orange-haired Sister led Vyra towards the small room within the church with the spare bed, it were barely more than a couple of seconds before the audible snore echoed out from what of the Demi-Human’s face could be seen against the pillow. Unable to hide the small smile forming upon her face, the orange-haired Sister closed the door as quietly as possible, hoping to not disturb Vyra from the sleep that had been deprived her.

Of what had been conveyed to her and her fellow Sister from the Countess, to say the least the ordeal that Vyra had gone through had been taxing, just the extent of her full day only being that of what had happened since her abrupt abduction. Those would be details that they could find out more about the girl when she awoke, however long it may have been that she rested. The sun had already approached the early stages of setting, a faint layer of red and orange blending across the otherwise blue sky. If how the Demi-Human kept herself composed in spite of the apparent exhaustion written upon her face, fair to say that those questions and others that she or her fellow Sister may have had would have to wait until sometime in the coming afternoon.

[316/2000]

Vyra wasn’t sure just when it was that she did awaken. What had happened prior to her winding up in this bed had felt almost like that of a blur, her mind struggling to comprehend what had actually happened, what she believed happened, and what she wasn’t sure were just the byproducts of her dreams.

It did leave her in a brief point of confusion as she first awoke, finding herself in a room that she didn’t recall being. It was a horrid departure to that of the room that Alisa had first arranged for her back in Hosenka; a genuinely magnificent room that rivaled that of where she stayed within the Blue Pegasus Guild Hall, albeit far more tailored to the general aesthetic and vacation-feel that was evident all throughout Hosenka.

Here though, it was nothing of the sort. Bland. Empty. The most simplicist of rooms that perhaps one could have imagined. Little more than a bed, a cupboard, and a small desk within the room perhaps a quarter of the total size of her own personal room back in Hargeon. But the quality within it did not seem to deny her of the wholly rejuvenating sleep that she felt like had not been in months before. But in its delight, the nature of the sleep betrayed Vyra, for a time her mind having deceived itself into believing that what had befallen her just the other day were not actually true. That it had not genuinely happened.

[564/2000]

To walk out into the Church though, there came with it a sentiment of hopelessness, realizing that the nightmare she believed herself to have lived through were in fact a true reality. How she longed to be back in Hosenka, to be at the hot springs again, imagining away all of this, or even within Hargeon once again, preferring to know that she were among her new family rather than alone in a lands unknown, save for the two women whom at first failed to recognize the Demi-Human’s presence.

The Demi-Human certainly did not expect that it would be the blinded Sister whom first registered her person, a small forming upon her face as she made a gesture with her hand calling Vyra towards them. Taken a bit off guard but appreciative of what they were providing, Vyra did just as requested, for the first time really getting a chance to appreciate not just her surroundings, but also her hosts.

Whatever her first impressions had been of the church at first, they certainly had not changed much. It was run down, having both the qualities that come with having been around decades whilst also still seeming abandoned, an odd combination towards it. Further, the size seemed rather lacking; though she were hardly a person of religion, Vyra had always come to believe that churches typically could accommodate hundreds of people. This seemed barely capable of even holding half a hundred.

Too, she found herself taken aback by the two Sisters. Neither had a look by which she would have considered that of religious figures. Both women seemed to be on the younger side, older than Vyra, but barely by a few years, very doubtful that there stood more than a decade between them and the Demi-Human. Per their beauty too, Vyra wouldn’t have believed that they were religious figures; the blinded Sister, of what was not covered by the silken wrap, showed only that of a face of beauty. A flawless face that complimented a body hidden within robes that gave the loose impression of a perfect figure. The orange-haired Sister was similarly blessed, a beautiful face complimenting what Vyra imagined a body unlike that of typical church sisters.

“Good morning, or is it now more the midday?” The blinded Sister spoke, her words calm such that Vyra struggled to wrap how in spite of such an ailment she was able to be so relaxed. Such a fate would be one in which Vyra feared how she could have ever stood to survive with. “How was your rest?”

“Good… I think?” Vyra responded, not sure how quite to feel. Compared to before, it felt like night and day how aware and human she seemed, but the reality of where she was was still heavily set upon her. “I just, just wish I were home…”

[1038/2000]

“You’re from the South then? Hargeon…” the orange-haired Sister, who identified herself as Sister Mara, spoke, trying to draw from memory images of what felt like a life since past. “It’s been years since I think we’ve been there. The small port city right?”

Vyra nodded.

“A nice place there, the smell left a bit too be desired. Dead fish and salt. Neither quite pleasant on their own, don’t much go together either,” the blinded Sister, Sister Talia remarked, her recollection of the city being far more current than that of her fellow Sister. “Been years since last we’ve seen what has become of there.”

“Because of, you know…” Vyra stammered, immediately regretting saying anything as soon as the first word escaped her lips. She may not have gotten out her full thought, but it was evident enough what she was referencing.

Sister Talia did not seem to take much exception, even seeming to chuckle at Vyra’s apprehensiveness, “Heh, there was once a time where I had my sight. Seems like a lifetime ago. Certainly a time when I would have been far more likely facing vampires than I would be within a church. But alas…” Her words trailed off, the first indication of disappointment within her voice as she recalled a time that subsequently piqued Vyra’s interest. There was more to the Sister than what she had let on, which the Demi-Human hoped to figure out about.

If nothing else, it would have been an interesting story.

But, it would have to wait, somewhat to Vyra’s dismay. To her delight though, news was conveyed to her, no doubt that of what was discussed after she had fallen asleep.

“It should not be too long, maybe a few days at that,” Sister Mara said, explaining that the Countess Veronica Barothy is preparing to have transportation provided for Vyra that will bring her back to Hosenka – where she had been first taken from. From there, Vyra would have the option to enjoy what remains of her vacation or could return home to Hargeon.

But it would take a few days most likely to get everything underway.

[1393/2000]

She found herself invigorated.

Perhaps it was knowing that an escape from wherever she was was only days away, or perhaps it were simply tasting the air no longer in the fear of captivity, awakened, rejuvenated, a myriad of feelings better than how she felt the other day. Whatever it may have been the reason, Vyra found herself energized, fortunate in that much of the day would call for her to get her hands busy.

Though it would be several days until the escort provided by the Countess would arrive, the two Sisters were more than comfortable with allowing Vyra to stay at the church in the meanwhile. There was safety there, as well as food and a place to rest her head. And for Vyra, who despite her situation in Blue Pegasus may have indicated had very little money to her name, there were not a single Jewel in which the Sisters would have demanded.

What they did call for though, was help.

Help upon the church grounds. Weeds, rocks, fallen trees, no shortage of things to which were needed to be handled that the Sisters – partially attributed to Talia’s blindness, but also due to the sheer amount of work – could not handle on their own. Though Vyra was just one woman, she was someone who was able to help. The expectation was not that she would achieve everything on her own, but that she would be able to provide aid.

That was all the Sisters wished for; that Vyra contribute.

They likely had not expected Vyra to slave away outside for hours below the intense summer heat. Yet there she was, working and being more physically involved in work than even she had first expected to. It started with the first boulder, a large rock that she had moved early, having felt such a rush of accomplishment and adrenaline that she continued to slave away, hoping to chase that sense of worth.

Before she knew it, the sun had already long begun to set. And Vyra, whom had over the course of a day accomplished more than what was anticipated to over her entire duration at the church, found herself once again drained of energy. Believing she had done enough, if at the minimum for today, the Demi-Human made her way back to the Church.

The bed the Sisters had given her was calling her name.

[1791/2000]

As she departed the fields, she had felt fine in the immediate moment. But as Vyra got closer and the church came more into sight, the wave of exhaustion just once again rushed over her, the idea of her bed becoming even further of a dream than she had at first anticipated it being.

To the point of willing herself forward, she continued on, passing through into the church as the blacks of night consumed the skies above. Although the emptiness of the church was certainly something that left her unsettled, Vyra proceeded towards the room that had been provided her, far more focused and interested in that than some of the obvious questions that lingered. As she were about to enter, something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye.

A light.

A sliver of light that penetrated through a nearly closed door. She had not noticed the room previously, nor paid much heed towards it in the times where perhaps her eyes glanced over it. But now with as the light from within painted a clear focus towards it, Vyra moved forward, interested in what may have been within.

From the small crack Vyra could see much of the room. Very similar to the room provided, not terribly large but maybe a little less than double the size of the room afforded her. Understandable given the two beds, one parked near the wall visible, the other on the far side, barely noticeable from where Vyra stood without further opening the door. It was as she turned her focus back towards the closer bed that she noticed them, both of the Sisters, Mara helping Talia with something – exactly what the Demi-Human could not tell – while something else was wholly apparent about the two.

Unlike before, where they had been calm in Vyra’s company, now they seemed frightened. Worried even.

“You sure about her?” Mara asked, Vyra quickly picking up that the Sister was talking about her, “She seems… I don’t know entirely, but I can’t believe her to be it…”

“I’ve never felt so strongly about anyone before. You’ve felt it too,” Talia protested, her voice a mixture of shame, anger, and contempt all rolled into one. “Years it has been since we felt that essence…. I would have presumed it gone, but they are here again.”

“A coincidence.”

“There is no coincidence when it comes to the Nightmare. Something of the girl is tainted…” Vyra held her hand to her mouth as she listened, unsure of what quite what to make of what was being said. Was she tainted? The Nightmare? What was the Nightmare? Was that what her other self was? She wanted as much to keep listening, but disbelief, fear, shame, and exhaustion all raced through her, fighting for dominance.

As exhaustion won over, Vyra headed back to her room, hoping to be as quiet as possible, hoping that this were just something wrong. That whatever the Sisters meant, that it were not true.

She hoped.

[2293/2000]