SWNOVELXO Chapter 8: Heavenly Beginnings
"Jolen, Kari has not gotten any better and it has been several days." Jilliace panicked and paced about the room. "I do not know what it is that has her so sick either…"
"His fangs." Jolen glanced up at her from his book he was studying, bothered by her. "She is sick with an illness that comes from his fangs."
Jilliace stopped to listen to his words, even if she was greatly confused. "What do you mean…?"
Jolen fully placed down his book and brought his body facing Jilliace. "Recall back to the moment Kari had Louis in a hell blazing lock, remember what she said he did to our family. He is the reason for all the deaths Karia had to have gone and witnessed long before we came." He crossed his arms and stared at Jilliace, waiting for her to click with this information.
"Then, the servants in this household should know about the medicine!" Jilliace gasped and turned to leave the room, but then Lillian unexpectedly entered, stopping her. "Lillian?"
"Pardon me for the interruption, Jilliace, Jolen." Lillian bowed her head and then, gracefully lifted it as her hands brought out a small bag. "I suppose this is what you may be referring to." She then proceeded to open it, showing a small pile of thin golden flakes.
"As expected, Lillian." Jolen walked over and opened the door of his room. "Get as many as you have from the medical storage and have the nurse give Kari 3 flakes a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if she does not fulfil this requirement, I will have her killed myself." He then left the room, off to his own activities outside near the gardens.
Lillian went along with this and notified the nurse and the other medical seniors who worked inside the household, along with the rest of the servants. This reassured that each of them had a role to keep Kari from succumbing to this illness they so painfully recognized. Jolen was fully aware of how the servants in the past let the other family members die due to the lack of medicine to give around, thus his threat had meaning. Over days and weeks, Lillian continued to keep watch over the routine each servants contributed to taking care of Kari, watching her health greatly improve much quicker than any other. It would normally take months for one to recover from the illness, but Kari's healing factors were heavily increased after the blessing from Queen Hyrestia.
"Out." Kari turned her head toward the slowly opening door. "Now." With a sudden angered glare, she sat on her bed in a sour mood. She had just woken up from what felt like a long month of internal suffering.
The maid who stood at the door slowly backed away, following along with her orders and closing it. Kari sat there alone and sighed, wondering how long she had really been stuck in that room. Then more struck her mind, that she may have forgotten about finishing off Louis. Kari immediately sought out to finish what she'd started, as she fell and tumbled onto the floor. The hard wooden floor, she groaned in pain as she was still unable to move her body. This obviously created such a loud thud that people began to worry. Jilliace quickly entered the room to see Kari lying on the floor, barely curled up but still in great pain. She tried picking her up, but Rol joined in time to help as they placed her back on the bed, concerned as to why she was trying to leave so abruptly. They insisted that she stayed in bed to rest longer. Kari was urging to leave to the glimmering forest where Hyrestia would be waiting. With this, Jilliace continued to beg of her, making sure that she rested enough.
"I will not stay in this decrepit bed!" Kari yelled and lashed out at her, knowing well that there was no other place for her to be. "Queen Hyrestia turned us into ones of the God race, I must go and-" Kari's throat had been caught up in a dry cough. Her throat felt like it was burning, and she curled up once more, showing that she was still not completely cured from this fever.
"Rol, quickly! The medicine!" Jilliace attempted to hold Kari back, keeping her steady.
Rol followed and took a flake, sprinkling one into a cup of cool water. The pieces dissolved and he carefully brought the cup to Kari's mouth, letting her drink it. Kari's cough calmed down and she was set back to resting peacefully in her bed. Although it only took a few hours after this medicine kicked in, Kari was finally able to get out of the bed. Lillian entered the bedroom and helped Kari into the washroom and dressed in time for dinner. Everyone was gathered at the dining room, sitting at the table. Jolen had unexpectedly shown even though he was normally out during the evenings. The three were finally together again, at the same time. Ever since Karia's passing there was almost never a chance of having even the slightest meal together, but that changed… temporarily.
"I will be leaving to the Glimmering Forest by the morning." Kari spoke as she finished her plate. The others stared at her, confused but then not, knowing that she would either way. "I do not care if you join me, but I recommend it."
"Alright." Jolen spoke almost immediately which surprised Kari. He placed his utensils down on the sides of his dish and stood as he adjusted his clothing. "Lillian will reassure that you are up and ready to go." His eyes went to Lillian's, almost staring into her soul. Jolen then turned to face the opposite direction, leaving the room. "Jilliace, you will join us, remember to be ready before the sun fully rises."
As he left, his words echoed the room until the doors were shut. The dining room atmosphere felt icky, and Kari decided to return to her quarters. As the time passed, Lillian stayed by her side, as did Rol and Filphen within her office, organizing books and scrolls. Kari sat at her desk, looking at the files laid out for her to stamp. "What shall I do?" Everyone slowly stopped and placed things down, Lillian approached her at the desk and put a book down.
"I recommend that you go to the Glimmering Forest and let the whispers guide you, Lady Kari." Lillian's dark purple hair had sparkled in the subtle moonlight. The light from the window bounced off her eyes as well, making them look like dazzling indigo marbles. "Whatever they or the goddess speak of; you must follow." Her words were informant and slightly soothing to the ears.
Kari sighed and nodded along with this as the night creeped in, allowing the others to head to rest. Though, she roamed inside the library, scanning through the books and scrolls that Karia had laid out for her. There were sections that had been the scrolls of time and the regular books that told information on important figures throughout time. Of course, Kari had already read through most of these in order to keep herself knowledgeable in such terms, there was only one that she had not found, that was hidden away even from herself. With scanning finished, Kari headed back to her own chambers to rest for the coming morning. The new day sprung each of them along with the sun still hidden. Jolen prepared the wagon to carry the group, seeing that there would be many more than just the three of the siblings. Lillian, Rol, and Filphen tagged along as emergency aid and to continue their loyal duties until the bitter end. Rol and Filphen were sitting in the front to steady the horses while the others sat inside the wagon, planning everything out. While Kari and the two would leave, the household would be left unattended. If the goddess allows, they should freely continue leading the household throughout the years in secret. Thus, she did, once they arrived, everything was set in place. Hyrestia spoke individually with Kari, then with Jolen and Jilliace.
"Now that you finally know the way to your heavenly realms, you may freely explore and continue the mission to protect the multiverse from Yushvi." Hyrestia let her form take that of a human to fit their size again. "I trust that you all can navigate through the council as well." She took a moment and glanced at the other three, taking note of them. "You are also allowed to decide what you may do in their absence. Please, come closer, Lillian." Lillian gracefully strode over to the Hyrestia with her head lowered and did a curtsy in respect. "Yes, your majesty." She then looked up with bright eyes and a bold look on her face. Hyrestia gestured to her and waved her hands to reveal a mark on her face. "Lillian is a descendant of Yushvi, the Goddess of Hate, the one who wishes to control and destroy the multiverse." Everyone became slightly skeptical of this, especially Jolen who gave a bitter expression. "Although, she may be in that bloodline, there had always been a parting. Those who were of the Kloray surname followed under her rule, yet those of the Holik surname, such as Lillian is, work to fight against Yushvi. The loyalty she brings to us is unbreakable, please do not think she is ever plotting your downfall." Hyrestia then hovered her hand over her head, revealing Lillian's true form. She looked and worked as a nanny would to the siblings but seeing her then would change their perspective. She was more of a beautiful young lady, in a maid's dress no less. "I am formally known as Lily Holik; the twin sister of Griffin Holik. The two of us have been separated into each household manor." She lightly bowed her head and spoke once more as Hyrestia swirled her hands and created a combination of colors swarming into what looked like a person walking out. It was a young man who looked about the same age and the exact same facial features but more masculine. This was Griffin, Lily's twin brother she had mentioned. "I am pleased to meet you, Jolen Juvuen, my new master." He kneeled in front of Jolen and lowered his head. Lily had followed and kneeled to Kari, "We are at your services as of now. In the name of the Shiarama and Juvuen household, let the eternity ahead of you be fulfilled." Hyrestia watched proudly as the two did their part. Jilliace watched in slight distance, feeling a pang of sadness. Hyrestia calmly hovered over to her, resting a hand to her shoulder. "You will have an assistant once you reach your heavenly realm." A smile was softly spread across her face as she lightly went back to her original place. "As my time slowly seeps into the universe', I must take my leave to the first world of Dystrogelia. I trust that you may be guided by your new assistants to the heavenly realms that were assigned to you."
A sparkling light had spread across her body, and she flew up into the sky, dispersing into a shimmering rain. The two newly elected assistants went towards the stones and rested their hands to create the portal to their heavenly realm. "Please, enter." The twins spoke in unison as they gestured towards the swirling colors that gathered. With the thought on their minds, the three siblings finally entered the portal. They will continue this mission to save the universe alongside their mother in spirit.