Chapter 82

Chapter 82

A/N: For the record, I was supposed to write this yesterday, but got stuck with overtime at work. The life of an accountant: if you dont' do your job, people don't get paid for theirs and then they get cranky.

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Right after waking up, Asheara could feel that there was something wrong. This feeling was pushed aside a bit as she was tackled down by three girls that she recognized as her daughters. The troubling thing was that it took her a moment to recognize them. She could see and feel that all three of them were overcome with emotion, but she couldnt quite put her finger on why that would be the case. They acted as if she had just recovered from a disease, but she couldnt remember being sick.

Now that she thought about it more, she couldnt remember several things. It was like there were holes in her memory. It wasnt like she had trouble remembering it like she had forgotten or that it was just escaping her, but instead there were big gaping holes where memories were supposed to be. She knew there should be memories there, but some of her memories simply cut off in the middle. She looked at her daughters crying from joy.

Daughters. Three of them. Wasnt there supposed to be five of them? Wait, didnt Selvaria die? Somehow parts of that seemed to be missing too, but she was certain that her daughter was dead. There was a wave of grief, the pain of losing your child would never disappear completely, but she realized that she had mourned the death of Selvaria before and had come to terms with it, at least as much as she could. That was four. Wasnt there a fifth daughter?

Asheara had to really reach to find any memories of her youngest daughter, but finally managed to make some connections. Neleh! Thats what her name was. Her baby girl. Wait, baby girl? Wasnt Neleh only two years younger than Elsaria? Then she should not be a baby anymore, seeing as Elsaria was in her arms, and was clearly a young woman. She could even remember Elsaria growing up. Then why couldnt she remember anything of Neleh besides her being a baby?

Now Asheara got a very bad feeling. She clearly had memories missing in a way that suggested intentional removal. She didnt know much about magic of the mind, but something like that could probably be done. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became that a big portion of the missing memories had something to do with Neleh. If they had been removed on purpose, then why?

She suddenly felt a feeling of dread. What if those memories had been removed because her baby girl was dead? Maybe she had been unable to cope with the loss of her children, and this was someones fix to it? Maybe thats the disease her daughters were so glad Asheara recovered from? She could see a tired looking celestial looking at them, and somehow she could feel that the celestial was most likely the person who had cured her. Did she dare to ask questions? What if she broke down again? But how could she live without knowing what had happened to her baby girl?

Asheara was just about to start asking questions when she heard a voice in her head, a clearly female and a very caring voice. Your youngest daughter is alive. I would say alive and well, but that isnt entirely correct at this very moment.

Asheara was just about to ask who the voice was, when a realization hit her. There was something about the voice that didnt leave any room to question her identity. My goddess, you grace me with your presence. She tried sending her thought back to wherever the voice had come from.nove(l)bi(n.)com

She could hear something akin to a smile in the voice when it came again. Something akin to, because there was also a tinge of sadness in it. You will get answers to your questions in time. I just wanted to reassure you a bit. The celestial is not the right person to answer your questions and neither are your three daughters present here. Neleh knows the best whats going on, but I would prefer it if you didnt ask her for a while. To give you some peace of mind while waiting, Ill say a few things myself.

Yes, you have lost some memories, and yes they are mostly related to your youngest daughter. Yes she knows about it, as she was the one to make the choice about removing them. Yes there was a good reason for it. The removal of those memories allowed your safe return to the rest of your family, but it came at a cost. Your instinct might be to rush to help your daughter who might be suffering, but you would only make the matters worse if you went now. Give it a little time, and be patient. As a side-note, your other daughters arent aware of all the details, and I would be a little careful about answering too many of their questions, lest they blame themselves for what your youngest had to pay for your return. Say your memory is foggy, youre otherwise fine and dodge the rest. You will not be lying to them if you do that.

Asheara thought for a moment, and decided to trust her goddess who had bothered to help one of her chosen people. That did bring up a question though. Not that Im not appreciative, but why does our family warrant the goddess to personally interfere?

Now the smile was clear in the voice when the reply came. The answer to that is part of the memories you lost. Your youngest daughter is important to me, and to the rest of the world. More so than you could ever realize. Shes also my Chosen. In a weird way, you are my mother-in-law. The voice gave a final chuckle before disappearing. Asheara could tell that there would be no more answers for now.

It took a good hour of comforting her other daughters and getting reacquainted with them. When they discovered that her memories were a little spotty, they volunteered to fill those gaps to the best of their ability, and Asheara decided to ask some questions about the three of them on details that she had trouble remembering. She was glad that all three of them had found some kind of path in life, and Delia had even found a lover. Asheara could tell that there were some issues there, but real relationships always did. Just look at what had happened with her and her now ex-husband.

What had happened there? Those memories were also partially gone, but she could feel that there was no longer anything between her and Elluin. Then had she found someone else after their separation? Somehow she felt that the answer to that was at least partially yes, since she had some faint recollections of feeling something stronger, but that too seemed to be lost along with her missing memories. She knew things were over with Elluin, but had no idea what had happened with this new person she might have found. Maybe that too would become clear with time.

Suddenly a new name popped into her head. The memories about this name were also fuzzy and fragmented, but she also got a feeling that this person would most likely have some answers. Could one of you find Shiori for me? I think Id like a word with her too. She asked her daughters.

While lost in thought, Asheara could suddenly hear the conversation between two voices, one of which she recognized as Delia. Dont lie to me! You might be good at hiding your feelings, but Ive known you long enough to know that youre in pain. What is going on? What are you not telling me? The voice of her angry daughter became clearer as the two voices got closer. It was clear the anger came from worry and caring.

A melodious sound that seemed to carry the sound of music replied to her. If Asheara had to guess, the person replying had to be an expert songstress. Let it go Delia. There are some things better left unsaid. This is a time of joy. Our mother has returned to us. Dont mar it with questions you dont want answers to. The voice was at the same time so familiar, yet something she couldnt remember. That of course told her the identity of the speaker right away.

Fine then, be like that. If you dont want to talk to me, then that is your choice. I just hope you wont keep everything inside, as is your habit, and talk to someone at least. The voice of Delia sounded, and Asheara could see her striding out from a garden nearby.

After a moment, Asheara could see the back of another person leaving the same garden. The woman was dressed in a fairly revealing white dress that left the back open, although covered by her long black hair that twinkled like the night sky. Just enough skin was visible to reveal a clear and perfect skin in the fairly light complexion so familiar to Moon Elves. Asheara could tell the woman was athletic, with soft looking skin hiding explosive strength and muscle. The woman walked with a grace only found in those who had mastered their bodies through mastering physical combat. It was difficult to judge height from this distance, but the woman seemed fairly tall for a female elf.

Suddenly the woman stopped, and turned towards Asheara, as if sensing her presence. Asheara suddenly realized that she had been hiding her presence by some instinct that she didnt quite recognize. Such thoughts were instantly wiped as she saw the womans face. Red lips highlighted the clear and perfect complexion as the rest of the face had almost an ethereal feeling to it. The most shocking part were her deep blue eyes that drew everyones attention to drown in their depths. These eyes carried the wisdom of ages, yet the face had this ageless quality to it. Asheara wouldnt have been able to tell the womans age, because she appeared at the same time to be someone who had just come to the full bloom of womanhood, yet carried the gravitas and calm of someone that had seen the rise and fall of empires.

The first thought that came to Asheara was that Elune had come to visit them again, this time in flesh. Such appearance could only belong to that of the goddess. Thats why she uttered a small whisper of Elune? before being interrupted by a strange voice.

Youre not wrong, but youre not right either. A girl aged roughly six years old stood near her. The girl seemed to be a mix of elven and demon heritage, and had a striking silver hair. She also looked a lot like the woman she had just seen. As she looked back towards the garden, she could not see the beautiful woman anymore. The woman had disappeared as if the whole thing had been a mirage.

What do you mean? Asheara asked as she turned back to the little girl.

Elune looks identical to her, but that was not the goddess. The girl replied with a small grin.

Suddenly something clicked in her mind. Neleh? She asked, already knowing the answer.

Bingo.

Asheara gave a small sigh. May Elune grant her strength to get through this.

The girl gave a small laugh. Oh dont worry. She isnt someone so weak as to need the help of mother to get through this. She might not look like it, but she has strength beyond anything you can imagine, and this is nothing but a small bump in the road for her.

Something in the girls words had stood out to Asheara. Mother? Who are you? She suddenly started making some connections in her mind about what she had heard since waking up.

Oh silly me for forgetting to introduce myself. I am Sinestra. I suppose I should call you grandmother? The girl tilted her head in a cute way, and seemed to be testing out the word in her mind.

Grandmother? From your words, Im to assume your parents are Elune, and Im guessing Neleh? Asheara asked, reeling a bit due to the realization. Daughter-in-law indeed! She thought a little bitterly.

Bingo, again. See, you can do it if you put your mind to it. Sinestra said in a chipper voice.