"What is it?" asked Mori, laying down.
His head rested against the not-so-soft pillow.
He had barely moved from the bed since he had come back.
"Nothing," said Aleesia. "You, what is it? You've been looking at me a lot."
She was sitting in a newly acquired armchair.
It was an expensive kindle purchase, at their level at least.
Although expensive, it was necessary, said Aleesia. She reasoned he would need the bed for himself, which made no sense, but he still bought the chair for her.
Its quality was pretty good, and while he didn't try it, she was in it most of the time.
"You remind me of Aura," said Mori.
"Ehh. You sure that's what you want to say?" she replied, frowning.
Mori chuckled.
As he laughed, he started choking, quickly sitting upright in the bed.
Aleesia quickly grabbed a mug, filling it with water. She ran to Mori to give it to him, only for it to be thrown to the ground.
"Stay back!" he yelled.
Aleesia took a few steps back, confused.
She took a step forward toward him again, but he held his arm up, distancing her.
"What is it?! Talk to me!"
Mori was breathing laboriously. He was grinding his teeth as he stared blankly at the blankets.
"You think I'll let you?!" muttered Mori.
"Let met what?!" replied Aleesia.
"Not you!" he screamed.
Aleesia took a step back.
Mori's face was twisted with rage. Something she had never seen from him, even when truly upset.
He was the 'calm-upset' type, she thought. Like her father, he wouldn't scream, but usually shake his head in disappointment. He'd look at her with 'those eyes', without saying anything.
This was new.
Nothing like anything before.
"Who? What's happening?!" she asked.
Mori turned his head away, as if something had grabbed his attention.
"Who?!" yelled Aleesia.
Mori's attention snapped back to Aleesia. He was mainly surprised, but she could tell most of all exhausted.
"She's dragging me down. I won't let her. Try as much as you want."
Mori chuckled, while struggling to breath.
For a moment, he looked lucid, but he started swaying left and right, until he finally fell on his side, on the bed.
Aleesia rushed to his side. He looked out of it, his eyes were still open, blankly staring forward.
Sweat was running down his face and neck.
She removed the covers on top of him, and positioned him on his back, head against the pillow again.
She ran toward one of the dry clothes, wetting it with cold water and laying it against his forward.
"What's happening?!"
She wasn't asking Mori, but the Unkindled.
She was standing in front of it, arms crossed.
It was there, sleeping in front of its small fluttering flame. It opened its eyes slowly, looking at Aleesia.
She looked closer, curious. They looked like eyes.
The patterns resembled eyes, made of intricate detailed lines.
She kept running her hands around, caressing his body.
She could feel every line inscribed on his body.
"Wait."
She did a double take, leaning forward again to look closer.
She thought she was running her hands on lines drawn on the surface of his skin.
She thought the ink, or what was used created this feeling where she could 'feel them' with her hands.
There was now lines drawn on top of his skin, rather, the lines were caving into his skin.
"All of it?"
Every line she felt brought more disbelief, all of them carved into his skin.
"...The... Artist was... quite talented."
"Talented? He's a butcher!" she replied.
Realizing Mori had talked, she quickly turned toward his head, and touched his forehead.
It was still burning, but his eyes were back from wherever he was staring at.
"What's happening?!" she asked. "Tell me!"
"It's dragging me down. It wants me. Or she? I won't let it."
"Who are you talking about?!"
"The whirlpool."
Aleesia's eyebrows raised.
Mori chuckled.
"You think I've gone crazy."
"No, just trying to understand everything..."
She changed the folded cloth on his forehead again for a new one.
"Just rest. You can't die. Not now. Whoever is dragging you down, don't let it, okay?"
"Yes, don't worry," said Mori, raising his arm.
He reached for her head, caressing her hair.
"I'm not leaving you behind. I won't let it get me."
Aleesia's expression slightly relaxed.
"Alright. Here's everything I need to know before you go back to sleep. 1. What and how do I make you eat if you're unconscious. 2. Can I make you drink while you're unconscious without drowning you?
3. Do I need to get you naked? 4. If you're so hot you could die, how to I cool you down? 5. If I you stop breathing, what should I do?
6. -"
"I won't die, so-"
"You're dying. You're clearly dying, and then I'll be alone, and I'll have to clear this dungeon alone, and I'll probably die too, and-"
"Calm down," said Mori, gently touching her cheek.
He closed his eyes, ready to rest longer.
"I am not dying here. But even if I was, you're strong and resourceful. You're a fish out of water, and you somehow learned how to breathe. Don't you think you changed, since you've left that mansion with your maids?" he asked.
Aleesia's eyes teared up as she looked at Mori's face resting against the pillow.
She imagined him dead. How could she handle it, if resting there was a Mori that wouldn't wake up?
"You don't need me. Take your time, farm the levels, keep your own safety as the utmost priority. You'd make it. Not that I would die, anyway."
Aleesia sat in the armchair, her knees against her chin as she silently cried.