The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Days turned into weeks, and weeks flew by like a breeze as months rolled over into years. As usual, the forests bordering the Beak of Ra were still in full bloom, with no regard for the changing seasons or shifting weather. In the tranquility of the never-ending summer, Avril pushed Oscar on his wheelchair down the flat path, smooth and well-paved even after several years. A small thud reached her ears, and she halted, ending the constant squeaking of the wheels. Carefully, she stepped between the blossoming flowers and crouched, reaching out and grabbing a bright red fruit.

Several more fruits dropped, one hitting her head, but she didn't mind. For them to fall now meant they had reached the best ripeness, and she wiped the slight drool leaking from her lips, already imagining the various dishes she could make with these fruits. Hastily, she collected them into a basket and tiptoed back to her beloved, placing the basket on his lap. She settled back behind him, her hands gripping the handles, the warm summer air raising her already delighted mood.

"Look at all the fruits. I'll bake you a pie after lunch. She pushes him forward, skipping along the path. The trees want them to eat well today!" Avril beamed a wide smile, hurrying back home. She reached the door and wheeled Oscar inside to sit by the table. Her hand brushed aside his long bangs. "I'll have to cut them again. Hair grows too fast~!" She twirled and peered at the ends of her long indigo hair, almost reaching the floor.

The large pot on the stove boiled, steam hissing in great droves from the constantly clattering lid. Avril had left the stew to boil overnight, finally finishing at the perfect time for lunch. Famished, she poured two great bowls of the hearty potato stew, slightly red from the tomatoes that had been delivered, her stomach growling. Avril paced back and forth between the table and the kitchen, lining up the spoons and napkins and placing the bowls on their seats. For Oscar, specifically, she roasted a steak, holding her nose from the displeasing scent.

Something knocked on the window glass, ones she had put up years ago with blinds to hide away from the eternal light. It tapped again as she brought her spoon down. Leaving Oscar on the table, she opened the window and saw a small bird–well, not a bird, but a golem. Gears rotated at its joints, a blue glow expelled from its glass eyes, and its metallic talons plinked on the window sill, scraping sparks from its razor-sharp wings. It chirped from its mechanical throat and flew upward, a pouch dangling from its neck.

"Thank you." Avril petted the golem's tiny head, and it reacted like a bird would, cooing in joy. She opened the pouch and took out the space pocket, seeing the supplies of ingredients and other necessities, along with a letter. It came from Gloria and Renn, judging from one handwriting having curls at its ends and the other being straight and uniform. It detailed their progress, still trying to advance to the Marshal Exalt realm, and the happenings in the new academy, now given a name, the Haven Academy.

"Master is amazing as always…." She held Remulus's organizational skills in high regard. Part of her success as a former Branch Head was owed to his teachings on documentation and distribution of resources. To appease the various factions on the Lunate Continent who paid tribute, Remulus granted them guaranteed spots in this year of the academy and all subsequent years to come. Naturally, to learn under a great power with a Divine Essence and a King Exalt was attractive. Gloria wrote about how they changed their stances, fawning over them and happily giving the tributes. Renn wrote about how many suitors had come for him and Gloria but wrote he'd wait for her and Oscar to return before any drastic decisions.

"Who…dares covet my children." Avril dropped the paper before her hand could clench and ruin it. She felt conflicted. While she knew the day would come someday, reading and hearing about the potential of it happening very soon was still alien to her. Those two little children had somehow grown up so much already. The golem cooed and nudged its beak on her chin. She regathered herself and chuckled weakly, beckoning the bird to come inside. Her reply would have to wait until after lunch.

However, the most incredible sight awaited her when she turned, eyes widening in shock, her lips quivering as she held her hands by her chest, her heart thumping loudly. Warm tears flooded her cheeks, a salty taste from the few dripping into her mouth. But right now, even that salty extract tasted like the sweetest nectar when placed in this wondrous scene. Stifling her cries into hiccups, she saw Oscar raise a spoon and take a sip, eating of his own volition, his own will spurring him on, something she had hoped to see for years. The eyes hadn't cleared at all, still stuck in the dark haze, but his hands were undoubtedly moving when he hadn't reacted or moved for years.

"Oscar!" Avril felt joy, the sheer delight electrifying her senses like being struck by lightning. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her tears into his head, not minding the stew spilling on her sleeve. Somewhere in there, he lived. Somewhere in those dark pupils, his light rekindled. Throughout the night, in every quiet moment alone, nightmares and worries haunted her, whispering in their vile tongues that her efforts were pointless, never to bear fruit. That Oscar would forever be lost. But she found hope at last, sweet, liberating hope.

"I won't give up on you. Never will." Avril let go of him and watched, entranced by Oscar eating by his own will. Resting her chin on her hands, she let out a blissful sigh as if she could watch him all day. The steak was untouched, so she lent her aid, cutting the steak up, holding in her gags, and jabbing a piece with a fork. Surprisingly and heartwarmingly, Oscar reacted and leaned forward to bite down on the piece. Normally, she had to force it into his lips for him. He was changing, her expectations soaring. Wiping her tears off with her sleeve, she grimaced, realizing she had just used the sleeve drenched in stew, her face now covered in it.

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"Don't laugh!" Avril pouted at Oscar, imagining him laughing at her expense. Was it a hallucination or a reality? She couldn't say for certain, but she believed the tips of his lips curled an infinitesimal tweak upward. After lunch, she baked him a pie from the fruits, which he ate by himself, another gratifying sight. As the clock showed night approaching, Avril gave him dinner, enjoyed another pleasing scene of him eating, and washed him up in the bath. At night, she read gleefully from a book, turning the pages to the blazing light. When she brought a page to Oscar, his lips moved as if mumbling in silence but trying nonetheless, and that was good enough for her.

The light faded as she pulled down the blinds. On the bed, she embraced Oscar strongly, his breathing, once low and cold, now heavy and warm on her chest. Underneath the blankets, they stuck to one another, their lungs in sync, their hearts as one, one breath, one beat. Perhaps the day might be soon. Avril giggled her way to sleep, the worries and nightmares no longer creasing her brow as she enjoyed the most comfortable sleep in a long while.

…….

Darkness overwhelmed him. Like drowning deeper into a bottomless pit in the ocean, he fell endlessly into the black fathoms. Not a single light glimmered in the darkness, yet he could see far in all directions. But he found no point in opening his eyes since all he could see was darkness. How long had he been delving deeper into this ocean? He had no idea. Who was he? Where was he? Why was he here? The questions droned on until he found them tiresome, wiping them from his mind and falling deeper into the comforting depths.

It felt like the endless waves of time crashed over him, ages gone by, eons passing. All he knew was this place, and he had no reason to leave. However, something new occurred: behind his eyelids, a faint glow roamed nearby. Opening his eyes, he saw a wisp of light, distinct from the bordering darkness, hovering clearly. He lifted his arm and grasped the light for the first time in his life that he knew so far. It broke apart into dazzling glitters, spreading all over him.

A voice called out from the pollen-like light. But he couldn't tell what she was saying and discarded it, closing himself off again. Then, another intrusive light tickled his nose, and annoyingly, he clenched it, hearing that voice again, a little more distinct, speaking about some trees. He thought that it was over and rested again. Then, more came along in droves, like gnats buzzing around.

'Stop it.' He groaned. 'Leave me alone.'

They refused and clung to him, more of the same voice, oddly soothing, whispering to him with great endearment. Why did she speak to him so often? Why did she seem to care for him so much? He bit his lips, unable to rest peacefully as his discomfort sank in his chest, irritating him. The same questions surfaced once again. Who was he? Where was he? Why was he here? The motes of light tugged on him and pushed him from below. They wanted him to swim up.

'Why?' The light gave him strength, and he slowly swam up. The darkness pulled on his legs, tendrils of unspeakable shadows entangling his legs. The light freed him, and he swam further. His head felt like someone had stabbed it, a painful cry echoing in the depths. He saw a river of blood drenching someone's knees, and he recognized the person to be himself. It was too painful, so he stopped resisting despite the light's frantic pittering-pattering on his skin. The tendrils tugged on him once more and slowly pulled him down.

Then, more light came in a fierce tide, breaking him loose, the same voice spurring him on, and this time, a thin thread of light extended from his chest to the unknown surface above. 'Fine, I'll do it.' Oscar swam in the direction the thread, this unknown link, wanted him to go. More horrid scenes stuck in his mind. A burning farm, a city of rubble, bodies strung along, half drowned in the thick blood. 'Stop it!' He cried, clutching his head.

Now, faces floated around, and at last, he remembered them; he knew all of them. Fred, Emily, Susan, Alec, Esther, Uren, his master, his entire Black Aegis Order, Uncle Carlson, his parents, everyone…their faces pale, covered in blood, staring at him with dead eyes. 'Stop it!' Oscar fought the motes of light, shouting to the top of his lungs, but only silence and agony could sound in the dark ocean. He didn't want to remember. But the light clung to him, the thread remaining unbroken despite how fiercely he ripped at it.

'Today, we'll have pie! She pumps her fist in the air and cheers for a great day!' That voice tossed away all of his retorts and resistance. It uplifted him, and he tried to put a face on that voice, the words tugging his heartstrings. What did he not remember? Why did this one give him warmth in all the madness and despair he saw in his memories? The answer existed at the other end of this thread, so he decided to push onward, the storm of the horrid events of betrayal and loss cutting deep into his flesh. While he wanted to let go, the warmth in his light spurred him on, and he followed down to its unknown destination.

'Where am I?' A crack of light split the darkness, and he blinked, finding himself in a strange place. A white forest on fire greeted him out the window, and peering down, he frowned at the wheelchair, wondering why he was in one. His slight movements made the wheels squeak incredibly loud, his ears reeling from the sharp, piercing noise. Rushed footsteps hurried from another room, and he turned to its source right as the door flung open, revealing a woman of indigo hair and golden eyes, her rushed breathing and messy hair out of place on her striking beauty. She stared at him, trembling as tears overflowed.

"Avril?" Oscar remembered now. Right. That was it. He had her.

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