184 The Rug Makes Some Convincing Points

It'd been too extraordinary a memory to have not affected him, even in passing. 

When Reed awoke, he found himself in the embrace of unfamiliar scenery, but quickly recognized it. The unmistakable scent of a colored incense found only in Citlai immediately gave it away. 

"The essence of adyllia berries and crushed Rathi leaves," said Reed as he worked his mind back into operation. "I know this scent." 

A familiar voice chuckled and replied, "You have the nose of a dabu, Ka'an. It seems the concerns we had were unnecessary, after all." It was a voice with immense gravitas and warmth unlike any other Reed had ever heard and was unforgettable to him. 

Reed felt the voice carried within it the spirit of a mountain and the tenderness of a bright, sunny day. There was a charm in that voice that could soothe even the fiercest of wild beasts and strike a sense of authority into lesser beings. 

It was the intonation and aura of something akin to a father and a ruler combined into one, thought Reed. And there was only one person Reed knew who fit that bill...

Reed turned his head and opened his eyes. A pair of amber jewels stared at the figure seated beside his bed in curiosity before they turned their attention elsewhere. 

"It has been a while, hasn't it, Grandfather Ulbo," said Reed as he inspected his surroundings. He knew this room. It was Lu'um's bedchamber, embellished with a litany of esoteric novelties, ornate furniture (for Reed's tastes), and an oversized bed fit to hold an entire family to spare. 

"Over-the-top" was the phrase that came to mind when Reed thought of her chamber. More than half of the room was adorned in junk that he couldn't identify, but assumed was likely part of some academic curiosity of hers. 

"I don't think a museum is the best place for an injured patient to recover in, Grandfather," said Reed as he inspected his body from the inside out. Just in case. No one knew his body better than he himself. If there was something wrong... or altered, he would instantly know.

Ulbo stifled a small laugh and said, "You've gotten braver, too, I see. But you mustn't utter such a thing in her presence; it'll hurt her tender feelings. She is a delicate flower that must be cared for with the utmost consideration and affection." 

A delicate flower, though Reed. That was an expression only a few people would ever have the insight, let alone the courage to speak out loud. Not that he disagreed with his evaluation of Lu'um, though. 

"How long?" said Reed, lifting himself out of bed. There was still work left to do and unfinished business back home. 

"Because I have responsibilities, Grandfather. No longer am I the clueless child you once met, this I suspect you already know. Even if no time has passed since our departure, every day wasted is a single stain upon my honor."

Ulbo sighed. For him, it'd been no more than the blink of an eye since the boy arrived in Citlai for the first time. ...And now he had returned, a completely different individual. How swiftly the young grew in the absence of their parents, he thought to himself. 

"Do not think so little of your life, my childe. And do not be in such a rush to become something you are not yet ready for. There is still time for you to enjoy yourself, despite what the circumstances may be like on the homefront," said Ulbo, gently admonishing Reed.

Four days and night had passed since they had arrived in Citlai, the Crown of the Stars. In that short time, a great deal of change had washed over the floating city. Colorful banners flew high, on them bearing a distinct symbol belonging to a family name of myth and splendor. 

That family glyph was a sign of both joy and celebration, raised only in special circumstances — such as the return of a member that belonged to that family... 

Festivities were in order, so to speak, and as a result, the Citlai bustled with fervent activity no matter where one observed. Adults and children alike moved with purpose as they prepared for the public return of their sacred benefactor... 

A chore that Reed was not looking forward to in the slightest. His aversion to public relations had not diminished, especially when it came to important matters. But he knew that he would not be able to hide behind Lu'um forever like some shy, asocial child. 

He had responsibilities here as well and had put them off for the longest. That much he understood. To the people here, the expectation they had for him, and also...

"So this is where you were, Holy One! You really should be back in bed," chirped a young bell from afar. Itotia had come to find Reed after he had left his room unannounced, much to her consternation. 

As she approached, a ripple of uneasiness coursed through her veins — her blood sensed that a profound change had taken hold of the young man in front of him. Her eyes could not be fooled, for they saw things for what they were. 

What she saw was a figure that had been besmirched in shadow. A part of him had died on the way to Citlai and something new had arisen in its place. Where once stood a young boy, now loomed a stranger of a young man to her.

"Come now, Holy One, let us return back. I've no doubt that Her Holiness will scold you if you don't get some more rest," said Itotia as she inched herself closer to him in a playful manner befitting her age. 

His Anima fluctuations were most unsettling. She, as the High Priestess, could feel a seed beginning to grow within him. A new possibility, one that she had not thought possible. 

But nothing was impossible when it came to her kin. They'd already proven themselves capable of defying her expectations. The Father, the Mother, and the Son... all of them were the same to her. 

Fools.

Reed did not even bother turning toward her and said, "...It's strange. I feel better than ever and yet... you fear me, don't you? I don't blame you, though." 

Itotia's heart jumped when she heard his accusation and she said, "You're imagining things, Holy One. Fearing you? The last time I feared anything was when this island was still part of Mulia."

A bold claim considering her snooping, thought Reed. She's just like Lu'um in how she tries to act tougher than she really is. Is this a cultural trait amongst the women of the Ancient Mulians? It'd make sense, considering the matriarchal overtones their culture possesses. 

It wasn't a cultural trait. It was simply a child's folly — how children often imitated the people they admired the most. And for Itotia, the person she idolized was obvious even to the blindest idiot. 

Recognizing that he'd never be able to get Itotia off his back, Reed relented after a period of resisting and returned back to his archaic prison of a bedroom to rest...

But found that someone else had already taken residence in the room. The one person whom he desired to speak with most at the moment. She who had forced him into the unconscious. 

For his safety? For her safety? Was it out of fear or love? Why did she forcibly remove a gift he had earned on his own? Reed was positive that if he had been given the opportunity, he could've successfully compartmentalized his consciousness into two halves. 

He could've kept his Outer Sight along with his natural perception of reality. It would've been a boon on of immense magnitude to them. With it, they could have possibly explored the Outside and perhaps, have gleamed crucial insight into the workings of the Outsiders and the Infestation. 

Where there was a possibility to understand them, there also existed a minuscule chance of reaching a—

The thought was abruptly cut short. 

"To think that you eluded everyone we had posted here. You look unwell, beloved. Is something the matter?" asked Lu'um, her voice as pure and sweet as ambrosia. She slowly began to inch the gap between them step-by-step, almost as if to gauge how he'd react.

"No trickery today, my sunflower," said Reed in a calm, calculated tone. "You denied me a blessing that was rightfully mine. What do you have to say for yourself? ...Why have you betrayed me?"

Lu'um's eyebrows furrowed in slight disapproval and said, "A blessing? Are you listening to yourself? There is nothing to gain except pain from keeping such an illness in your mind." 

A lie. That much he was sure of. Lu'um had a tell when she lied — she always played the sweetheart. It was her way to deal with his flare-ups, to coddle and gently deflect all suspicions with perfect excuses and twisted explanations based on half-truths.

"Here is a master orator and schemer of falsehoods. She, who is the Daughter of the Moon, trained to turn the nastiest lie into the purest truth. The concept of lies and truths are the same to her — tools to be used for what is required of her. All is malleable before her beautiful fingertips. Listen not to her voice, nor her eyes. Be freed, Son of—" whispered the exquisite rug beneath their feet. 

Reed chortled. The exquisite rug giggled. Lu'um laughed. 

His voice started off a but silent murmur... 

"Thus my beloved sunflower spoke! She, who is a goddess, the devil,no-one in particular, and my... one true love," said Reed with perfect clarity. "I surrender at the sight and sound of your intoxicating and addicting presence, for I am but a little man..." 

But eventually rose into a triumphant crescendo of violent love and passion...

And then...

Reed awoke.

"Hm? Did you say something, dear? I sort of spaced out there for a second," said Reed, rubbing his nose in response to an annoying itch that'd formed. "What were we talking about again?" 

"What you are going to wear for tonight's ceremony. I know you don't like wearing formal outfits, but—"

"It's a traditional outfit, right? As long as it's not too embarrassing, I'll wear it. Probably. I promise," said Reed, in an attempt to assuage her worries. Unsurprisingly, she was rather strict about stuff when it came to Citlai and her people. 

Reed wasn't one to deny her something she wanted, even if it came at the price of some embarrassment on his behalf. Spoiling her was something he had not much time for since the Eventide of Faith had begun. 

An aftershock of something he already forgot about hit Reed and he said, "Hey." 

"Yes, mine beloved?" 

"...When did I wake up? How long have we been in Citlai for?" 

Lu'um tilted her head in contemplation and said, "Don't you remember? It's already been four days since you've awoken. ...Is there something you're not telling about? Are your memories fuzzy?"

A concerned frown formed on her beautiful face as she tenderly took Reed into her embrace and held him close like a precious treasure. 

"I think we should call the royal lifeweavers back again to have one more look at you," said Lu'um, in a disarming tone. "I'd not let anyone touch aside myself, but only they might have the expertise to correctly diagnose whatever is affecting your memories." 

Reed hated the idea of anyone poking into his body, let alone his mind, but he understood that something was wrong with him. He couldn't, for the life of him, remember what he'd done for the past four days at all.

That was very concerning, especially for someone who was Chosen. He should have, by all accounts, recovered from whatever injury he had received during his voyage through the Outside. 

"...You're right. I think there's something wrong with me," said Reed as he let out a long, comfortable yawn. There was nothing more comfortable than falling asleep in the bosom of the woman he loved. 

And before Reed knew it, the mewling lullaby Lu'um had sung wormed its way into his brain. His heavy eyelids could no longer support themselves and eventually fell down. 

He had fallen asleep.

All would be well, for it was the will of his beloved. She would be his keeper... until he properly returned to her. 

And until then, he would sleep.