Author Notes: The sequel to God's Love. You'll see why it's called True Self eventually but... Sorry, the first chapter isn't so funny. In fact, I don't know how funny I can get this series to be, but i'll try hard to keep you guys happy. However, there is a more important plot in this one, than before.
"I can't believe it! Kari's back...! Yes, yes! I know, the giants have slain the Fierce Deity, I've heard... Amazing!"
"Yes, I know! We have been saved! I'm going to the church later to thank the giants... Kari is sa-!"
"Hush you two! We're not supposed to talk about that!"
Once again, going back a few weeks ago, the town had been shaken from brick to brick. Finding the un-sacrificed sacrifice on her home's doorstep, Kari's grandmother almost suffered from a heart attack at the sight. Immediately, bring Hanz over to the house, they were delighted to find the girl completely unharmed, although one thing was missing from the girl's being.
"Kari, how did you survive?" Hanz asked, a happy tone fluttering in his voice as he rubbed his eyes twenty times in a row. I don't believe it, she's alive! A pure blissful feeling claimed his body.
"Survive what? Was I sick or something?" Kari cocked her head, and this made Hanz and the grandmother exchanged glances in awe.
"You don't remember? Nothing at all, dearie?" Her grandmother questioned, was her grand-daughter perhaps spared of the terrible memories...? "You had be-"
"You caught a nasty illness; no one knew what it was!" Hanz blurted out, he didn't want the memories to come back. "You had dropped into some sort of coma for a few months..." He looked toward the elder who had a frown on her face, but nodded for him to continue. "We were all very worried... but you're awake now, everything's fine. I won't let anything happen to you again...! I swear it...!"
"... I was that sick...? Weird, I feel completely fine now!" Kari grinned and folded her arms. "How did I break my leg though? It hurts pretty badly at the moment..."
"Uhh... Flowers! You were working in the fields, and tripped on their roots! It happened a few weeks ago... So your leg should heal pretty fast, don't worry a thing about it! Grandma Beck, I'm going to go tell everyone, be back in a b-"
"Hold your fish lines Hanz!" Grandma Beck laughed. "Tell them in the morning, we should all get some good rest... Hanz, be a dear and shut the door behind you, I'll tuck Kari in and we'll be going to sleep."
"Sleep? I am kinda tired..." Kari yawned and followed her grandma. "Night Hanz, see you tomorrow..!"
"... Yeah..." Hanz nodded, wanting to pinch himself. "I'll see you tomorrow; we can go fishing or something!" Excitement swelled in his body. He had lost someone to the Fierce Deity before, but this time, he got his friend back.
That night her bed felt softer than she had ever remembered before. Somehow, it almost felt as if she had been sleeping on the ground the last few months... Rolling over to face the window, she examined the star blanket in the sky. Maybe when I was sick, my body got so stuck in a bad position from the bed, that it feels nice now that I've moved a bit...? I guess I was really sick... Hanz and grandma were acting eccentrically. Oh well, I feel great now! I guess I'll work tomorrow... Hanz will probably tell me otherwise, I'd better start... thinking of... an... argument...
"Morning grandma!" The next day came swiftly, but Kari felt refreshed as if she had soaked in a hot spring for years. "What do you want for breakfast?" Tying a white apron around the new green peasant dress, Kari stepped into the kitchen and began sorting out different cooking utensils. "Let's have a big breakfast! That way, we can work our hardest today!"
"Anything's fine dear... I'm going to sleep a little longer, don't worry about me..." A cough came from the other room, and Kari straightened her body out, tying up her hair with a jade ribbon.
"Grandma, are you ok?" A concerned look appeared on her face as she sat down on the bedside, her grandmother had a red face, and, when she felt it, was getting warm. "You're getting a fever..."
"I've had worse... just make yourself some food... Really, dearie, I'm fine. I didn't raise you to be a worrywart..." A comforting smile only convinced her slightly, but she didn't push the issue.
"I hope I didn't give you what I got, but ok... If you need anything just holler," Kari suggested but the older woman made a stubborn 'hmph' before falling asleep quietly. "..." Kari settled for a pancake, eggs, and two slices of bacon before heading out the door, shutting it quietly behind her. Basket in hand, she began walking down the road, heading to her favorite patch where the flowers grew the most vividly. Just as expected, Hanz joined her about 1/3 of the way there. "Hey Hanz, what should we do today, after I finish working?"
"You're going to work...? But Kar-"
"I wanna help the shop. If I've been sick so long, I need to work twice as hard to catch up... Besides... I'm not working the whole day, I need to get back home and keep an eye on grandma..."
"What's wrong?"
"She's sick... Is it possible she got what I had...? It's all my fault..." Kari sighed, but then bent down to the flowers.
"Y-yeah right, Kari! People get sick all the time, and when you got sick, it just suddenly er... happened! You first have these bumps..." Hanz made up at fast as he could. "And passed out! She probably has a minor cold, it just looks worse because it takes worse effect on elders... No worries, ok?" He sat down next to the river that came close to the medium-sized field of greenery. Assembling a fishing pole, he looked back at her as he stuck some tackle on it. "Hey, the late summer festival is coming up; we should save up money for that."
"Going as friends again?" She beamed and Hanz stuck out her tongue. "You should try to find a date, I dislike festivals..."
"But it's more fun to go with friends!" Hanz protested. "Besides, girls just don't like me. Guess they can't handle the tough guys...?" He smiled and they both laughed.
"I bet someone would go with you, Hanz, you're just so shy around girls! Well, not me but that's different, isn't it? You used to be!" Kari commented about when they had just met at age three.
"But you were a tomboy and it grew easy to talk..." Hanz dug the pole into the ground and rested his head on his hands, leaning back. "Tips?"
"Well, you've got pretty green eyes, so you should brush your hair to show them a bit more," Kari began, secretly laughing. "Also, try smiling more, you're not missing any teeth and so your smile is cute."
"Cute? I don't wanna look like a puppy..."
"Hahahah, don't worr-" She froze up as her hand touched something fleshy. Had she been paying attention, she would've noticed what was in front of her, sooner.
"Kari? Hey, what's up?" His voice seemed so far away as she examined the sight of a boy sprawled out in the flowers. With a blank yet serene face, he seemed unconscious but with the way his blonde hair grew, she couldn't tell if his eyes were open or not. Dressed like a peasant, he wore a white short-sleeved shirt of which the collar was embroidered with a dull yellow design; on the right side, there was a green sewn add on sleeve that that fell just below his elbow. With tan leather pants that tied at the bottom, a center blue "belt" of some sort held the pants up. Wearing fine crafted flip-flop sandals for shoes, one might have mistaken him for a bunch of loose material, or a poorly made rug at first sight. The only thing that seemed to cost money, were two silver hoop ear rings, one per ear. "What the...? Is that a person!?" Hanz rushed over, kneeling beside the young man.
"He's... unconscious... I think..." Who... An image flashed in her mind, but was too quick for her to examine closely. All she knew was that it had been a face. "Do I... know him...?"
"No way," Hanz shook his head. "I've never seen him around here, so we couldn't possibly know him... Well, he passed out from exhaustion, probably lack of food and water as well..."
"Let's bring him to my house," Kari declared as she stood up.
"W-What? But what if he-"
"Then we'll deal with that later, for now, help me carry him home," Kari firmly stared at Hanz who sighed, but agreed. With Hanz acting like a crutch, Kari gathered up the fishing pole, tackle box, and basket before also lending a shoulder. Taking a lot longer to get back home than it normally would take, the two crashed to the ground when they arrived inside. "Geez! He was heavy! But looks so light!"
"Argh...! Tired...! Phwoo!" Hanz had his hands on his knees, panting, but moved the stuff aside. With one last bit of effort, they moved the young man onto the couch and then sat on the floor, exhausted. "He weighed a ton! More than Farmer McNealy's fastest cow!"
"Definitely..." Kari exhaled noisily before struggling to her feet, and checking over the boy. "He doesn't seem hurt, Hanz; can you get me a wet rag while I get out some food and water?" Hanz disappeared form sight, heading to the back closet where towels and rags were kept. What's something good for one's stomach after they've nearly starved...? Choosing a bowl of white rice and a glass of chilled water, Kari set them down on the table and took the rag from Hanz, setting it on the stranger's forehead.
ONE HOUR LATER
"Kari, I hate to leave you with him, but I have to go catch a decent bucket of fish, otherwise my dad is gonna scold me... I'll come check up later, bye." Hanz exited the door, closing it quietly behind himself. Kari watched this, but then sat down on an armchair with a deep sigh. Growing sleepy with every second, she felt her eyes shutting without her approval... CHER... The sound of furniture flattening startled her to a point where she leapt from the seat.
"..." The boy was sitting up, leaning forward, with his arms propped on his legs, supporting himself. His eyes were open, revealing a beast's frosted gaze, but they seemed un-concentrated, as if he wasn't using them, at first.
"Um... Hello...?" Kari tried not to surprise him, but it seemed as if he hadn't even heard her. "Excuse me, are you ok...?"
"Gah runetes vastier kadone..." A different language escaped his lips, but the words sounded familiar, and Kari could sort of make them out. To her, it was like he said "Beginning to End."
"Hey, can you hear me?" When she placed a hand on his shoulder, he shuddered violently, suddenly becoming aware of everything around him. "Can you understand me? Are you ok?"
"..." He gazed at her emptily, absorbed into understanding her words. "Y... Yes. Speaking... Terminan...?"
"Right," She nodded. "You passed out from exhaustion... Uh... You should eat, and drink, it's more important than talking at the moment. Here." Showing him the food, he hesitated before gradually eating. "What's your name?"
"..." He paused, browsing his mind. "... I am..." He set down the bowl of rice, and looked at her, and the image flicked in her mind again. "I am Link."