Naiee couldn't see or hear anything. He didn't know where he was or how did he get there. He couldn't feel his body either. What... happened?
He noticed something in the corner of his eye and quickly turned his head. There was a weirdly faint silhouette of a woman. It took him a second to remember who she was.
"What is it? You look like you just saw a ghost," the woman giggled creepily and Naiee tried to step back out of instinct. He seemed to manage to do it even though he couldn't feel his legs. That was weird.
He didn't know what to say and just stared at the vicious spider woman that tricked his brother. His brother. Memories started to stir in his mind at that thought. He tried to connect the dots. Dad was ill, they went to find the Water of Life, there were trolls, an inventor, he almost drowned (Naiee flinched a little remembering that), there were gryphons...
"Hey. Are you not even surprised to see me? I thought you would scream or try to run away or something."
"Huh?" Naiee blinked and looked around. "Y-yes, of course i am... a-aren't you dead? I thought we killed you..."
Yes, yes they did. They saved that woman, they followed her, Naia didn't listen to him (Stupid. He didn't have the chance to get mad at him properly yet), he barely saved him... then what?...
He didn't feel his mouth or his tongue or his face yet he spoke clearly. He tried to look at his hands. There they were, just kinda... blurry. His mind was kinda blurry too. He was probably just tired.
"I am. I stayed here for a bit so i could watch you two and have some fun." She waited a little, eyeing the boy. "Why are you so calm?! This is no fun at all. Your brother was way more entertaining. At least say that you hate me or something."
"I don't..." he almost whispered, his thoughts far away from wherever they were. "Most things kill to eat. That's just how things are," he looked around, finally coming to his senses a little bit. "Do you know where we are? Or what happened? Why would you watch us?"
"Wow. What a thoughtful little boy you are," she huffed, equally annoyed and surprised. "What a conclusion to make when your father kills fish for a living"
"How'd you know that?"
"I'll tell you everything little boy. That's what i came here for," she grinned almost maniacally.
They... they returned home, it was raining,... they made it to the healer's cabin...
He had so many questions but that missing fragment in his memories could answer most of them probably... he looked at the woman, waiting to hear what she'd say.
"First of all - yes, i know where we are. We're inside your mind. That's why you can't feel anything. It's dark because you're unconscious. I could get here because i"m dead and have no body. You can see bodies because that's how you remember and project people."
Naiee remembered being very tired. So tired he could barely stand and would gladly just collapse but didn't want to scare Naia. Did he pass out? That would make sense. But why was he even that tired?
"Now - what happened. Oh, that'a the juiciest part," she grinned and paused. Naiee started to get impatient. "You seem like a smart boy and you should understand that everything in life has a price," Naiee didn't know where she lead with that. "So does the Water of Life."
"What?... what price, what are you talking about?"
"You see, it can't just bring life and health out of nowhere."
"It's magical."
"It is. But not in the way most think. it can't create health. It can only transfer health."
"How'd you even know how it works?"
"I lived near it for centuries. Do you not know how the sea works?"
Naiee didn't reply.
"I noticed that the ones coming to the tree to heal themselves were not healed. Healing others, however, worked. Why do you think was that? The tree has enough magic to block the water from taking its life. Humans do not."
His blood ran cold. He remembered. He remembered the ringing in his ears when Naia turned to him to say that they did it, fear and confusion replacing his smile when the younger's knees gave out. Naia carried him to bed frantically. Naiee's stomach hurt as if it was pierced through but it wasn't. He coughed blood even though he didn't have any injuries.
He really didn't. He took Naia's pain as his own. It all made sense now. He gave his life for Naia's.
Panic rose inside Naiee. He tried to wake up, to get out of that darkness but he couldn't. Naia couldn't too until Naiee brought the water to his lips.
"B-but wait... the healer..."
"Will die from your father's illness."
"No," Naiee sat down somehow and brought his knees to his chest like he always did when he needed some comfort. "No-no-no-no-no... that's... I... the healer... i don't want to..."
"Die?" she laughed. "Didn't you think how you're better off dead just yesterday?"
"But Naia... maybe he'll find some way to help us!"
"The only way to help you right now would be if Naia gave you some water and took his death back like a man. But there's none left even if he had the guts. If that comforts you he tried giving you all sorts of treatment while i told him it was useless as a ghost. God is that ghost form tiring."
Naiee hugged his knees even tighter. He probably really was better off dead. Dad and Naia won't have to be bothered with him anymore and will just live on happily. He thought of all the things he had to say goodbye to as the price and sighed. He was ready to give everything up for them.
"Why... why are you telling me all this?"
"To have my revenge on you little murderers of course. Seeing your precious Naia crying his eyes out at your deathbed knowing you're doomed was way more satisfying than this little, dialogue though."
Naiee lifted his head in disbelief almost sobbing. He's never seen Naia cry. He always tried to take care of Naia when he was sick or cheer him up when he was sad but he always just smiled and told him he'd be alright. He tried so hard to be strong for him and now...
"Well. You don't seem to have much time left. It was nice to meet you pretty boy. I'll go and mock your brother for basically killing his precious little sunshine with his own stupidity now."
She was gone and Naiee was left all alone with his tears. The only thing he wanted was to hug Naia one last time.