Chapter 25: Ascension (Part 3)
...Sensation.
Touch. His body resting on a firm but comforting bed of some kind, pleasant warmth and pressure provided by a soft blanket.
Hearing. Distant breeze and wind, gentle breath of a living world close by.
Smell. Flowers, greenery, stone and...tea? Apples?
Taste. A minty aroma settled on his tongue and the roof of his mouth, alongside the indescribable musk of one's own breath.
…
Sight?
Feeling a strange sense of unreality permeate his being Nanashi cracked open his eyelids-
-and shut them almost instantly, wincing at the brilliant glare that assailed them.
"Or maybe it's just been so long since I've seen anything normally that I think ambient light is intolerably bright."
The first coherent thought that meandered through his brain was, predictably, a dry one as he slowly peeled open his ocular bits, blinking rapidly but to his surprise his body adjusted to the new source of illumination rather swiftly, what had been blinding a second previous now perfectly normal.
"Huh. Odd."
Heaving himself upwards in a motion that was necessary to get his weak and malnourished body moving Nanashi waited for the familiar ache that accompanied the motion-
-and yelped as he was pitched forward, getting tangled up in the blanket and flopping about like a fish as his body seized and spasmed as if it was some kind of over tuned racing car.
"W-what the fuck?!"
Holding himself still the homunculus tried to figure out just what bizarre fever dream he'd ended up in, where every move he made was more disjointed and awkward than...normal…
…
"I...I'm talking normally? Why am I breathing so smoothly?"
Now registering the fact that his lungs were functioning like they should be Nanashi tried to move his body, carefully and purposefully maneuvering it as he came to a startling realization.
His bones and muscles weren't messed up...he just wasn't used to moving a working set of them.
"...No. No way, am I…"
Hesitantly regaining his feet - the sensation of cool air wafting over his naked body so much more potent than he'd ever imagined it would be - Nanashi looked down-
-and froze, belatedly registering the fact that he could see.
And not just his normal, old vision either. He could stare at the stone wall a fair few paces away and pick out every single detail of it, right down to the nearly invisible cracks and imperfections in the deceptively smooth surface.
His eyes had never been that good before.
"Did...did it...work?"
The last bit was said with such a tender, fragile hope that the youth stood still for almost a whole minute, terrified that action or movement would do away with the fantasy playing out before him...and he stumbled his way to a nearby mirror with clumsy motions, body uncoordinated and awkward as his brain tried to remember how normal walking was supposed to work.
He stopped just shy of the reflective surface, hesitant to dispel the dream he was currently living if what he saw was a broken, worn down boy on his last legs staring back at him...and in one of the hardest things he'd done to date he took a trembling step forward, forcing himself to gaze into the mirror...and could only gape, half-convinced he was under some kind of hypnosis.
Because there was no way the male staring back at him was, well...him.
Immeasurably taller than the emaciated and spindly runt he was used to seeing, now a good half meter larger of whipcord physique that was halfway between a swimmer's form and runway model's smooth curves, skin a brilliant shade of white that wasn't pasty, thin and ridden with tumors but rather shone like virgin snowfall.
A trembling, awkward hand brushed through his full head of hair, not a scraggly and limp mess but a flowing mane of burnished silver that shined like platinum as it flowed through his digits like water.
The eyes...slightly slitted like a cats but holding the intensity of an aerial raptor and their piercing focus. Not to mention the shade was nothing like the plain, dull red - similar to muddy clay - that they were before. Now orbs of striking crimson gazed back, glowing like wells of fresh blood.
Trembling uncontrollably Nanashi was barely able to hold his arms level despite their newfound strength, gazing with disbelieving awe at the slightly visible veins standing in stark contrast to his pale flesh, light blue and silver in coloration as they spider-webbed through his insides.
His neck craning downwards the homunculus marveled at the flat planes of his stomach, the tightly defined hips and muscled groin where a limp cock hung and swayed in time with his movements...but where his old one had been a worthless, dead piece of ornamental flesh this one - even if flaccid - practically hummed with vitality and purpose, as if it could spring to life at a moment's notice.
Taking a shuddering breath Nanashi closed his eyes, let his arms flop to his sides and tried one last test.
Pulsing his magic circuits in a manner that had basically become second nature to him at this point the youth felt a rush of power like nothing he'd ever felt before, a swell of scorching heat race through his veins-
-and then it vanished like a wisp of steam caught in a storm, his body feeling no different than it had before, eyelids slowly peeling themselves open...and Nanashi could only stare.
His magic circuits stood out all over his body as they always had...but this time they positively shined with a brilliance he had never before seen, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. And speaking of his heart the organ itself seemed to glow, as if it was powering the whole ensemble.
Actually, it probably was...after all, he'd had the heart of a dragon implanted in place of his old one.
Gaze drifting even further downwards the homunculus couldn't help but wonder at something he didn't recognize upon his skin, a glimmer of esoteric designs that-
"Wait, are those…"
The male's eyes widened as he belatedly recognized them as the mark that had stood upon Tiamat's flesh, her divine symbol now engraved on his person.
"How did she...actually, what happened?"
Mind racing to try and reconcile both his changes and current circumstances the youth's sharp ears suddenly picked up the sound of footsteps ascending stone stairs, neck almost cricking itself as he whirled around with a speed he belatedly realized he was going to have to get used to, so used to moving with a lame muscle structure that he was.
The door was shoved open, a disheveled and exhausted looking Merlin stumbling in as he and Nanashi locked gazes, the Magus of Flowers absent his usual robes and sporting a simple shirt and pants.
"Oh, good, you've awoken. After everything that occurred there had been an honest question as to whether you would regain consciousness anytime soon."
Jaw working soundlessly Nanashi eventually managed to croak out, "Is...is everyone else alright?"
A reassuring smile adorned the man's features.
"Rest assured, they are perfectly fine. Even dear Abby and Tiamat are in hale spirits, no adverse effects to be found. What of yourself, do you have any defects or issues present within your new body?"
Nanashi swallowed, barely managing to whisper, "This...I'm not dreaming, right? This is real?"
A playful smile adorned Merlin's lips as he lightly poked the youth in the forehead.
"Does that feel real?"
The homunculus merely stood perfectly still, in something approaching shock-
-and he panicked as his vision began to blur, primal fear of returning to what he had once been causing him to slap at his eyes...and halted, slowly removing his right hand, vision clearing and showing a single, gleaming drop of water resting upon his skin.
"I'm...crying?"
Merlin gently ruffled his hair, informing the thunderstruck male, "Yes, Nanashi, you are...but I think you have well deserved the opportunity to shed all the tears you desire, achieving what you did-HRK?!"
Violently trembling and hiccuping as the slowly growing tidal wave of emotions finally broke loose Nanashi threw himself into Merlin's chest, hugging the taller male for all he was worth as a vortex of chaotic sensation roared through his mind, thoughts drifting every which way like bits of flotsam picked up and tossed into a hurricane.
"I...I did it. I'm alive and I did it, I can see, hear, smell and, and...I'm ALIVE."
"Thank you...for everything…"
No response was heard from the Magus of Flowers and it was only after some of the whirl of emotions had passed that Nanashi belatedly realized something was rapidly tapping him on the back...said something being a suffocating Merlin, caught up in his back-breaking embrace and fruitlessly trying to free himself.
"O-oh, shit! Sorry, I just…"
Releasing the fae-like male he sucked down a frantic breath, coughing violently even as he gave Nanashi a wry grin.
"Y-you will have to work on more accurately controlling your strength, Nanashi. The changes to your body have left you in a massively more improved state than you were prior."
A more teasing expression appeared on the magus' features.
"And while I am more than happy to receive all of your delightful hugs - provided you do not shatter my spine in the process - I do request that you put on pants while doing so."
Nanashi blinked, looking down-
-and blanched, coughing into his fist before awkwardly stating, "Er, right, sorry. Was just a little, you know…"
Another chuckle from the Magus of Flowers, palm affectionately rubbing Nanashi's hair as he said, "A change of clothes are in the cupboard there, come downstairs as soon as you are ready. I will send word to all three of your eagerly waiting companions."
The homunculus nodded, making his way to the highlighted wardrobe before pausing.
"Wait, all three of them?"
But Merlin was already gone, Nanashi briefly confused at the information.
Manaka and Abigail, certainly...but who was the third? Ayaka? Haruki?
He shook his head, figuring he would find out soon enough.
"How could you do something so reckless like that?! Do you have any idea how worried we were, Nanashi?!"
Blinking at the feeling of Abigail throwing herself into his chest Nanashi could only dumbly stare, arms limply hanging at his sides as he drank in the sight of the girl before him.
"I...can see you again."
A head of blonde hair - silky soft to his touch - shot up, bright blue eyes glistening with joyful tears while a third orb of prismatic color stood out in sharp contrast atop her forehead as they peered into his crimson own, the homunculus scarcely able to believe just how beautiful she was, now that every pore and every crease of her features stood out in exacting detail.
"You got taller."
Blinking at that sudden comment Nanashi belatedly realized that was indeed a very true statement. Whereas before he'd been smaller than Abigail and Manaka by a fair few centimeters now the tip of their heads barely crested his collarbone, the youth dumbly commenting, "Well I was kind of a shrimp before all of this so, you know...the weather is nice up here?"
Sniffling at his utterly idiotic response to such a miraculous and impossible beating of the odds Abigail renewed her hug with extra enthusiasm, the boy marveling at just how warm she felt...warm and soft, a texture to her skin and hair that left him barely cogent enough to return the embrace with soft and gentle motions, hands awkwardly setting themselves on her back.
But soon his eyes wandered to the first friend of his new life, standing slightly off to the side with a pinched expression, pursed lips...and trembling body, eyes leaking crystal clear droplets as they met his gaze directly.
"...I fulfilled our contract, Manaka. Guess that I-"
SMACK!
Blinking away the slight stinging sensation spreading through his cheek Nanashi briefly reflected that a slap like that would have probably broken his neck before ending up in this body, now it barely tingled after a brief few seconds.
"You...you…"
Staring down on the girl who for so long had been an impossibly larger than life figure the homunculus gently - and somewhat awkwardly - reached out, wiping away Manaka's freely falling tears as he mumbled, "Are you really crying, Manaka? Not very ladylike."
His midriff was engulfed in a feminine and desperate embrace, the magus sniffling and shuddering against his form as she grumbled, "You incorrigible buffoon, do you have any idea of the responsibility you now hold for...for making me feel?"
"Would you be mad if I said the slap knocked some sense into me?"
A wet sniffle and even more crushing hug was her only reply, Abigail beaming as she seemed on the verge of breaking out into joyous tears herself as Nanashi clumsily stroked his companion's hair in an unsure attempt to calm her down somewhat.
At the same time he let his eyes wander the entrance to Merlin's abode, searching for the third individual the magus had mentioned was present...and didn't find anyone, only the aforementioned man standing off to the side with a fond smile upon his unfairly handsome features, tail nervously lashing behind him-
"Wait...tail?"
Finding the appendage to be strikingly familiar he tilted his head slightly to get a better angle...and felt his jaw drop as unmistakable eyes of pink with an exotic x-shape stared back at him before once more hiding behind Merlin as if scared of his attention.
"Is that who I think it is?"
Chuckling to himself as Abigail offered up a radiant smile Merlin gently shooed the tiny figure out from behind him, remarking, "Come now, this is no time to be shy. You played a significant part in saving his life, revel in that achievement and be proud."
"Fou!"
Hesitantly stepping forward Nanashi dumbly stared at the sight of what could only be a shrunken and tiny Tiamat, fiercely wagging Fou held tight in her arms like a safety blanket, the de-aged goddess hesitantly staring at him with upturned eyes as she tilted her neck downwards as if shy of his attention.
"Are you...wait."
Crimson orbs narrowing in concentration the homunculus realized the markings adorning the woman's stomach were gone aside from a single, vertical line while the rest of the design was etched onto his flesh instead, softly pulsing with an esoteric light as a whole bevy of other realizations hit at a rapid pace.
"Wait, did she give me all of her Divine Graph? And how is she here? I thought she was trapped in that void-space or whatever? Why is she a midget? And why do you still have a third eye on your forehead, Abigail? Actually, scratch that, just what the hell happened to everyone in general since I was out? How am, well...alive?"
Merlin gazed at him with a fair bit of amusement, commenting, "Why don't we retire to an area more conducive to conversation rather than stand around awkwardly?"
No one had any objections.
Giggling at his constant squirming and shifting Abigail stated, "Do you have ants in your pants, Nanashi?"
Flexing his arm and fingers for what felt like the thousandth time with no less amazement than he had before the youth distantly responded, "It feels like it...it's strange just being able to move like a normal person."
Shaking his head clear of the recurring thought he instead turned his attention to the assembled group, seated on a large blanket just a bit outside Merlin's tower and meeting his scrutinizing gaze with no shortage of affection and relief.
Two individuals in particular kept getting his attention though, namely Abigail and Tiamat.
His blonde friend now sported a third eye located vertically upon her forehead, the ocular organ glowing with the kaleidoscope of color and ethereal patterns that it had when she was making use of the Outer God's strength...but gone was the vague sense of unease and otherworldliness that had always surrounded the eye, now just seeming like a normal and perfectly functional - if exotic- eye.
"Guess that just goes to show how skewed my idea of normal is that a rainbow orb stuck onto someone's forehead seems perfectly reasonable."
His gaze then wandered to Tiamat, the now young girl happily smiling as Fou chased and played with her draconic tail, the appendage darting and swaying as the fluffy quadruped attempted to pounce on it.
Now appearing no older than twelve or thirteen years of age she was a sight more tiny than her mature and matronly body had been, attire largely the same although her limbs were free from the chains that had bound them, shawl replaced with a slim one piece of glowing fabric that narrowly covered her budding chest and puffy mound, looping around her neck in a rather blatant display of 'come hither' energy.
"I still can't get around how she managed to get out of her prison. Happy as hell, sure, but confused."
Turning to Manaka and Merlin he asked, "So what exactly happened after I used my power on...whatever that Outer God's name was? And why is Tiamat so unfairly cute now?"
A brief noise of surprise left the goddess, pale skin flushing pink with embarrassment as Nanashi raised an eyebrow at the action, Abigail giggling while Manaka merely puffed out a cheek in vexation.
"Then allow me to recount the tale in full, dear Nanashi."
Settling onto his right arm as his left handled a decanter of what was no doubt some kind of wine he took an appreciative sip, imparting, "After you removed the deity who's name honestly eludes me at the moment you all reverted to your original destination, my home. Unfortunately, at the time you were essentially dead. No brain activity, no functioning organs...just a body with a quickly departing soul."
Listening with rapt attention the man continued with, "Thankfully we managed to put you into an unassailable stasis of sorts, miss Manaka here performing the lion's share of the work as she kept you 'alive' to the best of her ability...what she performed was no small feat, Nanashi. It is not so hard a thing to keep a body preserved, but the soul as well, which goes against very fundamental laws of our reality?"
He winked, the girl in question preening under his praise.
"I do believe you owe her a passionate kiss or three~!"
A sudden bout of coughing left the blonde, Nanashi blushing red while Abigail let loose an amused giggle, Tiamat merely tilting her head in curiosity as Fou bit Merlin's ankle, the male cursing before resuming his tale with watering eyes and a bleeding foot.
"Anyway, even with miss Manaka's brilliant intervention that solution itself was only temporary, the monumental act of holding back an intrinsic and unstoppable force of nature taxing even for one of her strength...it was Abigail and Tiamat who were able to provide the answer of how to manifest enough energy to both keep your soul in place long enough to be transferred into your new container and survive the process."
He reached out a hand and fondly ruffled the goddess's hair, the dragoness yet again flushing pink at the affectionate action.
"She made use of the connection you share through her imparted Divine Graph to imbue you with every iota of divine energy that she could muster, fooling both the world and your body into believing that it was alive, even though the opposite couldn't be truer."
His expression turned more contemplative.
"In doing so she regressed to the form you see here now, the vast majority of her power expended in a bid to save your life...after that you were asleep until not long ago, after we transferred your soul and all other associated bits to this new body."
Honestly at a loss of how to reply to that the pale-haired youth instead whispered, "I...I don't know what to say. Thank you, all of you."
Drawing himself up straight he took a deep breath, turning to the group at large before asking, "Tiamat's form...can we return her to her previous strength and body? And not that I'm complaining but shouldn't she technically still be locked in her prison?"
The draconic girl's head tilted in what he could only guess was bemused curiosity, tail lightly swaying as Merlin and Manaka both seemed rather uncertain.
"The best explanation we can muster for the latter inquiry is that so much of Tiamat's strength was used to ensure your survival that her prison ceased to recognize her as a god at all, allowing her to walk free since she has practically no trace of divinity whatsoever."
Merlin unleashed a dramatic sigh, lips quirking in amusement.
"It is always the smallest of details that ends up derailing systems previously thought unassailable. Her captors were so concerned with locking away a goddess of unimaginable power and strength that they failed to account for one of vastly decreased presence and might."
Tiamat radiantly smiled, head bobbing along with happy agreement as Nanashi could only shake his head, Manaka adding, "As for restoring her strength to what it once was?"
Nanashi raised an eyebrow as she pouted, one cheek puffing itself out in childish vexation.
"Perfectly achievable, but it will no doubt require a great deal of constant closeness or exchange of, erm…"
Here she blushed, Nanashi having a suspicion of what she was going to say next.
"Mana rich fluid. Blood and, and...oh you know!"
Crossing her arms and staring off to the side in a firm display of displeasure at the topic Merlin took up the threat of conversation with, "Considering that you now hold much of her Divine Graph upon your person much of Tiamat's rejuvenation will be dependant upon how much energy you are willing or able to return to her."
Here he gained a playful smirk.
"Should you be enthusiastic enough I would wager she is within her prime once more in less than three years."
Face heating as he remembered precisely what the alternative fluid of choice was he coughed into his fist, Tiamat not helping things at all by merely smiling and nodding in enthusiasm.
Nanashi was fairly certain she didn't fully understand what that whole method was going to entail.
"Or maybe she does and being a goddess means that stuff like sex is just of different importance to her than it is to me."
Sighing to himself he was inwardly relieved as both Manaka and Abigail yawned in unison, the girls blearily blinking as the homunculus realized they had probably been awake and active for quite the extended amount of time, Merlin of the same opinion as he clapped his hands, stating, "Now that we are certain Nanashi is in no danger it is high time you three earned some rest."
Tiamat tilted her head, no doubt confused as to why she was included in that statement-
-and promptly unleashed one of the most adorable yawns the youth had ever seen, x-shaped eyes blinking in surprise as if she herself couldn't believe what had just happened.
"That is correct, young lady. Your current body isn't the divine one you've existed in for so long, it has need of some basic human functions, rest being one such facet."
He grabbed Fou by the scruff, holding the fluffy animal aloft from where it had been nibbling on him as it sported a mightily displeased expression, the Magus of Flowers cheerily stating, "This layabout will show you to the guest rooms, feel free to stay as long as you wish...I do so enjoy having company."
Grudgingly accepting his words Manaka rose to her feet, responding, "Very well, rest does not seem so adverse an idea...Nanashi?"
"Yeah, what's-"
The youth's brain came to a dead stop as soft, inviting lips pressed up against his own in a clumsy - or at least he assumed it was clumsy, he had precious little experience on the matter - kiss that left him stiff as a board and wide-eyed.
Eternity slipped by without the homunculus being aware of so much as a second passing by, Manaka parting from his mouth and blushing such a bright scarlet that he was inwardly shocked she hadn't passed out.
"W-w-well?! Are you not grateful, you simpleton?! T-that was our first kiss!"
"Umm...actually it wasn't so-"
SMACK!
Not really confused as to why Manaka yet again slapped him - not that it really hurt - he hesitantly asked, "Err...was it something I said?"
Rather than reply Manaka merely turned to face Abigail, supremely smug smile on her lips as her fellow blonde merely tilted her head, considering the girl's actions...and abruptly smiled, nodding to herself as she rose to her feet-
-and grabbed Nanashi's head, bringing it down so that she could claim his lips in an action that felt far more mature than Manaka's actions...and was that her tongue?!
Left more bewildered, confused and uncertain as to his current standing than he could remember being in a long time he dumbly watched as Manaka twitched and scowled, glaring at Abigail as if the single most heinous crime in existence had just taken place before her, the longer-haired girl pulling her into an embrace that looked far too smug to be genuine as she trilled, "Come along now, it's time we get to sleep, Manaka~!"
"Fou, Fou!"
As if sensing the impending storm the fluffy quadruped quickly nudged their legs, hurrying them along and away from the target of their dispute as Nanashi just sat there like the proverbial fly on the wall, mind filled with a sort of dull static.
He only snapped out of it as Tiamat enveloped him in a warm hug, the goddess offering a small but heartfelt smile that managed to distract him from the impending crisis as he hesitantly returned the embrace, murmuring, "Thank you, Tiamat. I promise I'll let you regain your former strength as fast as possible...or however fast you're comfortable with."
For a second the girl's eyebrows furrowed, as if trying to figure out some kind of fiendishly difficult puzzle...and she nodded to herself, slowly speaking, "I am...happy too, Nanashi. Not...in a hurry."
For what felt like the millionth time today the boy's jaw dropped, the words issuing from Tiamat's mouth soft and hesitant but nonetheless, well...normal.
"You, you talked?"
Expression turning proud the goddess once more made to speak-
-and only soft fluting noises left, a pout of frustration appearing that was quickly followed by another yawn, Nanashi almost dying from the sheer cuteness of such an act.
"Now now, no need to force yourself, my dear. Rest, he will still be here come tomorrow."
Reluctantly nodding Tiamat departed without another word, tail lazily swaying through the air as Nanashi watched her go, eyes drifting down towards the soft, curved swell of her exposed butt-
-and snapped his neck around so fast that he was surprised he didn't shatter it, embarrassed by his blatant staring.
Something that didn't go unnoticed by Merlin, the male smirking at his blush as he stated, "Worry not, Nanashi. Such actions are merely the result of a perfectly functioning libido, after all~!"
"Just...just forget it, okay?"
Chuckling to himself the older man mused, "I'd daresay you have quite the trouble brewing on the horizon, young man...a fair bit of it domestic."
As if in response to Merlin's observation an indignant shout came from inside the tower, Manaka no doubt chastising Abigail as a tinkling peal of laughter left the former host of the Outer God, clearly unbothered by her friend's complaints.
"All the same, there still exists a fair amount of topics we need to cover, young Nanashi."
Gesturing to the seat next to him Merlin more seriously stated, "Perhaps we should start with how you managed to erase the name of an Outer God from our collective knowledge?"
Cue the Robots meme.
Y'all know which one.