-five days later in Torigoth-
"Wow, fresh lobster for lunch," Nia was amazed by the platter before her.
A fine spread had been laid out on her dining room table, supplied to her by Tora who had just stopped by for a visit.
"O-Of course, only the best for friend Nia," Tora replied with visible fear.
He pretended that this was a mere gesture of friendship, but Nia knew what was really going on. As promised, Pyra had made certain that Tora paid her back for the tuna from before along with a bit of interest in a grand lunch he had brought over to share in her office. Still, she let him maintain the charade that this was all his idea and picked up her utensils to dig in when a knock came at the door.
"It figures that this would happen the moment I permit myself to take a lunch hour," Nia set aside her fork with a sigh.
Getting up, she took on her full blade form in anticipation of someone who would be needing her services. Business was still pretty slow, but it wasn't completely dead anymore. Even though she could still detect doubt lingering in a lot of people, word of mouth from the people that she had helped had people coming to her for further assistance with their daily aches and pains, especially from the local lumberyard. In this instance though, opening the door revealed nobody in the vicinity of her home whatsoever.
"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me," she groaned.
"Another one, my lady?" Dromarch asked from across the room.
"I don't know what they think they're doing," Nia shut the door and turned back around, "I've taken a lot of abuse for who I am over the years but ding-dong ditching? I've never seen it."
In the time since her return from her evening meal at Rex's house, once or twice a day she would get a knock on the door but answer to find nobody there. Was it just somebody's idea of a prank? She didn't have a clue and could only huff in frustration as she headed back to her seat. Unlike the other incidents though, the false knock was immediately followed by another one to which she lunged back for the door before the prospective visitor could escape.
"What do you want from me?!" she yelled out as she stepped outside.
"I-I'm sorry. Is this bad time?" a timid voice squeaked to her from below.
Looking down, she recognized the face of the Gormotti girl whose ankle she had healed days before who was holding up a vase of flowers in her arms.
"Sally?!" Nia was flabbergasted, "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry! I thought you were someone else."
"I-Is everything okay, Miss Nia?" she was still visibly shaken.
"Yes, yes, please forgive me!" Nia desperately apologized, "Was that you knocking on my door before too?"
"No, I just got here." Sally replied
"And you didn't see anyone else here?"
"Nope."
"Is that so?..." Nia pondered about the true culprit before turning her attention back to the girl in front of her, "Please forget I said anything. What brings you here?"
"Well, me, my brother, my dad, and some of his friends are all in town today to do some shopping for a big family dinner he's going to be having in a few days. While we were walking around I saw your name on this flier," Sally pulled out the sheet of paper from her pocket, "It said you have your own doctor's office and that you even stop Nopon nosebleeds good."
"Yeah, I do..." Nia inwardly cringed at the slogan that Tora had insisted on while he gave her a gesture of approval in the background.
"It made me remember how you healed my ankle last week and how much I wanted to thank you for it, so I bought these flowers at the market and came over."
"Awww, they're lovely," Nia gleefully accepted the bouquet, "Wow, red, white, and blue. What a nice choice of colors."
"They reminded me of you," Sally noted the combination of colors that comprised Nia's blade form.
"Thank you so much. Please, come inside," Nia invited her in.
As the pair re-entered the house, Nia summoned a cup's worth of water with her elemental skills to nourish the plants and set them down on the center of her table. The fresh flora immediately got Dromarch's attention just as Dromarch got Sally's attention.
"Oh my, aren't those some rare species?" Dromarch demonstrated his expertise with botany.
"My dad let me get some really nice ones when I told him they were for the person who healed me," Sally explained, "Aren't you the one other blade who was with Miss Nia last time?"
"Yes, my name is Dromarch," he introduced himself, "Nice to meet you,"
"Nice to meet you too," Sally bowed politely.
"He's another blade who lives and works with me," Nia clarified, "And this is Tora, my Nopon neighbor."
Sally and Tora acknowledged one another as Nia began rummaging around in her kitchen.
"Can I get you anything to eat?" she offered.
"No, I just had lunch and we're going to the farm pretty soon," Sally kindly declined.
"Well, feel free to get as comfortable as you want."
Sally accepted the offer by going over to Dromarch to pat his head and stroke his fur. He was normally too dignified to accept such pampering from anyone but Nia, but the young girl was too charming for him to rebuff. The scene struck Nia all too familiarly. Although the mammalian blade would have no way to recall it as it was in his past life before he returned to his core when her father passed away., Nia could not ignore what was the spitting image of how her late sister would pet Dromarch for comfort, especially when her sickness was really taking its toll. Sally giggled when she managed to get a husky purr out of him.
"You really like being scratched under your chin, don't you?" she playfully teased.
"Only my lady truly knows," Dromarch answered.
"Yes, he does," Nia chuckled, "Don't let the tough face fool you. He's melting on the inside."
"Aw, he's so cute," she finally let him go, "Would it be alright if I visited you guys more often?"
"Absolutely, nothing would please me more."
"That's good. I was worried that the cannibal might be a problem."
"What cannibal?!" Nia gawked.
"The one on the paper," Sally pulled the flier from before back out to read the scribbling on the reverse side, "On the back. It says to watch out for the cannibal. I saw another one talking about a blade that eats human flesh."
"S-Sally, I..." Nia struggled to find the right words to even start with.
"What is it, Miss Nia? Do you know where the cannibal is?"
"Sally..." Nia steeled herself for her greatest test yet, "Would you mind taking a seat for a minute?"
Sally gladly took the chair that Nia pulled out for her and Nia moved another one so she could be face to face with the girl. She had promised herself that she would not allow herself to be afraid anymore, but that didn't cover the bevy of other emotions now spiraling around in her head. Anxiety, sadness, and concern were merely a select few that she could distinctly identify. No matter the risks though, she was not going to tell this girl any lies. She had done enough of that in her life. As rough as it would be, it was better for Sally to get the truth from her now than someone else later.
"Miss Nia, what's wrong?" Sally's naivete gave her no cause for alarm, but she could sense shift in Nia's demeanor and grew worried for her.
"More than it would ever be fair of me to expect you to understand, Sally," Nia still felt herself getting cold feet, "I probably shouldn't talk about this stuff with someone so young."
"Please tell me. I want to know," Sally grew more eager, "I'm more mature than I look. I promise I won't get scared."
"Sally," Nia took a deep breath, "This world is a vast, gorgeous, incredible place, but in spots, it can also lonely, cold, and cruel."
"Because of the cannibal?"
"Sally," Nia fidgeted with her hands while contemplating how best to explain this issue to a child, "You said before that you thought my crystal was pretty, right? It's why you got the red flowers."
"Yup, it's really nice."
"I can't tell you how happy it makes me that you would say that. Very few others would ever think so."
"Why?"
"Because this red-and-blue crystal is shows people what I really am. It tells them of the crime I have committed against what they see as the natural order of blades and humans."
"What? Why would anyone think you have done wrong? You healed me without asking for anything back and quicker than any healer my dad has ever gotten me when I'm not feeling well."
"I'm not your ordinary blade, Sally. I've been blessed with healing powers beyond anything people would normally see, and that's frightening to a lot of them."
"Why would anyone think that's frightening? It's wonderful!"
"Because of the way I got them. I'm a blade that has bonded with the cells of a human being. I'm the cannibal you were warned about."
A chilly hush fell over the room at this staunch confession. A look at Sally showed Nia a degree of fear building up in her eyes, but from the way she never took her eyes off of Nia, it was as if Nia herself was not what Sally was afraid of.
"I-I'm sorry," Sally gave an unexpected apology, "I've never even heard of such a thing. I had no idea that this would be about you. That's terrible. I apologize for having said anything."
"What? You're feeling bad for me?" Nia gaped.
"I don't know a whole lot about this blade stuff. I just wanted to come say thanks to the person who helped me when I was hurt. I had no idea that people could think so badly of you. I hope I didn't say anything bad by accident."
"What? No! This is my problem to worry about, not yours. I've been going around healing people so they wouldn't have to be afraid anymore."
"I don't get what anyone would be scared of."
"There are rumors that blades like me get our powers by devouring people alive."
"Is that true?"
"No."
"Then you're not scary."
Nia was awestruck and moved by the girl's stunningly simple yet bold line of logic. In a way, it was as if Sally had a certain healing power of her own through her persistent innocence that was eerily reminiscent of a certain boy from Leftheria, so much so that her eyes were on the brink of tearing up with joy and she began giggling to herself.
"Miss Nia, are you okay?" Sally soon noticed.
"Yes, absolutely, you just remind me a lot of my driver," Nia rubbed her eyes and took a breath, "and my sister."
"Blades can have sisters?"
"Not normally, I was adopted into her family as her sister. We may have been different species, but I loved her just the same."
"I know what you mean. My brother means a lot to me too."
"She was very sweet and playful, but also physically weak. We tried everything including my powers to help her, but she fell terminally ill and passed away."
"I'm so sorry, Miss Nia."
"The family was devastated by the loss. So much so, that I was compelled to do what is considered taboo among blades. I consumed her remains and made her a permanent part of my body."
Sally's eyes went wide with astonishment and wonder. Nia knew that this story was likely far too heavy to put on a girl of Sally's age, but the unyielding focus in her eyes told her that her understanding was beyond that of a mere child's.
"She lives on in me now," Nia held a hand up to her crystal, "Because of the things that happened after that, my sister never even got a proper grave. I don't even have a photograph left. My memories and this tainted core crystal of mine are all that remain of her. It wasn't my intention when doing so, but becoming one with her awakened incredible powers within me and the strength I needed to make it on my own. Since then, I've made the most wonderful group of friends with the greatest driver imaginable. He was the first one to see me as something other than a freak. He gave me the courage to set aside my fears and open up this place to offer my healing to anyone who might need it."
"Like me?"
"Especially you. You really are so much like she was," Nia ruffled a hand through Sally's hair, "I may not have been able to help her, but I'm glad I could help you."
Sally responded to this touch by reaching out a single finger to Nia's crystal. She traced her finger along the discolored spots on it curiously but respectfully.
"It's wrong," Sally murmured.
"What is?" Nia became slightly bashful at the contact.
"If this is all that you have left of your sister, then you shouldn't call it tainted," she spoke more clearly.
"Oh... yeah, I guess you're right," Nia was surprised by the mild scolding.
"And nobody else should either," Sally continued, "My brother wants to be a driver when he grows up, but I still have a lot to learn about blades. Even so, I bet the reason you're so strong is because of how much you cared about her and how much she still cares about you. You should be proud to carry your sister with you. Even if something were to happen to me, if I knew that a part of me was still helping somebody I loved do such wonderful things, it'd make me that happiest girl in the world. I don't know why anyone would think what you've done is wrong. People should be glad to know someone like you, Miss Nia, and they should thank your sister."
Without any further conversation, Nia leaned forward to take the Gormotti child in for a hug. The embrace created a specifically familial warmth that she often doubted that she would ever have in her life again which only led her to hold on tighter. Sally was still too raw in her knowledge of the world to grasp the true weight of just what her words meant to the blade, but, as Nia continued to cling to her, she was the sort of girl who had never encountered a hug she wasn't ready to give back.
"Not just for healing, but if you ever need a blade's help with anything in your life, please come back to see me anytime you like," Nia whispered affectionately into her ear.
"I will, Miss Nia," Sally nodded into her chest before they released each other."
"And take care of your brother too," Nia added, "Even if he's bigger and stronger than you, he needs you as much as you need him."
"I will, I will," Sally repeated, "I've actually got to get going now though. He and my dad are probably writing for me at the farm right now."
"Take care!" Nia joyfully waved her off out the door before letting the emotions she was trying to contain for the sake of the girl slip out to the surface with a breath that might have been a sob and a clenching of her fist. Telling the story of her past took her to a lot of painful places but a lot of joyful ones as well. There was a liberating feeling to it as well that she was trying to process.
"Friend Nia..." Tora re-alerted her to his continued presence in her home, "Is everything alright?"
"About as alright I've ever been," she recollected herself, "Especially since I still have to eat this lobster you so generously donated."
"Yes, yes, eat away," his body stiffened instantly, "N-Nia deserves every bite!"
The trio shared a delightful lunch at the Nopon's expense with a sizable dessert as well. So sizable that even Tora's voracious appetite could be momentarily put to rest. They basked for a few minutes in the satisfaction of a full stomach, but Dromarch still had his two pieces of gold to offer on the discussion he had just overheard.
"My lady..." he somberly interrupted the silence, "As you know I lack any memories of the time before I had resonated with you."
"Yes, it's perfectly understandable," she answered.
"You've told me the story of my time with my previous driver, your father, but I'd never known how deeply you cared for your sister."
"I often questioned how much I really did care about her if I wasn't able to save her," Nia admitted, "All these years I figured that Father had come across some rare, expensive secret to produce the perfect flesh eater which is how I came out of the process so much stronger and healthier than ones like Cole, but now I wonder if that may not have actually been the case..."
"What do you mean?"
"Ahhh, it's probably just the idealistic rambling of a child, but, still, what if it really is true that it was my sister and I's love for one another that enabled me to bond to her flesh so well and awaken this power?" Nia allowed herself to ponder, "Then... maybe I..."
Nia gazed at the ceiling to contemplate this new possibility but was yanked out of her thoughts by a more frantic banging on her door than she had ever heard. Hurrying from her seat to answer the commotion greeted her with another familiar face on her front stoop.
"Trevor?..." Nia welcomed the boy but was immediately alerted to his disheveled demeanor.
"Nia!" he exclaimed, "It's you!"
"Yes, it's me."
"Please, come quick! It's terrible! It's awful!" Trevor was in a total panic.
"What's terrible?"
"Sally! It's Sally!' he finally managed to blurt out, "She said I could come to you for anything!"
"Of course! What is it?"
"She's hurt bad! Like really bad! Please, you have to get to the farm quick!"
Nia was ready to simply jog over to help with what was probably another leg injury or something, but a brief stare straight into his eyes told her of a crisis far more severe.
"Dromarch! Come here! We need to get to the farm as fast as possible!"
"Yes, my lady!" the tiger sprang into action and offered them both a seat on his back.
Tora scurried off on his own while Dromarch made his mad dash towards the farm. His beastly athleticism had them at their destination in what was no more than a minute, but the scene that they arrived upon told them that even that might have been far too long. The animals in the area all appeared to be in a state of unease with the centerpoint of the commotion seeming to be a young girl lying on the grass near the pen for the Arduns. Blood could be seen all over her clothing even from a distance. A crowd had already started forming around the scene with one large Gormotti man in particular unleashing his rage upon another.
"What the hell have you done?!" a booming voice cursed as a crowd was already starting to gather.
"Please forgive me, Sir Norman!" a much meeker one tried to apologize, "I've never seen him do anything like this before."
"What kind of farmer can't control his own damn animals?!"
"I swear this is the first time anything like this has happened."
"Well, that first time may have just murdered my daughter! I'll have your head for this!"
This statement captured Nia's absolute attention as Trevor had finally calmed down enough to talk about happened.
"It was the Ardun," he gravely gasped for breath, "Our father was inside discussing which types of vegetables he wanted to purchase."
Nia looked around the scene to notice a tall, buff Gormotti man dressed in fine robes and absolutely losing his mind on the helpless farmer before him. One good look at him and her own past experience immediately informed Nia of his true status.
"Your father is a lord of Gormott?!" Nia couldn't believe the coincidence
"Yes," Trevor confirmed, "While he was shopping, Sally and I were walking around outside to look at the animals. The farmer lets me feed them all the time. That includes the Arduns which I've never seen harm so much as a fly. Normally, I would do the feeding myself, but Sally really wanted to give it a try. Everything seemed normal but something spooked him out of nowhere, and he rammed his horn right into Sally's chest!"
The revelation had Nia's blood turning to ice as she looked around almost hysterically to try and find Sally. She soon noticed the girl on the ground was indeed her against all of her fervent wishes. What looked to be a Gormotti driver and a common bitball healing blade were attempting some sort of treatment on her while another Gormotti driver accompanied by an axe-wielding blade stood by the lord Norman, looking every bit as angry as he was.
"Who are these guys?" Nia questioned Trevor.
"The drivers I told you that my family knew. The one will the healing blade is Nate and the one with the attacking blade is Thomas."
Nia rushed over to get a closer look at Sally while the crowd only grew in volume. By the time, she made it over to Sally's side, it felt like the entire population of Torgioth was in attendance. The driver Nate and his blade were fervently working on Sally's gaping wound with every iota of their energy and concentration going into it, but a closer inspection of the wound told Nia of a tragedy on the horizon with her chest gashed open in crimson carnage.
"How's it looking, Nate?" Norman inquired of the driver with rising frustration and worry in his voice.
"Very bad, very, very bad," Nate revealed grimly, "All of our strength and skills are going into merely stopping the bleeding. I can't do anything for the wound itself like this. In the time I would need to stop in order prepare a suitable treatment for her, she would almost surely bleed to death."
"This is all your damn fault!" the lord turned his fury back to the farmer while Trevor went to tap on him for his attention.
"Dad!" he hollered up at him, "Do you remember what I told you about the time Sally got hurt climbing a tree last week? She couldn't walk, but this friendly healing blade came along and made her all better like it was nothing. I went out and found that same blade again. I think she can help Sally!"
"Really, son?" Norman looked over at where Trevor was pointing.
Trevor's story got the attention of everyone in attendance fixated on Nia as well. A single glance at her had the more astute faces in the audience freezing with a different sort of terror, including Norman and his driver friend.
"Is that really her, son?" he inquired in disbelief.
"Yes!" Trevor nodded wildly.
"What the hell? Your boy went out and found a damn Flesh Eater!" Thomas shouted loud enough for the entire area to hear and send the crowd into an audible commotion.
"Please, sir!" Nia hurried over to speak to Norman directly, "I know what ideas must be going through your head right now, but I beg you to give me a chance with your daughter. Her injuries are severe, life threatening even, but my healing powers are at a level above any blade you've ever seen. I'm the only one who can save her in such critical condition. Please, let me treat her!"
"Don't listen to her, sir!" Thomas yelled out still loud enough for all to hear, "Whatever special powers she might have, they surely came from the consumption of live humans! She's probably trying to use your girl for an easy meal!"
"You damned fool! I'm trying to help! It's her only chance!"
"Do you want to have to live with the guilt of feeding your own daughter to a cannibal?!"
"Please, Dad!" Trevor pleaded, "Sally's gonna die! I don't know as much as Uncle Thomas, but I swear that she's a really nice blade."
The exchange being heard across the area was enough to send the nearby civilians into a borderline frenzy. Amidst the chaos, Nia could make out larger debates on whether they should be trying to help her save Sally or if they should be saving Sally from her. Her impatience with the dire situation reached a boiling point to where she was about to go to Sally without the lord's permission, but Thomas promptly grabbed her by the arm.
"You had better get your hands the hell off of me right now!" she screamed at him furiously
"I'm not going to watch my friend's daughter become a Flesh Eater's next victim. I know how you are."
"You don't know a damn thing about me!"
Nia clenched her teeth in outer rage but inner helplessness. Attacking Thomas to get to Sally would only cement his words about her in the minds of him and any spectators. That would effectively be a death sentence for any future endeavors as a healer in public. Norman appeared to be at a total impasse on what he should decide to do that didn't look like it would be clearing up anytime soon. Still, Nia looked over fervently at Nate's efforts to save the girl that were visibly waning.
"It's no good!" he called out helplessly, "We can't keep this up. If some serious medical attention doesn't get here in the next minute or so she's absolutely done for!"
Seeing Sally's eyes fully close as she fully lost consciousness triggered to many memories to erupt within Nia all at once. Her sister, Vandham, Fan La Norne, the images of all those she had seen dead at her feet rampaged in her brain. Closing her eyes invoked a crisp memory of the last look she got at her sister's corpse before taking her flesh. The regrets within her from those times ultimately exploded to take up the form of a furious resolve.
"No, that's it. I've had it! I don't give a damn about what you people think! Not anymore!"
In a flash, she freed herself from Thomas' grasp and formed her scimitar in her hands to stand steadfast and ready for battle. Dromarch was quick to stand by her side with fangs bared.
"I don't give a shit about what you think about who or what I am! I've let too many people die because of people like you, but, this time, I'm saving that girl or dying right here with her! I don't know what exactly it is you've been told that Flesh-Eaters do, but I swear to unleash something a hundred times worse on your insides if you dare to try and stop me!" Nia issued an ardent ultimatum.
Even the battle tested driver show some genuine fright in reaction to Nia's threats, but only a moment later, he was prepping his own blade's axe to defend himself. Nia readied for the first swing when he was suddenly driven back by a blast she heard come out of the crowd. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Tora and Poppi rushing to her side and ready for a fight.
"Anybody who messes with Friend Nia messes with Poppi, world's best artificial blade!" the robot calmly but sternly warned her adversaries with Tora readying his weapon.
Their intervention was just the split-second distraction Nia needed to get away from the group and sprint over to where Nate was on his last legs. He looked up at Nia with his own reservations but was unable to voice any of them when the last of his strength giving out on him, Nia took charge of the healing process without leaving even a millisecond for any unnecessary bleeding. Thomas appeared to make the decision to charge at the other blades blocking his path but was halted by Norman's hand grabbing onto his shoulder.
"Don't do anything further," the lord commanded solemnly, "I'm willing make a deal with either an angel or a demon to save my little girl right now. Let's see which one I've been sent."
The stir in the crowd halted when Nia's powers formed a shimmering turquoise aura around her and her patient. This job would require intense precision to simultaneously close up the wounds, repair any damaged organs, and restore any lost blood that she had lost. It was a task beyond the capabilities of any standard healing blade. The strain of drawing out all of a person's latent life energy to do this on their own would typically kill the patient, but by expanding her powers outward to draw on the very life energy of the animals and plants roaming around the farm, a unique ability that remained a gift granted solely to her through the grace of her sister's sacrifice, Sally's chest cavity slowly but surely closed up and color began to return to her face. Just a few short moments later, the eyes of the Gormotti girl started to open again.
"Miss Nia?..." Sally called her name groggily.
"Sally!" Nia had never been so relieved in her life to the point where she almost collapsed in the middle of her work.
Through the water vapor emanating from Nia and surrounding the area, nobody but the two within the haze could make out the drizzle trickling out of her eyes and down onto girl below. Just as her power flowed into the girl beneath her, Nia's emotions ran a waterfall down her face and onto her clothes. It was going to take a few more minutes and all of the ether energy that Nia could muster, but she knew that Sally was going to be okay as long as she could keep this up, and this single realization was thoroughly overwhelming. After all of the death she had to stand by and watch because of either her own weakness or cowardice, this time, the person she wanted more than anything to save was really going to be okay. Part of Nia thought it was unprofessional to be crying like this while treating a patient, but she couldn't even try to get herself to stop the deluge of emotion overtaking her in this moment. Her time mourning for who she was and what she had lost was over. For all the debate that could still be had about whether her powers were good or bad, she never been so utterly elated to have these abilities as she was now. Her heart overflowed with joy seeing the girl whose life she had rescued with her healing touch, and her thoughts were those of gratitude for the sister who, even in death, had still left behind the blessings of her love, flesh, and power.
"Why are you crying?..." the girl seemed to not be entirely aware of her situation with her consciousness still foggy.
"Because I think I can see them now," she whispered, "The flowers you were talking about."
Before long, Sally had regained enough strength to move around slightly, and an awe came over the crowd as they bore witness to what some in attendance truly considered referring to as an act of the divine. Trevor was the first to take the initiative to go over and check on his sister's condition. His father Norman followed shortly after as well. A look from Nate at her showed him her rapidly improving condition. He raised an arm to signal her recovery to the townsfolk which was met with a raucous cheer.
"Sally? Baby girl?" Norman uneasily approached to get a look at her face, but his tension was totally alleviated with a single look at her now lightly smiling face.
"Sis!" Trevor clearly wanted to take her for a hug, but Nia stopped him with a turn of her head.
"Just give it a little longer. She's still going to need a lot of rest after this. Healing something like this takes virtually every drop of energy the body can offer up. I'd strongly recommend at least a few days of bed rest after this."
"Sure, anything you say," Norman was still overjoyed, "I can't believe I doubted you. You're a true life saver."
"I told you, Dad!" Trevor boasted.
"It's okay. I'm just a blade named Nia looking to do her best with the life given to her by those she loves. Nothing more," Nia finished up her emergency treatment to give the family a moment alone together.
Looking back at the crowd, she still heard all sorts of whispers speculating on what they should do next, but there would be no more hiding for her no matter what they may have decided. Finally, Thomas stepped up to speak to her again.
"Okay, fine, so you really did save little Sally and I appreciate it greatly, but is that supposed to make everything else magically go away?" he questioned her, "You may have powers beyond our comprehension, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a dead human that allowed you to get them. Is this our first look at bold new future we were promised when the titans left the Cloud Sea? Should I now expect it to become a kind of annual tradition to offer up human sacrifices to our blades and hope they also get superpowers? Has it really occurred to you just what manner of horror your display of heroism here might bring about?"
"I've thought about those types of things all too often, and it's why I've been limited up until now but no more," Nia turned to the people, "I don't care what anyone says about where this power of mine came from and what I'm doing with it. Nobody is going to stop from using these gifts to heal those in need and bring smiles back to their faces. You can continue to call me a monster, a cannibal, or whatever the hell you like, but if anyone from anywhere in the world needs me, I will always be waiting in my office. You can all count on it."
With this last declaration, Nia took her leave to head back to her house with Dromarch following behind her. Tora also held up Poppi's Drill Shield on his way out for anyone who might have any ideas regarding a sneak attack. Carefully stepping through her door, Nia managed to get herself up the stairs before collapsing on her bed from the toll it took on her to push her powers to her limits. A catnap was just what she now needed to reflect on the life altering decisions she had made on this day. Thomas had made a lot of good points about how what she was doing could impact the future, but it was a risk she was ready to take to ensure she wouldn't have anything more to regret her past. An hour passed for her to recover her strength, and she rose from her bed with a stretch and a yawn. Just then, in all too perfect timing, another guest how come to knock on her front door again.
"I swear I'll bop somebody if it's another no show," she grumbled to herself but was pleasantly surprised to actually find an adult Ardanian woman with short, brown hair and eyes waiting for her.
"H-Hi," the lady stammered, "M-My name is Terry. You're Nia, right? The healing blade from earlier at the farm with Lord Norman's family?"
"Yes, I am," Nia answered flatly.
"I-I'm sorry," she suddenly apologized, "I've been knocking on your door the last few days, but I kept getting nervous and leaving before you could answer. You probably want to bop me by now..."
"O-Oh no," Nia lied, "I was just wondering about why someone would do that."
"I've been wanting to try asking for your help with something, but rumors I heard about... the type of blade you are had me chickening out though."
"And now?"
"I saw how you saved that girl who had been mauled so badly that she should have died and then what you said about it after. It made me realize that I needed to try coming to you no matter what the danger is."
"What's the issue bothering you?"
"Not me, it's my brother," Terry clarified, "I live here in Torigoth, but my brother lives back in Mor Ardain. He got some sort of nasty illness from the toxic chemicals you're exposed to working in those plants. The doctors and healers over there have all written him off with six months to live. I thought maybe a healer here might have a second opinion to offer, but my friends kept telling me that it wasn't worth the risks. Then I saw you make a miracle with that girl and made up my mind. I apologize for my rudeness before, but I'm pleading with you now. May I please bring my brother to you?"
"I'll gladly see what I can do for him," Nia took Terry's hands into hers to accept the task without the slightest hesitation.
Terry promptly went off to make contact with her ailing brother to give him the good news, but, before Nia could celebrate getting her first major job, she could spot some more people heading towards her from around the corner for jobs two, three, and four. There might still be people out there who distrusted and resented her, but she approached her visitors triumphantly knowing that there was one thing that couldn't be denied. Her medical clinic, a place where her healing hands would be held out for anyone who needed them, was, now and forever, open for business, and she would delight in every minute of it.
-a week later-
"And now let's make sure that you stay nice and healthy!" Nia formed a pool of water in her palms to apply to her current patient.
In this case it turned out to be the flowers Sally had gotten her the week before that were in need of some watering. It was something that she had to really make sure she remembered to do in her free time with how scarce it was now getting. At this point, she could barely go any time at all during the day without somebody calling for her aid. So much so that she was compelled to invest a sign that said "The Doctor is Out!" that was now hanging from her doorknob for whenever she needed an hour to herself, but there was also a satisfaction she found in putting the same time and effort into public service now as Zeke and Morag. She gazed over at the wall where her old yellow jumpsuit hung on a hook. It was still her preferred attire for casual wear, but she found herself wearing it less and less often as people came more and more seeking the miracle healer. Just as well in her mind, the days of concealing her true nature were well over. It was time for her blade self to take the stage as her face to the outside world even if her friends still saw her in the same light as they ever did, even as her door started knocking yet again.
"Dromarch, go get the door! I'm still busy cleaning the room up," Nia called to her blade at the sound of her door being tapped on yet again
"Certainly, my lady!" he scurried down the stairs.
Getting someone at the door at six in the evening would ordinarily be enough to get a groan out of her, but on this night, she already knew who it was and eagerly anticipated their arrival.
"Hey Dromarch!" the familiar voice of the energetic salvager entered the house.
"Rex, Pyra, Mythra!" Dromarch greeted the all too familiar trio.
"I brought your favorite dried sunfish!" Pyra popped in.
"And I've got some Sneak-Thief King," Mythra announced, "Nia knows she owes me a rematch."
"Only if you have a fetish for losing!" Nia taunted from the top of the stairs.
Making her way down, she greeted each of her guests with hugs so strong that all of them were caught off guard.
"Well, I can see that someone's feeling good today," Pyra smiled.
"Maybe the best I've ever felt in my life!" Nia gushed, "Friends, a place, a purpose, for so many years I had none of these things, and now I've found all of them, and with you guys around, I know that I'll never have to lose them again! Thank you for coming all this way!"
"And that itself is worth celebrating," Pyra pulled out a pot, "The best thing about being a fire element is never having to bring over cold food."
"Smells wonderful, Pyra," Nia led them into the kitchen, "I've got the table all set for whatever you need to do."
Just before they could get themselves seated though, yet another visitor came tapping on the door."
"That's odd," Nia cocked an eyebrow, "I don't think I invited Tora over today."
Answering the door had Sally immediately darting in to hug Nia around the waist.
"I'm finally all better, Miss Nia!" she ecstatically announced, "You saved my life, you really did! Thank you so much."
Pyra particularly enjoyed watching this reunion between doctor and patient while Norman also came in but waited more patiently for his opportunity to show his thanks.
"I can't be thankful enough for the fact that my children got to know you. I don't think I would have been willing to trust you otherwise, and my daughter would be gone," he admitted, "The first thing she wanted when she could get out of bed again was to come see you. How could I say no?"
"It's no big deal," she answered modestly, "I'm not looking for everyone's approval anymore. I'm acting on what my heart tells me is the right thing to do. I'll leave others alone to judge what I've done."
"Still, I see a lot of good that you can be doing," he presented her an envelope that contained what she could tell even without opening it was an absurd amount of money, "I've got a lot of friends in high places across the titans. Word about you is already getting out. I see you've got quite the humble operation here, but if you're ever in need of more resources, you need only say the word."
"That's incredible," Nia actually counted out her new finances, "I'll make sure you won't regret this."'
"I'm already sure of that." he nodded as Trevor sneaked around his father's legs to get himself inside as well.
"I'm sure you can see how much better my sister is doing," he pointed out Sally's continued clinging to Nia, "Thank you so much for coming when I asked."
"Anytime, kid," Nia smiled before another idea came to mind, "Oh yeah, Trevor. I've got someone here you said you wanted to meet?"
"I did? who?"
"Did you forget already? You asked about him the first time we met?"
"Sorry, not ringing a bell."
"Oh, come on, I wouldn't be much of a blade without him," Nia turned back to shoot a smirk back at Rex.
He didn't seem to notice her sly gesture, but she knew he would more than agree with the sentiment. She was certainly thrilled to finally have the chance to say it out loud.
"See that guy in the blue salvager's suit?" Nia asked as Rex finally showed a reaction to hearing his outfit described.
"Yeah?"
"His name is Rex," she beamed wholeheartedly, "He's my driver."
Rex gladly stepped forward to offer the Gormotti boy a handshake while Nia went into the kitchen alongside Pyra and Mythra. No matter what may happen from here on out, she would forever take solace in the promise that there were people in this world she could always depend on to be there for her unconditionally, and just as she had become a hybrid of blade and human, she had forged unbreakable bonds with both human and blade alike. Even if she would never be able to properly thank her sister for the gifts she had left behind for her, she would never allow herself to regret having them again.
-THE END-
A/N: Well, that's the end of this story. It may have wound up shorter than some of you expected, but I wanted to keep the story simple. I hope I didn't make Nia too weepy and this but this was meant to be a real soul searching experience for her. I was also worried about pissing off a lot of people with how I chose to resolve the tension between Rex and Nia (assuming you don't take the NG+ title screen as canon), but I felt that solving Nia's problems just by having her get with Rex would be a disservice to the character. My main regret with this fic was how restrained I had to be with the humor since this was meant to be a serious piece. Yes, I made a few jokes, but it killed me to not be able to take advantage of the fact that the game is basically set in the real world for some fourth wall breaking stuff since it would have obliterated the tone. Then again, I might do another Xeno 2 story in the future, but, for now, thanks for reading.