Chapter 35

Throughout the night, my dreams have been replaying Aianite and my past self dying, over and over... why... The 4th time it happened, I woke up and sat up. I looked at Ianite resting peacefully next to me and sighed. I looked at the clock and it said 3 AM. Yuck... Hmm... I wonder?

'Aianite?' I tried telepathically communicating.

'Nix, what's wrong? It's 3 AM.'

'I had recurring nightmares... also... what do you mean it's 3 AM? You're a ghost, you don't need sleep.' Aianite giggled.

'I may be a ghost, I may not need sleep, but I still sleep so that time can pass quicker.'

'Fair. So, my nightmares were you and my past self dying in that war. My brain kept repeating that same scene over and over.'

'Oh Nix... are you in a place I can teleport to you?'

'Not really, I'm still sitting on Ianite's and my bed. But I can go outside and sit on the hill, then you can teleport to me.'

'Alright, let me know when you're ready.'

'Got it.' I silently made my way to the hill and sat on it, then I let Aianite know when I'd sat down. She appeared right beside me and sat right down. "How were you able to hug me anyway, coming back to the subject of you being a ghost."

"I could make myself be solid enough to be able to do so. Which I can do now if you need another hug. That nightmare has got to be rough." I nodded and she put an arm around my shoulders. I sighed.

"I hope these nightmares don't last... I can see how my brain did that to me, just remembering something that happened in a past life, it being traumatizing enough. Aianite, the first night you slept as a ghost after dying, did you have any nightmares about your death?"

"No, I died because I decided to and wanted to. We weren't going to win, so I decided for myself that I would sacrifice myself by using all of my powers to wipe out the threat."

"Fair enough. Then again, I don't know why I'm having these nightmares... past me foresaw you dying... also, she knew that she'd die when you did. Because I am her reincarnation, shouldn't that mean that I wouldn't have these nightmares because I'm her in essence?"

"Actually, you're having these nightmares because you're her reincarnation. It's been over a thousand years and you didn't remember that you had a previous life until yesterday and so now your brain is kind of stuck on what happened to make your past self become reincarnated." (A/N: I wish I could word that better, but I'm not that smart)

"Oh..." I then heard footsteps and looked behind me. "Ianite, what are you doing awake? Did I wake you?" She shook her head and sat on Aianite's other side. Aianite put her other arm around Ianite.

"Good morning sister."

"Good morning. No, you didn't wake me Nix, I guess you could say your absence woke me. What's wrong?"

"You always know when something bothers me, huh?" I told her of my nightmare.

"Ah, yes. I know that nightmare all too well... The night of your and Aianite's deaths, the same nightmare kept playing over and over, giving me sleepless nights until I forced myself to forget... that's why I was the last to remember anything of my past. Sister... I'm so sorry I forgot you... Nix, I need to apologize to you too. I forgot you, your past life."

"Babe, you have absolutely no need to apologize" I stood and sat next to her, putting an arm around her waist and she leaned into me. "Something so traumatizing has the ability to be forgotten if it's bad enough. Take my own past as an example. I forgot all about my village and my previous life before being orphaned. Hell, I even forgot about my own sister too... huh... we both seemed to have forgotten about our sisters. Strange. What a similarity between us, huh? A sucky one, of course."

"That is strange," Ianite remarked.

"Nix is right though, you have nothing to apologize for. Traumatizing events can have such an effect as to make one forget. Nix, I feel like you can become High Priestess, with all your wisdom and leadership that you've shown recently. Not just yesterday and right now, but ever since you've graduated from Apprentice Priestess. Now, when it comes to the Olympics, your powers will be suppressed, as to give a fair event between you and the other Champions."

"Of course. That would be major cheating if they weren't. Oof, I'd better practice now if I wanna have any chance at not being last. Wait, also, Gandus is a wizard, she has powers too. Will her powers be suppressed as well?" Aianite nodded. "Ok, good. I want the Olympics to be fair."

"Yes, thank you for telling me of Gandus' powers. And Nix, I wish you good luck in the Olympics. I shall be leaving you now, but you'll see me again before the Olympics, as well as my siblings." I nodded. Aianite hugged me, saying, "It was so nice meeting you in your reincarnation Nix. I can't wait to see you again." She let go and hugged Ianite next. "It was good seeing you and our brothers again as well Ia. I've missed every single one of you." Ianite hugged her sister back, I could tell she didn't want Aianite to go.

"I'm so glad you've come to us again Aia. I wish you could stay... at least until the Olympics are over."

"I know, I wish so too, but I can't. My spirit is getting pulled back to the spirit realm. Just know I miss you guys and will be seeing you again." Ianite and I both smiled and nodded, then Aianite disappeared. We sat down on the hill again and cuddled, watching the sunrise. A few minutes pass as I think, then as the sunrise became orange, I remembered something from my past that had to do with that color.

"Ianite? I just remembered something else from my past. Gandus, me, our brother, and our parents met you for the first time at the Festival of Harvest when I was 6, and you gave me a necklace. I don't remember exactly what it said, but I think it was something along the lines of, 'Phoenix is a great name for a person who will do great things in your life. Best wishes, Ianite' or something like that." I felt Gandus' presence approach us as I was telling Ianite this, but Gandus stayed silent. Ianite took on a thoughtful look, as she tried to remember too. After a few seconds, a look of realization came upon her face as she remembered.

"I remember that necklace! And meeting your family. Oh Nix, I'm so sorry that tragedy happened... but you three were the most adorable little ones. As were the other kids, and no wonder why I felt you could do great things when you got older. It's because you were truly destined for great things."

"How old was I Nix?" Gandus asked.

"You were 2, 'cause I was 6 when this happened and remember, you're 4 years younger than me."

"No wonder why I don't remember then. I was way too young to understand what was going on and to remember such a thing. So, we met you in the past, huh Ianite?" Ianite smiled gently and nodded.

"Seems that way."

"Wait, I wonder if my necklace survived the zombie apocalypse, and even the years that passed since?"

"Let's find out!" Ianite exclaimed, standing up, pulling me up with her. I chuckled and took Gandus' hand too.

"You come with us too, sis. We can make this an adventure for the three of us ladies." Gandus gave a small smile and nod. Ianite took Gandus' hand as well and teleported us to the Isle of Gathering. We walked over to the boats, but then Ianite hovered above us. Gandus and I looked at her questioningly.

"There's only room for two, and I am a goddess, so I can fly."

"Right..." Gandus and I said, feeling a little silly for forgetting. Well, to be fair, I kind of see Ianite as an equal, despite her having goddess powers. I treat her like I do anyone else. With kindness, generosity, and friendship. Well, and with love, as she is my girlfriend. Still. Gandus and I boarded the boat and I sailed off to where I remember going to with the guys on my first adventure with them months ago. Honestly, I'm excited to see if that necklace survived. After a bit of sailing,

"Is Aianite gonna visit again today?" Gandus asked.

"No, she left for the spirit realm again just before I told Ianite what I remembered of our past. She couldn't stay very long. She will be back some time before and for the Olympics though," I answered.

"Oh, alright."

"Why?"

"I was just asking. It's really cool to see and meet a ghost, or spirit, whatever she was. But also cool to meet these gods' sister. I never knew they had another sibling."

"Me neither. Ianite and Dianite didn't even remember." Gandus nodded, then I could see the land in the distance. We're getting closer to our destination. "There's our island, right there. Do you remember it Gandus?" Gandus tried to remember, but I'm not sure she would, at least, yet. Maybe it'll come to her when she sees our old house, like it did to me. As we docked, Ianite helped us tie our boat. I took Gandus' hand after we finished tying the boat. She gave me a little bit of a look, but said nothing. Ianite walked on my other side, looking around the village.

"I think I remember this... the giant table was here" Ianite motioned with her hands in the village square "and the food was plentiful. Your family sat here" Ianite went to a place and pointed out each place where my family sat "and I sat here, next to your father." Ianite pointed out where she sat.

"Wow. I don't remember that much detail. Then again, I was 6. I remember some things from that age, but not a lot." We went on to the house and when we got inside, Gandus let go of my hand and toured the place. I went up to our room and looked around while she did. Ianite stood in the doorway. I looked everywhere I could think of, nothing. "Where the hell?" I heard footsteps up the stairs.

"Nix, I found it. It was on the coffee table in the living room." Gandus handed my the necklace.

"Why was it there of all places?"

"I dunno, but it's where 13 year old you left it." I shook my head at 13 year old me. There of all places. Why not on my bedside table? I looked over the necklace and it still looked alright. The colors were a little faded, but not bad. Then I looked at the back of the necklace. The words that I could barely remember were close to the actual words. The actual words were, 'Phoenix: a great name for a child who has great potential in whatever you pursue in life. Best wishes, your Lady Ianite.'

"Heh, I was close to what this thing actually says." I showed Ianite and she smiled.

"You were. I'm impressed." I grinned.

"Hey, I wanna show Sparky this. I wonder what his reaction would be to me having met you in my past?" Ianite shrugged. "Let's go! Back to the Isle of Gathering!" Ianite giggled and Gandus grinned. We headed off back to the boat, my necklace in my hand as Ianite gave it back while we exited the old house. "Some day we'll have to really look around Gandus, see what we can salvage and bring back with us. We'll have the guys help us too. I'd love to have some things of our brother's and parents' to keep them in our memories and close by."

"That would be great. Hopefully we can do that before the Olympics." I nodded, hopefully.