Recovery : Chapter 5
Her body felt stiff all over. But there was always a hand that either caressed her hair, back, or cheek comfortingly. It always makes her body relax again before her half-consciousness fell asleep again.
It happens a few times.. Sylvern can't keep track of it, she was so sleepy.
The time when she can finally half opened her eyes with blurriness was when she saw Ingo again. He looked so worried. Why did he look so worried? Sylvern wanted to ask but her eyes were closing again. She had fallen asleep again.
The next time she managed to open her eyes, she can fully opened them and without any blurriness this time. This time though, she was greeted with a relief face of Rei.
"…Rei?.."
Rei's smile widened, "You're finally awake!" he put his hand on her forehead, "And no fever as well! How's your hand?"
"..Hand?" Sylvern lifted up both of her hands and saw her left arm was bandaged, "..it didn't really hurt, I guess?.." she didn't remember.. why can't she?
Seeing the confusion in her face, Rei's face softened while he explained, "Healer Tomma said that this might happen with a fever as high as yours. After Lord Kleavor hurt your left arm, Mai and Healer Tomma managed to stop the bleeding but it seems some infections got in making your body trying to fight it out hence the fever. But.. the fever was too high, we were worried sick. Healer Tomma said that you might lose some of your recent memory of that day. It's blurry to you, isn't it?"
Sylvern only got gist on what Rei said. Her head was still muddled and weary, "When?.."
Rei's face somber at that, "It.. you were attacked 5 days ago, and your fever ran for 4 days straight. Healer Tomma said you are a fighter so you're going to be fine. You hear me? You- you're going to be fine Sylvern.."
Rei let out a teary hiccup before he quickly rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. Sylvern didn't understand, why is he crying? Did she make him cry? But why?
With slow and tired hand, Sylvern reached out to tugged on Rei's other sleeve, garnering his attention. When Rei saw her, Sylvern tried her best to ask without sounding so tired and hoarse. She failed terribly.
"Rei?.. Are you okay?.."
Rei let out a choked teary laugh before saying, "That's what I should be asking you, you know.. You're in bed for 4 days Sylvern. Healer Tomma said we were lucky that you are such a fighter. You didn't give up, if you did.. we- I-you-" Sylvern didn't know what he meant and never really knew why he was so upset and relieved at the same time.
Sylvern didn't know that she almost died a few times in those 4 nights.
Her body was small because she born premature. That much Healer Tomma can tell. Ingo himself though knew that Ayla, Sylvern's mother, was a small child as well being born prematurely and that affect Sylvern's growth somehow.
Healer Tomma said that if she's like any other premature 7 year old child, she would've died in the first night of her high fever. Everyone was so worried, even Captain Cyllene look worried. On that first day and night everyone was on high alert, even Irida, Lian, Adaman, and Mai came back to visit her and only went back to their settlements when Sylvern managed to went through the first night. Ingo and Rei took turns on keeping an eye on her condition while Luxray stayed by her side most of the time to keep her warm and only went out to eat and get both Rowlet and Vaporeon to eat, before coming back again to his place.
When Sylvern woke up again, this time managing to open her eyes fully and focus on her surroundings was a rare time when everyone was out doing their short business while Rei stayed alone keeping up the fort. Thankfully from his short inspections Sylvern was at least okay and just tired.
So why did Rei feel like crying?
Rei didn't want to tell Sylvern that she almost died. It wasn't her fault. Hopefully there wasn't next time.
Hopefully.
After Rei assured Sylvern that she's going to be fine, she fell asleep again. This time less stiff and more comfortable.
The next time she woke up Sylvern saw Ingo. And even without her memory she can see he has the most relieved look on his face, almost like Rei's.
"..Uncle Ingo?.." Her voice sounds better now. That's an improvement.
"Sylvern.. Are you alright now?" Ingo asked with batted breath. He knew Rei had said she was okay and Healer Tomma had said that she finally out of the woods from the danger of her high fever, but Ingo has to make sure- he needs to make sure she's really truly okay.
Sylvern seemed to think about it for a moment and moved her hands slowly, and then her feet, before wiggling her body. Then she said,
"Nothing hurts.. I'm okay Uncle Ingo." She said finally with a small smile. Oh how he missed the cheery smile of hers. The past 5 days were agonizing for everyone, especially for him.
Ingo gently caressed the child's hair who let out a content giggle at the affection. He let out a small smile himself. Sylvern's truly okay. His niece was on her way of full recovery.
It was a big relief for him.
Ingo was enjoying the moment of pure relief before he jolted when Sylvern tried to get up from her bed. With a precise movement, Ingo has gently pushed her back down again and tucked her in under her covers.
"Aw.. but Uncle Ingo, I'm okay now.." Sylvern had whined, but Ingo's resolve was not moved.
He looked at her with a firm but gentle look on his eyes when he said, "Your fever may have broke, but you're still on the path to full recovery and I won't let anything derail you from your full health destination." When he saw the disheartened look in her eyes he sighed in slight relent, "However, if Healer Tomma deem you are truly fine I will let Mister Rei to come over and bring you some games to play with."
And that immediately brighten the look in her eyes.
"Really? I've never played any games before since I came here. That'll be fun Uncle Ingo!" Sylvern smiled brightly but Ingo looked concerned and saddened.
His niece was actually restricted from playing to do her Survey Corps' works? That's.. not healthy for a child..
When Sylvern saw the saddened look on Ingo's face, she immediately said with a placate look to sooth him, "But I explore a lot in the wild and that's fun Uncle Ingo! There's lots of things I don't know and Luxray helped me to keep on tracks. So I get to have fun too when I'm working, honest Uncle Ingo."
Ingo can't help but to smile at that, "Of course Young Sylvern. But playing games can act as a reliever from the day of work."
Sylvern thought about it and asked, "How about you Uncle Ingo? Do you play games too to re- re-lieve yourself after the days of working?"
Ingo blinked but nodded with a small smile, "Although I don't play games, I will usually do pokemon battles."
"Oh.. you like pokemon battles?" Sylvern asked.
Ingo nodded but he added gently, "Not everyone loves to battle Young Sylvern. There are people that I've met who didn't really like pokemon battles or outright dislike them, but that didn't mean they hate pokemon. They just have other things they consider fun. Even if it's different from others it's okay, because everyone is different in their own way. Do you understand Young Sylvern?"
Sylvern smiled and nodded, "Yeah, Uncle Ingo. Thank you."
Ingo returned the smile and caressed her hair, "You are very welcome."
After Luxray came back who immediately inspects Sylvern whom laughed at the attention, Ingo left her to Luxray's care for a moment before going out to search for Healer Tomma.
Luxray was so relieved that the hot scent from her body was gone. The scent was so sharp it had hurt his nose. Thankfully none of the two younglings have the strong sense of smell like his. He already had a hard time convincing Rowlet and Vaporeon not to stand too close to their human since they can catch the hotness their human has.
Now their human finally can open her eyes again and already laughing at his attention. It was good.
But then why Luxray has a feeling that this was only the beginning of all trepidation?..
When Healer Tomma has finally deemed Sylvern healthy enough but not a clean bill of health yet, Sylvern can finally moved back to her quarters.
Ingo was not letting a 7 year old child to be alone and taking care of her own needs alone though, especially the not yet healthy ones. So Ingo stayed to help Sylvern, Rei was around as well and since both of them has their own work to do, they both took turns on keeping an eye on Sylvern. Even Professor Laventon helped as well when both Ingo and Rei can't leave their work. But Irida was certainly more understanding than Commander Kamado so Ingo can keep an eye on Sylvern more often than Rei to the latter disappointment.
2 days after she had moved back to her quarters, Sylvern's left arm was still bandaged and she was not allowed to go back to work yet, Captain Cyllene's order. That was good and all, but for the first time since she fell to Hisui, Sylvern was in blank with nothing to do.
It didn't help that Luxray stays close to her all the time. Barely ever letting the child alone even with Ingo around.
"Luxray.. I'm fine! I'm just going to help Mrs. Ida with the Chimecho that has stayed at her home for a week now. I'm just going to hear her out, I'm not going to do any work." Sylvern reasoned with Luxray who raised an eyebrow at her. Sylvern sighed, "I promise Luxray, pleeeease? I've never broke my promise with you before, right?" she stretched out her wording while look pleadingly to the tall pokemon.
Luxray huffed in front of Sylvern making the warm puffed air washed over her in light chastisement while Sylvern laughed. Luxray knew for a fact that the small child in front of him had never promised him about anything before. But he will let her stretch her legs for now.
Luxray purred while nuzzling Sylvern's face making the girl laughed more and hugged his face since her arms were too tiny to wrapped around his neck, before nudging Rowlet and Vaporeon forward to accompany Sylvern.
Sylvern looked at the two and back to Luxray before she immediately got the meaning, "You'll let me go with only Rowlet and Vaporeon? You're not coming?" she asked with a surprise tone. It was understandable when Luxray barely left her side in the past few days, sticking with her like a glue and refused to go into his ball.
Luxray huffed again in relent and nodded, seeing the girl seemed to crave for some free time from her protective guardians before giving a purr of warning to the child and the two young pokemon as if to say,
Stay out of trouble or you will never leave my side again until you're twenty.
Sylvern smiled brightly before nodding, "Don't worry, we'll be in the village the whole time Luxray. Bye bye!" she waved before started to fast walk and run to Ida's house. Luxray stayed put in Sylvern's quarters before taking a nap. Even a papa Luxray need his deserved rest from taking care of three cubs. He just hoped he wouldn't regret letting his three cubs go without supervision.
Ingo had returned to Sylvern's shortly after making sure Sneasler is okay when he saw Luxray only in the small house.
"You've finally let them go without supervision?" Ingo asked with amusement in his voice.
Luxray peeked one eye open to gave him a pointed look, I could say the same to you.
Ingo shrugged but didn't deny it. He and Sylvern were ones of few people who can immediately understand what their pokemon were saying. It baffled others, even the people from Pearl clan and Diamond clan who can only understand theirs because they grew up with them.
"I guess giving her some free time will do some good for her recovery. I don't know why you didn't let her two other pokemon out of your sight either but you are sure treating them like you treat Sylvern, except you seem more protective of her." Ingo thought out loud while Luxray still giving him a one eye glance.
Because the three of them are young cubs and the child is more protected because she's more vulnerable than the other two. She's smaller than usual human child her age and don't have moves like pokemon do.
Ingo didn't catch all his meaning glance but he sure got the main point of it.
"Regardless, I'm grateful that you're looking out for Sylvern's best interest. I will need your full assistance in this because I don't think Kamado will let me be around Sylvern when she's fully recover."
Luxray gave a small growl. You could fight back.
Ingo caught the meaning and nodded, "Perhaps. It's not wise to presume anything before knowing what on the rails ahead, but if I do that Kamado will declare war with the Pearl clan. I am in debt with Irida and Sneasler for taking me in into the clan and I don't wish for them to any harm. Aside from that, Sylvern is quite a perspective child. She will know it's partly because for her reason and she will feel guilty about it. She's a lot like her mother at that." He spoke softly about Ayla at the end. Luxray opened both of his eyes fully at that but still relaxed. Ingo had discovered more of his lost memories about Ayla when he spends more time with Sylvern. It was bittersweet for him to finally remember but in no way to assure his younger sister that he and her daughter is okay. He can only hope for the best.
Sylvern was almost sure that Mrs. Ida was playing with her and gave her a request on wild goose chase around the village to find a new place for Chimecho. Sylvern hesitated when the elderly woman asked about the old house near the beach.
Technically she will step out of the village if she does go there, but also technically Prelude Beach was still part of the village, right? There's training ground there after all. But Sylvern didn't technically has a good record with Prelude Beach since she had fallen right into the sea the first and last time she was there.
"So.. what do you think guys? Is it worth to probably disobey Luxray's order about staying out of trouble?" Sylvern asked Rowlet and Vaporeon who both looked at her with a deadpan look as if to say,
You already disobeyed his orders when you accept Ida's request by running around the village. You're lucky you haven't been found out yet or you'll be stuck by his side until you're twenty.
"Don't jinx it." She pouted, understanding the meaning of their faces immediately, "Luxray and Uncle Ingo won't find out, trust me." She then went outside the gate to go to Prelude Beach. Rowlet and Vaporeon looked at each other before they sighed and followed the girl.
It was a good 2 hours before Sylvern finished scouting out the houses for Chimecho and in the end, Ida has decided that she wanted to be with Chimecho after all.
Sylvern was too out of breath to frowned like both her pokemon did.
"Thank you Young Galaxy Member, Sylvern is it? I'm sorry to send you out around like that. Do you want some water first?" Ida asked kindly and Sylvern doesn't have a heart to stay annoyed at the elderly woman.
"It-It's okay," She was still panting a little, "We're just going to go home after this, I'll drink there."
"Of course," Ida nodded, "Thank you again Sylvern." Chimecho shared the sentiment with his ringing.
Sylvern nodded with a small smile, "Happy to help Mrs. Ida. Have a good day!" she then went back to her quarters walking since Rowlet and Vaporeon had glared at her for trying to run around again. They still need to hide the fact that Sylvern was 'working' from Luxray after all and the adult pokemon was no doubt very perspective.
The three of them went back to her quarters with no problem and had greeted both Ingo and Luxray before Sylvern literally dropped back to her bed after a drink of water and sleep. Rowlet and Vaporeon followed suit snuggling beside the girl.
Later on in the evening when Ingo and Luxray went out to stretch their legs, Ida met them and told them all about Sylvern's helping her with Chimecho. Ingo and Luxray didn't confront the girl about it, but for the rest of her recovery days Luxray stayed close like he promised to while never leaving her side and Ingo was only barely leaving her side.
Sylvern made her full recovery just fine after a few days of supervision. Literally super vision.
A.N : I just realized from this chapter and the previous ones that fanfiction doesn't let me keep my underlines and multiple stripes from my file. But I don't really have time to correct it one by one so if you wanted to see a more 'better' version of the chapters you have to go read it at Ao3 under the name of Stanleylorenzo. Hopefully you still enjoy this chapter :) see you in the next one! Oh and if you want to check out the first one shot chapter of familial relationships between Ingo, Emmet, and Ayla, you can read 'Silver Grey Eyes are Family', I posted it both on fanfiction and ao3 as well.
