Jindrax's eyes snapped open and he blinked as he struggled to focus his vision.
An euphoric sight came into focus, like something out of a dream.
A beautiful creature in a flowing white gown ... flowing black hair with silver highlights ... a sparkling silver horn adorning their head ...Those same enchanting dark eyes ...He rocketed into a sitting position as he continued to stare at her in shock.
Toxica's heart leapt with excitement and relief, his train of thought filtered through her mind as if he had spoken it out loud to her.
She could still hear his thoughts!
When Mystic Mother had told her that they wouldn't be connected anymore, she feared that too would be lost.
"T ... Toxica?! Is ... Is that really YOU?!" He croaked hoarsely as he squinted at her.
She merely smiled in reply.
He took this opportunity to gaze upon her properly.
Her complexion was as smooth and as flawless as he remembered it, but the markings on her face, formerly purple were now a silver color.
"You look ... I don't have words in any language for how amazing you look!" He said reverently as he slowly reached up and stroked her cheek.
She smiled as she placed a hand over his.
He suddenly pulled her against him in a tight embrace.
"I thought I had lost you, I was so scared!" He said.
She pulled back a little so that she could look into his eyes.
"I'm sorry about that." She said.
"First I thought that she had killed you! But, when I didn't die too, I knew you couldn't be dead, but I thought that you might be off somewhere hurt! Me and the rangers looked and looked but we couldn't find you anywhere!"
"The rangers helped you look for me?"
He nodded earnestly.
"They're really nice, Toxica. They helped me look for you all night until they were too tired to look anymore. It was my fault, I was so upset about you that I ... well ... I Forgot that humans get tired." He said sheepishly as his cheeks tinged a pink color.
Toxica felt tears prick her eyes as her heart swelled with emotion. These humans, even after all the trouble they had caused their race in the past were still willing to help.
"I know, right? They're actually really great. They even called me ... A friend." He said, his voice cracking with emotion.
She nodded in agreement, then her eyes widened.
"Wait ... You can hear my thoughts, too?!" She said excitedly
He gave her a strange look.
"Yes, Toxica, I can hear every thought, remember? Just like you can hear mine."
She let out an excited shriek as she leapt into his arms with such force that he almost toppled backwards.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me!" She said, her voice slightly muffled against his shoulder.
He pulled back slightly to look at her.
"Toxica,what HAPPENED while you were gone? What would make you think that we wouldn't be able to hear each other anymore? And your looks! Don't get me wrong, you're gorgeous! But ..."
"Your curious, and you deserve to know." She finished for him.
Her expression became somber as she told him everything that had happened to her.
Jindrax blinked a few times as he struggled to absorb all of this information.
She suddenly stepped back from him.
"If this ... Changes anything between us, I completely understand." She said as her gaze fell to the ground between them.
He responded by grabbing her hands in his and pulling her back into a tight embrace.
"Don't say that! NEVER say that again! I don't EVER want to be without you! All that time you were gone felt like an eternity, I felt like my heart has been ripped out of my chest, it hurt so bad."
She placed a hand on his cheek.
"I'm sorry for causing you so much pain." She said.
He responded by kissing her, and oh man ... If he thought her kisses knocked him off his feet before ... He didn't have words in any language to describe how they felt now.
He could feel his magic crackling around them, but unfortunately, instead of melding with hers, as it always had before, it was like they ... Repelled one another, and before he knew what hit him, he was being violently thrown onto his backside.
"Jindrax! Oh no! Are you okay?!" She exclaimed worriedly as she ran to his side and knelt beside him.
Residual bits of her magic crackled around him like electricity.
"Okay ... OUCH..." he trailed off as he rubbed his head.
"What happened? Why can't we meld anymore?" He added disparingly.
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
"I ... I don't know." She admitted.
Even though the logical side of his mind advised him against it, he found himself reflexively reaching for her once again.
He was never able to be logical when it came to her, and this time was no different. Despite still feeling the effects of almost being blasted to kingdom come, it did little to quell his desire for her, to feel her new and powerful magic surging through him.
"No! Don't touch me!" She shrieked.
However he didn't listen, he took her hands in his.
"I can't not touch you, Toxica ... I love you. More than I've ever loved any other being in all my existence." He said.
Tears welled up in Toxica's eyes as she realized what she had to do.
"I'm sorry, Jindrax, but this is ... This is for your own good." She said, struggling to speak, her tears threatening to choke her as she teleported away.
"Toxica WAIT!" He bellowed as he grabbed for her hand, but it was too late, she was already gone.
She materialized at one of her favorite places, the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
She finally let her tears flow and she wept freely into her hands.
"My darling, whatever is the matter?" She jumped and spun around at the familiar smooth voice to find Mystic Mother standing behind her.
"I ... I can't meld or merge with him anymore!" She choked out through her tears.
Mystic Mother nodded soberly.
"I feared that would happen. Light and dark magic don't mix."
"But ... what am I supposed to do? I love him!" She said disparingly.
"I'm afraid that he would have to be purified as well. But it has to be totally and completely his choice, or else the process will kill him." She said, her tone gravely serious.
Just then, Jindrax materialized in front of them.
Toxica didn't even ask how he knew she would be here, he just knew her that well.
He looked from one female to the other.
"What's going on? Who are you?" He asked.
"Jindrax, this is the Mystic Mother, the overseer of all good magic. " Toxica explained.
"Oooo ...Kay... but what does that have to do with you and me?" He asked.
Mystic Mother explained everything to him, including the reason why they couldn't meld anymore, and that the only solution was purification.
"I'll do it." Jindrax said without hesitation.
"Jindrax, are you sure? Because you can never go back." Toxica warned him
He took her hands in his.
"For you ... I'd do anything. " he deadpanned.
"That's what I'm afraid of. " she replied.
"I want to be able to ... Be with you like we did before, and if this is the only way, then I'll do it." He said with conviction.
After a long pause, she finally nodded.
"Okay, Jindrax, as long as your absolutely sure." She said.
He cupped her face in his hands.
"I've never been more sure about anything in my Org life." He replied as he turned to Mystic Mother.
"I'm ready." He said.
She held out her hand, he grasped it, and in a flash, they were gone.