Book VIII: The Fourth Driver

Chapter LX

As I came to, I realized I was within a place that existed solely within my own mind, and that meant that Sarah was here. However, I didn't quite realize that at first until I heard her voice.

"You're as stupid as he was!" she had said in a distressed manner.

I sat up, completely dazed.

"Where am I?" I asked her, but that was a dumb question. I knew where I was, I just didn't have my head on straight.

"You know that answer," Sarah answered with a sigh. "I'm glad you're back in action and all, but I really need you to quit being reckless, you almost died!"

"I'll… take that into consideration," I replied with a nod.

"You have people who really want to see you, so do us all a favor and wake up."

...

I woke up, once again, but in the real world this time. However, there was a very familiar face hovering over me.

"Everything's fine," she said. "Your wounds have mostly healed, you just need rest."

"Granny…," I responded with realization. "Y-You're a…."

She didn't look so old, but rather, in her late twenties. However, the most distracting feature was a bright red and blue mixed core crystal on her chest.

"I've been a blade my whole life, Silas. I'm honestly impressed I kept it hidden from you for so long," she replied.

"You're not just a blade… you're a flesh eater," I continued.

"I hope you don't think less of me for it," she said apologetically. "I never wanted you to feel like you were responsible for my burdens, so I didn't tell you."

"Granny, I'm travelling with someone who tried to kill me, a prince with no country, the man who murdered the prince's family, my blades are sadistic and probably crazy, and I still haven't unraveled what goes on in Mythra's head. You being a flesh eater somehow makes more sense than anything else in my life right now," I replied with a chuckle. "Besides, you've cared for me your entire life, you've shown me who you are. If you made the decision to become a flesh eater at some point, then I'm going to believe that you didn't make that choice light-heartedly."

She smiled gently at me. "You're just like Rex."

"Caring?" I questioned for clarification.

"No, a bloody idiot!" she snapped. "Honestly, what were you thinking?! Fighting Siren, I've never heard of such a stupid thing in my entire life! I get some random girl coming to my house in a giant hunk of metal and here you are on the brink of death only living thanks to Floren, who passed out in exhaustion after getting you to me, by the way! And then Gabriel brings in another one with multiple stab wounds and bleeding the hell out! I knew your group was dysfunctional but I didn't expect this!"

"Canaan?! Is he alright?" I asked in concern.

"He'll live, but you two need to be more careful!"

"I'll try," I sighed.

We sat in silence for a bit, before I remembered something.

"Where's Azami? Is she alright?"

"She's fine, both her and Sheba are waiting for you to make your recovery." Granny answered. "Just please rest first, you'll need your strength for our next plans."

"What are we planning?"

"Well we gotta get Mythra back at some point, and I have an old friend who knows exactly where she is. Leave this to me, and we'll be where we need to be when you wake up."

I suddenly realized how tired I really was, and I passed out before I could even say anything else. My worries were calmed, for now. The only thing left to do was rest.

...

I didn't know how many hours had passed, but eventually I woke up. I sat up to see the bed next to mine was empty as well, I assumed Canaan had recovered already. As I looked to my left I noticed a bathtub by my bed, and Sheba was passed out inside of it. As I looked further, I realized Azami was asleep in a chair as well. I silently chuckled a bit as I got up.

I got up and lost a little bit of balance, but steadied myself quickly. I wondered how long I had been out, but I almost didn't care. It felt really nice to be back.

I wobbled my way over to the door, but then decided against leaving. I didn't want to wake them up, but they had obviously been waiting for me to wake up. I'd honestly feel bad if they woke up and I wasn't there.

I rubbed Azami's arm first, since she was closer to me.

Her right eye opened as she looked at me.

"Hey Azami, I'm all better!" I said calmly.

She jumped up and hugged me, a little too intensely.

"Woah!" I tripped and fell back into Sheba's bathtub.

"What on Alrest is your problem, peon?!" Sheba shrieked immediately as she and her water spirit jumped up out of sleep.

"Oh no! Are you ok, my darling driver?" Azami asked, concerned.

I chuckled. "I haven't completely regained my balance yet, please refrain from tackling me."

After hearing that, Sheba seemed to calm down quite a bit.

"We are simply glad you're awake. Without you, we cannot exist!" Sheba said.

"Well thank you for staying by me," I said graciously.

"You're quite welcome, you can repay us by not dying again," Sheba scolded.

"Where's everyone else?"

"They are waiting for morning, tomorrow we're going to talk to Dromarch with the BAP. Boring stuff like that," Azami explained.

I nodded. "Well then we'll wait, for now I want to get back on my feet, you two want to help?"

Sheba pouted. "We were only here to ensure your safety, we'll leave the grunt work to the grunts!"

"How rude!" Azami retorted as Sheba floated out in her bathtub.

I chuckled a bit. "Relax Azami, if she didn't care she wouldn't have waited by my side. She's just a bit stubborn, let's go! Just you and me!"

"J-Just… you and… m-me?!" she stuttered out.

"Problem?"

"N-No! Of course not, let's go!" Azami said excitedly.

Together, we walked outside and once I got my footing together, we sparred until morning.

Readability Level: 11-12th Grade

Time Taken: 1.5 Hours