So this is the basic starting point of the chapter that will be continued after my hiatus.
Now this is just meant to serve anyone that wants a summary of what happened after the content warning. It also serves to set up the next arc.
If you have any questions about what happened I am more than willing to talk about it.
It took two weeks for Aki to speak to anyone. All she did was curl up in bed and cry. Aki had lost both her parents in the bandit raid, and even worse, she had witnessed her mother's brutal death. The trauma of it all weighed heavily on her young shoulders, and she struggled to come to terms with what had happened.
Aki's eyes were red and swollen with dark circles beneath them, evidence of her sleepless nights spent crying in bed. Her body was curled up in a tight ball under the covers, her arms hugging her knees tightly.
Her usually bright and vibrant eyes were now dull and heavy with tears, her face drained of color and her body curled up in a fetal position on her bed. There were dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and her hair was tangled and unkempt.
The once vibrant and lively Aki is now a shell of herself, her eyes constantly red and puffy from her tears. She curls up in bed, her body trembling as she uncontrollably sobs into her pillow. Bell and Alice, sat by her side, their faces etched with worry and sadness as they watch their friend suffer.
Bell and Alice were by her side constantly, offering whatever comfort and support they could provide. They knew that words alone could not heal Aki's wounds, but they wanted her to know that she was not alone in this dark time.
They spent their days helping Aki with chores around the house, taking turns cooking meals for each other and doing their best to create a sense of normalcy in their lives. But every night, when they tried to sleep, Aki's sobs would fill the quiet house, a haunting reminder of all that they had lost.
One particular night, Alice found Aki curled up in bed shaking uncontrollably from another nightmare. She gently woke her up and held her tightly until she calmed down.
"Alice..." Aki cried out softly, clinging onto her like a lifeline. "I-I can't stop thinking about it...the way my mother died..."
Alice felt a lump form in her throat as she held back tears of her own. She didn't know what words could possibly offer comfort in this situation. Instead, she simply whispered soothing words and stroked Aki's hair until she fell back asleep from exhaustion.
It took another long, grueling week before Aki could muster up the ability to speak with the adults about their journey ahead. She shared her desire to go with Bell and Alice wherever they went. The adults all agreed that this was the best course of action. And so, preparations began in earnest for their journey to the great northern city of Asgard,
On the day of the move, Hera pulls Aki aside and offers her a falna if she wants to join her familia and live with Alice.
"But what about Bell?" Aki asks.
"Bell is part of Zeus's familia," Hera replies.
"I would still like to join your familia as long as I can be with Bell and Alice."
Zeus over hearing this responds: "Great, then we're all packed and ready. Now let's head to Asgard, the home of Odin and Frigg."
And so the journey begins