3 Is She Human?

"Wh-what is she!?" No one knows who said it, but it echoes everyone's thoughts. The men stare at the woman like she's a monster. Shock, awe, and fear runs through Lark. Gaping at the woman no longer dead.

/Is it the work of the Gods? If not, what else could bring the dead back to life? The most powerful Archmage is not capable of this!/

The galestone in Lark's pocket used to locate her is still reacting, and stronger than before. This is indeed Princess Nadia Lockhart despite her altered looks. When the blinding light burst forth from the black-haired Nadia, he was forced to turn away. Looking back, he trembled when he saw a beautiful golden-haired princess in her place. Each delicate strand of hair rests in curled waves on the ground. Her small heart-shaped face no longer held the gagged scar over her eye, allowing her beauty to shine. She still wears the torn blue dress. The tears remain, but fatal wound no longer does. Leaving smooth pale flesh whole and intact. The blood that spilled out to soak her dress and the ground is gone. By all accounts, she appears to be a sleeping young woman. If Lark hadn't seen the bloody wound himself, he'd never believe it.

Lark can tell Andri isn't handling this any better. Andri is usually too airheaded for anything get to him. But, when he saw the change in Nadia, he yelped in surprise. Falling onto his ass and scrambling back, he stayed frozen for a long moment, before coming to his senses.

Lark feels his reasoning start to wane as he furiously tries to figure out what she is. Does she pose a danger? Is she human? A monster in disguise? While he racks his mind for a solution, Irvin is the first to snap out it.

"Lark."

Lark is so caught up with his thoughts that it takes a moment for him to react, "yes Commander?"

"The stone?"

Lark pulls a smooth, flat, and gray galestone from his pocket and passes it to Irvin. Knowing unless he feels it for himself, it's hard to believe anything Lark says. Irvin takes the stone, feeling the violent shaking. A reaction that only occurs when the source is within a couple of feet. His eyebrows jump, and he shoots a complicated look to the princess. Her eyes suddenly pop open; causing us to fall into a silent panic once more.

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When I open my eyes, I see Asteria's tiny red speck of a sun hanging in a cloudless sky. I feel my eyebrows furrow. When I passed out, I didn't snap out of the hallucination. Why did I pass out in the first place? Did the smell of blood go to my head, making me faint? That can't be right. It's not like it's the first time I've smelled blood. I mentally shrug, worrying won't help. Instead, I take in the feel of an imaginary sun beaming down on me. Although I know it's winter, I can feel the sun heating my skin as though it truly exists. The slightly damp grass tickles my back. The rains recently ended, and it will be another month before the ground completely dries. In the meantime, flowers bloom and babies are born. It's the time of new life and blossoming beginnings in Asteria.

A soft breeze blows by carrying the smell of bloody nightmares and wet grass. I consider ignoring it. Knowing it's likely to be the blood from the men killed before. Asteria only looks beautiful and glamorous on the surface. With colorful seas of fauna and exotic animals. But underneath, the world is vicious and cruel.

I quickly get bored and take a look. Scattered along the ground like broken dolls were about half a dozen men. At least I believe so. There are six heads. The rest is a scattering of...pieces. Blood paints the grass red. I try to keep my breathing shallow in a vain attempt to reduce the amount I inhale. Other than the dead, there are still men tangled in tree roots or stuck in the ground up to their necks. Seems not much time passed while I was out.

Lark is getting to work gathering the captive men together. His tall, thin frame hunched over as he presses his hands to the ground once more. Using Mind Asura, he wraps them together. His olive skin shines with sweat and sticks the tan shirt and shorts to him. I check for drool. People are often misled by his appearance; he is surprisingly strong. His dark brown hair kept long enough to tousle. Piercing caramel eyes, used to entice and seduce any woman willing. I internally sigh. Such charisma, yet fear prevents him from truly spreading his wings. It's a shame people are so small minded.

Irvin is standing nearby his looming figure is built like a mountain. Huge, muscular, and gives off an imposing presence. He has a square face with dark brown eyes, matching his short hair. The tan shirt and shorts do nothing to hide the corded muscle covered in scared bronze skin. For the first time, he looks unsure. As the only mageless that's ever become an Elite. I don't believe he's had an uncertain moment in his life. To pass the Elite test requires mental and physical strain no average man can survive. Few mages pass, let alone mageless. His sheer tenacity is astonishing considering his chances of passing are as likely as a blind retarded monkey swinging a home run on the first try.

He grips something in his hand and stares hard at me.

/Wait, what? That can't be right./

I look around, he can't possibly be staring at me, right? The one refuge that helped tether me to sanity was the fact I was an outside observer to my hallucinations. If he can see me, then have I finally fallen off the deep end? Did that fainting spell signal my final descent into the madness? The sudden feeling of someone grabbing my arm makes it hard to think otherwise. I turn to face ashy brown eyes and hair, belonging to Andri. His oval face holds concern and a little fear. He's wearing the same outfit as the other two, his swimmer's build towers over me even while kneeling. I glance at the hand touching my arm. I can feel the warmth of his large pale, rough hands. I'm definitely playing a role in my hallucinations now.

/Where do I go from here?/

At a loss, I instead focus on the orange glow of Soma Asura spreading from Andri's hands to my body. I feel my face tighten at the indescribable feeling of other it gives me, like floating in thick water while experiencing vertigo at the same time. It's unsettling, and I subconsciously try pulling away. Thankfully, Andri doesn't use it for very long before retracting it. I see him a signal to Irvin once he's done. Irvin nods, smoothing out his face. No longer brooding, he seems to have come to a decision.

Andri pulls my attention to him by asking, "Princess Nadia, what is the last thing remembered?"