Chapter 2

Saranie didn't want to really talk about herself. Not completely, but she wanted to be forthcoming. The doctor had talked about trust, something she didn't have. Though with her being unable to barely walk and starting to feel tired, she was going to need to put her trust in this man.

Doctor Wraimes sent the two nurses out the door, but they were going no further than that. Standing by the door like soldiers waiting for orders from their commander.

Saranie made her way over to the bed to sit down and rest. Doctor Wraimes walked over to the window where she had just been and just looked at her. Waiting.

"There's not really much to know. Just some commoner woman." She had been staring at the ground, but then looked at the doctor. "How could you confuse me with someone named Jahvee?" It bothered her.

"You don't know her?"

"Can't say I ever met someone with that name."

"Okay, now this might be tough to hear, but you need to know. Jahvee is inside you. A separate personality."

"What? What does that even mean?" Saranie had no idea what he was talking about.

"Jahvee is a troubled woman. She lost her parents in a fire. She took it really hard and didn't seek help. Taking pills, she tried to end her life. That was when Erythann, her brother, called the paramedics and she was brought here. I worked with her for the past three months, thinking I was making progress with her. Then two weeks ago Jahvee harmed herself," he pointed towards Saranie's wrists, "and I had talked with her after that. I'm sorry I didn't realize that she wasn't there, Saranie. You must be pretty confused."

"I am very confused." Saranie pointed towards her head with her finger. "There is some other person in my head? How does that even make sense?" It took a moment for Saranie to catch what she said. 'Not my head, they think I'm in her head.' Saranie shook her head and put on a condescending look on her face. "No, you think I'm in her head. Don't you."

"Yes, that would be close. Her trauma must have manifested you. Someone to keep her safe and protect her."

Saranie rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Okay, well I want my own body back. Just get a mage to separate us."

"Mage?"

From his confusion, Saranie realized a real problem. The way he was speaking, she thought he figured this out already. That he already knew what to do and was explaining it. Saranie didn't know anything like this, especially when considering the cultists and portal. So Doctor Wraimes would have.

Then that changed when he said mage. It was recognized as the word, but confusion remained. Like he didn't consider a mage could take care of this problem or…

"Yes, mage. I'm sure there is someone out there that knows how to fix this."

"Saranie, this isn't something that can be fixed like magic." Saranie didn't hear him say 'with magic'. "You do know magic doesn't exist, right?" Wraimes was trying to be careful with his words. Saranie could tell he was taking a leap with that last question.

"Of course it does."

"Can you show me then?"

"What is that, some trick question?" She knew he wasn't trying to be hostile, but he had to know that she couldn't use mana. Sure without her mana, she could check out his mana. "You know full well this body can't use it."

"I didn't know that. I apologize, Saranie." He could be really good at hiding his emotions, but Saranie still trusted him. Not some fake trust that a spell could create. Not that she could defend herself from it, but it seemed genuine to her.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice. So magic doesn't exist? Lifeforce?"

"Magic does in fictional stories and only there. I don't know about lifeforce, but I can tell you it falls under the same category."

"Do you know about The Vellheart Kingdom? The war? Those cultists?" Those last words she sneered out in venom.

"No I don't." Doctor Wraimes took off his glass for a moment. He was really deep in thought. Saranie took the time to focus on the garden to calm herself. Cultists ruined everything. It seemed her life was one of them. "So you understand that Jahvee is a part of you, as you are a part of her ?"

"Considering my eyes are different, yeah I got it." It didn't really make sense. So she just agreed and said yes.

Putting his glasses back on, he spoke up. "Alright Saranie. As I said before, you cannot leave the hospital. I will show you around this place after your breakfast. I will have Hiberacy tell you the rules during that time. If you have any questions, you can ask anyone wearing one of these badges here. We are here to help you. Keep to yourself and there won't be any problems. We will build trust with each other and move on from there. Okay?"

Saranie just nodded.

---

Her breakfast consisted of a wonderful meal. Pancakes, eggs, a cup of mixed fruit, and chocolate milk. Chocolate! Other than the 'plastic', something Hiberacy informed her of, it tasted like a meal fit for royalty. Considering her meals for the past two months consisted of dried meat and partially rotted fruit, it was amazing.

"You really seem to enjoy it, Jah- Saranie."

"It's amazing. Um… you wouldn't happen to have more of this would you?" Holding the container for the chocolate milk.

"No… But we can get you some more for lunch."

"It's not something rare? I can really have more?" Considering the situation Saranie found herself in, this felt more like the afterlife. She didn't care about that right now. Everything was great with life!

---

"…common area."

Doctor Wraimes was giving Saranie a tour. There were rooms down a straight hallway where other women were living in pairs. After Saranie asked, there had been a lot of people. Just the time of the year. Winter was hard on everyone.

Past that it opened into a wide grand area. It was all open with pillars holding the ceiling up. On the left held a desk where the nurses mainly stayed. Using 'computers' to type up reports. That was as far as she got in her questions before Wraimes said he would explain later if she wanted. They were going to meet later after lunch.

Next to the desk, along the same left side, was the common area that Doctor Wraimes had just told her about. Watching 'tv', which Saranie could see right now and it was just impossible to describe. 'A moving painting?' Maybe not that difficult. There they would talk in a group with everyone and a place to relax with others.

While the last place on the right had much more room. It was a place to eat. A counter top with a sink and cupboards. Also a fridge, which was a cold place for food. It was something she had heard about and seen, but not like that. Anyways, this place would also be a place for a group project to create art and express themselves.

Looking down, Saranie's head felt heavy. It gave her the moment to see the carpet. It was thick and solid blue. With how new everything else was, she wondered how she didn't see it earlier as the only other color were the white lights that did nothing to the grey walls.

"Are you okay?"

"I just need to lay down. I'm feeling really tired."

Hiberacy had stayed with them the whole time while that huge man had gone to sit down at the reception desk. She held up Saranie and brought her back to her room. Which was in a different location than the other rooms. Down the hallway, there was a set of doors that led back. It was in a more isolated part of the 'hospital ward' she was in. There were many other doors, but one led to the room she woke up in.

She didn't care for the bindings still connected to the bed. All she cared about was sleeping. But there was one more thing to do.

"Thank you for the help Lady Hiberacy."

Saranie didn't care for bowing before the woman as she was so tired.

---

Hiberacy had brought in lunch and woke her up. True to her word, there was more chocolate milk. It boggled her mind why they would spend so much money to give this to her.

"How much money do you spend on something like this? Chocolate is crazy expensive. Do you have so much that you can just give it to everyone?"

"For a cup like that, it doesn't cost that much."

"Truly?"

"Yes…" Lady Hiberacy had a strained smile. More amused at Saranie than thinking about prices of a drink.

Hiberacy had explained the rules. Keeping her hands to herself. Not touching others. Keeping her voice low. Respecting everyone and bla bla bla. Saranie got it right away. Though what she didn't understand was why they were helping her. They knew she wasn't Jahvee. They 'said' magic didn't exist. Considering what they have against people who harm themselves, they never found out about lifeforce. Since she had little, saving it for life and death emergencies was for the best. Anyway they were looking to keep this body safe and healthy for whenever Jahvee got back.

What would happen to Saranie then?

"You understand what is going on?" Her question didn't seem to be out of nowhere as Lady Hiberacy was looking at her curiously.

"Doctor Wraimes had said that it might D.I.D. You remember what he said?"

"What is that?"

"Dissociative Identity Disorder, multiple personalities."

"Well he talked about personalities. Honestly I didn't understand that, but I got the idea. So you guys really don't know about magic or lifeforce?" It was like asking questions at foreign kingdom's tavern. Looking for information that might help her allies. Since they claimed they wished to help her and she could ask questions, it didn't feel wrong to her.

"Ah well no. That would be amazing if magic was real. It would make a lot of things easier."

"Like what?"

"Making the cold go away. I'm a summer person." Lady Hiberacy said as she moved slightly closer to the metal grate that created that warm air.

"There are spells like that. One they taught in the army was a warm aura. Fire aura if you were really cold, but I never learned anything like that."

"Were you a wizard?" Her tone felt more like she was trying to be nice, but came off like she was talking to a child. Saranie brushed it off and didn't comment or take offence to it.

"Worse… a soldier."

---

There was an 'office' a few doors down and across the hall in the isolated area. Doctor Wraimes' office. Now she had seen offices before, but none like this. As those were either destroyed already or barren as someone like her was never allowed in an office for nobles.

A large bookcase stood on the wall. Lots of books filled it. By their names she could tell that it fit for helping people. Perfect for a doctor. One of the books had a light blue binding that caught her attention. The title made it sound like a children's book. It reminded her of the orphanage. A place she so very much wished to be.

There was more to the room. A wooden desk filled with papers, 'computer', and what seemed to be a squishy yellow toy. Two chairs on her side of the desk, while one with wheels was on the other side with the doctor in it. Thanks to the area underneath, she could see that it had wheels and she wondered why anyone would want that.

"Do you feel sick Saranie?"

"No, I'm fine. Why would anyone put wheels on a chair?" She had gotten sick imagining being on one. That was new to her, considering the horses she rode before.

"Extra maneuverability. So how was your nap?" She caught his smile as he held back a laugh. Saranie turned to see the door close behind her with Hiberacy standing just outside.

"Good, but I still feel tired. Been a long time since I could sleep like that. It's a little unnerving though with how quiet it is." Saranie had fallen asleep right away. There wasn't much that could keep her awake. Then when she woke up, she found herself wanting to go back, but the quiet got to her. On the battlefield, sounds kept her alive. Even if it was tough to get used to.

"Really? Why is that?"

"Just not used to it. So what did you want to talk about." Saranie took a very relaxed posture in the chair. No need to hide how tired she was. She felt no threat from anyone here that she had seen.

"Well I wanted to learn more about you. To help both you and Jahvee."

"That sounds fine to me, but I just want to say something quick. Other than what you told me, I know nothing about that woman."

"You did say something like that earlier." He leaned back in his chair. It was strange seeing how comfortable and flexible that black leather chair was. "There was a moment where I thought about a garden, care to tell me more about that?"

"So I grew up in an orphanage. Around my home there we grew crops to feed ourselves as well as grow flowers to sell and make money. Though after things occurred, I imagine that place. The flowers, vegetables… *sniff*" Saranie could see it all in her head all over again. Tranquil. Peace. The warm heat under the sun.

"A safe place for you?" She looked back at the doctor who was currently…

"What are you doing?" Leaning forward, she looked at what he was doing. Words appeared like magic on the screen after he pressed down on the buttons matching the letters. "You said magic didn't exist for your people?" It actually made Saranie angry. While she couldn't check if it had a magic crystal or how it worked, it looked like it to her. Some way to keep records.

"It's not magic. I press these keys on the keyboard and it inputs those letters onto the screen."

Wraimes let her touch the 'keys' and press them. It was impossible for her to check if mana was being used and they clearly had something against lifeforce and blood. Though she quickly leaned back tired and exhausted. It was like even getting angry took so much out of her.

"Sure, just don't lie. Afterall you want trust right?"

"Yes I do. As your doctor and you, my patient, we need to have a form of trust. So I will tell you something that you might have already noticed, but you feel tired again don't you."

"Yes?"

"While you did lose a lot of blood, you should feel better in a few days. It has been a while to heal your wounds. But we have been giving you… Jahvee medicine to help her stay calm."

"So you are making me feel like this?" It didn't feel bad, but what she understood from that was he was messing with her mind. "You're all messing with my mind?" That actually got her to stand up. Nothing more, but she was much more alert. Lady Hiberacy opened the door and walked in.

"Please calm down."

"What right do you have to mess with another person's mind? You do understand all the kingdoms banned magic and rituals like that? Don't give me that it ain't magic either. Doing something like that to another being is just wrong."

"Saranie, you must calm down and sit down in that chair. I will explain if you give me that chance. I won't lie. Put your trust in me to believe that. We haven't lied to you or have done anything malicious. Please sit down."

Saranie looked at Lady Hiberacy. She was ready if Saranie even moved a bit. Though she could also hear that little noise from the doors that opened the isolation area. It was from a black panel on the wall and they would put their 'badges' on it. A red light would turn green and the door would open. It was how she knew reinforcements were coming.

In the end she sat down for three reasons. The same reasons she already made for following along with everything as easily she had. In a fight, Saranie would win; her body and mind were tired; and she wanted to put her trust in these people who gave her chocolate milk. Not really for the food, but the effort they were putting in to make her 'better' which was probably aimed more at Jahvee than her.

"Hurry up, I'm tired." She meant it more to be in Wraimes face for making her like that, but she was really tired.

"I'll try to be brief. Saranie, Jahvee needed help keeping her calm. Outbursts are and were common for her." He made a small jab at her.

'Whatever…' Saranie rolled her eyes.

"I prescribed that medication based on her previous actions at a larger dose before we were aware of you Saranie. So I thought you knew about them, but when you entered the office, I thought it best to make sure you were aware of them. I still need to keep giving you that medication, but we can make it a lower dose if you can keep a hold on your emotions."

"I understand. It's just those cultists did the same thing during the war. I can't stand stuff like that. But I will make an exception because I just can't even think about it. I'm so tired." She couldn't even stop herself from dripping the word cultists with venom.

Then she fell asleep right on the chair.

---

Saranie woke up back in the bed. Not tied up, but covered in blankets again. Really warm. The lights were off, but she could clearly see the whole room as the light coming from outside filled the room. Standing up slowly she moved towards the window to see what it was. In the distance she could see sights glowing with colored lights. Yellow light posts on the street lit up the pathways in the dark. Saranie could see snow flakes falling from the sky as the dark clouds passed overhead.

She could press the button to have a nurse come to her, but she needed the walk right now. As she opened the door, she found the lights dimmed. Leaving every other shut off. There was no one else walking around so she could see through the two doors that led out to the hallway with the common area and reception desk.

On this side of the door a small reception like desk area stood there. Two people there on their 'computers tying on their keyboards'. New stuff to think about for later. She approached them.

"Jahvee, how are you tonight?" It was a man sitting there. She couldn't focus on his badge right now. Honestly she wanted to go back to sleep, but keeping her body in motion felt normal and natural. Patrolling the camp or city was common for her even if she was tired, not this unnatural type.

The woman sitting next to the man, slid over with the wheels and all, nudged him with her elbow and moved back. Now that made sense. Wheels were okay in her mind now. Chairs and wheels were a good fit.

"Are you Jahvee?" The man responded. He was now reading off a note.

"Saranie. Is it always this quiet here?" She still found it unnerving. Thankfully the medicine kept her at ease.

"Pretty much." The man who was closer to Saranie responded. The woman just stood up and started walking over to two rooms. Opening the door, looking inside and then backing out. Saranie watched her as she then walked back to her chair. "Are you hungry? Hiberacy had us save your dinner for you. I can warm it up if you want it."

"How would you warm it up?" Put it on the fire again? A pan to let it heat up?

"Microwave is all we can do." He responded like she should know that.

"What is a micro- never mind don't care. I'll take warm food please." Saranie leaned on the desk and rested her head. The man went into the back while the woman turned to Saranie.

"We can bring it to your room if you're tired."

Saranie was about to fall asleep right there. Then she remembered that she needed to patrol the area. "No, Sir!" She stood at attention. Her posture was straight with a hand over her chest in a fist. Saranie walked around keeping her one hand and her sword.

The stone walls held nothing to stare at. This place was in ruins. The smoke was still rising this late in the night. There were others on the wall with her. A man and a woman tonight.

Torches kept the wall lit up, but they were also lined in intervals out in the fields. It made it easy to spot anyone sneaking up for them. As she turned around, keeping her head looking everywhere at once, she saw the man with her holding a tray of food. The woman was also approaching Saranie.

"This isn't the time to eat." Pointing at the man. Saranie kept her voice low. "You should have eaten before your shift. Do you want our people to die because you needed a snack?" Saranie could see the woman next to the man try to hold back a snicker. "You too." She looked around the wall and out to the fields before turning back to both of them. "But I know rations are low. Just this once, okay you two? I'll cover for you before the squad leader shows up. Hurry."

Saranie just turned around. Actually she herself was tired and wished to sleep. Maybe they would let her take a nap if she let them eat.

"Saranie…" She turned around to see the man next to her. "I heard you liked chocolate milk."

"I do-" She halted her hand before grabbing the little cup. Saranie looked around again and she was standing in a hallway. It was like her memory had replaced what she was seeing there for a moment like putting on a helmet. "Oh did I…" Her hands started to shake.

"It's alright. Can you stand?"

"Yes."