9 Chapter 8: Master
Jade slowly opened they're eyes. They could hear voices surrounding them. Blurred figures covered they're vision. Jade wanted to sit up but they're body was strangely heavier than usual.
"Hey! Jade is awake!" yelled a voice.
Jade turned they're gaze to the side and saw a gather of people. Among them was Lancer and Iskandar. Jade weakly reached out they're hand. Jade parted they're dry lips before they spoke.
"Lancer... Iskandar..." Jade said with a horse voice.
"JADE!" the two servants yelled as they pushed through the crowd.
"Stop you two!" yelled a man.
"JADE! TALK TO US!" Lancer yelled as he held Jade's hand.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! DO YOU FEEL ANY PAIN?!" Iskandar yelled as he stood next to Lancer.
"My friends..." Jade uttered.
Jade smiled softly at Lancer and Iskandar before the servants were dragged away. Jade could not see properly, however, they could hear droplets land on the floor.
Was someone crying? Why were they crying? Are they hurt? Jade questioned themself.
Jade glimpsed at they're hand. It was a hand, not a claw. Was Jade they're self again?
Jade retracted they're arm as they laid they're hand through the hole within they're chest. The hole in Jade's chest remained, but why?
Jade urged themself to sit up straight. Jade stared down upon they're body. They wore long white pants, however, they wore no shirt. Jade tugged they're waistband. They peeked inside the white pants.
Jade sighed. "It's still there."
Jade released the waistband as the sound of they're pants clapped against they're stomach.
"Is that thing in your pants is truly your first priority?" spoke a voice.
Jade flinched before they jolted they're eyes with a pair of chartreuse apertures. There stood a man with a man who wore a black hood and a black plague doctor mask with tints of gold.
"No..." Jade said with a flustered face.
The hooded man rolled his eyes. "If you should be worried about anything. You should start with that hole in your chest."
"Huh?" Jade blurted before they stared at they're chest. "It's not too shocking. I had this hole for a while now."
The hooded man took a deep yet quick breath before he asked. "How long did you have that hole?"
Jade shrugged they're shoulders. "Three months?"
"I see," the hooded man said as he approached Jade. "You had that hole for three months..." he gripped Jade's shoulders. "AND DIDN'T TELL ANYONE?!"
"Yes?" Jade gulped.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHY IN OLYMPUS WOULD YOU NOT SAY ANYTHING?! DID YOU WANT TO DIE?! WERE YOU ASKING A DEATH WISH?!" the hooded man screamed into Jade's face.
"I'm sorry... I thought it would heal." Jade sniffled.
The hooded man released Jade's shoulders before he clutched onto Jade's head. "Really? And what would give you that ridiculous idea?"
"Because usually, living beings can't live without a heart..." Jade sniffled.
"You don't say?" the hooded man said with an obviously sarcastic voice.
"Then tell me something, a person without a heart," the hooded man said as he poked Jade's neck.
"If you don't have a heart then... HOW ARE YOU STILL FU*KING ALIVE?!" the hooded man roared.
"I don't know..." Jade whimpered.
The hooded man clicked his tongue before he shoved Jade's head into a pillow. The hooded man walked away and sat next to a desk. Jade faced themself away from the hooded man while they sobbed into the pillow. Jade attempt to stroke they're ruffled hair until they were blocked by something. Jade traced they're hand over it. It was smooth yet firm, short yet arcing, and pointed yet it was blunt. Jade continued to trace they're hand before they were halted at they're forehead.
Was this thing attached to Jade's head?
Jade sat up and scanned they're surroundings. They then met a pair of eyes in the mirror that hung the wall. Bright yellow reptilian eyes, triangular shape teeth, black scales across both shoulders and neck. Jade touched they're head as they examined a pair of horns.
"Dragon..." Jade uttered.
It would seem Jade has not completely returned to normal. Though, despite Jade having dragon features, they did not show any signs of stress nor panic. Why was that? Was it because Jade was a full dragon before? Or could it be because of Seig's memories?
Jade placed a hand above they're chest. Jade's eyes slightly dropped as they stared at they're chest.
Seig was given a dragon's heart, yet Jade didn't possess a heart. Jade wasn't Seig, but it was strange how Jade still shared Seig's attributes. Jade wondered for a moment before the sound of the room's door opening caught Jade's attention.
"Hello, heard you were awake." spoke a man with fluffy orange hair and green eyes.
"Doctor Romani?" Jade tilted they're head.
"I brought some clothes to change into." Romani smiled.
Romani placed a pair of clothes on the bed. Romani gazed at Jade. He then noticed Jade's odd expression.
"Is there something wrong?" Romani asked.
Jade examined the clothes before they stated. "This is Masters Uniform."
"It is," Romani replied.
"I'm a janitor. Why did you give me a Master Uniform?" Jade gulped.
Romani stared at Jade with a surprised expression. "Jade. Did you not notice your arm?"
"What do you mean?" Jade asked.
Jade turned to they're left arm, there was nothing.
"Your other arm, you idiot." snared the masked man.
Jade turned to they're right arm. Jade froze as a large amount of sweat dripped off they're chin. There was a mark, not a scar. It was a mark, specify a Command Seal. Not one Command Seal either. A pattern of Command Seals covered the surface of Jade's arm. How did Jade not notice was beyond them.
Jade could not stop they're shiver down they're spine.
Why? Jade questioned themself.
Why did Jade have this? Why did Jade have Command Seals? Why did Jade possess Kirei's Command Seals?
"Do you like it?" spoke Kirei's voice.
Jade snapped they're head toward the mirror. Instead of Jade's reflection, it was replaced by Kirei.
"Enjoy your gift, I hope you don't waste it," Kirei chuckled darkly.
When Jade blinked, Kirei was gone and they're reflection returned.
"Jade? Jade!"
Jade flinched before they jolted they're eyes at Romani.
"Are you alright?" Romani asked with a concerned expression.
"Yep!" Jade yelped.
"Your hiding something." the masked man stated with a cold stare.
"That's enough, Caster," Romani said while the masked man rolled his eyes.
Jade stared down at the Master Uniform. Jade wouldn't have minded becoming a Master, only if the situation was different. If Jade was a mage from a mage family and came to Chaldea willingly. Unfortunately, that failed to be the case. Jade was a chimera of six people lives. They didn't have memories of they're own past or even they're name.
If only things were different.
However, hoping everything to go perfectly is wishful thinking.
A wish...
That's right. Jade had a wish, even though they did not know of it yet. Jade could sense a feeling inside of them. They felt stressed. Why?
Jade then heard a voice that sounded unfamiliar.
"Hey. Hello? Are still asleep?" spoke the voice.
Jade's vision soon faded before they're eyes shot open again. Jade sat up straight and found themself in a flower field.
"What?" Jade blurted before they stood up.
"Is this a dream?"
"Finally! Your awake." spoke a voice.
Jade turned around and saw a person who had long pink hair and dazzling emerald eyes.
"I'm sorry..." Jade uttered without intention.
Who are you?
The person placed they're hands on they're hips and pouted. "How can you sleep when there is a whole world to explore!"
"We're not in a rush, it's good to enjoy the peaceful time as much as possible," Jade said.
What am I saying? Jade thought.
"But *******~" the person's voice turned into static.
What did you say?
"Join me." Jade casually said before they laid they're back against the soft ground.
What's with my body? I can't say or move on my own. What's going on? Jade thought.
The person sighed before they lay next to Jade. The person rested they're head on Jade chest. Jade didn't know what to do. Not like Jade could do anything.
Jade closed they're eyes again as they slowly drifted into slumber.
