39 Ai's Husband

'Ah, so they came back all lovey-dovey, huh? Well, at least she is the one being lovey-dovey. Bleh.' Ai thought as she rolled her eyes, watching as Kenji and Lia re-entered the tent.

"Anyways. So I have an item that I couldn't access since I lost access to the system." Ai explained as she pulled out a small golden key from her inventory, it radiated with a golden glow, there were no teeth however the head of the key was in the shape of some holy symbol. It was a large circle with four lines that almost touched at the center like an incomplete 'X' another partial circle came from halfway down each line, again almost touching but not quite. Floating in the middle of the 'X' shape was a small white gem the shined like a miniature sun. Mana surged forth from the key as everyone in the room could tell that it housed a powerful spell.

"Sis, are you sure about this? I don't know anything about this 'husband' of yours, are you sure he won't try anything?" Amari asked with a worried look on her face.

Ai smiled and nodded. "Your real sister told me to go and meet with him. She seemed to trust him, so I'll see what this is all about. He carried me to the house and let me stay there, so he can't be too bad." Ai chuckled, looking down at the key. Her eyes turned amber as a small amber magic circle appeared in her left iris. "Ah, so that's how."

Ai looked up at the group and smiled. "I'll be back shortly, please get along. [Veritas]"

As she said the keyword, a bright light enveloped her body as space seemed to distort around her, once the light faded away, she found herself in a small cathedral with solid white walls and pillars, inlays made of pure gold complimented each crevice and turn of the pillars and the ceiling was a dome with a highly detailed painting filled with angels and beings that could only be gods riding in chariots driven by pegasi.

Ahead of her, kneeling at an altar made of the same bright white stone and pure gold, was a man dressed head to toe in white robes adorned with golden emblems and accents. As the man turned, she noticed he wore a golden mask that was plain except for two holes for his golden eyes.

The man bowed his head and gestured for Ai to approach the altar, to which Ai did so hesitantly. 'This is too much holy bullshit. Was this man really my husband?' Ai stood next to the man as she looked at the altar. She saw something that was obscured by his figure earlier, sitting in the middle of the altar, a small golden orb of mana radiated with power.

"I am glad to see that you have recovered, though I am saddened to see that you lost your hands." The man spoke in a deep, distorted voice, different from the warm voice that had comforted her back when he had carried her. Looking at him, he did seem quite a bit taller as well.

"So... who are you? What's with the shiny orb thingy?" Ai asked casually.

"My name is not important, the-" "Don't give me that bullshit. I know you are my supposed husband, I don't do the whole holy mysteries bullshit, so give it to me straight, or else whatever junk you have beneath that robe is gonna be non-existent." Ai had cut him off with an annoyed tone in her voice.

The man cleared his throat. "Well, I have many names, and-" "What the fuck did I just say? The hell if I care what your many names are, just tell me the one that I knew you as." Ai clenched her fists, ready to show this man what sky-steel and a woman's wrath can do to one's manhood.

The man sighed and finally relented. "-------."

"See? Was that so hard, wait, no, don't fucking tell me. Damnit!" She cursed, clenching her teeth, she had just heard the man's name, but it had just as quickly left her memory the moment she thought to repeat it back.

"See? That's why-" "Just shut the fuck up for a second and lemme think!" Ai was fully prepared to punch him in the face, well, mask.

'So my 'husband' is another fucker with a name I can't remember. Just like Andromeda was, just like Them. But this guy isn't part of my Recollection System, so maybe it's a side effect of not having any of my old memories. Ah, fuck it! What I need right now is more important!'

"Look Goldilocks, I've got the Blood Plague and need a way to cure it. Any ideas?" Ai asked straightforward, her tone hinted that she would punch him the moment he tried to be cryptic and he very clearly picked up on this.

"Erm, well, this is bad news for certain. Are you aware of the additional stages known as the M-" "Memory Virus, yes yes I know, on to the way to cure it Goldilocks." If she could see his face, his lip would be twitching right now.

"Short answer, no. Now would you like to hear the long answer, explaining how you can instead conquer the Virus? Or should I just shut my trap and let you figure it out on your own?" The man snapped.

'fufufu~ finally got some balls? Might be some reasoning yet as to why you're my 'husband'.'

Ai smiled and nodded, crossing her arms.

"The virus is a trial of blood and mind. With the blood, it kills whoever does not possess the Recollection System, resulting in the death of those without. The trial of the mind will test your sanity, showing you everything you have lived to regret, should you give in to the madness, the virus will take control of your body and look for another suitable host."

Ai nodded with a serious expression. 'So far this makes sense.' "So you're saying I have to go through with the next stage and hold on to my sanity with sheer willpower?"

The man nodded. "Yes, with your memory erased, there is a much higher chance of you succeeding since the trauma from your past has been hidden from you."

Ai clenched her fists. "No, I don't think that's gonna work. I've had some pretty traumatic experiences in the short time I've been around already."

Ai thought back to the times that could drive her mad if brought up again, the times that Amari abandoned her, when she lost her hands and when the orcs almost defiled her, the psychological torture the corrupt Andromeda had put her through.

Tears started flowing down her face as she looked at her hands. "There is no way I could face all of that again, especially all at once, it's not possible."

"It is possible." The man spoke up after letting her vent. "You are stronger than you realize, when faced with these trials, think about how you overcame them."

Ai nodded, he spoke true, in the end, she came through and healed. Whether by time or her friends, she eventually healed from the trauma. But would it really be as simple as that? All three of them had gone through the ordeal of insanity and all three of them lost. Was she really strong enough to withstand all of that emotion at once?

"I can see the doubt in your eyes. I understand your fear, but I believe in you. The others went through hell to make sure you were strong enough to face the trial."

"Bullshit, the others just barely figured out what the virus is, they never had a chance to-" "All three of you had erased parts of your memories and entrusted them to me until one of you either succeeded in the trials or avoided infecting the other altogether." The man had cut off Ai as she looked at him in shock.

"Seriously? Why?" "Because the less trauma within your memories, the higher the chance of succeeding."

"Ok, then why don't you take the traumatic memories that I have now?" "Because those memories are infected with the virus already, should I remove them, once the virus activates, it will pull all of your memories back."

Ai nodded her head, looking down at her hands once more. "Shit." Was all she could muster.

"I have faith in you, Ai. You've been through so much more and you always stayed strong."

"I'm not strong, I cry like a baby for stupid reasons, I freak out over rabbits with tentacles, If my sis abandons me again, I'm gonna lose my sanity long before the virus does."

The man stayed silent, staring at Ai with his golden eyes that seemed to peer into her soul.

"W-what? Something in my eye?" Ai said chuckling nervously.

The man removed his mask, but when Ai looked at his face, she stared into a black void with golden eyes staring back at her.

Her vision blurred as her mind tried to make sense of what she saw. Suddenly, his voice echoed from somewhere deep within her mind.

'The first trial will show you abandonment. When the last person leaves, HE will arrive. However alone you feel, you must reject HIS offer.'

'The second trial will show you pain. When the last of your limbs are broken, SHE will appear. However much pain you feel, you must reject HER offer.'

'The final trial will show you insanity. No matter what you see, no matter what you hear, you must look and listen. Take everything to heart, but do not attempt to understand, or your mind will break.'

The void surrounded her, his eyes staring into her. Suddenly, she found herself back in the tent, key in hand.

"Ah, sis? Aren't you supposed to be going somewhere? Why'r you just standing there?" Amari stared at Ai with a confused look that changed to worry when she noticed the tears streaming down Ai's face. "Sis!?"