4 Vivid Dreaming

Mother may have looked at everything as mere experiment or a variable, but that was before.

Slowly as we grew up, Tukare and I, as well Father, had noticed that gentle loving look on her face becoming more often. She had yet to realize how she looked when she gazed at us. Nor could she comprehend why her anger always vanishes easily when anyone of us hugs her. Not even why she unconsciously lightens her touch on us as if Tukare and I were fragile glass—the shiny thing framed by wood, that much looked like a lake with no ripples, which she showed us in her memories one time.

She was even willing to abandon her community to stay with us, with the reason that her "experiment"—Tukare and I—had yet to finish. But she was an elder. And elders had responsibilities to do.

"Don't they try holding me accountable. They can function quite fine without me. It's a figurehead they want, someone to sway the majority. Do I look like someone who can charmingly sway the masses", Mother complained like a child in Father's arms.

Father hid his face on the crook of mother's neck. There was a pause before Mother's face flamed red and gently knocked on Father's head. It was too far for me see the small smile I instinctively knew was playing on Father's lips at the sight of his flustered wife.

"O-Of course I'm charming. Who said I-I wasn't gorgeous I—Stop it! Stop teasing me already!"

Mother struggled out of Father's hold and clutched her temples as Father laughed softly.

"Bell", Father called out Mother's nickname, making her redder than she already was. Father wasn't a fan of speaking but when he did, his voice always seemed to deep and mellow, very pleasing to hear. "My Trayi Bellvidere Ojasvi Simona de Lavi."

"You—You should be glad I—I even told you my whole name", Mother exclaims as Father nods seriously. "Sa—Satori judge closeness by the number of names they let others know, you know... but you! Y-You..." Mother didn't continue the last part and started looking embarrassed.

"Hm", Father agrees as if what Mother said needed confirmation. "I shall treasure your name more than anything."

Before Mother could answer, the sound of random drops of water was heard. The sound grew louder and louder as the pouring of the rain got heavier and heavier. She paused on the spot for a moment, her mind traveling around until it detected presence of my thoughts a few feet away, laying beneath a tree.

She looked at me abruptly and said, "Vid, get inside and help your sister prepare for dinner."

I wanted to stand up, to run and hug her, before the inevitability of her leave. But as I laid there, the rain grew stronger until I could barely see the outline of our home, of which Mother designed, Father built, and we loved.

Wraiths don't need houses. They hide in the shadows, and dwell in places that lack light. But since Tukare and me are half-Satori and half-Wraith, we are unable to enter the shadows. We can only will them, but never immerse ourselves in it, just as Father tried to teach us when young.

Plip. Plip—

Groggily, I try to evade the drops of rainwater falling on my eyes. The eyes that trapped me here.

Plip. Plip. Plip—

The rainwater suddenly stopped. I turned my head up and opened my eyes to see Tukare lifting a rag from my face, the gray edges dripping a few drops on my chin and neck.

Ah... What a shame to wake up... I wouldn't have minded forever dreaming.

"Are you alright", she asks as I weakly closed my eyes again. "You were out for more than a day", she continues. She tries to touch my forehead, but I slap her hand with precision. I try to swallow down the anger and helplessness I felt for the both of us; anger at having woken up to reality and the helplessness at having the ability to do nothing about it.

"Don't waste your water on me", I tried scold her, but it sounded more like a complain to anyone listening. My voice was hoarse and low from the previous screaming in pain.

"It's fine. They gave me more than the usual today, along with a piece of bread."

I looked her in the eyes, until eventually, her mind showed me scattered pieces of memories of different people in the same cell that came along with the lingering traumatic pain she felt in her head. I could even vaguely feel the fatigue coming from her body from the overuse of her powers.

"You finished your batch in one go", my eyes widen in realization.

She reaches out again to rub my forehead. This time, I do not hinder her. She smiles simply at me.

"Stop worrying about me. I'm stronger than I look. I won't lose myself. One day, you'll be able to create a better, finer wall around your mind like how Mom taught us, and it'll be harder for others to sway your emotions or mind."

Easy for you to say. You're more like her, stronger and smarter. I pout.

"Ungh—" A finger pinches my nose. I struggle to shake off her hand, taking a big breath in as I sit up to scoot away from her. I rub the bridge of my nose while glaring at her. Tukare just rubs her own nose in response, feeling the exact same pain she had just inflicted on me.

"Stop doubting yourself."

I felt her frustration, and shrugged.

"If anything, you're like a replica of Mother—"

"With us both looking like her, you're more of a replica with your long hair and height."

"Are you calling me short?"

"I wouldn't dare, Sister."

A moment of silence envelopes us until we both sigh with a smile. I scoot over to lay by her side and take her hand in mine, rubbing the back of it.

"I'm sorry for hitting your hand. Did it hurt?"

"What, a small tap like that? No way." Tukare smiles at me gently, reminding me of the dream I just had.

I tell Tukare of my dream, and together we reminisce to pass the small hours of the day. It was nearing the break of dawn when the right to every peaceful night reminiscing would be taken away from me.

The comrades of the rebel group had attacked the dungeons to free their prisoned allies.