บท 9: 8. Mondstadt: Changes and Recovery #1

The darkness around me was thick, almost suffocating, as if the world had folded in on itself, leaving nothing but an endless void. Time didn't seem to exist here—there was only the sensation of floating, adrift in a sea of nothingness. But slowly, something began to change. A faint warmth seeped through the cold, a light that gradually grew stronger, pulling me out of the abyss.

My eyes fluttered open, the effort feeling monumental, as if they had been glued shut. The world around me swam into focus in pieces—a high ceiling, bathed in soft light, intricate patterns of stained glass casting muted colors onto the stone floor. The scent of herbs lingered in the air, mixed with something clean, almost antiseptic. I blinked, my thoughts sluggish as I tried to piece together where I was.

I attempted to move, but my body felt heavy, each muscle aching with a dull, persistent pain. {Great, even moving is a challenge now.} Memories flitted at the edge of my consciousness, disjointed and hazy—the battle, the pain, the blinding light. How long had I been out?

A soft rustling sound drew my attention, and I turned my head with some effort. A young woman with blonde hair tied into twin braids approached, her steps light and careful. She wore the robes of a healer, her expression calm but with a hint of relief in her blue eyes as she realized I was awake.

"You're awake," she said, her voice gentle but steady. She stepped closer, placing a cool hand on my forehead, a simple gesture that somehow anchored me to the present. "You've been unconscious for two weeks."

"Two weeks?" The words came out as a hoarse whisper, my throat dry . I tried to sit up, but a sharp ache in my chest made me wince, forcing me back down.

"Easy," she murmured, her hand applying just enough pressure to keep me from straining. "Your body still needs time to recover."

Two weeks… The thought hung in the air. It felt like only moments ago that I had been in the thick of battle, every sense on high alert, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. But now, that memory seemed distant, almost like a dream. I glanced around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings—the stained glass windows, the soft light filtering through them. "Where… am I?"

"The Cathedral of Mondstadt," she replied, her tone even, soothing. "When you were brought in, your injuries were already healed, but your body was severely lacking in nutrients. We asked Albedo to create a special IV solution to help replenish what you needed. Although I was hesitant to use an untested solution, it seemed to have done the trick"

I followed her gaze to the IV drip beside my bed, the tube connected to my arm. The sight of it made my stomach twist slightly, a reminder of just how close I had come to… 'No. Don't think about that now' My body had healed, but that was not something I would want to experience again. "Thank you," I managed to say, though the words felt weak.

Barbara—yes, that was her name—nodded, a small, kind smile on her lips. "We were all worried about you—especially Eula and Amber. They've been here almost every day, checking in on you."

Eula… Amber… The names sparked something warm in my chest, a flicker of gratitude that cut through the haze. "They've… been here?"

"Almost every day" Barbara confirmed, her hands moving to adjust the blankets around me with practiced ease. "Eula stayed by your side for the first two days. She didn't want to leave you alone, but with Mondstadt in recovery, she has been pretty busy. Amber's been helping with the reconstruction efforts, but she's been here too, whenever she can."

A rush of emotions swirled within me—relief or something I couldn't quite name. They had been there for me, even when I couldn't be there for myself. "Those two really care about me huh.. That's nice" The memories of the battle were still fragmented, but I remembered their faces, the worry in their eyes as they found me. I owed them—more than I could ever repay.

Barbara's voice pulled me from my thoughts, grounding me once more. "You should rest more. Your body still needs time to regain its strength."

I nodded slightly, though the thought of resting more grated against my nerves. {Rest. It's all I've been doing.} But what choice did I have? My body was still weak, barely able to manage even the simplest movements. I wanted to get up, to move, to do something after so much time spent in stillness. But I knew better than to push myself now.

Barbara must have sensed my frustration because she offered a reassuring smile. "I know it's difficult, but your body needs this. Healing takes time, even for someone as resilient as you."

I looked away, focusing on the patterns of light cast by the stained glass. "I just… I need to know what's been happening. What I've missed."

"Everything's been relatively quiet," Barbara said, her tone calm, almost too calm. "Mondstadt is recovering, slowly but surely. The people are strong—they're rebuilding."

"And… Eula? Amber? How are they doing?"

"They're fine," Barbara assured me, her voice warm. "Eula's been keeping herself busy, helping wherever she can. Amber's been her usual self—cheerful, energetic, trying to keep everyone's spirits up. They've both been worried about you, though. I'll let them know you're awake—they'll be glad to see you."

I nodded again, the weight of her words settling over me. It was good to know they were okay. But there was still something gnawing at the back of my mind, a sense of unease I couldn't shake. 'Why does it feel like something's… off?'

Barbara stood, gathering the empty tray she had brought with her earlier. "I'll be back to check on you later," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "For now, just focus on resting. You'll need your strength."

As she moved to the door, I found my voice again, though it was softer this time. "Barbara… thank you. For everything."

She paused, turning back to offer me a warm smile. "It's what I'm here for. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

With that, she left the room, the door closing softly behind her. Silence settled over the space, broken only by the distant sounds of life outside—the murmur of voices, the rustling of leaves in the wind. I stared up at the ceiling, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

Two weeks… How much had changed while I was out? What had I missed? And what was waiting for me now that I was awake? The questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn't find any answers. Not yet.

Exhaustion tugged at the edges of my consciousness, pulling me back toward sleep. I tried to fight it, but it was no use. My body was too tired, too drained from the effort of simply existing.

"Rest" I told myself, closing my eyes as the weariness washed over me. "Just… rest".

As I drifted off, the last thing I saw was the soft light filtering through the stained glass, painting the room in shades of blue and gold. The world outside was still moving, still changing. But for now, I could let go. Just for a little while.

---

I blinked, and suddenly I was standing again—no longer in the Cathedral, but in a familiar, eerie room. The scent of aged wood and something metallic lingered in the air. The walls, dark and polished, surrounded me with an oppressive weight. My bare feet pressed against the cool tatami mats, and the silence was thick, almost alive. It was the Infinity Castle—if not the real one, then a memory of it.

"Finally awake, huh?" A voice, smooth and tinged with casual confidence, broke the silence. I turned to see him—my double, TD, lounging casually at the low wooden table, a smirk playing on his lips.

"TD…" I muttered, taking in the sight of him. He looked just as he always did—pale, red eyes gleaming with a mischievous light, his presence both familiar and unnerving. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" he repeated with mock offense, placing a hand on his chest. "You're the one who's been off in dreamland for two weeks. It's about time you got back here—I was starting to think you were ditching me." His smirk widened. "It was kinda lonely without anyone to annoy."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. Despite everything, there was something oddly comforting about seeing him again, even if he was technically a manifestation of my powers. "So, you missed me?"

"Don't flatter yourself too much," TD shot back, though the playful tone remained. "I'm just saying, a little company wouldn't have hurt. Besides," he added, leaning back on his hands, "we've got business to discuss."

"Business?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "I just woke up—what could possibly be so important?"

"Plenty," TD said, his tone shifting slightly to something more serious. He sat up straight, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "That IV they hooked you up to? The one that Albedo guy made? It's been giving you a ton of nutrients—way more than your body needed to heal."

I frowned, trying to process that information. "Is that… bad?"

TD shook his head, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Actually, it's a good thing. A really good thing. Your body's been soaking up all those extra nutrients, and now? You can hold onto demon mode for about 26 minutes."

"Twenty-six minutes?" I repeated, surprise evident in my voice. "That's… a lot more than before."

"Yeah," TD confirmed, leaning forward slightly. "And that's not all. With a bit more training, you should be able to control your fiery blood—make it burn when you want it to, instead of relying on outside sources."

The mention of the fiery blood caught my attention. I remembered TD's theory about the boy whose body I had inherited—the connection to his sister, and the power of her blood. "So… I'm getting stronger?"

"In more ways than one," TD said with a nod. "The reason you were so sluggish when you woke up was because your body was still digesting all those nutrients from the IV. The next time you wake up, you should be fully healed—no more sluggishness."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. It made sense now—why I had felt so weak, so drained. My body had been working overtime to process everything. "So, I'll be back to normal soon?"

"As normal as you can be," TD remarked with a smirk. "But don't get too invested in the IV. Its effects are going to start evening out, or lose their insane edge as you get stronger. This isn't some cheat code you can rely on."

I nodded, absorbing the information. It was reassuring to know I was getting stronger, but also sobering to realize that I couldn't rely on external help forever. My strength would have to come from within—from the training, the challenges, and the battles I would face.

TD seemed to sense my thoughts, his expression softening slightly. "Look, you're doing well—better than I expected, honestly. But you need to keep pushing yourself. This world isn't going to get any easier, and neither will the challenges you face."

I met his gaze. "I know. I'm not planning to back down."

"Good," TD said with a satisfied nod. He leaned back again, a small grin returning to his face. "You've got a lot ahead of you, Tayden. But you're not alone in this. Remember that."

For a moment, the two of us just sat there, the silence comfortable and unspoken. It was strange, having this connection with a part of myself—this manifestation of my powers, my strength. But in a way, it was also reassuring. TD was a constant reminder of what I was capable of, even when I doubted myself.

After a while TD finally spoke. " Now, get some rest—you'll need it. Next time you wake up, you're back in the game."

I nodded again, feeling a sense of resolve settle over me. "Yeah. I will." I looked at TD with a small smill "See you next time then" and with that I saw the dream finally ending.