Chapter 16

My eyes flickered open sometime around dawn. Where am I again? Oh, that's right, I'm back in my old world--the boring one. I simply lay there on my right side, bringing my knees up to my chest and my hands in front of my face. Why should I do anything? Staying here sounds much more pleasing. "Excuse me...are you okay?" I flinched, startled by the voice. I heard movement close to me right before a hand touched my shoulder. "Hey…" They trailed off when I started shaking, for some reason afraid of the male voice. Huh? Why? Why does a deep voice scare me so much? I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes closed. No. I did not live with my dragon father to still be afraid of that. His voice was like an earthquake compared to this one's mouse squeak.

"Y-yeah. I think s-s-so." His warm hand brushed my arm and he winced.

"You're cold as ice. Uh, can you trust me long enough to come with me? Huh?!" Stranger danger, I know, but he was just so warm I had found myself whipping around to hug him before I knew it.

"Warm…" I hadn't been able to feel cold for the past eleven years...this isn't completely comfortable. Well, I didn't realize my skin was such a low temperature until he touched me. By the way, what is it with how I always run into guys when I need help? This is similar to when I met Xyon nine years ago. I pulled away quickly after it occurred to me that this wasn't a medieval world anymore, but one based on technology. Oh…I have to remember that. "I'm sorry."

"Uh...no...it's fine. Why are you wet?"

"Oh, I almost drowned. I think I'm good though. So…" I had to stop and do a double-take. He looks exactly like Xyon! Same age too...this looks like a normal young teen. Only a couple of years younger than me.

"Miss? C-can you tell me where I am?" That made me freeze. Those clothes...that expression...this is Xyon! How did this happen?! Was it when I reached for him as I died? Maybe I shouldn't have done that. He took off his coat to cover his head...for his ears? I grabbed his hands to draw his focus.

"Xyon? Senra Xyon?" He froze with his eyes wide, a shocked and scared expression on his face.

"W-wha?! D-d-did I die too?! O-or was I b-b-b-bitten from t-the b-b-beginning?! Does t-that m-m-mean y-y-y-y-you're a d-deity?!" I stared at him with a blank face for a moment, then stifled a laugh by pressing the back of my hand against my mouth. I didn't bother to let go of him for it, so he was forced to lean closer.

"Hahaha…! Oh, your face! Priceless!" He shook his head slowly, not completely understanding. "Look! Do deities bleed?" I showed him the bite on my hand and he bit his lip. "Xyon, I do apologize for dragging you along with me, but I'm also grateful for not being alone."

"What?"

"Calm down. It's me, Zavi."

"Z-Zavi?" He suddenly started glowing, disappearing as particles. "Huh?! Help me!" I gripped tighter but he vanished, leaving me all alone again. Was he actually here? I looked at my hands. Yes...that warmth wasn't fake. Then what happened to him? I hope he didn't die just now. Using the small amount of energy I had left, I pulled myself to my feet. I need to find out where I am and who killed me. They might know what this rebirth is. I made my way through the sparse trees, heading for the town. I'd never lived in a city or anything, just a simple and small place that could've been called a village in the other world. The school here is poor and very tiny, so we've never done much besides lessons. Although...kids of all ages were grouped in together which isn't the best system possible. After passing through the trees, I stepped onto the road and followed it to the town, walking in the middle. Oh, I'm definitely going to be yelled at if someone drives by, but at least I'll have gotten someone's attention. On my way, I didn't run into anyone at all, making the place seem like a ghost-town. They must be asleep right now. Hmmm...where was the orphanage again? I followed the vague map of the town in my head to where I remembered it to be. It took around ten minutes until it came into view, its large from casting a huge shadow over the courtyard. It looks like a church, really. If I haven't aged since I died, then I still live here. Xyon...after this, I must find out how to get back to him. Uh, not that I feel I need to, you know. But if he appeared alongside me, then what is going on?

"Zavira…!" A small child I barely remembered ran up to me and hugged my legs. Her name...what is it? "You look so cool! What did you do with your hair?! Make mine like that next!" I blinked at her. What did she call me? Is that supposed to be my name?

I did my best at faking joy, picking her up and spinning. "Hahaha!" She giggled excitedly. "Just call me Zavi!"

"No…! Never!" Why does it feel like I've told her that before? And how is my name so similar to the one I was given as a dragon? I don't...I'm missing a large amount of memories, much more than I thought.

"Oh! Zavira!" An old lady charged for me, hugging me much tighter than I expected. Who is she? Even she is calling me Zavira? She started bawling her eyes out on my shoulder, which made me tense. "I'm so glad! I'm so glad you're okay! When the mistress said you'd been adopted, I feared the worst! You children never return for your belongings!" She clearly knows me. Who's this 'mistress'? Should I play along or tell them I forgot everything?

"I...wasn't adopted." How do I carry this out? When I think about it, this could be considered a battle strategy...I'm good at those.

"Then where on earth did you go?!" She gasped, her eyes trained on my hair and clothes. "You're all wet! And your hair…! There must be something wrong! Come with me, girl!" She clamped her hand around my wrist and dragged me inside. Woah! It's like a maze in here! But...it's always been like that. I pressed my free hand against my head in confusion. My mind's all mixed up. Nothing is very clear at the moment. She led me into a room that smelled of medicine and took me to a chair. "Sit!" She began rummaging around. What will happen if she gives me medicine I don't need?

"Uh…" Her name! I don't know it! Forget it, I'll wing it. "I don't need anything...I'm fine, I really am."

"Hush. I'll be the one to decide that." I blinked in surprise. That command made me stop wanting to speak for a moment...just who is she to me? She grabbed a stethoscope and came back over. "Take deep breaths for me." I inhaled calmly, trying to figure out what she was listening for. This continued for another five minutes before she finally pulled away with a nod. "I'm going to listen to your heartbeat now." Didn't she already do that?! I went with it anyway, but that was definitely being overprotective. "It's even...girl, are you really healthy? You don't feel sick?"

"No, I don't. I think I'm just fine. Say...can you tell me…" I trailed off, not sure what consequences it would bring to say I don't remember her.

"Yes, dearie?"

"Uh, who are you?" I at least had a small recollection of the child, but she doesn't show up anywhere in what I have left of my past. But now she's staring at me like I'm insane.

"A...ahahaha...don't joke around too much, Zavira. You know who I am." She doesn't believe me? No...she doesn't want to believe me. Must be awfully close for that kind of reaction.

"Who are you…? I should know you then, right?" Her eyes went wide and she rushed off, returning with a flashlight. She grabbed my face and shined the light on my eyes.

"Good, good, your pupils are normal…" Now she just sounds desperate. She's got to be an important person for this response. "Zavira, tell me the truth. Do you really...not know who I am?"

"I don't." She drooped, but offered me a kind smile.

"Then I guess I better tell you. I'm Anaun, a maid at the orphanage. I raised you since you were little, Zavira, even if you don't remember me. Must be amnesia...should pass with time." In a normal case, sure, but this seems different. So I grew up with her near me...oh!

"The...the one who showed me how to make a paper snowflake." She teared up and hugged me.

"I'm glad you kept that memory, at least. Seems you still have the experiences from childhood, but no names or people starting a few years ago." Very observative. I want to go back to being a dragon...life was so easy. All I had to do was train, eat, and sleep. That may have been boring, but at least it wasn't full of as many backstabbers as in this world.

"Miss Anaun, who was I with the last you saw me?" She hesitated, pulling away from me.

"I believe it was a man. Yes, a man in a black suit and wearing a fedora. I don't know what he looks like other than how tall he was, he kept his head ducked, after all...couldn't properly see his face." I sighed, drawing a light laugh from her. "I'm just glad you're safe. How about we get you to bed." She helped me get up, guiding me out into a long hallway. We walked quietly through many different pathways, getting to the point I got dizzy. No...I don't think it's because of all the turns. I took in a shuddering breath and went on, pretending nothing was wrong. Anaun stopped in front of a simple, run-down door, pushing it open to reveal a room that made me calm down. This room...it must be mine. A sharp pain rose from my heart and I stumbled. It hurts! It literally hurts! Every beat of my heart sent agony through me. Agh! Why?! My hair dulled, then faded into black, the color it had been in my previous life. "Zavira! Your hair!" She rushed forward, trying to support me as I lost balance. This doesn't feel good. "Hold on, let me get you to the bed…" She hauled me over then up, pulled the blanket so it rested on my shoulders. "Please get some rest. I'll notify the orphanage that you're here and see if they'll let me get you food." I tried to grab her shirt, but she was already gone. No...I don't want to be alone. I closed my eyes and focused on Xyon's presence. I can still sense him, so he's not quite gone.

"Zavi!" He appeared next to the bed, crying. His mind's stuck in the moment I died...he can't see me. But it does help that he's hugging the side of the bed, not some invisible force further away. "I-I'm so s-s-s-s-sorry…! Zavi…!" I felt tears well up in my eyes and drip down my cheeks, but didn't even try to brush them away. But...I shifted around, trying to reach whatever was digging into my back. Aha! Got it. I pulled it out, then gasped. The stone! It's the magic stone the adventurers gave me! Why is it here?! I glanced at the weeping Xyon and felt a twinge of guilt. He'd traveled with me for a short period of time, then went back and forgot about it. He's sad...and it's because of me. Xyon started to fade away before vanishing, returned to wherever he came from. I wanted him to stay...why must I be forced to cause someone so kind so much misery? A nice smell wafted toward me, making my mouth water. What is that? I brought the stone closer and took a deep breath. This? Why does this smell so good? Good enough to eat...half of it broke off, falling next to my head. When I touched it, I realized it had become soft, like cotton candy. Can I eat this? Is it safe? Ugh...only one way to find out. I've already died twice, I'm not afraid to do so again. I shoved it in my mouth and quickly swallowed it. I readied myself, but nothing happened. Was I overreacting? Suddenly, my hair flashed opal for a split second, then whipped back to black. A chill ran down my spine and my vision became clearer--more vivid. What was that?! I inhaled slowly, trying to calm down.

"I can figure this out…" Hearing a voice, even if only mine, was soothing. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep while hugging the stone. My dreams were made up of memories all tangled together. I was in a dark room with silky webs intertwined around me, becoming a struggle to unravel. Some of them burned me when I touched them, some threatened to turn me into an ice cube. The door of the room creaked open, waking me. My eyes flicked open to see a masked man wielding a knife, raising it above his head. When the situation dawned on me, I made an attempt to scream, but he covered my mouth to stifle it. Why?! What did I ever do to this person?! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young lady with blonde hair standing in the doorway with a smirk. Who is she?! Her! It's her! She must be the one trying to kill me!

"This is your punishment for crossing me, Zavira. If drowning you doesn't work, I'll just do this." She walked away just as the metal glinted, swinging down. The pain was sharp but short, not long enough to even seem real. I drifted off into a void, my mind wandering and my thoughts scattered. What was that? What were her last words? I don't remember.