Moments before Jade and Ave appeared at the door of the chamber where General Lance lay gravely wounded…
Within the boundless landscape of Jade Garudeya's Nypocampus…
In the span of a heartbeat that stretched into an eternity, Ave lunged with a speed that blurred the very edges of perception, her teeth elongating and sharpening into jagged fangs, aimed at the very lifeblood flowing through Jade's neck!
"Aaarrhhh!!!" Jade's scream tore through the silence of his Nypocampus, a primal roar of immense pain that resonated with a terrifying reality.
He jolted awake within his mental realm, his eyes wide and filled with stark terror as he beheld a horrifying silhouette devouring his neck and shoulder, fresh blood visibly staining the fine fur that represented his physical form in this ethereal world.
Jade, with reflexes fueled by a surge of adrenaline and burning fear, struck back, his fist connecting with Ave's face repeatedly! "Let go! Release me!" His roar echoed through his mental space, blow after blow landing against the terrifying visage that was gnawing at him.
From his seated position upon his mental throne, Jade lashed out with a desperate kick to Ave's stomach, a desperate move to break the deadly grip that held him captive.
He exerted every ounce of his remaining strength, struggling to free himself from Ave's bite upon his shoulder and neck, which felt as though they were being seared by white-hot coals.
However, his frantic attacks felt utterly futile, like the weak blows of a child against a supernatural force that held him firmly in its grasp.
Ave, with lightning-fast reflexes, caught Jade's kicking leg in mid-air, then clamped both of Jade's flailing hands with a bone-crushing strength that defied his mortal comprehension. The young man was completely helpless, his mental body locked in an inescapable grip.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, Ave released her agonizing bite. Her terrifying face slowly receded and transformed, the frightening metamorphosis unwinding like a nightmare fading with the first light of dawn, leaving behind the beautiful features that Jade had first beheld.
Ave licked away the remnants of her attack, and a miracle unfolded before Jade's mental eyes. The grievous wound upon his neck closed perfectly in an instant, leaving no trace except for a symbol that glowed faintly upon his mental skin, the mark of Rem.
The very same symbol Ave had seen and recognized as belonging to Bahamut, somehow mysteriously etched into the depths of Jade's soul long before their encounter, an unsolved puzzle that added to the growing bewilderment within him.
Jade's eyes widened in utter disbelief, his jaw slightly dropping as he watched Ave's transformation back to her original, captivating form. He could scarcely reconcile the monstrous creature that had attacked him moments ago with the beautiful being now before him.
As Ave released the hands that had held him so tightly in her powerful grip, Jade seized the opportunity that presented itself. With an explosive and furious movement, fueled by terror and righteous anger, Jade kicked Ave with all his might, his foot connecting squarely with her mental form.
Ave was sent hurtling away, her body crashing against the surface of the water within the Nypocampus repeatedly, the impact echoing through the tranquil mental landscape until she was dragged to a halt, leaving ripples that disturbed the fragile inner peace Jade had once known.
Ave rose slowly from the water, her mental body feeling bruised and crushed, enduring an immense pain that seemed to transcend the boundaries of the mind. She vomited blood from her stomach, thick red liquid staining the once-calm water's surface, a stark reminder of the brutal exchange.
She looked at Jade with a gaze filled with a profound sadness and perhaps, a newly awakened regret for her violent actions.
"Who are you truly! And what dark purpose drives you?!" Jade shouted from his mental throne, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and a gripping confusion that threatened to overwhelm him.
He stood tall and defiant upon his throne, his posture radiating a newfound strength after delivering the powerful kick to Ave.
All the firefly-like lights that danced around Ave, which had once been soft and calming, now began to spin faster and faster with an alarming intensity, their gentle luminescence turning reddish and gradually deepening into a menacing crimson, radiating a threatening and unpredictable aura that mirrored the turmoil within Jade's heart.
Ave stood up with visible difficulty, her mental body trembling, enduring the gnawing pain that persisted despite her rapid regeneration.
She knew very well, as an ancient entity, that being within someone's Nypocampus was akin to dancing within the palm of its owner's hand, subject to their will and perceptions.
And now, she, a Grand Aeon possessing the power of ages, found herself within the Nypocampus of Jade, a young human she had only just met, whose very soul was now her domain, a paradox that both intrigued and unsettled her.
Once again, a flicker of doubt, an unexpected inner conflict, stirred within Jade's mind. His gentle heart, despite the terror of the recent attack, felt a glimmer of pity at the sight of Ave wounded and weakened before him.
However, his instincts screamed louder, the vivid memory of the terror he had just experienced, of Ave's monstrous form and her painful bite, overriding any burgeoning compassion.
Ave stood below Jade's imposing throne, looking up at him with an expression that was difficult to decipher, a complex mixture of pain and a faint, almost pleading hope.
"I give you Rem… I am breaking my power and bestowing a portion of it upon you…" Ave coughed heavily, vomiting more blood from her mouth, the crimson liquid staining her lips.
She slumped down in her place, her mental body trembling violently, wracked with pain. Again, Jade looked unsteady, a fierce battle between anger and compassion raging within him.
"You are now much stronger than before, Jade. I wish to teach you how to wield the Rem I have just given you…" Ave spoke again, her voice a mere gasp, each word feeling heavy and laden with pain.
"What is Rem? If you have given me my power, why does it feel as though I have been violated? And why did you bite me?! What have you done to Miss Hinabi? Where is she now?" Jade instinctively clutched his neck, then paused, realizing the strangeness of his action within this mental realm.
There was no lingering pain, no blood upon his hands. The horrifying wound had vanished as if it had never been, yet the vivid memory of the terror he had experienced remained strong, etched into his consciousness.
He descended the steps of his imposing throne slowly and carefully, every muscle in his mental form tensing with heightened alertness towards Ave, who now looked so fragile and vulnerable below him.
"It was a necessary act, a way to break my immense power and prevent a slow and agonizing demise. And it is the only way for you to stand a chance against the might of Rivotra," Ave tried to explain, her voice weak and strained.
"I… I only partook of a small portion of your soul, just enough to forge the bond…" Ave lowered her head, avoiding Jade's suspicious and still-burning angry gaze, a flicker of shame crossing her features.
"What do you mean, you ate my soul?" Jade stood directly in front of Ave, his mental body as taut as a drawn bowstring, ready to unleash its power.
Ave looked up at Jade with a gaze filled with sadness and a hint of despair. She knew that in her weakened state, one wrong word, one misstep, could spell the end for her within his domain.
Her power had been fractured, and the majority of it now resided within Jade, significantly shifting the balance of power within the Nypocampus.
Not to mention the undeniable fact that she was completely within Jade's mental realm, giving the young man a significant advantage should he choose to exercise it.
"I am the Grand Aeon Ave…" Before Ave could even finish introducing herself with her full and grand title, a hard kick from Jade connected squarely with her head!
Sending the Grand Aeon crashing against the magnificent pyramid building where Jade's throne stood firmly rooted, the impact echoing through the Nypocampus. Jade immediately backed away a few steps, his eyes narrowed with a potent mixture of anger and suspicion.
"You are a creature just like Rivotra! You must have harmed Miss Hinabi!" Without hesitation, fueled by righteous fury, Jade shot towards Ave, who was leaning weakly against the cold, imposing pyramid wall.
Jade's knee slammed into Ave's ribs with brutal force! "Ughhh!" Ave vomited more blood, her groan of pain echoing within the confines of the Nypocampus.
Jade rained down a series of merciless punches upon Ave's face, venting his pent-up anger and confusion in a flurry of blows.
With the last vestiges of her gathered strength, Ave's hand shot out and gripped the collar of Jade's shirt tightly, her fingers digging into the fabric. With a sudden and violent movement, she slammed her head into Jade's head with a loud, sickening crack!
The impact sent a shockwave of pain and disorientation through Jade's entire mental body, throwing him back several meters. Ave lunged at Jade while he was still airborne, her movements surprisingly swift despite her weakened state.
She locked both of Jade's arms in a tight grip and forced him to sit down abruptly as they slid across the mental landscape from the force of the previous impact. "Listen to me, you fool!" Ave shouted in a hoarse and painful voice, spitting blood directly into Jade's face, who was now below her, pinned and vulnerable.
"If you kill me here, Hinabi will die in the real world!" Ave continued in an urgent and threatening tone, her eyes blazing with a desperate intensity. "Promise me you will not strike me again!" Jade froze, shocked to hear Ave's dire threat, his anger momentarily suspended by a chilling fear for Hinabi's life.
Ave released her grip and lay down weakly beside Jade, her body trembling with exhaustion and pain.
"I do not trust you, creature!" Jade stood up warily, his mental body still tense and coiled, ready to attack at the slightest provocation.
Ave immediately spoke again, before she could once more become the target of Jade's righteous anger. "Who do you think brought us to this very place, to your Nypocampus?" Jade hesitated, his anger momentarily abating as confusion returned to his heart.
He hesitantly grabbed the collar of Ave's gown, his mind wrestling with the implications of her words.
"Jade… you were so kind and gentle to me before… Was I so wrong in my initial assessment of your character… kill me then, you can break my neck with ease in this state. I cannot fight you anymore…" Ave closed her eyes, seemingly resigned to her fate in the hands of the young man she had just harmed and betrayed.
However, Jade released his grip on her gown. He sat down beside Ave, his confusion and inner conflict clearly visible upon his face, the turmoil within him palpable.
"You… you are not going to kill me?" Ave tugged weakly on Jade's shirt with the last of her remaining strength, trying to regain his wavering attention.
"I bit you… to draw out the Blight that exists within every human soul, that is why you felt such agonizing pain… because this world has been tainted and rotten from its very beginning."
"Help me sit up, Jade…" Ave asked in a weak voice, almost inaudibly, her breath shallow. But Jade remained silent for a long moment, his mind racing to process the torrent of information, then said in a cold and demanding tone,
"Hurry up and tell me everything before I change my mind and end this now!"
Ave then recounted to Jade, in the same words she had spoken to Hinabi, revealing the dark and tragic history of their world and the insidious role of the Blight that permeated all living beings.
Jade listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions about things he did not understand, struggling to digest the newly revealed and terrifying truth about his own existence.
"Why… why is there this Blight inside me?" Jade asked in a confused and slightly frightened tone, finally realizing the terrifying reality of Ave's words and the implications for his own soul.
"Won't you at least help me sit up? I am having trouble breathing…" Ave gasped for air, her face pale and drawn with pain.
Jade finally reached out and helped Ave lean against him, although a wariness still flickered in his eyes as he looked suspiciously at the powerful Grand Aeon now weakened and vulnerable beside him.
"Because the Blight spreads and permeates this entire world, it is the tears of the Mother, the divine essence of creation, that wash away and reduce its corrupting power," Ave continued in a weak and strained voice.
Until moments after Ave explained the nature of Rem, the pervasive Blight, and the purifying tears of the Mother, weaving a tragic tale of sacrifice and destruction in the distant past, Jade remained deeply confused and conflicted.
However, seeing Ave's weakened and severely injured condition within his own Nypocampus, his doubts about her intentions began to resurface.
Here, in this realm where consciousness and soul manifested in tangible form, he saw a profound fragility in Ave, the very being who had moments ago attacked him with such terrifying ferocity.
"Why… why did you do all of this to me?" Jade asked in a softer voice, his anger gradually being subdued by a pity and a strange sense of responsibility he couldn't quite shake off.
Ave looked up at Jade, her languid golden eyes radiating a deep and ancient sadness, a sorrow that felt heavy and burdensome, as if she carried the weight of ages upon her weary shoulders. "I… I had no other choice, Jade. This is the only way for both of us to survive the trials ahead and fight against a greater threat… a darkness that you might not even be aware of yet."
Silence returned to envelop the Nypocampus, the only sound the gentle lapping of the ethereal water against the shores of Jade's mental landscape.
Jade stared intently at Ave, trying to discern any hint of deceit in her eyes, but all he found was a profound despair and a deep, bone-weary exhaustion.
Suddenly, inexplicably, an uncontrollable and strange urge arose within him, a feeling of protectiveness mixed with a burgeoning understanding. Jade leaned Ave further into his embrace, offering her what little comfort he could in this ethereal realm.
"What are you doing?" Ave asked in a surprised voice as Jade gently adjusted her position, supporting her weakened form.
But it was not Jade who answered. With a sudden and unexpected movement, Ave reached out and cradled Jade's face in both of her delicate hands, her touch surprisingly firm.
"Before I do this, Jade," Ave whispered in a hoarse and pained voice, her breath warm against his skin,"
"you must understand something crucial about the Nypocampus… your mindscape, this realm of your consciousness."
"Within it, your consciousness has a center, a core, a representation of your innermost self."
"Imagine it as a throne where the real 'you' resides, the essence of your being."
"When souls truly connect, when a bond is forged… another throne, mirroring your own, will appear there, a testament to the intertwining of spirits."
Jade looked at Ave in utter confusion, trying to process her cryptic words amidst his own bewilderment and burgeoning curiosity.
But before he could ask any more about this mysterious "throne," Ave's lips gently touched his, a touch that initially felt strangely cold but slowly warmed, a paradox of lingering pain and the promise of potential healing.
As their lips met, a powerful and unexpected wave of energy flowed between them, not merely a physical sensation, but the very essence of their souls intermingling, forging an unbreakable bond that transcended ordinary understanding.
Golden light radiated from Jade's mental body and enveloped Ave within the Nypocampus, a warm and healing luminescence that seemed to mend her broken form.
Ave's visible wounds appeared to fade instantly, and her shallow breathing became more regular and even.
When the kiss finally ended, Jade felt a significant and profound change within himself.
A new throne, identical in form to his own but radiating a different, yet complementary, aura, now stood firmly beside his in the landscape of his Nypocampus, a silent testament to their intertwined destinies.
He felt Ave's presence more strongly, more deeply integrated with his own consciousness, a bond that transcended ordinary understanding and spoke of a shared existence.
Ave now looked visibly recovered, the color returning to her cheeks, and her gaze upon Jade softened, although a trace of ancient sadness still lingered in the depths of her golden eyes.
She reached out a delicate hand and gently touched Jade's cheek, a touch that now felt more intimate and meaningful, a connection forged in the crucible of pain and shared experience.
"Now we are truly connected, Jade," Ave said in a calmer and more steady voice, "your strength has increased greatly, far beyond what you can currently comprehend."
"I will train you within this realm, teach you how to control the Rem I have given you and this newfound power that flows within you."
"So that you can protect yourself and the people you hold dear… from threats like Rivotra, and perhaps… even greater, more ancient evils that lurk in the shadows."
Jade was still stunned and overwhelmed by the rapid succession of events that had just transpired within his Nypocampus, but he felt the undeniable truth in Ave's words.
A new and potent power flowed within him, and he felt an unexpected and profound bond with the Grand Aeon who now stood before him, no longer as a terrifying attacker, but as a strange and enigmatic ally.
Ave then stood up, her movements now fluid and graceful, and offered her hand to Jade, her gaze steady and resolute.
"Come, Jade. We do not have much time left in the waking world. The threat we face is far greater and more insidious than you can possibly imagine."
Jade took Ave's offered hand, and together, they stood within the landscape of his Nypocampus, which now felt subtly different, imbued with a shared presence, the two thrones standing side-by-side as a testament to their intertwined fates.
"Jade, know this… the Rem that now resides within you is the Rem of transformation, of change. You will no longer be able to consume human food as you once did."
Jade was taken aback by this unexpected pronouncement. "What do you mean, Ave?" Jade asked, his brow furrowed in confusion and a hint of alarm.
For a fleeting moment, Ave looked surprised, a subtle flicker in her eyes, as it was the first time anyone had addressed her by her given name alone, without any title or honorific.
"Your Rem is called Vampyr, Jade. And you will only be able to sustain your physical form by drinking my blood for your body's metabolism, replacing the need for mortal food."
"Ave? Isn't this… too much? How can I simply cease eating? And drink blood? That is… disgusting!"
Ave smiled softly at her newly bound soulmate, a gentle and knowing expression upon her beautiful face.
"Oh, Jade, did you truly find the bread you offered me so delicious? It held no true taste for me in my previous state! Did I not mention that it felt merely 'warm' back then?"
"I could not truly perceive any flavors as long as that Vampyr aspect of my being remained dormant within me." Ave crossed her arms over her chest, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Perhaps now I shall be able to savor mortal fare, for I do desire to taste food other than the rich and sustaining essence of blood," Ave continued, a hint of longing in her voice.
Ave now seemed to possess the ability to taste and enjoy mortal food, a sensation that had been lost to her for countless ages.
Of course, before their bond, she had not truly felt the 'taste' of anything other than the potent deliciousness of blood, the life force that sustained her immortal existence.
"Then… how do you obtain blood? Do you… do you simply drain it from others, killing them in the process?" Jade asked again, a hint of apprehension in his voice at the implications of his new existence.
"I myself have no need to consume blood, Jade, for I am immortal and sustained by other means. Unlike you, who originated from mortal humans and now bear a unique connection to my very essence."
Ave immediately embraced Jade before he could voice any further protests or concerns, holding him close in a gesture of newfound intimacy and shared destiny.
Ave then began to train Jade within the landscape of his Nypocampus, which now belonged to both of them, their consciousness intertwined.
Jade was defeated many times during their intense training, but there were also numerous instances where he nearly overcame Ave, his raw power surging forth, though he was not yet skilled in the precise execution of his newfound abilities.
Some time later, within the Nypocampus…
"Jade…" Ave looked broken and defeated, both of her legs twisted at unnatural angles, both of her hands fractured beyond recognition, her once pristine form battered and bruised.
"Ave!" Jade cried out, rushing to embrace her weakened form. He deliberately injured his own hand, allowing Ave to drink his blood, a necessary act for her to regenerate quickly using a skill called Dawn Harmony, a potent ability derived from the Rem Vampyr that now flowed within him.
Within mere minutes, Ave was completely healed, her injuries vanishing as if they had never occurred. Ave took a deep, steadying breath and then spoke, her voice regaining its strength.
"Remember this, Jade: Dawn Harmony only functions upon those who possess the Rem."
"If you were to bestow your blood upon humans without the Rem or a similar form of Maha, they would be transformed into succubi and incubi, creatures of the dark and twisted Orkusshura world, beings of pure shadow and corrupted desire."
"And I believe that is sufficient practice for now in activating the power of your Rem. Let us now depart from this realm and meet with Hinabi to discuss our next course of action in the waking world."
With a shared thought, Ave brought Jade back from the depths of his Nypocampus, their consciousness returning to their physical forms. She gently covered Jade's neck with a clean bandage, concealing the mark of her bite.
Ave was still puzzled as to why the Rem symbol belonging to Bahamut was not visibly etched upon Jade's neck in the physical world, whereas the Rem Vampyr was clearly discernible upon the surface of his skin within his Nypocampus.
The two then went out to search for Hinabi's whereabouts throughout the temple, their footsteps echoing through the hallowed corridors, until they encountered the priest who had previously escorted Hinabi, and who informed them of the grave news concerning General Lance's return and his critical condition.
Jade and Ave then made their way swiftly to General Lance's treatment room. There, just before they entered, Ave overheard the worried words Queen Yukihiko was speaking to Hinabi.
With a sense of urgency, Ave then spoke directly from the doorway of the chamber, her voice carrying a note of ancient authority.
"What the priestess speaks is indeed the truth, Your Majesty." Instantly, all eyes within the somber room turned towards the source of the unexpected voice.
There, standing with an ethereal grace that seemed to illuminate the very air around her, was Ave, the Night Princess, her aura of immense power feeling so thick and tangible that it was almost a physical presence, even though she appeared outwardly calm and completely in control of her formidable abilities.
Beside her stood Jade, now fully conscious but still looking somewhat dazed and physically weak from his recent ordeal within his Nypocampus.
His hand occasionally drifted up to touch the bandage wrapped around his neck, a silent reminder of the horrifying bite he had endured, a gruesome mark that served as a testament to the terrifying events he had just experienced in the depths of his own mind.
The look in Jade's eyes still held lingering traces of fear and a deep sense of confusion at the strange and powerful connection he now shared with the Grand Aeon beside him.
The simultaneous and unexpected presence of Ave and Jade in the doorway of Lance's treatment room seemed to serve as undeniable confirmation of Hinabi's incredible story, silencing any lingering doubts that might have remained in the hearts of those present and adding a new layer of wonder and bewilderment to the already tense atmosphere.
Queen Yukihiko looked at Ave with a mixture of profound shock, utter confusion, and a hint of fear that was clearly visible in her widened, tear-reddened eyes.
She rose from her seat beside General Lance's bed hastily, her steps slightly unsteady from the lingering shock of the recent revelations. "Lady Ave…" the Queen greeted her with a respectful tone, bowing her head slightly in deference to the powerful being who now stood before her.
Hinabi followed closely behind, her hand gently resting upon Jade's arm, supporting him as he still looked pale and weak beside the radiant and powerful Ave.
"Can you… can you truly help the man lying there?" the Queen asked, her voice filled with a desperate plea and a fragile, flickering hope that this ancient being held the power to save her loyal general.
Ave turned her luminous gaze towards the still form of General Lance upon the bed. A flicker of surprise, almost recognition, crossed her beautiful features as her eyes fell upon the unconscious warrior.
Lance was indeed the very man who had shattered the ice crystal prison of Eira, her sister of the Order of the Moon, the Eternal Ice, unwittingly freeing her from her frozen confinement.
"This man… this mortal man is the one who released me from the icy embrace of my sister from the Order of the Moon, Eira the Eternal Ice, who sought to keep me imprisoned."
Ave stepped closer to Lance's bedside, her movements fluid and silent as a phantom, and then stated, her voice filled with a sudden understanding and a hint of ancient sorrow,
"He has absorbed far too much venom from Ba'i Yang, the Basilisk, a creature of immense power and deadly poison. His life force is fading rapidly, and without intervention, he will surely perish."
"I shall attempt to heal him."