Yami no Aite (闇の相手) The One Who Stands With Darkness

Observing Sena's outstretched hand, Chase smiled fondly. He mused, pleased by her easy openness, that the memories he'd shared must have sparked a sense of familiarity within her.

As he reached for her hand, he anticipated the Impiety would have left lingering traces within her souls. "Once I assess your whole being, it will feel like a slow, tickling surge of electricity coursing through your veins. Is that okay?" he asked, ensuring he had Sena's explicit permission before making contact.

Sena hesitated, fearing an intense shock rather than the promised light tickle. Having offered her hand first, she now questioned her decision. 

Swallowing hard, she slowly extended her reach, squeezing her eyes shut in fear of what was to happen. Chase's lips curved into a slight smile, his eyes tender as he regarded Sena, who looked like a child bracing for her first doctor's visit.

He took her hand, holding it gently between both of his palms. Closing his eyes to focus, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. The currents flowing from within him extended towards Sena's nervous system, crawling, surging, and streaming throughout her entire being.

As he scanned her body, he found no apparent lingering, erratic, or buzzing interference. Not a trace of the distorted hum from the Impiety that had just touched her souls.

Remembering what he'd seen through Idris earlier, he tried to pinpoint the location of her core souls. Yet, he couldn't grasp where her energy center might be. He tilted his head slightly. From the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, nothing seemed inexplicably wrong with her.

But he couldn't seem to find anything right either. This left him even more perplexed.

He opened his eyes and slowly let go of Sena's hands.

"You're fine. You're not sick, no concussion, and the Impiety did not take your life force nor a portion of your soul. Your brain waves look just as intact. But it looks like you're in the luteal phase, so maybe brace for that." Chase said informatively, while releasing a sigh of relief knowing that she's fine. 

Sena's forehead knotted and one eyebrow rose in confusion. "Luteal phase?" she questioned, tilting her head just as much.

Chase covered his mouth, a slight "Oh" escaping. He mused, She has the soul of a man and a baby… maybe she really doesn't know.

"Are you not familiar with your own menstrual phases? Did you take any contraceptives, perhaps? Are you unfamiliar with your own cycle?" he asked, just like a doctor should, preparing to educate her. 

"N–No, actually…" she stuttered, having just heard one unfamiliar detail after another regarding the intricacies of her female body. She was now considering fully telling Chase how she came to be, as she still didn't understand how to live her life fully or the full extent of being a woman.

Chase waited patiently for an answer. He considered offering her some educational materials about bodily changes and phases, or at least suggesting she consult a female physician to become more comfortable in sharing these details.

"You don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable sharing," he offered gently. "I know a female physician I can refer you to, but it would require you to come to our Hospice." A flicker of worry about her being seen by the Daughters crossed his mind.

Sena fell silent, carefully considering Chase's words. 

The thought of being treated as an abomination sounded terrifying and restrictive, especially now that she yearned for a physician's help. She wanted to understand the truth of it for herself.

"Can I... uhm, think about it for now?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt and restraint. 

"Going to the Hospice, I mean. I—I want to make sure I know what I'm walking into. Care to enlighten me? What should I do once I get to the capital?"

Chase smiled softly.

"Alright, here's the thing. Being a stray or a lost person in Azarette isn't uncommon. First, you'll need to register at the Chancery. They'll have you fill out a form to create an Identification for you. After that, they'll refer you to the Chancery Hospice for a general check-up and an abilities assessment."

He continued, "Once that's done, one of the Daughters will perform an abundance and healing rite. Then, you'll be escorted to the Steward's Office where you can decide if you'd like to start work, or simply be a wanderer or a vagrant for a time. If you need any financial assistance, they can help you there too." he said as he brushed his hair. 

"So, what will happen if one of the Daughters finds me to have two souls? What would happen to me?" Her eyes trembled with worry.

"Have you read the Compendium? I noticed it was left open on your desk." Chase wanted to verify.

"Y–Yes. I think I scoffed at it for a bit. And then I passed out..." She recalled the earlier events of the day, the pang of cold, frosted air that had engulfed her in an instant.

"Ah... I see. No wonder an Impiety manifested," he said informatively, crossing his legs and subtly swaying one foot in unease. 

"Usually, quite a number of people who harbor doubts about celestial beings and their reverence can cause an Impiety to manifest from their collective disbelief. But for you, alone, to unintentionally mock a booklet of holy scriptures and manifest one maledict is something very rare, even unusual."

"And if you can recall," he continued, "in the Compendium it states from the third to fourth passage:

'III - By Azarette's Sacred Ordinance, only those souls born of the Ashriel Lineage shall know true Reincarnation, returning within the hallowed confines of their kin; an eternal testament to their divine covenant.

IV - Let it be known: Any soul's Echo that presumes to return outside the Sanctified Ashriel Lineage is an Abomination against the Divine Order, a Blasphemy that shall be ruthlessly scrutinized and utterly purged.'

Do you understand what this means?"

Sena was at a loss for words. 

From the intricacies of her own biology to the technicalities within the Divine Compendium, and the looming threat of her two souls being deemed an abomination, the weight of it all slowly deterred her.

"No…" she said, dejected.

Chase gently took her hand to ease her weariness. 

"It's okay, that's why I'm here… to support you. And to let you know, I'm here to help. But like I said earlier, to Azarette… having two souls outside of the Ashriel lineage is an abomination. Not to sound threatening, Sena, but the Daughters, even the High Matron herself, will scrutinize your very being until the act of purging. I know… I'm an Ashriel too." 

He sighed heavily, admitting to himself just how much of a nuisance it is just by being an Ashriel.

"I don't know the full extent of the procedure since I am a man and cannot be part of the Church. But even with divine blood coursing through my veins, I understand exactly why Idris have kept you here instead of following protocol." He spoke, pity now visibly etched across his face.

"He kept me here? He said the Royal Squadron won't make their rounds until next week," she asked, with a hint of shock and curiosity.

"Hmm… While that is true, he is also obligated to report on the exact day of finding a stray to the Royal Squadron stationed by the gates. He didn't need to wait a week. And by him summoning me here personally, it only means he's trying to protect you." 

Chase tilted his head, a trickle of sweat tracing his temple. He might face Idris's rage later on if he found out what he'd been revealing about him.

"He's a roadkeeper, Sena, not a stray keeper. If it were a regular person without the ability of soul-sight, they might have just allowed you straight to the capital with no delay."

She pondered why Idris would act so overprotective of her. He'd only known her for two whole days, and he didn't seem like the type. She considered bringing it up to Idris herself later, once they had dinner.

Her stomach growled at the thought of food. She blushed, startled, glancing first at her stomach then slowly meeting Chase's eyes.

"Haha! Looks like all this talk about souls and procedures has gotten you worked up," he said teasingly. "Why don't we head downstairs for now? Sounds like Idris prepared a nice meal for today." He urged her to eat.

Sena nodded slightly, got out of bed, and followed Chase.

"Think about what I said, Sena. Once you're ready, let me know. I can accompany you to the Hospice, and even to the Chancery since you don't have an Identification with you," he said reassuringly.

"Oh... right... Uhm, I—I have an Identification Card," she said, unsure how to proceed. "But it's just blank. I haven't filled it out yet." 

Without turning to face Sena, Chase's eyes narrowed in fascination. Hmm, how can someone have a blank Identification? he wondered, sensing a forgery at play.

"Sure, I'll look into it for you," he said, waving a hand dismissively as he headed downstairs.

— — — 

Upon reaching the landing, Chase and Sena were welcomed by the rich, savory scent of freshly cooked rabbit steak mingled with the earthy, luxurious aroma of truffle gravy, wafting from the kitchen. It promised a hearty, comforting meal, a deep, aromatic invitation that settled warmly in the air.

Upon reaching the dining table, both their eyes glimmered at the presentation Idris has done. 

The rabbit steak, glistening with savory juices, lay nestled amidst a rich, deep brown truffle gravy that shimmered invitingly. Alongside it, a rustic, golden-crusted sourdough loaf presented a stark, comforting contrast. 

Scattered across the table, plump, deep purple blackberries and vibrant ruby cranberries added bursts of color, making the entire spread a truly inviting and visually abundant feast.

Idris came out of the kitchen and walked towards them, holding a bottle of red wine and three wine glasses. He settled the glasses down briskly and carefully, as if a butler was performing his duty with practiced precision.

All three of them settled down. Sena was practically drooling at the sight. I could get used to this, she thought, taking in the entire ambiance.

"You make a very fine wife, Idris," Chase uttered mockingly. Idris visibly flustered at the remark, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. 

"Haaahhhhh... You don't have to have dinner here, you know," he said in playful retort.

Sena looked at them with tender eyes. It must be nice to have a friend like that, she thought to herself, feeling a sense of yearning for that level of connection and familiarity.

Neither Idris nor Chase prayed before digging into their food. Before Sena started to eat herself, she wanted to give thanks for Idris's efforts.

"Idris... uhm, T—Thank you for the meal," she said shyly, biting the side of her lip, and bowing her head low. 

Without looking directly at her, he acknowledged her with quiet warmth. "I know. You don't have to keep thanking me, I wanted to do this for you." Though sightless, his demeanor conveyed a deep, quiet fondness.

But Chase saw it. 

The way Idris spoke so gently and affectionately to her. He had a soft smirk plastered on his face, holding back a giggle and a tickling feeling as he watched the two.

Chase leaned in closer to Idris's ear and whispered, "You might as well propose to her and get married and have three children if you're going to act like th—" A brisk, precise thwack landed on his scalp, cutting off the rest of his words.

Sena, despite not hearing what Chase had just said, chuckled, thoroughly entertained as she watched the two quarrel like real brothers. 

Idris, face now a furious red, stabbed at his steak with exaggerated force, a visible wisp of steam practically fuming from his ears. Chase now scratched his head in an attempt to lessen the pain. 

— — — 

As they finished their dinner, Idris went back to the kitchen to prepare some tea. Chase and Sena were left to clean and wipe down the table, stacking the dishes.

Sena hesitated, but pushed through with her thought. "Can you, uhm, kindly accompany me to the Capital in three days?" she asked.

Chase placed the stacked dishes back down on the table and nodded. "Sure," he said with a smile. "But you'll need to prepare for at least a week of travel, since you can't use the conveyance gate." he advised matter-of-factly.

Sena tilted her head in confusion. 

Idris walked in then, a tray of teacups and crackers in hand. "She doesn't know much about Azarette," he muttered, sensing the confusion in both of them.

"Ah, of course. It's a gate you can freely use once you're acknowledged here in Azarette, to bridge the distance from one town, city, or valley within the country," Chase informed her. 

"That's how I got here so fast," he added, winking at her before picking up the dishes and heading to the kitchen to wash them.

Sena was left with Idris, the aromatic red tea laid before her. 

"I'm thinking about going to the Capital in three days," she continued. 

"It was nice of you to summon him over here, but, uhmm..." she minced her words carefully, "I think I'd be more comfortable having a female physician check on me." She finished, picking up a teacup, slowly blowing on the heat, and taking a small sip.

"Please don't feel like you need to protect me too much," she said lowering her head, not wanting to insult Idris's kindness.

Idris slightly turned his head to the side. 

With a low voice, he said, "I understand. You have the freedom to do as you please, Sena." he uttered, slightly biting the inside of his lip. 

He knew that no matter how much he wished to protect her from the Daughters, or the High Matron herself, or from risking Sena being exposed to 'her', he couldn't isolate her here with him.