In the midst of all the waiting, Orochi had come up with a new name for his other self. He had no memories of this boy's life, and the memories he did have were of a world to which he had no name. After a short while, and borderline becoming unbothered, he settled on Imposter. Yes, that would be his new self-baptized name.
The click-click sound of heels brought everyone to attention, snapping Orochi out of his thoughts.
Lady Moon-Born was a middle-aged human woman. Beads of jewels decorated her hair, and her pale skin was adorned with a lavish green silk dress that touched the wooden floor. Orochi could hear the quick patter of her feet reaching the doors to his room. Upon her entrance, Althea bowed deeply, greeting the Lady of the house. Orochi looked at the newly worried face with an impassive look, which seemed to put even more worry into the mother's face. Mother. This was the boy Orochi Moon-Born's body's mother. Maybe I should play along.
He tried to say "Mother," but his mouth could only form the shape for the silent words. Nonetheless, Lady Moon-Born understood, quickly rushing to his side.
"Oh my poor boy," she whispered, stroking his hair. Hiding his annoyance as best as he could, Orochi's body reacted involuntarily, tears welling in his eyes, which he quickly blinked away. It seemed the body still hadn't adjusted to its new owner.
"Sir Thalos…" Lady Moon-Born's face was crestfallen as her hands trailed down to the centre of his chest. Orochi started to feel uneasy, as though she was looking past him, at something hidden from the naked eye. The teary-eyed mother turned to the physician, who already seemed all too aware of the dire situation. Even Althea looked away.
"What is the meaning of this? It was reported he was perfectly fine." There was a hint of shakiness in her voice.
Orochi looked blankly between the physician and his mother. Something isn't right.
"It is true. The young master is miraculously fine. He is like any normal boy."
At those words, Lady Moon-Born's face contorted from worry to anger. Her eyebrows knitted together, snarling as strands of her hair started floating. A red aura began forming around her. Some otherworldly power had now entered the room. For a split second, Orochi could have sworn he saw red scales moving through the hair of Lady Moon-Born. Orochi watched in fascination as the attending maids stepped back, shooting worried glances at each other. Althea stepped closer to Orochi's side, lips pursed, ready to grab Orochi out of the way.
"Normal? His Spirit Orb is shattered. Normal like one of the lowly peasants? Among all the Houses of Nagalon he will now become a laughingstock! The seventh son of House Moon-Born, the bloody cripple! A Moon-Born with no spirit energy! You call this healthy, you old toad!"
The fury was palpable now. Mysterious hissing sounds started creeping out of the walls.
Althea quickly bowed her head, the words tumbling out. "Lady Moon-Born, please stall your anger. You know all too well the many sleepless nights Sir Thalos has spent beside the young master's side. Please take your anger out on me. If it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened. This servant awaits her punishment."
Althea's words seemed to have some effect, as the reddish aura slowly began to dissipate, and whatever creature was hiding in her hair was now seemingly non-existent. Orochi couldn't help but wonder if what he had just witnessed was magic or if this was whatever they called spirit energy.
Lady Moon-Born looked at the physician coldly, who had now also bowed his head. "Explain. What has happened to my son?"
Pushing the spectacles on his nose back up, Sir Thalos began, "The boy seems to have suffered an implosion of his Orb. His prior weak constitution, along with the accident, rendered him defenseless. The orb couldn't contain itself and caused internal dissociation, meaning the cracks in the vase allowed the water to seep out. A side effect also means the young master is currently unable to speak."
Lady Moon-Born was about to open her mouth, no doubt readying another flurry of slurs or death threats for impudence, before the physician quickly continued.
"However, the young master is now awake. Though I am not sure how exactly, his early awakening means the damage will not be permanent."
Oh? Orochi thought to himself. That sounded good.
Hope flickered in Lady Moon-Born's eyes, as well as in Althea's.
"You mean he will get better? When?"
The physician glanced at Orochi, giving him an affirming nod, as if any of this was distressing Orochi. It seemed the previous Orochi must have been quite timid, but this time, with Imposter inside, Orochi didn't feel anything. Was there something wrong with me? Why do I feel so callous?
"Eight months."
That sounded like good news to Orochi, but as he looked around, he realised he might have gotten ahead of himself.
"The coming of age ceremony is in six months at the high moon. All the houses will gather, and you are saying my son will not be participating?"
The coming of age ceremony sounded very important indeed. I'll have to get Althea to explain a lot of things later.
"Yes, my Lady, that is true. But in nine months at least, he will have another chance and his voice back. Also…" The physician chose his next few words carefully. "I think it was clear to all of us a while ago that the young master would have failed regardless. His Spirit Orb is too small, and no contract has been made. The Snake God has not responded for fifteen summers. It is tradition that a Moon-Born receives a contract at ten summers. Going to the age ceremony with no Deity Contract and low Spirit Power would have been a death sentence. I don't think you would have sent him anyway, Lady Moon-Born."
This seemed to have struck a chord in Lady Moon-Born, who went silent.
Damn, thought Orochi. Was the past owner this useless?
(≖_≖)